From the Office 

A big welcome back everyone to a busy Term 4 of learning at Raywood PS! We are really looking forward to seeing our students continue to achieve this term and we are already seeing continued improvements in learning, particularly in our student's writing which has been impressive. This term our school inquiry focus is based around geography and our place in the world. The Junior Room has started by learning about our school environment and the difference between natural and manmade objects whilst the Senior Room is busy creating a giant representation of the world, please pop in and take a look next time you are dropping off or picking up your child. 

Office Arrangements - As many in our school community will already know, at the start of this term we will be saying goodbye to our amazing Business Manager Bree, who will be beginning her new role at the Business Manager over at Rushworth P-12 College. Whilst we are very sad that Bree will be leaving us, we are also very excited for her in her new role and know that she will become an important part of their school just as she has been with us over the past four or so years. 

Until the end of the year I will be covering the office role at our school as we begin to look for a new staff member to work in our school administration. Bree will be doing the odd day here and there and finish up with us on Friday 31st October. 

Bushfire Reminders - Each year our school undertakes a range of prevention activities to ensure the safety of our school and to prepare for bushfires and grassfires. An important part of this process is communicating to parents what will happen when certain fire danger ratings are issued to help ensure the safety of everyone in our school community.

Our school has been identified as being at risk of bushfire or grassfire and is a Category 3 school. This means that whilst unlikely to occur, our school will close on a day forecasted as Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating in the Northern Country Fire District. Closure of the school due to a Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating will be enacted when the Bureau of Meteorology forecast and related public safety messaging are confirmed. Due to uncertainties in the forecast, the timing of this confirmation may vary. Information regarding potential or confirmed Catastrophic fire danger days will be communicated to families via uEducateUs and text message. It is also important to be aware that: 

• No one will be on site on days where the school is closed due to a forecast Catastrophic day.
• All bus routes that travel through the Catastrophic area will be cancelled.
• School camps will be cancelled if a Catastrophic fire danger rating day is forecast for fire weather district in which the camp is located, or if the travel involves passing through areas that have Catastrophic fire danger.

As part of preparing our school for the fire season, we have updated and completed our Emergency Management Plan, carried out a number of fire prevention maintanence tasks within our school grounds and supported our students to practice fire evacuations.

Families are encouraged to action their own Bushfire Survival Plan on catastrophic fire danger rating days in their district. The safest option is to leave the night before or early on the morning of the catastrophic day. On such days, children should never be left at home alone or in the care of older children.

Lunches & Breakfast Club - Just a reminder that as we move into the warmer part of the year, we have adjusted our lunch options at school. We now run Toastie Tuesday each Tuesday where students are welcome to bring along something to go into the Sandwich Toaster and Warm Up Wednesday where the Pie Warmer will be in action. Breakfast Club will also make a return next week and will run on Friday mornings from 8.40am-9am. 

Sporting Schools Tennis & Golf - It has been great to have Milo join us again at the beginning of this term to deliver Tennis and Golf sport sessions with the kids, lots of fun! These Wednesday sessions will run for half the term and then we will be off to Jets Gym on Wednesday afternoons. 

Grade 3/4 Billabong Ranch Camp - Last week our Grade 3/4 students joined their peers from across our Campaspe Cluster Network at Billabong Ranch Camp in Echuca. Cluster camps are always a great opportunity for our kids to continue to build their friendships with kids from other nearby schools and to participate in activities that challenge them in different ways and provide the kind of learning opportunities just not possible inside the classroom walls. 

Grade 5/6 Somers Camp - Last week we also had students attend the Grade 5/6 Somers Camp ran by the Department of Education down past Melbourne on the coast at Somers. Lots of fun was had joining in with over 150 students from across our local area for the 9 day camp. Activities included Archery, Bike Ed, Boating, High Ropes, Giant Swing and Surfing. 

Bendigo Community Health Sessions - A reminder that over the next two Tuesdays, our Grade 4-6 students will be participating in Puberty Sessions with Steph from BCHS. Students from Bridgewater PS will also be joining us for these sessions. 

Melbourne Cup Fiesta Day - On Tuesday 4th November our school will holding our annual Melbourne Cup Fiesta Day! Students are welcome to dress up in their best 'Going To The Races' attire and we will be running different activities across the day to commemorate the race that stops the nation. We're hoping to run a Special Lunch on this day, please let James know if you're able to help out with this. 

Upcoming Public Holiday - Our school observes the Bendigo Cup Public Holiday and as such school will be closed on Wednesday 29th October. 

Thanks Everyone,

James, Hayden, Jess, Bree & Bell