Week 8, Term 1

 Hello from the Manna Gum Building! 

What a fun-filled week we've had! We celebrated Harmony Day by mixing into groups with students from all year levels and taking part in all sorts of exciting activities. It was a fantastic way to celebrate the amazing diversity of Australians. In Literacy, we met two of Milo’s new friends—Daisy Dog and Gabby Goat! We’ve been practising forming these letters correctly and writing words every day. Reading time has been a highlight, and we’re getting into a great routine in the classroom. Don’t forget to bring reading folders back each day as we use them during Literacy time.  In Maths, we became data detectives! We collected information and made graphs to learn more about our classmates. We created yes/no graphs, found out our class’s favourite pets, and even used a packet of Smarties to discover the most and least popular colours. We also made graphs using animals in our aquarium—so much fun! We began PMP (Perceptual Motor Program) this week, where both grades worked together to develop hand-eye co-ordination, balance, memory, and eye-tracking skills, and we had a great time practicing these movements!" 

As part of our Big Question: "How are we connected to living things?", we’ve been learning about what plants need to survive. The best part was planting our very own seeds, and we will watch them grow over the coming weeks. In Wellbeing we have begun naming different emotions, expressing emotions through body language and we shared personal experiences of feeling the same emotions as characters in a story.  

Next week, we’ll meet more of Milo’s friends and explore positional language in maths.

On Thursday, we’re celebrating Indonesian Market Day! Please bring along $5 to join in the fun. If you’d like to take part in the toy swap, we’d love for you to bring along an old toy to donate. You can also bring some small change to purchase a pre-loved treasure from the toy swap stall.

Wishing you all a fantastic weekend. 

Nicole and Lauren  

Hello from the Golden Wattle building!

It has been a busy and exciting week for the Grade 1/2s! We enjoyed participating in a range of multi-age activities as part of Harmony Day on Tuesday. On Wednesday, we said farewell to the Grade 2s who left to attend the much-anticipated Boomerang Camp with Wendy and Laura. We can’t wait to hear about all of the adventures and see some photos in next week’s newsletter.

The Grade 1s continued with our Big Question "How are we connected to other living things?" and focused on desert habitats. We enjoyed reading the stories, Baby Bilby Where do you Sleep?, The Story of Rosy Dock and In the deep red desert. Our writing focus has been on creating and understanding the difference between statements and questions.

Our Big Question led into our STEAM Challenge on Thursday where students had to plan, design and create a structure to provide shelter for a desert animal. Students worked in small groups and we tested whether their structure would protect their animal from the hot sun.

This week in Maths, we have been learning about addition and subtraction. We’ve practised our skills through lots of hands-on activities and games including the old favourite ‘Get out of my house!’ You might like to ask your child how to play it at home.

On Friday, we acknowledged World Down Syndrome Day, and as the campaign theme was ‘Lots of Socks’, we wore our favourite/bright/unique socks to school. Just like socks, people are the same but also unique. We learnt a little about Down Syndrome and then decorated a sock design with all the things that make us unique.

Next week we are looking forward to the Indonesian Pasar Market on Thursday (students come to school wearing red and white). We’ll continue with our focus on addition and subtraction in Maths, and we’ll look at the four different types of sentences in Literacy. Our Wellbeing lessons will focus on acts of friendship and kindness.

We hope you have a lovely weekend,

Wendy, Laura, Claire, Sarah and Andrew

This week, our students celebrated Harmony Day with multi-age activities, learning about different cultures and traditions. Students took part in activities that helped them understand and appreciate diversity. It was also a good opportunity to showcase growing leadership skills in helping younger students. Friday was the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD) where students learnt about how to define racism, how to recognize it when we see it and how to take a stand against racism. We created role plays to workshop what to do in situations involving racism.

In Mathematics, we have been working on Area and Perimeter. We have been revising how to calculate the area and perimeter of regular shapes and building on our learning by calculating the area of composite and irregular shapes. Students have applied these skills in different tasks. We also started our design for a ‘dream house’, a task which we will continue with next week.

In Literacy and BQT, we have continued learning about living things and energy production. To show their understanding, students created diagrams of photosynthesis, explaining how plants convert sunlight into energy. Have a look at some of their learning in the pictures. Students also completed a Cold Write where they had to choose an endangered animal and write a letter to someone who they think could help it.

Next week, many Grade 5/6 students have taken on roles for our Indonesian Pasar on Thursday. These roles could range from helping with cooking, face painting, running some games or helping with the toy swap. Your child might like to share how they are contributing to the day.

Here are some of the fantastic self-portraits created by the students this term. You can see some of them up on display around the school.

 Harmony Day 

On Tuesday we held Harmony Day at school, recognising and celebrating cultural diversity within our community. As part of this we ran some multi-aged rotation activities at school, which included the stories ‘I’m Australian too’, ‘The Willow Pattern Plate’, ‘Chameleon Colours’ and ‘Our Diversity makes us Stronger’ to name a few. Some students also learnt some games from Korea, Ukraine, and Africa and made Indian inspired rangolis. The focus of the day was to build further awareness and understanding about inclusivity, kindness, and respect. We will also be running in class activities on Friday to look at anti-racism in a more specific way too. As a school we are committed to building this understanding with our students in an ongoing way wherever we can across all aspects of our programs. We hope you can also be part of this education too by having important & relevant conversations at home wherever and whenever appropriate.

