Reconciliation Week 2025: Bridging now to next. Stay tuned for lots of learning and a call out for assistance. Join us for our Reconciliation Walk on Friday 30th May at 10am. We need helpers, photographers, filmakers, friends and family to walk with us!

Reconciliation Walk Friday 30 May from 10am

Equipment:

We need trestle tables, gazebos, 25m power leads, portable power source (solar preferred) that can power a TV for 3hrs

Volunteers:

Set up Thursday 29th from 4pm

Pack up Friday 30th from 3pm

On the walk:

We need lots of helpers on the day. Thisyear we have 16 stations. Are you brave to do the introduction at the beginning of the walk? Our school captains lead with an Acknowledgement of Country and we have a Welcome to Country from Uncle Rick. We then have a parent share a reflection about what the walk means and why Reconciliation is so important. 

There is much angst in the community at present with the election, booing of Welcome to Country, which follow on from the racism experienced in the Referendum. Please be mindful of our First Nation community and give them support as they navigate this difficult time.

Let’s Start the Day Strong: The Importance of Being On Time

A friendly reminder that arriving at school on time helps all students get the best start to their learning day.

We understand that occasional lateness happens — and we appreciate your efforts each morning. However, when students arrive late, it can delay the start of lessons, reduce valuable learning time (especially in literacy), and disrupt the flow of the classroom.

Being on time not only supports your child’s success but also shows respect for others’ learning and helps create a positive, focused classroom culture.

Thank you for your continued support in helping students arrive ready to learn, right from the start of the day.

What's happening in P/1?

It’s been a fun and busy start to Term 2 in the Prep/1 classroom! Here’s a little peek at what we’ve been up to over the past two weeks.

We were thrilled to welcome Sue back to our classroom! The children were so excited to see her again, and it’s been a lovely way to ease into the new term.

📚 Literacy Fun

Our Preps have been working hard in Literacy, learning new sounds and meeting more of Milo’s friends from Stage 2 of the Little Learners program. So far, we’ve focused on the letters B, H, N, and O, and the Heart Words he and she. They’ve been learning to blend these sounds to read and write words like hat, on, bat, and no. It’s been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they proudly read aloud to their teachers and classmates. Keep up the great work, Preps!

Our Grade 1s have finished revising Stage 7.1 and are now exploring Stage 7.2, where we’ve been learning all about R-controlled vowels like /ar/, /or/, and /aw/. These special sounds help us read words like shark, sport, and prawn. We’ve even had some fun conversations about how accents can change how we say words like saw and claw — Canadian vs. Australian pronunciation debates included!

🔢 Maths Magic

In Maths, we’ve been busy with counting, addition, and even learning about time and calendars. The Preps have been using 10-frames, counters, and classroom objects to add numbers up to 10, while the Grade 1s have taken on the challenge of adding numbers up to 20. Great effort from everyone!

🌿 Inquiry Adventures

This term in Inquiry, we’re diving into a research project on Bush Foods — exploring how they’ve been used in the past, how they’re used now, and what their future might look like. This ties in beautifully with our learning for Reconciliation Week. We’re lucky to be working with Kath and Serena, who will help us explore, plant, and hopefully cook with some of these amazing native plants.

🚌 Excursion Excitement

We’re also counting down the days to our first excursion and bus ride of the year — Tabloid Sports! We’ve been practicing lots of fun games in PE and can’t wait to join students from other schools for a day full of energy, teamwork, and excitement. Keep an eye out for photos soon!

It’s been a fantastic start to Term 2, and we’re so proud of how well everyone has settled back into school life. We’re looking forward to more learning, laughter, and lots of fun in the coming weeks!

What's happening in 2/3/4?

In preparation for Reconciliation Week we have been learning about what Reconciliation is and defining key terms and concepts such as colonisation, racism, equity, justice, treaty. We have also been exploring the National Reconciliation Week (NRW) 2025 theme, Bridging Now to Next, which reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future and urges us to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us.

We have also looked at the work of the Yoorook Justice Commission as we will be preparing storyboards about the Yoorrook Walk for Truth for our own Reconciliation Week Walk.

Our class has registered as a choir with Reconciliation Australia. Reconciliation Australia is calling singers across the country to come together in song to contribute to National Reconciliation Week 2025, from Tuesday 27 May – Tuesday 3 June. The song we will all be singing is the iconic Australian anthem Solid Rock written by Shane Howard.

