REINFORCING EXPECTATIONS OF POSITIVE STUDENT BEHAVIOUR

One of the key focus areas for the curriculum day on 15th July will be a review of the school rules as defined in the behaviour expectations matrix – currently displayed in every classroom. The school is going through a major review process this year and Term 3 will be a time for consultation with students, staff and parents on many aspects of how we organise ourselves.

School reviews are timed to coincide with strategic plans and our current plan concludes this year.

As we look to the next five years, one aspect we are seeking to prioritise is the way we enact our school vision “…to create an inclusive school community where students develop the academic, physical, social, emotional, creative and moral skills that are the foundation for success in life, a school that celebrates diversity and promotes a deep respect for the environment and for each other.” Underpinning our vision is the aspiration to achieve our best, acting with kindness and showing respect.

Some recent feedback at our school council meeting reflected concerns about perceptions of student behaviour at school and how we manage that behaviour.

It is important and timely that we give students clear guidelines through the framework of the School Wide Positive Behaviour Support model, more commonly known as the Care Crows. We also need to make it clear that all members of our school community have a right to experience a safe and supportive school environment.

Clarity and consistency when a student acts in breach of the behaviour standards of our school community will be consistent with the Department of Education Student Engagement and Inclusion guidelines with related school policies updated to reflect these guidelines.

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NO LONGER FAREWELL KIM

We are very pleased to announce that Kim’s departure has been postponed until the end of the school year. She will continue to be available to students, staff and parents for 2019 but will be on leave for August in Term 3.

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RETIREMENTS

Wendy Oates will officially retired at the end of this Term 2. Wendy has worked at Winters Flat Primary School since mid 1993 and has been a valuable member of our teaching staff. She had a wonderful rapport with students, parents and the Winters Flat community, she will be sorely missed.

Liz Old also retires at the end of Term 2. Liz has been the face of Winters Flat Primary School since mid 1998 in her role of receptionist. She has helped to implement many changes and improvements at Winters Flat, cared for many students, helped parents and provided so much support to our school. She will be greatly missed.

Please note that we will be having an official send off for both Wendy and Liz early in Term 3. Stay tuned for details.

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WORKING BEE THANKS FOR TERM 2

Thank you to the families who braved a cold and frosty morning to help on Sunday. It was bracing but the energy and enthusiasm soon warmed us up and the help was much appreciated. Special thanks to Marie-Michele with Abigail and Charli, Helen and Martin with Freya and Hermione, Peter with Lucinda, Terry with Sonny and Blair Venn. Thanks also to Helen K for the delicious fruitcake for morning tea.

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PROJECT POLLINATE WITH MONASH THEATRE

The performances last Friday received fantastic feedback from the students and staff who attended. We were grateful for this unique opportunity to collaborate with a team of committed theatre makers from Monash University Student Theatre who initially ran drama workshops with our students in Term 1 and then returned to present the performance. We extend our sincere thanks to Paris Balla, Simone Louey, Simran Giria, performers Hannah Johnson, Geo Valentine, Callum Cheah, G Ulrich & Sm Cara Dowe who collaborated to create a work with ideas from the WFPS Senior Learning Community. Using storytelling and sharing to explore the ideas of belonging and identity, Project Pollinate asked the questions “Who are you and how do you belong to your environment and community?”

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2040 AT THEATRE ROYAL

There will be screenings of 2040, the acclaimed Australian documentary made by Damon Gameau (That Sugar Film) at the Theatre Royal, Castlemaine. Gameau's new film 2040 bills itself as a "journey to explore what the future could look like by the year 2040 if we simply embraced the best solutions already available to us.”

RUNNING TIME: 92 MINS / RATING: G
See the Theatre Royal website for session times.

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SEMESTER REPORTS

The mid-year reports will be sent home with students on Friday 28th June.

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HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY

Wishing all students, staff and their families a safe and happy winter break. See you back here on Tuesday 16th July for a new school term.

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Suzanne Kinnersly

Principal.

GOODBYE FROM LIZ OLD

"After a long and enjoyable association with WFPS, both as a parent of students who attended, and working as an employee, I have decided to retire at the end of my LSL.

I would like to thank the school community and staff for their support during this period. I look forward to following the progress of the upcoming renovations and improvements for this wonderful school, and wish everyone all the very best for the future."

~ Liz Old

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LOST PROPERTY

Please come and check to see if your child has lost any jumpers or lunch boxes.

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SECOND HAND CLOTHING

We have a large amount of second hand clothing in good condition for sale. If you would like to have a look at the uniforms please come to the office.

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CHESS CLASSES

There will not be any after school chess this Friday the last day of term. Also there will not be any after school chess on the first week back in Term 3.

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CURRICULUM DAY REMINDER

Please note that the first day of Term 3 is a Curriculum Day and no students are required at school until Tuesday 16th July.

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DENTAL FORMS

Please remember to return your dental forms if you have not done so yet.

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Karen Mahoney & Renae Wilson

Office.

SUMMARY OF MEETING

School Council Meeting held on Monday June 17th 2019

Our fourth School Council meeting for 2019 was held on Monday June 17th 2019. We started the meeting by reflecting on what has worked well since our last meeting, including the trivia night, tabloid sports day at Castlemaine Secondary College, Grandparents and Special Friends Day, and the golf and soccer clinics.

The trivia night was our major fundraiser this term, and was a great success. We acknowledged the great work of Shera Blaise and Rhani Dean-Talbett for coordinating this event.

