Principal's Report
"Show us your colours" Warrandyte Festival
The Warrandyte Festival is coming up on the 18th and 19th of March - we'd love some help with the Parade on Saturday and Jimmy has also put out a roster for our food stall. Please give us a hand if you can.
The Street Parade is a time for our whole school to get together, have fun and walk while representing our school. The theme of 'show us your colours' has been interpreted as expressing yourself through your heritage – where has your family come from and what are your family’s national colours? Please talk with your child/ren about this as next week they will be doing some activities in class and it would be great for them to have explored this at home first. For example, First Nations may be represented by the colours of their flag - red, black and yellow, Dutch people may be represented by wearing orange, and the Irish by wearing green.
Students will participate in weaving circles at school, as a circle represents unity, community, harmony, friendship, life, protection, stability and wholeness. All of these are a big part of what makes our beautiful town and school so unique and wonderful.
Part of our blurb will be:
Andersons Creek Primary School is a bright and vibrant school with students from varied and colourful backgrounds. We are proud of our heritage and are here to show you our colours! We are one, but we are many! We celebrate our diverse backgrounds and embrace our multi-cultural community. These colours bring with them stories, traditions and strengths from our relatives before us. We have all come to call Australia home! Our weaving shows that our many colours, woven together, makes us strong and wonderful.
Saturday 18th March schedule:
10:15am: All participants walking in the parade need to meet at Wonguim Wilam Playspace (close to the bridge). Parents and grandparents and any other family members are welcome and encouraged to join us in the walk. Please keep in mind that parking will be very difficult. Consider walking to Wonguim Wilam Playspace if possible. Could students please wear bright colours from their heritage.
12:00pm: Students to be picked up promptly by their parents at the end of the parade (Stintons reserve).
1pm: ACPS will be performing on the main stage (after our street parade) and the excitement is building......!
- Preps-Grade 2 songs with Nelson our musical Chaplain (all P-2 students are welcome to participate. No rsvp required, just meet at stage steps at 12:45pm)
- Grade 3-6 Choir
- Irish dancing by the talented Harris sisters.
We look forward to having lots of students involved!
NAPLAN
All students in Years 3 and 5 are expected to sit the NAPLAN tests.
There are some instances where students may be exempted from one or more of the NAPLAN tests or marked absent (for the purpose of the tests) or withdrawn from the tests. The NAPLAN national protocols for test administration provide the framework for understanding student participation.
Key Dates
NAPLAN will be undertaken from Tuesday 14 March for 2 weeks
Withdrawal
NAPLAN tests are a routine part of the school calendar. However, students may be withdrawn from the testing program by their parent/carer for reasons such as religious beliefs or philosophical objections to testing. This is a matter for consideration by individual parents/carers in consultation with Andersons Creek Primary. A formal application must be received by the principal prior to testing. Please see Mr Smith or Mrs Thornton for more information.
Grade 6 Leadership Assembly and Morning Tea
Thanks so much to all the parents and families who came to our Leadership Assembly on Wednesday. It was such a great turnout!
We were really lucky to have Catherine and Josh from Phoenix Soar speak to us all about how we are all leaders and it's important to show up everyday.
School Tours
I love doing School tours with our student leaders. If you know anyone who would like to tour ACPS please ask them to contact Jo in the office so we can make a time.
Volunteers Needed
ACPS is seeking volunteers to teach a reading intervention program called MultiLit.
We are seeking people who are interested in working with students on a one to one basis during school hours.
All volunteers must have a Working with Children Check. If you are interested in volunteering and do not have a Working with Children Check, you can apply online at https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please email Michaela michaela.mccleery@education.vic.gov.au
Thank you.
Dates for 2023
Please check our "From the Office" page - we are constantly updating the list of events that are happening this year.
Important Reminders
- Parents to sign their child in when arriving late
- Arriving before 8.45am OSHC available (teacher on duty from 8.45am)
- No driving into or out of the school grounds between 8.45am - 9.15am & 3.15pm - 3.45pm (for the safety of our students)
- Bell times have changed:
- 9.00am start
- Recess 11.30-12.00
- Lunch 1.40 (10 minutes eating) play 1.50-2.40
- School finishes 3.30pm
- MOBILE PHONES - please ensure that all student mobile phones are signed into the office before school each day.
- No hat no play - Term 1 and 4
Long Service Leave:
When I was in a different role at ACPS (it seems a long time ago) I booked in Long Service Leave to go to New Zealand to see my partner's son Patrick compete in a gruelling Ironman in Lake Taupo. So I will be off all next week in the support crew role!
The NZ Ironman is a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and 42.2km marathon! Exhausting.
Pat has chosen to raise funds for Speak and Share - a great organisation that does brilliant work supporting young people in the mental health space. The organisation encourages the tough conversations and challenges associated with mental health.
Remember to always Be YOUR Best!
Meredith Thornton
Acting Principal
Feel free to contact me via email meredith.thornton@education.vic.gov.au