Thursday 25th April

• ANZAC Day public holiday - No students at school!

Tuesday 30th April - Thursday 2nd May

• Book Fair! (in the Prep/1 shared learning area)
• Students will make their wish list on Monday 29/4
• Open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday during lunchtimes (1:40pm-2:10pm) and after school (3:15pm-4:00pm)
• Cash and card available

Friday 3rd May

• Castlemaine District Cross Country (Grades 3-6) 
• See Xuno for approval and payment

Monday 6th May

• Assembly (2:45pm in the hall) - families welcome :)

Friday 10th May

• Curriculum Day - No students at school!

Monday 13th May - Tuesday 14th May

• Grade 2/3 Overnight Camp to Campaspe Downs Adventure Camp
• See Xuno for approval and payment

Friday 17th May

• Goldfields Division Cross Country (Grades 3-6)
• More information soon :)

Monday 20th May

• Assembly - P/1J (2:45pm in the hall) - families welcome :)

ANZAC DAY SERVICE - CASTLEMAINE

School leaders and any other students who wish to attend tomorrow’s ANZAC Day commemoration are encouraged to wear school uniform and assemble in Lyttleton Street near the Town Hall at 8:45am. The march around to the cenotaph will then lead into the service, which commences between 9:00am -9:15am outside the Castlemaine RSL in Mostyn Street.

DONATIONS

We have been lucky to receive some very generous donations to Winters Flat Primary School so far in 2024!

• Harvest (at the Mill in Castlemaine donates a weekly box of fresh fruit for our students, and have been since last year. The fruit makes a welcome, healthy addition to the food we provide for anyone who needs it here at school.
• We also receive a large amount of cheese sandwiches from Eat Up, each term. These are also given to students as toasties, when they don't have any (or enough) food during the school day. 
• The School Focused Youth Service (SFYS) – supported by Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health - have made it possible for us to begin the journey of having own school Wellbeing Dog. The Dogs Connect Program, which helps introduce wellbeing dogs into schools and other organisations, is something we have been really keen to be a part of and, with the financial support of SFYS ($10,500), we have commenced a partnership with Dogs Connect - covered in more detail below.
• The Lions Club of Castlemaine recently donated $2000 to our school, which has also been allocated to support the establishment of Dogs Connect and the purchase of a puppy!
• A recent Rotary event raised an estimated $600 on behalf of our school.

We are incredibly thankful for all these donations, and will continue to prioritise fundraising to support our students.

DOGS CONNECT

We are very excited to announce that we are about to launch the Dogs Connect program in our school! This is a whole-school wellbeing program, which will see a wellbeing dog introduced into our school.

We know that our wellbeing dog will become a much-loved and important member of our school community. Dogs Connect will support us in implementing this program gradually, responsibly, and considerately.

At this stage, we encourage anyone who would like to know more about the program to look through the website: https://dogsconnect.net.au

We are also very excited  to announce that we will be introducing our wellbeing dog in the near future. This is Sunny!

He is an Australian Cobber Dog and is currently 8 weeks old. He arrived from Queensland on Friday. We have a team of staff who will lead this program, with Fiona being Sunny's primary carer. We look forward to sending more information in the coming weeks.

We would also like to assure the school community that this program will not involve anyone who doesn't want to be involved. We know that this addition will have a really positive impact on many people at our school, and we acknowledge and respect that connection with our wellbeing dog will be offered on a variety of levels.

TIK TOK – A GUIDE FOR PARENTS

Navigating social media can be a challenge for young people (and their families). Some students at Winters Flat have reported negative online experiences in the annual Student Attitudes to School survey and, anecdotally, have reported feeling upset and angry about online comments and behaviour.

Attached is an article about Tik Tok - an app that many students access at home, despite the 12+ recommendation. The links below also contain useful information about how to ensure your children are being safer online.

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/are-they-old-enough

https://www.tiktok.com/safety/en-au/guardians-guide/

WORKING BEE

For various reasons, our first Working Bee for 2024 has been a challenge to get up and running.

