Some words from the Principal

It is with both sadness and immense gratitude that we bid farewell to our beloved librarian, Jayne, who has been an integral part of the Karoo Primary School staff since 2008.   Over the past 16 years, Jayne has worn many hats, each one with dedication, passion, and a focus on enriching the learning experiences of our students.

Jayne first joined us in the classroom, where she provided invaluable support to students and teachers alike. Her work in numeracy intervention helped countless students build confidence and develop skills that have served them well throughout their school years.  Jayne is moving employment areas to work with dogs which is her passion. 

More recently, her role in the library has made her an irreplaceable asset. Since transitioning into the library space, Jayne has truly made it her own. Her ongoing moving displays, always of the highest quality, have captivated both staff and students. These displays, thoughtfully linked to school themes, have brought the library to life, making it a vibrant hub of learning and imagination. Beyond the displays, Jayne has gone above and beyond to support classroom teachers by sourcing mentor texts and resources relevant to their integrated topics, fostering a rich environment for inquiry-based learning.  Jayne is also a huge support to Archie and you will often find him in the library with her. 

Jayne’s contribution to Karoo Primary has been immeasurable. Her creativity, dedication, and passion for fostering a love of reading and learning in our students will be deeply missed.  She also played a pivotal role in bringing a Wellbeing Dog to Karoo (Archie). 

We wish Jayne all the very best in her future endeavours (with animals) and hope she looks back on her time at Karoo with as much pride as we do. Thank you, Jayne! 

I’m pleased to announce that Instrumental music lessons are back in Term 4. 

Instrumental Music at Karoo

We are thrilled to be partnering with NoiseCraft Studio, who will be bringing their fantastic instrumental music program to our school. They’ll be providing Piano, Drums and Guitar lessons, offering our students a great opportunity to dive into music. NoiseCraft comes highly recommended by many local schools, so we know we’re in good hands.

Learning an instrument is a wonderful way for our students to explore their creativity. It helps them grow academically and emotionally, creating a well-rounded learning experience, and I can already imagine the excitement this will bring.

Be sure to look out for their newsletter ad and flyers sent home with the children over the next couple of weeks.

Thank You for a Fantastic Father's Day Breakfast!

A heartfelt thank you to all the families who joined us for our Father's Day Breakfast and classroom activities! It was wonderful to see so many dads, grandfathers, and special guests enjoying time with the children. From card games and reading together to making paper airplanes and chatterboxes, the classrooms were buzzing with excitement and creativity.

The atmosphere was filled with warmth and connection, making this year’s event the biggest turnout we have ever seen. We truly appreciate your involvement and the special memories created with the students. Thank you for making this day so memorable and a HUGE thankyou to our ever amazing KPA for the yummy breakfast! 

Karoo Family Fun Night – Week 1, Term 4

We’re excited to announce that our annual Karoo Family Fun Night will be happening in the first week of Term 4!  (Thursday 10th October). This much-anticipated event will resemble our previous Father’s Day Night, filled with games, laughter, and, of course, pizza! It’s always been such a fantastic night of community spirit, and we look forward to another memorable evening with you all.

Letters have been sent home today with details on how to pre-order pizzas, so be sure to place your orders by Wednesday 18th September to enjoy dinner on the night. It’s a wonderful opportunity to relax and spend some quality time with your children and the wider Karoo community.

If the weather cooperates over the break, we’re hopeful that the new futsal court will be installed and ready for some friendly competition!

We can’t wait to see you there for what promises to be another fun-filled night!

School Saving Bonus (also posted on compass)

In Term 4, 2024, families with a child enrolled in a government school from Prep to Year 12 in 2025 will receive the one-off $400 School Saving Bonus. The $400 School Saving Bonus provides families with support for education-related costs, such as school activities and/or school uniforms and textbooks.

The School Saving Bonus is not available for full-fee international students, home schooled students, TAFE students and students attending kindergarten in 2025.   

Actions for parents and carers:

Before 18 October 2024, the Department of Education is asking parents and carers to:

• Complete enrolment: If your child or children are changing government schools for Term 1 2025, or starting Prep or Year 7 in 2025. For more information, read about Enrolling in School. 
• Check your contact information: Ensure your email address and phone number is up to date with us. You can check this information by contacting us directly.

We need to ensure your contact information is up to date as the Department of Education will email you twice:

• in October, to verify your email address
• in November, with your $400 School Saving Bonus.

Please check your junk mail regularly to make sure you do not miss an important email.

To learn more about the School Saving Bonus, download the School Saving Bonus Information sheet for government school parents and carers by visiting vic.gov.au/school-saving-bonus. 

Right to Disconnect

As you would be aware, recent amendments to the Fair Work Legislation came into effect last Monday, the Department of Education provided it’s response to this noting the rights of all staff to disconnect. These new provisions will be adopted alongside the department’s existing industrial and employment obligations, including occupational health and safety commitments. The legislation makes it explicit that all employees have the right to refuse contact from their employer or a third party (such as a parent or families) outside of their normal working hours unless that refusal is unreasonable. This means an employee can refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact that occurs outside their normal working hours.

Where principals, or regional and central department staff contact school employees outside normal working hours, staff have the right to refuse contact outside their normal working hours unless this is unreasonable. Several factors must be considered when determining whether an employee’s choice not to respond is unreasonable. 

As you are aware, our staff work incredibly hard with many staff working in excess of 15-20 hours per week beyond their Monday – Friday teaching commitments. I welcome and appreciate your support where communicating with staff and as we look to support and implement the amendments to Fair Work Legislation.  

Have a wonderful week and I look forward to seeing you around the school,

Regards,

Danielle Heatley

Principal