Welcome Back

A very warm welcome to all our families as we kick off the 2025 school year! It’s fantastic to see the students back at school after the December/January break, ready for another year of fun, learning, and growth.

To all our returning families, it’s great to have you back with us. Your continued support makes our school community a special place, and we’re excited for all the amazing things we’ll achieve together this year.

We also want to give a big welcome to the families of our 16 new Prep students! They’ve settled in well, and it’s wonderful to see them making new friends and getting to know their new school. We’re looking forward to watching them grow and learn throughout the year. It was great to see so many of our families attend the Welcome Morning Tea last week and begin to develop relationships with other families at Winters Flat PS.

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SCHOOL LEADERS 2024

We have some outstanding Year 6 students who nominated to be our school leaders this year.

We are happy to have these students in leadership roles and wish them every success.

School Captains: Athene, Angus, Ava G

Vice Captains: Louisa, Makenna, Peg

Care for Self: Ella

Care for Others: Finchley

Care for the Environment: Leto

SWPBS: Kaelyn

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WELCOME TO COUNTRY AND LEADERSHIP BADGE PRESENTATION

We are also excited to invite families to join us for a special Welcome to Country and Leadership Badge Presentation ceremony on Monday, 10th February at 10:00 am. This event will take place at the Creekview forecourt and will begin with a Smoking Ceremony followed by the presentation of our leadership badges to our 2025 Student Leaders.

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STAFFING 2025

Prep/1J Fiona Johnson

2/3H Jennifer Houlihan (replaced by Liz Douglas/Wendy Oates until 17th Feb)

3/4C Michelle Creed

5/6B Karen Brooks & Sam Milner

PE Sam Milner

Visual Arts Bronwyn Tracey

Disability Inclusion & Learning Specialist Helen Weir

French Katie Kilgour

Performing Arts Suzanne Kinnersly (replaced by Luke Watt for Term 1)

Office Karen Mahoney & Kitty Ward

SAKG Cath Chugg & Terry Willis

Education Support Brodie Browne-Kerr, Ruby Fiedler, Shelly Griggs, AnneMaree Jones, Kate O’Sullivan, Emma Ragheb, Sophie Sheilds, Marg Stevens, Melissa Stevens, Isla Stewart-Brewer, Rohan Jones, Hannah Miller

Welfare and Wellbeing Hannah O’Keefe

ICT Support Ben Colla

Chess Harry Poulton

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SCHOOL COUNCIL 2025

Have you been thinking you would like to be more involved in school planning and decision making? School council elections will be held in March. Think about whether you would like to nominate. There are at least three positions available this year. More information to come in next fortnights newsletter.

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COMMITTEES, VOLUNTEERS AND SCHOOL COUNCIL

This year we are once again inviting parents and carers to consider joining one of the School Council sub-committees here at Winters Flat. Thank you to those who have already signed up.

We have vacancies in:

· Buildings and Grounds – manages grounds of the school and identifies building maintenance issues

· Fundraising – organises and coordinates fund raising opportunities

· School Community engagement – looks for ways of involving our community and the wider Castlemaine community in school life, as well as promoting our school

· Sustainability – supports the ResourceSmart 5 Star rating through daily school routines, leadership, curriculum and innovation.

If you have an interest in joining any of these committees please complete the attached Volunteers form, email winters.flat.ps@education.vic.gov.au or phone: 5472 1522. It is not necessary to be on council to participate. Thanks to those who have already expressed interest. We will send out a meeting schedule as soon as possible.

Volunteers are welcome in every classroom as well as the Kitchen/Garden and specialist areas. If you have the time and inclination, please let us know, Volunteers at school need to have a Working with Children Check.

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SUN SMART HATS

A reminder to families that all students are required to wear a broad brimmed school hat when outdoors.

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BIRTHDAYS

Rupert – 8 in the first week of January

Finchley- 11 in the first week of January

Moss – 10 in the first week of January

Nova - 11 in the second week of January

James – 11 in the second week of January

Ted – 7 in the third week of January

Obie – 6 I the fourth week of January

Willow – 8 in the fourth week of January

Dylan – 8 in the fourth week of January

Velvet - 8 in the fourth week of January

Hip Hip: Hooray

Hip Hip: Hooray

Hooray: Hip Hip

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ASSEMBLY

Assembly this year will be fortnightly on Mondays on even weeks from 2:45pm in the Hall. These assemblies are an opportunity to celebrate the great things happening at Winters Flat PS. Families are welcome and encouraged to attend.

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PRIVACY POLICY

Our school collects, uses, discloses and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy.

Please take time to remind yourself of the school’s collection statement, found on our website under school policies https://www.winters-flat-ps.vic.edu.au. For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents.

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THANK YOU

I wanted to take the opportunity to thank all of the families, students and staff at Winters Flat PS who have made me feel extremely welcome as Acting Principal over the past week. As mentioned by Suzanne last term, I have come from Harcourt Valley PS where I was Acting Principal and I will be in the Acting Principal position for Term 1 while Suzanne is on leave.

A little about me: I’m married to my amazing wife, Ella (who is also a teacher!), and we have a 10-month-old daughter, Greta as well as two Golden Retrievers, Frank and Tilly (who is my School Wellbeing Dog at Carisbrook PS) who keep us on our toes! When I’m not at school, you will often find me at the cricket, at the gym, riding my mountain bike or watching my beloved Carlton Blues!

I’d love to get to know everyone in our school community over the next few weeks, so please feel free to drop by my office or catch me around the school.

Thank you in advance for your support and I hope you’re having a great week.

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Ash Harvey

Acting Principal

THE SCHOOL DAY

8:55 - School starts

10:55am - 11:25am - Recess

12:25pm - 12:40pm - Lunch eating time in class

1:40pm - 2:10pm - Lunch play

3:15pm - School finishes