Principal's Report

Welcome to the 2022 school year 

What a delight it was on Monday morning to welcome our families back to Valkstone!

Children settled readily into the school routine, refreshed after their long break. We welcome all our Preps and their parents, well prepared and excited for their first school day.

I thank all of our families for the support and acknowledgement you have given to us in Rapid Antigen Test distribution, along with your management of COVID-safe practices.

Please continue to monitor your children's health and test twice a week with a RA test.

Happy Lunar New Year to all our families who are celebrating the beginning of the Year of the Tiger. We wish everyone good health and happiness.

Getting to Know You Interviews

Bookings opened today for parents to lock in a time to meet with their child's teacher next week, Tuesday 8th or Wednesday 9th February.

Bookings through Compass: 

Open to parents – Wednesday 2nd February at 10:00 a.m.

Closed to parents – Monday 7th February at 3:00 p.m.

Meetings will be held on Webex. Teachers will send login details prior to interviews.

Privacy Policy 

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 on our website.

Valkstone Staff 2022

Principal -                          Mrs Marilyn Koolstra               

Assistant Principal -      Mrs Angela Dawson

Business Manager -      Mrs Julie Caswell

Office Staff -                     Mrs Leanne Scott, Mrs Shona Elford and Ms Mary Ann Farren

O.S.H.C. Co-ordinator - Mrs Debbie Russell

Prep -     PA Mrs Alyce Collins

                 PB Miss Ali Dodd

                 PC Mrs Erin Goodman

                 PD Mrs Chantelle Sinclair

Year 1 -  1A Mrs Whitney Coyle

                 1B Mrs Robyn Howard/Mrs Amanda Sheppard

                 1C Mrs Kate Smith 

                 1D Miss Emily Stump

Year 2  - 2A Mrs Rachel Joyce

                 2B Ms Chrissy Lauriola

                 2C Mr Tom Paturzo 

                 2D Mrs Cara Glen/Mrs Bernadette Shepherd

Year 3 - 3A Mrs Julie Kilpatrick/Ms Mel Kemper

                3B Ms Brittany Meyerowitz

                3C Miss Jess Scott

                3D Mr Matt Ware

Year 4 - 4A Mrs Heidi Amos

                4B Mr Ian Bahn

                4C Miss Hannah King

                4D Miss Hannah Southin

Year 5 - 5A Miss Jo Fiddler

                5B Mrs Maria Flaherty

                5C Mr Paul Maczohan/Ms Tash Maskell

                5D  Miss Jess Williams

Year 6 - 6A Mrs Camille Alvarez

                6B Mr Josh Hargreaves

                6C Miss Kate Newey 

                6D Ms Sarah Paletu'a

Maths and English Support 

Mrs Helen Blandy, Mrs Carrie White, Mrs Fiona Rouch and Miss Sandra Ferguson

Student Wellbeing

Mrs Heather Venn and Mrs Julie Kilpatrick

Education Support Staff

Mrs Sue Green, Mrs Irene Griffs,  Mrs Karen Jones, Mrs Dianne Moncrieff,

Mrs Michelle Waudby and Miss Melissa Fonias

Art -                                         Miss Jen Kaucic  & Mrs Kylie Marshall     

Music -                                   Ms Jenn Darling & Mrs Fiona Rouch

P.E. & Sport -                        Mrs Kate Walker & Mrs Kate Savigny       

EAL -                                        Mrs Kylie Marshall

L.O.T.E. -                                 Muldeary Sensei                    

ICT -                                         Mrs Kylie Kidd & Mrs. Kate Savigny                 

Multimedia -                         Mr Zach McMahon     

Library Technician -           Miss Melissa Fonias

ICT Support -                        Mr Kevin Jong 

Grounds maintenance -   Mr Peter Caswell   

Uniform Shop -                    Ms Karen Wright             

Webinar for parents - Managing Big Feelings

School Council Elections

Schedule 4: Notice of election and call for nominations

An election is to be conducted for members of the School Council of Valkstone Primary School.

Nomination forms may be obtained from the school Office and must be lodged by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday 16th February 2022. The ballot will close on Wednesday 2nd March, 2022.

The terms of office, membership categories and number of positions in each membership category open for election are as follows:

Membership category - Parent member

Term of office: From the day after the date of the declaration of the poll in 2022 to and inclusive of the date of the declaration of the poll in 2024.

Number of positions:   3

Membership category - DET employee member

Term of office: From the day after the date of the declaration of the poll in 2022 to and inclusive of the date of the declaration of the poll in 2024.

Number of positions:   2

Following the closing of nominations, a list of the nominations received will be posted at the school. If the nominations received are less than the number of vacancies, a notice to that effect and calling for further nominations will be posted in a prominent position at the school.

Vaccination requirements for parents, carers and adult visitors

All parents and carers attending schools, including for drop-off and pick-up, must adhere to physical distancing, face mask requirements, respiratory etiquette and good hygiene.

Parents, carers and other adult visitors not performing work are required to show evidence of vaccination when entering a school building. 

News of Neil our retired crossing supervisor

Neil, crossing supervisor on Valkstone Street near 

Gate 1, retired to travel. He took delivery of his new 

vehicle towards the end of last year, with one of our 

Valkstone families there to wish him well on his adventures.

Acknowledgement to Country

At Valkstone, we respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Victoria and pay respect to the ongoing living cultures of First Peoples.