PUPIL-FREE DAY MONDAY

Reminder we have a curriculum day this Monday (Cup Eve).

.

MT ALEXANDER MIDDLE YEARS SURVEY

Mount Alexander Shire Council would like to hear from children aged 8 to 12 years, and their families, as they start to develop a new Middle Years Plan.

Following on from the Early Years Plan 2018-2021, council are now working in partnership with the community to develop the first Middle Years Plan for the shire.

The local council understands that children aged between 8 and 12 years face an enormous amount of change physically, emotionally and mentally yet there is very little focus on these years.

We sent out a message on Facebook with links to the survey in addition to the attachment in today’s Flat Chat.

.

WELCOME VISITING TEACHER- MICHAEL RING

This term Michael Ring is working with teachers each Monday and Tuesday from the Bendigo Outreach Service made available through YarraMe School. This regional support service is available to all government schools in the North West Victorian Region to engage when they need specialized assistance in understanding learners who may be experiencing social, emotional or behavioral difficulties.

The role of the outreach teacher involves providing additional support including consultation in relation to personalised learning plans and behaviour support plans and teacher mentoring to develop a broader range of strategies to support students with behaviours of concern.

The outreach offered at each school is tailored to meet the specific needs of the students, teachers and school.

We welcome Michael to our staff for the remainder of the year.

 .

WORKING BEE THANK YOU – NEXT ONE IS SUNDAY 1^ST DECEMBER

On Sunday morning we were able to make a real difference in the garden and grounds with a great team effort! Thank you to the following families who came to help: Matthew and Catherine Nicholas with Sascha and Milla, Melissa Cater and Ben Bailey with Dan and Alex, Nick Haslam and Jodie Oakman with William, Helen Kaptein and Peter Gringel with Lucinda, Cahra and Chris Swarris with Bonnie, Rex and Leo who rejuvenated the seat in the junior playground and donated paint. We extend a special thanks to Blair Venn for his amazing energy level and coordination of the work including safety induction for participants.

Lucinda suggested we rename our working bees: “Get Togethers - and have fun helping our school”

Our next Working Bee, on Sunday 1^st December, is an opportunity to get the school looking its best for the Twilight Fair. We would like as many people who can spare the time to come along for weeding, sweeping, tidying and planting.

 .

PLAYGROUND DEVELOPMENT

Blair has also begun constructing a new piece of equipment in the senior playground. A group of senior students will be working on this project on Friday and we hope to have it ready to use in the coming weeks. Come and see how it’s progressing.

 .

2020 SIBLING PREP ENROLMENTS

Please complete and submit your enrolment forms for next year as soon as possible.

 .

HALLOWEEN - ORPHFUND

Dress up tomorrow with a gold coin donation to go towards the OrphFund.

 .

POLICIES

All of our school policies are available on the website. We all work to keep them as up at date as possible.

 .

CUPPA WITH THE PRINCIPAL- 15th NOVEMBER 8.45AM – 9.30AM

No agenda – just an informal chat. If you would like to join me please RSVP to winters.flat.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au.

.
Suzanne Kinnersly

Principal

SWIMMING PROGRAM- 4/5/6 students

Please return the permission forms or login on to XUNO to grant your approval ASAP. Payments can be made to the office or on XUNO.

Please ensure that you complete a hard copy of the swimming assessment form as well as the permission and return it to the office. If you are not sure about your child’s swimming ability the instructors will assess your child at the beginning of the program and place them in the appropriate group.

.

NUDE FOOD

A lot of rubbish has been found around the school yard lately. A reminder that we are a 'nude food' school and that student's food should be nude/in containers. If food in wrappers is packed, students need remember to make sure the rubbish is placed in a bin in their classrooms or in their bag to be disposed of later.

.

SUSHI FRIDAYS

Sushi Fridays kicked off last week and what a great success it was! This will continue to run every Friday. Order forms due in on the Thursday by 11am (recess).

.

MANGO ORDER FORMS

We previously stated that mango orders are due in to the office by Monday 4th November, however as this is a student free day, could all orders please be in by this Friday 1st November. Apologies for any inconvenience.

.

CURRICULUM DAY AND PUBLIC HOLIDAY

A reminder that students are not required at school on Monday 4th November (Curriculum Day) and Tuesday 5th November (Melbourne Cup Public Holiday).

.

NOTES SENT HOME FROM THE OFFICE

If you have received any forms from the office such as absence notes, asthma or medical information notes, could you please return them to the office as soon as possible.

Please note also that accounts will be sent home in the next week or two. Prompt payment of these accounts would be most appreciated.

.

REPORTS

End of semester reports will be available on XUNO from Wednesday 18th December. If you wish to receive a hard copy report, please come and see us and let us know.

.

Karen Mahoney & Renae Wilson

Office

JUNIOR LEARNING COMMUNITY

P/1 A | Kaelyn J

For showing Care for Self by working really hard on her school work and ignoring distractions around her. Keep it up Kaelyn!
.

P/1 A | Jimmy B

For showing Care for Self by making fantastic choices and getting great scores on his Check Ins last week. Amazing effort Jimmy!
.
.

