Filter Content
Sunday August 7th
- School Grounds Working Bee - 9:30am - 11:30am - Please let the office know if you will be attending
Wednesday August 17th
- Afternoon tea and string making workshop - 3:15pm - see Community Engagement section
Wednesday August 24th
- Book Week dress up
Friday August 26th
- Wear it Purple Day - Gold coin donation
Friday September 2nd
- P-2 Tabloid Sports day
Friday September 9th
- AFL & Netball District competition
Friday September 16th
- Last day of term 3 - 2:30pm finish
- Whole school PJ day
SLIPPERS AND BAREFEET IN CLASSROOMS
At our most recent Wellbeing Committee meeting the idea of students wearing slippers and going barefoot in classrooms was raised. This Guardian article outlines the beneficial impact of children wearing slippers during class at a school in Derby in the UK as well as some of the research behind their decision.
We are asking that families consider providing a pair of slipper for school use and if possible donate a pair for students who don’t have them. K Mart and Big W have a range available from $3 - $20+.
At the moment the benefits of removing wet, muddy shoes in exchange for slippers are particularly attractive and the vast majority of teachers and students surveyed, are keen to give it a go.
ORIENTEERING
Last term our students had an orienteering experience here at school as part of their PE curriculum and Orienteering Victoria are organizing some events here in Castlemaine at the Botanic Gardens this Saturday 6th August and again on Saturday 20th August. See the attached brochures in the Community section below for details.
WORKING BEE THIS SUNDAY 7TH AUGUST
Our Winter Working Bee is prioritizing the following:
- Shift mulch from piles
- Shift soccer goals
- Dig out long jump pit
- Re-paint blackboard at front of school
- Non-slip strips for steps near art room
- Weed & mulch tear drop garden
- Prune Teucrium hedge – front garden
- Stakes banged in for Mulberry tree near junior cubby
Thanks to the volunteers who have already signed up and offered trailers!
If you intend to come along please RSVP to winters.flat.ps@education.vic.gov.au so we know how many to expect.
.
STRING MAKING AFTER SCHOOL WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST
Members of the Community Engagement committee look forward to hosting an afternoon of string making for families using natural fibers with our Garden Specialist, Jodie Goldring on Wednesday 17th August. The session will run for 45 minutes from 3:30pm and tea/coffee will be available. If you intend to come along please RSVP to winters.flat.ps@education.vic.gov.au so we know how many to expect. We would love to see you there!
KIMOCHIS - CLOUD AND HUGGTOPUS
Classes were introduced to Cloud last week. Cloud can be moody and sometimes finds it hard to get along with friends. Cloud can help teach about the feelings happy, sad and mad. Cloud can help with managing upset feelings and using the “calm down breath.”
“At times, I can be unpredictable. Some days, I’m happy and other days, I am either mad or sad. Basically, I’m moody. BUT I’m working on controlling my emotions.”
Lovey Dove says to Cloud “It’s okay to be mad – it’s not okay to be mean.”
Huggtopus is the character for this week and helps with the feelings silly, frustrated, excited and proud. Huggtopus is strong and affectionate and can get carried away sometimes with such a big, friendly personality. Huggtopus has been helping to teach the “Not now” signal and can help with self-regulating and setting appropriate boundaries.
The Week 2 (Cloud) & Week 3 (Huggtopus) Homelinks are attached to this newsletter.
SPELLING TIP #6
g = g (hard sound) OR ge/gi/gy (soft/hard sound)
The letter ‘g’ has two sounds “g” (hard) and “j” (soft) . “g’ may say its softer “j” sound when followed by the letters “e”, “i” or “y” but like a few of the spelling rules of English, there are exceptions such as gig, gibbon and giddy.
This rule helps with spelling. When “g” is followed by an “e”, “i” or “y” we try the “g” sound. If it doesn’t make sense we try the “j” sound.
