ENewsletter

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

Principals Report

Dear parents,

Parent Teacher Meetings

On Tuesday the 10th and Wednesday the 11th of August we are holding parent teacher interviews. The 10 minute interviews will be held during the afternoon and into the evening on both days and will give you an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress with their classroom teacher. You should have received an email with the details and instructions about how to book an interview in our online system. If you have not received your login details please get in touch with the office. Given the current restrictions we are planning to hold these meetings via WebEx. Once you have booked in, your child’s teacher will send you a WebEx meeting link. https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code?code=96zua

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Expo

We are going ahead with our expo this Friday, however it will be a student and teacher only affair due to the covid restrictions. We plan to document the expo in a video format and share it with you all. It is so important for our students to have an opportunity to share their learning with an authentic audience. We look forward to the time when we can invite you in and share our learning in person.

Family School Fete

The PFA are currently finalising details for this year’s Family School Fete in Nov. All details of the Fete will be posted in the near future. For now, we are looking for MPS family businesses who might be interested in taking up one of the remaining School Fete Supporter Packages. All details of the Supporter packages and what is included, can be obtained by contacting Melissa Carson (PFA committee member) mel.carson@bigpond.com or 0400262507.

Book Week Parade – Thursday 26th August

How are your book week parade costumes coming along? I have not made up my mind yet but I am committed to avoiding being up to 4am the night before the parade.

Sampai jumpa (until next time)

Matt Forrest

Principal

Latest Department of Education advice on COVID19

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/Pages/coronavirus-advice-parents.aspx

Qr Codes / Facemasks

Face masks at schools

Children under 12 years of age and students at primary school are not required to wear face masks while at school (or when attending an Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) program).

For communication purposes, teachers and education support staff are not required to wear face masks while teaching.

All other staff and visitors must wear a face mask at all times, unless a lawful exception applies

Visitors and parents must observe indoor face mask requirements. Face masks continue to be worn outside at all times.

QR Codes

The use of Service Victoria QR codes for electronic record keeping is now mandatory in all schools to enable the effective contract tracing of any COVID-19 cases.

QR Code check in are required to be used by:

All visitors on school site (including contractors, external Department staff and building maintenance staff)
All parents who enter school building when on school site.

QR code check ins are not required to be used by parents who come onto school grounds for drop off or pick up, but do not enter buildings.

Please be reminded that:

Existing sign in and out process should continue to be used to record visitor attendance, therefore visitors still need to use the visitors book at the office, for legal and regulatory obligations.

Important Dates

10 & 11 August - Parent/teacher interviews https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code?code=96zua

26 August - Book parade (Thursday morning)

20 August - Glow in the dark dance night (please note new date)

23 August - Year 3 - 6 IMAX Excursion

23 August - Yr 1 & 2 - Swimming Program

27 August - Yr 1 & 2 - Swimming Program

30 August - Yr 1 & 2 - Swimming Program

31 August - Whole School Photo Day (please note new date)

3 September - Yr 1 & 2 - Swimming Program

6 September - Yr 1 & 2 - Swimming Program

10 September - Foundation - Yr 2 Zoo Excursion

10 September - Winter Solstice Evening; 5:30pm-7:30pm

17 September - Last day of Term 3 (2:30 dismissal)

TERM 4:

5 October - First Day of Term 4

13 October - 15 October - Grade 3/4 Camp Weekaway

25 October - 29 October - Grade 5/6 Cape Bridgewater Camp

2 November - Melbourne Cup public holiday (school closed)

17 December - Last day of year (1:30pm dismissal)

Parent / teacher interviews - 10th & 11th August

This term we will be holding parent teacher meetings on Tuesday 10th of August and Wednesday 11th of August.

The interviews will take place via Webex. After you have booked your interview time, the teacher will send you a link for the Webex meeting.

You can now book interviews online at https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code?code=96zua

Bookings close on Monday the 9th of August at 3:30pm

From the Office

Looking for a permission note or important dates?

We have sent home paper forms for excursions, swimming lessons, camps and various sporting events coming up. If you are looking for permission forms or details regarding events, you can find these on the SKOOLBAG app (under events) or on our website https://macedonps.vic.edu.au/parents/#news

Wet weather clothing

Please pack an extra set of clothing (particularly socks) for your child during the Winter months. We try to get outside to play if the weather permits and sometimes extra clean clothes are required - even for the older students.

Enrolments and students leaving in 2021

We are now accepting new enrolments for Foundation students in 2022. If you have a child or know someone with a child that is wanting to enrol at Macedon Primary next year, please return your forms to the office. A link to the form is available here 2022 Enrolment Form

Alternatively, if you child is leaving Macedon Primary at the end of this year (not including year 6 students), can you please let us know, so we can start planning for next year.

Thanks,

Julie and Emma

Our Communication tools

QKR! App

The QKR! App is used for paying for excursions, school fees and Parents and Friends fundraising events.

Seesaw

The Seesaw App is a simple way for teachers and students to record and share what is happening in the classroom. Parents are only notified about their child’s own work. You will be supplied with a QR code for your child’s individual login.

