Macedon Primary School Newsletter

5 May - Mother's Day Stall - please bring $5 for gift for Mum

6 May - SEA Australia visit Yr 3 -6

9 May - Yr 5/6 District boys and girls football - Gisborne

10 May - Yr 3 & 5 NAPLAN writing assessment

10 May - Foundation Digger's Rest Animal Farm excursion

12 May - Yr 3 & 5 NAPLAN Reading assessment

13 May - SEA Australia visit Yr 3-6

18 May - Yr 3 & 5 NAPLAN Numeracy assessment

20 May - SEA Australia visit Yr 3 -6

27 May - Yr 5/6 District boys and girls soccer - Gisborne

10 June - Curriculum Day - (student free day)

13 June - Queen's birthday holiday (student free day)

14 June - Yr 5/6 District Netball - Sunbury 

24 June - Last day of term 3

TERM 3:

11 July - First day of term 3

13 September - School photo day 

16 September - Last day of term 3

TERM 4:

3 October - First day of term 4

18 October - 21 October - Year 5 & 6 Camp - Howqua

31st October - Curriculum Day (student free day)

1st November - Melbourne Cup holiday (student free day)

2 November - 4 November - Year 3 & 4 Camp - Weekaway Lancefield

5 December - 6 December - Year 1 & 2 Camp - Lady Northcote 

20 December - Last day of the year (1:00pm dismissal)

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 students are held in May each year. In 2022, the NAPLAN Online test window is between Tuesday 10 May and Friday 20 May. NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The results of the tests provide information for students, parents, teachers and principals and can be used to improve student achievement.

 NAPLAN Online delivers numerous benefits including:

•    a ‘tailored test’ design that adapts to correct and incorrect student responses providing a more precise understanding of student achievement;

•    innovative use of technology, including a more engaging test design and a wider range of item types;

•    the extension of the ‘test window’ to two weeks, allowing schools greater opportunity to schedule the tests at times that suit them best and increasing student participation.

All students are expected to participate in the NAPLAN Online tests. Catch up tests will be available for individual students who are absent on test days up to and including Friday 20 May 2022.

Support can be arranged for students with disabilities, if the student regularly uses similar support for classroom assessment tasks.

Exemptions may be granted to students with significant intellectual disabilities and to students who have been learning English for less than one year. If your child is eligible for support due to disability or exemption, you should discuss this with his/her teacher prior to the tests. Parental consent is required before any support due to disability or exemption is granted.

Students may be withdrawn from NAPLAN by their parent or carer. This is a matter for consideration by parents and carers in consultation with the principal. If, after consultation, you decide to withdraw your child, you must sign a student withdrawal form. These forms are available at the school.

While it is anticipated that NAPLAN Online will be successfully implemented in 2022, there are a range of contingencies in place to deal with the unlikely occurrence of significant issues. These contingencies include extended testing windows and the printing of paper-based tests for all participating schools.

Later in the year you will receive your child’s personal NAPLAN report. The report will describe your child’s particular skills in reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The report will also show how your child performed in relation to national minimum standards. These describe the minimum acceptable standards for students across Australia.

I am confident that the information you receive as a result of your child’s participation in the NAPLAN tests will be valuable in helping you to assess your child’s progress in literacy and numeracy.

For more information about NAPLAN Online, please visit the VCAA website at www.vcaa.vic.edu.au or the NAP website at www.nap.edu.au

Face masks

From 11:59 pm Friday 22 April, face masks, while recommended, are not required in any school setting. This means students in grades 3 to 6, staff and visitors in primary schools are no longer required to wear face masks. Any student or staff member who wishes to wear a mask may do so, including those who are medically at-risk. If you are a household contact you must wear a facemask indoors unless you are under 8 and above or have a medical exemption. 

Screening requirements

Students and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19, and have completed their 7-day isolation period, now do not need to undertake rapid antigen test (RAT) screening for 12 weeks after their release from isolation. This was previously 8 weeks.

Household contacts

Students and staff who are household contacts of a COVID-19 case are no longer required to quarantine. They can return to school as long as they undertake rapid antigen tests (RAT) 5 times within their 7-day period and wear face masks indoors if they are aged 8 and above unless they have a valid exemption.

If any household contact returns a positive RAT result during this period, they must isolate for 7 days and not attend school.

Vaccination requirements for visitors to schools

Parents, carers and other adult visitors (not performing work) are no longer required to show evidence of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

Rapid Antigen Test screening program extension reminder

The supply of rapid antigen tests will continue for the first 4 weeks of this term. The screening recommendations remain the same and we recommended you all to test your child/ren at home twice a week.  We will be distributing the rapid antigen tests via your child’s bag when the deliveries arrive at school.

Air Purifiers

We also  received another delivery of air purifiers late last term and now have two purifiers in almost all classrooms across the school.

 Financial support available to people affected by COVID-19:

For more information, visit:

Financial and other support for COVID-19 | Coronavirus Victoria

If you need a payment during coronavirus (COVID-19) - Getting help during coronavirus (COVID-19) - Services Australia

 General advice and support

For general advice and support please call the Department of Education and Training COVID-19 hotline on 1800 338 663.

Advice and further resources about what to do if you test positive to COVID-19, or you have been told you are a contact, are at: Your COVID Checklist | Coronavirus Victoria, or call the 24/7 Coronavirus hotline on: 1800 675 398

Spare Clothes for students

We have noticed an increase in the amount of children requiring spare clothing. If you could please put a spare change of clothes in your child's bag (particularly if they are coming home in spare school clothes). We would also appreciate if you could wash the school spare clothes and return them to the office (no need to return underwear, we are unable to reuse this due to heath regulations). 

