Stay well this winter

This winter season, more people are getting and being hospitalised with influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and others – it is never too late to vaccinate.

Keeping our school community well - We encourage parents, carers and students to:

wash or sanitise your hands thoroughly and regularly, particularly before and after touching your face
cough or sneeze into your elbow · stay home if unwell and consult your GP or Nurse-on-Call as needed
stay up to date with your flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Flu vaccinations

Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over. Some people are more at risk of severe illness from flu and are eligible for free vaccination as part of the National Immunisation Program.

Flu vaccinations can be booked through GPs and pharmacies. Many can give a COVID-19 booster at the same time.

COVID-19 booster

The COVID-19 booster dose is available for everyone aged 18 and over. Regular COVID-19 vaccinations are the best way to prevent severe illness or hospitalisation, especially in people aged over 65 and those at higher risk of severe illness.

Children aged between 5 and 17 years who are at risk of severe illness can also receive a booster dose. You can get your booster at your local pharmacy or GP. The COVID-19 vaccine clinic finder can tell you if you need a booster, and where to get one.

RSV vaccinations for mothers and babies

RSV is a common virus that causes colds and ear infections. In babies, it can cause severe illnesses like bronchiolitis.

The RSV vaccine is available for pregnant women as part of the National Immunisation Program. In Victoria, eligible babies can also get the RSV vaccine until Tuesday 30 September 2025. For more information, refer to Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunisation. You can speak with your GP or midwife about the vaccine.

Find out more

For more information about staying well this winter, refer to:

your GP or pharmacist
Better Health Channel – Don’t Risk the Flu campaign with translated resources, influenza and other vaccine information.
Better Health Channel – RSV vaccine for mothers and infants
Raising Children Network – influenza, COVID-19, bronchiolitis and helping your child prepare for vaccination.

Staff work times

Office hours 8.30am-4.30pm

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 8.40am-4.40pm

Thursday and Friday 8.40am-3.40pm

All teachers are committed to staff meetings on Monday and Wednesday 3.40-4.40pm

Students are supervised from 8.40am before school and until 3.40pm after school.

Staff arrive at school between 8am and 8.30am, please refrain from arriving at school before 8.30am (walking, riding, drop off).

Please also avoid parking in the driveways of nearby houses, even for a quick student drop off or pick up, as this results in residents being unable to leave their property.

Road Safety

Please ensure your child is using care when walking/travelling to and from school;

Check for oncoming traffic, and wait for the crossing supervisor to blow their whistle, before crossing the road
If travelling on a bike, use the left bicycle lane on the road to avoid any potential collision or confusion for other road users

Sunsmart

A reminder to apply sun cream each morning before school, and children must wear their hats when outside from mid August until the end of April.

Mobile Phones

As per Department of Education (DET) policy, students are not permitted mobile phones at school (unless there is a medical reason). All WEPS students must hand their phones in to the office each morning and collect them each night. These are stored in a secure drawer during the school day.

Parent/student communication/messages

Please refrain from communicating on private devices (ie smartwatch or iPad) during the school day. If communication is required, please communicate information through the school office (NB teachers do not check Seesaw/Compass during the school day, due to their teaching commitments, messages may be missed). Please phone though messages between 9 and 2.30pm to ensure your child receives the message. If your child is unwell or needs to speak with you, they can inform their classroom teacher and they will arrange for this to occur.

Privacy reminder for our school community

Our school collects and uses student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy and the Schools’ Privacy Collection Notice (see school website).

Our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Policy – see school website, describes how we collect and use photographs, video and recordings of students. The policy also explains when parent consent is required and how it can be provided and withdrawn.

For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents. This information is also available in ten community languages (contact the office if translation required):

Amharic
Arabic
Dari
Gujarati
Mandarin
Somali
Sudanese
Turkish
Urdu
Vietnamese

Student travel on Country Buses - Reminder

Only students that are registered for travel on their designated country bus are able to use this service.

Bus travellers must only travel to and from their approved bus stop.

The Country bus service is not to be used by any students to attend sports training/work or social purposes.

Parent/Carers are to make their own arrangements in this regard.

Reminder to bus travellers that it is a condition of travel that seatbelts must be worn at all times (where fitted).

Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

Kelp Magazine