Hello from our Acting Principal for Term 2

Dear Raywood PS Families and School Community,

I just wanted to take the opportunity to share a bit of a welcome message before joining you all next term. My name is James Sait and I will be fulfilling the role of Acting Principal at Raywood PS next term whilst Lisa continues in her acting role at Lockington. I would like to thank Ayshia for stepping in this term and am sure she will be missed as she returns to her role at Kalianna.

My current role is as an Assistant Principal at Strathfieldsaye PS, although I have also completed several different Acting Principal roles at Leitchville PS, Eppalock PS and Colbinabbin PS prior to coming to Raywood next term. I live across in Elmore and my wife and I have a young family, with both our girls at primary school in Bendigo.

I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone at Raywood PS and hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday break and Easter!

Kind Regards,

James Sait

News From the Acting Principal

Making a Difference on Clean Up Australia Day!

Our students took part in Clean Up Australia Day, working together to help keep our environment clean and beautiful.

Armed with gloves and rubbish bags, students teamed up for an exciting scavenger hunt, searching for different types of litter from their checklist. They worked hard to find as many items as possible while learning about the impact of waste on our surroundings.

After a busy morning, everyone returned to school for a well-deserved BBQ and a much-needed rest. But the learning didn’t stop there! Students then sorted their rubbish, looking at: Who found all the items on their scavenger hunt list? Who collected the biggest and smallest pieces of rubbish? Who had the most colourful piece of rubbish?

Finally, students worked together to sort the rubbish into recyclable and non-recyclable categories, reinforcing the importance of reducing waste and recycling properly.

It was a fantastic day of teamwork, learning, and taking action to care for our planet. Well done to all our students for their enthusiasm and commitment to making a difference!

End of Term 1 Celebrations

As we approach the final week of Term 1, it’s incredible to reflect on how much our Prep students have grown and progressed! To celebrate their achievements and the wonderful start to the school year, we are inviting our fantastic parents to join us for a special Easter Celebration on the last day of term.

Easter Bonnet Parade & Pancake Breakfast

The festivities will begin with a Hot Cross Bun& Hot breakfast at 8:45 AM, followed by our much-anticipated Easter Bonnet Parade at 9:15 AM. Students will proudly showcase their creative Easter bonnets, with prizes awarded for the most impressive designs! Weather permitting, the parade will take place on the school oval.

Easter Egg Hunt

After the Easter Bonnet Parade, students and their siblings are invited to take part in a fun-filled Easter Egg Hunt! Get ready for some excitement as they search for hidden treats around the school grounds.

Mindfulness Origami & Sausage Sizzle

After the parade, students will move into the sports stadium to test the paper planes they have been designing during their mindfulness origami sessions. The event will conclude with a sausage sizzle, and parents are warmly welcome to stay and enjoy the celebration with us.

Gadget Day Fun

After the break, students are invited to bring in a gadget for our exciting Gadget Day! They will have the opportunity to share their gadgets with their classmates, explaining how they work and why they love them. Afterwards, they will enjoy some hands-on time exploring and playing with their friends’ gadgets.

We can’t wait to celebrate a fantastic first term with our students and families. See you there!

A Box Full of Kindness

On Tuesday, we were lucky to welcome the wonderful ladies from FoodShare to our school. With their friendly smiles and caring hearts, they helped our students select and pack a special box of food to take home and share with their families.

It was more than just filling a box—it was about learning the value of giving, gratitude, and community. Students had the opportunity to make thoughtful choices about what to include, keeping in mind what their families might enjoy and need. It was a meaningful experience that brought smiles and a sense of pride to many young faces.

We are so grateful to FoodShare for their ongoing support and generosity. Initiatives like this remind us all of the power of kindness and how much we can achieve when we come together as a community.

Thank you again to the amazing FoodShare team—we appreciate everything you do!

Raywood Primary School Council AGM and Term 1 Meetings

On Monday 24th March, Raywood Primary School held its second School Council meeting for Term 1, followed by our Annual General Meeting .

The evening provided a valuable opportunity for our School Council to discuss key school priorities, formally endorse the 2024 Annual Report, and reflect on the many achievements from the past year. The AGM also marked the introduction of new members and the confirmation of office bearers for 2025.

