Chewton Primary School
Newsletter 16th October 2025
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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 teachings: 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.
Poorneet (tadpole season) - September to October
Kulin seasons
Chewton Primary wins Lynette Russell History Prize for First Nations History in Schools
Chewton Primary wins Lynette Russell History Prize for First Nations History in Schools
Congratulations to Chewton Primary School for being awarded the Lynette Russell Prize for 2025. In a field of incredibly strong entries, Chewton Primary School's stuck out as an incredibly complex and impactful project. It was clear from the application that this was a project which had placed authentic and meaningful relationships with the local Dja Dja Wurrung stakeholders are the centre, and this was further demonstrated through the extensive and ongoing support from many Elders and key figures in the community. Another strength of the application was the focus not just on the content within the curriculum, but also the context beyond the curriculum and this was evidenced by having such a large number of local community members participating in the walk and an ongoing commitment to reconciliation.
The multi-year nature of this project and the ongoing growth of this event is a testament to the continued commitment and focus of Chewton Primary School, and this too was a strength of this application. Furthermore, the continued connection to and focus on the academic engagement with and outcomes from First Peoples content in the classroom was also a strong aspect of this application.
Chewton has provided an exceptional example of the high quality learning and community engagement opportunities available when committing to decolonising the classroom and working in partnership with local Dja Dja Wurrung and Koorie stakeholders and this is to be celebrated.
Bernadette was presented with the award at the History Council of Victoria Annual Lecture at the State Library this week.
The Award comes with a certificate, a $500 prize, and a free membership of the History Council of Victoria Friends.
Music Trivia Night Saturday October 18th
Music Trivia Night Saturday October 18th
See you there!
See you there!
Raffle Tickets
Raffle Tickets
Please ensure all raffle tickets and money have been returned.
Please ensure all raffle tickets and money have been returned.
Important Dates
Important Dates
17 October Goldfields Cricket Blast/ Basketball (9/10-12/13 YO)
18 October Music Trivia Night Major Fundraiser Wesley Hill hall 7pm
19 October Chewton CFA open Day
Tuesday 21 October Vaping prevention session for Grade 5-6 students
Wednesday October 22 + Thursday October 23 I Am Mindful (I.A.M) program yr 5/6 students
Wednesday October 22nd Parent workshop on Zoom 7.30pm-8.30pm I am Mindful (Grade 5-6 parents)
Friday 24th October Sushi
Wednesday 29th October Vaping prevention session with Bron Grieves 2:30pm
Friday 31st October: Halloween dress up day, World Teacher Day
Preparation for Puberty Grade 5-6 students
Tuesday 28th Oct 9:30-11am
Friday 7th November 2.30- 3.30
Thursday 20th November 9.30- 11am
Tuesday 18th Nov at 9,30 a- 11
Tuesday 25th November 9:30-11am
3 November Curriculum Day: Assessment and Reporting. There will be OSHC available
10-12 November Grade 5-6 Anglesea camp
7 November Kickball P-2 (change of location to Maldon)
11 November Remembrance Day
19 November Bike Ride 3-6 (we need 3 parents for this to go ahead)
18, 25 November, 2, 9 Dec Prep Transition
3 December International Day of persons with disability
9 December Whole School Step Up Day
10 December Human Rights Day
16 December Xmas Carols, Yabbying
17 December Graduation/ End of year picnic 5:30pm
18 December Year 6 Big Day Out
19 December Pool Day 12-2:30
Please complete your School Uniform survey asap
Please complete your School Uniform survey asap
Chewton CFA Open Day
Chewton CFA Open Day
Don't forget the Chewton CFA will have a fantastic Open Day on October 19th. Lots of things to help you prepare for the coming summer! Put it into your calendar!
10am-2.30pm, 19 October
1 Mount St, Chewton
In preparation for the fire season, Chewton CFA is hosting an open day on the 19 October. A number of activities are planned for all ages, including presentations from local groups on fire-resilient plants and evacuation modelling for the Chewton community by Dr Dhirendra Singh (CSIRO). The brigade is also currently running a poster competition for Chewton PS students in P-1, 2-4 and 5-6, and winners to be announced on the day. Come down for a fun and informative time!
From the Office...
From the Office...
