Principal's Report
Mission Statement
Over the past two terms, we asked our community to help us define the Mission Statement for Macedon Primary School. As part of this process, parents, staff and students were invited to contribute “Why” statements—ideas that capture what our school stands for and why we do what we do.
From the many thoughtful contributions, we narrowed the responses down to three final options. Parents were then invited to vote, and we were pleased to receive a strong response and a clear community preference.
We are proud to share our new school mission statement:
“Our mission is to provide a supportive and inclusive environment where every child is valued, inspired, and empowered to succeed, through strong relationships and a connected community.”
This statement will help guide the future direction of our school and reflect the values and aspirations of our entire school community.
SWPBS
Over the past term, our staff have been working collaboratively to develop a School Wide Expected Behaviours Matrix for Macedon Primary School. This important work has been shaped by valuable feedback from parents and students and is a key part of our implementation of School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS).
The matrix outlines the behaviours we expect from all members of our school community, clearly aligned with our core values: Respect, Kindness and Resilience. These behaviours are expressed in a positive and student-friendly way, making them easy to understand and model across all school settings.
To support this, staff will explicitly teach each behaviour through targeted lessons, helping students understand what these expectations look like inside the classroom, in the playground, and beyond.
We look forward to sharing the matrix with families and continuing to work together to create a safe, inclusive and positive learning environment for all.
Winter Solstice
We are excited to welcome everyone to our Winter Solstice celebration this Friday – always a magical and memorable event on the Macedon Primary calendar. We can’t wait to see you there.
Here’s the plan for the evening:
- From 5:00pm – The evening begins with our student Art Gallery display in the JCB.
- At 5:15pm – Our School Captains will lead the Acknowledgement of Country, followed by musical performances from students who learn with Aaron and Shaun (approximately until 5:45pm).
- After the performances – Students can collect a tea light for their lantern from the grandstand and make their way to Middle Gully.
- From 6:00pm – Our caterers will be serving a delicious range of food, including sausages, soup, hot chocolate, and s’mores. EFTPOS is available for payment.
The bonfire will be burning brightly by the time students arrive at Middle Gully, adding warmth and atmosphere to the evening.
Please note: There will be no staff supervision on the night – parents are responsible for supervising their own children throughout the event.
We look forward to another wonderful Winter Solstice and hope you enjoy this special evening with our school community.
Bike Safety and Using the Crossing
We’ve recently received several reports from community members expressing concern about the way some students are riding to and from school. In particular, there have been observations of students riding down the middle of the road and not showing awareness of surrounding traffic.
At school, we are regularly reminding students about the importance of bike safety and the correct ways to ride to and from school. We are also actively monitoring the use of the school crossing to help keep everyone safe.
We kindly ask families to reaffirm these safety messages at home, including:
- Riding on the left side of the road or footpath where appropriate
- Being aware of cars and driveways
- Always wearing a helmet
- Using the designated school crossing
By working together, we can help ensure all our students arrive at and leave school safely each day.
Attendance
One of the proposed key targets in our new School Strategic Plan is to reduce student absences and achieve an average of fewer than 17 days absent per student each year.
Regular attendance plays a vital role in student learning and wellbeing. To put it into perspective, a child who is absent 20 days per year will miss the equivalent of more than a full year of school by the time they finish Year 12.
To support this goal, we will be providing families with regular updates on whole-school attendance.
So far this year, Macedon Primary School students have missed a total of 1,365 days of school – an average of 5.83 days per student.
We understand that absences are sometimes unavoidable, but every day counts. Thank you for your continued efforts to support your child’s regular attendance.
Middle Gully Garden Beds
Garden Bed Refurbishment at Middle Gully – Can You Help?
David Oxworth is currently working on refurbishing the garden beds at Middle Gully as part of a project to expand our growing capacity and reduce bushfire risk. This work will help improve the functionality and safety of the area for our students and outdoor learning programs.
To support this project, David is looking for parents with landscaping experience who may be able to assist with the construction of the new garden beds.
If you’re able to help or would like more information, please get in touch with David Oxworth at david.oxworth@education.vic.gov.au Your support would be greatly appreciated.
2026 Foundation Enrolments
We have officially begun the process for 2026 Foundation enrolments at Macedon Primary School.
We are currently holding regular school tours for prospective families, which can be booked via our school website. These tours are a great opportunity to see our school in action and learn more about what we offer.
If you are planning to enrol your child or know someone who is considering Macedon Primary for 2026, please encourage them to book a tour and attend the information night. We look forward to welcoming our next group of Foundation families.
Warm regards,
Andrew Bloomfield
Principal