From the Principal 

Welcome to Term Two

Welcome back to Term Two everyone.  I hope you all had a safe and pleasant break, or at least had more time as a family.

I hope you were able to get out and enjoy the great outdoors, whether it was away on holidays or out in the backyard or in the park with friends. 

We are really looking forward to the second term of the year after such a great start in Term 1.  A reminder that this term is 11 weeks and ends on Friday June 28 at 2:30PM. 

Term 2 promises to be busy and exciting for everyone at Camelot Rise Primary School, including:

• Anzac Day Special Assembly April 22nd (Foundation to Year 6) 
• Thermo Fisher Incursion Year 3 & 4
• Winter Sports and Winter Gala Sport Day - Year 6 
• Sovereign Hill Camp – Year 5 
• Curriculum Day - Pupil Free Day, Wednesday, May 1st
• African Drumming Incursion (Foundation to Year 6)
• Mother’s Day High Tea – Thursday, 9th May @ 4.00 - 5.30pm
• District Cross Country, May 10th
• Open Day / Night – Tuesday, 14th May
• Musica Viva Incursion – Thursday 16th May Level 2 – 6 
• Life Education Foundation to Year 6 Monday, 20th May to Wednesday, 22nd May
• School Photos, May 21st
• Monash Waverley Division Cross Country – Wednesday, 29th May
• King’s Birthday Public Holiday Monday, June 10th
• Whole School Swimming Monday, 17th June to Thursday, 27th June
• Reports live in Compass – Friday, June 21st
• Parent teacher interviews Thursday June 27th

ANZAC Day

Yesterday our students attended a special Anzac Day ceremony in the school hall conducted by Filidea and Malcolm from the Waverley RSL.

This was a very special ceremony and the students learnt about why the upcoming Anzac Day Public Holiday is such an important day in Australia’s history.

Thanks to Ms Hong for coordinating and leading this special ceremony for our school.

Anzac Day falls on Thursday, 25th April and this day is a Public Holiday. Students are not required to attend school on this day.

Teaching our children about ANZAC Day

There are many ways that parents can get their children involved in the Anzac Day experience and enable them to gain an understanding of the important place Anzac holds in Australia’s history. Firstly, historical knowledge is important and there are many high quality, child friendly accounts of the Anzac story, and the Anzac characteristics that resonate with Australians. Many of these books are available at local libraries; they are 

also available through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs free of charge.  These books make it clear that Anzac Day is not an event glorifying war, but exactly the opposite. It is a time of reflection and remembrance. Endurance, resourcefulness, courage, teamwork, loyalty and mateship are key attributes. These are virtues to be encouraged and emulated at any time and are a part of our national story we can focus on around Anzac Day.

There is also of course the experience of taking your children to a Dawn Service March or other commemorative activities on Anzac Day. All this will be more meaningful and educational if some of the previous reading and discussion has occurred. In any event, the questions that come from watching a march, studying a war memorial or experiencing the emotional stillness of the minutes silence and bugle call are opportunities to talk about the impact of war on Australia and the significance of the Anzac Story.

Year 5 Camp to Sovereign Hill

We would like to wish the Year 5 students and staff all the best on their camp to Sovereign Hill from Monday, 22nd April to Wednesday, 24th April.

This is a wonderful camp with many fantastic hands-on learning experiences and the feedback from previous years is always extremely positive.

Thanks to the staff for organising and attending this camp.

I recall taking my own family to Sovereign Hill when our children were younger, and it is a fantastic location. I encourage all families to experience Sovereign Hill over the school holidays.

https://www.sovereignhill.com.au/

Foundation (Prep) Enrolment

The Department of Education has released its Statewide Enrolment Procedures for children transitioning into Foundation (Prep) in 2025.

For any current families who have a child starting Foundation in 2025 please go to the following website to enrol your child at Camelot Rise for 2025.

Home (educationapps.vic.gov.au)

Key features are:

Education Week and Open Night - Spotlight on STEM!

Education Week is an annual celebration of education in Victoria.

In 2024, Victoria will celebrate Education Week from Monday 13 May to Friday 17 May.

The theme will be Spotlight on STEM, a chance for schools to celebrate and share how they bring science, technology, engineering, and maths to life in the classroom.

Our Open Day / Night will be held on Tuesday, 14th May during the following times:

•                     Open Morning: Tuesday 14th May (9:00am to 10:30am)

•                     Open Night: Tuesday 14th May (5:00pm to 6:30pm)

We have planned a very special Open Night / Learning Expo where will celebrate hands on active learning in the curriculum area of STEM with a particular focus on Maths. We focussed on STEM last year  (yes, we were ahead of the Department!) and Maths is a key component of the STEM Curriculum.

Families can only participate in the STEM - Maths activities during the Night session between 5.00pm – 6.30pm.

The night will commence at 5.00pm in the School Hall with a performance by our School Choir who will sing two songs. Thanks to Ms Hong and the Choir for displaying their talents. The classrooms will be opened after the Choir has performed their songs, so we ask all people to meet in the hall at 5.00pm.

During our Open Day / Night times parents/grandparents/friends/community members will be encouraged to visit their child’s classroom (and all specialist classrooms) and talk to their child/children about their learning and look at the work they have been completing at school.

Parents and students will have the opportunity to visit all classrooms, specialist rooms, our STEM Room, our hall and our Green Screen Room during our Learning Expo. Please go around and visit all the learning spaces at our school.

On the night there will also be a coffee van for community members to purchase hot drinks.

We look forward to seeing as many people as possible on Tuesday, 14th May.

Thanks to the staff who are attending and preparing for this significant community event.

Curriculm Day - Student Free Day

Wednesday, 1st May is a Curriculum Day – Student Free Day at Camelot Rise Primary School.

Our staff will be undertaking Professional Learning with a focus on Spelling. Mrs Julie Shepherd (Year 2 teacher) will be leading this professional learning day for our staff. Thank you to Mrs Shepherd.

If families require the use of the Out of School Hours Care Program, please book via the Camp Australia website

Hats

Please be advised that as per our SunSmart Policy, students are not required to wear Hats from May to August. We still encourage students to wear hats during times when the Bureau of Meteorology forecast UV levels to reach 3 or higher.  At these levels, sun protection (sunscreen, long sleeve clothing, shade, hats and sunglasses) is recommended for all skin types.

Have a great Term Two everyone. See you around the school.

Matthew Coney & Ben Heys