Macedon Primary School Newsletter

Dear parents,

As you will have heard, we have had yet another change to the roadmap to returning to school this week.  From this Friday, all of our students are invited back onsite.  I have lost track of the last time that we have had all the students onsite together, but it seems like forever ago. 

A reminder, tomorrow we have the Foundation - Year 2 students and the Yr 5/6 students. Friday everyone is back.

This will be a significant day for us and we’re looking forward to the safe return to onsite learning.  We will be employing COVID safe procedures, ensuring the classrooms are well ventilated and moving the learning outside where practical.

This week we have seen the teachers and classes making full use of the outdoor learning opportunities.  We had the Year 3-4 team down at the Macedon Reservoir yesterday, as well as the foundation classes in Middle gully.  There is a high rotation of classes using the rotunda for lessons and some of the outdoor teaching and learning supplies that were purchased recently are being utilised.

Further to my information last weeks about how school will be dealing with a COVID exposure site, I have learned this week that in the event of our school becoming a COVID exposure site we can expect to be closed for approximately 24 hours.  In this scenario the school administration team will take on a fast response contact tracing role and the school will be cleaned.  One major differences, which is new, is that DET and our school will be aiming to get students who have not been exposed to the positive case back onsite more quickly than in the past.  Those students and staff who have spent prolonged periods of time inside together will be considered primary close contacts and will need to quarantine, however those who have had fleeting contact or contact outside will be considered lower risk. 

I will continue to update you on the COVIDsafe procedures as they evolve to keep you up to date as best I can.

Inclusion Leader

I would like to introduce you all to Olivia Desormeaux who is our newest staff member and new Inclusion Leader.  Olivia comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and a passion for creating inclusive environments to support students to access learning in an authentic way.  Olivia’s primary role is to support us to build our individual and school capacity to become a more inclusive.  We cater for a diverse range of students here at Macedon who come from differing back grounds and we’re excited and open to learning new ways and thinking.  We hope this new learning will help us to fulfill our roles so that all of our students feel connected, safe, heard and experience success.

Sampai jumpa (until next time)

Matt Forrest

matthew.forrest@education.vic.gov.au

National Bandanna Day is the flagship fundraising and awareness campaign for Canteen. Since Bandanna Day began it has raised more that $33 million to support young people impacted by cancer.

Akira, Mali, Leo and Noah will be selling bandanas out the front of the library from 8:45am on Thursday and Friday this week. 

Bandannas are $5 each - cash only

The last Scholastic book club catalogue for the year is out now.

This is for online ordering only. Orders are due by Monday the 25th of October via the following https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent/Login.aspx

If you would like to order gifts, please tick the box when you are ordering and we can set aside the order for you to pick up from the office rather than your child receiving the order.

Finally, a big thank you to Lisa Hall who has been coordinating book club for the last two years. This is Lisa's last year as a parent at MPS, so she is looking to pass this job on to a new parent helper. If you would like to help, please contact the office.

School photos have been postponed again due to COVID restrictions. We have confirmed Tuesday the 16th of November with MSP Photography.

Please hold on to your original envelopes.

Weather you are learning at home or at school it is important to be aware of the sun. With the change of seasons we remind all students to please wear their hats when they are outside. UV radiation cannot be seen or felt , can be reflected off surfaces, can pass through light clouds and varies in intensity across the year (it is highest in Victoria from mid-August to the end of April). 

For the students that are onsite, at lunchtime and recess we ask that children seek shade, slip on protective clothing, slap on a sun protective hat, slop on some sunscreen and slide on some sunglasses!

Hats are available to purchase from the Beleza Store in Gisborne

The Macedon Ranges 16 Days of Activism Working group are excited to offer an opportunity for Macedon Ranges community members to attend an online event delivered by the Centre for Non-Violence: Recognising Family Violence on Tuesday 26 of October 2021, 5pm – 7pm 

 Register for the event here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/recognising-family-violence-macedon-ranges-online-community-workshop-tickets-186331702137

The information session will build community knowledge around family violence in the lead up to the 16 Days of Activism campaign in the Macedon Ranges.

Learn how to recognise the signs of family violence, respond appropriately and refer victim survivors to support.

For further information contact Rhani at Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health on 5421 1666 or at healthpromotion@scchc.org.au.

For ticketing contact training@cnv.org.au.

Please share widely with your networks and in your newsletters – flyer and social media tile attached.

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/recognising-family-violence-macedon-ranges-online-community-workshop-tickets-186331702137