School News
First Day for Students 2026
The first day for Grade 1 - 6 students is Wednesday 28th January 2026.
The first day for Foundation students will be Thursday 29th January 2026.
Foundation students do not attend school on Wednesdays until after the Labour Day long weekend. Their first Wednesday attendance will be on the 11th of March.
Reception Hours 2026
The School Office will be open for uniform purchases on Friday, 23rd January from 10am to 12pm. Regular operating hours (8:30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday) will resume on Tuesday, 27th January.
Booklists
Booklists are provided by the school and have been distributed to classrooms ready for students on day one of term.
TheirCare- Outside School Hours Care
As we welcome new families to our school community in 2026, we want to ensure everyone has access to important information about our before and after school care program.
If your family is interested in TheirCare services, we have helpful resources available including our "Starting School & TheirCare" brochure below. Please scan the QR code to visit TheirCare's website for detailed information about program times, enrolment procedures, and how to get started.
Breakfast Club
Breakfast Club runs every day and will commence on Wednesday 28th January from 8.15 am to 8.45 am in the BER building. Once students enter, they must remain until 8.45 am.
The Victorian Government has continued its partnership with Foodbank Victoria. Foodbank supports programs that give students the opportunity to eat a wholesome, nutritious breakfast on a regular basis. Having breakfast has been shown to have a positive impact on factors such as physical and mental health, social skills, concentration, behaviour, attendance and academic outcomes.
Our School Breakfast Club aims to ensure that students who may not have had the opportunity to have breakfast before coming to school can still start the day with a healthy meal.
For more information about the School Breakfast Clubs Program visit:
www.foodbank.org.au/VIC/school-breakfast-clubs-in-action
2026 Bell Times
8:50 am - Classrooms open (Music plays)
9:00 am - Learning starts
11:00 am - 11:30 am Recess
1:30 pm - 2:25 pm Lunch
3.25 pm - Finish
Parents and carers should note that staff supervision is not available before 8:45am, except for bus travellers, breakfast club participants, and students enrolled in Out of School Hours Care. Students are also expected to depart promptly at the end of the school day. Parents are responsible for arranging appropriate supervision outside these times.
Student Pick Up and Drop Off
All students will be expected to be at school by 8:50 am when the music sounds before the bell.
The last class will finish at 3:25 pm. Please play your part in maintaining a safe environment by complying with parking regulations, speed limits and other traffic controls.
Chromebooks
Students in Years 3 to 6 are required to have their Chromebook available for learning each school day.
Trafalgar Primary School strongly encourages students to store their Chromebooks in the locked classroom Chromebook charging cabinets during the school term. This approach helps ensure devices are fully charged, safely stored, and ready for learning each day, while also reducing the risk of damage or loss when devices are transported between home and school.
Families who choose this option are asked to provide a Chromebook charger, which will be permanently connected inside the cabinet. This charger will remain at school to support daily charging and cannot be taken home unless a change in arrangements is requested. Continue reading the full charging policy here...
Online Services
Our school uses Department of Education online services, including Google Apps for Education, to support teaching and learning. This requires Google to access basic student details such as name, username, year level and school.
You may request that our school not provide this information to Google and opt-out your child from using Google Apps. As a result, your child will not have access to the online services and alternate arrangements for allocating work will be made.
All online use at school is supervised, and students are expected to behave respectfully and safely in line with our Student Acceptable Use Agreement. Staff use Google Apps for teaching and learning only and do not upload personal or sensitive student information.
For more information on supporting safe online use at home, visit the eSafety Commissioner: esafety.gov.au
Damaged your Chromebook over the holidays?
Device repairs can be arranged before school resumes. Visit the Edunet website, complete the required details, and Edunet will organise the collection and return of your device. For further information, call Edunet on 1300 338 638.
Have your device ready and operational for the first day of school.
Have your contact details changed?
Please ensure your contact details (phone, address, and email) are current so you can receive important information and be reached when necessary. We are working to minimise printing and paper usage by providing families with more information electronically.
If your family circumstances change, please contact the School Office promptly so we can update your details accordingly. Thank you!
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.
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.
Medications
If your child requires medication during school hours, a completed and signed Medication Request Form must be submitted to our First Aid officer along with the medication. All medication must be in its original packaging, clearly labelled with the child's name and required dosage.
Please also note that Trafalgar Primary School requires current Allergy, Asthma, and Anaphylaxis Plans. These plans must be updated annually.
