News from Around the School
Wacky Hair Day!
A reminder Wednesday 11 March 11 is Wacky Hair Day.
Let's support The World's Greatest Shave.
Students can colour, gel or create a wacky hairstyle.
Please donate a gold coin.
School Photo Day - Tues 17 March
Last week teachers handed students their school photo payment envelope. Each child has their own individual envelope that must be returned with details completed. If order has been placed and paid for online, note your payment reference number on the envelope. If paying by cash, please note that no change can be given. Family photos can be arranged (for siblings attending QoP) and these envelopes can be collected from the School Office. One envelope per family photo.
On photo day, children should wear their full summer school uniform.
Please return your envelopes to school as soon as possible.
Keep an eye on our facebook page
Mrs Belinda Palamara - Family Engagement Leader, regularly posts photos of school happenings to share with our families and the community. There are also links for informative and thought-provoking articles for you to read. Search for @qopaltonameadows
Financial Assistance for parents - CSEF
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides a payment of $125 per eligible primary school student, paid directly by the Vic Govt to the school. It is then credited to your family account.
Eligible parents must complete and submit the attached form to the School's Bursar by Monday 8 June 2020 to allow time to process the application. The school will also need to take a copy of your Health Care/Centrelink card.
If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. A special consideration category also exists for asylum seeker and refugee families. To check click here: Who can apply.
Do you have a child starting Preps in 2021?
An Information Evening/Prep Enrolment Launch for the Parish will be held here at QoP, 7pm Tuesday 10 March 2020. Please let your friends and family know and for more information CLICK HERE .
Parents with children already attending QoP do NOT need to attend the enrolment information night however, please register ONLINE now to receive a Prep 2021 application form. Parents who have registered, will receive application form via email the day after the meeting.
For more information regarding Prep 2021 enrolments please contact Parish Prep Enrolments Officer: Maria Litherland on 8376 5400 or email enrolments@qopaltonameadows.catholic.edu.au For information regarding Prep 2020 or Grade 1-6 enrolments, contact the school office on 9369 2581.
Early leavers
To avoid disruption to classrooms, if children need to be collected early they should be picked up at the lunch break (at 1:30pm Monday or 1:40pm Tuesday-Friday). It is also very disruptive for classes and the office to be passing on messages to children in the afternoons and interrupting sessions with phone calls to classes and announcements over the PA system. It would be appreciated if these interruptions could be kept to a minimum.
Pre-Schooler Story Time!
Every Thursday from 9am with Mrs Favata. Come along for some stories, singing and fun activities. Please meet in the Hall foyer.
Private music tuition
Keyboard Lessons: with Lisa Cheney & Jakob Bragg for Year One and above. Please email your enquiries to lisajcheney@gmail.com and include the name and class of your child.
Violin Lessons: with Liz Ambrose. Please call Liz 0404 011 039 or email elizabethduffy@optusnet.com.au
Singing Lessons: with Irene Attard. Term 1 singing lessons have begun at QOP and Irene has seen great success from classes. She is still accepting registrations and if students cannot attend during school hours, they can be taught privately in Altona Meadows Please call 0415 135 599 or email iattard@hotmail.com.au.
Canteen Menu
Students will now have the opportunity to purchase dishes such as salmon patties, vegetable patties, garlic bread, salad tubs with chicken, etc. Please see the attached menu of items available from this Monday, with new prices also effective 10/2/20:
CommBank Student Banking
Could students please place their bank books in the grey satchel in their class room on Tuesday mornings. This is then sent to the office for processing by the volunteer banking team.
Our Preps have enjoyed a wonderful start to the year
Birthdays at School
We have a number of children who are either anaphylactic or have serious allergies towards specific foods. We have a responsibility to make sure we look after the health of all our children. Teachers will make the birthday child in their room feel special in a number of different ways. Each class does it differently. If you wish to send something along to the class to celebrate your child’s birthday, it needs to be limited to Chuppa Chup lollipops or a Freddo frogs. These are both safe alternatives for most children and a quick and easy to distribute. Anything other than these items will be sent back home with the birthday child.
Canteen Volunteers
We are looking for new canteen helpers as we are finding that parents are unable to volunteer as often as they have in the past. If you are unable to stay the full four hours (10am-2pm), perhaps you could help out for just an hour or two?
Volunteers are a vital part of making sure the children get their lunches on time. There are no special skills required. Volunteers help our Canteen Manager, Mrs Antoinette Kelly with preparing the lunch orders for the children. A roster is organised each term for volunteers and all help is appreciated. All volunteers must have a current Working With Children Check registered with the school office.
Please find attached a form for you to respond if you are able to help. Print, fill out and return to the school office via the student's classroom tub. If you are unable to print, phone the office on 9369 2581 and we can fill out a form on your behalf.
| Mon 9/3 | Labour Day | Mon 16/3 | Malyranh M |
| Tues 10/3 | Kay & Anshu | Tues 17/3 | Kay |
| Weds 11/3 | Pauline P | Weds 18/3 | Deb |
| Thurs 12/3 | Thurs 19/3 | Maryann S & Melissa | |
| Fri 13/3 | Fay/Jenny | Fri 20/3 | Jasmine H & Teresa P |
Uniform Shop
It's time to start purchasing winter uniform. As noted in the Parent Handbook: The winter uniform should be worn during Term 2 and 3 however, we strongly suggest to parents that they have their children wear the uniform which is most comfortable for any particular day. *Winter beanies are available for sale and the preferred option, however if you already another style at home your child is most welcome to wear this instead.
The QoP Uniform Shop is open Friday 8:30-9:15am (except Fri 24 April as this is a School Closure Day). Please also check FlexiBuzz for any changes to Uniform Shop opening hours. Don't forget, orders can be left with the office if you are unable to attend the shop. CLICK HERE to print out an order form. As we no longer have plastic bags, when placing orders could you please supply something from home for us to return the protected item. CLICK HERE to read the Uniform Policy or refer to the 2020 INFORMATION BOOKLET.
Early Arrival & Supervision
Parents are strongly encouraged to ensure their child is at school in plenty of time to begin class at 8:50am. Our aim is to have all children arrive between 8:30 am and 8:45 am. It is very inconvenient for children to be arriving at the classroom after the bell. Yard Duty supervision of children begins at 8:30am when the gate between the hall and the new Admin Building is opened. For their own safety, children are not permitted on the school grounds unsupervised before 8:30am. If parents wish to leave children at school earlier than 8:30am, children must be registered and booked into the Before School Care program. This service is provided by OSHclub. Further information can be found by calling OSHclub head office 8564 9000 or at www.oshclub.com.au
G.A.T.E.WAYS 'Journeys' programs Term 2
GATEways provides programs designed to challenge and extend highly able or gifted children that take place over a four week period.
'Journeys' for Year 1-6 will run on four consecutive Friday 9:15am-12pm from 24 April.