Skoolbag App

Our newsletter is distributed weekly via email through the SkoolBag App. You can obtain information about school events and you can also use Skoolbag to advise an absence or to advise of a change of details.

Facebook

We have an official Facebook page which has announcements of upcoming school events.

Student Achievement Awards

Due to current COVID19 restrictions, we are unable to hold whole assemblies, however, the following children will receive these awards on Friday afternoon.

F/1MS - Aubrey R - for doing a wonderful job of sounding out words independently.

1KH - Lydia S - for her incredible start at Macedon Primary School.

1KH - Isla D - For amazing efforts in improving her handwriting!

1/2KB - Joshua M - for showing great enthusiasm during writing.

2RG - Holly M - for outstanding recount writing!

2RG - Monique P - For a wonderful writing piece about her weekend!

2RG - Connor L - For a wonderful recount about his holidays!

3VW - Archie T - for his enthusiastic participation in our potato Olympics.

3VW - Tom G - For a fantastic effort writing a profile for his potato Olympian.

5/6SK - Archie H - for his great work during our inquiry

5/6SK - Ben G - For his enthusiastic approach to learning.

6AB - Heath M - For his courage and determination with his growth and life learning.

6AB - Kody S - For always striving to do his best in all his learning.

School Photos - 31st August

School photos are scheduled to take place on the 31st of August. Envelopes have been sent home yesterday.

Each student must have their own personalised separate envelope.

If anyone would like a family photograph, we have separate family envelopes available at the office.

Spare envelopes are also available if you misplace your envelope.

Please make sure your child is in correct school uniform on photo day, if you need to purchase new uniform, the uniform shop is now through Beleza, in Gisborne or at www.beleza.com.au

Outside School Hours Care

We are currently booked out on Monday afternoons, if you are looking for casual care please contact Vicki or the office to confirm there is a space available.

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.

Book week Parade - 26th August

Each year we celebrate book week with activities, special guests, reading our favourite books, voting in the book of the year competition and who could forget the book week parade. This year we will be holding the parade on Thursday morning, we invite everyone to get their costumes ready for the parade. We love to see the craft skills out in force and encourage homemade costumes from recycled materials to dress up as your favourite characters. The theme this year is “Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds”.

Waste Free Wednesday

Glow in the dark dance night! New date - 20th August

The Macedon Primary School PFA is proud to announce the Macedon Primary School GLOW IN THE DARK Dance. The dance night will be scheduled for Friday, August 20th and run from 5:30 to 7pm for All Ages and 7 to 8pm for Years 4 to 6 only. This is a FREE, kids only event for students at Macedon Primary (only) -- so parents are encouraged to drop off their kids to join in the fun.

The Glow In The Dark Dance will include:

- a 'just loud enough' dance hall in the JCB including light show, glow in the dark lights, a VJ screen, guest DJs and special MCs on the night

- a Chill Out & Movie Room in the Art Room with some great flicks, colouring activities and a space to relax

- a Snack Bar in the JCB Foyer including fresh fruit, popcorn and water

Wear bright and white clothes for maximum fun on the night. You may even see yourself up on the big screen!

Students will sign in at the door as they enter the event and have their name and parent's phone number recorded in case an early pickup or other contact is required.

Fruit & Colouring Donations:

We will need some keen helpers and a few donations to make this event a special one.

- Donations of Fresh Fruit: the snack bar will require donations of fresh fruit to be dropped off at pickup time on August 6th.

- Donations of Colouring Pencils or Crayons: the chill room needs your donation of colouring pencils and crayons. These can also be dropped off at pickup time on August 6th. The items will be donated to the school at the end of the event

To donate items please visit the donation sign up form at https://bit.ly/3Bcjt7g

Parent Helpers:

We would love to have parent helpers sign up to assist with the Snack Bar, Chill Room, Door Team and Clean Up Squad. If you have a current Working With Children's Check and can give some of your time please sign up to help here: https://bit.ly/3ifpx6y

Parent 'Chill Room':

We know that some parents would like to stay close by and let their little party goers take a stab at having fun! We will have a Parents Chill Room set up in the Multi Purpose Room in case you would like to stay near. Why not sign up for a helper shift while you're there! https://bit.ly/3ifpx6y

If you have any questions about the Glow In The Dark Dance please contact Shaun Evans at shaun@rangesmusic.net

Photography Fundraiser

We have organised a Photography fundraiser. This is an opportunity for families to have a family portrait session and help raise funds for the school at the same time.

When: Saturday 4th of September

Where: Macedon Primary, Middle Gully Reserve (weather permitting) or the JCB

Any questions? please contact Ronelle at ronellehutchinson@outlook.com or 0413900804

To make a booking, please go to www.averandline.com.au/book and enter the guest area password: hooray2 THEN select the Centre. Families will then select their session time and pay online.

Please book by Sunday 28th of August.

Please share with friends and family

Scholastic Book Club - Term 3

Scholastic bookclub for term 3 has now closed. We will distribute to your children when it arrives into the school. Thank you for your support for bookclub.