Personal Injuries at School
Families are reminded that The Department does not have insurance for accidental injuries. A claim for compensation will only be successful if shown that the injury sustained is the result of The Department failing to discharge the duty of care that was owed to your child. The duty is one to take reasonable steps to avoid reasonably foreseeable injury.
Families should make their own arrangements for accidental injury insurance if this is a concern.
Allergies - Anaphylaxis
Students who are enrolled at our school may have allergies to bees or peanut products. These allergies can cause anaphylaxis. While the school has an emergency management plan developed, it is important to have preventative procedures in place to minimise any likelihood of an incident. As you know, all students need to have a safe environment at school, and therefore I would like to ask the assistance of all parents to establish a safe environment, particularly for their student. Parents, please notify Reception if your child suffers from anaphylaxis. This will make a major difference in our preventative program and care of the student. If any parents have questions or queries concerning this request, please contact the school on 5633 1566.
Communication
School Newsletter
The school newsletter is published each fortnight. The newsletter is in five editions; "Student News", "School News", "Principals Message", "Upcoming Events - Action needed" and "School Calendar". Our newsletter keeps students and parents informed of all events taking place within the school. Alternatively, hard copies can be collected from the office.
Compass Parent Portal
Our online communication service for families is called ‘Compass’. This is the primary means of communication between the school and home. Parents are able to login to Compass via the link https://trafps-vic.compass.education
You can access Compass on any web enabled device: laptop, iPhone, iPad, tablet or android phone.
Each family has a unique login for Compass and can be used straight away.
Compass provides the school community with a range of functions which streamline the school’s communication processes and provides enhanced access to information for parents. Parents should access Compass on a regular basis for news and information.
1. Email address and mobile phone number – are able to be updated through the portal. The details listed will be used to send emails and SMS alerts.
2. News Feed – the school will post news to parents to remind you about events and activities at the school. Your news feed will be customised, showing only the information relevant to you and your children.
3. Attendance – view your child’s attendance online, approve absences, and indicate future absences.
4. Reports – view your child’s report as an electronic PDF file.
5. Newsletters – including Student News, School News, Principal Message, Upcoming Events and the School Calendar is published on Compass.
6. Teachers email link – email your child’s teachers directly.
7. Excursions – approve your child’s participation in excursions and other special events.
8. Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews – appointments are made online for these interviews in Term 2 and Term 4.
9. Consent and Payments – you can consent and pay for excursions, also pay for school fees.
Parent Carer FAQ and Introduction to Compass
On the first day of school, the Principal and some members of the leadership team will be available to meet with new parents, answer questions and introduce services and tools including Compass. If you are a new member of the school community and would like to participate, please head to reception at 9:15 am. After signing in you will be directed to the Adult Learning Centre.
This will also be available to our new Foundation families on Thursday 29th January.
It's NOT Okay To Be Away
Attendance Information for Parents/Carers -
Frequently Asked Questions About Attendance:
What is my responsibility as a parent/caregiver?
Make sure your child attends school on ALL school days and is on time every day
Make sure you:
• Provide the school with an explanation if your child is away
• Contact the school if your child does not want to go to school
• Arrange doctor and dentist appointments out of school hours
• Arrange personal shopping trips with your son/daughter or birthday celebrations out of school hours
• Do not allow your child to stay at home for minor reasons
Attendance - It’s not okay to be away
Daily student attendance is essential for your child to reach their potential. Non- attendance at school makes it difficult for students to complete work requirements and consequently to pass subjects. If your son or daughter is going to be absent for any reason, please telephone Reception on 5633 1566 and tell us:
• the name of the student
• length of the absence
• reason for the absence
Late Arrival/Early Departure
We understand that occasionally students need to arrive late or leave early for medical appointments or other important reasons.
Late arrivals: Students must bring a note, sign in at the office, and present the note before going to class.
Early departures: Students should give their teacher a note, then sign out at the office before leaving.
Further information can be found on the Victorian Governments website:
Attendance and missing school | vic.gov.au
SunSmart Policy
Trafalgar Primary School’s SunSmart policy is in place to:
Ensure all students and staff are protected from over-exposure to UV radiation.
• ensure the outdoor environment provides shade for students and staff.
• ensure students are encouraged and supported to develop independent sun protection skills to help them be responsible for their own sun protection.
• support duty of care requirements; and
• support appropriate OHS strategies to minimise UV risk and associated harms for staff and visitors.
Background
Too much of the sun’s UV can cause sunburn, skin and eye damage and skin cancer. UV damage accumulated during childhood and adolescence is strongly associated with an increased risk of skin cancer in later life.
