Principal's Report
MEET AND GREET
It was fabulous to see that the vast majority of parents booked a catch up with teachers last week as part of the Meet and Greet event. This event provides a perfect opportunity to put names to faces and to discuss how the year and started and a way forward.
As often mentioned, there’s no need to wait for formal events such as the Meet and Greet or Parent Teacher Interviews to get in touch with your child’s teacher or leadership. You’re always welcome to send through an email or call to set up meeting if there’s something you’d like to discuss.
Sometimes you’ll get an opportunity to have a brief chat with your child’s teacher before the start of the school day, but anything that needs a bit of time requires an organised after school catch up.
SCHOOL COUNCIL ELECTIONS
Nominations for School Council close today (Feb 27). We are currently short of nominations in the parent category, so please give me a call if this is something you would consider.
This time next week we will be announcing our new School Councillors, however this will be delayed should a ballot be required (unlikely at this stage). The ballot process comes into play when the number of nominations exceeds the number of vacancies. Newly elected school councillors will commence at the AGM, which is held on March 25.
PARENT CONTRIBUTIONS
Details for voluntary Parent Contribution payments for 2024 were sent home late last year. As a public school, your contributions are vital in providing essential resources and programs for your child/ren.
Thank you to those who've already contributed and we are lucky to have a large percentage of parents and carers willing and able to help out.
For inquiries or payment plans, contact the general office.
OPEN MORNINGS
Early in each school year, we hold 2 Open Mornings. These give prospective parents the opportunity to take a tour of the school. A team of grade 6s (our Transition Team) are the tour guides on these days, which is a job they love.
This year our Open Mornings will be held on March 6th and 7th between 9am and 1pm. Please pass the message on to anyone you know that has a child starting school in 2025.
COLLECTING CHILDREN AFTER 3:45pm
Obviously, it’s best if parents are able to collect their students from school on or close to 3:30pm. However we understand that this is not always possible and there are times when parents get held up….that’s fine.
To keep students safe whilst they are in our care, any unaccompanied students who are still at school at 3:45pm are asked to go to the office where they can be supervised and kept safe.
If you have any queries about this, please give me a call.
STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE ARRANGEMENTS
The Department of Education and Training (DET) does not provide personal accident insurance cover for students. Parents also need to understand that we as a school don’t purchase cover for our students.
As such, parents and guardians are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including any transport costs.
Reasonably low-cost student accident insurance policies are available from some commercial insurers. These cover a range of medical expenses not covered by Medicare or private health insurance.
BRINGING PERSONAL PROPERTY TO SCHOOL
At this time each year the department asks us to give our parents and students the following reminder.
• Personal property is often brought to school by students, staff and visitors. This can include mobile phones, iPads, electronic games, toys, musical instruments, sporting equipment, and cars parked on school premises.
• The Department of Education and Training does not hold insurance for personal property brought to schools and it has no capacity to pay for any loss or damage to such property.
• This is something we all need to be aware of and heightens the need for us to take the steps needed to keep property as secure as possible.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Student Conveyance Allowance Program
The conveyance allowance is a form of financial assistance to help families in rural and regional Victoria with the cost of transporting their children to the nearest appropriate school/campus.
The conveyance allowance is a contribution towards transport costs, it is not intended to cover the full cost of transporting children to and from school. The allowance is an acknowledgement of the sometimes, limited transport options available outside metropolitan Melbourne, and assists student who attend their nearest appropriate school/campus but do not have access to a free school bus service.
A student who resides 4.8km or more from the school OR from the bus stop at which the student catches a free school bus (provided their school campus is the nearest appropriate school to their home; in the case of the Buninyong and Scotsburn campuses, this would be a co-educational government school offering education at the student’s year level) MAY be eligible to receive a conveyance allowance.
The eligibility criteria, set by the Department of Education, are very strict and can be confusing. If you believe you may be eligible for an allowance, please contact one of the team in the school office for advice relating to your individual situation.
Please note that to lodge a claim for Term 1 2024, eligible families must complete the appropriate application form (available at the office) and return it to the Buninyong campus by Thursday March 7.
