From the Office

Parent Teacher Interviews

Parent Teacher Interviews are next Tuesday, the 30th of July. Bookings can be made through the Compass app, please find instructions below. 

If you require an interview outside of these times, please contact you child's teacher via email. This can be done through Compass, please find instructions below.

Remember, if you have received an email from your child's teacher or a meeting invitation for an SSG (Student Support Group Meeting), then please do not book a parent teacher interview for Tuesday.

Parent Opinion Survey

WE WANT OUR PARENTS / CAREGIVERS / GUARDIANS TO TELL US WHAT THEY THINK! 

Our school is conducting the annual Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey offered by the Department of Education and is seeking your feedback. The survey is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, student behaviour, and student engagement. The survey is optional, but we encourage and appreciate your participation. This survey is an important tool that is used by staff and School Council to see what we are doing well and how we can improve. Please take the time to fill it out. 

Our school will use the survey results to assist in identifying areas for improvement and professional development needs in the school, to target school planning and improvement strategies. 

The Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey will be open online from Monday 29 July to Friday 30 August 2024.

All families are invited to participate in the survey. 

The survey will be conducted online, only takes 20 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at any convenient time on desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones. 

The results are reported in our school newsletter and to our School Council.

Please speak to Bernadette if you would like more information.

Library Borrowing

Thursday  is library borrowing for Grade 2-3-4 and Friday for P-1. Can you please remember to send your library books back on these days so children can borrow again?

New payment method available

We now have a Square machine in the office as an alternative payment to Compass/cash. At this stage, payments can be accepted on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays.

Mid-winter Raffle: Tickets $2 each or 3 for $5

The raffle has been extended and will be drawn on the new Lantern Walk date - 22nd of August.

We would love to sell some more tickets. Please collect ticket booklets from Kitty's office.

Prizes: 

Trailer load of firewood

$100 petrol vouchers

Laura Veleff ceramics

Muesli Bars

Muesli Bars are available to be purchased. You can bring in up to $5 and then your child can get a muesli bar each day from the Green Team at recess at the Outdoor Kitchen. Please bring cash to the office.  We will have vegan and gluten free option available very soon!

We are hoping you will consider a muesli bar rather than bikkies or a bar from the supermarket! 

There was lots of interest at the Resource Smart awards in our unique solution to soft plastic waste. We are keen to see what difference we can make to your wallets and your landfill bins! Thanks for your support.

Wellbeing with Margot

This week in Kimochis

P/1 are exploring the Disappointed feeling. The Kotowaza they will be looking at is “Maybe next time”

2 – 6 This week the Left Out feeling continued to be explored. Students learned how to use the Kimochis Keys to Communication to get oneself included and include others.

Getting Kids to School on Time

After the holidays it can be hard to get kids back into the routine of school.

The most important schoolwork is done in the morning so been at school on time is essential.

To help your child get to school it is important to encourage them to get organised the night before and most importantly to get to bed on time. It is recommended that primary aged children have between 9 to 11 hours of sleep each night. 

A morning visual timetable can also help. I have attached one that your child can draw and write themselves. Copies of this are at school in the hallway. There are many other examples online that you can use.

If you need any support to get your child to school, please feel free to get in contact with me.

Margot – Mental and Health and Wellbeing Leader

Hands on Learning

Lots of gardening happening in readiness for a special visit next week from the Minister for the Environment who will be coming to see our amazing work on Sustainability. 

Fun in the sandpit

Sustainability

This wheelbarrow was donated by Doug from a tip shop in South Australia. It travelled back slowly on the roof of Serena’s car, camping in the coorong and visiting budj bim national park in Victoria. 

From the Green Team

Great to see people changing their habits. Keep up the great work folks!

Soft Plastic: can you help?

Do you got to Eaglehawk? We are looking for someone to take soft plastics to the Eaglehawk Recycling Centre once a term. Can you please help us out?

Community Notices

 First Peoples Connections and information

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/ 

Treaty https://www.firstpeoplesrelations.vic.gov.au/treaty

Wararak and Gurruk time Silver wattle and magpie time

July-August – the cool weather continues but some warmer days arrive. The bush comes alive with the sight and smell of flowering wattles and the call of many birds. 

Gurruk (Australian Magpie) begin to construct nests for raising young. Water Ribbon tubers are roasted and eaten. Flowering Early Nancy signal that the eggs of Black Swans are ready for collection. The wood from some wattle species can be used for making tools. 

Early Nancy and Scented Sundews form white carpets on slopes and hilltops at places like Kalimna Park, the Muckleford Nature Conservation Reserve and the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park. Wararak (Silver Wattle) bursts into flower along the Loddon River and Campbells and Forest Creeks.  

• Water Ribbon tubers flower and seed along rivers and creeks

• Migratory Cuckoos (Fan-tailed, Pallid, Shining Bronze and Horsfield’s Bronze) arrive and begin calling for the breeding season

• Many Acacia species burst into flower including  Wayi-Galk (Golden), Wararak (Silver), Rough and Woolly Wattles  

• Rakali (Water-rat) mate

• Early Nancy and Scented Sundews form white carpets on slopes and hilltops.

The Dja Dja Wurrung seasons were compiled by Uncle Rick Nelson and Karl Just, with contributions from Frances Cincotta, Elaine Bayes, Damien Cook, Tanya Loos, Geoff Park, Cassia Read and Trace Balla. More information on Mt Alexander Shire Council's website.