Parent and Community Helper 'THANK YOU' Afternoon Tea - Tuesday 10th December 2024 at 2.45pm

Billanook Primary School is very fortunate to have many parents and community members that volunteer their valuable time to support and assist our teachers, students and school each year.

We would like to invite anyone who has helped in any capacity during 2024 to attend a 'Thank you' Afternoon Tea next Tuesday 10th December at 2.45pm.

This includes but is not limited to classroom and reading helpers, kitchen garden helpers, Parents' Club members, School Council members, excursion and sports day helpers, working bee helpers, library helpers... the list goes on!

If one of your child's grandparents or other family members has been a helper, please be sure to pass this invitation onto them, as they do not have access to COMPASS.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our school.

Secondhand Uniform

Has your child outgrown their uniform?

Please think of us when you are clearing out uniforms over the holidays.

If you donate second hand uniforms can they be in good and clean condition please?

Donated items can be brought to the Office.

Early in Term 1 2025 there will be a second hand uniform sale.

Keep an eye out in the Newsletter next year for the date and time.

Tuckshop on Thursdays at Billanook

Please note December 12th will be the last day for Lunch Orders for 2024

As mentioned in the last couple of newsletters, we are trialing a new food service at Billanook.

All children and staff will be able to order a lunch order through TK Tuckshops for Thursday lunchtimes. We will be trialing the service until the end of the year.

All orders need to be placed prior to 8am on Thursdays. You can place your orders via the Spriggy Schools app. Please see instructions attached to this post for more information.

Our School Students are now able to access Smile Squad Services

Dear families,

The Smile Squad team from EACH will provide dental services to our school from the Smile Squad Hub at Lilydale, 18-22 Lakeview Drive, during the month from16th December 2024-24th January 2025.

Smile Squad is the Victorian Government free school dental program.

This means all students can get a free dental check-up, preventive services, and treatment at the Smile Squad Hub

How to access free dental care

We need your consent before we can provide services. Consent is usually provided by a parent or guardian.

Sign up to Smile Squad at: https://bit.ly/smilesquadvic

OR use the below QR code:

Please complete and submit the consent form, this will be sent directly to EACH.

Once the registration has been processed, you will receive an SMS with contact details to arrange a suitable appointment time.

Student scholarships

The Department of Education administers a number of scholarships available to eligible students who are enrolled in Grade 4 to Year 12 in 2024.

Applicants for these scholarships will be evaluated on their:

participation in school activities
community involvement
academic achievement.

Scholarships are either one-off payments or cover the duration of the student’s course or annual study.

Many of these scholarships have specific eligibility criteria, so please refer to individual applications for more information.

Applications are now open, and close on Saturday 1 February 2025.

For information on how to apply, refer to Student scholarships.

Thank you,

Billanook Primary School

  Music Bus lessons at Billanook Primary School

Music Bus lessons at Billanook Primary School in 2025

The Music Bus has opened their 2025 term 1 enrolments and are inviting new students to apply.

Classes offered are:

Ukulele (Prep - Yr 6)
Drums (Yr 1 - Yr 6)
Guitar (Yr 2 - Yr 6)
Singing (Prep - Yr 6)

Lessons are:

30-minute duration - once per week
held in the hi-tech music classroom on wheels on our site
cost $22 per week ($24 for drums) payable by the term on commencement

If you wish to take part, please complete this expression of interest form: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/ee4627a5204c46158e1ab17e7c8069c6

Kind Regards

The Music Bus Help Desk

contactus@themusicbus.com.au

www.themusicbus.com.au

Regarding our phones

At the moment our phones are manned Mon to Thurs 9:30am to 4pm.

On Fridays our phone hours are 9:30am to 12:00pm.

Please contact us through this email address and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Can’t make it to Billanook for the Monday afternoon assembly?

It’s now LIVE STREAMED for everyone to watch from home or work!

We would like to invite our Billanook community - parents and grandparents, to tune in online using the link below to see our amazing Billanook kids in action.

Time: 2:30pm-3:30pm

Day: Mondays

Meeting Link: https://eduvic.webex.com/eduvic/j.php?MTID=meb89713740479d3ac38ba576c434a37a

Meeting Number: 2652 671 7276

Password: Billanook

Working With Children Checks For Volunteers

A Victorian Government Working With Children Check (WWC) will be required by all adults who undertake any voluntary work at Billanook. This means anyone working in the school canteen, helpers in the classroom, school camps, computer lab etc.

Holding a Police Check is not enough. WWC is ongoing monitoring of the criminal records of those who hold a WWC Card. Since the 30th June 2008 it is compulsory for all volunteers to provide a current WWC.

To obtain a Working With Children Check you must now apply online at https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/

To complete the application form you must have:

an email address, so you can contacted
the address of every place you have lived in the last 5 years in Australia
the name, postal address and phone number in Australia for each organisation you will be doing paid or volunteer child-related work for
a printer that will print a legible copy of the Application summary.

After filling in the online form, finalise your application at a participating Australia Post retail outlet, by presenting your application summary, proof of identity documents and a passport quality photo. Employee WWC Check applicants need to also pay a fee. Fees are non-refundable.

Green Team News