Castlemaine Fringe dance performance  

This Saturday night is the opening of the Castlemaine Fringe Festival. As part of this a small group of students from CNPS will be performing an Indonesian dance alongside the gamelan group ‘Baguskan’. The performance will be at 8pm in front of the Castlemaine library in Mechanics Lane so if you are out and about in town then come on down and show our dancers some support. This is a great chance to see a full gamelan in action too! 

Pasar Sekolah Utara 

Our annual Indonesian day, ‘The Pasar Sekolah Utara’ (North School Market) is happening next Thursday 27th March from 12.30pm. The cost is $5 per student, and this will cover an Indonesian lunch, workshops from ‘Baguskan’, a shadow puppet performance and contribute towards our school sponsorships. Students can bring money to their class teachers. Students who have brought in their money will be issued with a ticket that will also enable them to try a range of traditional craft, games and face painting. All students are encouraged to be a part of this event. Students need to bring in their own bowl/container and fork. On the day we will also have a giant second-hand toy swap. Students can bring in an old toy that they longer want or play with, and this can be left in the labelled box in the Indonesian space. If your child wishes to purchase a new toy on the day, they can bring an additional coin and bargain! Toys will be priced from 20c-$4. Students can wear the Indonesian colours of red and white to celebrate our learning program as we raise money for our World Vision sponsorship and Orangutan adoption. I am still seeking more parent helpers so if you can assist on the day, especially with cooking, set up, clean up and being under the Barong (a unique and fun experience for those with strong shoulders!) then please reach out. A big thank you to those who have already offered their support! Please contact me via email me if you can help in any capacity, even just 1 hour, and feel free to come and experience the Barong awaken at the opening of our day. All are welcome!  

Salam, 

Ibu Kimberley

Kimberley.craig@education.vic.gov.au 

Region Swimming 

Thank you to the parents and carers for transporting our students to Swan Hill for the Region Swimming. Our team members were Gulliver W, Oscar T, Emmett L, Beau W, Saatchi W, Lola H, Poppy R, Sofia DL, Frankie C, Quinlyn N, Darcy B, Henry CB and Henry S. Well done to all students for their efforts and to Oscar for winning the silver medal in the 50m backstroke!

Bendigo Braves Basketball Home Game Experience for Grade 5/6 

Our students have an opportunity to participate in the Bendigo Braves Basketball Schools Cup at the Bendigo Braves NBL1 match on Sunday 6th April (this is the first weekend of the school holidays). Our school selects 10 students from Grade 5/6 to compete against other schools using the fundamental skills of basketball, rather than a match. Selected students would need their families to arrange their own transport to and supervision at this event. You will also receive a ticket for you and your student to the game. We’ve had nine students sign up so there is one spot still available! If you are interested in this opportunity (and not committed to school holiday plans), please contact carly.mcginniskin@education.vic.gov.au

Castlemaine District Basketball, Football and Netball Gr3-6 

All students in Grades 3-6 participate in the District Sport Gala Day on Friday 28th March. Gr 3/4 classes experience skills and activity rotations in all three sports: basketball, football and netball. Students in Gr 5/6 have selected their preferred sport from football or netball to engage in match play for the day (some Gr 5/6 students select skill rotations with the Grade 3/4s). We require the assistance of parent/carers to supervise each team or group on the day. Please indicate on the return slip of the permission form if you are able to assist. We no longer need to provide netball umpires (thanks if you had already offered to do this!). But we do need three sets of netball bibs if anyone has any sets we can borrow. Please email me if you do. carly.mcginniskin@education.vic.gov.au

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. The emphasis is on students completing their course and earning points for their team. Approximate schedule outlined below.

9:20

12/13yo

4 blocks + 1 school lap 

9:25

Grade 2

1 block + 1 school lap

9:40

11yo

4 blocks + 1 school lap

9:45

Grade 1

1 block + 1 school lap

10:00

10yo

3 blocks + 1 school lap

10:05

Grade P

1 school lap

10:20

8/9yo

2 blocks + 1 school lap

Prep E

Michael-James M - for showing a positive attitude to your learning. Keep up the great work.
Gloria A - for the kind and caring way you treat your classmates.

Prep N

Roan K - for the creativity and individuality you add to classroom tasks.
Bonnie W - for the kind and caring way you encourage others to make strong choices.

1/2 CS

Alfie M - for the thoughtful way you help keep our classroom tidy.
Florence T - for persevering when you encountered challenges with your STEAM activity.

3/4 PS

Arlo S - for sharing your wonderings during biology activity discussions.
Elijah A - for your fantastic effort and outcomes in maths fluency activities.

3/4 S

Daisy H - for always showing insightful comments during out discussions in R.R.R.R.
Dylan L - for having a growth mindset when learning to tell the time.

3/4 H

Evie M - for putting the chooks away even though you weren't on chook duty.
Tom F - for ensuring the wellbeing of your classmate during a game.

5/6 H

Nellie D - for seeking opportunities to extend your learning.
Evan M - for communicating respectfully when making a request.
Quinten M - for showing initiative and supporting others.

5/6 J

Luella N - for your focus and effort during our maths reviews.
Phoebe B - for the empathy you show by making sure everyone is included.

5/6 BN

Sid P - for your commitment to producing work of a high standard.
Lily G - for your focused attention during all of our maths sessions and always finding ways to improve.

Indonesian

Banjo C - for your thoughtful and insightful contributions when learning about Ramadan.

Performing Arts

Jovi C - for the way you always try your best during Performing Arts!

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