Macedon Primary School Newsletter

19 October 2022

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

Principal's Report

Dear parents,

Flooding Across Victoria

We are feeling quite blessed here this week while watching the news around the state of the terrible floods.  One of our Macedon Ranges Network schools, Darraweit Guim Primary School was inundated.  The school and their 45 students have been relocated to Wallan Primary School.  The Macedon Ranges Schools have pooled resources, contacted suppliers and provided range of equipment for the school as they start their recovery and rebuilding.  They will be housed at Wallan until some more portable classrooms can be provided to their school site.  I drove over our contribution to their school over yesterday afternoon and passed through Darraweit Guim on my way.  The flood waters in the valley peaked at 7.8m and the school is completely devastated. The principal, Carol Booker, told me that they had 1.8m of water through most of their buildings and everything is destroyed.

We have provided what they need up until this point, but they will need more support from our Network as they continue the recovery.  There will be many stories just like the Darraweit Guim Primary School one over the next few weeks and I encourage you to show you support to our fellow Victorians and Australian’s where you can.

With more rain expected later this week and into the weekend, I have cleared all the drains and we’re ready as we can be here.  There is often very little impact here with heavy rain fall, so expect us to be open and operating in most conditions.

Year Five Six Camp

Our Year 5/6 students are currently at Camp Howqua in the Howqua valley on their three night camp.  For many of these students, this will be their very first official camp experience.  There was a lot of nervous excitement yesterday morning but we have heard that the weather is amazing and they are really enjoying themselves today. Please see below some action photos of the students enjoying a variety of activities on camp.

We will be monitoring the weather over the next two days and will remain vigilant about our route home and the potential for road closures.  We anticipate that all of this will be fine, but we have some contingencies plans in place if the rain expected later this week comes early and is heavy.

Regional Cross Country

The Year 3 - 6 students are invited to attend a Regional Orienteering event at Brimbank Park on Friday November 11th.  There is an event created on XUNO for this, we need parents to reply by the 20th of October as Mr Oxworth needs to submit the entry by the end of the week. Macedon Primary has a long tradition of orienteering, this event is for students who choose to go, there is no obligation.

Kind regards and Sampai jumpa (until next time),

Matt

Camp Photos

The Australian Fire Danger System

In September 2022, all jurisdictions across Australia will implement a new fire danger forecasting system, the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS).  This will deliver a nationally consistent system for fire danger ratings based on the latest scientific research.

What's changed?

The new Extreme fire danger rating under the AFDRS will cover a broader scope of fire ratings combining the current Severe and Extreme fire danger rating.

In addition, Code Red will now be known as Catastrophic fire danger.

What does that mean for us?

Macedon Primary is classified as a Category 2 school, meaning that we will now relocate in accordance with our pre-approved plan on a day forecast Extreme FDR  for our LGA (Local Government Area).

We will continue to communicate with the school community over the coming months about how the AFDRS change will be applied and how we can support the community through the transition.


COVID update


COVID-19 isolation requirements have changed

The Victorian Government has announced the end of the Pandemic Declaration and associated Pandemic Orders.

The following settings, based on advice from the Department of Health, will apply from 11.59pm Wednesday 12 October 2022.

It is strongly recommended that students:

  • who test positive to COVID-19 stay home and isolate for 5 days
  • should not attend school after 5 days if still symptomatic
  • who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school
  • advise the school of the COVID-19 positive test result

Where students become symptomatic at school they should:

  • be collected by their parents/carers
  • undergo testing for COVID-19

Reporting positive COVID-19 test results

The Department of Health recommends that a person who tests positive for COVID-19 should inform those with whom they have recently been in contact, including their workplace, schools and household.

Parents and carers will therefore be asked to continue to report positive student COVID-19 cases using the VicED COVID Tool.

COVID-19 vaccination changes

The current mandatory vaccination requirement for staff and visitors, contractors and volunteers working in specialist schools will cease to apply from 11.59pm Wednesday 12 October. COVID-19 vaccination, including booster doses, continues to be strongly recommended for all school staff.

Face masks

Staff and students who wish to wear a face mask should be supported to do so, and schools should continue to make face masks available for staff, students and visitors.

