Principal's Report
Parent Teacher Interviews
Parent Teacher Interviews are an important opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, celebrate their achievements, and talk about their learning goals with their classroom teacher.
Interviews will be held on the following dates:
- Tuesday 26th August – Foundation/1 and Grade 2/3 classes
- Wednesday 27th August – Grade 3/4 and Grade 5/6 classes
If you are unable to attend on the scheduled day, we encourage you to contact your child’s teacher to arrange an alternative time that works for you.
Booking information will be sent out early next week. We look forward to connecting with you to support your child’s learning journey.
Volunteers Needed for Our School Fete – Saturday 15th November
We’re looking for volunteers to help make our School Fete a success! If you’re available to lend a hand on the day, we’d love your support with jobs like running the BBQ, helping with the book stall, or assisting with the carriage ride line – plus a range of other fun tasks.
If you’re able to help, please see the 150 Year Celebration page in this newsletter for further information; email me or the school office, and we’ll pass your details on to the organisers. Every bit of help makes a big difference – thank you!
Grade 1 Phonics Check
Over the coming weeks, our Grade 1 students will be participating in the Department of Education’s Phonics Screening Check. This is a short, one-on-one assessment that helps teachers understand how students are progressing with their phonics knowledge – an essential building block for reading.
The check involves students reading a mix of real and made-up words using common phonics patterns they’ve learned in class. It’s a useful tool that supports our teachers in identifying areas where students might benefit from additional help.
If you have any questions about the Phonics Check, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher.
New Road Safety Initiative: Safe Crossings, Safe Kids
The Department of Transport and Planning has launched a new road safety campaign aimed at making school crossings safer for all students. The Safe Crossings, Safe Kids initiative encourages drivers to be more aware and cautious around school zones and reminds road users of the special rules that apply at school crossings.
As part of the initiative, eight key safe behaviours have been promoted to help protect students and crossing supervisors, including:
- See us? Slow down and prepare to stop
- See us? Treat crossing supervisors kindly
- Kids getting in or out? Find a legal park first
- Behind the wheel? Wait for everyone to cross
- Flags up? You must give way
- See a school crossing? Use it
The campaign also helps drivers easily identify school crossings and understand the expectations when approaching them.
Posters promoting these safe behaviours will be displayed around the school to help reinforce these important messages.
Let’s all work together to keep our kids safe. Please take a moment to refresh your knowledge of school crossing rules and drive with care.
You can find more information here: https://transport.vic.gov.au/news-and-resources/education-resources/road-safety-education-resources-for-schools/safe-crossings-safe-kids
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 1,994 days – an average of 8.59 days per student.
Thank you for supporting regular attendance. Every day counts!
Warm regards,
Andrew Bloomfield
Principal