We also acknowledged the fantastic news that the Victorian Government has awarded our school with $2.916 million to fund a new permanent modular school building.

We passed a number of policies, including the Sunsmart, Fundraising and Student Dress Code.

We also discussed the important issue of school culture and ensuring that there is a very clear and consistent message to all students and families that we pride ourselves on respecting self, others and the community. Reinforcing expectations for positive student behaviour at school will be a consistent theme in the coming terms.

The next school council meeting is scheduled for Monday 29th July 2019 at 7pm.

Wishing you all a restful holiday.

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Katie Wilson

School Council President.

THE LISTENING POST... RE-VISIONING

Hi Everyone,

While I thought that this would be my last Listening Post – I have postponed my relocation to New Zealand until the end of the school year (though I will be away for the whole month of August, which I do apologise for). It is actually lovely to know I don’t have to say goodbye to all you lovely people just yet!

My focus will be a little on the policies and whole of school culture in the next two terms, as we review our strategic plan and vision for the future – it will be an exciting time ahead. We will be reflecting on further intergration of the three major frameworks that inform our wellbeing policies at Winters Flat (School Wide Positive Behaviour Support, Berry Street Education Model & Reslience Rights and Respectful Relationships), which will be a focus on our planning day on 15th July.

We will be having an extra special working bee either in the first or second week in term three – to try to get our ‘loose parts’ playground up and running. If anyone does have any spare time in the school holidays and feels like doing a little bit of ‘clearing-the-space-work’, Kylie (Eoin’s mum) and I will be spending some time making a start on cleaning up the Parent Hub (old after school building). We are committed to creating a family-friendly space for Winters Flat families to gather and share ideas and stories that support each other on the parenting journey.

Hope you all have a happy holidays and I look forward to seeing you all again next term!

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Warm regards,

Kim

Student Wellbeing.

The Prep/1 students had a great second Term at school, from participating in the Cross Country to learning how to cross the road safely, and from sharing some time with their cobbers, to sharing some time with their families.

These are just a few of the moments from our Term 2 in review...

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Fiona & Bianca

Junior Learning Community.

We are very excited to be commencing our art project ‘The More You Look the More There is to See’ in Term 3 with amazing local artist Eliza Gilchrist- who will be with us for the whole term.

In the meantime if you would like to find out a bit more of what it’s going to be like, Eliza has an exhibition on at Central Goldfields Gallery, which includes some holiday art workshops.

We’d love to see you there..

Juliet 

Art Teacher.

GOLDFIELDS SOCCER

A huge thanks to Alex Cottrell and the boys that represented WFPS last week. The skills were awesome, the gamesmanship great and the teamwork was A1. Two wins and two very narrow losses that could have a nearly should have gone our way.....Not to be.

A credit to everyone involved.

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GOLF

Over the last four weeks we've participated in golf on some crisp Friday mornings and sunny afternoons. Thanks to Tim from Gecko Sports and all the teachers and support staff for helping accommodate the program.

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GOLDFIELDS NETBALL CARNIVAL

For the first time ever Castlemaine will be hosting the Goldfields Netball on 17th July at Wesley Hill. Permission forms will be distributed later this week.

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GOLDFIELDS FOOTBALL

In week 3 there is a good possibility we'll be hosting the Goldfields Football for the first time. Stay tuned for more exciting news!

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WFPS CROSS COUNTRY

Thanks to Simon Beckett for the great action snaps in last edition of Flat Chat.

Sam

Sports Teacher.

THIS WEEK IN THE KITCHEN & GARDEN...

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

Chinese greens fried with soy and ginger

Oven-baked spring rolls

Tempura vegetables

Aioli

Sponge cake

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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...

Bok Choy

Wom Bok

Pencil Leeks

Lettuce

Shallots

Jerusalem artichoke

Chives

Coriander

Broccoli

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Jane & Terry
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden.

Thanks,

The Fundraising Subcommittee.

At a recent School Council Meeting, the decision was passed to end school banking from June 30th 2019.

This decision is the result of a growing number of our school community who feel that the bank’s values do not align with our own school values, and was further supported by a declining number of children participating in the school-banking program.

Thank you so much for your support of school banking at Winters Flat in the past, and please be assured that any rewards that your child is saving for in term 3 will still be ordered.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you wish to discuss further.

Kind regards

Katie Wilson

School Council President.

CONGRATULATIONS SASCHA

Sascha was invited to play the piano at the recent Drew Thorpe Music Invitational Gig.  Well done Sascha!

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BEST CLASS ATTENDANCE (CUMALONG CUP)

The class with the best school attendance for the week ending 14th June is 2/3W.

The class with the best school attendance for the week ending 21st June is 2/3W.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY...

With the school holidays almost upon us, there are plenty of things to keep the kids (big and small) occupied in the coming weeks...

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Children’s Cyber Health & Safety

The Castlemaine Steiner School & Kindergarten are investigating the feasibility of engaging esteemed adolescent psychologist, Michael Carr-Gregg, to present an evening for parents on cyber health & safety. Michael Carr-Gregg has extensive experience working with adolescents, as well as speaking and writing in the field of adolescent psychology. For more information on Michael head to http://michaelcarrgregg.com/ Recommended reading: Real Wired Child: what parents need to know about kids online, Michael Carr-Gregg

The Date and venue are to be advised depending on the demand. Costs for the event would be $25 per family (1-2 adults). Interested parents are requested to text their details to our office on 0407 124 508 by 4pm on 1/8/19. Please include your name, school and the number of adults attending.

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