Reminders

Event	Consent/Payment Due Date	Amount

2024 Parent Voluntary Financial Contributions

Please find attached the 2024 Parent Voluntary Financial Contribution letter to parents. The covering letter from School Council gives a summary of how the Parent Voluntary Financial Contribution gives our students the best support to enhance their education while at Ringwood North Primary School

Our Parent Voluntary Financial Contributions are sent out to all families of students annually at the end of Term 4. We would like to encourage all our families to consider contributing at the start of the year (Term 1).

Payment is made through the Compass Portal and will be open for payments at the end of this term. Parents can submit payment this way, or there is the option to pay at the office by cash, card or cheque if preferred from Term 1.

School activities, incursions, excursions, and sports that require permission and payment for students are communicated as events through the Compass Portal leading up to the date of the event. Parents will receive communications each time an event is posted.

The Camps Sports and Excursion fund is available to eligible parents to assist with payments of school activities. Please complete an application form and return it to the office with a copy of your Centrelink Card. If you are an existing family new students need to be added to your application. Further information has been included in the newsletter.

Families requiring assistance with payment of activities are encouraged to speak to Ricarda Lillis (Business Manager) as the school can offer families different support options, including with the purchase of uniforms.

Lost Property

PLEASE encourage your children to come and check the Lost Property tub at the office (just past the glass double doors) for any missing items. Sometimes the items appear days later, so we ask that you advise your children to keep checking lost property and not to check "just once". Parents are also welcome to come and look through the tub.

*Please note that any items that have not been collected by the end of term, will be disposed of, as we do not have the space to store these items.

RNPS Family Christmas Tree

Our Family Christmas Tree looks amazing and we thank all of you for making it look so great! We've loved seeing all of your amazing baubles and look foward to continuing the tradition each year!

Centenary Souvenirs

Centenary Souvenirs are available to order at the office.

Don't miss out - place your order now!

See below for items and prices.

CSEF (Camps, Sport & Excursions Fund)

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.

Eligibility

On the first day of term one (30 January 2024 or the first day of term two 24 April 2024), a parent or legal guardian of a student must:

be an eligible beneficiary of one of these cards:
Veterans Affairs Gold Card
Centrelink Health Care Card
Pensioner Concession Card
OR they must be a temporary foster parent
OR the student is 16 years or older and holds a valid concession card (such as a Youth Allowance Health Care Card)
AND the parent or legal guardian must submit an application by the due date.

Parents who receive a carer allowance on behalf of a child, or any other benefit or allowance not income tested by Centrelink, are not eligible for the CSEF unless they also comply with the above.

Eligibility will be determined when the parent’s concession card successfully validates with Centrelink on either the first day of term one or term two.

If the eligible card is in the name of the student, the fund is only granted to that student, not their siblings.

Primary school student rate: $150 per year

Schools are able to accept and process applications up until the end of term two each year. CSEF payments are made to schools from March onwards each year. Application forms are attached. Please complete and return this form to us along with a copy of your concession card. The CSEF program for 2024 closes on the 28th June 2024.

Smile Squad Six Month Fluoride Varnish Visit

The EACH Smile Squad team are heading back to our school on December 12th and 13 to complete six-monthly fluoride varnish applications for those students who have provided consent. Fluoride varnish applications help make sure students have the best chance of preventing tooth decay, so we’re excited Smile Squad are coming back.

Consent for this fluoride varnish application was provided when students’ initial consent forms were returned. However, if anyone has changed their mind and do not wish to receive a fluoride varnish application, they can contact EACH directly to let them know. Please contact the Smile Squad team via:

9757 6209

Smile.squad@each.com.au

The Smile Squad team look forward to visiting soon.

Changing Schools?

If you are relocating to a different school in 2024, could you please notify the office as soon as possible so that we can update our records.

Hayfever season

Just a reminder that with Spring comes hayfever. If you tend to treat your child's hayfever symptoms with medicine and would like them to be able to take some when required at school, visit Nat, Liz, Donna and Elle at the front desk to arrange a 'Medical Administration Authorisation Form' and to leave your child's medicine in the first aid room.

Resources in Compass

All relevant school information can be found in Compass under the "Resources" tab. This can be found by clicking on the pencil icon on the top task bar. If you are using the app, you will need to select "Open in Browser" from the menu and then click on the pencil icon from there.

Staff Car Park

Just a friendly reminder that for the safety of our students, the staff car park is only to be used by staff during the hours of 8:30am - 4pm and for OSHC drop off & pick up.

School Pick-Up Zone

Please be aware that the pick-up & drop-off zone at the front of the school is only to be used for quick dropping off & picking up of students. Vehicles must not be parked in this lane, as it stops the flow of cars. This means that parents/carers are not permitted to leave their vehicle. The local council has advised us that they have parking officers who regularly drive around the schools in our area to monitor this. Please be mindful of these rules, as we do not want any one in our community to be issued with any fines.

Hats are back!

September 1st means hats on heads!! If your child hasn't brought their hat to school yet, can you please remind them to do so!

In accordance with the Department of Education and Training guidelines the School Council of Ringwood North Primary School introduced compulsory school uniform. All students of the school will wear the correct uniform at all times. Please view the attachment below for the school uniform guidelines (this can also be found under "Resources" in Compass).

Medical Plans and Medication

Up to date medical plans for your child must be prepared by your GP. The colour copy (with your child's photo attached) should be provided to the office, together with up to date student medication.

Working With Children Check - Parent/Carer Volunteers

Parents, carers and grandparents volunteering their time to assist at school or with school activities such as excursions, sporting events or camps must have a Working With Children Check and be registered at the office.

Financial Support for Families

Ringwood North Primary School understands that some families may experience financial difficulty and offers a range of support options, including the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) and alternative payment arrangements. If you have any queries or wish to discuss your circumstances and possible options, please contact the office to make an appointment with the Business Manager or the Principal.

School Office Hours & Contact Details

Our school office operates between the hours of 8.30am to 4pm

Ph 9876 3411

ringwood.north.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Parents and Friends Association