NEWSLETTER BY EMAIL

The school newsletter is distributed electronically every fortnight on a Thursday via an email and if you have turned on ‘notifications’ in Compass, you should also receive an alert.

This is the most important form of communication issued from the school and we ask you to contact the school by phone if you either do not have a valid email address or if you don’t receive the email containing the newsletter link. Email address updates can be made via Compass.

SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL IGA AND WOODEND PS

Our local IGA has already been a supporter of our school and fundraising efforts.

If you become a Ritchies Card Member, you will not only receive their latest weekly specials but if you nominate Woodend PS as part of the Ritchies Community Benefit Program, the school will receive a percentage of total parent sales for the month*. (conditions apply)

Please see the picture above for info on how to become and member and start helping our school.

CAMPS SPORTS & EXCURSION FUND APPLICATIONS

Don’t forget to apply for younger siblings who have just started school.

CSEF is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities. If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF.

New applicants should contact the school office to obtain a CSEF application form, download from the school website or click CSEF Application Form 2026

If you applied for CSEF at THIS school last year, you do not need to complete an application form this year unless there has been a change in your family circumstances.

You only need to complete an application form if any of the following changes have occurred:

new student enrolments; your child has started AT THIS SCHOOL or changed schools this year.
changed family circumstances; such as a change of custody, change of name, concession card number, or new siblings commencing this year.

A special consideration category also exists for asylum seeker and refugee families.The annual CSEF amount per student is:

$400 for primary school students
$400 for secondary school students

Check with the school office if you are unsure.

The allowance is paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child.

CONVEYANCE ALLOWANCE

Don’t forget to apply for younger siblings who have just started school.

Some students attending this school will be eligible for a Conveyance Allowance.

Eligibility Criteria:The allowance will be paid in two instalments and to be eligible a student must:

Be aged between 5 yrs and 18 yrs;
Live more than 4.8 km by the shortest practicable route from the NEAREST school attended AND live more than 4.8 km from the nearest DEECD funded bus service stop;
Be enrolled at the nearest or next nearest government school.

NB - The distances from home to school are automatically calculated as part of the application process and the DEECD Student Conveyance Allowance System distances will override parent advised figures.

Amount and Payment Method:

The annual amount payable is determined by the mode of transport, the distance travelled from home to school and the number of other students travelling in the same car.

Application Forms: A separate form is to be completed for each student and these are available from the school office or this link Conveyance Allowance Application. Only one application is required for each student’s enrolment at school.

Don’t forget to apply for younger siblings who have just started school.

Please direct any enquiries re either of these allowances to Sue Turner at the school office.

PARENT PAYMENT & BOOK REQUISITE INFORMATION 2026

Thank you to those families who have already made contributions towards the listed amounts. A full breakdown of contribution categories is detailed in the Parent Payment Arrangements 2026 document. If you’re not sure if you have paid or not, please check your QKR app under ‘Activity’, on the screen where you choose the school. Towards the end of Term 1, school account statements will be issued which will show all payments received to date for 2026 and any credit amounts (money we owe you). If you haven’t paid anything for this year or don’t have a credit on your account, we are unable to issue a statement.

Official receipts for donations to the Building and Library Fund (which are tax deductible) will be issued later in Term 2 or early Term 3.

Payment methods - Via QKR (free app) – for Parent Payment Contributions and Building & Library Fund Contributions.

QKR is also used for Canteen & Uniform Shop orders.

SCHOOL SAVING BONUS - SSB

Many families have utilised most or all their child/ren’s School Saving Bonus allocation from 2025.

When family statements are issued later this term, any remaining money for each child will be shown as a credit (negative amount). If you have any queries about SSB, please email sue.turner@education.vic.gov.au

STUDENT PERSONAL DETAILS:

All students will soon receive an orange-coloured document which lists the current personal details held by the school for that child. Please ask your child for this form or look in their bag. Some forms for separated families will be posted. If you still have not sighted this document by 20th February, please email kerry-ann.crosbie@education.vic.gov.au .

