Chewton Primary School
Newsletter 2nd February 2023
Newsletter 2nd February 2023
Chewton Primary School is situated on Djaara Country.
We acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung people, the custodians and caretakers of the land. We thank them for the care they have taken and continue to take of Country: the rivers, mountains, trees and animals. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging.
We commit to Be Brave and Make Change.
Wishing you great happiness and prosperity
6-17th February Swimming lessons
6 February Safety Crossing visit P-2 10am
10 February Sushi
16 February School Picnic 5:30-7:30pm
17 February Swimming Carnival
27 February Student Learning Conferences: no classes- students are required to come to school with their parent(s) for goal setting conferences. 11am-6pm
6 March Curriculum Day: 8 Ways Pedagogy for teachers
10 March School Photos
10 March Sushi
13th March Public Holiday
Solomon
My dog gin comes to school with me every day
Lila
I love playing with my friends and my buddy in the playground
Jasmine
I love the playground
Oscar
I love playing soccer in the playground
I like the playground
Handover should be in mid February and the 3-4-5 class will move into their new room. The P-2 class will wait until the dividing door is in place. New furniture will arrive mid to late term to make our spaces complete.
We will need parents to help move furniture and boxes from Clare's place back to the school in late February. Stay tuned!
6th-17th Feb
All students have Lunch 12:30-1:30 and walk to the pool 15 minutes before their lesson
Lessons
5-6 1:30-2:00pm Patsy, Scott and Kahu
3-4-5 2:00-2:30pm Renee/ Miki and parent helper
P-1-2 2:30-3pm Sue, Eloise, Bernadette and parent helpers
Students need to bring swimmers, rashi or Tshirt, bring a towel and goggles are optional.
Please make sure that shirts and jumpers are labelled!
Preps are asked to join us for their lesson on Wednesday at 2:30 for the next two weeks! P-2 parents can pick children up at the pool at 3pm.
Payment information was sent out this week. If you did not receive it, please contact Bernadette or Graeme. Kitty is on leave for the first few weeks of school and Graeme is stepping in to assist. Thanks to the early birds who have already paid!
Kimochis 2023 at Chewton Primary School
When it comes to academic success, studies show that students with a higher emotional intelligence tend to gain higher grades and better manage the social world around them, thus forming more positive relationships. To promote your child’s academic success and overall wellbeing our school is continuing to implement a schoolwide tool called, Kimochis Social Emotional Learning Program.
Our new families this year will be asking what is Kimochis? (KEY.Mo.CHEEZ), means feeling in Japanese. Feelings fuel behaviours that can either help us or keep us from reaching our goals. We want to ensure your children reach their academic potential and make healthy and happy friendships.
Teaming with parents is our mission as together we can help your students come back to school with more positivity and have a successful school year. Below you will find our schoolwide message and 4 powerful communication tools your children will be learning and using to manage emotions in positive ways. We hope you will join us in using these helpful emotion regulation tools in your home.
The Schoolwide message:
All feelings are okay. All behaviours are not.
(This means you can be MAD, but you can’t be mean with your words or actions)
4 Powerful Communication Tools will continue to be taught and used throughout our school
to help decrease challenging behaviours that are fuelled by BIG feelings and promote wellbeing
and a happy school year. Please join us in using these tools at home.
Name It: The “Name it” tool allows everyone to name what they are feeling rather than “Acting- Out” or “Acting-In.”
Calm-Down Breath: The calm-down breath tool helps reduce the size of feelings so people are better able to choose a positive response rather than default to challenging behaviours such a yelling.
Redo Tool The redo tool allows everyone to have a “second chance” after making mistakes and redo a hurtful moment in a kinder way.
Go to a Trusted Person: The Go to a Trusted Person tool helps all know it is strong and brave to ask for help with our feelings. No one should be alone with feelings in challenging times.
The 4 Communication Tools in Action
• I feel mad so I NAME IT verbally or point to, hold, or show the feeling that is
obstructing learning and/or positive interactions with peers.
• I take a calm-down breath to make my mad feeling smaller, so I don’t yell, hit,
push, or hurt myself or others.
• If I yell or do the wrong thing, I take a redo and try again in a positive
way to express my feeling.
• If I need more help with my BIG mad feeling I turn to a trusted person because I am strong and brave and ask for help when needed.
