Macedon Primary School Newsletter

24 November 2021

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

Principal's Report

Dear parents and carers,

Bike Education and the Hanging Rock Bike Ride

It is fantastic to see so many bikes at school this week.  Being an avid bike rider myself I am really thrilled to see the students travelling to and from school in a healthy and environmentally friendly way.  The year five and six bike education program has been running on Tuesday afternoons at school in preparation for the Hanging Rock bike ride excursion this Friday.  The bike ride travels up Middle Gully Road through the Macedon regional park and sticks to as many gravel trails as possible between here and Hanging Rock.  There will be a support vehicle trailing the students and a number of adult riders to support the group through out the day.  It is fantastic day and I wish all the students all the best on Friday. Please note, there will be no lunch orders for 5/6 the students on this day.

Bike Safety Reminder – Students Riding to and from School

With the increase in students riding to school it is timely for me raise the issue of riding safely.  There have been some near misses reported to me between cars and students riding.  Typically, these near misses arise when students swerve unexpectantly into the road, ride on the wrong side of the road or cross the road without using the supervised crossings.  It would be great if the parents of children who are riding unaccompanied to school could run through these basic road rules with their children and do some practice on the local roads together.

Fish Release – Macedon Reservoir

We are looking forward to the fish stocking event at Nursery Reservoir on November 25th in conjunction with the launch of the school new fishing program. Selected students will be supported by the fisheries officers and will be involved in helping release 250 catchable rainbow trout.  Travis Dowling the CEO of the Victorian Fisheries Authority will be a special guest at the event.

The fish release links with a recent incursion with Fish Care which focused on sustainable, educational fishing. The students were taught how to identify fish, learnt about size and bag limits, and practiced tying a basic fishing knot.  As part of the fish release event, selected students will be given the option to participate in a practical lesson where they could try their hand at fishing.

The school has been gifted a class set of fishing rods from the VFA – the Victorian Fisheries Authority and the teachers look forward to seeing the Grade 6 students in action at their upcoming school camp.

A big thank you must go to Cara Cummings, who has been heavily involved in setting up the fish release and involving school in the process.  I look forward to joining the students on Thursday morning at the res.

COVID reminders

Visitors Onsite

From the 1st of November, parents and visitors will be allowed back on site at school. All parents who enter the school building are required to wear a facemask and check in using the QR codes and visitor’s book. Facemasks do not need to be worn outside, however people must adhere to physical distancing requirements.

Vaccination Requirements for Parent Helpers

There may be activities later in the term where we seek parent helpers, these can go ahead from now.  Any visitor or volunteer performing work in schools are required to be fully vaccinated by 29 November (unless a medical exemption applies) to attend on site.

Under the COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination (Specified Facilities) directions issued by the Victorian Chief Health Officer, schools must ensure that all visitors and volunteers who attend the school comply with vaccination requirements.

Parents that wish to volunteer on camp, excursions or school activities must supply vaccination information to the school indicating their vaccination status. This can be in the form of the following;

·         a letter from a medical practitioner confirming the person’s vaccination status or confirming a person is medically exempt.

·         A certificate of immunisation

·         An immunisation history statement obtained from the Australian Immunisation Register.

The school will maintain a vaccination register for visitors and volunteers.

 A visitor or volunteer attending a school site as a parent or carer for the purposes of collecting or dropping off children is not considered to be attending for work purposes and will be subject to the same requirements as all other parents collecting and dropping off children.

 Masks

Face masks will still be required for staff, visitors and Year 3 to 6 students in an indoor space at school.

The wearing of masks remains recommended for Prep to Grade 2 students and in circumstances where physical distancing cannot be maintained.

Finally, we ask that if your child is not well, please do not send them to school. If your child is unwell at school, you will be contacted to collect them.

Kind regards and Sampai jumpa (until next time)

Matt Forrest

Principal

Important Dates

25 November - Fish stocking event at Macedon Res - 9:30am

26 November  - Yr 5/6 Hanging Rock bike ride

30 November - Y 3 & 4 Camp at Middle Gully

1 & 2 December - Yr 5 & 6 Camp at Middle Gully

2 December - Yr 3 & 4 - excursion to Hanging Rock

6 December - Numeracy Step Up Day - 10am

6 December - Foundation Parent Info Session - 7pm 

8 December - Tabloid Sports 9:00am - 11:00am

10 December - Macedon Primary Billy cart races - 2pm start. (new date)

10 December - Foundation - Yr 2 Zoo Excursion (new date)

14 December - Grade 6 Graduation Dinner

16 December - Year 6 excursion to the city

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

Grade 6 Billy cart Race Day - Thursday 9th December, 2:00pm

Notes sent home

Please click on the links to find the notes that have been sent home recently. 