We’re pleased to announce our 2025 School Council Members and Office Bearers:

Jarrod Blake – School Council President
Lisa Ashley – Vice-President
Hayden Collins – Staff Representative & Minute Secretary
Bree Blake – Treasurer
Julian Ashley – Parent Representative
Jess Chalkley – Parent Representative (newly appointed)
Matthew Straub – Parent Representative (newly elected)
Sophie Burn – Community Member (newly appointed)
Marcus Uren – Community Member

We warmly welcome our new members:

Jess Chalkley, newly appointed Parent Representative
Matthew Straub, newly elected Parent Representative
Sophie Burn, newly appointed Community Member

Each brings valuable experience and a strong commitment to student success and school improvement.

We also thank our continuing members for their ongoing dedication and time.

Welcome to Our New Acting Principal

As Term 2 begins, we look forward to welcoming James Sait as our new Acting Principal, who will also take on the role of School Council Chair.

Annual Reports

At the AGM, the following reports were tabled and accepted:

2024 Annual Report – A summary of student achievement, wellbeing initiatives, and school operations.Principal’s Report – Highlighting strong academic growth, wellbeing program expansion, and future enrolment strategies.Treasurer’s Report – Detailing a strong financial position with strategic investment in school upgrades and learning supports.

2025 Strategic Priorities

Our 2025 Strategic Goals continue to focus on:

1. Maximising Literacy and Numeracy Outcomes

Data-driven, differentiated teaching
Whole-school phonics and numeracy programs
Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for all students

2. Enhancing Student Wellbeing and Engagement

Life Skills Go digital check-ins
Relaunch of the Breakfast Program
Respectful Relationships initiative
Positive behaviour reinforcement through the Dojo Shop

These initiatives are aligned with the Victorian Curriculum 2.0 and the FISO 2.0 framework, ensuring every student is supported to thrive academically and socially.

Thank You to Our School Community

We would like to thank the entire school community for your ongoing involvement and support. Whether it’s attending events, contributing to school life, or nominating for Council, your participation is what makes our school strong.

If you’d like to learn more about School Council or explore future opportunities to contribute, please contact the school office.

We look forward to another successful and inspiring year at Raywood Primary School!

Grade 5 and 6 Students Participating in School Experience Survey

Our Grade 5 and 6 students will soon be participating in an important Department of Education survey about their school experience. This survey helps gather valuable insights to improve school programs and learning environments across Victoria.

This is a great opportunity for our students to have their voices heard and contribute to the future of education. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Thank you for your support!

That's all for this week- Ayshia Howden

News from Bree in the office

Here we are at the end of Term 1. Raywood Primary would like to wish all of our students, staff, families and community a very happy and safe Easter break and school holidays. Term Two will be full of exciting learning opportunities for each of our students.

Term 2 commences on Monday April 22nd.

Easter playgroup visit

On Monday, we were joined by our little friends from Raywood playgroup. We had a wonderful morning full of Easter-themed activities and had a special visitor who may have left some sneaky treats for the kids.

Pie Warmer Lunches

We are pleased to announce that our pie warmer will be operational on all school days during Terms 2 and 3. Students are encouraged to bring a variety of items that can be heated, ensuring these are wrapped in foil or placed in a foil container to ensure safety and efficiency (please refrain from using plastic or metal cans, as they cannot be heated in the pie warmer).

In previous years, we have successfully heated a diverse range of delicious options, including pastries, toasted sandwiches, pasta and rice dishes, leftover roast dinners, and even pizza. We would like to emphasize the importance of making nutritious food choices; therefore, we kindly request that all meals sent to school reflect healthy options.

Pie & Slice Drive

We are running a Pie & Slice drive fundraiser! Each family has received order forms, which are also available at the Raywood Post Office. Additionally, there is a flyer attached to the Community Page in this edition of the Newsletter.

Please ask your friends and family if they would like to purchase some delicious treats from the famous Bridgewater Bakehouse to help support our school. With the colder weather coming, these pies will be excellent additions to your freezer, making them perfect for our Term 2 pie warmer.

If you have any questions, need additional order forms, or have any other inquiries related to the pie drive, please contact Bree.

Thank you for your support!

Saver Plus

Many families might be feeling the pressure of education costs—whether it’s for laptops, iPad, uniforms, books, extracurricular activities or even school camps.

That’s where Saver Plus comes in. It’s a free education program that helps eligible families save for school expenses and rewards them by matching their savings dollar for dollar, up to $500.

Families who join not only receive up to $500 in matched savings, but they also gain practical money skills through free financial education workshops, helping them feel more in control of their finances.

If this sounds like something you may be interested in please scan the QR code below.

Please note this does not have anything to do with the $400 Dollar School saving bonus.

Thank you, Bree.

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Wellbeing at Raywood PS

The Parent Group Program

East Loddon Food Share