School Council Elections—Information for Parents 2025

Our timeline:

Notice of election and call for nominations: Wednesday 19th February

Closing date for nomination: Wednesday 26th February Nominations displayed at Office by: Thursday 27th February

Close of Ballot if necessary: Tuesday 11th March

What is a school council and what does it do?

All government schools in Victoria have a school council. They are legally formed bodies that are given powers to set the key directions of a school within centrally provided guidelines. In doing this, a school council is able to directly influence the quality of education that the school provides for its students.

Who is on the school council?

There are three possible categories of membership:

· A mandated elected Parent category. More than one third of the total members must be from this category. Department of Education (DE) employees can be Parent members at their child’s school as long as they are not employed at the school.

· A mandated elected DE employee category. Members of this category may make up no more than one third of the total membership of school council. The principal of the school is automatically one of these members.

· An optional Community member category. Its members are appointed by a decision of the council because of their special skills, interests or experiences. DE employees are not eligible to be Community members.

The term of office for all members is two years. Half the members must retire each year, creating vacancies for the annual school council elections.

Why is Parent membership so important?

Parents on school councils provide important viewpoints and have valuable skills that can help shape the direction of the school.

Those parents who become active on a school council find their involvement satisfying in itself and may also find that their children feel a greater sense of belonging.

How can you become involved?

The most obvious way is to vote in the elections, which are held in Term 1 each year. However, ballots are only held if more people nominate as candidates than there are positions vacant. In view of this, you might seriously consider standing for election as a member of the school council or encouraging another person to stand for election.

Do I need special experience to be on school council?

No. What you do need is an interest in your child’s school and the desire to work in partnership with others to help shape the school’s future.

What do you need to do to stand for election?

The principal will issue a notice and call for nominations following the commencement of Term 1 each year. All school council elections must be completed by the end of March.

If you decide to stand for election, you can arrange for someone to nominate you as a candidate or you can nominate yourself in the Parent category.

DE employees whose child is enrolled in a school in which they are not employed are eligible to nominate as parents for the school council where their child is enrolled.

Once the nomination form is completed, return it to the principal within the time stated on the notice of election. You will receive a Nomination Form Receipt email following the receipt of your completed nomination.

If there are more nominations received than there are vacancies on council, a ballot will be conducted during the two weeks after the call for nominations has closed.

Remember

Ask at the school for help if you would like to nominate for School Council and are not sure what to do. Consider nominating for election to council this year. Be sure to vote in the elections, if necessary.

Contact the school for further information.

Prep Teddy Bear Picnic

Icypole sales

Icypoles are sold out of the Discovery Kitchen every Monday at 1.00pm. The cost of an icypole is $1.00.

Uniform Shop - Opening Times

The uniform shop will be open on Mondays and Wednesday from 8.45am - 11.15am to purchase any items. Alternatively, you can place your order online and pick up either from the uniform shop or the administration office.

Year 2 String Program – Optional Program

This year our Year 2 students will be given the opportunity to learn the violin or cello in small groups during school hours starting in Term 2.

We would like to invite interested Year 2 families to attend an

Information Evening on Tuesday 4th March at 6pm.

At this information evening there will be violin and cello demonstrations and students will be given the opportunity to try the violin and cello. We will explain how the program will be delivered and would be very happy to answer any questions about the process of learning an instrument.

The cost of the Year 2 program will be $530 for the year which includes instrument hire, music and all tuition.

Newsletter Advertising

We accept advertisements to be included in our newsletter from most areas of private industry, however it should be noted that Eltham East’s School Council does not endorse any product or service advertised.

Movie Night