Macedon Primary School Newsletter

15 July 2020

School Values: Respect, Responsibility, Creativity, Integrity, Teamwork

Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to term three.  We’re glad to see the students again after the break.  It has been smooth start to the term and we’re doing our best to create a calm and safe environment for your children.

COVID-19 update

We need to remain vigilant in our approach to managing the COVID-19 risk at school.  Thank you to the great number of parents who are social distancing at pick up and drop off times.  It is important to support our Melbourne Metro and Mitchel Shire friends and fellow Victorians by doing the right thing where we have a little more freedom to move around.

We are using the COVID-19 Return to School policy to outline all of the measures we’re taking to reduce the risk of transmission.

https://macedonps.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/COVID-19-Return-to-School-Policy-July-2020.pdf

You can help us at pick up and drop off time by

·         Dropping your child/ren at the gates if possible

·         Avoiding lingering on the school grounds before or after school.

·         Staying outside all of our buildings, including the main building, and the John Curtain building.

·         Only entering the foyer if you really need to.

If you use our before or after school hours care service please support the risk reduction measures for our OSHC staff and students by

·         Remaining outside the John Curtain building during OSHC drop off and pickup.

·         Avoiding lingering in the playground area near the John Curtain building, this is used by students in the service.

Additional Learning Support

I would like to extend a warm welcome to Lauren Barham who has recently joined the Macedon PS team.  Lauren comes to us with a strong background in teaching and leading literacy improvement in schools.  She will be providing additional learning support to students learning to read and providing important time release for our leading teacher Karren Baker. 

School Council Sub-committee invite

We have an active and strong school council in 2020 who are all involved in sub-committees of the school council.  Each sub-committee has specific purpose linked to school improvement and governance.  If you are interested in supporting our school in this way please email me at Matthew.Forrest@education.vic.gov.au and indicate which committee you would like to be involved with.  Sub-committee meetings occur once a term and report back to the school council via a written report.

Below is a brief outline of the role of each committee

Committee

Overview of Role

Valuable Skills and/or interests

Time commitment

Buildings and Grounds Committee:

 

Support the schools buildings and grounds maintenance and capital works through support on the working bee days or preparation for working bee days.  Support the Principal in prioritising and making decisions about maintenance and capital works of all of the buildings and grounds.

Trade or home handy person experience or interest in.

-          Painting

-          Gardening

-          Carpentry

-          Landscape gardening

-          Other

One meeting per term and support in preparing for the working bee days through purchase of equipment and supplies for working bee jobs.  Attendance at working is helpful but not essential.

Education and Policy Committee

 

Reviewing old and developing new school wide policies to support the safe, effective and efficient running of the school.  This committee is supported by DET template policies for most DET required policies.

An eye for detail and an interest in developing strong written processes.

One meeting per term and ongoing policy work between meetings.

OSHC Committee

Support the school by helping the OSHC service to run efficiently and maintain a focus on continual improvement.

Budgeting or accounting experience or childcare experience and/or an interest in supporting the OSHC service to make improvements.

One meeting per term and ongoing support of the OSHC service between meetings.

Pine Plantation Committee

Support the school to manage the Macedon PS pine plantation on Cable street in Macedon.  This pine plantation is ready for harvest and will be the focus of the work in 2019.

Town planning, local government or experience with writing and negotiating contracts and/or a keen interest in the Macedon Pine Plantation.

One meeting per term and email communication between meetings with the committee and other key stakeholders

 

Matthew Forrest

Principal

The latest information regarding COVID19

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/department/Pages/coronavirus.aspx

Important Dates to Remember

  • 8 September - STUDENT PHOTO DAY

From the Office

Welcome back to term 3.  Thank you to the parents who are adhering to our social distancing measures. 

Spare uniform

Please make sure your child has a clearly named jumper and jacket each day. A spare change of clothes is a good idea, (especially socks) particularly for the children that like to play on the oval at lunchtime.

Parents collecting students early / late arrivals

To minimise adult traffic within the school, if your child needs to leave school early or arrives late, parents need to sign them in and/or out at the office.  If you need to collect your child early, can you please contact the office and we will then arrange for your child to be ready for collection from the office.

Second hand uniform sales

We are currently not selling second hand uniform at the school, if you are looking for second hand uniform there is a parent Facebook group where members buy, sell and give away items of uniform. If you require new uniform, this is available through Beleza in Gisborne or online at beleza.com.au

Drink bottles - please remember to bring to school

The drink bubblers have been turned off in the school due to COVID-19, therefore all students must bring their own drink bottles from home. Can you please make sure the drink bottles are clearly labelled with your child's name.

Stay safe and well,

Julie and Emma

Student Family Occupation Forms

Each school budget is calculated by a range of formulas. One formula is based on Student Family Occupation (SFO).

Each year we need to update our Parent Occupation Groups to ensure our school receives the budget to which it is entitled.  

It is imperative that we have accurate Parent Occupation information as it may result in our school, and therefore your child, having access to greater resources for their education.   If we have a substantial number of parents in the ‘N’ category for example, this increases our funding significantly while we do not receive any SFO funding for parents in the ‘A’ category.

Please carefully read the information on the form sent home with your eldest child and place your occupational code in the space provided. If you require clarification please contact the office on 5426 1518.  This is also a good time to ensure that the school has your latest contact and emergency contact details in our system. If you have not received a form, please find the link below.

Can you please return the form ASAP.

This information is strictly confidential and is only used to collect aggregate data. Your information is protected by the Privacy Laws.

Download

Enrolments for 2021

A reminder that 2021 enrolments are now due. If you have a child that you wish to start at Macedon Primary please fill out the below enrolment form ASAP. We want to start finalising our numbers for 2021 and have received a lot of interest from new families. If your child is not returning to Macedon Primary next year (other than grade 6 students) please also let us know.
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Talent Show - And the winners are......

