Chewton Primary School
Newsletter 2nd May 2024
Newsletter 2nd May 2024
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 follow Bunjil's teaching: Care for self, care for others, care for Country.
We commit to Be Brave and Make Change.
We will be a voice for generations.
Now, more than ever
(April-July)Misty mornings and cool rainy days.
Knorre Knorre (wombats) emerge when there is sun and eat the new shoots of grasses.
Goonang-a (lyrebirds) perform courting dances.
Kombadik (tree fern shoots) are eaten.
Days are short and nights are long.
The constellation of Yerrer Det Kurrk (Sagittarius) rises in the southeast after sunset, indicating the mid point of cold weather.
Djinup (cockatoos) are noisy and seen flying high and low.
With thanks to Aunty Julie and Nalderun
3rd May Castlemaine District Cross Country - Year 3-6
Reconciliation Walk Planning Meeting 9am
5th May Working Bee 9:30-12:30
10th May Walk to School Day Sushi
15th May Open Day - School Tours 9:30-11am
22nd May Curriculum Day - no students at school
24th May Schools' Sorry Day Ceremony Western Reserve 10am
31st May Reconciliation Walk 9:30am
7th June Sushi
Great news everyone!
We have been named as a finalist in the ResourceSmart Schools Awards for School of the Year!
The ResourceSmart Schools Awards celebrate the legendary efforts and impacts made by schools in sustainability. Our school has been chosen as a finalist in the School of the Year category for our work on revegetation, community, Indigenous perspectives in our award winning curriculum and student led initiatives such as the dog poop protest.
We have been invited to attend the awards ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on the 4 June along with the other finalists. The theme this year is Legendary legacies – what will you leave behind?
Speaking of legendary legacies, since 2008, 1,600 ResourceSmart Schools (including us!) have work together to:
save more than $60 million on bills
plant more than 5.2 million trees
save more than 74,000 tonnes CO2e greenhouse gas emissions
divert 168,000 cubic metres of waste from landfill
save 1.8 million kilolitres of water.
The ResourceSmart Schools Awards are a joyful and affirming celebration of schools and students and their sustainability triumphs. The awards are the state’s largest sustainability celebration for primary and secondary school students, teachers and school volunteers taking remarkable sustainability action. We are proud to be recognised among the schools doing sustainability work that benefits students, the planet, and the wider community alike.
Learn more about this year’s finalists: https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/resourcesmart-schools-awards-2024-finalists
Next Friday the 10th May if our first sushi lunch of Term 2. Don't for get to place your order by 5pm on the Thursday.
Our new shed has arrived and will be assembled in the coming weeks. You will notice some earthworks that have happened today beyond the vegie patch and outdoor kitchen. This is to create a base for the shed and to begin the first steps in creating a usable space for tables and bench seats for community gatherings and outdoor learning.
A big thank you to the folk that helped with the compost bay relocations that has allowed this project to get underway.
We will be hosting an Open Day on the 15th May for prospective families, please share the info with any friends or neighbours who may be interested.
Follow the poster below to learn Auslan at home! This great channel is affiliated with Auslan Education Services which we use to teach Auslan at school.
This week Bernadette, Freda, Tyrone, Aiden and Millie went to CSC to talk with Kath Coff and student leaders from other Castlemaine Schools to discuss our Sorry Day speeches. This year schools will hold a Sorry Day event on Friday 24th May at Western Reserve at 10am. Families who are able to make the Sorry Day event on Sunday 26th May are encouraged to do so.
We are going to revamp our outdoor fire pit area, directly behind the school. We would like to chop up some wood to make seating, securely attach it in place around our fire pit and build a path from the back gate to the area. We are keen to make better use of this space for outdoor fires, learning and having a yarn. We have a number of keen parents and only need four more. Hopefully you can help! We need wheelbarrows, shovels and mulch spreaders!
Yummy morning tea provided!
Planning is underway for our 2024 Reconciliation Walk on 31st May. If you are able to assist, please see Bernadette or Bethia.
We will have staggered starts this year as we anticipate a lot of schools to join us, along with more community members.
We need lots of parent helpers
setting up the story boards 4pm Thursday 30th May
helping on each storyboard station 9:15-2pm
setting up stations from 9am
packing up/ taking down the story boards 2:30pm 31st May
Meeting Friday 3rd May 9am
Congratulations to Hildie, Orlo and Otto for reaching 20 Values Cards. Presented by yarram yarram captain Edan and helper Xanthe!
