Acting Principal's Message

Over the past 8 days we have seen our wonderful students connecting with old friends, creating new friendships, and displaying and adhering to the school’s high values. The staff and I have been pleased by the warm welcome and support given to our new staff and students, to ensure they have a successful start to their new school. 

This year we warmly welcome several new staff and it’s my pleasure to introduce the following staff to our already outstanding staff:

Hayley Forbes (Occupational Therapist), 

Education support staff: 

Nasim Kashef - Teacher Aide

Ms Webb (PE)

Ruby Pinnuck -Teacher Aide

Keeva Murphy -Teacher Aide

Mr  Lewis (0A)

Ms Jukes (2B)

Mr Betherton (4B)

Mr Yardney (5C)

Ms Kociski (6C)

Ms Lamb (French)

During my visits around the school, I have seen the amazing supports and learning experiences that we offer here at TPS. The staff have been working extremely hard to ensure that our very successful ‘Start Up’ program is implemented and that students are successfully integrated into their new learning spaces and the school. 

 At TPS we greatly value the strong partnerships that parents have with our school. Next week, at the ‘Meet and Greets’, or at other events such as, our community coffee mornings, the welcome picnic, organized meetings and open mornings/afternoons, are some of the ways to connect with our staff to begin and maintain an effective home/school partnership.

School Council Elections 

Information regarding the 2024 School Council election process will be sent to families via Compass in the coming week. I would encourage any interested parent to read over the information then contact the school for more information, if needed. 

The objectives of a school council are to:

• assist in the efficient governance of the school
• ensure that its decisions affecting students of the school are made having regard, as a primary consideration, to the best interest of the students
• enhance the educational opportunities of students at the school
• ensure the school and the council complies with any requirements of the Education and Training Reform Act, the Education and Training Reform Regulations, a Ministerial Order or a direction, guideline or policy issued under the Education and Training Reform Act

The School Council election process provides an opportunity to attract members with the skills to assist with school governance. Please look out for this if you think you may be interested in nominating or being nominated. 

Playground supervision

Student safety at Toorak PS 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 8:45 am to 9 am

After school: School grounds are supervised until 3:45pm

Students on school grounds outside these times will not be supervised (unless they are attending a before or after school care program or supervised extracurricular activity). Parents/carers are requested to ensure that students do not attend school outside of these supervised times unless they are attending before or after school care, or a pre-arranged supervised activity (i.e., sports practice). 

Families are encouraged to contact OSHClub 0n 0423 777 185 for more information about the before and after school care facilities available to our school community.

A copy of our school’s Yard Duty and Supervision Policy is available on our school website. This policy includes our school’s student supervision arrangements across the school day, including before and after school.

Mobile Phones and Smart Watches

A reminder that with the introduction of the state-wide policy on Mobile Phones in Victorian Government Schools which was introduced a while ago, all students are required to turn off and hand in mobile phones and smart watches to prevent usage during school hours and so students can focus on their learning. Devices will be placed in a locked cabinet/cupboard at the start of the day and handed back at the end of the day by the staff. A copy of this policy is available on our website (Click here to view). Please discuss this with your child/ren to assist us in following this policy. We thank you for your support in this area. 

Annual privacy reminder for our school community

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

Our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Policy [Please click here to access], describes how we collect and use photographs, video and recordings of students. The policy also explains when parent consent is required and how it can be provided and withdrawn. 

We ask parents to also review the guidance we provide on how we use [Google Workspace for Education] safely at the school and what parents can do to further protect their child’s information. If after reviewing the guidance, you have any questions or concerns regarding your child using  [Microsoft 365/Google Workspace for Education], please contact the school.

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

• Amharic, Arabic, Dari, Gujarati, Mandarin, Somali, Sudanese, Turkish, Urdu and Vietnamese

Accident Insurance, Medical Expenses and Ambulance cover

Please note that the Department (which includes our school) does not have accident insurance. Items of personal property that are lost, stolen or damaged at school is not the responsibility of Toorak Primary School or the Department. Staff and students are reminded not to bring items of value to school.

A reminder that parents/carers are responsible for any medical expenses (including ambulance costs) incurred if their child is injured or requires medical treatment or an ambulance, while at school or participating in a school activity.

I also inform you that parents/carers may not be called if an ambulance is required, until after an ambulance is called, depending on the situation. I encourage parents/carers to have up-to-date ambulance cover and medical insurance

Thank you for your continued support and for working with us, to ensure we achieve the best outcomes for your child/children.

Kind regards,

Sharon Wildermuth

Acting Principal