Thursday 13th February

Principal Report

Today’s report is coming to you from the bus on the way to The LUME as we are on our whole school excursion. We have plenty of excited students and staff and are looking forward to a great day. Thanks to Kate Watkins for organising this for us.

Getting to know you interviews

Yesterday families and class teachers met and discussed everything they need to know to make 2025 a successful year for our students. We find this a vital connection for communication to work in partnership with home and school.

Should you need to have any further meetings throughout the year please arrange to do so by emailing your child’s teacher or the school. If you have any feedback that you would like to provide please do so via emailing menzies.creek.ps@education.vic.gov.au or dale.mcinerney@education.vic.gov.au

Working Bee/ Community BBQ/Picnic – Friday 28 February 3pm – 5pm

Our Term 1 Working Bee day has been set for Friday 28th February from 3pm until 5pm. There will be a barbeque for all attendees and this will be our first community event for this year.

We will be aiming to prune trees and bushes, weed garden beds, some whipper snipping and have a basic tidy up of the school grounds.This is a great way to meet new families and catch up with old friends while helping out the school. Any time and effort would be greatly appreciated.

School Uniform and being SunSmart

Students are required to be in full school uniform. This includes wearing of school hats. Please ensure these are labelled. No hat = no play outside, students will be directed to say under cover to avoid UV by going to the greenspace.

Birthdays – free dress

To make our students feel extra special on their birthday they are able to come in free dress. If the birthday falls on the weekend or the holidays they can arrange a day with their teacher when they will come in free dress.

Annual 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.

Our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Policy, 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 The policy also explains when parent consent is required and how it can be provided and withdrawn.

We ask parents to also review the guidance we provide on how we use Google Workspace for Education safely at the school and what parents can do to further protect their child’s information. If after reviewing the guidance, you have any questions or concerns regarding your child using Google Workspace for Education, please contact the school.

For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents.

Child Safety and Wellbeing at Menzies Creek Primary School: Information for Families and the School Community

Menzies Creek Primary School is committed to providing a child-safe and child-friendly environment, where students are safe and feel safe.

Our child safety and wellbeing policies outline the measures and strategies we have in place to support, promote and maintain the safety and wellbeing of our students:

Child Safety Policy
Child Safety Code of Conduct
Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedures
Appendix A: Legal obligations relating to reporting child abuse
Appendix B: managing disclosures of child abuse. Important information for staff
Aboriginal Learning, Wellbeing and Safety Action Plan
Child Safety Risk Register

As valuable partners in promoting and maintaining child safety and wellbeing at Menzies Creek Primary School we welcome and encourage your feedback.

If you have any suggestions, comments or questions in relation to our child safe policies and practices, please contact me

Volunteers: Working with Children Check

Our school values the many volunteers that assist in our classrooms, at sporting events, on camps and excursions, and at other events and programs. To ensure that we are meeting our legal obligations under the Worker Screening Act 2020 and the Child Safe Standards, Menzies Creek Primary School is required to undertake suitability checks. Specifically, volunteers are required to have a Working With Children Check or equivalent.

Volunteers are asked to produce their valid card to the Office for verification on their first visit to the school in the following circumstances:

Volunteers who are not parent/family members of any student at the school are required to have a WWC Check if they are engaged in child-related work regardless of whether they are being supervised.
Parent/family volunteers who assist in school activities, regardless of whether their own child is participating or not
Parent/family volunteers who assist with excursions (including swimming), camps and similar events, regardless of whether their own child is participating or not.
Parent/community School Council members sitting on School Council,

To ensure you can fully involve yourself in the life of the school I encourage all parents and carers to ensure they have a valid Working With Children Check - they're free for volunteers!

Visitor’s to School

A reminder to everyone that we have a policy which requires all visitors to report to the office first, when entering the school. Should you need to visit the classroom, see your child at recess or are a helper at school, please report to the office first, to sign the visitor’s iPad. This ensures that in an emergency we are able to account for all people at school.

If you are having someone collecting your children that is not on your emergency contact list or does not normally pick up your child, can you please send a note to your teacher or let the office know.

Attendance

All children residing in Victoria aged between 6 and 17 years of age are required to attend school full time unless a formal exemption is granted. Daily attendance is essential to ensure that children have the best opportunity to learn and continue to consolidate their learning. If your child is unwell or going to be absent, please log it on Compass, including the reason for their absence.

Please note that Parent Choice is not a DET-approved absence - any time taken for purely personal reasons should be flagged with the Principal for approval. Teachers will be following up absences in the first instance.

Remember to log in to Compass if your child is going to be absent. If a student is unaccounted for you will be contacted via SMS at 10am. Students arriving after 9am need to come to the office for a late slip to hand to their teacher.

First Aid

If your child is ill at school, or suffers an accident, we will give immediate care and appropriate first aid. However, it is necessary on occasions to contact families. Please make sure you notify the office of any changes to your or your Emergency Contact details as well as mobile phone numbers for our SMS system. Please also keep the Office informed of any change in medical issues faced by your children as this helps us to make the best choices for their welfare.

As we are in the fire season it is a good time to remind our families to ensure that all your details are up to date at the school. If you have changed address, got a new phone number or have a new alternative contact please contact the office to give us the details so that we are able to contact you if required.

Regards,

Dale McInerney

Plot to pot