From the Office
News From the Principal
Raywood Primary School Website
Our school website can be accessed at https://www.raywoodps.vic.edu.au/ . Did you know that is where you can access all sorts of information and content about our school. Newsletter links are available on the site as well as a calendar for important dates, our policies and plans, curriculum and general information about our school.
School Leaders
After a very complicated and stringent process, we have selected our school leaders for 2024 (or maybe they informed us of their newly acquired positions). Regardless we are sure that these two legends will be RESPONSIBLE, RESPECTFUL & RESILIENT leaders of Raywood Primary School in 2024.
We look forward to watching both Kiara and Lillian develop their confidence and leadership skills as we present them with many opportunities to "lead" this year. This afternoon they are off to Melbourne to attend the Young Leaders Conference which will be held on Friday at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
To say that these two were excited and proud to be wearing their new Year Six shirts, is an understatement!
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, (accessible at https://www.raywoodps.vic.edu.au/ ) 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 The policy also explains when parent consent is required and how it can be provided and withdrawn.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 Microsoft 365/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 Microsoft 365/Google Workspace for Education, please contact the school. For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents. https://www.vic.gov.au/schools-privacy-policy
Smile Squad is coming to this school
The Smile Squad team from Bendigo Health are coming to our school in February 2024.
Smile Squad is the Victorian Government free school dental program.
This means all students can get a free dental check-up, preventive services, and treatment at school.
How to access free dental care
We need your consent before we can provide services. Consent is usually provided by a parent or guardian.
Sign up to Smile Squad at: https://bit.ly/smilesquadvic or complete the paper form that was sent home and return to school.
Smile Squad dental packs
All children deserve a healthy smile, and the Smile Squad free school dental program is working hard to help make sure this happens.
Your child(ren) will soon receive a free dental pack to bring home. The dental pack contains a toothbrush, full sized toothpaste, and an oral health brochure. Please take the time to read the brochure. It’s full of helpful hints and tips to help your whole family eat well, drink well and clean well – for life.
Smile Squad provides standard strength fluoride toothpaste that is generally used by ages six and over, unless recommended by a dental or trained health professional.
If your child is under six, please talk to a dental or trained health professional to find out if your child might benefit from using this toothpaste. You can also choose to put the toothpaste away until they turn six or give it to someone else in your family to use.
Do I need to attend my child’s appointment?
No, you do not need to attend your child’s appointment. You can attend if you would like to, and you can take your child to the community dental clinic if you prefer.
The Bendigo Health Smile Squad team look forward to seeing you soon.
As yet we do not have a confirmed date for the initial visit, but believe it to be later in Term One. Please contact the school if you have any questions.
School Council News
Our first meeting for the year will be on Tuesday February 20th at 5pm. All council members should have received a pack earlier in the week (via their little carrier pigeon). Please contact Lisa if your pack seems to have "flown the coop".
Please note: late last year, council approved a whole-school curriculum day for Friday March 1st so that Lisa and Hayden could attend a Maths Conference in Melbourne. However, the lovely Sarah Roediger has offered to take the students on this day, meaning we can save our curriculum day and have our students attend school as normal.
Bree will also be in the office on this day so that we have two adults onsite at all times. There will be no breakfast club on this day.
Lunch Orders
Our updated menu is on the last page of this newsletter, and all families should have received a paper copy last week. A reminder that lunch order day is WEDNESDAY. Students are to bring along an envelope or sealed bag with their order and name on the front (or on a note inside the bag). Change can be provided by Raywood Eats, but please try to have as close as possible to the total enclosed with your order.
That's all for this week- Lisa Duffy
News From Bree in the Office
CAMPS SPORTS AND EXCURSIONS FUND
Families holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply. A Special Consideration category also exists. Schools can receive applications from families over terms one and two.
Families can list more than one student in the one application form if they are attending the same school.
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payments for eligible students to attend activities like:
-school camps or trips.
-swimming and school-organised sports programs
-outdoor education programs
-excursions and incursions.
The CSEF payment cannot be used towards books, stationery, school uniforms. Schools will need permission before allocating CSEF funds and a credit note will stay on the family account until the family advises the school how they want the funds allocated.
Applications can be entered from 31 January 2024. Parents/carers wishing to apply for CSEF payments for 2024 must submit their application form to the school by the 20th of March 2024.
However, a parent/career will only be required to submit an application form to the school in the following circumstances:
-the parent/career is applying for the CSEF payment for the first time – i.e. an application form was not lodged with the school in the previous year; or
-circumstances have changed – e.g. there has been a change in the care arrangement of the student, a change of name or CRN, or a new sibling has commenced at the school and the parent/career wishes to apply for the CSEF payment for the new sibling. I have sent home an application form to each family. If you for any reason require another form, please contact Bree at school.
Thanks Bree
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