WORKING BEE THIS SUNDAY 1^ST DECEMBER 10.00am – 12.00PM

(AKA let’s get together and have fun helping the school)

This Sunday the focus is to spruce things up for the fair next Friday. Come along if you can help.

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TWILIGHT FAIR NEXT FRIDAY

I can’t believe our major school event for the year is next Friday! Please see below for ways you can still get involved.

Sincere thanks to members of the school community for their generous contributions to the Silent Auction to be held on the night and for in anticipation of volunteering on the day.

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2020 ENROLMENTS

The first of our Prep Transition days was yesterday and we welcomed our new students for next year. Next week is another opportunity for the Preps to enjoy their new school and our whole-school Step-Up Day coincides with the Secondary Schools transition day on Tuesday 10^th December, when students will get to meet their new teacher for next year.

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THE YEAR IN RETROSPECT

2019 was a very busy year at Winters Flat Primary School, which included an opportunity to both reflect and plan through the school review process.

Students were immersed in the arts, by engaging a local visual artist, broadcasters and performing artists to foster student creativity. They had visits from professional athletes and mentors who provided opportunities to try a range of sports as well as attending local and whole school excursions.

Some of the highlights:

• Project Pollinate - Monash University Student Theatre collaboration and performance with SLC
• Music mentor Scott Buchanan working with P-2 students
• The more you look the more there is to see – prize-winning sculpture exhibition made possible through Creative Partnerships Victoria with Eliza-Jane Gilchrist and Juliet working with the SLC
• Playground tales podcast devised and created with broadcaster and parent Anne-Marie Middlemast and the SLC
• Campbell’s Creek history podcasts – project commenced with some students from middle school coordinated by Lisa Mills
• Visits to the MCG and Richmond training for the SLC initiated by our school council president Katie Wilson
• Whole school T20 cricket with the Renegades
• Renegades cricket clinic with Prep-3 students
• Hot Shots tennis clinics Years 4-6
• AFL 9s shield – SLC
• Golf clinics – SLC
• School and Regional Cross Country
• Goldfields Netball/AFL
• Local bike rides – SLC/Year 6
• State Parliament roadshow Bendigo – SLC’
• Year 2 Camp – Boomerang Ranch
• P/1 Dinner and sleepover
• Whole school Zoo excursion

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LOOKING FORWARD TO 2020

• We will see the mid-year completion of the new modular multi-purpose room and art room

• We will introduce inquiry learning through Units of study from P-6
• We will continue to build our students’ sense of safety using the School Wide Positive Behaviour Support framework and the Respectful Relationships curriculum
• We will partner with Kangaroo Flat Primary School to improve mathematics curriculum planning and delivery P-6 at both schools
• We will continue to promote activities that give students the chance to develop their confidence and creativity.
• We will look for opportunities to bring high level sporting opportunities into the school
• We will continue to look for ways to increase play options in the playground, including a proposed Loose Parts/Play Pod.

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SCHOOL COUNCIL 2020

There will be a number of vacancies on our Winters Flat Primary School Council next year. If you’ve thought about joining the council please be aware that nominations will be available early in the new year with elections due in March. The Department of Education and Training offers training for new and existing school councilors throughout the year.

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Suzanne Kinnersly

Principal

SWIMMING PROGRAM- 4/5/6 STUDENTS

We are still missing some forms for the swimming program for students in the SLC. 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.

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VOLUNTEERS- NEXT YEAR'S STEPHANIE ALEXANDER LAUNDRY ROSTER 

With four of our wonderful volunteers having children who go into Year 7 next year, we are after four replacements to help out with the washing of aprons and tea towels. A roster is created and sent out to all volunteers. If you can help out next year, please contact the office.

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CANCELLED EXCURSION

The Grade 6 Bike Hike excursion to Vaughn Springs and back has been cancelled. They will still be travelling to Muckleford train station and back this Friday, 29th November. Please grant permission on XUNO ASAP, or grab a paper form from the office, if you have not done so already.

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VOLUNTEER FOR SUSHI HELP

We are looking for a volunteer to assist in helping collate the sushi orders on Thursday 5th December. This will require about 30 mins-1 hour and would require you to come to the school at 9:30. Please contact the office if you can help.

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UNIFORM SHOP

Tuesday 10th December will be the last day the unform shop will be open in the library. A pop up shop will be opening in January at 207 Barker Street, Castlemaine. The hours for the shop are as follows:

6th Jan to 8th Feb 2020

Monday- Friday: 10am-5pm, Saturday: 10am- 1pm (Monday 27th Janary- CLOSED)

10th Feb 2020 Onwards

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10am-5pm. Saturdays: 10am-1pm. Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday- CLOSED)

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REPORTS

All students will receive a hard copy report on Wednesday 18th December.

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LOST PROPERTY

We have an abundance of tupperware containers, drink bottles and jumpers/coats with no names on them at the office. Please come and look through to see if they are yours. At the end of term, unclaimed and unnamed items will be donated to local charities.

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Karen Mahoney & Renae Wilson

Office

On 26 June 2019, the Minister for Education, the Hon. James Merlino MP, announced a new mobile phone policy for every government school in Victoria. 

The new mobile phone policy comes into effect from Term 1, 2020, and requires that students who choose to bring mobiles phones to school must have them switched off and securely put away during school hours.

The role of technology

We live in an exciting and technology-rich world and mobile phones are an important modern day communication tool.  The school acknowledges that access to a mobile phone by children is important to some of our families in providing a sense of safety for their child while travelling to and from school, and for confirming or changing after school arrangements.

