Hello everyone,

Arrival and pick up times at school.

The ideal time for students to arrive at school is 8:30am. Why is this the ideal time? Well, staff are on duty in the yard, students can drop their bag to their classroom, get ready for their learning day and have time to catch up with their friends outside for a play. Any student who needs to be dropped to school earlier than 8:30am must be booked in to our Before School OSHC service. To enrol your child go to- https://childrensprograms.ymca.org.au/outside-school-hours-care/bendigo-violet-street-primary-ironbark

Our first bell goes at 8:45am, if your child arrives after 8:45am they must come past the office to collect a late pass and have their late arrival logged on Sentral.

Pick up time is 3:10pm, please try and avoid picking your child up early. Collecting your child even 15 minutes early each day adds up to missing more than an hour of learning over a week.

We understand that you don't always get to choose when medical appointments can be booked, however again, do your best to avoid school hours, or, if they need to leave during the day, return them to school after the appointment.

How to tell us if your child is going to be away?

The best way to let us know is to enter your child's absence on the Sentral app. Student's should only be away because they are unwell, they have a medical appointment or you have an important family commitment.

Parking and driving near our school.

There has been some crazy driver behaviour happening out there! We shouldn't need to give reminders about how to drive and park safely near our school but here we go-

*Only park where there are marked parking bays. You are not allowed to park close to the school crossing, that's why there are no parking bays marked there!

*Only park in the disability parking bays if you have the appropriate permit, the permit is displayed on your windscreen and the person the permit applies to is getting in or out of the car.

*When someone is waiting to use the school crossing, you MUST stop, even if the flags are not out.

*U-turns near a school crossing are illegal and dangerous!

*It is a 40km speed limit on the streets around our school- stick to that or go slower!

*U-turns at the Webster St/Old Violet st intersection are illegal. Drive to the end of Webster st to the turning circle.

Let's make sure we are all doing our best to keep everyone safe.

Reminder- Term 1 Goal setting meetings.

Our term 1 Goal setting meetings are in week 4, Monday 16 Feb to Friday 20th. Bookings opened in the Sentral app on Thursday 5th Feb at 9am. Make sure you have notifications turned on in your Sentral app so you receive the message telling you that bookings are open.

Our Goal setting meetings are an opportunity for students, teachers and parents/carers to work together to support the child to acheive their best. I strongly encourage you to make a time to meet with your child's teacher and get the learning partnership off to a strong start.

We have some questions we use to guide our goal setting meetings. Here they are so you have time to think about what you would like to tell your child's teacher-

1. Tell me about your child's strengths and interests.

2. What do you think will help your child have a successful learning year?

3. Is there a curriculum area or skill you would like your child to have a goal for?

*Foundation parents/carers, Bianca will be meeting with you on a Wednesday so you do not need to book a Goal Setting meeting.

Camps, Sports and Excursions fund.

The Camps, Sports, and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payment for eligible students to attend camps, sports and excursions . It also provides a Prep Winter Uniform Package to families through State Schools Relief. Families holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply. If you are unsure if you are eligible, we can submit the application into the CSEF system for validation This year CSEF has increased to $400 per year for eligible primary school students. Payments are made directly to the school and are tied to the student or their siblings. .

Applications must be submitted to the school by 26th June, see Lou at the office for an application form.

School photos.

School photo day is Wednesday 4 March. More information will be sent home closer to the day.

The first full week has been fabulous. Our students are showing us they can follow our expectations and our Foundation students are very quick learners,picking up our school routines and expectations with the minimum of fuss. Our school is feeling calm and settled- well done everyone!

warm regards,

Carolyn.

School banking details.

Westpac.

Bendigo Violet Street Primary

BSB: 033-688

Account number: 93-1292

Payment reference: use your surname and fees.

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