College News

Scholarships to support students

Scholarships are available for students who complete Grade 4 to Year 11 in 2024, and for students enrolled in Year 12 in 2024 who plan to do tertiary studies in 2025.

Student scholarships

The Department of Education administers a number of scholarships available to eligible students who are enrolled in Grade 4 to Year 12 in 2024.

Applicants for these scholarships will be evaluated on their:

· participation in school activities

· community involvement

· academic achievement.

Scholarships are either one-off payments or cover the duration of the student’s course or annual study.

Many of these scholarships have specific eligibility criteria, so please refer to individual applications for more information. 

Applications are now open, and close on Saturday 1 February 2025. 

For information on how to apply, refer to Student scholarships | vic.gov.au .

State Schools Relief Year 7 CSEF Uniform Package 2025 and CSEF 2025

 Who is State Schools Relief?

 State Schools Relief is a not-for-profit organisation that works closely with all government schools across Victoria. Each year State Schools Relief provides assistance to eligible families with school uniforms and footwear.

2025 Year 7 Uniform Package for CSEF recipients.

 To be eligible to receive the 2025 Year 7 Uniform Package the student must be a Camps, Sports and Excursion Fund (CSEF) recipient.

What’s in the 2025 Year 7 Uniform package?

The 2025 package contains the following items:

1X Uniform Voucher Value $85

1 x Pair of Shoes (Lace Up or T-Bar)

How to Apply for the Year 7 CSEF Uniform Package 2025?

Information and Application Forms for the Year 7 CSEF Uniform Package are attached on Compass under School Documentation (Two-person icon), CSEF.

Application Forms are also available at the General Office.

Applications for the Year 7 Uniform Package for CSEF Recipients are Now Open and will close at the end of Term 1, 2025 (Friday 04 April 2025). Please note late applications cannot be accepted.

Please complete the State Schools Relief Year 7 Uniform Package 2025 Application Form.

Completed Applications Forms should be emailed to brentwood.sc@education.vic.gov.au

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) 2025

At this stage we have been advised that the CSEF application form and policy for 2025 is under review and the revised form and policy will be available by the end of January 2025.

If you have any questions, please contact Accounts (03) 8545 0300.

Excursion Payment and Consent

It is a legal requirement that consent is given for students to attend and or participate in events such as excursions and sport. Payment and consent on the day or the day prior to an event is not sustainable for the college. Teachers and coaches need to know who is attending events with sufficient notice for buses, providers and fielding sporting teams.

Consent and payment for events is due two school days before the event at midnight – for example if an event is on a Friday, consent and payment will be due by midnight on Wednesday. If the event is on a Monday the consent and payment will be due by midnight on the Thursday prior.

Parents and students will no longer be able to consent and pay for events on the day before an event or on the day of an event. If consent and payment are not received by midnight two school days before an event the student will not be able to attend.

Payment and consent can be completed on Compass, if you do not have a Compass log in, please contact the office on 8545-0300.

The college appreciates your cooperation.

Reminder on Brentwood's attendance policy:

• Students are on time and ready to learn for the commencement of the first scheduled session, every morning.
• Students are not to leave the school grounds at any time once they have arrived.
• SIGN IN POLICY: Any student who arrives at school after the beginning of the first scheduled session (for any reason) must report to the House Hub and sign in with the School Attendance Officer.
• Habitual lateness to school or class will incur consequences and may result in a student failing to meet attendance requirements for a specific subject.
• Unexplained absences are a breach of the College rules and will incur sanctions.
• SIGN OUT POLICY: Students who need to leave school early must provide a parent/guardian note (hard copy or via Compass) and see the School Attendance Officer.
• Year 12 students leave the school grounds, after the last scheduled session. If a student is not leaving the school after the last scheduled session, they must sign in at the Senior Learning Centre.
• In the case of illness, students MUST report to the General Office (sick bay) before leaving the school grounds.
• Parents contact the school on the day of any absence via Compass, email or phone.

A reminder that if you need to submit your medical certificate, submit it at the Attendance desk in person or by email brentwood.sc@education.vic.gov.au. 

Kind Regards,

Flora Xu

Attendance Officer

EVERY DAY COUNTS 

SECONDARY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE  

Going to school every day is the single most important part of your teenager’s education.  

Students learn new things at school every day – missing school puts them behind.  