We will be practicing during class time and students also have copies of the lyrics to practice at home.

What's happening in 5-6?

In the Grade 6 room we began Non-Fiction texts for writing/reading. We looked at inferences in community responses to the recent bushfire in Daylesford, we will be reading transcripts of these online disputes as part of our Bushfire Education presentation.  We have continued with Measurement in maths investigating practical applications for different units and concluded our narrative story publishing leading to reading our work to the Foundations students. Grade 6 students enjoyed their open day at CSC and the remaining four Grade 5 students enjoyed the quiet.

Resilience Rights and Respectful Relationships (RRRR)

For term two all classes are exploring Topic 2 – Cultural and Personal Strengths.

This week students in P/1 read the book Sharing by Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson and then created their own sharing drawings. In 2/3/4 students worked in small groups as respect advisors. Their task was to discuss how in different scenarios, such as when playing sport or a game respectful actions matter. Students in 5/6 worked with a partner to show how personal strengths’ such as compassion, loyalty and generosity can be utilised by each of us to be both respectful and inclusive of others.

Some of the personal strengths students are learning about include:

Bravery, Determination, Honesty, Forgiveness, Curiosity, Self –Control, Fairness

Hands On Learning (HOL)

This semester in HOL the focus is on each student building their own recycled wooden stool. Some of the tasks involved in the project involve using a mini crowbar to pull apart pallets, cutting identical legs using a mitre box and crosscut saw and utilising hammers and drills to construct the stool.

Lunch is always a popular part of the program and some of the dishes we have cooked this semester include Turkish gozleme, burritos and gnocchi.

Our favourite time of year: Cubbies!

Helpers needed for our Wesley Hill Market Stall Sat 31st May

Hi parents! The CPS Market Stall for this term will be on Sat May 31st at Wesley Hill Markets. We need lots of help so we can raise as much money as possible for the school. Can you contribute something to sell (e.g baked goods, preserves, garden produce) or do a shift at the stall/cooking bbq? Please sign up at this link: 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ApoOHoyuPEwBdWzgKRVa4q_wxN9vhvUs1jRIN0Xfzao/edit?usp=drivesdk

Emily

Thanks Rob, Damian, Luke and Justin for moving the table frames to the shade sail area. This will make a lovely new outdoor learning and eating space.

Marilyn Keogh is our new Strings teacher.  Marilyn came in last term to show the children the violin and do a short performance. We have lots of interest already! If you are interested, please get in touch with Bernadette

Grade 5-6 students went to see CSC's Mamma Mia production at the Phee Broadway this week. We saw Act 1 and it was fantastic! You can still catch the show this weekend.

 First Peoples connections and information

Community Notices

TERM TWO 2025

0-11 YEARS PARENT SUPPORT AND EDUCATION SESSIONS

The Loddon Children’s Health & Wellbeing Local will be offering weekly education sessions related to mental health and wellbeing for parents of children 0-11. These are available in person. The session is run by a lived experience parent and mental health clinician.

Sessions are open to any family with children 0-11.

Why join in?

·   Meet and mix with other parents.

·   Talk to mental health staff about your child.

·   Ask any practical questions you have about parenting at the moment.

·   Gain support for yourself as a parent.

Where: Activity Room 2, Downstairs, Bendigo Library, Hargreaves St,

BENDIGO 3550 Note the *dates are in an upstairs room at the library. Use the lift to find us.

Dates and topics:  Thursdays

*Apr 24th     1pm face to face       Sleep issues

May 1st        1pm face to face       Stop the tech

*May 8th      1pm face to face       ADHD What is it and how can I help?

*May 15th     1pm face to face       Managing big feelings

May 22nd     1pm face to face       Parent wellbeing

May 29th       1pm face to face       Anger in kids

Jun 5th          1pm face to face       Anxiety in kids

Jun 12th      1pm face to face       What is autism and how can I help? Presented by Daniel

*Jun 19th     1pm face to face       Setting limits and family rules 

Jun 26th      1pm face to face       Building social skills

If you have any questions, please contact Annette Clemments on 1800 433 977.

Book in here: using the QR code or email icfhwlocals@bchs.com.au