Rahni says Happy Easter and to have a happy and safe holiday. She said she'll see you all on Wednesday the 26th April.

The Resilience Project

Empathy

Working on empathy helps us to identify, understand and feel what another person is feeling. When we show empathy or we do something kind for someone else our brain releases oxytocin. This leads to increasing our self-esteem/confidence, energy levels, positivity and overall happiness.

Whole Family Activity:

Neighbourhood Kindness Challenge

As a family, choose an act of kindness from the list below that you would like to do for a neighbour or family friend. Each family member can select one to commit to, or you can choose to do one together.

• Cook them something delicious like a cake, hotbread, or cookies.

• Write a note to put in their letter box thanking them for being a great neighbour or friend.

• Design them a Thank You card.

• Pick or buy some flowers to deliver to them.

• Choose a little plant from your garden to give them.

• Make them a gift from things around your house.

• Offer to do a job for them, like wash their car or water their garden.

• Offer to take their pets for a walk.

• Invite them over for afternoon tea.

• Invite them on a walk.

• Recommend one of your favourite books to borrow and read.

• Ask them if they need anything from the shops next time you buy groceries.

• Say hello next time you see them, and ask them how their day is going.

• Feel free to do more than one and spread the kindness even further!

• Report back to each other in one week and share how your acts of kindness were received, and how doing them made you feel.

Family Habit Builder:

Every night at dinner, have each person thank another family member for something

they’ve done or said today, or give another family member a compliment.

FREE PARENTING SEMINAR

Raising Resilient Children

Tuesday 9th May, 6:00 – 7:30pm, Merbein P-10 College

Learning how to cope with and bounce back from set backs and disappointment is how we develop our resilience – the ability to stay calm and deal with whatever challenges cross our path. It may be a severe weather event, a pandemic, or other event outside out control, but how we respond to that event impacts our health and wellbeing. That’s why we’re proud to be hosting a Triple P Seminar to help all parents give children useful skills and strategies to manage their emotions, overcome challenges, and handle stressful situations. The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program can help you guide your child towards a happy and successful adulthood.

Triple P’s Raising Resilient Children Seminar for parents with children aged up to 12 years, offers tips on how to develop your child’s ability to cope with problems, now and in the future.

HELP YOUR KIDS COPE WITH LIFE’S UPS AND DOWNS – INCLUDING ONLINE

Problem-solve with your child, to help them stay safe and manage risks
Support your child’s ability to manage emotional ups and downs
Help your child cope with stress and setbacks and stay positive

The seminar is fun and friendly and it’s FREE! It’ll help kids AND parents take the drama out of family life so everyone can deal with issues calmly and more confidently.

REGISTER NOW FOR THE FREE SEMINAR: https://www.triplep-parenting.net.au/vic-en/contact/find-a-session/2023-05-09/seminar/raising-resilient-children/112140/ to learn more and book your free spot.

Triple P is a world-renowned program (developed in Australia) that has already helped more than 4 million children and their families. Triple P also offers a range of online programs (web-based courses you do in your own time, at your own pace) and these are freely available to all families across Victoria with children aged under 16 years.

Supervision of Students in the Yard

Yard duty teachers from the Primary and Secondary areas are on yard duty from 8.20 am before school and until the final bus departs in the bus area at 4 pm after school. During recess and lunch, teachers from both Primary and Secondary sections are on duty to ensure students are in the appropriate areas and are participating safely in activities. Please ensure students do not arrive at school before 8:15am unless they are travelling on one of the early school buses, as they are not supervised in the yard. Any students who arrive prior to supervision starting will be directed to sit in the cafeteria.

Photographing, Filming and Recording Students - Annual Consent Form and Collection Notice

During the school year there are many occasions and events where staff may photograph, film or record students participating in school activities and events. We do this for many reasons including to celebrate student participation and achievement, showcase particular learning programs, document a student’s learning journey/camps/excursions/sports events etc, communicate with our parents and school community in newsletters and on classroom blogs.

Merbein P-10 College understands that parents and carers have the right to withhold permission for our school to use photographs, video or recordings of your child (apart from circumstances where the school is not required to seek consent – see our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Policy available on the school website - http://www.merbeinp10.vic.edu.au/index.php).

Please read the attached Annual Consent Form and Collection Notice for further information. It is an Opt-Out form so if you have read this notice and are comfortable with the school using photos, video or recordings of your child as described above, you do not need to take any further action.

Attendance

EVERY DAY COUNTS

Going to school every day is the single most important part of your child’s education. Students learn new things at school every day – missing school puts them behind.

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.

If students miss school regularly, they miss out on learning the fundamental skills that will set them up for success in the later years of school.

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 progressively lower achievement in academic and social development.

What we can do

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.

It's encouraged that family holidays are planned during school breaks where possible, and not during the term if it can be avoided.

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

Remember, every day counts. If your child must miss school, speak with your classroom teacher and let the school know as early as possible.

If your child is going to be absent, it is important this is communicated to the school via Compass or calling on 50252501.

School Uniforms

The Purpose of the College Uniform is:

To foster collective and individual pride in the College
To create a sense of identification with the College
To enhance individual student safety and group security
To engender self-discipline
To create a sense of equality amongst the students
To promote a positive image of our school in the community.

It has been great that most of our students come to school wearing the correct uniform every day with pride. It is an expectation that students are in full uniform and when this is not possible, a parent needs to provide a letter/message with an explanation of why, and when their child will be back in full uniform.

A reminder that only plain white or plain black shirts/jumpers are able to be worn under the school polo top or shirt, NOT HOODIES. Parents may be contacted by the school when there is an ongoing issue to try to rectify the concern. It would be great if families could ensure students are able to come to school in the correct uniform. Your support with this is much appreciated.

The official school uniform includes:

Wearing plain black bottoms with:
- No meshing or transparent parts
- Minimal branding (eg. a small, discreet logo)
Wearing official College upper-wear including:
- Official Primary or Secondary jackets
- Polar fleece jumpers
- Knit jumpers (secondary)
- Year 10 Rugby Tops

Updating Details

Have you changed your address or phone number in the past three months or has your family situation changed? If so it is important that you pass on your new details to the school. Please contact the school office between 8am and 4.30pm school days or email merbein.p10@education.vic.gov.au

Canteen Prices

Secondary

Primary

Uniform Shop

School uniforms can be purchased from the school’s main office between the hours of 8am and 4.30pm during the school week. If these hours are inconvenient for you, please ring the school to make an alternate arrangement.

School Bank Account

BSB - 633 000

Bank Acc Number – 176208320

Account Name - Merbein P-10 College Official Account

Breakfast Club

The Merbein & District Community Bank is financially supporting the Breakfast Program. Foodbank Victoria also supports the breakfast program with donations of food. The following organisations provide volunteers to assist with the program when COVID-19 restrictions allow; the Board & Staff of the Merbein & District Community Bank, Merbein Development Association, Merbein Lions Club, and Merbein Uniting Church. Merbein P-10 College parents are also welcome and encouraged to volunteer. The Breakfast Program is held in the school cafeteria. All students are welcome to come along between 8.15am and 8.45am each morning if they would like a FREE tasty breakfast to kick-start their day's learning.

Student Absences

If your child is away from school, please notify the school before 10am. The preferred method to notify of absences is via the compass portal or by phone or sending an email to the following email address: heather.collihole@education.vic.gov.au

An automated text message will be sent to your phone if your child is not at school and the school has not been notified.

Saver Plus

Dates to Remember

TERM 1

April

TERM 2

April

May/June

2023