Week 9, Term 1

As you know, yesterday we held our very special Pasar Sekolah Utara, where our school community were treated to many sights, sounds, smells, tastes and experiences of Indonesia.  This has become a much-loved annual event for us.

On big event days such as these, we have a designated calm space for when students feel they need a break from all the excitement; a place where they can play quietly, draw, read, chat with a teacher if they need or just sit and take a breather.

Hello from the Preps! 

We have enjoyed another fun week in the Manna Gum Building. In Literacy, we met two more of Milo’s friends: Vicky Vulture and Leo Lion. We are becoming more confident as writers, as we sound out, then match the sounds to write words. We even wrote a sentence, using our space sticks between our words! In Maths, we have been using positional language to give directions. It was fun to ‘hide a bone’, give directions to find it, then build a 3D model of our map. 

For our Big Question this week, we have been learning about deciduous and ever green trees and why plants are important to us. We have also been checking our beans to see if they are growing. It’s exciting to see the tiniest growth! In Wellbeing we have continued exploring emotions, through acting out different emotions, identifying how someone is feeling and sharing our own experiences. 

A highlight of our week was the Indonesian Market Day on Thursday. We loved coming out of uniform and celebrating Indonesia through the different activities including the toy swap, delicious nasi goreng, becak rides and face painting. It was exciting to see all the dancers, hear the Indonesian music and see the shadow puppet show!

Next week is full of exciting things to end the Term! On Wednesday, we will participate in the Cross Country, and on Friday, we will all wear our Easter Hats for the Easter Hat Parade. And of course, we will meet one more of Milo’s friends.

Wishing you all a fantastic weekend. Only 5 days left of Term 1.

Nicole and Lauren

It’s been another fun week in the Golden Wattle building! The Grade 2s enjoyed sharing their amazing experiences at Boomerang Camp with the Grade 1s. We hope you enjoy looking through some of the photos. A big thank you to Nicola (Jarvis’s mum) and Matt (Archie’s dad) for giving up their time to help out on camp. Thank you also to all the parents that helped with the horse-riding. We couldn’t do it without you!

This week, we have looked at forest habitats as part of our Big Question, "How are we connected to other living things?". We have researched animals that live there and the features of different forests. In our Literacy sessions, we have explored the books Where the Lyrebird Lives and Where the Forest Meets the Sea. Our reading and writing have focused on the four different sentence types: statements, questions, commands and exclamations. We also used our knowledge of forests in our STEAM Challenge this week, which was to design our dream treehouse!

In Maths, we have continued our focus on addition and subtraction, this week using the ‘bridging-10’ strategy. We have used tens frames and number lines to practise this strategy, and enjoyed playing the games ‘Bridging-10 Battle’ and ‘Ahoy!’.

Our Wellbeing focus this week has been on emotional literacy, and we have been exploring acts of kindness and making friendly connections. We did this through role play, drawing pictures and playing games that involved ensuring everyone was included.

On Thursday, we enjoyed the annual Pasar Sekolah Utara – our Indonesian market day. We got to try some yummy Indonesian food, play some Indonesian games and even barter at the toy swap stall! The Grade 2s also got to participate in an Indonesian dance or gamelan workshop in the morning and then we all enjoyed a performance in the afternoon.

In Maths, we have finalised our drawings of our dream house. The students have shown creativity and imagination in designing their houses. Our task this week has been to calculate the area and perimeter of our house. Then we applied our knowledge of multiplication to solve questions around costs and how much of each building and gardening material they would need if they were to build their dream house.

In Literacy, we have been investigating what plants need and the energy relationships amongst organisms. Termites were the focus of our BQT and we investigated them from a First Nations perspective. We shared the book Tamarra: A Story of Termites on Gurindji Country and learnt about how Gurindji people have many medicinal uses for termites, and about how bush medicine helps to maintain cultural connections to the land. 

In wellbeing this week, we have been working on emotional literacy. As part of this, we identified many different types of emotions and identified different situations where we have comfortable emotions, mixed emotions and uncomfortable emotions. Our 5/6 students were busy on Thursday helping Ibu Kimberley prepare for the Pasar. This is such a special day for our school!

The 3-6s have been working on drama with the 5/6 having a focus reading scripts with an Environmental theme. This work will continue in Term 2 with a performance planned for Week 3. Parents, please keep an eye out for an invitation to attend this.  The 3/4s have been creating their own plays based on a scene from Matilda using the book, musical and movie as inspiration. Grade 3/4s will be performing these short plays next week. 3/4 parents, I will confirm the time in the next couple of days if you would like to join (it will be during their Performing Arts class time). 

