Mother figures come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and relationships and Mother’s Day provides an opportunity to celebrate all these amazing women! I wish all of our mothers a lovely day for this Sunday.

Education Week

This year, Education Week runs from Monday 13 May to Friday 17 May. The theme, Spotlight on STEM, celebrates the importance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in our everyday lives, in the classroom and beyond.

We will be celebrating Education Week by:

Whole School Assembly: Monday 13th May at 9:15am -This assembly includes a short Auslan presentation and a performance by our Year 1s.

Specialist Showcase: Thursday 16th May from 2:40pm-4:30pm - Walking trail around classrooms and an opportunity to participate in some fun activities.

2024 Camps

School camp offers a variety of different activities and challenges for students to take part in, many of which are not found in everyday life. Each year, Clyde PS offer camps for students in Year 3-6, I am pleased to confirm the dates of this year's camps.

Wednesday 21st August - Friday 23rd August

Year 3/4 Camp - Waratah Bay camp

Wednesday October 9th - Friday October 11th

Year 5/6 Camp - Coonawarra Farm Resort

Information about payments and camp documentation will be sent to families at a later stage.

School Nurse Visits

The Primary School Nursing Program is a free service offered by the Department of Education to our foundation student. The program aims to assist in the early identification of children with potential health and development related learning difficulties and offers health and development screening (such as hearing, vision, speech, dental and motor skills) as well as advice, information and referrals to other health and support services. The School Nurse will be visiting our school later this term.

Staff Absences

There are some days throughout the year where your child does not have their regular teacher. I understand that is difficult for some children to face. But here at Clyde PS we are committed to supporting children to build resilience and navigate these days.

As you would be aware there is a large teacher shortage in Victoria, and this has had impact on all schools. At Clyde PS, this can mean daily we can have a number of casual releif teachers (CRTs) brought in from an agency, when available.

Sometimes a split of a class is a decision due to teacher shortage or that there are needs of a class which is best suited by current teachers knowing those children. Furthermore, it supports learning continuity if the students are split across the same year level as they plan and learn the same curriculum.

Attendance and Absences

Schools are required to work towards IMPROVING THE ATTENDANCE and PUNCTUALITY RATES of our students. When your child is going to be away parents and carers need to notify the school through COMPASS. This really helps us as we are able to communicate effectively with all relevant staff early in the school day.

Breakfast Club Tuesdays & Friday 8:15am-8:45am

If your child is in need of breakfast, please encourage them to stop by to pick up some food so there are no hungry tummies in the classrooms. Breakfast club runs on Tuesday and Friday mornings from 8:15 – 8:45am in the kitchen area of the Foundation building. Students can enjoy a range of foods, including toast with vegemite, butter or jam and fresh fruit. We are very thankful to our parents who help with the preparation of food at breakfast club.

Curriculum Days

Our next student free day, is a Curriculum, Day, on June 7th. This is the Friday before the long weekend for the King's Birthday Public Holiday. Team Kids will operate on this day.

School Saving Bonus

You may have seen the recent announcement of the School Saving Bonus, as part of the Victorian Budget 2024/25. We are sharing more information about how families will be able to access and use this support.

This one-off support will include $400 for each eligible student to help families cover the costs of school uniforms and activities in 2025. It will be available to parents and carers of every child enrolled in a Victorian government school in 2025.

Cash will not be paid directly to individuals or families. Instead, families will receive the bonus as credits on their school accounts that will help meet the costs of your children’s activities and uniforms.

The School Saving Bonus support will be in addition to existing and continuing means-tested supports for camps, sports, excursions and uniforms.

The application-based Affordable School Uniform program, through State Schools’ Relief, will continue to be available to families experiencing financial hardship or other forms of vulnerability and short-term crisis. This program allows schools to make multiple applications for support on parents' behalf throughout the year if needed.

There will be more information and guidance about the School Saving Bonus in Term 3, 2024, ahead of its implementation in 2025.

Staff News

On Monday the 30th of April, Mrs Bartsch and husband, Simon, welcomed their first child, a daughter, Pippa Marion Bartsch.

District Athletics

On Wednesday 8th May, we had 32 students from Clyde Primary School compete at District Athletics at Casey Fields. We had some amazing weather and the atmosphere on the track was fantastic! It was so great to see all our competitors cheer each other on, support each other and do their very best. It was our most successful District Athletics. We have 4 relay teams going through to Division level and 11 students going to Division for individual events. Well done to all our students that competed, and placed, we are very proud of you all. Division Athletics will be on Wednesday 18th September at Casey Fields.

Relay Teams going to Division:

9/10 Boys – 2nd

11 Girls – 2nd

12/13 Boys – 1st

12/13 Girls – 2nd

Individual Students going to Division:

Fateh – 9/10 Boys Discuss – 2nd

Namo – 9/10 Girls – 1st Triple Jump, 2nd 200m

Mason – 9/10 Boys – 2nd Long Jump

Carter – 9/10 Boys – 1st Hurdles, 2nd 200m

Dom – 9/10 Boys – 2nd 100m, 2nd 200m

Amelia – 11 Girls - 1st High Jump, 3rd Shot Put

Ethan – 12/13 Boys – 1st 1500m

Oscar – 12/13 Boys – 1st 100m, 1st 200m

Sujay – 11 Boys – 1st 100m, 1st Long Jump

Zhara – 12/13 Girls – 2nd Shot Put, 3rd High Jump

Thomas - 9/10 Boys MC - 100m, Discus and Shot Put

ANZAC Day Memorial Service

Our student leaders, Mitchell and Kiera recently had the honour of representing our school at the Cranbourne ANZAC Day service. ANZAC Day is an opportunity for our nation to pay tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of those who served and continue to serve our country. As a gesture of respect and gratitude to the brave men and women who have defended our freedoms, the leaders laid a wreath on behalf of our school community. It was a moment of profound significance, as they stood shoulder to shoulder with veterans and community members, united in honouring the ANZAC legacy. Thanks to all parents and staff who supported our students to attend this event.

‘I’ve always wanted to go to an ANZAC Day service’ – Kiera

‘I really want to see what it’s like, and how it is different to the service we have at school’ - Mitchell

Lest we forget.

Library

This week our new, much anticipated library opened. It was a pleasure to see the joy this brought to our students, as they got to enjoy some new books and some old favourites. Students will visit the library weekly, and teachers shall utilise this space to foster a real love of reading. During this time, students will be able to explore the books that are available and choose a maximum of two books to borrow, either to take home and share with their families – or to enjoy during reading time in their classrooms. Care of these books is paramount, so in order to borrow our Library books students must have a Clyde Primary School satchel (available for purchase at the front office).

Mother's Day Picnic

Friday 10th May