Gong hei fat choy(恭喜发财), 'Best wishes, wishing you happiness and prosperity.' 

Xīn nián kuài lè,  'New Year happiness' 

News from parents' group

Krista, Clare, Alice and Bernadette met this week to map out events for 2026.

Fundraising in 2025 raised $8471. We ran markets, sold bulbs, had a music trivia night, donated  our 10c containers at the Chewton servo to the school, held a lantern parade, held a very successful raffle and of course celebrated with an incredible Performance!

Thankyou everyone for doing such an incredible job! 

We also received $600 for the Bushfire surveys that parents filled out. Bernadette has suggested this be used to cover the cost of gaga pit materials.

Top ranked student requests for spending: basketball court upgrade (backboards painted and lines marked), gaga pit and tall monkey bars.

The basketball court was completed at cost of $1980.

Student council are investigating the tall monkey bars. Last year in the playground audit a site on the western play equipment was identified. This will not be included in the playground upgrade, which covers the play equipment under the shade sails.

We have $6000 (including monkey bars- possibly $2000) to spend.

Parent group would like to see the outdoor kitchen area improved. The oven is poorly located, there is no bench space and the blackboard/window is an OHS concern. It needs to be properly sealed and made rodent proof.

There are two options-

·        use the current funds to reconfigure the space, or

·        develop a long term plan so the kitchen is a usable space into the future for 75 students/families

Parents' Group Proposal is to use 2026 fundraising to go to Outdoor kitchen improvements as well.

Events this year 

At this stage we are looking for people to help coordinate these events. They are a much loved part of our school calendar and can only take place with everyone's help. Some of us love to organise, and some of us love to help on the day. Both jobs are important and highly valued by us all!

Market stall at Wesley Hill Market

·        2 people required to coordinate

·        Term 2 Sat 2nd May (this can also advertise our Open Day in May)

·        Term 3 Date to be decided

Reconciliation Walk:

·        Wednesday June 3rd (note different day of the week due to principal conference 28-29 May)

·        2 people to coordinate with Bernadette

Lantern Walk:

·        2 people to coordinate

·        Thursday 18th June

School Fete

·        Friday 16th October (evening event)

·        4 people required (Krista, Clare, Alice + ?)

Raffle

·        2 people required

·        Drawn 16th October at our School Fete

Cook up with Serena

·        1 parent required each term (Friday)

Lunch clubs

Do you have a spare lunch hour you can come and share a skill or hobby? A lunch club could run once a week for a month, once a fortnight, once a month, or be a one off event. Contact Bernadette if you are interested!

·        Birdwatching: Mollie

·        Other ideas- chess, backgammon, bushwalking, sports clinics

Parents WhatsApp for fundraising, volunteering

There is a parents WhatsApp group which is used for calls for volunteers and events. If you would like to join it, contact Krista

Are you interested in coordinating an event?

Contact Krista on 0401167756

Are you interested in Lunch club activities?

Contact Bernadette Bernadette.McKenna@education.vic.gov.au or 54722557

Our new mod 4 building is on its way  to replace our library! School council, staff and students are looking at which option is best from the two above. If you have any preference, please email Bernadette before next Wednesday.

Sushi

Register for Sushi https://schoollunchonline.com.au/

We have sushi 3 times each term. 

Next Friday is our first one for the year.

Orders must be placed by Thursday 5pm.

Songlines and Seasons Exhibition

Dumawul, Hargreaves Mall, Bendigo

 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 

You may have heard that Djaara have begun Treaty negotiations with the Victorian government.