PFA News

Dear RMPS Parents and Carers,

If there was any doubt around winter arriving, all myths have now been dismissed, the cooler weather looks to be here to stay!

On the volunteer front the class representative coordinator role remains unfilled and we would ask the community here to consider stepping up to at least trial the role. On the next page is description of what the role entails, and Kim can answer questions you may have about what is involved. If you enjoy spreadsheets, this could be the role for you, and provide a networking/friendship building opportunity that doesn’t come along very often

We have had 11 respondents to our 2025 volunteer survey. Please fill this in ASAP to assist us with planning activities. We are looking for a movie night coordinator as we enter the second half of the term, leaving ~4wks to organise this event. Thank you!

Survey: https://forms.gle/W3AcpTzQRSLiWYir8

Lastly, we extend an invitation to all to join us at our PFA meeting next Wednesday , 28th May 2025 7:30pm in the school staff room. We would love to see you there or online – all are welcome:

PFA Meeting - May 2025 | Microsoft Teams | Meetup-Join

Notices and events 

Our overall current list of planned events is as follows:

If you have ideas for other events, please don’t hesitate to reach out as the committee is open to new ideas and variations. We are keen to hear from you!

You can contact the PFA committee by email for any input or questions : rmps.pfa@gmail.com

Thank you for reading and we look forward to continually building our school community.

Lindsay Gamble (President), David Wingate (Secretary) and Beij Xu (Treasurer)

(PFA Exec Team) 

Class Representative Coordinator Role Description

October/November (For Prep Families)

• Create a survey for new Foundation parents. Microsoft Forms worked well last year—just delete data once finished with.
• Request the school office to send the survey to all Prep parents to gather contact details of new families.
• Attend the first and possibly second Foundation morning tea for new parents with iPads to assist them in completing the survey.
• Begin updating the master spreadsheet with survey responses while awaiting class allocations.

December

Whole School

• After the whole school "Meet the Teacher" session, request the office to provide a report of class allocations.
• Update the master spreadsheet with new class allocations for all students.
• Remove any students not continuing next year (including Year 6 families).
• Re-filter the spreadsheet and create individual tabs for each class.
• Generate updated class lists.

Foundation Classes

• Once pre-Foundation class allocations are mailed to parents (typically a week before "Meet the Teacher"), request a copy from the office.
• Use survey data to create entries for new families in the master spreadsheet.
• Use the updated spreadsheet to create class lists for Foundation students.
• Aim to finalise Foundation class lists before the end of the year so families can plan playdates over the holiday break.
• Confirm Foundation Class Reps as they sign up, ensuring Foundation classes have reps early for coffee/park catch-ups.

December – early February

• Create a sign-up sheet for Class Reps (allowing two spots per class).
• Announce the sign-up process via Compass and the school newsletter. Only send out once families know their allocated classes.
• Once Class Reps are confirmed, send them the class list.
• Edit the Class Rep tab in the master spreadsheet with their contact details (email and phone number).
• Class Reps will distribute class lists and collect any updates from parents (e.g., phone number or email changes).
• Ensure all updates are emailed back so the master spreadsheet remains current.
• Once all Class Reps are confirmed, send their contact details to the PFA and school office (Melissa/Luciana).
• Set up a central Class Reps WhatsApp group and add all Class Reps

Ongoing Responsibilities

• Regularly update class lists as students join or leave the school.
• Share updated class lists with Class Reps for distribution.
• Maintain both the master class list and individual class lists to reflect all changes.
• Process contact details submitted by new families.
• Store all documents, including the master spreadsheet, individual class lists, and template letters, in Google Docs.
• Update and save any new letters/templates created for future use.
• Send final class lists to all Class Reps and request them to verify details with their class.
• Include a newsletter reminder for parents to check their contact details with their Class Reps.

Appendices

Working with children check (FREE!)

All volunteers at events need to have a Working With Children Check (WWCC) registration.

These are available for free and only take about 15-20 minutes to complete.

You can apply online via Working with Children Check (service.vic.gov.au).

Once you have completed the online application you will receive an application receipt, followed by a card after the check is completed.  (Note: We recommend you do this using your mobile phone because of the photo process etc.)

What you'll need to do

• Prove your identity with documents using your phone. The online application shows you which ones.
• Fill out the online application form
• Consent to Service Victoria passing your info on to the Working with Children Check (WWCC) Unit Victoria (Department of Justice and Community Safety) to process your WWCC application.  (Services Victoria does not keep your information, they just pass it on.)

Your Working with Children check

The Working with Children Check Victoria screening process looks at:

• Your criminal record in all Australian states and territories, including any charges, regardless of the outcome
• Your professional conduct as determined by these groups, and 
• Whether you're required to report under sex offender legislation

If you have applied for a WWCC but are unsure whether your card will arrive before you want to volunteer at an event, please speak to the school office.  Sometimes a check may take between 3 to 12 weeks to be processed, although they are usually done quickly.

Copies of WWCC cards are kept on file by the school for compliance and a Working with Children Check is required for doing child-related work which includes volunteering at events with children attending or working on site during the school day (8.45am to 3.45pm). Please provide the school office with a copy of your card.

If you would like to get a WWCC card but are not confident doing this yourself, please contact the school office for assistance by calling 9890 2372.

For RMPS related volunteering, please also read the school’s:

• Visitors Policy https://robmacps.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Visitors-policy.docx
• Volunteers Policy https://robmacps.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Volunteers-policy.docx

Information: PFA – What is it? And why is it important?

The Parents & Friends Association (PFA) is a group of volunteer parents and carers who help organise events and fundraising activities for RMPS, welcome families and bring people together from within the community. This helps us all connect more closely with our school and each other while raising vital funds for school improvements. With every dollar raised, the opportunity for our children grows just that little bit more. Without volunteers, there would be no PFA, hence we encourage everyone to become a member and help us to kick some amazing goals this year!

It does not matter if you can spare 10 min or 10 hours, being involved will help you and your children to have the best environment we can achieve in our community.

Working in cooperation with the Principal and School Council, the PFA’s aims are to:

• contribute to the wellbeing of the school community
• encourage the participation of all parents and carers in the life of the school and the education of their children
• provide opportunities for parents and carers to
  •  get to know each other,
  • be informed about their child’s school
  • extend their understanding of school operations
  • build their knowledge of general education policy
• contribute to proposals on school policy and other educational issues (as identified or discussed with the Principal or School Council)
• raise funds for the benefit of the school

As a registered association, it is a requirement that the PFA has a minimum of three office bearers (executives) – President, Secretary and Treasurer. The current PFA executives are:

• Lindsay Gamble (President) – father of Tahlia (2G)
• David Wingate (Secretary) – father of Alister (FS)
• Bård Sæter (Treasurer) – father of Madeleine (5G) and Aksel (1R)

About PFA Registered Members

All RMPS parents and carers of children attending the school, or any other interested individual of the immediate school community, are welcome to become Registered Members of the PFA. Registered Members can:

• Receive copies of meeting minutes
• Vote on items/actions at meetings
• Vote to elect office bearers (executives)
• Nominate to be elected to PFA executive roles
• Be elected to PFA executive roles.

All members must sign and complete a MemberRegistration Form annually. After signing and submitting the form, a person becomes a Registered Member until the next AGM. If you would like to register or re-register as a member, please contact us via rmps.pfa@gmail.com for a copy of the registration form.

Note that you do not have to be a member to help on events or attend meetings.