Karoo Newsletter

Office news 

Camps, Sports and Excursion Fund (CSEF)

The CSEF is provided by the Victorian Government to eligible families to assist with expenses relating to camps, sport and/or excursions ($150 is payable per student).

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR 2024

 

If you received the CSEF in 2023, you DO NOT need to complete an application form for 2024, unless there has been a change in your family circumstances such as a change of custody, change of name, concession card number, or new siblings commencing.

The school will automatically apply on your behalf.

 

If you are applying for the CSEF for the very first time, please come into the school office and collect an application form (and provide a copy of your Concession Card) for the school to submit on your behalf.

 

 

ELIGIBILITY

  • To be eligible for the fund, a parent/legal guardian of a student must be a holder of a valid means-tested concession card, such as a Veteran Affairs Gold Card, Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, or be a temporary foster parent.  There is also a special consideration category for asylum seeker and refugee families.
  • You must provide a copy of your valid card with your completed application form (first time applications only).
  • Cards must be valid on either 19th January 2024 or second eligibility date of 15th April 2024.
  • Applications will be accepted up until 28th June 2024, with payments commencing from March onwards.

For more information please visit:https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/csef.aspx 

or see Anna in the school office.

 

Student Medications

Asthma forms have now been sent home to parents of students listed as having asthma. Please sign and return the form to our office as soon as possible (doctor's signature is only required if they have a plan different to the Department's 4 x 4 method, being 4 puffs with 4 breaths between each).  Please note on the form if your child's medication is to be stored in the sick bay or (for older students) if they are keeping it in their bag for self-administration.

 

If your child no longer suffers from asthma and you wish us to remove this reference from their records, please notify the school in writing and we will make the necessary alterations.

 

Compass reminders

Events currently requiring parents' attention on Compass include:

  • 2024 Media & Digital Technology Acceptable Use Agreement with Parent Declaration (also includes parent permission to use child's image at school) - complete online by 29th February (whole school)
  • State School Spectacular (Dance) - payment and consent by 1st March (select students)
  • Year 4 Coach Approach - payment and consent by 8th March
  • Karoo House Athletics Carnival (Years 3-6) - payment and consent by 15th March
  • State School Spectacular (Choir) - payment and consent by 18th March (select students)

'How to' Compass Guide - this edition looks at Adding a Note or Approval

Adding a Note or Approval

Parents can approve your children's unapproved absences or late arrivals. You will receive an alert on your Compass home page at 10am letting you know that your child/children was marked late or absent and there is no note/approval on the system for it.    

Clicking on this notification will allow you to add a Note or Approval for one or more absences. To add a note or approval, they can select one or more of the absences listed, add in further details and then select the "Explain with Note/Approval" button. Parents have a modified list of the options that the school has when adding a Note/Approval.     

Please note that parents also cannot edit their notes or approvals once they've been saved, and will need to contact the school if changes need to be made.

 

Partial Absence

If you will be dropping your child in after 10am, or collecting them through the day for an appointment, etc, please do not enter this on Compass.  You must come in to the office to sign them in, or out if leaving early, and collect a pass to give to the teacher. Doing this through our Compass Kiosk time-stamps it and automatically updates the roll with the approved absence. 

 

Adding a Note/Approval for a future absence

Parents can also enter notes and approvals in advance, if you know your child is going to be absent from school (eg holidays). To do this from your Home page, they can click on the 'Add Attendance Note/Approval' link listed underneath the name of the relevant student.      

This will take them to the Attendance screen, with a pop-up window to enter details of the note or approval. Parents can then select the applicable date range - in the future if required.