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Thursday 14th September
- Mount Alexander Chess Tournament - select students - info to come
Friday 15th September
- Last day of Term 3 - 2:30pm finish
- Me, Myself & I Day - dress up in something that expresses you and bring a gold coin
Term 4
Monday 2nd October
- First day of Term 4
Saturday 14th October
- Referendum Day BBQ Fundraiser - volunteers needed rsvp here
Tuesday 24th October
- Mango orders due back
Monday 6th November
- Curriculum Day - no students at school
Tuesday 7th November
- Melbourne Cup Public Holiday - no students at school
ME, MYSELF AND I – THIS FRIDAY 15TH – LAST DAY OF TERM 3
This Friday is about self-expression. Me Myself and I is a free dress day to celebrate what makes you – you! Eisa and Freya (Year 5) came to me with the concept and are hoping we can bring a gold coin donation. Money raised will go towards purchasing fidget/sensory tools.
PASSIONS AND PATHWAYS - Immersing children in future possibilities through real-world experiences.
Have you seen the developments in the Year 5 & 6 Passions and Pathways project? It’s a new sensory garden down near the junior playground. It looks better and better every time I wander past. A couple of weeks ago our Year 5 and 6 students worked solidly for hours landscaping near the Junior Playground where the old tanks once stood.
Students presented a visual display of their works at an expo at the Castlemaine Library last Wednesday with Campbells Creek PS. Some of their work can be seen in the foyer for the next few weeks.
Feedback from students about their involvement in Passions and Pathways has been very positive and we hope to be involved again next year.
We thank Karen, Michelle and Terry for coordinating the project and the parents who came to help at both the Sunday and Wednesday working bees.
SCHOOL REVIEW FIELDWORK DAY TUESDAY 14TH NOVEMBER
Don’t forget Review Fieldwork Day next term with our reviewer Julie Myers and the review panel. The date for your diary is Tuesday 14th November. Parent/Carer chats will most likely take place in the afternoon. Please let me know if you would like to be part of the discussion for both reviewing the last four years and importantly - planning ahead for the next four. Email: Suzanne.Kinnersly@education.vic.gov.au.
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS LITERACY DAY - BUSKING FOR CHANGE
What a fabulous day with amazing family and community volunteers supporting:
- The book swap
- Games with an indigenous theme
- Damper, wattle seed biscuits and refreshing cups of tea
- Busking performance
It was lovely to welcome the preschoolers from Nurture One and Busy Bees!
Thank you Kirsty, Kitty and the Community Engagement Team, for reaching out to the wider community and coordinating this wonderful day.
We also want to thank the families and friends who sponsored our school students’ busking performance of Words Make the World Go Around effort to raise money for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. We raised $4,426 and were the second highest fund raisers of the 147 schools who participated nationally. We also raised $187 with the Great Book Swap.
For every $10 donated, one book is gifted to a child in a remote Community. This book goes through the hands of many children and families. Your donation also supports the publication of books in First Languages by and for First Nations Communities. This blog explains what that means to Communities across the continent.
Special thanks also to Annabelle, Harry and Letitia for getting us involved in the Busking for Change initiative through the ILF and running rehearsals each Friday.
At our performance we also had a fabulous band with: Dan on drums, Eliza – keyboard, Sally – guitar, Sam - Bass. We’re thinking of naming the band “Test One Two” – all families of 1/2W and we look forward to them re-forming!!
WHOLE SCHOOL MUSEUM EXCURSION
The museum excursion went really well last week and I think all students enjoyed themselves. Their experience was made all the more successful thanks to the family members and teachers who assisted. Special thanks to Karen Mahoney for organising the bookings and liaising with the Melbourne Museum. We’re already planning where to go to the next one in 2025.
WEAR IT PURPLE DAY 25TH AUGUST
You may recall a few weeks back we had Book Week dress up day on Monday and on Friday we wore purple. Our lunchtime school event located at the Art Room was supported by family volunteers and the school ally network.
“Every year thousands of schools, community organisations, universities and workplaces hold events across Australia for Wear It Purple Day. As a day of significance for many Australians, it focuses on our LGBTQIA+ youth and the issues they face, whilst showing them they have the right to be proud of who they are and who they are becoming.
Wear it Purple Day is now an international movement of expression, celebration and support. By wearing purple on the last Friday of August, you will demonstrate to hundreds of thousands of rainbow young people across Australia that you see them, you support them, and you respect them.”
SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
Terry – last weekend
Haylee – is 11 this week
Angus N is 10 this week
Midas will be 9 at the weekend
Angus C will be 6 next week
Hip Hip: Hooray
Hip Hip: Hooray
Hooray: Hip Hip
COVID, FLU AND FREE RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS
We are currently experiencing a spike in 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. 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:
- let the school know
- 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 at home, please visit https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/managing-covid-19-home
Suzanne Kinnersly
Principal.
Mango Fundraiser Launch
Spring is in the air and so is the launch of our Mango Fundraiser for 2023.