MIDDLE LEARNING COMMUNITY

2/3F | Amelia B

For showing Care for Environment by sharing her knowledge and understanding so that we can all care too.
.

2/3W | Sascha N

For showing Care for Self by always being positive and having a go. Keep it up Sascha.
.

2/3W | Sophia N

For showing Care for Self by always being positive and having a go. Keep it up Sophia.
.

2/3W | Ellie C

For showing Care for Self by always being positive and having a go. Keep it up Ellie.
.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY

Caleb M

For showing Care for Self by displaying a great discipline during literacy project sessions. Well done Caleb.
.

Lincon V

For showing Care for Others by being a great friend and showing his peers how to make good choices.

.

Jasmine K

For showing Care for Self by being focuseed and conscientous to complete assigned work.

.

Jasper C

For showing Care for Self by always having a very pleasant disposition and being polite and courteous to others in all aspects of school life. People respect you in return.
.

Indi F

For showing Care for Self with fantastic focus, commitment and attention to detail during classtime. Your efforts with your work are really paying off. Keep up the amazing job.

.

Milla B

For showing Care for Self and Others by showing outstanding respect to both herself and others. Also, by applying brilliant listening skills and fantastic application to all of her work tasks. Thank you.

.

FRENCH

Georgie N

For enthusiastic participation and active listening.
.

Ava M

For careful listening and sharing her ideas with the class.

.

Ella H

For demonstrating excellent listening skills and getting straight to work.

.

Lillian D

For being a quiet, considrate learner who takes pride in her work.

.

Sylvie W

For making excellent use of class time to complete book tasks.

.

POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR FOCUS

This week's positive behaviour focus is:

Show care for others by being kind and including others.

The following students are recognised for their abilities to do so:

Stanley M

Suzie M

Jamie B

.

BEST CLASS ATTENDANCE (CUMALONG CUP)

The class with the best school attendance for the week ending 18th October is 46M.

The class with the best school attendance for the week ending 25th October is P1J.

THIS WEEK IN THE KITCHEN & GARDEN...

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

Tomato and garlic sauce

Basic pasta dough

Lemon curd

Triple citrus marmalade 

Butter and sage sauce

Leafy greens ravioli 

.

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

.

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

Asparagus

Garlic Chives

Spring Onions

Silverbeet

Red Veined Sorrel

Rhubarb

Chives

Sage Leaves

Parsley

Coriander

Shallots

.

HELP US BUILD AN INSECT HOTEL

Want to help increase insect numbers at school? This is your chance to do so.

In the gardening classes this semester, the students have been learning about insects. They have made mini insect hotels that will go into a bigger home - like the one pictured below. The skills they’ve learned so far are sawing and drilling recycled timber, and building with clay.

To house all the students work we need to build a bigger structure – an insect hotel. I’m thinking it would be roughly be 2m L x 1.80m H x .5m W. I’d like to include parts of the designs the students have done as well.

Please contact the office if you are interested.

.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Firstly, a massive thanks to all the volunteers that help out with the watering and chooks over the breaks. And especially the ones that are leaving us this year – the garden and chooks thank you too.

We are looking for new volunteers for the Xmas break. I know it’s awhile away, but it will come around fast. Please see me in person or contact the office. Then I’ll arrange a time to show you the ropes.

.

Jane & Terry
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden

World Teachers Day- Friday 25^th October 2019

Last Friday, we celebrated World Teachers Day. On behalf of the Winters Flat School Council, I would like to extend a very big thank you to our teachers for all the work that they do each day to help make our children the best that they can be. They are truly dedicated to providing nurturing, inclusive and dynamic learning and play spaces that promotes the school values of caring for self, others and the environment.  We are very fortunate to have a group of committed teachers who are always willing to lend a helping hand, get to know the whole child, and go the extra mile when planning fun classroom activities, organising excursions and/or helping with different fundraising events. Please take a moment to thank your child’s teacher in recognition of this important day.

.

School Council Meeting held on Monday October 21^st 2019: Summary of Meeting

Our last School Council meeting was held on Monday October 21^st 2019.  We commenced the meeting by reflecting on what has worked well since our last meeting, including the French assembly, the Grade 2-3 excursion to Brown Farm, and the breakfast for mental health week, which was a time to nourish our minds and connect with different members of the school community. In the wellbeing space, we have also completed the benchmark for Safe Environments as part of the Achievement Program. As we look forward, we have a busy rest of the term with the swimming program, the Prep dinner and Grade 1 sleepover, as well as the Twilight Fair on 6^th December 2019. The fair will be a time to celebrate the year with each class being responsible for one stall. We are still seeking volunteers to help so please see the office if you can assist. Thank you to those who are already actively working on this event. As you know, we are in the middle of the School Review, for which we will receive feedback from the panel on the 6^th November 2019.    

The next school council meeting is scheduled for Monday 18th November 2019 at 7pm.

.

Katie Wilson

School Council President

Thanks,

The Fundraising Subcommittee

T20 CRICKET

On the 11th November, selected students from 4-6 will be catching a bus to Wesley Hill to participate in a T20 cricket competition.

Please see XUNO to grant permission/pay for your child to attend.

Contact the office if a paper form is needed.

It will be an awesome day

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY...

.