Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back for our final term for the year. It promises to be a big one, full of celebration, reflection and lots of continual learning opportunities such as Year 6 Graduation, Year 6/7 Transition, Kinder Transition etc. We also have swimming planned for year 3 to 6 in a few weeks’ time. All places for swimming have been taken, with a few students on the wait list. We allocated 180 places for students across Years 3 – 6 and this is about right given there are not too many on the waitlist. Notes will be sent home today advising if your child has a confirmed place in the swimming program.

COVID Rapid Antigen Tests Available: This week we had a new shipment of RATs for detecting Covid, as the ones we had were out of date, so therefore unusable. If you require a box, please let the office know by calling them on 97435818 and they can send a box home with your child, or you can come past the office and pick up a box.

School Uniform: I have included the Student Dress Code Policy in this newsletter. It is compulsory to wear school uniform at Melton West PS. We are finding some of the older students are choosing to wear a hoodie over their unfirm, much like they would wear a jacket to keep Warm. They have been informed that these are to be removed once they enter the classroom and are not suitable to wear outside during break times. Please support you child to have warm clothing and provide a jacket to keep warm as required.

A reminder that school hats are compulsory MUST be worn this term - no hat, no play.

Men’s Shed Donation: Towards the end of term 3, we had a surprise donation of some funds from the Men’s Shed of Melton. They had held a sausage Sizzle and were distributing the proceeds to a number of schools in the area. We thanked them for their donation and issued them with a certificate of appreciation.

Western English Language School (WELS) Opening: Last term the Melton Campus of the Western English Language School (WELS) was officially opened on the site of Melton Primary School. This is a school where students who are new to Australia, with limited or no English, can start their schooling. Students who attend WELS have 4 days intensive learning to develop their oral and written language skills. They spend one day a week at their base school – the school they are zoned at, which is the one they will attend after their intensive learning experience at WELS. The photos show me with the local Member of Parliament the Honourable Mr Steve McGhie and the Education Minister (at the time) the honourable Ms Natalie Hutchins.

School Community Safety Order Scheme: Schools are positive places of learning where everyone has a right to a safe and healthy learning environment. Schools are also workplaces, and school staff deserve to work in an environment where they don’t feel threatened or unsafe. From Term 3, 2022, the School Community Safety Order Scheme (Scheme) will come into effect in all Victorian schools. This Scheme allows principals and other authorised persons to issue ongoing or immediate school community safety orders that place limitations on the way certain parents, carers or other adults who act in a harmful, abusive, or threatening way behave towards staff, students or others in the school community. Click here for more information about the Scheme, including a short video that provides an overview of the Scheme. This Scheme provides a range of safeguards for people who may be subject to an order and their child. For example, before issuing an ongoing school community safety order, an authorised person must consider the person’s response to the notice to issue an order and how an order may impact their child. Orders can only be issued as a last resort option if it is the least restrictive option to address the behaviour. To read more about the protections built into the Scheme for parents, carers and other adults who may be subject to an order (including information on appeal rights), access the Department’s website. Everyone at school, particularly staff and parents/carers, play a role in making school a better place for learning and work. The Respectful Behaviours within the School Community Policy outlines the shared roles of parents, carers and school staff in creating a positive environment for learning. Our mutual objective is to support your child’s education. To do this, we ask that feedback and complaints are both constructive and respectful. Parents are reminded to follow the school’s complaints policy or process or the Department’s Complaints Policy if you wish to raise any constructive and respectful feedback. You can find the Respectful Behaviours within the School Community Policy and other resources to build a positive relationship with our school community here.

Prep Enrolments for 2024: If you have a child in preschool, or is turning 5 before 30th April 2024, we are accepting enrolments for Prep 2024. Please call the office for details and to book an appointment with a member of the Principal Class team. If you have family or friends with children who should start school next year, please encourage them to contact the school for a Prep Enrolment Pack and a tour. The 2024 Prep Transition Program will commence in November. If they are enrolled by then they will be invited to be part of this wonderful experience.

Prep Transition Program: The 2024 Prep Transition Program will commence next month. All families with children enrolled to start Prep in 2024 will receive an invitation in the near future if they have enrolled. The dates are:

Tuesday 21st November 10:00am – 10:50am
Tuesday 28th November 10:00am – 10:50am
Tuesday 5th December 10:00am – 10:50am
Tuesday 12th December 9:30am – 10:45am. (Children will meet their teacher for 2024 on this day)

Whilst these sessions are occurring for the children, parents are encouraged to stay on-site and hear about the wonderful programs our school has to offer, as well as how to help prepare your child for their first year of school. These session will also have guest speakers such as the School Nursing Service, our Out of Home Care service and much more. We look forward to meeting you and your child during these sessions.

2024 Plans: We will be beginning the process of forming new class grouping for 2024 during Term 4. In order to know how many classes, we will need please contact the office to let us know if you know your child will not be returning in 2024 for any reason so we can plan accordingly. If you are unsure of the new school that is okay, we do not need to know that information now. This is also important because your child might be the allocated person for another child in their 2024 class and if they are not attending, their friend may find themselves without a buddy in their class in 2024.

Special Requests for 2024 Class: Part of the work we do in term 4 is to form the new classes for the following year. if you have any concerns or requests about other children your child should or shouldn’t be with please put these in writing before Friday 27th October. Any requests received after this date CANNOT be able to be considered, due to the flow-on effect that any changes to classes already created has across the board. I will need to stick to this timeline quite tightly to ensure the process runs as smoothly and as efficiently as possible. Please note, requests for specific teachers will not be considered. If you have any questions or concerns in regard to this process, please do not hesitate to contact the office to make an appointment to speak with me.

High Levels of Learning for All

Michelle Costa

Principal