News from the Finance Department
2024 College Contributions
Heathmont College is looking forward to another great year of teaching and learning in 2024 and advise that the Heathmont College’s voluntary financial contributions for 2024 will be posted via Compass mid November. Contributions will sit in your Compass Parent Payment Portal and you can make a ‘one-off’ payment or smaller instalments if you choose.
The ongoing financial support of our families ensures that our school can offer the best possible education and support for our students. All contributions make a huge difference to our school and the programs we can offer.
Extra-Curricular Items & Activities (user-pays) includes the Sports Academy, Instrumental Music, Camps, Excursions ‘any item or activity that are above and beyond what the school provides free to deliver the Curriculum’.
For further information on the Department’s Parent Payments Policy please visit: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/PAL/parent-payments-one-page-overview.docx
2024 Sports Academy
The Sports Academy Program is an opt-in, extra-curricular program. Once your child has been accepted into the 2024 Program, you will be able to access this charge or set up a ‘Recurring Contribution’ (Payment Instalment Plan) via Compass. More information will come out about this shortly.
Camps, Sports, Excursions Fund (CSEF) 2024
Every Victorian child should have access to the world of learning opportunities that exist beyond the classroom. The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) will ensure that no student will miss out on the opportunity to join their classmates for important, educational and fun activities.
CSEF is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities. If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. The allowance will be paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions, or sporting activities for the benefit of your child.
The CSEF amount in 2023 was $225 for Secondary School Students.
If your child/children received CSEF in 2023 at Heathmont College, the school will automatically apply on your behalf. If you are new to the College or are recently new to receiving a Health Care Card or similar, please contact the school office to obtain a CSEF application form or download one from http://www.education.vic.gov.au/csef
Students who received CSEF at their 2023 primary school ($125 per year) and have not used the total amount will have those funds transferred to Heathmont College for subsequent use.
Compass Parent Portal
A reminder that you can download the Compass app from Google Play or the App Store™. Choose ‘Heathmont College’ from the dropdown list and enter your unique login details. You (Primary Family) can ring the office to request a temporary password re-set if required.
Compass Sports/Excursion Events
Term 4 is a busy one and a suggestion to families is to check your Compass Parent Portal at least twice a week for upcoming Incursion, Excursion and Sporting Events as cut-off dates for Consent and or Payments will be strictly enforced. A tight turnaround is required due to transport requirements, attendance limits, first aid packs to be organised etc. The re-opening of Events after the cut-off date is not best practice and will only be done in exceptional circumstances.
Compass Attendance
If your student is going to be late for school, please add an Attendance Note. You can use the drop-down for the reason and add the applicable start time. Students are required to sign in at the office when arriving late to school. If your student is leaving during the day for an appointment, you can also use the above method and add the actual time away from school.
Student ID Cards
It is a requirement for students to carry their Compass ID Card on them daily for attendance purposes, printing, canteen, and personal identification. If a student has lost their card or comes to the office on a regular basis to sign in late without their card, a new Compass ID Card will need to be ordered by you via: Compass / Cog / CompassIdentity Card / Order New Card and pay the replacement cost. Please be aware that your students’ 2023 Compass Card is VALID UNTIL a new one is issued in 2024 (usually late March).
2023 Instrumental Music
Thank you for your support of the 2023 Instrumental Music Program. Instrumental Music is an opt-in, extra-curricular program provided by the college and as such, attracts a compulsory charge. There will be more information regarding the enrolment process and fees for 2024, in Term 4.
The office welcomes your questions, suggestions or feedback and we look forward to assisting you in Term 4, 2023 and in 2024.