The sun protection times are a forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology for the time-of-day UV levels are forecast to reach 3 or higher. At these levels, sun protection is recommended for all skin types. In Victoria, UV levels regularly reach 3 or higher from mid-August to the end of April.
1. Seek shade
• The availability of shade is considered when planning all other outdoor activities.
• Students are encouraged to use available areas of shade when outside. Students who do not have appropriate hats or outdoor clothing are asked to play in the shade or a suitable area protected from the sun.
2. Slip on sun protective clothing
• Cool, loose-fitting, sun protective clothing made of densely woven fabric is included in our school uniform / dress code and sports uniform. It includes shirts with collars and elbow-length sleeves, longer dresses and shorts and rash vests or t-shirts for outdoor swimming.
3. Slap on a hat
• All students are required to wear hats that protect their face, neck and ears (broad-brimmed), whenever they are outside. Peak caps and visors are not considered a suitable alternative.
4. Slop on sunscreen
• Students must wear SPF30 (or higher) broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen.
Uniform Policy (Updated for 2026)
Our School Uniform Policy was reviewed late 2025 for implementation this year. School Uniform is a proud and distinctive part of the Trafalgar Primary School identity. It is a practical dress code which has Parents and Friends Association support and has been made compulsory by School Council.
The following list will be of assistance to you when purchasing items for school wear.
Our school colours are red, white and black.
Continue reading the full policy here...
Uniform items supplied by, and for purchase from, the school’s nominated point of sale only:
- School uniform hat
- School polo shirt with logo
- Red hooded jumper with logo
Red zip up jacket with logo
Custom Order Items:
These items are special order only; families will be advised when orders open for these items.
- Red wet weather jacket with logo
- Red and white beanie with logo
- Wet weather jacket with logo
Commemorative senior jumper and/or top with logo (Grade 6 students only)
Uniform items available for purchase from any supplier:
Uniform Item
|
Colour |
Comment |
| Skivvy | Red or White | To be worn underneath School Polo shirt only |
Shorts Skirts Skorts | Black | No visible trim, stripes or logos Length must exceed the length of the school polo |
| Pants | Black | No visible trim, stripes or logos |
Activewear:
| Black | No visible trim, stripes or logos Length must exceed the length of the school polo |
| Dress | Red and White Check | With white collar and cuff Knee length |
| Socks | White or Black | No visible trim, stripes or logos |
| Stockings | White or Black | School tights, plain style with no patterns or embellishments |
| Shoes | All Black | School shoes or runners (either lace up, pull on, buckles, Velcro or T-bar styles) Shoes should be sturdy and fit well Closed toe styles only |
External School Sports Uniform
- School sports shirt - supplied by the School when students are representing the School
- Black shorts – as detailed in Daily Uniform (above)
- Activewear - as detailed in Daily Uniform (above)
Black netball skirt
Please note: the External School Sports Uniform is to be worn when students are representing the School at events held offsite. For programmed sports curriculum at the School, the Daily Uniform is to be worn.
Foundation Students: No School on Wednesdays Until 11 March
Parents and Carers are reminded that for the first six Wednesdays of Term 1, Foundation students are not required to be at school. Although we use this time to make an appointment with each child for 1 hour. This time is used by teachers to assess the children to help gain a better understanding of their knowledge around Literacy and Mathematics. The assessment that we use is called the English Online Interview and the Maths Online Interview. Parents are not required to stay for this hour.
A schedule for interviews has been developed, and families will be contacted shortly.
Foundation students attend their first Wednesday on the 11th of March.
CCTV
Schools have an obligation to ensure the school environment is safe and secure and fulfil a duty of care to students, staff and visitors. The CCTV system exists to assist our school to fulfil these obligations and to prevent and manage other inappropriate behaviour on school grounds.
CCTV provides enhanced capability to protect our school’s assets against vandalism and theft. CCTV strengthens our school’s security by providing an appropriate level of surveillance on school grounds and assists our school to take all reasonable steps to prevent reasonably foreseeable harm on school premises (duty of care). The presence of CCTV cameras deters misconduct and inappropriate behaviour and reassures students, staff and visitors that they are protected when on school grounds. The schools CCTV policy describes how our CCTV system does this, consistent with Victorian privacy law.
2026 Canteen Information
Parents and Friends Association
Parents and Friends meet once a month and you do not need to be a member to attend. If you would like more information or would like to provide correspondence for our next meeting, please contact our Secretary at tpspandfsecretary@gmail.com
Thank you again for supporting our Parents and Friends events.
2027 Foundation (Prep) Enrolment