PLEASE take the time to check the details listed to ensure they are correct and then either:
Sign the form and return the sheet as it is; if all details listed are correct OR
Make the necessary alterations, sign and return.

PLEASE RETURN COMPLETED FORMS TO YOUR CHILD’S CLASS TEACHER

OR BY POST.

** Please DISREGARD the information listed for the distance you live from school. This information is system generated and in some cases is not correct.

NB: In times of emergency or illness, much time is saved if we have correct and current contact details for you and the emergency contacts you have nominated.

STUDENT ACCIDENT - insurance/ambulance cover

As per DET guidelines, it is important we remind parents that we do not provide personal accident insurance cover for students. Parents and guardians of students who do not have student accident insurance/ambulance cover, are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students including the cost of ambulance attendance or transport.

Medical or other expenses will only be covered by the department where it is assessed that the Department was liable for negligent acts or omission of supervision.

Parents are able to take out private Student Cover accident insurance. EBM (Elkington Bishop Molineaux Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd) have a StudentCover policy. Parents can apply online at www.studentcover.com.au .

This company is not specifically endorsed by DET however is offering cover to school families if they so choose.

COMPASS’ SCHOOL MANAGER

Compass is the communication system used between the school and home.

What will Compass do for me?

Some of the features accessible through Compass include the ability to:

Provide access to school documentation and the latest news.
Download and view your child's progress and semester reports.
Synchronise school events to calendars and receive updates and changes to school events.
Book Parent-Teacher Conferences.
Update family contact details.
Monitor your child's attendance and enter approvals for absence or lateness.
Be notified of any visits to the school sick bay.

IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS COMPASS, PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE – we can reset passwords and provide access assistance. It is imperative all parents have Compass access and we suggest you turn on NOTIFICATIONS for this app to alert you to information sent.

QKR – this is the preferred payment method at WPS for any activity that DOES NOT require CONSENT. It is a free app for your smartphone or the QKR program can be downloaded on your computer. Basically it allows you to pay for all non-camp/excursion payments for school including Canteen, Uniform, Parents and Friends activities & more. No more coin searches!

Getting started is easy……. Go to your app store on your phone and look for the following icon. If you are still having trouble, call the school office for assistance.

QKR can be used for the following:

Uniform orders
Canteen Lunches (no cash orders accepted)
Parent contributions
PFA activities & fundraisers

NB: QKR is NOT used for excursions and camps.

MESSAGES FOR STUDENTS RE AFTER SCHOOL ARRANGEMENTS

Students needing to be informed of changes to their after-school arrangements will be called to the office via the Public Address System at approx 3.25pm. Teachers have been asked to listen to the names called and ensure students required are made aware, especially the younger children. For messages received from parents/guardians after 3.25pm, every effort will be made to locate students and advise them, however this is not always possible.

For Foundation students for Term 1 only, messages will be phoned through to the class at the next available break or before the home bell.

CONTACT WITH TEACHERS

During class time (bell times listed below) teachers are busy teaching. If you need to make contact with a teacher by phone, please do so during other than class time. eg. - before and after school or recess or lunch breaks. Alternatively, your call can be put through to the teacher’s voicemail where you can leave a message or you are welcome to send an email via the school email woodend.ps@education.vic.gov.au . The school email is checked once a day, usually in the morning so if the matter is more urgent, please phone the office.

Parents are reminded that emails should remain appropriate and respectful and that a response may not be forthcoming for 24 hours. Staff are not required to reply out of school hours and certainly not over the weekend. Your cooperation in this regard is appreciated.

START OF SCHOOL 9.00 am

RECESS 11.00 am – 11.30 am

LUNCH EATEN IN CLASSROOM 1.30 pm – 1.40 pm

LUNCH – PLAY 1.40 pm – 2.30 pm

DISMISSAL 3.30 pm

LOST PROPERTY

Lost property is sorted weekly and named items returned to their owner via the class teacher, therefore the best way to get back lost property is to NAME IT before you wear it! As the volume and diversity of lost property at this school is huge, we are unable to retain unnamed items for any length of time. As a result, any unnamed items including school uniform, will be removed from lost property each term and donated or sold appropriately. Lost property is stored in front of the uniform shop so please encourage your children to look for lost items. We encourage you to name your property.