Major tasks:

• Prep the Kitchen deck 2-3 days before oil is applied (2-3 people needed)
• Oil the Kitchen deck (1-2 people needed)
• Varnish the junior playground (2 people needed)

Minor tasks:

• Weeding (always welcome!)
• Brush cutting (any number welcome!)

With the support of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, I will confirm a new Working Bee date ASAP.

Special thanks to Dean Nendick, who sdid some brush-cutting around the Art Room and Hall ahead of the start of Term 2.

VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers are welcome (and appreciated!) in every classroom as well as the Kitchen/Garden and specialist areas.

If you have the time and inclination, please let us know if you'd like to be a volunteer. Volunteers at school must have a Working with Children Check. It is easy (and free) to apply! 

BIRTHDAYS

Bonnie - 12 this week

Luce – 7 this week

Atti B – 12 this week

Eisa – 12 this week

Taylor – 8 next week

Archie – 12 next week

Peter – 8 next week

Hip Hip: Hooray

Hip Hip: Hooray

Hooray: Hip Hip

COVID SCHOOL PROCEDURES

According to the Department of Health, community transmission of COVID-19 is currently decreasing across Victoria.

Schools will make sure your child is as safe as possible and will focus on:

• washing hands
• physical distancing
• rapid antigen testing
• outdoors when practical
• air purifiers indoors
• mask wearing – recommended but not mandatory

Free rapid antigen tests

Free rapid antigen tests are available from the office.

Testing is strongly recommended for students and staff who are symptomatic.

If you receive a positive result, you are advised to:

• let the school know
• keep your child at home for 7 days
• contact the Department of Health via the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form or call centre on 1800 675 398

Suzanne Kinnersly
Principal.

2/3 Camp

2024 is a camp year at Winters Flat and all year levels will get to experience going on camp, except for Preps and Grade Ones who will have a school-based experience.

Grade 2/3s will soon attend Campaspe Downs camp, near Kyneton. This is an adventure camp, so students will participate in outdoor learning activities which encourage friendships and co-operation in a group setting. The date for this camp is Monday 13^th - Tuesday 14^th May.

You can find more information on Xuno.

If your child is attending, please pay the balance of the camp fee via Xuno or in the office by Friday May 10th.

*We fully understand the difficult financial times that many are experiencing, so please speak to someone to explore options. We want to include all of our students in this fantastic experience!

For a confidential discussion about financial support options, or if you would like to discuss CSEF or alternative payment arrangements, please contact Kitty in the office.
Ph: 03 5472 1522
Email: winters.flat.ps@education.vic.gov.au

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Voluntary Parent Payments 2024

The environment and resources that we enjoy today represent the contributions made by our parent/carer community over many years. Parents'/carers' voluntary contributions make a significant difference to the quality of our programs. This financial support ensures that we can continue to provide the excellent range of facilities and resources for your children. Your support in 2024 will allow us to:

• Provide high quality programs and specific subject materials and equipment for English, Maths, Science, Art, Music, Inquiry, Language, and PE.
• Support the implementation and quality of our Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program.
• Maintain and develop the school grounds.
• Ensure the upkeep of our computer devices to enhance learning opportunities.
• Maintain sufficient class sets of books, for students to develop their reading skills.
• Provide hands-on maths equipment (i.e. measuring materials for teaching purposes).
• Facilitate Literacy and Maths online digital subscriptions.
• Deliver a range of sporting equipment and access to sporting programs.
• Arrange for individual student supplies and class bulk supplies.
• Offer effective first aid for all students.

Please note that information and payment options about these voluntary payments is available on Xuno and hard copies are available in the office, should you wish to contribute. There is also the option to pay in instalments!

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XUNO

XUNO is the school’s main channel for communicating important information to parents. We encourage all families to be regularly logging into XUNO, either via the website or the app.

Each time an event/fees/interviews are added, XUNO will send an email alerting you they are in the app needing to be actioned. At the beginning of the year and each term, you will receive many emails as we add items to the calendar to communicate important dates to parents ahead of time.

We will also send out occasional emails with information that needs to be communicated outside of a newsletter week.

