Winters Flat Primary School eNewsletter

WELCOME TO COUNTRY

Our Welcome to Country on Monday was led by the ‘Care for Others’ student leaders. Our guests of honour Dja Dja Wurrung elder Uncle Rick Nelson and Trawloolway elder Aunty Julie McHale performed this moving ceremony. The student leaders talked about Harmony Day and the importance of this year’s message ‘Everyone Belongs’. Nalderun is a Dja Dja Wurrung word meaning altogether and at this time we met altogether to celebrate and support the traditional owners of the land where Winters Flat is located.

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WORKING BEE WAS AMAZING!!

We had more than twenty family volunteers and their children here at school on Sunday and we achieved our goals of moving the equipment from the art room before the demolition works, as well as painting the concrete around the garden edges and sculptures at the front of the school.

Unfortunately we also had some vandalism and graffiti around Creek View to clean up from the night before.

Sincere thanks to Kirsty Williams and Simon Butler, Peter Gringel, Matthew Parry, Sarah Day and Torsten Pfeil, Terry Willis, Blair Venn, Kitty Speer, Richard Goonan, Ed and Shera Blaise, Simon Duthie, Helen Weir and Stephen Breheny, Fiona Johnston, Rhani Dean-Talbett, Vicki Anderson and Monte MacPherson, Alex Cotterell, as well as their band of children who got together and had fun in the process. We’re now all set for the demolition of the art room over the Easter break.

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ROAD SAFETY – FOCUS ON CYCLISTS

I have been alerted to some unsafe behaviours by some Winters Flat students as they ride their bikes to and from school, particularly at drop off and pick up times. This is particularly related to riding at high speed on footpaths where pedestrians are walking. We encourage families to remind their children that the safety and sense of safety for everyone using the paths is critical.

“When riding on footpaths and shared paths, cyclists need to:

Keep to the left on footpaths and shared paths (unless impractical to do so)
give way to pedestrians

A cyclist is required to have a bell or similar warning device on his or her bicycle. When overtaking other path users a cyclist should use this warning device or his or her voice to warn others.” - VicRoads

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SCHOOL COUNCIL 2020

On Monday night the 2020 School Council met for the first time. This year the Council members are:

Simon Duthie (President) – Lila 6B, Iris 4L & Neve 4H

Blair Venn (Vice President) – Luca 3W

Kitty Speer (Treasurer)- Winter PJ, Arlo 2A, Huckle 5L

Fiona Johnston (Secretary)- P/1J

Bianca Alvarez Harris- 1/2A

Ed Blaise – Indi 3W, Nova PJ

Emma Brown – Amelia 4L, Annabelle PJ

Helen Kaptein – Lucinda 2W

Kacey Sinclair – Aurelia 2A

Helen Weir – 2/3W

Suzanne Kinnersly – Principal

Our meeting night this year will be Tuesday and dates for next term are:

21^st April
19^th May
16^th June

All parents are welcome to join the school council sub-committees which are as follows:

Buildings and Grounds – prioritizing facilities of the school both inside and out, developing master planning, capital works, organising working bees.
Community Engagement – connecting within and beyond our school community through social media, events and parent forums.
Finance – oversight of school’s financial operations.
Fundraising – organising events and activities to generate funds for the school and at this stage we’re still prioritising cooling.
Sustainability – ensuring Winters Flat maintains the Resource Smart 5 star rating and continues to lead sustainable practices within our school and community.
Wellbeing – focussing on the wellbeing of our students, staff and families. Health and wellbeing initiatives, events and forums.

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CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) ADVICE

The Department of Education and Training has the most up to date information relating to schools on the Coronavirus Advice page. Health information for families is available at the Department of Health website.

School principals in our Mt Alexander network have been sharing ideas and resources to support students at home as well as discussing our preparedness for closure if that does occur before the school holidays.

Our priority will always be the health and wellbeing of our students. We will continue to keep in touch using XUNO, facebook and Schoolzine.

In response to the current situation I am also reminding families to keep children at home if they are unwell, as well as teachers.

For students who are at home at the moment we are developing learning activities but always encourage regular reading, writing and spelling practice, maths games, tables practice and opportunities to be curious and inquire. Mini-projects are a great way to find out more about something.

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HARMONY WEEK

Today is Harmony Day at Winters Flat and we are celebrating with rotation activities in the junior and senior learning communities.

Children have been encouraged to wear orange and gold coins are being collected to donate to State Schools Relief.

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CLASS REPS

We’re still seeking class reps for the senior classes (45H, 45L AND 6BM) – at least one per class to liaise with the classroom teacher for class events as well as making connections between families through school and social events. Kirsty Williams (2/3W) has volunteered to coordinate the Winters Flat class reps for 2020 and you can email me directly kinnersly.suzanne.s@edumail.vic.gov.au if you would like to represent your child’s class.
Thank you to Cahra Swarris for volunteering to be the class rep for P1J and 12A.

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STEPHANIE ALEXANDER KITCHEN GARDEN PROGRAM

The SAKG Foundation are responding to the current situation with recommendations to focus less on cooking and more on the SAKG classroom programs and resources. Next term there will be a time when the kitchen closes for renovations and at that time we will be adopting these recommendations.

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Suzanne Kinnersly

Principal

IMPORTANT CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

Please read the attached document.

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LAST DAY OF TERM- FRIDAY 27TH MARCH

The last day for the term is Friday 27th March. Students will finish at 2:30pm. School will resume on 14th April.

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XUNO

Please ensure you are regularly checking XUNO, either the website or the app. We regularly post important information on there and are encouraging parents/carers to approve/pay for excursions through XUNO also. Any enquiries, contact the office.

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ATTENDANCE

When your child is absent from school it is a Department of Education and Training requirement that a reason is provided for the absence. You can notify us of the absence via the Schoolzine app, XUNO, email to the Winters Flat PS address, phone call or a note to the teacher.

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ACCOUNTS

Please settle all accounts at the office at your earliest possible convenience.

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CRAFT SESSION FOR MOTHERS DAY

Friday 20th March 1:30pm til 3pm

All ideas and skill levels welcome. We will have jobs for you to do if you don't have a project of your own.

We are looking for donations of old denim jeans or woolen blankets, fabric scraps for crafting projects.

This is also a great opportunity to re-gift. If you have cook books in good condition or any other items that another mother will love. Please donate. There is a basket for donations in the office.

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Karen Mahoney & Renae Wilson

Office