Dear Winters Flat Community,

Welcome back to everyone for the 2020 school year. Last week we had some scorchers but students and teachers managed the heat remarkably well and began the new school year on a very positive note. Thursday we met the Preps of 2020 and welcomed them to the Winters Flat community at Monday’s assembly. This edition of Flat Chat is a whopper with quite a few diary dates, the first being next Wednesday’s barbecue.

Staffing 2020

We have had some staffing changes since our end of year announcements. Marie Harris is teaching 4/5H in the Senior Learning Community and is settling in to her new teaching role.

Jennifer Thoma will now be teaching Visual Arts as a weekly specialist subject.

We welcome Belle Ganglmair as our new chaplain/wellbeing coordinator. Please introduce yourself to Belle and ensure you have completed and returned the consent forms sent home last week. We wish Peta Firth every success as she spends 12 months teaching Maths/Science at Castlemaine Secondary College.

Welcome back! Sausage Sizzle/Picnic – 5.00pm – 6.30pm next Wednesday 12^th February

An event for all families to re-connect after the summer break. We will have sausages and vegie burgers available and encourage families to bring picnic food to share. For catering purposes we have sent home a slip this afternoon. Please complete and submit by this Friday 7^th February.

New Modular Buildings

We are still scheduled to receive two new modular buildings to replace Oakview and the art room with demolition scheduled during the Easter break and the expectation that both will be completed for the commencement of Term 3. We are currently decanting equipment from the existing spaces and would appreciate any assistance with moving things in the coming weeks. 

Lunches

A reminder to ensure your children have enough to eat at school. We suggest some fruit for 10.00am Munch and Crunch, a healthy snack for 11.00am and a balanced healthy lunch for 1.25pm. Some ideas at 50 Fun School lunch ideas.

Assemblies

Assemblies will continue to occur fortnightly on Mondays in even weeks. During Term 1 we will meet first thing in the morning on The Deck. Our first assembly was presented on Monday by our 2020 school captains. We will work out an assembly schedule for Term 2 once we have confirmation of the Oakview demolition schedule.

School Captains 2020

Captains: Millie Karimi Sarab and Iestyn Cotterell

Vice-Captains: Lila Duthie and Louis Wood

Chess 2020 - Thursdays

Harry Poulton will continue to offer the chess program here at Winters Flat on Thursdays in 2020. Harry volunteers his time to coach chess and we are grateful that he is able to continue with the program this year.

Prep – Year 6 Information Evening and Open Classrooms 20^th February

Our information evening and open classrooms will take place on Thursday 20^th February. We will begin on the deck at 5.00pm with some announcements before families go to their children’s classrooms to meet this year’s teacher.

Prep – Year 3 Meet and Greet Interviews 27^th February

On Thursday 27^th February you will have the opportunity to meet with teachers to talk about the individual needs of your child. We have attached a questionnaire to guide the conversation, with the expectation that this is an opportunity for parents and carers to meet the 2020 teacher or re-connect if they are continuing from 2019.

Year 4 – Year 6 Meet and Greet Interviews 5^th March

Once again on Thursday 5^th March you will have the opportunity to meet with teachers from Years 4-6 to talk about the individual needs of your child. Again this is an opportunity for parents and carers in the Senior Learning Community to meet the 2020 teacher and re-connect if they are continuing from 2019.

Mango Drive

Congratulations to the Frost family for selling the most trays of mangoes during our end of year mango drive!

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. We have vacancies in:

• Buildings and Grounds
• Fundraising
• School Community engagement
• Sustainability
• Wellbeing

If you have an interest in joining any of these committees please complete the attached Volunteers form, email winters.flat.ps@edumail.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. School Council elections will be held in March and there are a number of vacancies for parents/carers.

Volunteers are welcome in every classroom as well as the Kitchen/Garden and specialist. If you have the time and inclination please let us know.

2020 Collection Statement

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.

For more information about privacy, see: Schools’ Privacy Policy – information for parents. This information is also available in nine community languages.

.
Suzanne Kinnersly

Principal