Message From Our Principal

Only 3 more sleeps and we will be attending our first ever Swimming Carnival and I can't wait!!!  A swimming carnival is a fantastic idea for a multitude of reasons. Firstly, it promotes physical activity among children, encouraging them to engage in a healthy and enjoyable form of exercise from a young age. Through participation in swimming events, students not only improve their swimming skills but also develop important water safety knowledge. Moreover, swimming carnivals offer a platform for students to set personal goals and strive for improvement, fostering a sense of achievement and boosting self-esteem. These events also cultivate teamwork and sportsmanship as students cheer for their teammates and demonstrate respect for competitors. Importantly, swimming carnivals are inclusive, catering to students of all skill levels and ensuring that everyone can participate and enjoy the experience. Beyond the pool, these events bring together the school community, strengthening bonds between students, teachers, and parents. Ultimately, a swimming carnival is a fun and memorable occasion that promotes physical health, skill development, camaraderie, and a sense of belonging among students.

Thank you to all of the families who attended learning conversations and PSG meetings over the last week. It was really lovely to hear students, parents and teachers talking about learning in this format. Families can now access learning goals and the strategies that will be used to achieve them on PAM or the SIMON Everywhere App. 

Next week our Foundation students will begin school full time. This is something that Miss Bennett and their buddies are really looking forward to. All of our Foundation students have settled into school life amazingly well. Parents and carers should be really proud of how well their children have settled. 

Thank you to our amazing parents who braved the heat to cook pancakes for our students to acknowledge Shrove Tuesday. We were lucky enough to be able to cool off in the Cill Dara whilst we ate them. Thanks to the Catholic Identity leaders who helped run the day and also the Media leaders who captured the images for us. The pancakes were delicious and it was great to see our parent helpers in the school!

It was lovely to  celebrate Ash Wednesday. This is an event that is celebrated by many Christians as the start of the Lenten season, marking a period of reflection, repentance, and spiritual renewal in preparation for Easter.

Our Playgroup has been a fantastic opportunity for young children to socialise, learn, and have fun in a supportive environment. The interactions and activities in our playgroup can help children develop important skills like communication, sharing, and cooperation, all while making friends and building confidence. 

NAPLAN tests will be held during March. All Victorian students will sit NAPLAN tests online using locked-down browsers between Wednesday, 13 March and Wednesday, 20 March (with the exception of students in Year 3 as they will complete their Writing test on paper). 

NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through their regular school curriculum. Students in Years 3 and 5 will sit assessments in: 

• Writing 

• Reading 

• Conventions of Language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) 

• Numeracy. 

Online NAPLAN tests provide more accurate results and are more engaging for students. One of the main benefits of the online format is adaptive testing, where the test presents questions that may be, more or less difficult depending on a student's responses. This adaptive testing allows a wider range of student abilities to be more accurately measured and presents questions more relevant to the child’s particular level of achievement. 

NAPLAN cannot be studied for and students are not expected to do so. The best way you can help your child prepare for NAPLAN is to let them know that it is just another routine part of their school program and encourage them, as always, to do the best they can on the day.

This is a great way to fundraise for our school whilst also caring for our environment.

Money raised will go towards the purchase of a Gaga Pit.

CSEF (Camp, Sports, Excursion Fund)

Please find attached the information sheet and application form to apply for CSEF (Camp, Sports, Excursion Fund).

If you applied for CSEF last year, you do not need to complete an application form this year unless there has been a change in your family circumstances.

If you are a new family, your circumstances have changed, or new siblings have commenced this year, please complete the attached form with a copy of your Health Care Card.

You can also get a hard copy of the form from the office.

If you have any questions regarding this form please contact Teresa in the office.

Kyabram District Health Service is excited to see Quit, in partnership with VicHealth, release, ‘Seeing Through the Haze,’ a resource designed for schools to educate students about the harms of vaping and to equip them with the knowledge and skills to create change for healthier, vape-free communities. 

The resource is a critical addition to the school curriculum as vaping rates continue to increase amongst young people.

For more information visit www.vapingfacts.org.au/for-schools