This rule helps with reading over 3,000 words.
gem |
gene |
genius |
passenger |
region |
gym |
gentle |
angel |
gentleman |
religion |
gin |
ginger |
giraffe |
geology |
energise |
gel |
suggest |
stranger |
indigestion |
intelligent |
gig |
tragedy |
Egypt |
generous |
generate |
gist |
genie |
gymnastics |
pigeon |
generation |
agent |
gender |
merger |
gingerly |
general |
tragic |
gypsy |
engine |
gibberish |
geology |
giant |
danger |
gigantic |
dangerous |
geologist |
angel |
angelic |
strategic |
gyroscope |
gymkhana |
BIRTHDAYS
Hunter 7 in the fourth week of July
Lucinda 10 in the fourth week of July
Ripley 10 in the fifth week of July
Ginger 10 in the fifth week of July
Sam in the fifth week of July
Jaida 8 in the first week of August
Ava M 10 in the first week of August
Zeno 12 in the first week of August
Leo 7 in the second week of August
Peggy 9 in the second week of August
Amelia 12 in the second week of August
Hip Hip: Hooray
Hip Hip: Hooray
Hooray: Hip Hip
THREE WAY CONFERENCES
Semester 2 conferences were scheduled for after school yesterday. If you would like a conference but were unable to get an appointment, please contact the office and we will try to make an alternative arrangement including an online option. winters.flat.ps@education.vic.gov.au
COVID SAFETY
COVID cases continue to be reported here at Winters Flat Primary School
At school we promote and encourage:
- washing hands
- mask wearing indoors for everyone over 8 (highly recommended)
- physical distancing
- rapid antigen testing
- Outdoors when practical
- Air purifiers in all classrooms
Free rapid antigen tests
Testing is strongly recommended at least twice a week for students and staff. Tests are also strongly encouraged for close contacts of cases or when symptomatic.
After doing the tests at home, if it is positive, you will need to:
- let the school know
- keep your child at home for 7 days
- contact the Department of Health via the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form or call centre on 1800 675 398.
A video about RATtesting is available online.
Suzanne Kinnersly
Principal
DIVISION NETBALL REPORT
The day went very well. The first game score was 32-2 – we won! Everyone played very well, and we all tried really hard and did our best. We also won the last game. It was a blast.
We each had turns being the captain. It worked really well and most of us swapped positions. The day was perfectly sunny and everyone did amazing.
Our defense was good and when it was tough the team picked each other up. It was good to meet people from other teams.
Sylvie & Zahyra – Year 6
Traffic at school pickup
There have been reports of unsafe driving activity during afternoon pick up.
Parents and Carers are reminded to please ensure that when parking, to not:
- block a street entrance
- block the bus zone
- double park
We are recommending you drive the Douglas Crescent circuit to avoid the dangerous U turn near the gate at the bottom of Roberts Avenue. This will also mean less traffic at the crossing on Roberts Ave, making it safer for everyone!
Alternatively, you can drop off and pick up on Ray Street - at the top of the school - or near the green bridge on the Midland Highway, as both streets have School crossings.
Furthermore, please remember to use the crossing in front of the office to get to the eastern side of Roberts Ave.
Working Bee
The working bee is this weekend! Sunday morning 9:30am - 11:30am. There are various gardening jobs to attend to, no experience neccessary, just a CAN DO attitude.
Let Karen or Kitty in the office know if you can make it.
.
Parent Payments 2022
We would like to thank all parents who have contributed towards the school this year. If you have not paid your voluntary contributions for this year and you still want to contribute, please contact the office for more information on how to do this.
- Your contributions assist us to enhance and broaden the educational experience for our students.
- Curriculum Contributions and Other contributions are voluntary.
- If you are unable or choose not to make financial contributions, your child will not be disadvantaged or denied access to the resources required to deliver the curriculum.
- Your contributions go specifically towards items and activities that will help improve your child’s educational experience.
