Macedon Primary School Newsletter

8 May 2019

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

Principal's Report

Dear Parents,

Athletics day

The athletics day at Dixon Field yesterday was a success and it was great to get a clear day for the students to proudly wear their house colours and participate.  We would like to extend our gratitude to Mount Macedon PS who kindly shared Dixon Field with us for our rescheduled date. 

Thank you to all the staff and parent support for the event.   I would also like to acknowledge the effort and planning David Oxworth put into yesterday.  It is always challenging arranging a large scale event like this and making arrangements to postpone and reschedule them adds to the organisation required.  Thank you David.

 School Council – Sub Committee Support

Thank you to all of the parents who have volunteered for the school council sub-committees over the last week.  We have had a wonderful response and are set to have strong committees in 2019.

We are still seeking support for the Grant Writing Committee.  Those who are interested in trying to secure funding for the school in the form of grants please contact me via email to express your interest in this committee.

NAPLAN

The National Assessment Program in Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will be conducted across Australia on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week.  Tests will be held for students in Years 3 and 5 in Language Conventions (Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation), Reading, Writing and Numeracy.  The results of the tests provide diagnostic information for parents and teachers about a child’s performance in literacy and numeracy.   The NAPLAN reports are issued to families in September.  As with all school assessments, the teaching staff use the results from these tests to further support improvement in teaching and learning for our students.  We wish all of our Year 3 and 5 students all the very best next week.  For more information about the tests, visit the NAPLAN website at http:// www.naplan.edu.au

PFA Events in May

The PFA are busy at the moment with a number of school events occurring in the next two weeks, including the Pasta Day, the Mother’s Day stall and the Movie Night.  Thank you to the parents who make these great community events happen.  It is great to see some of our newest parents putting their hand up and getting involved.

2020 Foundation Information Morning

Tracy Tadd, Millie Strong, Emma Tuck and myself will be holding an information session for prospective parents on Wednesday 22 May at 9am in the Library.  The information session will include a presentation from the teachers, a short tour from our year six student leaders and a morning tea.  If you know any parents who live in Macedon who are considering our school as an option for their child please encourage them to attend.

Happy Mother’s Day

To all the mum’s out there Happy Mother’s Day for this Sunday.  We hope you get spoiled and have a chance to put your feet up.

Matthew Forrest

forrest.matthew.j@edumail.vic.gov,au

Important Dates to Remember

  • 9 May - PFA Mothers Day Stall 9am-11:30 in Multi and after school 3:30 -4:00 in library
  • 9 May - Rescheduled F-Yr 2 Athletics
  • 10 May - District Cross Country
  • 14 May - NAPLAN (Yr 3 & 5) Language conventions and writing
  • 15 May - NAPLAN (Yr 3 & 5) Reading
  • 16 May - NAPLAN (Yr 3 & 5) Numeracy
  • 17 May - NAPLAN (Yr 3 & 5) catch up tests permitted.
  • 17 May - PFA Movie Night
  • 18 May - Election day PFA BBQ
  • 20 May - District Soccer
  • 22 May  - 2020 Foundation information session; 9.00am - 11:00am
  • 5 June - Grade 6KB & 6/5AB Sovereign Hill excursion
  • 7 June - Curriculum Day - Student free day
  • 10 June - Queens Birthday Holiday - Student free day
  • 11 June - District football 
  • 14 June - Foundation Excursion to Werribee Zoo
  • 21 June - Winter Solstice Family Bonfire night

Notes / Information sent home to parents

From the office

Dear Parents,

QKR!

We have a way of making payments via credit card for uniform shop, excursions, camps and school activities. It is called QKR! and is available to download for free through the app store or Google Play (please see instructions below).

Yr 6 to Yr 7 Transition Forms

Transition forms were handed out to students last week and also emailed to Yr 6 parents. Can you please return these forms to the office by Wednesday the 15th of May regardless of where your child is attending school next year (government or private schools).

Foundation Enrolments 2020

We are starting the process for Foundation enrolments in 2020. We are having an open morning and information session on the 22nd of May at 9.00am. If you have a child that is starting school at Macedon Primary next year can you please let us know. If you know of other families wanting to enrol their children in Foundation next year please pass on this information. Please note, it is a Department of Education recommendation that children attend the local government Primary school closest to their home address. This means that Macedon Primary must first cater to our existing and immediate surrounding families.

Thanks

Julie & Emma

Mothers Day Stall on Thursday 9th May– Don’t Forget Your Mum!

The Student Council with the assistance of the PFA will be holding a Mothers Day Stall Thursday 9th May. There is a wonderful range of gifts for Mums at a cost of $5 each – each related to the theme of ‘war on waste’ – so expect some useful and sustainable gifts. The sale will take place in the multi-purpose room (where OSHC is held) from 9.00 - 11:30 and then a 'fire sale' will take place after school in the library from 3:30 - 4:00.

This year we are making it easier for you to pay, we are going to have a QKR! pre-payment option, so you don't need to search for change. PAYMENTS CLOSE TODAY AT 5PM. Just log in to QKR! and look for the mothers day stall option.

Middle Gully - Landcare

Last week the students had a wonderful time at Middle Gully, please see some photos of the day below. The students participated in the following;

- started work on new wooden signs for Middle Gully Reserve

- learned about how to look after chickens 

- discovered what goes in compost and worm farm

- checked out what is growing in the vegie garden and tasted kale, rocket and herbs

This week we have 2 Landcare sessions on both Wednesday and Thursday. Parents are very welcome to come along.

