Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to week 3 term 1.

Congratulations to our new Prep families on completing the first month of school! We know this is a big transition, and we’re so proud of how our students (and parents and carers) are settling into school.

Prep Playground Upgrade: We are currently in the process of replacing the soft fall of the Prep playground to a rubber material, covered by synthetic turf covering. This will provide a softer fall and be much neater. The maintenance and replacement of soft fall can be expensive, so this is aimed at reducing costs as well.

The long-term plan is to do this with the other playgrounds in the future. The Prep Playground is due to be completed within a 2-week period.

Morning Routine: Whilst there may be many things you need your child’s teacher to know, speaking to them first thing in the morning is not always ideal. The morning routine is very important in ensuring all students enter in a calm, orderly way. Each class has a routine that they follow, which usually begins with the teacher greeting them as they enter, then follow completing simple tasks such as putting their drink bottle in a tub, opening their diaries at the current date etc. Having their parent/carers say goodbye as they enter the classroom, then quickly leave helps them and the rest of the class be ready to learn.

2026 Curriculum Days: We have had 2 of the 4 Curriculum Days for 2026. The next 2 are due on Friday 5th June 2026 and Monday 2nd November 2026. Please mark these in your diaries.

Road Safety Around School: The start of the year is a good time to remind us all about the importance of establishing daily routines, especially around safe travel to school. I have attached a handout for parents from the TAC, which has a QR Code for a short video. It is a bit of a parody of David Attenborough's Nature documentaries. At Melton West PS we are committed to supporting the safety of every child in our school community.

Using the school crossing is VERY important. I have noticed some adults scoot across the road with their child, which gives children the wrong message. They do not have the same spatial awareness to be able to judge the speed of a car and decide if they have enough time to cross. Please be a good role model for not only your child but others who may be watching your behaviour. Children copy what adults do, both in a positive sense, when they see us read, and also when doing things that are not good examples.

“Getting to Know Your Child” Parent/Teacher Interview: Another important way to communicate is via Parent teacher Interviews. We have organised these for Thursday 26th February from 2.00pm – 6.30pm. Information about these and how to book a time will be sent home shortly and posted on all the above communication platforms. If you would like help setting up an interview time, please call the office on 9743 5818.

School Council Vacancies: Each year in March we call for nominations for School Council members. A new rule has come into play effective 2026 and all new school Councillors will require a Volunteer Working with Children Check to be able to nominate themselves. If you are considering nominating yourself, please start the process for a Working With Children’s Check now, so that you have it at the time of nominations. If you would like further information, I would be happy to talk to you about what the functions of School Council.

Attendance on Hot Days: It is important that students come to school everyday when they are well, including on hot days. We are fortunate to have our learning spaces air-conditioned, so the room temperatures are comfortable. We also call a Hot Day Timetable for recess and lunch if the temperatures hit about 34 degrees, so children stay inside to play on these extreme temperature days. They may go outside at recess if it is below 34, but stay inside at lunch if the temperature hits 34 before 1.30pm. Supplying your child with an ice-old drink bottle and a broad-rimmed hat also helps.

High Levels of Learning for All

Michelle Costa

Principal

Community