Year 3/4 Excursion - Hanging Rock - due back 26th November https://macedonps.vic.edu.au/events/year-3-4-excursion-hanging-rock/

Year 6 Graduation Dinner - due back on 1st December https://macedonps.vic.edu.au/events/grade-6-graduation-2/

Year 6 Billycart Race Day  https://macedonps.vic.edu.au/?post_type=ajde_events&p=1524&preview=true

Year 6 Melbourne city excursion - due back 6th December https://macedonps.vic.edu.au/?post_type=ajde_events&p=1526&preview=true 

Year 5 & 6 Bike Ed - forms due by 15th November https://macedonps.vic.edu.au/?post_type=ajde_events&p=1528&preview=true

Year 3 & 4 Middle Gully Camp - due 26th November https://macedonps.vic.edu.au/?post_type=ajde_events&p=1531&preview=true

Year 5 & 6 Middle Gully Camp - due 26th November https://macedonps.vic.edu.au/?post_type=ajde_events&p=1533&preview=true 

Foundation, Year 1 & 2 Zoo Excursion - due 3rd December https://macedonps.vic.edu.au/events/foundation-year-1-2-zoo-excursion/


From the office

Lunch Orders

We encourage students to put their lunch orders in the tubs at school. If parents do put the lunch orders in directly at Red Door, can you please ensure the bag is clearly marked "Macedon Primary" and the correct class is written. This saves a lot of issues on a Friday lunchtime when we are handing out lunch orders.

Collection of Students

If you need to collect your child from school early, can you please email macedon.ps@education.vic.gov.au or call the office on 5426 1518 to advise. With the children participating in outdoor education and possibly being over at Middle Gully it is a great help to have advance notice. Our recess starts at 11:00am - 11:30am and lunchtime is 1:00pm to 2:00pm, if you can endeavour to pick up at these times, it limits the interruption to class time.

Request for Credits / Refund /Donation

A reminder to please return the forms for credit / refund / donation as soon as possible so Julie can process these requests. 

Facemasks in the school

Visitors are now allowed back in the school buildings, we ask that all visitors people sign in using the QR code and wear a mask inside. Masks are no longer required outside.

It has been great to see the students wearing their facemasks to school.  We encourage students to bring their own facemasks to school, however, if their mask becomes damaged or lost we do have some supplies here in the office.

Students feeling unwell

Students are required to stay at home if they are feeling unwell. Even the mildest of flu-like symptoms should be followed up with a COVID19 test. Students who present with or develop flu-like symptoms at school will be isolated at school and sent home. If your child vomits at, they must stay at home for at least 24 hours.

Julie  and Emma

Fish Release at Macedon Reservoir - 25th November

On Thursday 25th November grades 3 to 6 will be involved in a release of fish at Macedon Reservoir from 9:30am.The event will be attended by some people from both the Fisheries department and Fishcare. After the release, grades 3 to 6 will have the opportunity to catch some fish using the new rods which have been donated to the school by VFA – the Victorian Fisheries Authority.

If any parents are available to come down and assist this would be greatly appreciated. Please see Mr.O if you would like to come down.

Thanks so much to Cara Cummings for arranging this event and the donation of the fishing rods. We hope to include fishing as a regular part of our outdoor program.

 Mr Oxworth

Student Achievement Awards

We will not be holding assembly this week due to the year 5/6 bike ride. The children will be given their awards in class.

F/1TT - Archie B - for terrific effort with all of his work.

F/1TT - Elissa A - For always doing her personal best.

F/1MS - Mia S - For using her initiative to help other in the classroom.

F/1MS - Gray M - For his fluent and expressive reading.

F/1MS - Grace H - For being a responsible classroom leader!

1KH - Leni S - For an amazingly entertaining retell of "The Very Super Bear"

1KH - Matilda C - For her incredible efforts and results with our weekly spelling.

1/2KB - Lullaby B - For showing great concentration during her maths testing.

1/2KB - Mitchell S - For writing a great persuasive piece on "Cats vs Dogs"

2RG - Isaac C - For displaying great confidence during 'share time'.

3VW - Remy L - For great work with fractions and decimals.

Uniform Shop News

Jump Rope for Heart

Thank you to all the families who joined the Jump Rope for Heart    Challenge . We raised $2454 and jumped rope for a total of 21 hours. Congratulations to Myles C, Isla S and Bree M who were our top performers. We will distribute prizes when they arrive.                                                                   

Yours sincerely,

David Oxworth

Jump Rope for Heart Coordinator

Remember to be SunSmart

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). 

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

Outside School Hours Care

Enrolments for 2022 are filling fast, if you need OSHC next year please let us know.

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.

Community News

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.