From the Office

Welcoming Rosie

Kitty will be taking 4 weeks leave this term and next term for teacher placements. Rosie Annear will be in the role while Kitty is away. Rosie will be here each Friday for the rest of the year whilst learning the role. Please welcome Rosie and be patient as she learns the ropes.

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. You will receive an email with the link and pin to access 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.

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

Are you able to give up a half hour a week/month to make muesli slices with our Green Team? Our slices are so successful we seem to be making a batch every day, and need some parent helpers to make this a sustainable option!

Whats happening this week in P-1...

Whats happening this week in 2-3-4...

Lots of incredible work about an Olympic athlete and an Olympic sport. Come in and see our class display. It is worthy of a gold medal!

Whats happening this week in 5-6...

As part of our unit of Civics and Citizenship, Grace 5-6 students are investigating different types of government systems. They are very creative in their presentation: Lots of pop- ups and lift the tab to discover their research!

Wellbeing with Margot

Parenting is both rewarding and challenging. Here are two evidence based programs that are fully funded to support you to improve your parenting skills. 

Sustainability

On Friday the Minister for the Environment, Steve Dimopoulos visited us with Maree Edwards, representatives from Sustainability Victoria, Resource Smart and Connecting Country, to see what amazing work we are doing in Sustainability., along with Kim Saddlier from the Department of Education.

We had storyboards with photos and information set up around the school and students spoke to the Minister about what they are learning about in each area.

Quincy and Freda led the tour through the veggie garden and through our storyboards.

Orlo, Tilly, Leif, Hildie spoke about planting trees in the bush behind the school.

Quincy, Hunter, Oscar and James spoke about the muesli bar project to reduce soft plastics.

Emilia spoke about Indigenous perspectives, 8Ways learning and our Reconciliation Walk.

Tenzin and Aiden showed how we test water for our River Detectives program.

Eidi, Millie, Quincy, Freda and Emilia talked about the Dog Poop protest and gave the minister a badge.

Ennis and Lila showed the Minister our bins and how to sort waste.

Serena and Bernadette spoke about our next steps: redesigning our veggie garden and learning about how to propagate and grow Indigenous foods with Murnong Mummas and Nalderun. These will be incorporated into a central place in our veggie garden. It will be a lot of fun learning!

Amazing effort everyone. Steve was very impressed with how confident and well spoken all our students were, and the incredible work we are doing. 

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.