XUNO
Did you know that you can send an absence note via XUNO?
- Select attendance in the main menu
- If you have multiple children, select child
- If it is for the current date, click on the pencil icon in the parent reason box to add the absence reason and click on save
- For past or future absences, select the drop down calendar in the top right corner and select the required date. Then continue with the above instruction.
.
Late arrivals and early leavers
Students arriving to school later than 9:00am, please remember to sign in at the office for attendance to be recorded.
Students who are picked up early from school, please remember to sign out at the office.
.
Mobile Phones reminder
It is Department of Education Policy that mobile phones are not to be used during school hours. Students who have a mobile phone or iPad are to check their device into the office each morning. They will be kept in the safe and can be check out by students after final bell.
.
Year 5/6 Camp
Forms have been sent home to gauge attendance for the Year 5/6 camp on the 28th-30th of November. Please return forms the office so we can begin planning for this excellent camp. More information will be sent home at the beginning of Term 4. If you have misplaced your form, please see the office for another.
.
Afternoon Tea & String Making Workshop
Afternoon tea for all Winters Flat Primary School families!
3.15pm to 4.30pm Wednesday 17th August
Stay behind after school on Wednesday 17th of August and enjoy a cup of tea, cake and a chat while the children play in the grounds.
Our Gardening teacher Jodie will also be hosting a string making workshop for those who would like to learn how to make string from the leaves of the Red Hot Poker and Day Lily Plants.
We hope to meet outside, using the deck on the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden.
Please let Karen or Kitty in the office know if you are planning on attending. Also, if you'd like to bake something to share, please let us know.
A great chance to catch up and meet other Winters Flat Primary School families!
A community engagement sub committee event (based on families' feedback!)
EVENT | Election Day Fundraiser
26th of November - mark the date in your calendar!
We will be holding our major fundraiser this year on the State Election Day.
We are hoping to have the following stalls:
- BBQ
- Cake stall
- Craft stall
- Icecream
- Coffee van
- Seedlings
- Trash n Treasure
- Democracy hamper raffle
Winters Flat Youth Mentoring Opportunity!
Dhelkaya Community Health is recruiting volunteers to join our Youth Mentoring Program. Volunteers who would like to work with Winters Flat students can apply. If you care about the wellbeing of young people in our local community, and empathise with the challenges they face, have you considered becoming a mentor?
Ray has been mentoring for several years. ‘Young people know when an adult is genuinely interested in and listening to them. The impact can be profound and long-lasting.’
It’s our connections with others that keep us grounded in difficult and uncertain times.
This is a rewarding volunteer role.
The next training session will take place mid-August. The role requires an hour or two of your time each week or fortnight. Ongoing support is provided. To learn more please call 5479 1000 or visit Dhelkaya Community Health’s website https://chirp.org.au/volunteers/mount-alexander-youth-mentoring-volunteers/
.
Hannah
Wellbeing
NEWS | Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program
THIS WEEK IN THE KITCHEN & GARDEN...
What we're cooking in the kitchen this fortnight...
- Soft tacos
- Beef filling
- Bean filling
- Coriander lime rice
- Fresh salsa
- Mexican chocolate cake with cinnamon frosting
- Churros with chocolate dipping sauce
- Anda Kari (Egg curry)
- Greek chickpea and silverbeet stew
- Jerusalem artichoke soup
- Herby bread rolls
- Brown rice salad with celery and orange
- Carrot cake with cream cheese icing
.
Remember, all our 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.
What we're up to in the garden this week...
Students in 4-6 have been caring for the Valonia Oak Grove in recognition of National Tree Day.
The beginnings of a Wattle Fence have been installed near the FoodCubes at the front of the school. Did you know that wattling has been around since Neolithic times?
.
Gardeners of the Week
2/3W - Kaelyn, Tanmay & Charlie
4/6B - The whole class!
4/6L - Aurelia
Rosie & Jodie
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden