DEMOCRACY SAUSAGE & CAKE STALL THIS SATURDAY

We’re putting a call out to our families for baked items for the cake stall or to assist with serving on the BBQ or cake stall on Saturday. If you’re time-poor consider making a donation towards the cost of running the stalls that day. Please see the Fundraising section of ths Newsletter to see how you can be involved. Every little bit helps!

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EDUCATION WEEK OPEN MORNING - TUESDAY 21st MAY

Our Open Morning is next Tuesday 21st May from 11.30am - 1.00pm. This is a great opportunity for the 2020 Prep year group to visit. School leaders will be conducting tours, including the SAKG kitchen program.

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CURRICULUM DAY - NEXT WEDNESDAY 22ND MAY

Next Wednesday is a pupil-free day when staff will participate in numeracy-based professional learning sessions. 

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DIVISION CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS

Students from Winters Flat PS were very well represented at last week’s Division Cross Country, with effort and behaviour noted as excellent!

The following students were finalists:
1st Robert M (12 YO Boys)
1st Meg O (12 YO Girls)
2nd Anthea C (12 YO Girls)
3rd Iestyn C (10YO Boys)

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NAPLAN TESTING

NAPLAN is not about passing or failing, but about assessing learning progress. At the classroom level it is one of a number of important tools used by teachers to measure student progress.

In 2018, for the first time, children in some schools across Australia took NAPLAN in an online format.

Winters Flat will be completing the tests online this year.

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NAPLAN ONLINE TESTS

• 2019 NAPLAN Online test window: 14 - 24 May
• 2019 NAPLAN Online test timetable by domain

Read the NAPLAN Online information brochure for parents and carers (PDF, 487 KB) or see Resources to access translations of this brochure in Arabic, Bosnian, Chinese, Hindi, Khmer, Persian, Samoan, Serbian, Sinhalese, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Turkish and Vietnamese.

*UPDATE*

Following some statewide systemic issues yesterday with the Online version of NAPLAN, Winters Flat PS along with many other schools are now opting to complete the remaining test schedule using the traditional paper format.

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WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO TELL US WHAT THEY THINK!

We value student voice as a means to improving student engagement, wellbeing and quality instruction and are conducting a survey to find out what your child thinks of our school. The Attitudes to School Survey is an annual student survey offered by the Department of Education and Training to assist schools in gaining an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. Our school will use the survey results to plan programs and activities to improve your child's schooling experience.

Students from Year 4 to 6 at our school will participate in the survey. Children will complete the survey online during school hours using a purpose built secure online survey tool. It is important to note that we are not in any way “testing” your child. Your child has the right to refuse or withdraw from the survey at any point before, during, or after completion of the survey.

This year the Attitudes to School survey will be conducted at our school over the period Monday 29 April to Friday 7 June. The survey only takes 20 minutes to complete and occurs during your child's class time.

Last year we used the survey results to frame the wellbeing initiatives in our 2019 Annual Implementation plan.

If you would like more information, please speak to your child’s teacher or visit the website.

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MUSIC MENTOR – YEAR 2 & 3 CHOIR

Our music mentor Scott Buchanan began an opt-in choir for students from Year 2 & Year 3 on Monday. This lunch time activity will be available for three more weeks this term and again next term if the numbers allow.

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PARENTING IDEAS – Michael Grose

This week's article talks about the intrinsic rewards of being helpful and kind.

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Suzanne Kinnersly

Principal.

FOOD - FOOD - FOOD

With the cooler weather upon us we are finding that students are feeling really hungry. They often eat their lunch at recess and then have nothing to eat for lunch. While we have sandwiches here at the office for emergencies we are unable to cope with the large demand for food that has been happening recently.

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FOOD WRAPPERS

As we are a nude school, please do not send food with your child/ren that have  wrappers.  We have found an increasing number of wrappers littering the school grounds.  If food is sent to school with wrappers, children must take their rubbish home. Thank you for your support.

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.ACCOUNTS

Accounts will be sent home shortly. Please look out for these in your child's bag. Some families still owe for the start of year expenses.

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YEAR 6 TO YEAR 7 TRANSITION FORMS

Year 6 students were given transition forms today to be completed and returned to school by the end of the week.  All instructions and guidelines are attached to the transition form.  Parents will need to state where their child is going to Secondary School.  This is government requirement and a state wide initiative. Any questions please contact the school.

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BOOK FAIR

Thank you to families who came and purchased at the Book Fair last week. We will receive $577 worth of credits to buy books of our choosing for our library. "Read More in May" was really embraced.

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GRADE 2 CAMP REMINDER

The Grade 2 camp is tomorrow and Friday. Please note that students need to be at school before the bus leaves at 9.00 am. Students should be at school by 8:45am and they will return on Friday at approximately 3:00pm.

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EARN AND LEARN 2019

Once again we are participating in the Earn & Learn sticker program from Woolworths.

Collect reward stickers when you shop at Woolworths and drop them into the big green box in the office.  Please collect sticker sheets from the office also, this helps us in counting the stickers if they are on the sheet. 

Every dollar will earn points and stickers and then we are able to spend these credits on items for the school such as sporting equipment, craft supplies from Modern Teaching Aides.

The reward program will run from 1st May until 25th June 2019.

Many thanks for your support.

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Karen Mahoney & Renae Wilson

Office

SPORT WRAP-UP

It’s been a massive term and a bit of Sport at Winters Flat PS! There have been some awesome carnivals as captured below by our great students!

There’s some special mentions to helpers! Without your assistance, these days and outcomes are not possible. So THANKYOU Leonie Clifford, Simon Duthie, Emma Brown, Inta Parsons, Jodie Wastell, Justine Henry, Gerke Witt, Francesca Nugent, Katie Wilson, Katie Kilgour, Kate Guthrie, Amy Addinsall, Melinda Kerby, Sharyn Robinson, Melissa Cater, Ben Bailey, Ebon Bowtell, Alex Cotterell, Amanda Fitzpatrick and Bronwyn Tracey.

And special thanks to our former students, Charlie, Sarah, Madie, Ciara, Gus, Theo & Fin!

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SWIMMING SUPERSTAR SYLVIE

Congratulations to Sylvie Norman who represented herself and Winters Flat with distinction at the Bendigo District Swimming Carnival in Term One! Sylvie smashed her race coming first in the 50m Breast stroke earning a spot at Swan Hill!

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The following sports reports have been written by the students of our school... 

WINTERS FLAT CROSS COUNTRY

By Saffron K

The school cross country was running 2K or more the different grades all around the school I found it hard and I came 3rd and we all got an Icy pole in the end I felt really tired and exhausted.

I thought it was fun.

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BENDIGO CROSS COUNTRY

By Meg

We got off the bus nervous and ready to run.
10 yr boys rushing to the start line and 10 yr girls ready.
Next, the 9 yr boys ran then the girls ran. Next, the 8 yr boys ran their race next, it was the 8 yr girls sprinted there race then it was a 1-hour lunch break. The 8’s, 9’s and 10’s all ran 2 kilometres.

Then the 11 yr boys ran next, the 11 yr girls.

12 yr boys then 12 yr girls and then we were finished for the day.
I think everyone had a really great outcome of their positions and I think everyone enjoyed the cross country I know I did any way and thanks to Sam for organising the bus and for us to go to the cross country in Bendigo!!!

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By Sylvie H

In Bendigo the track was MASSIVE. The length was 2Ks there SO many schools .We stayed for 5 hours waiting for everyone to have their race. I felt proud that I made it to Bendigo.

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By Dan B

In Cross Country it was 2Ks or 2000.m it went up to 30 minutes Winters Flat got 4 wins.

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AFL 9s

By Chaz

On the 3rd of April 2019 WFPS and a number of other primary schools went to Wesley Hill Castlemaine for AFL 9s.
It was a great competition with some close games and some blowouts. The two schools to keep an eye on this year were likely south school or Winters Flat Primary School. They came to a game before the finals neither team had lost WFPS took an early lead but south came back. Then the siren sounded they go to the scores with a shocked look on their face it was a draw. So it was a match made in heaven South school vs Winter Flat Primary School Who would take home the name incrusted plaque. The announcers said it South School 1 vs Winters Flat Primary School 1 obviously pressure neither team wanted to lose but the desire inside burnt more for one team and burnt out for another. The siren sounded again WFPS gained a quick lead but this time were not going to let off the pressure they played like it was 1 point in it then the last siren sounded instantly they knew the winner was WFPS and they were the AFL 9s 2019 Champions.

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By Archie K

When we arrived we split into groups. We did a lot of fun activities , one of the activities was that we had to kick the ball the furthest, it was very fun.

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NETBALL

By Lucy N

On the third of April 2019 I took the bus to get to a the netball excursion with my school. When we got there, we put on our bibs and played against St Mary’s primary school. Our team won. I played 4 games I won 2 games and lost 2 games.it was really fun and I can’t wait to go again next year.

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By Iris D

When we arrived, we split into different groups. In my group we did lots of activities. My favourite activity was golden child. In the end I felt tired on the bus.

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Sam

Sports Teacher

THIS WEEK IN THE KITCHEN & GARDEN...