The Department of Health recommends that masks should be worn by a person who is a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 when leaving home.

Additionally, the Department of Health recommends that masks should be worn by a person who has COVID-19, for at least 7 days after a positive test, when they need to leave home.

Important Dates

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

26 October - Grade 6 'Choosical' wellbeing day

27 October - District Orienteering - Yr F -6  Tony Clarke Reserve

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

4 November - First Foundation 2023 transition morning

11 November - Regional Orienteering Yr 3-6 

17 November - BagusKan Indonesian incursion

18 November - Second Foundation 2023 transition morning

24 November - Grade 5/6 Bike ride to Hanging Rock

25 November - Foundation excursion - Fairy Park

30 November - Grade 6 'Choosical' wellbeing half day

1 December - Foundation Activities - Middle Gully from 11:30am

2 December - Foundation Activities - walk 9:00am-12:30pm

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

7 December - Third Foundation 2023 transition morning

7 December - Billy Cart Race Day

13 December - Forth Foundation 2023 transition morning

14 December - Grade 6 Graduation

16 December - Grade 6 City Excursion

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

Whole School Orienteering - 27 October

All children from Foundation to Year 6 will be participating in our local Orienteering program to be held at Tony Clarke Reserve in Macedon, on Thursday 27th October 2022. There is no cost for this event.

Children will leave school soon after 9am and walk to the Reserve, returning around 12:15pm.  

This is a house event, so children are encouraged to wear house colours.

As this is a local excursion we do not require further permission beyond the forms signed by parents/carers at the start of the year.

Parents/Carers are welcome to meet the students and teachers at Tony Clarke Reserve to cheer the children on and/or assist with the running of the program throughout the morning. Please contact David Oxworth or the office if you are able to assist on the day.

Please ensure your child has a sunhat and sunscreen, a raincoat if required, and the students will be carrying their own snacks and drinks in their bags. Lunch will be eaten back at school.

Another orienteering event is the Regional event at Brimbank Park on Friday November 11th. This is for grade 3 to 6 students. There will be a note going home this week which needs to be returned by Wednesday 19th October as I need to put in the entry by the end of that week. This event is for students who choose to go, there is no obligation.

Mr O

From the office

Medications at school

If your child requires medication at school you must bring the medication to the office and fill out the 'Medication Authority From'.  Students are not to be taking medication in their classrooms. All medication must be in its original container and bear the original label with the name of the student and information on the dosage time and to be administered.

https://macedonps.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/medication-authority-form-frm-v1.0-may-2008.pdf 

Student mobile phones

A reminder that students need to sign their phones in at the office. This also includes watches that can make phone calls, SMS or access the internet, must be signed in at the office.

If children need to be collected early or are not feeling well, they need to let their teacher know and you can be contacted. Also, if parents have messages to give to their children during school time, please call the office and we will pass this information on. If you would like to familiarise yourself with our mobile phone, you can find it here:

https://macedonps.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Mobile-Phones-Policy.pdf

Spare Clothes

With the wet weather upon us and the school grounds muddy, we are asking student to pack a spare change of clothes. We have a limited supply of spare clothes in the sick bay, however, we would appreciate you to bring in some spare from home. Also,  if your child does borrow some clothes, please returned them to the school.

Xuno

Thank you to those parents that have logged into the Xuno platform and set up their passwords. Macedon Primary is starting the transition to Xuno. Parents can login now and look up student reports for semester 1, 2022. You can also use Xuno to advise of absences, update your details, see the school calendar and your child's attendance.  We will eventually be able to accept payments for excursions and book parent/teacher interviews. To access Xuno please click on the link https://macedonps.xuno.com.au/index.php or there is a tab on the school webpage. 

Late arrivals

If your child is late to school (after 9:00am) can you please sign them in at the office. The teachers mark the rolls at 9:00am and if your child is late to class they will be marked as absent and you will receive an SMS asking about their whereabouts.  The classrooms are open from 8:50am.