The Mango farm have changed their order times so all orders need to be back at school by 24th October with no exceptions. Each tray will cost $29. Please let all your regulars know about the changed date. There will be the $100 book voucher up for grabs for the family that sells the most mangoes. Attached is the Mango form and these will also be sent home with students today. Extra order forms will be available at the office.
OSH Holiday Program
Hats
In Term 4 students will be required to wear hats when outside.
Children, remember your hats to go in the Hats Lotto draw for an icypole each lunchtime!
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Karen Mahoney & Kitty Ward
Office
The 5/6’s P&P Garden Project
Winters Flat Primary School had two big tanks near our junior playground that we were not using. Upon removing these tanks at a working bee on the 27th of August and scraping down the patch of grass that had been near it, the 5/6’s had a perfect spot to work on their P&P garden project.
During the last few weeks we have worked on creating a sensory garden between the steps and where the tanks used to be. Using materials and plants supplied by the local ASQ, we have also made a stepping stone path and put rock down. We then re- painted the wall and placed tables, so that now we have a beautiful sitting area.
There was a lot of shovelling of rock, dirt and mulch, most of which we achieved on Wednesday the 30th of August. Everyone had a job depending on what suited them best, some people worked on planning, some people painted, where as others preferred to just do hands on. There is still more work to be done, soon some shade shelters will be brought in for the junior playground but in order for them to fit, we will cut off the roof of the higher level on the playground. We can then use that roof to create a gazebo like shelter with vines growing off it. The school is also waiting on some big rocks that we will plant more plants around, and, even after that, Winters Flat plans to continue adding to our sensory garden by hanging up windchimes, putting in a birdbath and planting trees.
The process.
“It was an amazing transition between before and after” said Briscoe and Jas said “once we had finished I felt great because the garden looked amazing and it was finally done”
Job done!
The finished product.
Our portraits at the Phee Broadway Foyer where we presented our work at the Passions & Pathways Expo
NEWS | Community Engagement & Fundraising
Referendum BBQ - Saturday 14th October
After two very successful election day BBQs in 2022, we are excited to hold a BBQ fundraiser on the day of referendum voting.
As per last year we will have the BBQ stall cooking up Bacon & Egg sandwiches & Sausages, along with the cake stall and craft stall and possible others.
We will need many volunteers on the day to help it run smoothly - are you able to help?
We are also putting the call out now for people to start thinking about baked goods. These will need to be delivered to the office by Friday the 13th of October or to the stall on the Saturday morning.
Please fill out this form if you can help in any way.
PJ
- Luce - Care for Self & Care for Others
- Winnie - Care for Self
1/2W
- Odessa - Care for Self
- Izzy H - Care for Self
3/4H
- Jaya - Care for Self
- Care for Others
4/5C
- Leto - Care for the Environment
- Jimmy - Care for the Environment
5/6B
- Sam - Care for Self
- Michael - Care for Self & Care for Others
- Whole 5/6B Class- for all your hard work on all the elements to develop the Sensory Garden.
Prep J have been in on the printmaking action too! A selection of pygmy possums, koalas, corroboree frogs and more. Well done, Prep J!
NEWS | Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program
This week in the Kitchen and Garden..........
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What we're cooking in the kitchen this fortnight...
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Tortillas
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Mexican Green Rice
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Chilli Non Carne
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Guacamole
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Spicy Green Coleslaw
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Mexican Street Corn
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Tomato Salsa
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Mexican Chocolate cake with Cinnamon Frosting
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Chefs of the week:
3/4H:
4/5C:
5/6B:
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.
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Gardeners of the Week
3/4H
Spring is in the air! Our garen is looking wonderful with the blossoms and new growth.
Cath & Terry
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden
AT SCHOOL AND HOME
Me, Myself & I
Wowsers! Spring is here and Term 3 is at a close!
Join us on the last day of Term 3 for a special day of celebration unique to our school. Some of our wonderful school leaders (Eisa - Care for Self, Freya - Care for Others and Aurora - Care for the Environment), have created an important concept and day of celebration for our school community, 'Me, Myself & I'.
On Friday the 15th of September all staff and students are welcomed to come to school wearing something that represents YOU! It could be your favourite colour, headband, earrings, hat, sun glasses, badge... something that makes you feel proud of who you are. Together we can spend the day remembering that diversity is what makes our community so strong.
Please contribute a gold coin (if you have the means) to go towards purchasing fidgets to support students and in particular, our neurodivergent students.
Just around the corner… The transition from primary to secondary school for our Grade 6s
Term 4 is the last term at primary school for our Grade 6s!
5/6B will be partaking in the Brave Program on Thursdays next term. ‘BRAVE’ is a free online program which is based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and designed for young people aged 8 to 17 years experiencing anxiety. There is also a supporting program for the young person’s parents. It teaches age appropriate coping strategies to manage anxiety-provoking situations via 10 weekly sessions. This is a program we have used before.
For parents wanting to learn more about how to support your child with the transition from primary to high school, here are some useful articles and guides: https://parents.au.reachout.com/common-concerns/everyday-issues/transition-to-high-school-for-teenagers
https://beyou.edu.au/fact-sheets/development/transition-from-primary-to-secondary
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.