It is great to see the students settling into their class routines. There is a lovely, calm feel around the school both in class time and play breaks. Congratulations to all the children on their wonderful start to the year.

Class information sessions

This week class groups are holding their information sessions for families. The times are as follows:

F/1: Tuesday 6:00 – 6:30

Yr.2: Monday 6:00 – 6:30

3/4: Wednesday 6:00 – 6:30

5/6: Thursday 6:00 – 6:30

The purpose of the sessions is to familiarise families with class routines and to answer any general questions.

School Council

There are four positions on School Council that require filling. Current school council members whose terms are expiring may re-nominate for the position and any other school parents may also nominate. If there are five or more valid nominations an election process will be held among the school families. If there are four or fewer valid nominations received, those nominees will be automatically elected.

You can self-nominate or nominate another person for a position on school council. Nominations open today (Monday 8^th Feb) and will close 4pm on Monday 15^th Feb. If required, ballot papers will be sent out on 22^nd Feb for an election with the ballot closing on 1^st March.

You can contact Michael at school if you have any questions about nominating or the election process. Nomination forms are available at the school office and completed forms need to be returned to the school office before 4pm, Monday 15^th.

Student Leaders

Senior students have written submissions to the Yr. 5/6 staff to express interest in student leadership opportunities. Our student leaders for 2021 are:

School Captains

Semester 1:          Hayley McIntosh & Oliver Boddenberg

Semester 2:          Mitch Waller & Ava Walker

House Captains:

Hammond:            Emma Pinard & Indie Barker-Powell

Windham:             Mia Nedziak & Ivy Edwards

Kars:                       Lachie O’Brien & Remy Lane

Wellsford:             Stella Brinsdon & Rose McKenzie-McHarg

Bus Captains:

Sally Bayne & Ella Owers

Choir Captains

Niamh Stanyer, Irena Purnell, Amy Schilling, Rosie Leane

Congratulations to the student leaders for 2021. I believe that all our senior students have a significant leadership role in our school, regardless if it is a formal position or not. The tone or ‘feel’ of a school is heavily impacted by the actions and attitudes of the senior students. Younger students often take their cues from senior students in terms of attitudes and behaviours. With this in mind, I am very confident that we are in for a great year at Yackandandah Primary School.

I will be handing out badges to our student leaders at This Friday’s assembly (3:10pm, weather permitting).

Michael Edwards
Principal

Family Statements

Family Statements have been email out.  If you didn’t receive it please let me know.

Forms

We are still waiting on quite a few forms to be returned to school.  These have been sent home with those students again tonight.  My apologies if you didn’t receive the form originally.  The forms are:

• Local Excursion Permission Form
• Year 3 – 6 Swimming Permission Form
• Photography/Filming consent Form

If your child brings one of these forms home today please return it to school tomorrow as classes will be going across to the town library this week.

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF)

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund helps eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.

If you have a valid means-tested concession card, such as a Veterans Affairs Gold Card, Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible. There is also a special consideration category for asylum seeker and refugee families.

Payment amounts this year are $125 for eligible primary school students Payments are made direct to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions and sporting activities for the benefit of your child.

If you applied for CSEF through our school last year, you do not need to complete an application form this year, unless there has been a change in your family circumstances.

If you would like to apply for the first time, please call into the school office and ask for an application form.

You can also download the form, and find out more about the program and eligibility, on the Department of Education and Training’s Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund web page https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/csef.aspx

Check with the school office if you are unsure, and please return completed forms to the school office as soon as possible.

School Swimming

Last week’s postponed Swimming Carnival is taking place this Thursday at the Yackandandah Swimming Pool, 9.30am – 11.30am. We still need 3 more helpers, so if you are able to assist please email Brendan at brendan.hogan@education.vic.gov.au. For those students who qualify for the Hume Division event, this will take place the following Friday, February 19, at Waves, Wodonga. Students will know if they qualified or not by the end of this week.  The qualifying times children will need to meet are as follows:

Students will not have access to the canteen and should bring their bathers, a top to wear when not racing, their school hat, food and plenty of water. Students are encouraged to dress in their House colours. Permission forms need to be returned tomorrow if you haven’t already done so.

Brendan Hogan

Hot lunch commences this week with a sausage roll or spinach & fetta roll from Beechworth Bakery.

Helpers for this week Vanessa Page and Bron Westbrook.  The roster for the term is below.



An order form for the whole term was emailed out to families last week. If you haven’t yet ordered for the term orders will be accepted tomorrow.

We are still looking for someone who would like to help out as a Hot Lunch Co-ordinator, if you can assist please let Sandra or myself know.

There is a Facebook Group for Parents called 'Yackandandah Hot Lunches' where I provide updates on the meals and callouts for volunteers when there are unforeseen changes.  Please feel free to join this page so you are kept up to date.

Many Thanks,

Clare Kellaway

2021 Bookings

Just a reminder to families that bookings can be created and deleted for our care sessions via the iParent Portal. We also ask that if you require care and haven’t done so already to create a portal account and enrol your children into our service. If you have any questions regarding this please email Siobhan.Moore2@education.vic.gov.au. The link for the portal is below.

https://app.kidsoft.com.au/p/YackandandahPrimaryOSHC/find-a-place

There is a step-by-step guide link below for creating a portal account and enrolling a child.

https://www.yackaps.vic.edu.au/source/iParent%20Portal%20Guide.pdf

Toy Callout

As part of our sustainability practices this year we are looking at giving unwanted and used toys a new loving home at OSHC. We would love to give your unused toys, sports equipment, books and art supplies and new lease on life! If you have anything you believe is suitable please feel free to leave them in our OSHC space for our children to use!

Sign in

Please note you MUST sign you child in and out using the iPad provided. As part of our policies this must be done by a parent or guardian as you drop off or pick up their child. Our staff are there to assist you with this process if needed, they are well equipped to manage any troubles which can occur when using this technology.

We recognise that hygiene is imperative during these times therefore we have provided hand sanitiser for you to use prior to using our iPad.

Breakfast

For those students who are attending Before School Care and arriving before 8, we do offer a small breakfast if requested. Please ensure you pre arrange this with Siobhan via email if this will be a regular occurrence to ensure we able to best cater and care for your children. Reminder this is only for students arriving before 8am.

Facebook

We recognise the importance of keeping you up to date with what is occurring in our service. Please like our Facebook page ‘Yackandandah Primary School OSHC’ for updates and messages as well as this space in the schools weekly newsletter.