The Schoolwide process:
• Feeling charts and feeling bowls are used throughout the school day to create
a positive learning environment and as a shame-free, effective way to respond
to challenging behaviours.
Feeling Charts for the Home
• I have attached a feeling chart you can put in a high traffic area in your home to help
build your child’s emotional vocabulary and awareness. Please don’t hesitate to see your child’s teacher or myself (Linda- Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader) for more information if needed.
Students in the 3-4-5 class this week exploring feelings and friendship in Kimochis as part of our start up program
0401 411 881
My name is Scott, I'm teaching instrumental music at Chewton PS. I have a few spots available this year for new students at any level for:
guitar
bass
drums / percussion
voice
keyboard / synthesizer
Lessons go for 30 minutes and happen during class time. We study a mixture of fundamental techniques and playing songs.
I'm a classically trained composer and a garage band rocker with a passion for synthesizers. I also teach at Castlemaine North and Taradale PS, run Open Mic Castlemaine and a committee member of the Castlemaine Electronic Workshop. Playing and studying music has been a big part of my life and I’m excited to be sharing my experience with students locally.
For more information, or even just a chat about options for your kids, feel free to phone me on
0401 411 881 or email thehouseofandersen@gmail.com
Parents will need to update your child’s new class at School Lunch Online site before placing any orders. Orders must be placed by 5pm Thursday. No late orders available. If you do not have an account you need to register. It only take a few minutes.
http://www.schoollunchonline.com.au
Term 1
Friday 10th Feb
Friday 10th March
Term 2
Friday May 12th
Friday June 9th
Term 3
Friday July 14th
Friday August 11th
Friday September 8th
Term 4
Friday October 13th
Friday November 10th
Friday December 8th
Judy Hill has offered to cook delicious lunches with the students twice a term this year! Thanks Judy.
Friday 24th February Spaghetti/ pasta with tomato and vegetable sauce and cheese
Friday 24th March Homemade bread rolls. Fillings- lettuce, cheese, tomato & hommus
Friday 12th May Homemade baked beans on toast
Friday 19th May Cheesy pancakes (made with cauliflower) and home made tomato sauce
Friday 4th August Home made bread rolls. Fillings- lettuce, cheese, tomato & hommus
Friday 25th August Spaghetti/ Pasta with homemade sauce and grated cheese
Friday 27th October Cheesy Pancakes and homemade tomato sauce
Friday 24th November Home made baked beans and toast
Cost $2 to cover cost of ingredients
Gluten free, vegan options available
We still have windows and baltic pine lining boards for sale. Proceeds go towards new library furniture. Please see Bernadette
At our last School council meeting, the data on the school uniform surveys was discussed.
School Council have decided to have a trial in Term 1.
First 4 weeks of school: Full school uniform
Week 5 and 6: School top/jumper and choice of pants/shorts
Week 7 and 8: Optional- choice of wearing uniform or casual clothes
Week 9 and 10: Survey of school community- students, parents and staff to find out views on uniforms.
School Council to review survey data at 30th March 2023 Meeting and decide next course of action
Next meeting: Thursday 23rd February 6:30pm
Are you interested in joining School Council? We are looking for new members this year. We meet on the last Thursday of each month at 6:30pm
There are still a few things to give away. They are located by the skip in the main car park.
Djaara (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation) https://djadjawurrung.com.au/
Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation https://nalderun.net.au/
We are in the North Central District
On Extreme Fire Danger days we relocate to Castlemaine Primary
Please read our emergency information carefully
Every term we have a drill to practice what we do in case of an emergency. Our school is in a bushfire zone and plan accordingly. In the case of an emergency we may have to evacuate. We will evacuate to Castlemaine Primary School. Parents are asked not to collect children until advised it is safe to do so. Our roads are narrow and we need to keep them as open as possible for emergency vehicles.
In the event that we need to shelter in place, we go to our Multipurpose Room. It has a solar system with battery back up, sprinklers, and will soon have shutters on the windows. We have satellite communication back up and a kit containing first aid and water.
We work closely with the Chewton CFA to make sure our planning and practice drills are best practice.
In the case of an emergency, parents will receive a text from our school mobile phone. You will need to respond with a YES to let us know you have received the message. If you do not respond we will attempt to ring you. This phone is not monitored except in emergencies, so it is not a daily form of school communication. Please make sure you put the number into your contact list.