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Wednesday 26th July
- Parent - Teacher Interviews - 3:30pm - 6:30pm - bookings through XUNO
Friday 4th August
- Curriculum Day - no students at school
Monday 7th August
- 1/2W Kitchen class
Tuesday 8th August
- Girls Soccer Team - Loddon Mallee Primary Region Finals Swan Hill
Monday 4th September
- PJ Kitchen class
Wednesday 6th September
- Indigenous Literacy Day - Busking for Change
Thursday 7th September
- Whole school Excursion - Melbourne Museum - info will be on XUNO in the coming weeks
Thursday 14th September
- Mount Alexander Chess Tournament - select students - info to come
Friday 15th September
- Last day of Term 3 - 2:30pm finish
UPCOMING CHANGES TO NAPLAN REPORTING – YEAR 3 AND YEAR 5
NAPLAN results for students are being released this week. I’m writing to inform you of some changes to this year’s reporting. These are changes being introduced nationally by the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).
NAPLAN will continue to measure student achievement in numeracy, reading, writing, spelling, and grammar and punctuation but the results will now be presented in 4 proficiency levels. These are:
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Exceeding
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Strong
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Developing
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Needs additional support
This change will give schools, parents and carers clearer information that details student achievement against new proficiency levels.
Students’ NAPLAN reports will continue to show how they are tracking against their peers and provide an indication of their skill levels against national averages and where we would expect them to be in order to get the most out of schooling. This provides valuable information to teachers about how we can continue to support your child.
Each set of NAPLAN results is an important milestone but it’s also important that students know that one result does not define them – these results are about making sure every student gets the support they need so they can continue to get the best from their learning.
When we provide you with your results, you will also receive information about what the new proficiency levels mean.
As ever, you’re welcome to speak to me, or your child’s teacher with any questions about these changes.
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PARENT (CARER)/TEACHER INTERVIEWS WEDNESDAY 26 JULY
Next Wednesday is an opportunity to discuss your child/ren’s progress as well as setting goals for Semester 2. We encourage students to attend with their family.
You can book a session with teachers via Xuno.
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CURRICULUM DAY FRIDAY 4 AUGUST
This is a reminder that Friday 4th August is student-free at Winters Flat, with teachers attending a seminar with renowned mathematicians Jo Boaler and Cathy Williams – founders of the youcubed website.
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PRE-REVIEW SELF EVALUATION TERM 3
Our School Review is scheduled for Term 4 but during the pre-review stage this term, we will be seeking feedback from students, staff, school council and families. If you would like to be involved in the forums giving feedback about our school which could shape future strategic directions, please let me know: Suzanne.Kinnersly@education.vic.gov.au.
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BUSKING FOR CHANGE
We have signed up for Busking for Change – a fund-raising initiative for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. This involves learning the song: Words Make the World Go Around by Josh Pyke and Justine Clarke.
We will be learning the song as a whole school during Performing Arts sessions and a group of parent volunteers have offered to run rehearsals at lunchtime on Fridays in the hall.
Students can be registered by parents/carers at https://buskingforchange.ilf.org.au/register-student for sponsorship.
We will perform the song as a whole school at a special assembly on National Indigenous Literacy Day - Wednesday 6th September here at school. We are hoping to have a great audience to encourage us. We are currently exploring other ways to help celebrate the day and promote the cause of indigenous literacy.
As a school community we have a goal to raise $250.00. All funds raised help kids and families in remote Communities access and create books in the languages they speak at home. Please check out our school page https://buskingforchange.ilf.org.au/o/winters-flat-primary-school and learn more about this joyful fundraiser that helps us all to be changemakers.
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JULY BIRTHDAYS
Milly – 6 in the first week of July
Maeve – 8 in the first week of July
Fiona - in the first week of July
Indi – 12 in the third week of July
Noah – 12 in the third week of July
Hunter – 8 in the fourth week of July
Lucinda – 11 in the fourth week of July
Ginger – 11 in the last week of July
Ripley - 11 in the last week of July
Hip Hip: Hooray
Hip Hip: Hooray
Hooray: Hip Hip
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COVID, FLU AND FREE RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS
We currently have families dealing with COVID and with the usual winter bugs doing the rounds, we have struggled to replace staff who are unwell. If your child is symptomatic we request they be kept home as even the spread of colds and flu has an impact here at school. In recent days we have been forced to split classes as there were no relief teachers available. With the continued rise in case numbers in Mt Alexander, please be aware that we have plenty of free rapid antigen test kits available at the school office.
Testing is strongly recommended for students and staff who are symptomatic.
After doing the tests at home, if it is positive, you are advised to:
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let the school know
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keep your child at home for 7 days
If you feel unwell, please call a GP or the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080.
For more information on how to manage your symptoms, please visit https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/managing-covid-19-home
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Suzanne Kinnersly
Principal.
Communication reminders
Dear families, We would like to remind you that communication is key with events happening at school or beyond. All information regarding events and happenings around the school will be in our fortnightly newsletter. Xuno is our overarching communication tool with families. You would go to Xuno for the following communications.