The Big String Day is a one-off experience for established beginners to Grade 2 AMEB standard. It is being held at Castlemaine Secondary College on Saturday 29th of March 9am – 1pm, hosted by Resonance String Orchestra. The morning of music and team building games, whole orchestra sessions and instrument-based tutorials will be led by Resonance Co-Artistic Director Emma Wade and Maryborough Performing Arts Coordinator Sarina Walter. Tutorials and mentoring will be from Heather Cummins (Co-Artistic Director), tutors Sam Goble, Lizzy Welsh and Charlotte Ryssenbeek. 

If you are interested in going along to find out about learning to play a stringed instrument please go to www.resonancestringorchestra.org.au Cost is $40/student payable on the day.  

 Pasar Sekolah Utara - The North School Market

On Thursday, we held our annual Indonesian day, the Pasar Sekolah Utara (North School Market). Students participated in a range of fun activities including dance and music workshops from ‘Baguskan’, Canang Sari craft, cooking and traditional games to name a few. We had a special visit from our resident lion-dragon, Barong, followed by a parade and dance performance from some Grade 3/4s. We also had a dance from our 2025 Fringe Festival performers. The junior students were also treated to a special ‘Wayang Kulit’ shadow puppet show in the afternoon. Students tried Indonesian foods, Nasi goreng & Klepon and you’ll find the recipe below for anyone who would like to try making this at home. Thank you to all the parents, teachers and grade 5/6 students who were involved in the running of our successful day, as well as our resident teachers & performers, Aaron & Nita. This day is not only a fun cultural immersion for the students, but it is also a fundraiser for our World Vision sponsorship of a community in an undeveloped area of East Sumba in Indonesia. Your contributions are helping children and their families live better lives. The money we raise also helps us support two orangutans, ‘Poppy’ and ‘Mary’ through ‘The Orangutan Project’. Thanks so much again to everyone who was involved!! 

Nasi Goreng – Fried rice 

Ingredients:

• 2 spring onions/shallots 

• 1 garlic clove 

• Carrots – handful  

• Cabbage – handful 

• Fresh ginger - 2 teaspoons(approx) 

• 1/2 tablespoon kecap manis 

• Tamari/soy sauce to flavour 

• 200g pre-cooked (overnight Basmati or Jasmine works best) 

• 1 egg 

• 2 tablespoons oil 

• Chilli(optional) 

• Extras – cucumber, tomato, kerupuk(many variations found in Asian food stores) 

Method:

1. Cook rice the day before & cool immediately. Leftover rice is perfect for this! 

2. Break the cold rice using the back of a spoon so they don't clump together.  

3. Heat up a wok and add oil, shallots, garlic, carrot, cabbage & chilli.  

4. Stir-fry until aromatic – 3-4 minutes. 

5. Add the rice into the wok and stir well. 

6. Add kecap manis and tamari into the rice and continue to stir-fry and make sure that they are well blended with the rice.  

7. Beat egg and fry, omelette style. Or just fry. 

8. Serve with cucumber & tomato slices + kerupuk (prawn crackers)
   
   

Recipe Notes:

* In Indonesia, Nasi Goreng is often served with various sides such fried prawn crackers, fresh vegetables such as sliced cucumber, and sliced tomatoes and kerupuk crackers. It's also great topped with egg or tempeh. 

* The above proportions are estimates – just think fried rice! 

Klepon - Sweet rice balls

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups glutinous rice powder 

• ¾ cup lukewarm water (optionally coconut milk) 

• 2-3 drops Pandan essence 

• 8 tsp. grated coconut sugar/Java dark brown sugar/gula Jawa/palm sugar 

• 1 cup fresh-grated coconut, mixed with ½ tsp. salt
  
  

Method:

1. Mix the glutinous rice powder with the lukewarm water and pandan essence into a firm but flexible dough. 

2. Pull off one full teaspoon of the dough and shape it into a ball with approximately 2½ cm (1 inch) in diameter. 

3. Push a finger into the centre of the ball to make a hole and put in approximately ½ tsp. of the grated sugar. Seal and roll it back into the ball shape with the palms of your hands. 

4. Prepare all the balls and set them aside. 

5. Prepare a pot half filled with water and bring it to a boil. 

6. Drop the balls into the boiling water. Remove the balls with a spoon once they float to the water surface and then roll the balls in the grated coconut. 

7. Serve at room temperature.

Harmony Day

Please have a look at our Harmony Day photos from last Tuesday...

House Cross Country Gr P-6 

All students in Grades P-6 participate in our House Cross Country on Wednesday 2 April, 9:00-11:00. Students may wear their house team colours on this day. We have been practising our jogging in PE and class and will practise our House Chants next week. The emphasis is on students completing their course and earning points for their team. Approximate schedule outlined below. Parents and carers are welcome to come along and watch. If not in grade level, the age groups are calculated on the age your child turns in 2025. 

