REMOTE AND FLEXIBLE LEARNING

Two weeks in and I would like to congratulate our students and families for adapting so quickly to the reality of school at the moment. I would also like to acknowledge the amazing effort of staff in compiling and delivering care and work packs to the students working from home, in addition to the daily contact established through WebEx. Furthermore I would like to express my thanks to staff and students working on-site.

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POETS AMONG US

Last week ISV (Independent Schools Victoria) announced the winners of its inaugural poetry competition, which was open to students of all ages at all schools across Victoria.

The winners were judged from more than 300 entries from students from Prep to year 12, enrolled in Independent, Government and Catholic schools, as well as some who are home-schooled.

Students were asked to write on any subject, with the optional theme of ‘Hope’. We congratulate Polly T (1/2A) who submitted and received an honourable mention for her poem: Good Night. Well done Polly!

A reminder that the Castlemaine Poetry Prize supported by the Castlemaine Mail, Soldier and Scholar Bookshop Castlemaine and Mount Alexander Shire Council is open for 2020.

In the Junior Section there will be three categories and prizes on offer. The sections are; Grade 2 and under, Grade 6 and under and Year 10 and under. There will also be awards for Highly Commended and Commended Poems.

Mount Alexander Shire Council is sponsoring the three junior prizes with the winner of each section to receive a trophy and $50 book voucher.

Selected entries, including the winning poems, will be published in the Castlemaine Mail.

Entries can be submitted via email to ldennis@midnews.com.au , mailed to 2020 Castlemaine Poetry Prize, 29 Templeton Street, Castlemaine, VIC 3450, or dropped into The Castlemaine Mail office at the same address.

Awards will be presented early in Term Four at a venue and date to be confirmed.

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eSMART AND CYBER SAFE

During this period of Remote and Flexible learning it’s timely to remember that with children spending more time online it is vital to keep them cyber safe.

For Parents

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents

For kids

https://www.esafety.gov.au/kids

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MID-YEAR INTERVIEWS

A reminder that if you were unable to meet during the scheduled times in previous weeks, please use Xuno to contact your child’s teacher to arrange an alternative WebEx meeting.

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ATTITUDES TO SCHOOL SURVEY

Students in Year 4-6 have been invited to complete the survey as they are every year. The annual survey has been held back until now and includes some questions to cover remote and flexible learning. Please encourage your child in the Senior Learning Community to participate. All parents/carers of 4-6 students have been emailed the details.

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BUILDINGS: OFFICIALLY COMPLETED!

The main work is done and they look terrific, as does the refurbished kitchen. Now it’s the clean-up, and with all the rain we’ve had there’s mud everywhere.  

• Interiors ready for use
• Decking on all buildings is finished and being stained

We can’t wait to move in.

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WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN A SCHOOL COUNCIL SUB-COMMITTEE?

Our biggest challenge at the moment is meeting but we can do this remotely using WebEx or Zoom. The sub-committees are:

• Buildings and Grounds- Blair Venn, Fiona Johnston, Helen Weir, Simon Butler, Al Farley, Edd Blaise, Richard Goonan
• Community Engagement- Suzanne Kinnersly, Renae Wilson, Helen Kaptein, Simon Duthie
• Wellbeing- Kacey Sinclair, Belle Ganglmair, Emma Brown, Kitty Ward, Suzanne Kinnersly
• Fundraising- Fiona Johnston, Bianca Alvarez Harris, Karen Mahoney, Emma Brown, Shera Blaise, Rhani Dean-Talbot, 
• Sustainability- Terry Willis, Fiona Johnston, Bianca Alvarez Harris
• Finance- Suzanne Kinnersly, Karen Mahoney, Kitty Ward, Helen Weir

If you’d like to join one of these committees please email winters.flat.ps@education.vic.gov.au and we’ll invite you to the next remote meeting.

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BIRTHDAYS

Ben C – 12 in the third week of August

Winter – 6 in the third week of August

Atticus J – 10 in the third week of August

Ellie - 10 in the third week of August

Aurora – 8 in the fourth week of August

Loretta - 10 in the fourth week of August

Bronwyn - in the fourth week of August

Hip Hip:  Hooray

Hip Hip:  Hooray

Hooray: Hip Hip

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VIRTUAL TOUR AND PARENT/CARER TESTIMONIALS

Thank you so much to the parents who sent testimonials for the website! They have now been published online. Monte Macpherson has done a fabulous job, creating a virtual tour from our photo collection which we shared on Social Media and can now be seen on the Winters Flat PS home page. Yesterday we launched the Prep movie on the website created by Bianca, Fiona and Renae with photographs by Anne Neath and Annette Ruzicka. It does make me proud to be principal of such a wonderful school and have the opportunity to showcase what we have to offer.

We are keen to create a brochure promoting the school and would welcome your input if you’d like to be involved. Please email winters.flat.ps@education.vic.gov.au

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Suzanne Kinnersly

Principal