 Recess and Lunchtimes

Our students have recess from 11:00am - 11:30

Lunch starts at 1:00pm, the children eat their lunch in the classroom for 10 minutes and then go out to play until 2:00pm

If you wish to collect your child for an appointment during these times, please make sure you still come into the office to sign them out.

Our email address is macedon.ps@education.vic.gov.au or phone number is 54261518.

Family Invoices

Thank you to the families who have returned your family invoice notices. If you could please return these to the office ASAP it would be greatly appreciated.

Working with Children Check

All parent helpers at Macedon Primary must have a valid working with children check. It is free for a volunteer check, please apply online at https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/individuals/applicants/how-to-apply-1If you have a valid working with check and have yet to provide it to the school, please email a copy or come into the office and we will take a copy.

Julie and Emma

The following awards will be handed out at assembly. Please note,  we will not be holding a formal assembly in the JCB this week, the assembly will be over the loudspeaker at school.

FKB - Will D - for always being an amazing helper.

FKB - River B - for insightful contributions to our InitialLit sessions.

FKH - Lola C - for her incredible participation in all our learning.

FKH- Caleb Mc - for his quick speed in raising his hand and answering questions.

1/2TT - Cameron C - for a big improvement in his written work.

1/2TT - Ted S - for settling into Macedon Primary School well, Great job.

3/4MS - Archie T - for working hard to improve the length of his writing.

3/4MS - Harrison C - for always offering to help others and his teacher.

3/4MS - Holly B - for putting a lot of effort into her creative writing.

3/4GS - Asha T-D - for excellent punctuation in her recount writing.

3/4GS - Tally R - for being organised and in control of his learning.

3/4VW - Darcy S - for great work on a poster about road safety.

3/4VW - Lucy R - for great work creating a poster about road safety.

5/6AB - Lexie J - for completing all her spelling and vocabulary with success.

5/6AB - Spencer R - for being an excellent role model in class and listening to the teacher.

5/6MS - Emmanuel A - for a fantastic transition into the school community at Macedon Primary.

5/6RC - Ayden G - for his excellent work on his 'uniquio' comic.

Visual Art - Isla P - 5/6AB - for her terrific work ethic in Visual Art.

Visual Art - Eva W - 5/6AB - for her excellent attitude in all Art classes.

On Friday the 28th of April the years 3 to 6 at Macedon Primary had athletics. The activities performed on the day were shot put, discus, hurdles, 100m sprint, 800m run, triple jump and long jump with breaks in between the events to rest and eat. Everyone did tremendously well. It was an awesome day. There were 4 ribbons given out for every event: the 1st , 2nd, 3rd and 4th. The weather was just a bit windy at times but other than that the weather was amazing.  

By Declan and Erica, Sports Captains

On Friday 29th April we had our House Athletics for grades 3 to 6 at Dixon Field in Gisborne. It was a great day, and it was wonderful to see the students participating so enthusiastically for their house. There were some fantastic efforts and lots of encouragement throughout the day.

We are not able to run events like this without the wonderful support from the teachers and parents. I would like to make special mention for the parents who were not only able to come along and support the students, but help to run the events. Thanks so much to: Kelli Cox, Jill Loper, Deb Fiori, Tess Walliss, Tash Mahony, Elise Rush, Liesl Frankenberg, Jodee Hurley, Liz Phillips, Marie and Tim Blomfield, Narelle Roberts, James Livingston, Silje Eriksen, Peter Taylor, Michael Parchent  and Michael Smith. If there is anyone I have left out I sincerely apologise. I really appreciate all the help you were able to offer to make our athletics day a success.

The final results are being worked out this week and we will let you in the newsletter next week.

Thanks very much

Mr O

This Thursday afternoon Mrs Baker's class will be going over for their first session at Middle Gully. If any parents would like to come over to help, you are welcome to attend. The sessions start at 2pm (after lunch). Please make sure you sign in at the office and have provided the office with your working with children check. Younger siblings are welcome, but must be supervised at all times.

Mr O is working on the roster for the rest of the term, we will provide an update in next week's newsletter.

Last week Miss Hall's foundation class went to Middle Gully with some Grade 6's. Please find some lovely photos below.

Spaces are filling up for OSHC.  Most spaces are taken up by permanent bookings and we are unable to book casuals in (they will have to be placed on a waiting list).  If you have a permanent booking and do not need the service for After School please advise the program as soon as you know, preferably before 11.00am on the day so we are able to give that space to another child.  For Before School, please call before 6.30pm the day before or email the service on oshp@macedonps.vic.edu.au

Late cancellation fees apply if your child’s place is cancelled after 11.00am.  Further, if you do not cancel your child and they do not attend, fees may still apply.

Fees for 2022

Our rates for 2022 are: $16.00 for Before School Care (7:00am - 8:45am) and $23.00 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.

Young Voices of Macedon, a community choir for children of the Macedon Ranges invites primary school children to join us in Term 2. Under the direction of well-known and highly respected conductor Polly Christie, the choir has groups for younger and older children, which work both separately and together to learn a great variety of fun songs. The current emphasis is on songs about the environment. The choir also aims to provide quality training in voice production, part singing and performance, and features a friendly social environment.

Rehearsals take place on Thursdays at 4.15 pm at the Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland Street, Woodend. For further information visit www.yvmacedon.org.au