Swimming Sports

The House Swimming Sports was a great day of building school spirit once again. The annual 'Jacka v Ansett Competition' was a hotly contested event with Jacka winning the points but Ansett taking home the trophy with a better average. I would like to thank all the organisers and staff who worked hard on the day. Unfortunately the match race against Mr Lockhart is on hold for another year as I was unable to attend on the day. The participation rate and efforts on the day were sensational, keep up the great work everyone. Jacka will bounce back in the Cross-Country!

Doctor in Schools Program Extension

Wedderburn College has been very fortunate to be included in the extension of the Doctor in Schools Program. This means the Doctors services will now be available for our Primary Students. Wedderburn and St Arnaud Schools will be part of this trial to incorporate Primary aged children in this excellent program.

Every Tuesday a few appointments will be available for Primary students. The only difference is that parents/carers must accompany their child to see the Doctor.

All appointments must be made in advance by contacting the school office on 5494 3011. Primary appointments will only be available from 1.30pm – 3.00pm until further notice.

We thank Doctor Jo and Nurse Michelle, Nurse Janice and Kerry for all their efforts in promoting and providing extra health initiatives for all students. The pilot program extension will commence on Tuesday 8th March.

School Easter Fete – For the School Community

The Parents Association in conjunction with school staff & students will hold the annual School Easter Fete at school on Friday 8th of April. The Fete will begin mid morning, this will include activities from each year level followed by a BBQ lunch provided by VCAL. This will also be a casual clothes day for the students. The Parents Association will be running a massive, mega Easter Raffle to be drawn on the day. So therefore we will be looking for donations of Easter eggs in all sizes (or money donations to purchase eggs). The more Easter eggs the more winners. Please send donations of Easter eggs or cash donations to school after the long weekend. Further details to follow over the coming weeks

It's Just Great to Be back

I have really enjoyed the start of the school year. It's great to have students and staff on site enjoying being back at school. Over the past week I have been lucky enough to attend the Year 12 Camp where I also had the difficult task of being the Masterchef Chief Judge. Other events have included Primary Assembly and Leadership speeches (they were excellent), handing out MVP awards, rewarding the Prep/1 class with zooper doopers for being the classroom of the week, presenting the special Year 6 polo shirts and attending the School Leaders Induction Ceremony yesterday.

Rapid Antigen Test(RAT) Kits Round 2

Our second lot of Tests have been distributed to all students today.

The recommended rapid antigen testing schedule for students and staff is twice weekly (on school days).
Tests will be provided in packs of five individual tests
Students should complete the tests at home.

Confirmed positive case

Where a student is identified as a positive case, parents/carers must:

• inform the school by calling Ph. (03) 5494 3011.

• follow the latest advice at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/rapid-antigen-tests

• Students who report a positive result must isolate for 7 days and not attend school during that period.

Household contact of a positive case

A household contact is defined as having spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID-19 inside a house, accommodation, or care facility. Where a student or staff member is a household contact of a positive case, parents/carers should inform the school and isolate for a period of 7 days.

Verification of vaccination status is required for visitors to our School. However, in the short-term it is preferable that parents/carers refrain from entering the school unless a prior appointment has been arranged.

Face masks Update

Face masks are compulsory and should be worn at all in times when indoors. If you require an exemption for wearing a face mask, please send a request to Mr. Lockhart. Students who had exemptions in place at the end of last year have been automatically placed on the exemption list.

Ventilation: We have been advised that the very best approach to minimise viral transmission in the warmer months is to open windows and doors to allow ventilation wherever possible. Measures have been put in place to allow for doors and windows to be open. Air Purifiers have been placed in high risk and moderate risk areas throughout the school.

On Site Visitors

A reminder to all visitors you are not able to go into classroom areas, please only access the front office foyer area. You must be double vaccinated to be inside the building. We are still trying to limited visitor numbers.

Visitors and volunteers performing work on school sites (both inside and outdoors) are required to have received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine by 25 February 2022 if they became fully vaccinated on or before 25 October 2021. For those who became fully vaccinated after 25 October 2021, the deadline is 15 March 2022, or have a valid medical exception.

This requirement applies to:

a person contracted to work at an education facility and who will or may be in close proximity to children, students or staff, whether or not engaged by the education operator including casual relief teachers, NDIS providers and auditors (but does not include delivery personnel).
Department staff who attend an education facility (such as allied health personnel)
Staff of any other entity who attends an education facility
Volunteers that attend and education facility and that work in close proximity to children, students or staff (including parent helpers)
Students on placements at an education facility.

Schools are required to advise visitors and volunteers that they must adhere to COVID Safe requirements: physical distancing, face mask requirements, cough etiquette, and good hand hygiene.

Out of Hours Before & After School Care - (Repeat)

As you may be aware we are going to be able to offer Before and After School Care this year. We recently had our facility approved for use, we now have our staff in place (see below) and are almost ready to go.

We have a few parts of our formal documentation to complete before we can begin, including adding 21 new policies. A short survey for Child Care will be distributed shortly. Over the next two weeks parents will receive an opportunity to apply for our new service and the structure on how it will be organised, including fees etc. We are aiming to open in early March at this stage, if not beforehand.

Childcare Coordinator: Reana Butterworth

Childcare Assistants: Melinda Springthorpe, Trina Vaughan, Annette Hunt.

Childcare Administration: Errin Leach.

Competition Time For Students - Win a free Lunch

Yesterday was a very unique day - Palindrome and Ambigram day.

Yesterday's date is doubly rare as it's not just a palindrome but an ambigram as well. The rare date fell on Tuesday, prompting people to call it 'Twosday'.

22 February 2022 is written as 22/02/2022 numerically and is, therefore, a palindrome as it can be read the same way forward and backwards. It is an ambigram as well because it is the same upside down!

As I mentioned last week, in an announcement made to students on the 02/02/2022 @ 2:22 p.m. 'When are the other dates & times that have more 2's in them than 02/02/2022 @ 2:22 p.m.???? '

Hint. There are two more longer possible days/times. Another clue is the possibility of using an extra number.

Hand in your answer with name (individuals only) and year level to the Front Office. *Please note no one has submitted a correct answer as yet the time is ticking.

Competition closes at 2:22 p.m. this Friday.

Active After School Sport & Fitness (Repeat)

We have been successful in applying for an Active Schools Grant, as we have noticed over the past few years our students have missed out on opportunities to participate in organised activities.

This grant can be used to: purchase sports equipment, up-skill physical education teachers or engage local organisations and clubs to deliver sporting programs. Through the grant we will be able to purchase uniforms and equipment as well. Our application has allowed us to re-establish a Basketball Competition for students of a variety of ages. If you have any experience or would like to be involved, please register your interest at the Front Office. We are thinking we may offer an 'Aussie Hoops' program for beginners and a primary and a secondary aged competition, depending on numbers. If you have any thoughts, as to what nights would be suitable, please let us know.

School Building Works

College Canteen/Café in Progress

The new school Canteen/Café is progressing nicely after having the floors sanded and vinyl laid. Over the next few weeks we hope to complete the fit out of new equipment with the installation of plumbing and electrical resources after the painting has been completed. We can't wait to start using the new facility.

Library News