Macedon Primary School Newsletter

1 September 2021

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

Principal's Report

Dear parents,

Remote Learning

With the announcements from the premier today, we have learned that we will be continuing with remote learning for the remainder of term three, this takes us to Friday the 17th of September.  While this is not ideal at least we have some certainty about the next two and a half weeks.  The recent snap decisions to come back onsite and then go back into remote learning have taken their toll on our students, staff and I’m sure many parents.  You are all doing an amazing job of staying positive and supporting your children.  If you need additional supports, please reach out to your classroom teacher or us here at school and we will do our best to help you in this difficult situation.

Disability Inclusion Department of Education Reform

Recently the Department of Education announced a funding stream to support students in our schools with a disability.  The $1.6 billion Disability Inclusion Reform package aims to increase support for students with disability through a strengths-based process to help schools and families identify the student's strengths and needs and the educational adjustments schools can make to help these students. 

The primary focus of this reform is to support us to develop our collective capacity and understanding of teaching students with a disability.  I am thankful that the Loddon and Campaspe area, in which the Macedon Ranges school are a part of, is in the first phase of the roll out of this program.  We have received significant ongoing funding for the next four years. As a result of receiving this new funding we have employed two new staff members in the last month.  Karlisa Smy has been employed as an educational support staff member to work in classrooms on a full-time basis to support the implementation of inclusive practices with students.  We have also created a new role called the inclusion leader and in collaboration with Mount Macedon PS we have employed Oliva Desormeaux in this role to work across the two schools.  Olivia will work across both schools and will be in our school for two days a week.  She will conduct classrooms visits, attend student support group meetings and run professional learning for our teachers and educational support staff.

International Competitions and Assessments for Schools – (ICAS) – University of NSW testing

The annual ICAS assessment period is approaching and parents and carers of students from Year 3 to Year 6 may register their children to sit a range of assessments to challenge their children.  This is an opt in and pay as you go program, and the assessments will be run before school between 8am and 9am in October by myself.  Please follow the link below to register your child’s interest. (details are furtherdown in newsletter) Registrations close on September 19.  The participating students receive certificates for participation and the various levels of success which will be presented at assembly in celebration of our students who strive for academic success.

Book Week

Thank you to all the students and staff who dressed up for book week. It was great seeing photos of you in your dress ups and I hope it helps to foster your love of reading. I was fortunate enough to have two visitors on the book parade day, Polly and Olive S dropped in to say hello and to show me their fantastic costumes. I know this is a highlight for many students and their parents and I would like to thank you for all your efforts. Please see a selection of photos below.

Sampai jumpa (until next time)

Matt Forrest

matthew.forrest@education.vic.gov.au

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

It is now recommended primary-school-age children wear masks while indoors and outdoors, except when in the home or when an exception applies. However, it is not mandatory.

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 September - Foundation - Yr 2 Zoo Excursion

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

16 September  - Whole School Photo Day (please note new date)

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)

From the Office

Foundation School Nursing Program

Earlier in the term we sent home an envelope with forms regarding the School Nursing Program, if you have not already done so, can you please return these forms (even if you do not wish to participate in the program). 

The school office is open from 8:45am – 3:30pm daily.

We require the forms to be returned no later than this Friday, the 3rd of September.

For more information on the program please visit https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/health/Pages/health-staff-in-schools.aspx

Thanks,

Julie  and Emma

We want our parents/caregivers/guardians to tell us what they think!

All Macedon PS families have been invited to participate in the 2021 Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey (previously known as the Parent Opinion Survey) this year.  Results will be used to inform and direct our future school planning and improvement and are also used as measures of our success against our school’s strategic plan.

 We ask you to please take the time to complete the survey as your opinions are important to us and will contribute to the future management and organisation of our school.

The survey will be conducted online and should take 20 minutes to complete.

The survey can be completed on any internet enabled device (iPad, Desktop or Laptop, Smartphone) and is compatible with most browsers.