Currently, Xuno gives you access to: 

• Messages (to communicate with your child’s teachers)
• Timetable
• Calendar
• News
• Attendance (to provide a reason for a student absence, either on the day, beforehand, or afterwards)
• Events, Camps & Excursions (to approve events)
• Payments (to pay for any camps/excursions)
• Parent Teacher Interview Bookings (to book interviews)

If families are having any issues with logging onto XUNO, or trouble navigating the app, please contact the office.

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Volunteering at school in 2024

Sushi on Fridays

We are continuing Sushi on Fridays again this year!

Please make sure you update your child's class to assist with the distribution of the sushi at school.

Here is a reminder of the steps you need to do to order Sushi.

1. Go to www.schoollunchonline.com.au to register your family.
2. Choose ‘My orders’ and select ‘Create order‘.
3. Select the date of the Friday you wish to order for.
4. Add items to order by clicking on the ‘tick’.
5. Select ‘add to bag’.
6. Review order and check it is all correct, then click ‘next’.
7. Choose how you want to pay and then select ‘submit’.

*Update your billing details under the tab ‘my account’.

*Pay as you go or top up your account regularly.

*No minimum order or long term commitment.

*Order ahead up to any time within the current term.

Orders need to be made by 5pm on Thursday to ensure order is placed for Sushi at lunchtime on Friday.

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A bouquet from our Autumn garden :)

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Kitty Ward & Rosie Annear

Office

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P/1J

• Zoe - Care for Self
• Vanessa - Care for Others

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P/1R

• Reuben - Care for Self & Care for Others
• Daisy - Care for Self

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2/3H

• Maeve - Care for Self & Care for Others & Care for the Environment
• Tamas - Care for Self & Care for Others

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4/5/6C

• Annabelle - Care for Self & Others
• Lenny - Care for Self

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4/5/6B

• Lucinda - Care for Self
• Ava - Care for Self

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TABLOID SPORT HELPERS

• Aurora, Atti, Persephone, Freya, Abel, Lucinda, Ava, Michael, Evie, Ripley, Bonnie, Jasmine, Jimmy, Brody, Ginger, Pippa, and Haylee - Care for Others

My work hours are Mondays and Tuesdays from 8:30-4:30. Write me an email (hannah.okeefe@education.vic.gov.au) or give me a call via the school office or on 0475 800 377.

Hannah O’Keefe

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RESOURCES

Please find a list of Wellbeing helplines and support services on the Winters Flat website.

https://www.winters-flat-ps.vic.edu.au/resources

Whole-school Cross Country:

Last Thursday, students participated in a cross country event during their class' P.E. lesson. 

It was great to see everyone getting involved and having a go, and gee - they were fast!

Preps ran one lap of the course!

Grade 1s ran two laps!

Grades 2s and 3s ran four laps!

Grades 4-6 ran five laps!

Thank you to all the families who came to watch - it's always great to have some supporters cheering from the sidelines :)

Castlemaine District Cross Country:

On Friday May 3rd, students in Grades 3-6 will participate in the Castlemaine District Cross Country event, with students from other local primary schools. It is a fun day of fitness, having a go, and friendly competition!

Again, parents and families are welcome to attend/help!

The event will be held on the front oval at the Wesley Hill Recreation Reserve.  

Students will travel there and back by bus (in two groups), and will run with other students of the same age and gender. 

Age groups are calculated based on how old students will be at the end of the year:  8/9, 10, 11, or 12/13. 

This event follows the School Sport Victoria model of having a Girls section and a Boys/Mixed section. However, transgender/non-binary students are encouraged to participate in whichever section they feel most comfortable in.

The cross country course is 1km/lap. Students aged 8, 9, or 10 will run two laps and students aged 10, 11, 12, or 13 will run three laps. 

