Principal's Report
Term 3 Highlights and What’s ahead for Term 4
We’ve had an amazing Term 3 filled with rich learning and community spirit. Students have worked incredibly hard in their classrooms and should be proud of what they’ve achieved.
Term 3 at a glance
- Students completed ICAS testing and some students took part in the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee.
- Prep students celebrated 101 days of school with a delightful Dalmatian-themed day.
- Year 1 students undertook the new Phonics Check for the first time, giving us valuable insights into their reading development.
- Inter-school sports saw strong participation in District Athletics, cricket and orienteering.
- We celebrated Book Week with our much-loved Dress Up Parade.
- Parent–Teacher Interviews provided a great opportunity to discuss student progress and next steps.
- A group of students joined our Equine Learning program—an enriching and successful experience.
Our F/1 excursion to the Werribee Zoo, Year 3/4 excursion to the NGV, and the Grade 5/6 Camp to Portsea were all highlights.
Looking ahead to Term 4
- We’ll be finalising grade structures and classes for 2026.
- Year 2/3 students will be going to the Melbourne Museum.
- Installation of new basketball rings and backboards, thanks to our wonderful Parents & Friends.
- Celebrating World Teachers’ Day on Friday 31 October.
- School Reports will be sent home.
- 2026 Foundation Transition program begins.
- Grade 5/6 annual bike ride to Hanging Rock.
- Grade 1/2 camp to PGL Kyneton and Year 1/2 swimming program.
- Year 6 will attend Year 7 transition days and finish the year with some amazing events—Billy Carts, a City excursion, and Grade 6 Graduation.
And don’t forget our biggest event of the year: the 150th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday 15 November—we can’t wait to celebrate with our whole community!
Thank you to our staff, students and families for a fantastic term. Bring on Term 4!
Upcoming 150 Year Festival
I was lucky enough to attend a 150 Year Festival preparation meeting on Monday, and I was genuinely amazed at the level of planning already underway. The day is shaping up to be a wonderful celebration with a charming old-time theme and something for everyone.
Children’s workshops will include:
- Yarn craft
- Bread baking
- Pickling
- Candle making
- Flower pressing
- Oil painting
- Handwritten letters
Alongside the workshops, families can enjoy gold panning, pony rides, old time photos and horse-and-carriage rides. There will also be a wide variety of stalls and food providers, plus silent auctions with fantastic items up for grabs.
We’ve already received a significant number of donations—thank you to our generous community for your support. Most of all, an enormous thank you to our large team of volunteers. The amount of work they’ve already put in is incredible, and we cannot thank them enough for their hard work and dedication.
We can’t wait to celebrate together.
PJ Movie Day
Our Junior School Council is hosting a PJ Movie Day on Friday 19 September. Students are invited to come to school in their pyjamas and enjoy a film with their year level:
- F–2: Toy Story — 9:00–10:40
- Years 3–6: Wreck-It Ralph — 11:10–12:50
This initiative has been led by our Junior School Council, who used student voice to decide the event, select the movies, and choose the cause. We thank them for all their hard work.
Students may bring a blanket and pillow, and a snack to eat during the movie. To take part, please send a gold coin donation on the day.
JSC have requested that all funds raised go towards new sports uniforms for the school. If families wish to contribute further, additional donations can be made at the office. We’re also delighted to acknowledge a generous community member who has donated $300 towards this cause—thank you for your support!
Thank you for supporting our student leaders and this great cause!
Fundraising Committee
We are establishing a Fundraising Committee as a sub-committee of School Council. The committee will:
- develop clear procedures and guidelines for fundraising at MPS; and
- review proposals and provide recommendations to School Council on future fundraising activities.
If you would like to join or learn more, please contact me directly. (andrew.bloomfield@education.vic.gov.au) I’d love to have a mix of parents and carers involved to help shape a simple, transparent and effective approach to fundraising at MPS.
Parent Payments
A heartfelt thank you to all families who have made a voluntary contribution to our school this year. Around 50% of families have contributed $240 per student. These funds go directly to student learning and classroom programs, and they make a significant difference to what we can provide—enabling opportunities and resourcing that we otherwise wouldn’t be able to offer.
If you would still like to contribute, you can do so via XUNO or by contacting the office. Your support is greatly appreciated.
2:30 Dismissal - Last Day of Term
Please be aware that school finishes at 2:30 on Friday the 19th of September
2026 Class Placement Requests
We are now accepting requests for the 2026 school year. Parents and guardians can submit requests regarding friendship groups or specific student needs to help us with class placements.
Please note that we receive a high volume of family requests each year, and while we seriously consider every submission, we cannot grant them all. Creating new classes is a complex process—we balance student learning needs, wellbeing, social dynamics, class sizes and other factors. Our goal is to create calm, balanced and supportive learning environments for every student. We are not able to take requests for specific teachers.
To submit a request, please email andrew.bloomfield@education.vic.gov.au by 10th October. Thank you for your cooperation and for working with us to set students up for a great year of learning.
Parent/Carer Giver opinion Survey.
Thank you to the 25 families who have already completed the Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey—your feedback helps us improve what we do for students and our community.
If you haven’t had a chance yet, there’s still time. The survey remains open until Friday 19 September 2025. It’s online, takes about 20 minutes, and can be completed on a desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone. Please use the unique code sent to you in recent email to access the survey.
We really value your insights. Thanks for your ongoing support and for taking the time to contribute.
Attendance
As part of our School Strategic Plan, we’re aiming to reduce student absences to an average of fewer than 17 days per student each year.
Regular attendance supports learning and wellbeing. Missing 20 days a year adds up to over a full year of school missed by Year 12.
So far this year, Macedon Primary students have missed 2734 days – an average of 11.94 days per student.
Thank you for supporting regular attendance. Every day counts!
Warm regards,
Andrew Bloomfield
Principal