The survey will be open from Friday 13th August to Friday 3rd September.

Please be assured that your responses are completely confidential. The survey is conducted anonymously, and it is important to us that you complete the survey as honestly as possible.

 Please follow the instructions below to complete the survey. NOTE: Only one parent/caregiver/guardian from your family is invited to complete the survey.

 

To complete the survey, simply:

1.       Click on the link below, or copy and paste the text into your browser. This link will take you directly to the survey.

https://www.orima.com.au/parent

2.       Select the School and Campus name below.

        Macedon Primary School

3.       Enter the School PIN below.

(the school pin was sent to you in an email on Friday the 13th, please contact the office if you have not received this email.)

 4.       When complete, please click on the tick button at the end of the survey to submit your answers. Please note that the survey will time out after 60 minutes of inactivity.

Thank you for taking the time to participate. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Questions?

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any general queries about the survey. For specific technical or participation-related queries, you may also contact the Department or the supplier administering the survey, ORIMA Research.

¨       Should you have any technical queries regarding the Parent Opinion Survey, please do not hesitate to contact ORIMA Research on 1800 654 585 (toll free), or by email: pos@orima.com

¨       Should you have any participation or survey-related queries, please contact the School, or the Department by email: parentopinion.survey@education.vic.gov.au.

 

Some classwork from 1KH - Great work!

Recipe of the week - Chocolate Coconut Balls

Mr O had some fun with the onsite learning kids making chocolate coconut balls

Ingredients:

1 packet plain biscuits

395g sweetened condensed milk

2 tbs cocoa powder

2 cups shredded coconut

Method:

  • crush the biscuits into small pieces and place into a bowl
  • add the sweetened condensed milk and cocoa powder and 2 tbs of the coconut.
  • rolled heaped table spoons of mixture into small balls. Dips each ball in the coconut until it has covered the whole ball. Repeat this step with remaining mixture.
  • Put onto a plate and refrigerate for about 15 minutes.



Book week Photos - Well done to everyone for dressing up!

Patrick H
Jasmine H
Bryn G - 'The Hobbit'
Zara G - Tabby Mc Tat
Zara W - 'The Witches'
Sophie W 'Jinnora' from legend of Korra
Lukas B
Sarah and Lukas B
Miss Hall
Akira
Asher M - Harry Potter
Isabel G
Ms Harrison
Vera C - Matilda
Archer C - Rex Hunt
Caitlin L - The Little Mermaid
Mitchell S - Treehouse books
Sarah B
Aubrey R - The Boy in Oliver Jeffers ‘How to Catch A Star’.
Hector Mc- Dog Man
Cooper B - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Jess B - Enola Homes

School Photos - New Date - 16th September

School photos have been re-scheduled to take place on the 16th of September. 

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


2021 ICAS Exams

ICAS is open to all students in Yr 3 - 6 to gain a measure of their own achievement in an external situation. This year we are offering English and Mathematic assessments.

The assessments will commence at 8am. with the test time ranging from 30- 60 mins.

PAYMENT: $17.05 per test per child.

Parents need to pay directly using the following link and code- by the STRICT cut-off date of 19th of September.

The parent access page address is: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps

Code: FQS757


Outside School Hours Care

IMPORTANT: Before and After School Care Bookings. Please read!

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.

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.

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

Community News

Have your say

I would like to let you know that our draft Municipal Early Years Plan CREATE 2021-2025 is now open for community consultation.  There are a number of ways that the community can provide feedback on the plan, including completing a brief survey through the www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/yoursay webpage, or phoning, emailing or posting in feedback via 5422 0333 or mrsc@mrsc.vic.gov.au.  There are two online feedback sessions for community members, which they can register for through the Have Your Say webpage.

 Additionally, we are conducting an online feedback session for stakeholders on Tuesday 24 August from 1:00-2:00pm, which you can register to attend through this link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEqdO6spj0jEtQm8V4Jg8JCaq5EJ42s3X0j.

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.