CSEF

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) is a government payment available to eligible school students.

To qualify, you must hold a Health Care Card, Pension Card, or Veterans Affairs Gold Card.

If you meet the eligibility criteria and have not yet completed a CSEF application form, please fill out the attached form and return it to the college before the 1st July 2025.

Eligible students will receive:

$256 for Secondary College students
$154 for Primary School students

From 2026 all eligible students will receive $400

These funds can be used for camps, excursions, school-organised activities, sporting events, and graduations.

School is better when your child is there

Why is it important?

We all want our students to get a great education, and the building blocks for a great education begin with students coming to school each and every day.

If students miss school regularly, they miss out on learning the fundamental skills that will set them up for success in the later years of school.

There is no safe number of days for missing school - each day a student misses puts them behind, and can affect their educational outcomes.

Days missed = Years lost

1 day per fortnight = they miss 4 weeks per year and over 1 year of their schooling life

1 day per week = they miss 8 weeks per year and over 2.5 years of their schooling life

Top attendance tips for parents

Merbein P10 wants to work in partnership with parents - act early if you have any concerns by contacting your child's school and asking for advice and support
Remember that every day counts
There is no safe number of days for missing school - each day a student misses puts them behind, and can affect their educational outcomes and their social connectedness
Talk positively about school and the importance of attending every day
Open and prompt communication with the school about all absences is a good idea
Avoid making routine medical and dental appointments during the school day or planning family holidays during the term
Seek help from your school if you are concerned about your child's attendance and wellbeing. The school wants to work in partnership with parents to support student attendance and wellbeing.

Kiss & Go Usage and Safe Driving

Our senior school SRC Leaders have expressed their concern about the way many of our parents are misusing the 'Kiss & Go' area at the front of the school. This space is not to be used

if you intend to get out of your car and meet your child in the school yard. You must remain in your vehicle and move on as soon as your child meets you and is safely in your car. This helps to avoid the build up of traffic and keeps our children safe. If you need to stop or get out of your car, please use the parking area at the rear of the school near Game Street.

Our school leaders have also observed a number of vehicles completing U Turns in the front of the school which is extremely dangerous at drop off and pick up times. Please drive on until you have cleared the busy school area before completing a U Turn, or preferably just drive around the block, as this will improve student safety markedly in the front of the school.

Primary students in particular should be dropped off on the school side of the road and not expected to cross the busy Commercial Street to enter school, as this is very dangerous pratice.

A big thanks to our student leaders for monitoring this area and thank you for helping to keep our children safe!

Supervision of Students in the Yard

Yard duty teachers from the Secondary area are on yard duty from 8.20 am, and the Primary area from 8.40am before school and until the final bus departs in the bus area at 4 pm after school. During recess and lunch, teachers from both Primary and Secondary sections are on duty to ensure students are in the appropriate areas and are participating safely in activities. Please ensure students do not arrive at school before 8:15am unless they are travelling on one of the early school buses, as they are not supervised in the yard. Any students who arrive prior to supervision starting will be directed to sit in the cafeteria.

Updating Details

Have you changed your address or phone number in the past three months or has your family situation changed? If so it is important that you pass on your new details to the school. Please contact the school office between 8am and 4.30pm school days or email merbein.p10@education.vic.gov.au

Canteen Prices

Secondary

Primary

Uniform Shop

School uniforms can be purchased from the school’s main office between the hours of 8am and 4.00pm during the school week. If these hours are inconvenient for you, please ring the school to make an alternate arrangement.

School Bank Account

BSB - 633 000

Bank Acc Number – 176208320

Account Name - Merbein P-10 College Official Account

Breakfast Club

The Merbein & District Community Bank is financially supporting the Breakfast Program. Foodbank Victoria also supports the breakfast program with donations of food.

The Breakfast Program is held in the school cafeteria. All students are welcome to come along between 8.15am and 8.45am each morning if they would like a FREE tasty breakfast to kick-start their day's learning.

Student Absences

If your child is away from school, please notify the school before 9.30am. The preferred method to notify of absences is via the compass portal or by phone or sending an email to the following email address: heather.collihole@education.vic.gov.au

An automated text message will be sent to your phone if your child is not at school and the school has not been notified.

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