A huge congratulations to the following students who have been chosen as the winners for their category in the Macedon Primary School Talent Show;

P-2

Dance- Bella Dunlop

Drama- Rupert Richards

Multi Media- Harper John

Script Writing- Harrison Cook

Music- Hugh Wylie and Remy Livingston

3-6

Dance- Mya Loper

Drama- Lily and Riley Skehan

Multi Media- Ivy Wills

Script Writing- Evie Williams Brown

Music- Darcie Harley

A special mention to the Teachers Choice Award recipients;

Ida Southey

Samuel Graham

Olive and Polly Sawyers

Grace Hyatt

Jessica and Cooper Bloomfield.

 

This year’s talent show was judged by not only yours truly, but also Poppea White (Teacher-Bachelor of Arts of Performance Studies) and Simon Fisenden (Guitarist for Guy Sebastion and Pete Murray). Congratulations to all of our contestants, it was definitely not easy task choosing winners as there is a lot of talent at Macedon Primary School! 

Thank you again to all involved.

Mrs Butler-Rees

Lost property

There are more charms than this on the bracelet,

School Council News

UPDATE FROM SCHOOL COUNCIL

The 2020 Macedon Primary School Council members are:

Parents - Nina Moncrief (President), Justin Sawyers (Vice President), Danielle Grigg (Treasurer), Tiffany Barton (Secretary), Christine Denyer, Danny Kane, Duncan McGauchie and Melinda Rollinson

 Teachers - Matthew Forest, Karren Baker, Martin Smith and Veronica Wuthrich.

During Term 2, the School Council held two meetings (by video conference).  

Among other items, we discussed:

(1)    School Interior Repainting – The funds raised by the 2019 Fete will be used to repaint the interior of the school.  The colour palette and painting design is being considered as part of a complete redecoration plan for the school’s interior.   The interior design plan was shared in the 24 June Newsletter.   

(2)    Financial Position – The Finance Subcommittee reported on the school’s financial position, including the level of payment of fees and voluntary contributions.  We also discussed the impact on the school’s expenses of COVID-19, including in particular on the Out of Hours School Care program. 

(3)    Policy Review – The review of MPS which was to occur in late 2020, will now occur in early 2021.  This provides the School Council will some additional time to finalise the review of the relevant school policies.  A key policy is the “Statements of Values and School Philosophy”, which is due to be reviewed this year.  The Education Subcommittee has commenced this review and will seek feedback from the school community.  

(4)    Grants – Support was given to identifying an eligible project and applying for funding under the state government’s minor capital works fund. 

(5)    The Farmers Market – The Macedon Village Farmers Market which was due to be held on the school grounds at the end of May was cancelled (due to the COVID-19). The next market is scheduled for the last weekend in August.     

The School Council has a number of subcommittees (including the PFA, Middle Gully, Education and Farmers Market).   Please contact Matt Forrest 0449 878 471,  if you would like to be involved and they will connect with the relevant school council members.  

Scholastic Book Club

Book club orders have been delivered to the students today, we apologise for the delay, however, we only received the books in yesterday and due to COVID restrictions we are unable to have our usual parent helpers in to distribute the books. Thanks to Astrid and Narelle our ES staff for their help.

Outside School Hours Care

A reminder to all parents that social distancing rules apply in the OSH room, can parents please remain outside the JCB building during pick up and drop off and please maintain a 1.5 metre distance between yourself and the OSH staff members.

Our rates are: $15.00 for Before School Care (7:00am - 8:45am) and $22.00 for After School Care (3:30pm - 6:30pm). All you need to do is call the school 5426 1518 or email oshp@macedonps.vic.edu.au to book.  If the unexpected happens and a casual booking is required within 24 hours, please contact the school via phone, we cannot accept walk-ins after school.  Please note that enrolment forms need to be completed at least one business day before the first session of care.

Please pay through the school via Direct Deposit, using the following details (not BPay):

Account name: Macedon Primary School

BSB: 063-840

Account: 1003 4330

Vicki, Helen, Karen & Marie.

Ranges Music Network - Term 3 update

The Ranges Music Network is excited to be returning to Macedon Primary School in Term 3!  Get your groove on with our fun and inclusive music lesson and ensemble programs -- right here at Macedon Primary!  Our talented and inspiring team of music educators will be kicking things off next week (starting July 21st).

 

New group lesson instruments are on offer this term including Voice, Ukulele, Harp, Percussion / Drums and a unique Piano ensemble program in addition to Violin, Woodwinds, Brass, Guitar, Bass and those cool Doods & Toots!  Get in a group for $22 per session.

 

New After School band programs will be underway on Tuesdays (Big Gig band and singers), Thursdays (Big Sing vocal ensemble) and Fridays (Big Bang drum ensemble).  Open to musicians of all ages and abilities.  Join the Band for $26 a session or bundle with a group lesson for $44 per week.

 

Before school drop-in jam programs starting soon with sessions from $16 - $18.  A fun mix of singing, percussion, keyboards, guitars and ukes (oh my!).  A great way to start your school day.

 

Find out more and get signed up now at https://rangesmusic.net/mps.  Email our Program Director, Shaun Evans at shaun@rangesmusic.net with any questions you may have.

Community News

Community News

AND because Scouting is free 1st Macedon Cub & Scout Group need lots of fundraising support - email I WANT TO WIN A CAR to 1stmacedon@gmail.com and we can arrange a book of 10 raffle tickets for $20 for your chance to win!

Macedon Primary School

Macedon Primary School acknowledges the Wurundjeri people as the traditional owners of the country upon which we learn and work. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community and pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.