Managing the impact of mobile phones

Mobile phones often create disruptions and distractions in classrooms. Establishing a ‘mobile phone free zone’ helps teachers to establish and maintain a focused and productive teaching and learning environment.

Research has found that mobile phones can be disruptive in classrooms and open to misuse at school (e.g. accessing inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and unauthorised photography). Additionally, research shows that the unregulated presence of mobile phones in classrooms can undermine students’ capacity to think, learn, remember, pay attention and regulate emotion. A summary of recent, relevant research is available on the Department of Education and Training’s website.

At recess and lunchtime our school also values the opportunity for students to communicate with each other face-to-face or be involved in activities rather than being focused on a device, particularly when using the device to engage with social media.

The new policy does acknowledge that technology is increasingly impacting the way in which students learn and communicate.  Therefore, when a student has been given explicit permission to access and use such devices to enhance learning by the classroom teacher, mobile phones will be permitted for that specific purpose.

For a small number of students with particular health needs, an exception to the policy may be granted. Please contact the school if you would like to discuss this.

I encourage each member of our school community to read the new policy which is available on our website. This policy outlines the school’s expectations of staff, parents/carers, and students regarding the safe and appropriate use of mobile phones by students at school.

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Emergency situations

In the event of an emergency or if you need to contact your child, I ask that families contact the staff in the school office who will pass on a message as needed. The school acknowledges that this new policy may require some adjustments. As such, I ask for the support of all our families, staff and students in its implementation.

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Our last School Council meeting was held on Monday November 18^th 2019.  We welcomed Kacey Sinclair to the School Council who has joined as a parent member.

We then reflected on what has worked well since our last meeting, including the working bee, delicious sushi lunch orders on a Friday, student led conferences and the Prep dinner/Grade 1 sleep over.

There was much excitement for the newly constructed GaGa Pit and a very big thank you to Blair and his helpers for making this happen. It is providing the students with many hours of fun. 

In the wellbeing space, we have now completed the full Achievement Program, which is a significant achievement in itself. Thank you to Fiona and Liza Shaw for their dedicated work on this program.

The School Review is now complete and we are awaiting the final report. There will be many important recommendations from this report that will establish key curriculum and wellbeing goals for the school moving forward.

We are all very much looking forward to the Twilight Fair on 6^th December 2019. In preparation for the Fair, there will be a working bee this Sunday 1^st December 2019. We look forward to celebrating the school year with you at the Fair.  

The next school council meeting is scheduled for Monday 16th December 2019 at 7pm.

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Katie Wilson

School Council President

Thanks,

The Fundraising Subcommittee

THIS WEEK IN THE KITCHEN & GARDEN...

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

Preparing lots of goodies for the Twilight Fair!

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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...

Cabbage

Strawberries

Soft herbs

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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.

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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.

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Jane & Terry
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden

From The Listening Post: The whole is greater than the sum of its parts…(Aristotle)

Whether you call it synergy, teamwork or something else, there is something special that happens when we work together towards a common goal.

https://philosiblog.com/

Warm regards,

Kim

Student Wellbeing

P-3 students had a great time blasting some cricket balls! #playcricket

Thank you to Melbourne Rengades for hosting this event and for Sam Milner for organising!

JUNIOR LEARNING COMMUNITY

P/1 A | Oliver K

For showing Care for Self by making great choices and ignoring others so that he can do his best work. Fantastic effort Oliver, keep it up!
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P/1 A | Brax P

For showing Care for Self by trying really hard at his work and concentrating in class. Well done Brax!
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P/1 J | Rory H

For showing Care for Others by sharing, cooperating and listening in class. Well done Rory for your efforts and for being a good friend.
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MIDDLE LEARNING COMMUNITY

2/3F | Saffron K

For showing Care for Others by helping and encouraging classrmates when problem solving.
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2/3F | Makinti K

For showing Care for Self by having the confidence to share her thoughts and opinions in class discussions.
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SENIOR LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY

The entire group!

For showing Care for Self and Others by being awesome on the Bike Hike and doing great presentations.
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FRENCH

Suzie M

For taking pride in her work and participating in activities enthusiastically.
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Peggy M

For finding a brave voice when practicing new sounds.

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Harvey W

For working with a positive and enthusiastic mindset.
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Amelia B

For consistently demonstrating excellent listening skills and focusing on completing work.

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POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR FOCUS

This week's positive behaviour focus is:

Show care for yourself by being sunsmart.

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

Jamie B

Chase B

Archie K

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BEST CLASS ATTENDANCE (CUMALONG CUP)

The class with the best school attendance for the week ending 15th November is 23F.

The class with the best school attendance for the week ending 22nd November is P1J.

On Monday the 25^th November, Peter and John from the Old School Boys association came and donated four books to Winters Flat P.S. We are very thankful for them all and are very excited to read them. The books are called The Fate of Fausto, Goodbye House Hello House, The Curious Case of the Mammoth and Moonfish. Keep an eye out in the library for them.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY....

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Castlemaine Farmers Market

Now we have both a weekly and a monthly Market!

Both Markets are accredited by the Victorian Farmers’ Market Association.

Weekly Market

The market is located alongside the Market building (Frederick Street, Castlemaine) and from 3.30 – 6.30 pm each Wednesday you will find fresh local produce from growers in our immediate area.

Monthly Market

The 1^st Sunday every month (except January) the market operates with over 50 stalls. The market is open from 9am -1pm. The range and quality of the food on sale makes this a favourite market with locals and visitors alike. There is also a cooking demonstration each month at 11am that is always worth watching.

Bring your shopping bags and support local growers and enjoy the best of seasonal produce.

W: www.castlemainefarmersmarket.org

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