School Update

We acknowledge and extend our appreciation to the Dja Dja Wurrung People, the Traditional Owners of the land where we learn, work, and play.

Student of the Week awards are presented at assembly on Monday at 2:45 pm. Families of students recieving an award are warmly invited to attend!

Morning Routine Update

We’re currently updating our systems to ensure they align with Department of Education policy. As part of this, students who arrive at school before 8:45am are required to wait in the covered area. This change is being made to ensure all students are safe before supervision starts. If your child/children require care before 8:45am, please remember that OSHClub is available. Thank you for your support in keeping our children safe and well looked after.

Reading Stars are Back! 🌟📚

A big thank you to Polly (Fred’s mum!) for getting our Reading Stars volunteer program up and running for Term 2! Reading Stars is a wonderful opportunity for community volunteers to come along and listen to students read from 9:00–9:30am each day. It’s a simple but powerful way to support our young readers—and it’s lots of fun too!

All you need to join in is a Working with Children Check and a sense of fun.

If you’d like to get involved, please contact the school on 5472 1452 or email us at castlemaine.ps@education.vic.gov.au. Grandparents, friends and family are all welcome!

Cross Country Fun at Wesley Hill 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

Our Grade 3–6 students had a fantastic day at Wesley Hill today for the Cross Country event! It was wonderful to see our school values in action— with resilience and encouragement on full display. A huge thank you to our amazing staff and community volunteers who helped make the day run so smoothly. Extra special thanks to our very own Bree and Amy for co-ordinating the day. Congratulations to all students who participated, and a special well done to those who placed and now have the opportunity to compete at the next level!

🎓 Education Week – Open Morning & Awards Assembly

Don't forget - next week on Wednesday 14th May, we’re excited to host our annual Open Morning for prospective Prep families from 9 -11 am and our Awards Assembly at 2:30 - 3:30pm. Families are warmly invited to attend!

🌟A special shout out to Cantwell Property for their continued support🌟

🎶 Exciting News – Marimba Magic with Andy Rigby!

We’re thrilled to announce that next week, all students will have the opportunity to participate in music workshops with the incredible Marimba Master, Andy Rigby! Andy is renowned for his engaging and energetic sessions that get everyone moving and making music together. To celebrate, we’ll be holding a special performance on Friday 16th at 3:00pm – all families and friends are warmly invited to come along and enjoy the joyful sounds of marimba music created by our talented students! A HUGE thank you to the Parents Club for raising the funds to make this special event happen!🎵

What’s the Story with the Wall? 🧱

Some of our newer families may have noticed that the area next to the stone wall on the eastern boundary is fenced off and might be wondering why. It all started back on 21 May 2021, when the wall was assessed as unstable following reports of large stones falling out. While some work has been done to help stabilise it, the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) remains concerned that the wall could potentially topple.

Because the wall is structurally connected to neighbouring homes, the situation has become a complex one. The Department of Education’s legal team is currently working with our neighbours to find a safe and fair solution—but unfortunately, it looks like it may take some time. In the meantime, we’re continuing to make the most of the outdoor space we do have and look forward to the day when students and families can once again enjoy this special corner of our school grounds.

🚧 Road Works at Mostyn Street Gate

Please be aware that road works are taking place near the Mostyn Street gate to install a designated disabled parking space. Once complete, this area will no longer be available for general parking. Thank you for your understanding and support in making our school more accessible for everyone! ♿

🍎 Fresh Fruit Friday – Thank You!A big thank you to the McKern Foundation for their ongoing support of our Fresh Fruit Friday program! We’re so lucky to have these wonderful fruit platters delivered to our school each week – what a treat for our students!

A special shout-out also goes to the amazing Parent Club volunteers who give their time every Friday to prepare and share the fruit with our students. Your efforts make a healthy and happy difference – thank you! 🍓💚

More Parents Wanted!

Would you like to join our parents club? Don’t know what parents cub is?  Parents Club is a parent led group that supports the school in a variety of ways. Some things you can donate your time to is:

• Helping at Fresh Fruit Friday- cut fruit on a Friday morning straight after drop off- this is done in the multipurpose room kitchen. Platters of fruit is served to the classrooms and fruit is donated through Mckerns foundation.
• Monthly meetings to discuss how the parents club can support the school in ways such as fundraising, assisting with organising events such as fete, ways to fundraise
• Planning and assisting the school with working bee’s
• Ideas on ways to build the school community

Please leave your details with Sally in the Office if you would like to get involved or come along to one of our monthly meetings! 

I was really privilaged to visit 4-5C and hear the writing they have been preparing for mums and other special people they will be visiting this weekend. I certainly had a tear in my eye! I wish all of the mums, grandmas, aunties and people who help look after our wonderful students a very lovely and special weekend.

Kate Ward