PLAYGROUND TALES PODCASTS

Have you caught up with the podcasts yet? If you search ‘Playground Tales’ in your

favourite podcast app, you can catch up with these hilarious offerings from the students in Years 4 – 6. Very special thanks to Anne-Marie Middlemast for initiating and producing these gems with the students and staff of the senior learning community.

SCHOOL COUNCIL PARENT VACANCY FILLED

Our recent vacancy has been filled by Kacey Sinclair whose daughter Aurelia is in Year 1.

A reminder that our other school council member are:

Katie Wilson (President) -Sylvie Y6

Melissa Cater – Dan Y2

Simon Duthie (Treasurer) – Lila Y5, Iris & Neve Y3

Robyn McNeil – Oslan Y5, Sullivan Y2

Kylie Pascoe – Eoin Y6

Blair Venn – Luca Y2

Bianca Alvarez-Harris- P/1 teacher

Peta Firth – 2/3 teacher

Fiona Johnston – P/1 teacher

Suzanne Kinnersly - Prin

SCHOOL COUNCIL SUB-COMMITTEES

There are a number of school council sub-committees, which are open to all parents and carers to join. Meetings are usually held at the school either during lunch breaks or after school. If you’d like to join a committee or attend the occasional meeting the schedule is as follows:

• Community Engagement – third Monday of the month, 6.00pm
• Facilities, Buildings and Grounds – 3.30pm, second Thursday of the month
• Finance – 4.30pm, second Friday of the month
• Fundraising - tbc
• Sustainability – tbc
• Wellbeing – 1.35pm, second Tuesday of the month

Please contact the office if you’d like to be involved.

FAREWELL JEANETTE

Following a period of personal leave Jeanette McMahon has announced that she is leaving Winters Flat Primary School to seek opportunities in other areas of the education sector.

Jeanette sends a big warm thank you to the whole school community. She has enjoyed every moment of teaching and working at Winters Flat Primary School. She is extremely proud of our whole school achievements, especially around Sustainability, Koorie Culture and Student Voice. 

Jeanette has made an amazing contribution to our school. We will miss her and we wish her all the very best in her future endeavours.

THE MORE YOU LOOK THE MORE THERE IS TO SEE – OPENING

Today from 3.15pm – 5.15pm (straight after the Jump Rope – Jump off) is the official opening for our community of the Art Installation. The location is the classroom next to Performing Arts near Oakview. There will be opportunities to have a look tomorrow if you can’t make it today.

CASTLEMAINE CHESS TOURNAMENT

Castlemaine Secondary College is hosting this local tournament today. We will announce the results in the next edition of Flat Chat.

XUNO IS COMING

Xuno is an administrative operating system we are rolling out next term to assist in streamlining communication between home and school. Xuno works with our current reporting software Accelerus and should also assist with payments and other record keeping.

PARENTING IDEAS – MICHAEL GROSE

This week’s article is about creating healthy digital habits in kids.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday before we return for an action-packed Term 4.

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Suzanne Kinnersly

Principal

SWIMMING PROGRAM

The swimming program for students in Grade 1-6 will occur next term. Students in Grade 1-3 will attend in the last week of October. Student in Grade 4-6 will attend in the last week of Term 4. Permission forms with confirmed cost to be handed out first week back next term. 

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We are seeking some volunteers to help us with contacting our readers. Contact is supplied. If you can help out, please contact the office on 5472 1522. 

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TOMATO FUNDRAISER

Help us to raise funds for Winters Flat Primary School by germinating tomato seeds into seedlings. We plan to sell the tomato plants at fundraising events in November/December.

We need 12 families to take home a germinating kit. Your job will be:

1. plant the tomato seeds
2. care for the seedlings
3. repot 25 seedlings into tube stock pots
4. drop them back at school ready for sale.

Kits to be collected this week and returned by Nov 11th, Term 4.

You’ll be given seeds/pots/tray/seed raising mix/clear instructions. We ask if you can please provide the potting mix/soil.

If you are interested in helping us by raising some tomatoes, please come and collect them from the office.

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Karen Mahoney & Renae Wilson

Office

Our last School Council meeting was held on Monday September 16^th 2019.  

We started the meeting by reflecting on what has worked well since our last meeting, including the whole school excursion to the Melbourne Zoo, the book week performance, the Big Shots tennis day and the special assembly to celebrate the dedicated work of Wendy Oates and Liz Old as they start their next adventures.

We have also hosted some students from La Trobe University who have been keen to learn all about our sustainability program. We also acknowledged that great work that Anne-Marie Middlemast has done with the senior learning community students to produce some very funny podcasts (see https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/6386717/castlemaine-students-share-their-take-on-the-world-in-new-podcast-series/).

We have such a vibrant and busy school community with so many different activities that our students have the opportunity to engage with. This is certainly something to celebrate.  

The school review is still ongoing, and Suzanne has been working tirelessly to ensure that deadlines are met and our school is in the best position moving forward.

As we move into the term 3 holidays, we are very much looking forward to a busy term 4.

