Principal's update
Hello everyone,
Here is the school newsletter for week four of term three.
If you have any questions or comments about anything, feel free to contact me.
OSHC potential change of hours
We have been contacted by OSHClub about ceasing the service on Fridays due to lack of use, all other days will remain the same. Before I agree to the change, I would like to know if not having OSH available on a Friday will have an impact on families. That is, if you think you will need the service on a Friday, please let me know asap so I can advise OSHClub, otherwise
Library fundraiser
Please have a look at the Parents and Friends Page for some exciting information about our library fundraiser - now with working QR code!
Spare size 6-8 clothes
Our stock of spare smaller clothes is low, if you have any tracksuit pants, socks, t-shirts suitable for kids in grades P-2, we would be very grateful. The puddles and mud have been a popular play place this term!
Wear it Purple Day - Friday 29 August
Each year we celebrate Wear it Purple Day by inviting students and families to wear as much or as little purple to school to celebrate diversity and inclusion. Taradale is an inclusive school and welcomes everyone. Part of being inclusive is to do so visibly. At Taradale you will see an acknowledgment of country on the front gate as well as the Aboriginal flag, we also fly the inclusive rainbow flag on the pole that was donated to us by Chillout Festival to show our support for LGBTQIA+ students, families and allies. Next Thursday the Pride Crew from Castlemaine Secondary College (CSC) is visiting the 5/6&P/1 class during buddies to make badges and bracelets for Wear it Purple Day. we have also been in discussion with the Pride groups at CSC and Winters Flat PS about starting a Pride Group here at Taradale - stay tuned for more details.
Community composting
From Eve; Are you interested in dropping off your food scraps at the school to be turned into beautiful compost and worm castings? We are setting up a community composting hub with a bucket swap-and-go system. We’ll be using Bokashi, a microbial powder, so that all food scraps including meat, cooked food, orange peel, onions etc can be included. If you are interested please let us know so that we can gauge interest. It would be free to participate apart from the purchase of the bokashi powder from the school ($15 for a packet that will last about 3 or 4 months on an average family’s food scraps)
Year 3/4 camp 25-27 August
Students in years 3/4 have the opportunity to travel to Swan Hill for a camp with our friends from Chewton & Elphinstone PS 25-27 August. permission and other details have been posted to families on Compass. The school saving bonus can be used for this camp.
Year 2 camp 11-12 September
Students in year two have the opportunity to travel to Daylesford for our overnight horse riding camp with Chewton PS 11-12 September. We will send home permissions forms, details and costings shortly. The school saving bonus can be used for this camp.
Volunteers
Thank you to the many volunteers that we have at the school. This includes people helping in the library, Breakfast Club, cooking, gardening, listening to children read and more. We welcome more volunteers at the school.
To volunteer at a school you require a working with children check. This can be completed for free online.
Wellbeing
We now have a wellbeing page on the newsletter that I will use to share relevant wellbeing information and resources that we come across that may be useful at home or give greater understanding of some of the language children may come home using from school. I will use the school's website as an archive for the resources for future reference.
2026 enrolments
Last term I received a number of prep enrolments for 2026 as well as enrolments for students starting this term.
We are currently running tours of the school and taking enrolments for 2026.
With a large year 6 cohort leaving at the end of the year, next year we expect to be under our enrolment capacity and welcome enrolment enquiries from near and far.
If you or anyone you know is interested in knowing more about enrolling at Taradale PS, please contact me.
upcoming dates
- 20 August School Council meeting
- 25-27 August yr 3/4 camp to Swan Hill
- 29 August Wear it Purple day
- 01-05 September whole school swimming programme
- 11-12 September yr 2 camp to Boomerang Ranch
- 19 September end term two 2.00pm
- 06 October start term 4
Chris
Christopher Burgess
Principal