Bunji is back this week

We’re excited to let you know that Bunji, our much-loved school dog, has returned from his holidays this week!

He’s missed being part of our school community and can’t wait to see all your friendly faces again.

As we welcome him back, it’s a great time to remind everyone how we can help Bunji feel safe and comfortable at school. While he loves being around us, he can sometimes feel overwhelmed—especially if someone runs up to him too quickly or reaches out suddenly. In those moments, Bunji might move away or bark—not because he’s being unfriendly, but because he’s saying, “That was a bit too much for me.” or” How can I join in on all the fun”

Here are a few simple ways we can help Bunji settle in and feel calm:

🐾 Always greet his person (the adult with him) first, not Bunji – This helps him feel secure.

🐾Give him space when walking past – He feels more relaxed when he has room.

🐾Avoid standing and staring at him – It can feel a little intimidating.

🐾Approach calmly and slowly – Gentle movements help him feel safe and happy.

Thank you for being thoughtful and respectful around Bunji. With your help, his return to school will be a positive and enjoyable experience for everyone.

We’re looking forward to having him back on campus!

UNIFORM UPDATE

Thank you to all families for your continued patience and understanding in the delays we have experienced with suppling school uniforms.

With the Governments School Saver Bonus, our suppliers have had an influx of order which resulted in items being placed on back order.

Over the last couple of months we have fulfilled most orders, however some items remain on back order, and these will be sent home as soon as they arrive.

Currently we have a limited amount of stock on hand available to purchase. Should you wish to place an order, please complete the Order Form and return to reception.

For any questions or if you would like to check the balance of your School Saver Bonus, please email us at melton.ss@education.vic.gov.au

Students with Disabilities Transport Program (SDTP).

We would like to provide a refresher of the expectations of utilising the Students with Disabilities Transport Program (SDTP).

Attached is an application which outlines the conditions of travel, which are agreed upon prior to any student commencing travel.

Some key points to highlight include the following:

The SDTP is a service we offer to families that reside within our designated transport area (DTA)
To be eligible for travel you must reside more than 4.8km from the school
The SDTP is a shared responsibility and is subject to availability
Any change of address for existing travellers should be reported to administration ASAP. A seat on a new bus cannot be guaranteed

Students must agree to the following:

Obey instructions from the driver, supervisor, school staff or principal
Be punctual at the pick-up or drop-off point (morning and afternoon)
Wait at the stop in an orderly fashion and do not approach the vehicle until it has stopped
Enter and leave the vehicle in an orderly manner
Treat others with courtesy and consideration
Not consume food or drink on/in a SDTP transport service
Follow and abide by the school's code of conduct while travelling on a bus

Responsibilities of parents/guardians

Parents/guardians are responsible for transporting their children to and from authorised stops and their safety at the stop while waiting for a service
Parents/guardians waiting for students at stops should wait on the same side of the road as the transport service to prevent students from crossing the road unassisted
Transport assistance is a privilege and not a right and consequences will follow a breach of these conditions
It is understood that transport assistance is provided and accepted on these conditions
Parent behaviour should mirror students' conditions of travel

All those involved in providing school transport should understand the specialised educational needs of the student being transported. The following points will help parents/guardians/carers to understand their roles and responsibilities to ensure that the daily journey to and from school is as smooth and efficient as possible.

When each student commences travel on a bus, the terms of agreement include (but are not limited to) the following:

I/we will have my/our child ready in the morning at the agreed pick-up time and location.
I/we will ensure that an approved/ authorised adult/carer collects my/our child in the afternoon at the agreed drop-off location and time.
I will notify the principal in writing within 7 days of any change of address or school. I understand I must reapply for transport and that it may take up to 15 business days for access to transport to be approved.
I agree to pay the costs of repairs or damage to the bus, or its replacement if totally destroyed, caused by the vandalism or deliberate act of my child (ren).
I acknowledge that my residential address may be disclosed to other families as a central transport pick-up point to facilitate the safe and effective transport of all students accessing the service.

Further queries or requests for transport assistance should be forwarded to Tori in the administration office.

Before & After School Supervision Reminder

Student safety at Melton Specialist School is our highest priority and the safe and appropriate supervision of students is an important element of our duty of care to students. Part of this duty is ensuring parents and students are aware of our student supervision arrangements before and after school.

Before school: School grounds are supervised from 8:30am.

After school: School grounds are supervised until 3:30pm.

Students on school grounds outside these times will not be supervised (unless they are attending the after-school care program).

Parents/carers are requested to ensure that students do not attend school outside of these supervised times unless they are attending after school care.

Families are encouraged to contact Lifely on 1300 799 421 or Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) - Lifely for more information about the after-school care facilities available to our school community or if you would like any further information about our student supervision arrangements.

For a copy of our school’s Yard Duty and Supervision Policy please contact the school office. This policy includes Melton Specialist School’s student supervision arrangements across the school day, including before and after school.

Carer & Support Worker Pick up Reminder

We would like to remind our families who utilise carers and support workers to drop off and collect students that we require identification to be provided to the office.

To ensure the safety of the students, we ask families to:

Contact the school via phone or email to advise details of the carer/support worker (name & contact number)
Ensure that the Carer/Support worker has their Licence, Working with Children's Card and if part of an agency an Agency Card.
Full name of student to collect.
Carer/Support worker to visit reception prior to collection to ensure a copy of ID cards have been provided.

If staff are not able to identify, students will not be released, and the office will attempt to contact the parents/guardians for confirmation.

School News, Events & Award Appreciation

School Crossing Safety reminder