To begin with, the wellbeing subcommittee will be hosting a breakfast on Friday 11^th October 2019 as part of mental health week. Don’t forget our twilight market on the 6^th December 2019. If you haven’t already, we would love to hear from you if you are able to volunteer some time for this fun event. Please see the office for details.   

Wishing you all a restful break.

The next school council meeting is scheduled for Monday 21st October 2019 at 7pm.

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Katie Wilson

School Council President

JUNIOR LEARNING COMMUNITY

P/1 A | Ella H

For showing Care for Others by being a kind and understanding helper to our new student. Thank you Ella!
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P/1 A | Tanmay B

For showing Care for Self by showing  huge improvement in his concentration and motivation during his writing sessions. Great effort Tanmay!
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P/1 J | Ryan P

For showing Care for Self by working hard during writing time and writing neatly. Keep up the great efforts!
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P/1 J | Ava M

For showing Care for Self by participating enthusiastically in our Jump Rope for Heart program. Great skipping Ava!
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MIDDLE LEARNING COMMUNITY

2/3F | Leuca B

For showing Care for Self by working hard and always trying his best.
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2/3F | Jazmine W

For showing Care for Others by being kind, thoughtful and helpful.
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2/3W | Sylvie H

For showing Care for Self by listening carefully and working hard on all tasks and activities. Well done Sylvie. 

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SENIOR LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY

Cj R

For showing Care for Others by working well in Maths with his partner to create a great Maths game. Well done Cj.
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Chase-Lee D

For showing Care for Self by making an amazing effort in class to try all set work. Great effort Chase-Lee during the whole term.
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Olivia H

For showing Care for Others by being a great leader at the Tennis day and making sure everyone was included. Thanks for your help.
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Noah S

For showing Care for Self by displaying great Tennis skills during the school competition. Awesome job Noah.

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Kai H

For showing Care for Others by being polite and courteous to members of the public during the Tennis excursion. Well done Kai.
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Iestyn C

For showing Care for Others by working well in Maths with his partner to create a great Maths game. Well done Iestyn.
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POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR FOCUS

This week's positive behaviour focus is:

Showing care for others by being a good sport

The following students are recognised for their abilities to do so:

Sylvie H

Frankie G

Eisa P

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BEST CLASS ATTENDANCE (CUMALONG CUP)

The class with the best school attendance for the week ending 6th September is P1J.

The class with the best school attendance for the week ending 13th September is P1A.

THIS WEEK IN THE KITCHEN & GARDEN...

What we're cooking in the kitchen this week...

Vegetable Gyoza

Sushi

Seasonal Vegetable Clear Soup

Carrot muffins with garlic butter

Okonomiyaki (Savory Cabbage Bites)

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Remember, all our recipes are available on our school website, so you can try them at home.

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And what we're harvesting from the garden...

Fennel

Silverbeet

Kale

Parsley

Shallots

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Jane & Terry
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden

We're skipping through the term!

Jump Rope for Heart has been happening the past few weeks and it’s great to see so many children out in the playground skipping with smiles on their faces. 

Our Jump Off Day was held today and it was a great success. Thank you for everyone who participated and contributed. More information to come next term.

To celebrate Play Cricket Month and The Ashes, Joel Quarrell from the Melbourne Renegades attended Winters Flat Primary School, and delivered sessions for students to experience fun and exciting game based cricket activities!

A big thanks to Sam Milner for organising this activity.

If students are interested in playing cricket this summer, The Castlemaine Cricket Association are offering programs for all age groups and abilities.

To register follow the link: https://www.playcricket.com.au/club-finder/club-details?Id=3212 or visit playcricket.com.au.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY...

Events to help entertain the family for school holidays...

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As you know, hundreds of young people and their families and friends from Mount Alexander Shire will be travelling to Melbourne to the great Schools Strike for Climate (SS4C) on Friday September 20^th and they are calling for as many people as possible to join them.

However, those unable to join the Schools Strike for Climate (SS4C) in Melbourne are invited to come to a local rally at the steps of the Market Building in Mostyn St Castlemaine from 2 – 4 pm on Friday 20^th to show support at home for the courage and commitment of the students facing up to the Climate Emergency.

This local response is being organised by members of Central Vic Climate Action (CVCA) and other local environment groups. All groups involved are part of worldwide movements calling for governments at all levels to Tell the Truth about the climate crisis and call for immediate action to draw down dangerous levels of carbon the atmosphere, and quit putting more up there.

Storyteller musician Jan (“Yarn”) Wositzky will MC a program of positive stories from musicians, performers, poets and speakers about the issues and actions we can all take in our local community to work together for a safe climate.Those performing include students from Castlemaine South Primary School and some of their eachers, Neil Murray (who wrote “My Island Home”) Anna Howard who will sing a song by her father Shane Howard, and others. It will be a peaceful and positive gathering.

Every member of Mount Alexander Shire who can’t get down to Melbourne, every visitor along with families and friends, businesses and their staff, churches, sporting groups are invited to join in.

Fay White 0447 576 642- co-ordinator of the Castlemaine rally

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