Principal's Report

Today, students in years 3-6 participated in the Upper Kiewa Cluster Swimming Carnival. Congratulations to all students on their participation and team support.  It is always great to see and hear how well you support and celebrate each other's acheivements.  We would also like to give a big shout out to Steph, for her organisation and running of the event, and to all staff and volunteers from Mount Beauty, Falls Creek, Tawonga and Dederang Primary Schools, for their support in ensuring another fantastic day of competition and participation.  

As part of our ongoing commitment to optimise student engagement and social connection, this year our teachers are working together to provide our students with increased opportunities to participate in more cross-age and whole cohort learning activities. 

In term 1, each Monday, students in Prep-3 will participate in a rotation of three activities including kitchen/garden activities with Kathryn, card games with Kim and STEM activities with Ellen.  Similarly, on Wednesdays, years 4-6 students will participate in an elective of their choice.  This term, these include board games with Steph, circus skills with Anna and kitchen/garden activities with Kathryn. Please see the Classroom News page of this newsletter for photos of these activities in action.

From Term 2, our kitchen/garden program will expand to become an intergenerational activity, in partnership with the Neighbourhood centre and Alpine Health. In preparation for this, the Alpine Shire team will be installing some new garden beds between the Neighbourhood Centre and the pondage.  More information will be provided closer to the time, but interested adults, who meet all child safety requirements, will have the opportunity to work with our students to grow produce that can be used in the kitchen. Not only will this support student learning, but it will also help to foster stronger links within the community.

On Monday, students in Year 5 and 6 will have a valuable opportunity to strengthen their knowledge around life-saving strategies and how to stay safe when in and around open water environments.  The two-hour program is run by Life Saving Victoria, and includes identifying dangers, learning emergency responses, and practising survival and rescue strategies.  Students will be accompanied by Steph, Nicole, Mary and Bron. Parents of 5/6 students, please find further information about this event on a note sent home with your child this afternoon.

Next Wednesday 11th February, the Mount Beauty CFA and CFA Community Safety will be hosting a Bushfire Information session. This event will be held after school, in our multi-purpose building from 4-5pm, and will include a visit from the fire truck.  Please refer to the Community News section for more information.

A reminder also that next Thursday, 12th February, we will celebrate the return to school, a special Welcome to School afternoon tea from 3.20 - 4.00pm, in the multi-purpose building.  We hope you can come along to join in the activities, meet teachers and parents, and visit your child's  classroom.

Next week's assembly on Friday, 13th February, we will have our Year 6 class presenting. We hope to see you there.

Become a Bogong Moth Tracker!

Bogong Moths are on the move and Zoos Victoria have developed a Moth Tracker to enable individuals to upload sightings.  Your contribution could help the conservation of Endangered Bogong Moths and Critically Endangered Mountain Pygmy-possums. For more information, see the Moth Tracker here.

Important Funding Information

Eligible families are encouraged to apply for Camps, Sports and Excursions funding, which has been increased to $400 per student/year.  Forms may be obtained from our office. For more information about the fund and eligibility, please see: 

Financial Help for Families: Resources | VIC.GOV.AU | Policy and Advisory Library

CSEF - Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund | vic.gov.au

Community Health Awareness and Planning

On February 24th, a planning workshop will be held in Bright, to help guide the development of a postvention plan for the Alpine Shire, to assist people bereaved by suicide.  Registration details can be found here.