Week 3 – Wednesday 8th May – Foundation students first Landcare session. Both Foundation classes will attend with their Grade 6 Buddies.

Thursday 9th May - 4CS

Week 4 – Thursday 16th May - 4/5MS

Week 5 – Thursday 23rd May - 1KH

Week 6 - Thursday 30th May - 1/2RG

Week 7 - Thursday 6th June - 2VW

Week 8 - Thursday 13th June - 2/3BT

Week 9 - Thursday 20th June - 5/6AB

Week 10 - Thursday 27th June - 6KB

Landcare is run by volunteers who enjoy gardening, outdoors and seeing the students learn about the environment around them. We welcome anyone who would like to come help out on a Thursday afternoon between 2pm and 3.30pm (even if your child's class isn't scheduled for that day). 

Younger siblings are also very welcome although are your responsibility. 

For more information, please contact David Oxworth, Matt Forrest or Penny Ball.

Art Room Request - Polystyrene meat trays

Mrs Pain has requested donations of polystyrene meat trays (washed) for an upcoming art project. If you have any trays, can you please leave them in the box in the foyer. Thanks!

Awards to be presented at this week's assembly

'Got Ya' Awards

The 'Got Ya' awards are to acknowledge and encourage positive attitudes and behaviours in the school yard. It is also a way to promote KidsMatter throughout the school grounds. The yard duty teachers have raffle tickets to hand out to students observed doing the right thing. The teacher will record the child's name and house on a raffle ticket which will later go into our "Got Ya" tub to be drawn at the next Friday assembly.

The number of tickets for each house is tallied on a Friday and the weekly house winner announced at assembly. At the end of the year, the winning house wins the KidsMatter Shield.

Donations of empty, clean plastic bottles (with lids) wanted!!

With the Winter Solstice event approaching, the following classes will be making lanterns in their Landcare session this term: 1KH, 1/2RG, 2VW & 2/3BT. Please check the landcare schedule in the weekly newsletter to see when your child’s class will be participating in this activity, and feel free to come along to help students with pasting and putting their lanterns together. Or help out in the garden if you prefer! Landcare is on Thursday afternoons from 2 to 3.30pm at Middle Gully Reserve.

In keeping with the War on Waste theme of last term, we are seeking donations of empty, clean plastic bottles, with lids, to turn into lanterns. The 1.5 litre milk bottle, as shown above, would be perfect. Or something similar would be great too!

Please leave your bottle donations in the white tub at the front office.  Many thanks.

Election Day BBQ and Cake Stall! Help needed please.

 PFA are holding a BBQ and cake stall on Saturday 18th May 8am – 2:30pm. This is a great opportunity for our school to raise funds in the wider community as they come to the school polling station.

Cake and Produce Stall:  We will be seeking donations of cakes, slices, biscuits, home made produce (jams etc) and home grown produce (egg, vegies etc).  Plates for donations will be sent home on Monday 13th April with donations to be dropped at the school on Friday 17th or the day of the stall. You can get extra plates from the office. Please indicate if your donation requires refrigeration overnight!  We will also need helpers on the stall in 1 hour stints on Saturday morning.

 

BBQ:  We are looking for volunteers to help out on the BBQ and stall on the Saturday morning. If enough people volunteer then we can just do 1 hour stints  (either before or after you vote!).  You can let Ronelle know the times you are available to help by filling out this form https://doodle.com/poll/8agkgtvu7ngpziff or you can contact Ronelle on 0413900804 or ronellehutchinson@outlook.com to volunteer to help! 

PFA Movie Night - 17th May

Event is free, however a $5.00 donation will be greatfully accepted. Payment can be made by cash or QKR!

Includes popcorn and a drink. Additional popcorn $1.50

Mary Poppins Returns - rated PG

Movie starts at 6:20 SHARP, duration of the film is 2 hours and 10 minutes.

Siblings welcome, adult supervision required.

Bring something comfy to sit on.

Prompt collection of children is requested as hall will be used for election the following morning.

Outside School Hours Care

In before and after school care this week, the children have been making Autumn posters using the leaves that we collected in our local area. We are also doing our May calendar which will include all the school activities.

Thank you to the parents who have paid their accounts and are now up to date. If you have any outstanding accounts, can you please arrange to pay these as soon as possible.

CWA: We have recently emailed a number of parents with a reminder that they have not yet signed the CCS CWA (Compliance Written Agreement ). When signed this will then allow you to receive the child care subsidy if you qualify. 

Vicki, Helen, Karen, Marie & Bianca.

Scholastic Issue #3

The latest Scholastic Catalogue was distributed this week, please note that we do not accept  cash payments for Scholastc, all payments must be paid via the scholastic website; http://www.scholastic.com.au/LOOP

Orders are due back by Friday the 10th of May. Thanks for your support!

School Council

The School Council meets eight times each year, but much of the work in between meetings is done by small enthusiastic subcommittees. Members of the school community are now invited to get involved by joining one (or more!) of the following subcommittees:

  • Education & Policy – responsible for drafting, consulting on and reviewing the school’s policies;
  • Facilities – responsible for the strategic planning and maintenance of the school’s grounds and facilities;
  • Pine Plantation –responsible for managing the future of the school’s pine plantation;
  • OSHC – responsible for managing all aspects of the Out of School Hours service;
  • Grants – this is a new group and is calling on those with an interest/experience in identifying and applying for grants. Last year the school received $20,000 from a single successful grant application!

 

Details of upcoming subcommittee meetings will be circulated later this term. Please contact the front office to express your interest, or email macedon.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au , subject line “Subcommittees”.

Community News

Macedon Primary School