Principal's Message

Dear Students, Parents, Carers and Families,

Welcome back to everyone for Term 4! It seems like forever has finally arrived. This week we have had a great week of firsts and lasts being the first of Term 4 and hopefully the last of remote online learning – all being well!

From next week, Monday 12th October, all students from Foundation to Year 6 return to full-time schooling. Remote learning will not continue for these year levels.

• All students will start school at the same time, they will not be staggered.
• All students are expected to attend on site from Monday 12th October.
• All students will need to bring a water bottle to school as all bubblers have been turned off.
• Classes start at 9:00am and finish at 3:25pm
• Drop-off from 8:45am – 9:00am and pick-up at 3:25pm
• Entrance gates will be separated in two main groups for Foundation to Year 2 students and Year 3 to Year 6 Students – creating two learning hubs.
• Gates open at 8:45am are locked through the day and are unlocked at 3:25pm
• The school grounds are CLOSED to all parents, carers and families between 8:00am and 4.30pm each day without an appointment – 9796 7150
• Students are not permitted to be on the school site before drop-off time at 8:45am and between the end of day dismissal at 3:25pm and 4.30pm each day.

** For further information please read our TERM 4 Return to School Plan that has been communicated via Konnective.

Maramba have implemented all of the safety measures and restrictions that have been advised by the DET and DHHS for schools to ensure we are providing the safest environment for our school community.  These will remain in place until further changes in advice have been received from DET and DHHS enable these to be lifted.

We are looking forward to seeing all of our wonderful students return to school next week. Our amazing staff have worked extra hard (again!) this week to prepare classrooms and the school to finally have our students back with us. 

It certainly is an exciting time for all of us as a school community!

Our Maramba School Values 

While we emphasise the importance of our school values everyday with our students and community, each term we have a specific focus on one school value. 

In Term 4 this year our focus is on responsibility. When students are observed demonstrating this value that is above and beyond our general expectations of being responsible they receive a values sticker. This sticker goes into the student’s personal values record book. When they have filled all of the spaces for a school value they are presented with a values badge on assembly.

Responsibility: We recognise our actions and make a positive difference. 

Our school values logo is representative of responsibility being constant and ongoing. We have an individual and collective responsibility for: 

• The environment
• Ourselves – choices and actions
• Others – family, friends and community

As a school, we want to encourage everyone to keep developing and growing, expanding our minds and our horizons. 

We can show our responsibility and commitment through: 

• being excellent role models to others;
• owning our choices and decisions;
• accepting that we all have an important role to play as part of a community;
• to speak out against inequality;
• being prepared and ready to learn;
• being life-long learners;
• supporting the learning of our peers and the wider community;
• taking care of belongings and school property;
• offering additional support to enable all students to reach their potential.

Student Safety and Parking

With the return to school and the reduced window for drop-offs and pick-ups, I encourage our community to be even more patient during these busy times. The safety of our students and your children are our number one priority at all times. Slight delays are to be expected but are insignificant in terms of protecting our children. 

This also means being respectful of our youngest and most vulnerable community members at Maramba Kindergarten by not using their carpark. We are a small community school and have ample parking available around our extensive school grounds.

Please be aware that the council has already informed us that their Parking Attendance Officers will also be resuming their duties and will be particularly proactive around schools in the local area.

School Uniform Expectations 

As the transition back to school starts please remember that the school uniform is to be worn at all times. 

If your child wears a headdress such as a hijab or turban, I would also ask you to ensure it is the colour of the uniform – either black, teal, blue or white. 

As with all uniform clothing, broad brimmed hats are to be labelled inside the hat only.

In line with our Uniform Policy the following items are or are not permitted to be worn:

Thank you for your support and cooperation!

Safety in the Sun – TERM 4

The Maramba Sun Smart Policy requires that all children must wear broad brimmed hats during outdoor activities in Term 4 and it recommends sunscreen 30+ (zinc is not allowed). School hats can be purchased from Beleza Uniforms.

As a SunSmart accredited school, we must ensure that the children wear their hats in Term 4. The UV levels are still above three so please continue to Slip on sun protective clothing, Slop on SPF 30 or higher sunscreen, Slap on a wide brimmed hat, Seek shade and, if practical, Slide on wrap-around sunglasses.  

Please check the daily sun protection times to be sure. These are available on the free SunSmart app and widget, in the weather section of the newspaper or at sunsmart.com.au even in the cooler autumn weather, that UV exposure all adds up.

Enrol NOW for 2021! 

We are now in the final stages of planning for 2021 and would appreciate anyone who knows they are enrolling a child in 2021 to let us know as soon as possible. 

Our school website has important information for families about our Foundation program including a Virtual Tour of our amazing school.

https://www.maramba-ps.vic.edu.au/foundation-2021/

You can find the necessary enrolment information and forms on our website too:

https://www.maramba-ps.vic.edu.au/enrolment-information/

If you have any further questions or would like to know more about our school then please call us on 9796 7150 or email our schoolMaramba.ps@education.vic.gov.au. 

We are here to help!

Take care and stay safe!

Kind regards,

Darren Wallace

Principal