Scotsburn News 

Important Dates

Planning for 2025

As mentioned in the principal section of the newsletter, we are now in a position to share more details regarding organisation for 2025, including staff roles. In terms of our class structure, we are lucky to be able to run an almost identical model to what we have been able to implement in 2024. Our junior class (SC1) will again be a Prep - 2 class, with the flexibility to include a few Grade 3 students should the need arise, with our senior class (SC2) again being a Grade 3 - 6 class.

For our current Grade 2 students and families at Scotsburn, we will be contacting you individually over the next few weeks to discuss the transition into SC2. In some specific cases, there may be a valid reason for staying in SC1, however these decisions are made on an individual basis with each family.

With every new year comes change. 2025 will see Ana Anderson head back to the Buninyong campus, in part to further develop her Learning Specialist role across the whole school. Ana has been a regular feature of the Scotsburn campus for the past 6 years, and it is very difficult to think of anything that she hasn’t done around the place. Her organisation, kindness and mentoring have contributed to the success of the campus for a long time. Although we will be very sad to see her head back to Buninyong, we feel very lucky to have had her play such a major role in the lives of our Scotsburn students and families. We know that she will still be around next year and pop up to see us as part of her Learning Specialist role. We will also make sure to give Ana a very special send off at our end of year Scotsburn Celebration.

We will also be farewelling Hayley Inglis. In the short time that Hayley has been at the campus, she has well and truly entrenched herself as part of the fabric, with it feeling like she has been at the campus for years! Her gentle and calm nature with all students at the campus has allowed us to maintain the wonderful Scotsburn family feel. We wish you all the best in the future, Hayley.

Coming into SC1 next year, we welcome Chelsea Connor, along with Beth Murphy. Both Chelsea and Beth have spent lots of time up at the campus over the past few years and know the ins and outs of the place, so we know they will do an amazing job. Although they have big shoes to fill, we are extremely lucky to have such wonderful teachers stepping into the role.

We are also very excited and fortunate to have Liz and Rachel continuing to coordinate our specialist program, which we know our students will be excited about. 

Should you have any questions about anything heading into 2025, feel free to pop in and see Jarrod.

See below for a full rundown.

P-2 Sports Day

A huge thank you to Ms. Morris and the Grade 6 helpers for organising such a fun P-2 Sports Day. We are sure everyone has had a fun day! 

Grandparents and Special Friends Day - 1st December

A reminder to everyone we have our Grandparents and Special Friends Day, this Friday, December 29. This is always a big event and one of the highlights on the school calendar. If your children have grandparents that can attend, please invite them along, but if not, they are welcome to invite anyone else that is special to them…that might even be you. 

Our guests are invited to come along between 9am and 11am to visit classrooms and explore the grounds. We will first hold a short assembly in the shed, then head into the classrooms.

At around 10:45am, our visitors will be invited to the old building for some morning tea and a chat.  In the past we have had parents bring along a plate, resulting in an amazing spread for our grandparents to enjoy.  We’d like to do the same again and invite all families to send something along.  We also need a few adults to help organise and serve morning tea.  Please let Mrs Anderson or Mr Morgan know if you are able to help. 

We look forward to a wonderful morning.

2025 Scholarship Programs

Students currently in grades 3-5 can now apply to participate in any of the scholarship programs or STEM Extension for 2025. To apply, students need to write a letter to Mrs. Phillips explaining why they would like to participate and why they would be a strong candidate. The flyers with all the information on what scholarships are available, as well as how to apply were posted via Compass on Monday, November 4th. Students are also welcome to attach supporting documentation, which might include relevant samples of their work or photos showing their involvement in the relevant field.

See Mr. Morgan or Mrs. Anderson for more information! 

Reverse Advent Calendar 

This year we will again be participating in a reverse advent calendar, with each class filling a box of non-perishable items to provide to those requiring some assistance over the holiday period. Each class has a box in their room, and you should have received a note last week with the day that your child is asked to bring in an item. This is a wonderful activity for the students to participate in, building the values of giving, empathy and care for others. Please see the list below for an item that you could choose to provide.

3/4 Wyuna Queenscliff Camp - 4th - 5th December

The Grade 3/4 Camp for our Scotsburn students is next week, from Wednesday 4th December - Thursday 5th December. Our 3/4 students will join the Buninyong Grade 4 students to travel to Queenscliff for 2 days of fun and excitement. Our students will be well prepared in the lead up to the camp and will be wonderfully cared for by the Grade 4 staff at the Buninyong Campus. Unfortunately, Mr Morgan will be unable to attend as he is required back at school with the Grade 5/6 students, however we know they are in great hands. 