9:20: 12/13 y.o. - 4 blocks + 1 school lap

9:25: Grade 2 - 1 block + 1 school lap

9:40: 11 y.o. - 4 blocks + 1 school lap

9:45: Grade 1 - 1 block + 1 school lap

10:00: 10 y.o. - 3 blocks + 1 school lap

10:05: Preps - 1 school lap

10:20: 8/9 y.o. - 2 blocks + 1 school lap

District Tabloid Sports Gr P-2 

Early in Term 2, on Friday 2nd May, all of our students in Grades P-2 will participate in the District Tabloid Sports from 10am-12:30pm. There will be a variety of activities and minor games that students play in mixed-school and mixed-age groups. These games are led by Gr 5/6 students from various schools. We require the assistance of parents/carers to supervise a small group of our students and support the Gr 5/6 game leaders as necessary. We will hang on to the permission notes for this event until early Term 2, when we will send them home with your child.

District Cross Country Gr 3-6

Early next term, on Friday 9th May, all of our students in Grades 3-6 will participate in the District Cross Country at Wesley Hill, along with students from other primary schools in the Castlemaine District. This event is usually run in two sessions. The 3km events for students who turn 11, 12 or 13 in 2025 are in the morning at 10am-12pm, while the 2km events for students who turn 8, 9 or 10 in 2025 are in the afternoon at 12-2pm. Permission notes will go home next term. We will require the assistance of parents/carers to help supervise our students and act as marshals. It may be beneficial for your child to continue some slow jogging over the holidays to maintain their aerobic fitness gains this term in preparation for this District event. Students who place in the top 20 in this event, in the 10, 11 and12/13 year old age-groups only, will receive an invitation to the Division Cross Country the following Friday 16th May, also at Wesley Hill.

The 3-6s have been working on drama, with the 5/6s having a focus on reading scripts with an Environmental theme. This work will continue in Term 2 with a performance planned for Week 3. Parents, please keep an eye out for an invitation to attend this. The 3/4s have been creating their own plays based on a scene from Matilda using the book, musical and movie as inspiration. Grade 3/4s will be performing these short plays next week. 3/4 parents, I will confirm the time in the next couple of days if you would like to join (it will be during their Performing Arts class time). 

The Big String Day is a one-off experience for established beginners to Grade 2 AMEB standard. It is being held at Castlemaine Secondary College on Saturday 29th of March 9am – 1pm, hosted by Resonance String Orchestra. The morning of music and team building games, whole orchestra sessions and instrument-based tutorials will be led by Resonance Co-Artistic Director Emma Wade and Maryborough Performing Arts Coordinator Sarina Walter. Tutorials and mentoring will be from Heather Cummins (Co-Artistic Director), tutors Sam Goble, Lizzy Welsh and Charlotte Ryssenbeek. 

If you are interested in going along to find out about learning to play a stringed instrument please go to www.resonancestringorchestra.org.au

Cost is $40/student payable on the day.  

Prep E

Max R - for the independent way you are sounding out then matching letters to write words.
Monte M - for sharing your knowledge about plants during our BQT discussions.

Prep N

Ruby M - for the confident way you arrive at school, always ready to learn.
Cassia W - for the thoughtful way you listen to advice to improve your handwriting.

1/2 L

Alice D - for applying your knowledge of exclamation sentences cleverly in your Big Write.
Stella W - for your amazing Big Write with its fabulous vocabulary.

1/2 CS

Theo A - for the way you always strive for your personal best.
Leo J - for making strong choices and thinking about what will help your learning.

1/2 WA

Eloise C - for your thoughtful and kind leadership during Boomerang camp.
Olivia S - for your beautiful and thoughtful Big Write.

3/4 PS

Evelyn F - for the outstanding contributions you are making during maths activities.
Zaria F - for your focus and hard work during maths fact fluency sessions.

3/4 L

Hunter E - for the impressive way you get organised and respect others' rights to learn.
Frances W - for being joyous and enthusiastic in everything you do.

3/4 S

Art T - for the confident way you share your mathematical thinking with the class.
Anita F - for your enthusiasm for learning and for always being ready.

3/4 H

Flynn L - for approaching everything you do with a positive attitude.
Rafi A - for your thoughtful contributions when learning about life cycles.

5/6 H

Chloe O - for the passionate way you worked on your dream home design.
Ivy Rose R - for the way you worked through a challenging multiplication problem.

5/6 J

Claude V - for the enthusiasm and leadership you showed as part of the PASAR toy swap crew.

5/6 BC

Jack T - for sharing your extensive scientific knowledge and being determined to complete your writing tasks.
Mathilde T - for your conscientiousness and hard work in helping to pack up after PASAR.

5/6 BN

Nina F - your calm and organised approach to all of your learning is a credit to you.
Darsh K - for the curious way you approach school learning and for the clear way you share your thoughts.

Indonesian

Taylah C - for the kind, thoughtful and mature ways you model for others.

Performing Arts

James C - for the impressive way you showed your acting talent playing Mrs Trunchbull in your play.

Community Noticeboard