- Excursion/Camps permissions
- Payments for voluntary fees, excursions, camps etc
- Student Academic reports.
- Parent/Teacher interview appointment times.
- Report your child’s absence.
- Communicate with your child’s teacher.
- We will send out SMS messages and emails at certain times to alert you to information that is time sensitive.
All families are signed up to Xuno, if you have forgotten your sign in information please contact the school so that we can reset your password.
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No chess this Thursday 20th July
Please note that there will be no class chess or after school chess this Thursday.
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Parent/Teacher interviews – Wednesday 26th July
Parent/Teacher interviews will be conducted on Wednesday 26th July between 3.30 – 6.30 pm. Appointments to be made via Xuno. If you are having trouble booking an appointment please contact the school.
Due to time restraints we can only offer one timeslot per child. If you require an additional appointment, please contact the office or your child's teacher. This will likely be offered on a different date.
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Curriculum Day
School council has approved a Curriculum Day for Friday 4th August. Staff will be attending a professional development day improving mathematical learning with Jo Boaler and Cathy Williams
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Whole school Excursion advance notice
This year is not a camp year, so we have organised a whole school excursion to Imax and Melbourne Museum for Thursday 7th September 2023. This excursion will cost approximately between $40-$50 for the day. CSEF can be used to pay for this excursion. More information to follow.
Student absences
The department of education requires that the school be notified when your child is absent from school. There are several ways to let the school know when your child is going to be absent:
- Email the school – winters.flat.ps@education.vic.gov.au
- Use the schools’ absence line – 5472 1522 – Option 1 report your child absent.
- Enter the absence via Xuno.
- Drop into the office.
Please note if you let your child’s teacher know of an absence, could you please ensure that the office knows as well. Thank you for your co-operation.
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Lost property
We have a large number of windcheaters and coats piling up in the office. A lot of these do not have names on them. Please come in to see if any of these belong to your child. Please ensure that you label your child’s clothing so as we can give these items back.
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Karen Mahoney & Kitty Ward
Office
Parents & Friends Craft Group
Craft Group is starting up again next Thursday the 27th and will meet once a month. All skill types are very welcome, even the "craft challenged". Come and drink tea, chat and make some things together. We make items for stalls held throughout the year.
Meet at the office at 2pm.
From Assembly 12th June
PJ
Willow - Care for Others
Henry - Care for self
1/2W
Moss - Care for Self
Tilly - Care for the Environment
3/4H
Ella - Care for Others
4/5C
Jack - Care for Others
Archie - Care for Self
5/6B
Aurora - Care for Self
All of 5/6B! - Care for Self nd Care for Others
NEWS | Books Celebrating Neurodiversity
Here is a great list of books that celebrate neurodiversity.
NEWS | Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program
This week in the Kitchen and Garden..........
What we're cooking in the kitchen this fortnight...
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Beef Burgers and Veggie Burgers
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Burger Buns
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Macaroni and Cheese
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Kale Slaw
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Potato and Sweet Potato Wedges
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Aioli
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Apple Pie and Ice Cream
Chefs of the week:
3/4H: Odetta & Annabelle
4/5C: Ash & Haylee
5/6B: Arlo, Sullivan & Sam
Prep J were in the kitchen in the last week of Term 3. They cooked:
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Arancini - Risotto Balls with Herbs and mozzarella
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Carrot Dip with Turkish Bread
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Mini Frittata with Spinach, Potato and Feta
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Banana and Choc Chip Muffins
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Jam Drop Biscuits
Remember the recipes are available on our school website, so you can try them at home.
Kitchen volunteers
We would love some kitchen helpers in our cooking classes. They are held fortnightly on Mondays (even weeks), and every Wednesday, between 11:25am & 1:25pm.
What you can expect from a class: Students work in six groups to make six different dishes. Once a group finishes their dish, they clean up their bench, do dishes, and set the tables. Around 1:00pm, we all sit down together and share the meal.
Volunteers will need to sign in via the visitors log in the office and show their WWCC and Vaccination Certificate. Please contact the Karen or Kitty in the office if you would like to volunteer.
Gardeners of the week:
3/4H: Odetta, Louisa, Fran & Pez
4/5C: Ash & Jack
5/6B: Michael & Freya
Cath & Terry
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden
AT SCHOOL
Winters Flat has a Breakfast Club! Thanks to some wonderful parents, students and siblings can head to the school kitchen on Tuesday mornings between 8:30 and 8:50 for some yummy and healthy breakfast options. They even put on the occasional pancake feast too!
If you want to get involved, contact drheidieager@gmail.com
AT HOME
Have a listen to this special News Time segment about the cost of living and how it is impacting families. For children who are indirectly hearing conversations about money worries, this is great little program to pop on and listen to:
https://www.abc.net.au/kidslisten/programs/news-time/cost-of-living-special/102532028
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Until next time!
Hannah O’Keefe
My work hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:30-2:30 and Thursdays from 8:30-4:30. Write me an email (hannah.okeefe@education.vic.gov.au) or give me a call via the school office or on 0475 800 377.
RESOURCES
Please find a list of Wellbeing helplines and support services on the Winters Flat website.