SCHOOL IS BETTER WHEN YOUR TEENAGER IS THERE  

Why it’s important  

We all want our students to get a great education, and the building blocks for a great education begin with students coming to school each and every day 

Students develop good habits by going to school every day – habits that are necessary to succeed after school, whether in the workplace or in further study.  

Missing school can have a big impact on students academically and socially. It can affect their test results, including VCE & VCAL, and, just as importantly, it can affect their relationships with other students, and lead to social isolation.  

There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind, and can affect their educational outcomes.  

Each missed day is associated with falling behind in subject topics and assessment tasks, and lead to fewer subject choices and may impact on achievement in years 11 and 12 and post-school pathways.   

Getting in early  

 It’s never too late to improve attendance. Even in the middle years, when school can seem the most challenging for students and when attendance rates can be at their lowest, going to school more often can make a big difference. Every day counts.   

Schools are there to help – if you’re having attendance issues with your child, speak to your child’s House Leader about ways to address those issues.  

IN VICTORIA SCHOOL IS COMPULSORY FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 6 – 17 YEARS  

Student Absences   

The main reasons for absence are:  

Sickness – There are always times when students need to miss school, such as when they’re ill. It’s vital that they’re only away on the days they are genuinely sick, and setting good sleep patterns, eating well and exercising regularly can make a big difference.  

Family holidays - It's vital that holidays are planned during school holidays where possible, and not during the term. If you are planning to go on holiday during term time, make sure that you talk to your school in advance, and work with them to develop an absence learning plan.  

“Day off” – Think twice before letting your teenager have a “day off” as they could fall behind their classmates – every day counts.  

Truancy – This is when students choose not to go to school without their parent’s permission or skip out of school during the day. There can be many reasons for truancy; the best way to address this is for schools and parents to work together.  

While all absences can effect academic performance, DET’s statistics show that unexcused absences are a much stronger indicator of lower reading and maths achievement.  

School refusal - School refusing children experience significant emotional distress not only when going to school but also at the thought of going to school; they may be absent from school for weeks or even months at a time. School refusal differs from truancy as children generally stay home with the knowledge of the parents and despite their best efforts to encourage their child to go to school. See: My child or teenager has anxiety  

BEING AWAY FROM SCHOOL FOR 1 DAY A FORTNIGHT EQUALS MISSING 1.5 YEARS OVER 13 YEARS OF SCHOOL  

If your teenager is away  

If for any reason your teenager must miss school, there are things you can do with the school to ensure they don’t fall behind:  

1. Inform the school via phone or Compass  
2. Find out what work your teenager needs to do to keep up.  
3. Develop an absence learning plan with your teenager’s House Leader and ensure they complete the plan.  

Remember, every day counts. Openly communicating with your teenager’s school about all absences is a good way to prevent attendance issues being escalated to a School Attendance Officer. A School Attendance Officer is a Department of Education and Training Regional Director who has authority to follow up attendance issues. Chronic or ongoing attendance issues that are escalated can lead to an Infringement Notice being issued to parent/s.  

If you’re having attendance issues with your teenager, please let the House Leader know so you can work together to get your teen to school every day.  

TOP ATTENDANCE TIPS FOR PARENTS 

• Schools want to work in partnership with parents – act early if you have any concerns by contacting your child’s school and asking for advice and support. 
• Remember that every day counts. 
• There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind and can affect their educational outcomes and their social connectedness.  
• Talk positively about school and the importance of attending every day.  
• Open and prompt communication with your child’s school about all absences is a good idea.   
• Avoid making routine medical and dental appointments during the school day or planning family holidays during the term.  
• Seek help from your school if you are concerned about your child’s attendance and wellbeing. Schools want to work in partnership with parents to support student attendance and wellbeing.  

FURTHER INFORMATION   

For more information and resources to help address attendance issues, visit:  

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/studentmanagement/attendance/Pages/improve-attendance.aspx  

School Savings Bonus 

Victorian Government School Savings Bonus, further information to follow via Compass.

SUPPORT YOUR CHILD’S EDUCATION WITH 12 MONTHS FREE INTERNET AT HOME  

The Australian Government has established the School Student Broadband Initiative to provide free home internet for one year for up to 30,000 eligible families with school-aged students.  

The initiative aims to boost education opportunities. NBN Co is leading the rollout of this initiative across the country.  