If you require another camp note, medical form or dietary requirement, please see Mr Morgan ASAP.

SC1 Excursion to Melbourne Museum - 12th December

Year One and SC1 students will travel to Melbourne Museum to celebrate the end of a great year of learning. At the museum students will explore exhibitions related to topics explored throughout the year, including Minibeasts and Dinosaurs.

Students will need to be at the Buninyong Campus at 8:15am to ensure a timely departure. In order to maximise our time at the museum, buses will depart school at 8:30am sharp. 

Scotsburn Sleepover - 12th - 13th December

Our whole campus sleepover is certainly creeping up on us! This overnight event will foster team building, outdoor engagement, as well as create lasting memories for all children. Students will go home after school to gather their belongings and prepare for the sleepover. Students are then invited to return to school at 6pm. Pizza will be provided on the night along with breakfast, snacks, and lunch the following day. All activities will take place within the Scotsburn Campus. 

Please see the on Compass to provide consent and payment. 

CFA Water Fight

This year our annual CFA fundraiser and water fight day will take place between 12 and 1pm on Friday 13th December (Scotsburn Campus Sleepover). We have been doing this for quite a few years now and it is one of the most exciting end of year events. We are very lucky to have the Buninyong CFA volunteers come along to have some seriously wet and fun times with our students! 

Part of this special event is a way of saying ‘thank you’ to our local brigade and to acknowledge these volunteers for all their hard work and dedication. As in the past, we are asking all students to complete some chores around the house over the next few weeks to earn some pocket money that they can donate to the Buninyong CFA. There will be a sheet sent home this week with each student where they have the opportunity to list their chores and the amount they have raised. Every small donation helps so please take this opportunity to encourage your children to complete some special chores and dig deep for those who volunteer and help our community, especially over these coming hot months. 

End of Year Scotsburn Celebration and Picnic - KEEP IN THE CALENDAR!

Please keep in your diary the date for our end of year Scotsburn Concert and Picnic - Monday 16th December. As was the case last year, we will be running the concert between 2pm - 3:30pm. You should have received some more information regarding this on Compass over the weekend. Very exciting!

SC1 Learning Snapshot

The term is certainly flying by and what an exciting couple of weeks ahead of us. Please remember to keep an eye out in the newsletter and Compass for more information and just in case things change as we continue to share lots of information with families. 

We hope everyone came home with some important notes on Friday regarding lots of our end of term events. Please remember, if you have any questions, come and see us. 

There is information above regarding the SC1 excursion to Melbourne Museum. Please ensure you give consent and make payment, or arrange payment plans with the office, as soon as possible. 

We are continuing with our strong learning routines and expectations as the year progresses towards the end. In Reading, we have been celebrating the progress everyone has made throughout the year. Whether this has been learning letter sounds, blending, comprehending or improving reading fluency, we are extremely proud of everyone’s efforts. In Writing, we are learning about letter writing and the writing elements needed for different letter writing purposes. In Maths, we have been learning about direction and transitions and have now moved back to reviewing division. 

Have a wonderful week and please remember we are always here to assist.

Thanks.

Ana and Hayley. 

SC2 Learning Snapshot

With so much happening, it is hard to keep up! This week students have been busily working away at lots of writing tasks including finishing off their persuasive pieces, Grade 6 Leadership applications, 2025 Scholarship applications, Grade 6 Graduation speeches, and student report comments. All of these tasks have provided a wonderful way for students to show off their talents and development in writing.

In Maths last week, we finished off our unit on shape, focussing on lines of symmetry, rotational symmetry and tessellations. The students in SC2 loved learning about this as part of the daily review, then applying their knowledge to create some displays. This week we are back to looking at our vertical multiplication, working on a restaurant design project.

Next week it will be great to see our Grade 3s and 4s head off to camp - they certainly have been looking forward to it! Please remember to check all details for this on the camp information notes sent home.

Our Grade 6s will also be beginning their Graduation dance practice. This will be happening down at Buninyong two afternoons per week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. The girls will finish the day at Buninyong, starting this Friday.

Have another wonderful week, not many left!

Jarrod and Liz

Staff Contacts

Mr Morgan: jarrod.morgan@education.vic.gov.au

Mrs Anderson: anastasia.anderson@education.vic.gov.au

Mrs Inglis: hayley.thomas@education.vic.gov.au 

Mrs Morgan: elizabeth.morgan2@education.vic.gov.au

Ms Middlin: rachel.middlin@education.vic.gov.au

The Scotsburn Team