Foundation 2023 enrolments

Foundation enrolments for 2023 are now open. If you have a child that is starting school next year of have friends or family interested in enrolling their child at Macedon Primary, please contact the office for an enrolment form or click on the following link: https://macedonps.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2023-Student_Enrolment_Form_Updated_Feb_2018.pdf 

Voluntary Curriculum Contributions

The process for invoicing parents for voluntary curriculum contributions. If you are unsure if you have paid or if you would like to pay, please contact the office.

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

Student Achievement Awards

Due to the grade 5/6 students being on camp this week, we will not hold an assembly or hand out awards.


STEM Update

So, today the Foundation students and I were so upset to hear that Mr B. and the Grade 5 and 6's were away, we decided the best thing to do was use their classroom! (also called the Penthouse Suite... ok, so maybe only I call it that)

As we had so much space to work in, and I still had the Green Screen equipment setup, today's class become a Drama Lesson.

Students had to think about any place in the world they wanted to go, and then, how they would act when they were there.

They then did some of this amazing acting in front of the green screen and then found images of the places they wanted to go and combined these together.

You can see some of the action in the image here, we will have a screening in our class next week (just in case your young person comes home today and asks why their epic movie was not in the newsletter)

Mr. Garcia

Sports Tops

Do you have a sports top at home that hasn't made its way back to school? We are missing quite a few sports tops and would appreciate it if families could return any tops. Thanks!

Middle Gully Program Update

20th October – 3/4GS

27TH October – No Landcare because of orienteering

3rd November – 5/6AB

10TH November – 1/2AM

17TH November – 1/2TT

24th November - 1/2CS

1ST December – 2 x Foundation classes

8TH December – 5/6MS

15TH December – 5/6RC

Parent helpers are always welcome, please sign in at the office prior to going over to Middle Gully and make sure the office has seen your current Working With Childrens Check.

Our sessions are on a Thursday afternoon from 2:00pm - 3:30pm. 

Younger siblings are welcome, but must be supervised by their parent or guardian.

Sunsmart Reminder

In line with our Sunsmart policy, we ask that all students come to school with a wide brimmed hat. At recess and lunchtime and any other times when outdoors all students must wear a hat. Students who are not wearing hats will be asked to play in the shade or in a suitable area protected from the sun.

Hats are available for purchase at Beleza Uniforms in Gisborne, or you can purchase any wide brimmed navy hat. We have sunscreen at the office if the children would like to wear sunscreen.

Outside School Hours Care

Please notify the office or email oshp@macedonps.vic.edu.au if your child is sick and will not be attending before or after school care.  

We now have spaces available for casual days, however you need to fill out an enrolment form PRIOR to your child starting at the service. f 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.

Scholastic Book Club - Term 4

ISSUE 7

This issue has a massive 40 pages filled with great value for parents, making popular books accessible and affordable for all families.

Issue 7 includes:

  • Best of 2022 Section
  • Halloween Reading
  • Graphic Novels
  • Christmas Wrap-up
  • Amazing Packs
  • $6 and Under Value Books at $3 


The return date is 24th October. This is our last Scholastic issue for the year, so if you want to get some Christmas shopping done please mark the order as a "GIFT" and your child will not be given the order in their class, we will contact you to pick it up from the office. 

Community News

Macedon Junior Cricket

Macedon Cricket Club is running Woolworths Cricket Blast again this season. It’s a fun and fast programme for kids of all abilities to learn the skills and play Australia's favourite sport.

5 - 10 year olds. All welcome. 

It doesn't matter if you've never picked up a bat or ball. (We use rubber balls - not hard cricket balls).

Learn some skills, meet some other locals and most importantly - get out there and HAVE FUN.

Come and join the fun at Macedon Cricket Club (Tony Clark Reserve), Sunday mornings from 9:00 - 10:00, starting November 6th.  

Registration will be online via the Playcricket website.

You can find general details at playcricket.com.au. Any queries please contact Andrew (andrew.jeanes@robertbird.com.au)

For any budding cricketers 10-12 years of age Macedon Cricket Club would welcome enquires to come and join our U11 or U13 sides.  Please contact Todd (todd.c@qubedadvisory.com.au) or Clint (clint.grobler@gmail.com).

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.