Macedon Primary School Newsletter

10 November 2021

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

Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Carers,

2022 Class Structures

We have begun the process of developing our class structures for 2022.  This is always a complex process in which we are trying to develop the best fit for our students and a structure that supports the strong collaboration between teachers.

In 2022 the class structures will be as follows:

Foundation

Year One/Two

Year Three/Four

Year Five/Six

2 Classes

Three Classes

Three Classes

Three Classes

 

2022 Class Placements

Now that the class structures are settled, we have started the process of developing the student class list for 2022. This week your children will be identifying a list of five class members from their year group that they believe they work well with.  We use these lists to ensure that each child has at least one person from their list as they move into the following year group.  We recognise the importance of fostering and maintaining friendship groups and understand that it is equally important for students to mix and learn with peers who have different interests.

All teachers at Macedon Primary School are caring and committed educators and we strive to ensure that all students are provided with a high-quality education.

Whilst we appreciate that you may feel that your child would benefit from being placed in a class with a particular teacher, given the complex nature of assigning students to classes we are able to consider these requests but cannot make any guarantees that they can be accommodated.

Our school leadership team have an in-depth understanding of each teacher’s strengths and will always endeavour to place our students with teachers who are best placed to suit their needs. We do not re-allocate students to different classes during the school year unless exceptional circumstances arise.

2022 Prep Transition

Today we had our second transition for 2022 prep students. After last weeks session, Gia drew a picture of her day, it is such a lovely drawing we thought we would share it. We will be doing a make-up session on the 24th of November for those who missed out last week. We look forward to welcoming all of the new students.  

School Photos

We have planned school photos for Tuesday 16 November.  If you require spare envelopes to book in your photos they are available at the front office.

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.

 Kind regards and Sampai jumpa (until next time)

Matt Forrest

Important Dates

16 November - School Photo Day

17 November - Foundation 2022 orientation session #3

19 November - Whole school transition Session - 10am, literacy

24 November - Foundation 2022 orientation session #4 

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

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

10 December - Macedon Primary Billy cart races - 2pm start.

14 December - Grade 6 Graduation Dinner

16 December - Year 6 excursion to the city

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

From the office

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

Student Achievement Awards

The following awards will be read out at our virtual assembly on Friday at 3:00pm https://eduvic.webex.com/eduvic/j.php?MTID=m153068e262b8e84d0d58d48fd9e8765c

F/1TT - Elliott P - For always doing his personal best.

F/1TT - Pippa B - For her hard working attitude and for terrific progress.

F/1TT - Mabel P - For always producing excellent work and for being kind.

F/1MS - Cameron C - For his neat letter formation when practising his handwriting.

2RG - for being amazing, awesome people!

3VW - Arwen J - for always doing her best work.

3VW - Sam C - for showing good work ethic and concentration.

3/4MS - Duncan Mc- For his excellent Middle Gully piece for writing. Well Done!

3/4MS - James P - For his excellent use of descriptive words in his Middle Gully story.

3/4MS - Ruby W - for putting in an excellent effort into her math test. Well Done!

Western Water Poster Competition

Thank you for participating in the National Water Week poster competition for 2021. We received 143 fantastic entries from students across our area.

Participation Certificates:

Sophie W, Sienna R, Zara W, Noah R, Mali R

 And an amazing result with:

Ida S who won 3rd place in the Year 1/2 category.

Please see Ida's fantastic artwork, well done! 

Jump Rope for Heart

I am excited to announce that Macedon Primary School are participating in Jump Rope for Heart this year – a fantastic fundraising and physical activity program by the Heart Foundation.

 

By participating in Jump Rope for Heart this term, we will get our students moving. Over recent weeks, as part of the PE program, your child has learnt new skipping skills and increased their physical activity. We have ropes available to use at lunch times and recess to encourage everyone to help raise funds for lifesaving research and support programs. It has been great to see so many students practising their skipping skills.

The program will launch this week with a skipping display by representatives from each class. 

When you register your child online you’ll get access to additional skipping resources to help give your child a great reason to get away from the screens and get outdoors. Register and create your own secure webpage at:

https://www.jumprope.org.au/register/jump-rope-for-heart/defaultparentflow

By signing up online, you and your child can:

 

-          Easily raise funds online

-          Track skipping skills progress and earn virtual badges along the way

-          Post updates to your page so family and friends can follow their progress

-          Access additional skipping resources

 

If you would like to fundraise, please do so through the online method. We will not be accepting cash donations at the school. The last date for fundraising will be Thursday 18th November.

If you experience any issues with the online fundraising or if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for getting involved in Jump Rope for Heart!                                                                            

Yours sincerely,

David Oxworth

Jump Rope for Heart Coordinator

School Photos - 16th November

We have confirmed Tuesday the 16th of November with MSP Photography.

Please hold on to your original envelopes, if you require a new envelope or a sibling envelope, we have some at the office. 

All children will be photographed on the day, any late orders will need to be followed up with MSP Photography, we are unable to accept late envelopes at the office. 


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 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 14th.  

 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)

Other Age Groups

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.