SESSION ONE (11/12/13-year-olds):

10:00am: Welcome and introduction

10:15am: 12+ Boys 

10:40am: 12+ Girls 

11:05am: 11 Boys 

11:30am: 11 Girls 

11:55am: Presentations

SESSION TWO: (8,9,10-year-olds):

12:15pm: Welcome and introduction

12:30pm: 10 Boys 

12:50pm: 10 Girls 

1:10pm: 8-9 Boys 

1:30pm: 8-9 Girls 

1:50pm: Presentations

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Prep-2 Tabloid Sports:

Last Friday, Prep, Grade 1, and Grade 2 students particpated in a Tabloid Sports event, with P-2 students from all over the shire. 

Games included:

• Fruit salad
• Duck duck goose
• Snowball tag
• Parachute
• Dr Dodgeball (AKA Star Wars with Jedis)
• Tunnelball
• Farmer Sam/Crocodile
• Poison Ball
• Bullseye
• Rapid fire
• Pair catch
• Tail tiggy

By all accounts, everyone had a really fun time!

A big thank you to Grade 6 students, Aurora, Atti, Persephone, Freya, Abel, Lucinda, Ava, Michael, Evie, Ripley, Bonnie, Jasmine, Jimmy, Brody, Ginger, Pippa, and Haylee who went along as well to help run games and support the Prep-2 students throughout the day. Your leadership and kindness to others made the day that much better!

Great job, everyone, for all your efforts in P.E. and Sports this year, and good luck to everyone who has started their extracurricular winter sports recently!

Sam

All classes have opened a new term of Art studying colour.

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The 2/3s have explored value - creating light and dark shades by mixing paint with white and black. They created some delicious-looking icecreams before trying their hands at representing values with dots. They discussed the point of light on an apple and the shadows before patiently practising dot work to give a 3D effect.

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Our Scholastic Book Fair will be happening next week!

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Mothers and Parents Day stall

Our parent craft group will be hosting a Mothers and Parents Day stall on Thursday May 9th and Friday May 10th for students to buy a small gift to celebrate their special person/people that weekend.  To prepare for this, we are seeking donations for the stall! If you have any suitable knick-knacks, books, cook books, preserves, plants, bric-a-brac, or anything else that would make a nice gift, please drop them into the office!

The parent craft group will be meeting in the art room from 9am-10am next Wednesday (May 1st) to do some crafting for the stall. They would love it if some new parents came along! If you are interested, just show up next Wednesday - everyone is very friendly and it's a fun way to contribute to the school :)

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Bulb fundraiser

Thank you to everyone who supported our bulb fundraiser - we raised $740 for the school! Please share some pics of your bulbs blooming later in the year :)

This week in the Kitchen and Garden..........

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What we're cooking in the kitchen this fortnight...

• Fattoush Salad
• Egyptian Sun Bread
• Hummus
• Tagine with Dates and Honey
• Saffron & Raisin Cous Cous
• Anzac Biscuits

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Chefs of the week:

4/5/6C: Kaelyn, Annabelle, and Lenny C

4/5/6B: Raph, Midas, Frankie, Louisa, and Ella

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Kitchen volunteers:

We would love some kitchen helpers in our cooking classes!

They are held fortnightly on Mondays (even weeks - 4/5/6C), and every Wednesday (even weeks - 4/5/6B; odd weeks - 2/3H), between 11:25am & 1:25pm.

The Prep/1 classes will have a special cooking class each term. Check Xuno for the dates!

Kitchen helpers for these classes would be particularly helpful - please let the office know if you'd like to volunteer!

What you can expect from a class:

Students work in groups to make seasonal dishes, using produce from our garden. Once a group finishes preparing their dish, they clean up their bench, do dishes, and set the tables. Around 1:00pm, we all sit down together and share the meal.

Volunteers will need to sign in via the visitors log in the office and show their WWCC. Please contact the office if you have any questions or would like to volunteer! 

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In the Garden:

Cath & Terry
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden

Our new chickens are settling in nicely! And...they have names!

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P/1J named their chicken Cookie Chooky!

To round off our newsletter, here are a few more pictures of our soon-to-be school Wellbeing dog, Sunny...coming soon!!!

Poster_Announcement_of_Wellbeing_Dog_Coming_Soon.pdf

Poster_Announcement_of_Wellbeing_Dog_Coming_Soon _pdf 156.02 KB