Dear parents and carers,

I hope you have been able to keep warm over these past few weeks, as the winter weather has really set in. I am looking forward to watching the plants bloom as the weather warms.

Swimming P-2: Our week-long swimming program starts in a few weeks, with Preps going swimming every day from 17th until the 21st August. The 1/2s will go the following week from Monday 24th to Friday 28th August. You should have received a note this week, which are due back as soon as possible. We do need to cap numbers in line with the availability of the swimming teachers at Blue Fit. If you would like your child to participate please return the form as soon as possible to secure a place. Parents are welcome to meet us at the pool and help change their own child if necessary. Times each class will attend will be published via Class Dojo the Thursday before swimming starts.

Prep 2027 Enrolments: If you, or somebody you know, has a child turning 5 before 30th April 2027 they are eligible to attend school in 2027. All children have a guaranteed place in their local school, and some schools, like ours, can accept enrolments outside their designated area. If you feel they are ready to start school next year and would like to find out more about what we have to offer, please call the office to join one of our small group tours. To help with organising staff and preparing for an effective transition program, enrolments should be received as soon as possible. Our Prep Transition Program begins early Term 4 and we would like to be able to offer this experience to all new preps and would love to see your child be part of this experience.

Special Requests for 2027 Class: Early in term 4 we begin to form new classes for the following year. This involves the children indicating 3-4 people they feel they work well with. We endeavour to ensure they are with at least one of those people. We can also put in parameters to separate children, if required, due to ongoing issues. If you have any requests, even if you have shared them before, to have your child away from another student for whatever reasons, please put it in writing by Friday 23rd October. You can do this by writing a note and giving it to the office or send an email to melton.west.ps@education.vic.gov.au Any requests received after this date CANNOT be considered, due to the flow-on effect that making changes after classes have been created. Please note, requests for specific teachers will not be considered, however if you have any concerns about this, please make an appointment to chat to me about this so that we can ensure your child is placed with the most appropriate teacher.

Supervision at Park: As you may be aware, there is a park on the corner of Coburns Road and West Melton Drive, where a number of students wait for their parents/carers afterschool. Please be aware that the school is not able to provide teacher supervision in this area. I therefore suggest that you consider an alternative location at which your child waits to be picked up. Can I also remind you that we do have an After School care facility run by Village OSHC, which is safe and well supervised and children can attend at a minimal cost? Please contact the school if you would like further information about Village OSHC. Enrolment Packs are available at the office.

We have staff on yard duty, within the school grounds, before school from 8.30 am when gates are opened and afterschool until 3.20 pm. Please ensure your child is collected promptly at 3.05 pm when they are released from their classroom, as it can be very stressful for a child to be the only one left in the playground when all other children have gone home.

I would like to remind parents that it is your responsibility to:

ensure that your child arrives to school safely and are in the care of school staff at the beginning of the school day, and
ensure that your child is collected from the school premises at the end of the school day, or that alternative arrangements have been made for your children

High Levels of Learning for All

Michelle Costa

Principal