Principals Message

Tips for starting school

Starting primary school can be an exciting and nerve-wracking experience for both children and parents. Here are some tips to make the first day of school as smooth and stress-free as possible:

Prepare the night before: Lay out clothes, pack the backpack, and make sure all necessary items are ready to go. This will help avoid any last-minute rush in the morning.

Wake up early: Give yourself and your child enough time to get ready and arrive at school on time.

Start a routine: Establish a morning routine, such as breakfast, getting dressed, and brushing teeth, that can be followed every day. This helps create a sense of stability and routine.

Make it fun: Encourage your child by talking about the exciting things they will do at school, such as learning new things, making new friends, and participating in fun activities.

Take care of the basics: Ensure that your child has a healthy breakfast and is dressed appropriately for the weather and the school's dress code.

Get to know the school: Arrive early and take a tour of the school to help your child get familiar with their new surroundings.

Connect with the teacher: Introduce yourself to your child's teacher and discuss any concerns or questions you may have. This will help establish a positive relationship and open lines of communication.

Be supportive: Offer words of encouragement and support to help your child feel confident and ready for the first day of school.

Be on time for pick-up: Make sure to be on time for pick-up to show your child that you are reliable and dependable.

Starting primary school is an important step in a child's development, and with these tips, parents can help make the transition as smooth and stress-free as possible. Good luck!

School Council Elections

School Council is responsible for determining the policy framework for our school and provides an excellent opportunity for parents to participate in planning for the future of our young people. There are eight elected parents on our Council each member holding the position for a two-year term. This year, two year terms expire for;  Jade Farmer and Cynthia Coulson and Rick White, our staff representative. On behalf of the school community I wish to thank these parents for their service and contribution to our school throughout their last term.   The commitment and support these parents have shown for all our students is very much appreciated.   

At this time we also wish to recognize the service of Sarah Brown who resigned from School Council at the end of last year in order to persue further studies in Teaching. 

On behalf of the school community, we thank Sarah for her commitment to our students and their families over a number of years.  We also acknowledge the important role Sarah played as School Council Vice President. 

Our school is now seeking the nominations of three (3) parent representatives to fill vacated positions.  We expect two current members are likely to re-nominate for election at the end of their current term.  Later in this newsletter, I have included details of the elections for Parent and Department of Education employee members of the School Council.  In addition we are seeking the nominations of 2 staff representatives to fill vacated positions.  

Please note that nominations open Friday 17th Feburary 2023 close 4pm on Friday 24th February.

Nomination forms are available at the School Administration Office or via email trafalgar.ps@education.vic.gov.au Please call the Principal on 5633 1566 if you are interested as we would be pleased to discuss your possible participation on the Council in more detail.

Information for Parents

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 and Training (DET) employees can be Parent members at their child’s school as long as they are not employed at the school.

A mandated elected DET 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. DET 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

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.

DET 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 in the mail 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

• Please ask at the school for help if you would like to stand for election and are not sure what to do
• Consider standing for election to council this year
• Be sure to vote in the elections
• Contact the principal for further information
• Nomination forms must be lodged by 4pm on Wednesday 24th February 2023.
• The ballot will close at 4 pm on Friday 10 March 2023.

Help with school costs

Trafalgar Primary School Parents Encourage families at your schools to contact you if they are having difficulty with school costs. Programs like Affordable School Uniforms and the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund can help with the cost of school uniforms and other essential school items as well as school activities for eligible students.

For more information for parents, refer to Help with school costs and fees.