Please remember to use the ipad for late arrivals and early pick ups
Please remember to use the ipad for late arrivals and early pick ups
There is a new electronic sign in on the shelf at school. It is very easy to use. If you are late dropping your child or early picking them up, please do this electronically. You are also able to do this from your Compass app.
CSC Year 7 Family Information Evening and Orientation Day
CSC Year 7 Family Information Evening and Orientation Day
The Castlemaine Secondary College will be hosting a Family Information Evening for students new to year 7 in 2026.
Monday 8 December 6:00 to 7:00pm
Orientation Day will be held at Castlemaine Secondary College
Tuesday 9th December 9:00am - 3:15pm
What's happening in First Nations Ways: Country and Place?
What's happening in First Nations Ways: Country and Place?
Last week our whole school went for a walk on Country with Kath and Al. We had a great time identifying orchids in the bush. Students drew them and noted their surroundings. This week students examined the photographs and completed their illustrations.
What's happening in the 5-6 class?
What's happening in the 5-6 class?
Grade 5/6 have had a great start to the term with high productivity and diverse activities. We have missed our Somers Campers who have been away for a whole ten days. Grade 5 students Miro and Orlo got to run our school assembly with Vice Captain Jack, with confidence and skill. Our remaining students went on a wonderful excursion on Wednesday to a movie in Bendigo.
Our class has begun our focus on reading and writing persuasive texts this term. Exploring various topics, we have been learning to structure our writing for success. Students are beginning to recognise the kinds of evidence that are useful for persuasion texts including facts, expert quotes, elaborations, logical examples statistics, opinion and anecdotes.
Our beginning to Maths for this term started with probability, chance and statistics.
This week we were making hypothetical line & bar graphs to demonstrate the different patterns in wildlife injuries on our local roads. The statistics area links well to our persuasive learning and sustainability where we have been investigating how the kangaroo population data is gathered seasonally and charted over time.
We are looking forward to welcoming back our Somers Campers Teyo, Quincy, Bonnie, Edan and Athena. Things sure have been quieter around here while you were away. We look forward to hearing all about their camp activities on Friday when 5/6 will attend and compete in the Goldfields Division Cricket Blast.
What's happening in the 2-3-4 class?
What's happening in the 2-3-4 class?
This term we are learning all about persuasive texts and students have been identifying the structure and features of persuasive texts in Reading. In Writing students are learning how to write strong opinions and back them up with reasons and evidence using modal verbs and emotional language.
In Maths we have been learning about rounding money to the nearest 5c and applying this to real life situations such as rounding to estimate totals when shopping to stay within a budget.
Students have started a passion project for Inquiry. Solomon shared his this week- he created a remote control car from upcycled materials and fans from a broken drone!
The class have also enjoyed learning hockey skills and applying them in games situations.
Solomon's passion project: remote control car
Solomon's passion project: remote control car
Bushfire preparation posters
Bushfire preparation posters
PE: Hockey skills
PE: Hockey skills
What's happening in the P-1 class?
What's happening in the P-1 class?
Can you believe it’s already Term 4? The Prep/1s have returned refreshed and full of enthusiasm for our final term of learning together in 2025!
In Literacy, we’ve started exploring persuasive writing and learning about the difference between facts and opinions. We had lots of fun taking part in The Guardian’s Bird of the Year competition, where students created persuasive posters encouraging others to vote for their chosen bird. We can’t wait to see which bird takes out the top spot!
In Numeracy, we’ve been learning all about money. Students have been identifying and ordering Australian coins and notes according to their value. To finish the week, we set up our very own classroom shop, where everyone had the chance to practise buying and selling items—it was a big hit!
Our Inquiry focus this term is on belonging. We began by reading a story about otters and learning about the different roles each otter has within their family, or “raft.” We then discussed the roles and responsibilities we each have within our own families and our classroom community. To finish off, students created their own adorable playdough otters to take home.
In PE, we’re learning to play kickball as we get ready for our inter-school kickball day on Friday November 7th. We’ve been practising our kicking, base running, and fielding skills—there’s lots of excitement building for the big day!
Finally, as the weather warms up, a quick reminder to please help your child apply sunscreen before school each morning. We’ll support them in reapplying before lunchtime. Don’t forget to pack a filled water bottle each day to help keep everyone cool and hydrated.