How the School Student Broadband Initiative can help your child  

Children who can access online learning at home as part of their education are more likely to engage in classroom activities.  

Access to fast internet at home can also support children to build their digital skills, learn how to safely use the internet and take part in a world that is more reliant on digital technology.  

Eligibility  

To be eligible, families must:  

• have a child living at home enrolled in an Australian school in 2023 
• not have an active National Broadband Network internet service at their home* (having a mobile internet service does not affect eligibility)  
• live in a premises that can access the National Broadband Network through a standard connection.  NBN Co will check this for you after you apply 
• register interest with your school and complete a consent form to be assessed for eligibility. 

*If an address has been disconnected within 14 days prior to an eligibility check – the address will be classified as ineligible. There may be cases where exceptions can be made, please contact the School Student Broadband Initiative team at SSBI@education.vic.gov.au to discuss further. 

How the School Student Broadband Initiative works 

If you are eligible, your home internet service will be provided at no cost for one year with a participating internet provider over the National Broadband Network. Each internet provider has its own step-by-step process to get you connected, which may involve you providing identification.  

Once you sign up, the internet provider will help you set up your connection. The initiative does not include devices such as a computer or tablet. Other members of your household can use the internet service provided through this initiative.  

The one-year period will start from the day your service is activated with your chosen provider. At the end of the one-year period, you will not be placed onto a paid service by your internet provider without your consent. The Australian Government is considering options beyond the one-year free period.  

How to apply 

• Ask your school for a copy of the School Student Broadband Initiative consent form. 
• Complete the consent form and return to the school. 
• NBN Co will use student address details on the consent form to confirm eligibility. 
• If you are eligible, NBN Co will issue a voucher for your family to use to sign up with a participating internet provider.  This will be provided to you by your school. 

Please note: NBN Co will review the home address for eligibility. No personal information other than your main home address will be shared with NBN Co. Please see the consent form for details about how personal information will be used. 

Find out more  

For more information about the School Student Broadband Initiative, visit https://www.infrastructure.gov.au 

Discounted School Uniforms

Brentwood has minimal stock of the following items to be cleared out at heavily reduced prices.  Please note these items are ONLY available at the reduced price through the school, NOT at PSW.  If you are interested in purchasing some items please contact Kellie Rosenfeld Kellie.Rosenfeld@education.vic.gov.au

OLD STOCK CLEARANCE

Keeping our school community well 

Parents, carers and students are encouraged to:

• wash and sanitise their hands regularly
• avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing
• stay at home if unwell and consult a general practitioner (GP) or NURSE-ON-CALL as needed
• stay up to date with flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Our school has masks for staff, students and visitors if they want to wear them. 

Public Transport - Prepaid Buses

To support safer bus journeys and the rollout of all door boarding , cash transactions were permanently removed from myki-enabled buses from 13 July 2020. Parents and students can ensure they continue to travel with a valid ticket by using the following:

• Online at ptv.vic.gov.au/myki
• New PTV app
• Auto top up
• Myki Retailers
• Quick top up machines
• Myki machines
• Ticket offices including train stations and PTV Hubs

Prepaid boarding will help reduce travel time for passengers as well as increase the reliability of services and Public Transport Victoria is continuing to make improvements to help passengers' transition to this new model. More information is available at ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki/buy-a-myki-and-top-up/ 

Annual Privacy Reminder

Our school collects, uses, discloses and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy.

Please take time to remind yourself of the school’s collection statement, found on our website.

For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents. This information is also available in nine community languages:

• Amharic
• Arabic
• Dari
• Mandarin
• Somali
• Sudanese
• Turkish
• Urdu
• Vietnamese

Student accident insurance, ambulance cover arrangements and private property brought to school

The Department of Education does not provide personal accident insurance or ambulance cover for students. Parents/carers of students, who do not have student accident insurance/ambulance cover, are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including the cost of ambulance attendance or transport as well as any other transport costs.

Parents/carers can purchase insurance policies from commercial insurers.

Private property brought to school by students, staff or visitors is not insured and the Department does not accept any responsibility for any loss or damage.

This can include mobile phones, calculators, toys, sporting equipment and cars parked on school premises. As the Department does not hold insurance for personal property brought to schools and has no capacity to pay for any loss or damage to such property, students and staff should be discouraged from bringing any unnecessary or particularly valuable items to school.