Have you filled out the behaviour survey yet? The link was emailed to you and asks you to rate a range of behaviours as minor or major. All staff, parents and students are invited to fill this out. Staff will then make a chart and plan responses and supports. Remember, behaviour is taught like any subject at school. Please take the time to look at our Expected Behaviour Matrix which has been made with everybody's input. Teachers have made lesson plans to teach these behaviours and we have a wide range of supports in place to assist all children to be successful in this area.
Grade 5/6 are excited to be learning about our vulnerable wildlife and how we can identify the problems before investigating solutions
By Sully
Last Tuesday when Uncle Ron visited, he told us all about how he makes didgeridoos for famous people and also plays for them.
He taught us all about racism and how his father could only get educated up to grade 3.
Uncle Ron also told us about how Muhammad Ali couldn't get a hot dog after he just won a boxing championship.
My favourite part was where he played the didgeridoo.
By Zekie
On Tuesday Uncle Ron came to visit. He brought two didgeridoos. He played them for us. Ron told us about possum skins and ochre rocks. He showed us some small soft rocks that make ochre.
By Otto
Ron went all around the blue & green globe and met the Queen too. He played his Didgeridoo. He saw art and he saw people, lots of people. He met friends, lots of friends.
By Hildie
When Ron visited, I liked how he played the didgeridoo, it made some funny noises. He also played the didgeridoo to the Queen he did tell some stories.
By Orlo
Uncle Ron loves black cockatoos. He told amazing stories; some were very sad.
By Rudy
On Tuesday the 23/4/24 Ron Murray came and told us a Teaching of a spirit that turned into a frog then the lyrebird taught him how to sing.
He talked about how he plays didgeridoo professionally.
He told us he grew up Balranald and he told us about the frog that kept being stolen.
By Valentino.
I loved it when Uncle Ron played the didgeridoo. It sounded perfect!
By Arnie
On Tuesday last week Uncle Ron came to visit us. He is cool and funny because he tells funny stories. He brought a didgeridoo. He gets to play the didgeridoo all over the world and in front of the Queen when he was a boy.
By Leif
On Tuesday 23/4/24 Uncle Ron Murray came to visit us. He found a log and turned it into a didgeridoo. He plays the didgeridoo all around the world like India.
Please meet at Chewton oval from 8.30am
We will depart Chewton oval at 8.45am to walk to school
Parents if you normally walk to school or drive, please join Bernadette and Margot to walk with your child to school from Chewton oval. There will be supervision from 8.30am and we will depart oval for school at 8.45am.
Walk Safely to School Day asks that we all consider our transport habits and try to incorporate more walking as part of a healthy, active way to get around. And although walking all the way to school isn’t realistic for many of us, it’s quite easy to figure out how you can build a walk into your family’s daily routine.
You can teach your child the healthy habit of walking more by:
• Walking with them the whole way to school
• If they get the bus, walk past your usual stop and get on at the next stop
• If you must drive, park the car a few blocks away from the school and walk the rest of the way
Every child who walks to school on Friday May 10 will receive a certificate.
Djaara (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation) https://djadjawurrung.com.au/
DJAARA - Home | Facebook Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation https://nalderun.net.au/
Anti-racism https://racismnoway.com.au/ https://alltogethernow.org.au/racism/racism-in-schools/how-to-discuss-racism-with-children/
Reconciliation Week 2024 Now more than ever https://www.reconciliation.org.au/now-more-than-ever-nrw-2024/
New to 2024 - Under 12 Girls!
Games to be modified rules and played on Friday nights. As an introductive offer for 2024 all Under 12 Girls team players will be FREE registration. To register your interest and obtain a FREE registration voucher please contact Nathan, nathanminster@outlook.com
Register for Castlemaine Auskick here
First Nations Days of Significance
Term 1
13th February Anniversary of Apology to Stolen Generations
Term 2
26th May Sorry Day
27th May - 3rd June Reconciliation Week
31st May Reconciliation Walk
7th-14th July NAIDOC Week
4 August National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day
9 August International Day of the World's Indigenous People
Sports Dates:
Term 2 19th April
Grade P-2 Tabloid Sports
3rd May
Grade 3-6 Cross Country (Division 17th May)
7th June
Grade 3-6 Hockey/ Soccer (Goldfields Division)
21st June
Grade 3-6 Football/ Netball (Goldfields Division)
Term 3 5th-6th Sept
Grade 3-6 Tennis/ Cricket
Term 4 11 October
Grade 3-6 Goldfields Tennis/ Softball
21 October
Grade 3-6 Goldfields Division Cricket/ basketball