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

Jerusalem artichoke soup (Note: this is a variation of the Potato, Leek and Chive Soup recipe on our website)

Pumpkin silverbeet and Cous cous salad

Tomato sauce

Focaccia

Salad of the imagination

Sticky toffee pudding

Remember, all our recipes are available on our school website, so you can try them at home.

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And what we're harvesting from the garden...

Jerusalem artichoke

Kale

Silverbeet

Fennel fronds

Corianders

Mint

Parsley

Lettuce

Rosemary

Chives

Basil

Shallot Shoots

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HELP US BUILD AN INSECT HOTEL

As the weather starts to turn, the kids at our school are keen to make an insect hotel, so all our creeping, crawling and flying little friends have somewhere to get out of the cold.

But they need help...

We're looking for someone in our school community that could build a wooden frame for the kids to fill with all the right insecty parts.

Insect hotels come in all shapes and sizes, so the design options are unlimited (the ones below are just a few examples!). If you think you can help the kids with this project, please send us an email, or see Karen in the office.

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Jane & Terry
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden

On the 15th of May, the lead person of the Creative Cities of Gastronomy, Dag Hartman is visiting Central Victoria and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce him to some of our region's gastronomic legends!  Dag Hartman is from UNESCO.

What is UNESCO about? 

 The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was created in 2004 to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. The 180 cities which currently make up this network work together towards a common objective: placing creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their development plans at the local level and cooperating actively at the international level.

I look forward to introducing him to Jane and the students on Wednesday the 15th of May so that he can experience the fabulousness of the SAKG program and the great work of the school in supporting this program. 

I'm sure Jane will find some prep for Dag to immerse himself in as well as sharing the meal with the students at the end of the session. 

Warmest regards

Sonia Anthony

Masons of Bendigo

MOTHER'S DAY STALL

Our annual Mother's Day Stall was a great success. A very big thank you to all the families who donated goods.

We would also like to thank our wonderful students who helped each day to set up the stall and sell the gifts; Salina, Sylvie W, Molly, Meg, Olivia, and Anthea - Your help was very much appreciated.

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ELECTION DAY BBQ

We are holding a BBQ at the school on Election Day this Saturday 18th May 2019 from 8 am to 2 pm.

We would love your support for this school fundraiser. How can you help ?

- Bake some goods (cakes, slices, biscuits) and drop them to the school office on Friday 17th May 2019 by 330pm OR bring them to the BBQ on Saturday. All goods need to have ingredients labelled and date of baking. Preserves will also be great.

- Offer some time to help on the BBQ - please complete the online form below if you can help and what time (block of 1 - 2 hours).

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Thanks,

The Fundraising Subcommittee

STUDENTS OF THE WEEK

P/1 A | Finn H-P

For showing Care for Self by showing a commitment to doing his best in class, ignoring distractions and making good choices. You should be very proud of yourself Finn!

P/1 A | Ava G

For showing Care for Self by always trying her best during class times and working particularly hard on her writing. Fantastic effort Ava!

P/1 J | Aurelia F

For showing Care for Self by joining in class activities and participating in all lessons. Super efforts this week! 

P/1 J | Olive H

For showing Care for Self by enthusiastically joining in all activities, especially your effort in music. Well done! 

2/3F | Saffron K

For showing Care for Others by writing out the instructions for playing dominoes so we can all learn.

2/3F | Kirah-Jayne M

For showing Care for the Environment by being quick to pack up and clean up in the classroom.

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2/3W | Seth B

For showing care for others by working hard to follow directions straight away.

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Senior Leadership Community

Hannah O

For showing Care for Self by speaking up with honour and pride.  Well done Hannah!

Robert M

For showing Care for Others by being a great role model when ding our persuasive writing.

Zander C

For showing Care for Others by being a great participant and helping others on our GRIP Leadership day.

Victoria O

For showing Care for Self by being positive and making a great start to school. Well done Victoria.

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POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR FOCUS:

This week's positive behaviour focus is:

Showing care for self by being organized and ready to learn.

The following students are recognised for their abilities in this area: Brody H

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BEST CLASS ATTENDANCE (CUMALONG CUP)

The class with the best school attendance this week is P/1J

The Parenting and Family Support Centre at the University of Queensland is conducting research into parents’ opinions about parenting and parenting programs.

If you have a child between 2 and 12 years, they would love to hear your views on parenting and the services that are available to you as a parent.

You will need to complete a short survey. To find out more or to participate please visit their website.

What's happening in our community...

This month it's all about healthy body and mind, so drop the kids off and get into some power training this month with Dave Tobin, get your dance moves on in preperation for the annual debutant ball in September, attend a parent seminar, join a forum, or call for (free) parenting advice...