UNIFORM SHOP

Please Use the QKR app to order and pay for uniforms. Orders will be filled within a couple of days and goods will be sent home with your child. If you need to swap an item for a different size, please bring goods (in original package with tags attached) back to the school office and we will happily swap them over.

Please see the Uniform Shop section in the newsletter for information regarding ordering our new House T-Shirts. Cutoff for the second order with the supplier is today, Thursday 5th February.

MOBILE PHONES

Students are discouraged from bringing mobile phones to school. If you would like your child to have a mobile phone with them for use before and after school, then the following procedure is to apply:

The named phone is to be handed in at the office. The phone will stored during the day. PLEASE TURN IT OFF FIRST!!
Students may collect their phone from the office at home time.
This applies to all students in all year levels.

SEPARATED PARENTS’ CONTACT DETAILS & PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS

A form titled “ALTERNATIVE FAMILY DETAILS” is available for use by parents who do not reside together. By completing this form, address and phone details for both parents are able to be listed on our database, including respective new partners.

If you would like a copy of this form to complete or to make further, strictly confidential enquiries, please contact the school office.

Similarly, specific arrangements for separated parents, for payment of school costs including camps & excursions, can be listed on our database. Please contact Sue Turner to discuss.

ABSENCES, LATE ARRIVALS AND EARLY DEPARTURES FROM SCHOOL

If your child is late or absent from school without explanation from parents, an SMS will be sent to All Parents of All Households at around 10.15am. Please respond to the SMS promptly. Please note the following:

If your child will be LATE FOR SCHOOL, please come to the office to sign your child in via the iPad. Rolls are marked promptly at 9am. If the music has finished and your child is not yet in class, they have probably missed the roll.

If your child will be ABSENT FROM SCHOOL, we ask that you either:

(preferred method) Log onto Compass and record the absence
phone the school on 5427 2455 and leave a message on the absence voicemail.

If you need to take your child EARLY FROM SCHOOL we ask that you:

call the office to advise
when you arrive, come to the office to sign them out and your child will be called from class. Students are not to be collected directly from classrooms
If your child needs to leave early on a regular basis, please advise the class teacher of the day, time, reason, etc so they can plan for this regular absence.

MEDICINES AT SCHOOL

There may be times when your child is well enough to come to school but may still need to take prescribed medicine (eg. Antibiotics)

In this situation we ask that any medicine be sent to school in a named container including instructions which outline dosage rates and times to be administered. The container is to be handed to the classroom teacher at the beginning of the day.

If your child sometimes requires medication but only in certain circumstances (eg; eczema cream, Paracetamol, antihistamine this can be kept securely at the office with a completed Medication Authority Form. Medication is not to be kept in student bags. Please email kerry-ann.crosbie@education.vic.gov.au

WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECK (WWCC)

As the parent of a student at Woodend Primary School, you may be considering volunteering at the school in various ways. The school aims to encourage and maximise participation by members of the school community without compromising the safety and well-being of students. To this end, our school has a policy titled “Criminal Records Check & Working With Children Check” which states, in part, that, “Woodend Primary School requires all volunteers to have a WWC Check”. You will still need to apply for a WWC Check even if you have already had a Police Records Check.

Applications for a WWCC can be made online via

https://online.justice.vic.gov.au/wwccu/onlineapplication.doj

If you have other members of your family who wish to volunteer at school, they will also be required to apply for a check.

If you have already received your WWCC card and/or assessment notice AND DID NOT LIST WOODEND PS AS A PLACE YOU VOLUNTEER, PLEASE PROVIDE A COPY OF EITHER DOCUMENT TO THE SCHOOL ASAP.

Business Manager

Sue Turner

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