Dear RMPS Parents and Carers,

Summer has arrived and so has the pre-Christmas cheer as the suburbs and surrounding transform into reminders everywhere of the pending feastive season.Don’t forget to send sunscreen to school with your children and have them use it at every recess, as the UV factor (even on cloudy days) climbs the scale.

URGENT

A class rep coordinator is urgently needed as the end of the year approaches.Please consider if you can take on this role to allow the transition from 2025 to 2026 to be a smooth one. The description of the role is detailed further in this newsletter.Interested applicants can email us on rmps.pfa@gmail.com

News

The next PFA meeting is will be the AGM at the end of Feb.Details to follow in the new year on this important event.

While the PFA has not planned any significant events for term 4 – clearing the deck for the fair and it’s need for support from the community - the turn out to meetings this year has been low in the previous terms and without the community’s support, the PFA may dissolve early in the new year when general elections are held. Please consider attending and supporting the PFA and its activities, which supports all of our children!

We have been informed that the Colour run service provider has dissolved their business. We have been able to secure the same day as previously booked (19th Mar)

Future notices and events

Our forward view of events is currently :

Jan 2026 Foundation 2026 welcome

Feb 2026 AGM

Mar 2026 Colour fun run

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

We are seeking a class representative co-ordinator – Please let us know if you are interested.

Role activities:

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.DecemberWhole 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 • 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 checkThe 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 too get to know each other,o be informed about their child’s schoolo extend their understanding of school operationso 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 Member Registration 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.

Student Of the Week