Persuasuve texts: Bird of the Year
Persuasuve texts: Bird of the Year
Numeracy: Learning about money
Numeracy: Learning about money
Inquiry: Belonging. Making an otter and learning about the role each member of the otter family has.
Inquiry: Belonging. Making an otter and learning about the role each member of the otter family has.
I am mindful
I am mindful
Grade 5-6 students will be undertaking a two session learning on how to cope with tough times.
There is a parent session on Wednesday October 22nd Parent workshop on Zoom 7.30pm-8.30pm for Grade 5-6 parents. A note has been sent home with information and a link will be emailed to parents.
Outside School Hours Care
Outside School Hours Care
Monday- Friday 7am-9am
Monday- Friday 3:30pm-6pm
contact Kerrie 0410 734 733
Available for our Curriculum Days
Read more here!
Community Notices
Community Notices
First Peoples connections and information
Djaara (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation) https://djadjawurrung.com.au/ DJAARA - Home | Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DjaDjaWurrung/ 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/ Treaty https://www.firstpeoplesrelations.vic.gov.au/treaty First Peoples connections and information
You can find out more about Yoorrook here
https://yoorrookjusticecommission.org.au/ and Four Corners have an excellent program on Yoorrook.
https://iview.abc.net.au/show/four-corners/series/2025/video/NC2503H008S00
We also heard about the current Treaty work being undertaken in Victoria. You may have heard that Djaara have begun Treaty negotiations with the Victorian government.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-28/djaara-treaty-first-nations-state-australia-victoria/105337078First Nations Days of Significance:
Term 1
February 13th: Anniversary of Apology to Stolen Generations
February 13-26 Anniversary of the 1967 Freedom Ride
March 21 National Close the Gap day
April 5th: Anniversary of Bringing them home report
April 15th anniversary of the Royal commission into Aboriginal Deaths in custody
April 25th ANZAC Day
Term 2
May 26th: Sorry Day
May 27th - June 3rd: Reconciliation Week
May 30th: Reconciliation Walk
July 7th -14th: NAIDOC Week
Term 3
August 4th: National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day
August 9th: International Day of the World's Indigenous People
August 13th: Anniversary of the Yirrkala bark petitions
august 23: Anniversary of the Gurindji Wave Hill Walk off
September 7: Indigenous Literacy Day
October 26: Anniversary of the Uluru handback
December 10: Human rights day
Meeting Place Dates 2025
TERM 1 - 21 February, March 7, April 4
TERM 2 - 9 May, 23 May, 13 June, 27 June
TERM 3 - 25 July, 15 August, 29 August, 12 September
TERM 4 - 24 October, 7 November, 28 November, 12 December.
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Frog and yellow (flowering) time
Frog and yellow (flowering) time
September-mid-November – as the weather warms, the peak flowering season for many wildflowers begins. Frosts and rainy days are often still common.
As the water warms over spring, River Blackfish and Murray Cod become more active. These are caught in traps constructed along waterways using stone and woven baskets.
Watjarang (Platypus) along Campbells Creek breed and lay eggs. This is peak flowering season for many wildflowers, such as Murna (Yam Daisy), Gitjawil Matom (Chocolate Lily) and Bam (Bulbine Lily), which can be seen at the Muckleford Nature Conservation Reserve, Kalimna Park and Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park. Gurndi (Cranberry Heath) berries ripen and are ready to eat.
• This is peak flowering season for many wildflowers, such as Murna (Yam Daisy), Gitjawil Matom (Chocolate Lily), Bam (Bulbine Lily), Sticky Everlasting, Clustered Everlasting, Grey Everlasting and Orchids, as well as for shrubs such as Downy Grevillea, Rough Mint-bush, and Fairy Wax-flower.
• Watjarang (Platypus) breed and lay eggs
• Brushtail Possums carry their young from nests
• River Blackfish spawn
• The bush is bright with yellow daisies that provide a landing pad where insects can warm up on cold mornings
• Australian Reed-warblers begin calling along creeks and rivers
• Rainbow Bee-eaters arrive from northern Australia to nest along creek and river banks
• Large flocks of White-browed and Masked Woodswallow arrive from northern Australia and can be heard calling in the sky
• This is peak frog breeding season – large frog choruses can be heard in wetlands and along creeks and rivers
• Black Wattle and Red Box flower.
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