College News

2026 Parent Payments will be available on Compass Billing Mid November.  

Elective Subject Payments for 2026 will be charged through compass events. 

Elective subjects such as food studies, woodwork, art and drama subjects carry a high resource cost to the school which is explained in the subject guide. 

Thank you to our parent community for their patience with allocating the School Savings Bonus to school activities.  Please continue to email the school if you wish to use any remaining funds. 

Please check with students before paying for an event or committing to a camp.  We have had a lot of families requesting refunds for camps/events students cannot attend due to other commitments.  Our refund policy states that a refund can only occur if the student has been replaced. We do take out Insurance cover for camps however the claims process is quite rigorous and claims for non-attendance on a camp can only be considered if the student has a doctors certificate stating they are unfit to attend for the dates of the camp. 

We thank you for your cooperation. 

Kind Regards

Robyn Geshev

Business Manager

Camps, Sports & Excursions Fund (CSEF) 2026 

CSEF will be provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to help cover the costs of school camps, sports and excursions. Families holding a valid means-tested concession card for e.g. Veterans Affairs Gold Card, Centrelink Health Care Card (HCC) or Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) and Temporary Foster Parents are eligible to apply.   

A Special Consideration category exists for:  

Refugee and Asylum seeker families and families on temporary protection or Safe Haven Visas who are not permanent residents and do not have access to Centrelink or a have a Health care Card. 

Students in out of home care, including statutory kinship care or foster care. 

Students who are 16 years or older and who hold a valid Concession Card (such as a Youth Allowance Health Care Card or Disability Pension Card) are eligible to apply for CSEF.   

The allowance is paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, sports and excursions for the benefit of your child. The annual CSEF amount per student is $400 for secondary school students.   

CSEF Application Forms 2026 are attached on Compass Newsfeed or can be downloaded on Compass under School Documentation (Two-person icon on Compass dashboard), CSEF. Application Forms are also available at the General Office.  

Please scan the completed and signed CSEF Application Form and a copy of your Centrelink Card and Email to brentwood.sc@education.vic.gov.au  

CSEF Applications for 2026 are Now Open and will Close for processing at the end of Term Two,  Friday 26 June 2026. 

For more information about CSEF and information in other languages CSEF Information Click Here  

Please note late applications cannot be accepted.  

State Schools Relief Year 7 CSEF Uniform Package 2026 

Year 7 students for 2026 who received CSEF in 2025 are entitled to a Uniform Package.  

State Schools Relief Information and Application Forms are attached on Compass under the Compass Newsfeed “State Schools Relief Year 7 CSEF Uniform Package 2026” or can be downloaded on Compass under School Documentation (Two-person icon on Compass dashboard), CSEF. Application Forms are also available at the General Office.  

Applications for the Year 7 Uniform Package for CSEF Recipients are Now Open and will Close at the end of Term 1, 2026, Thursday 02 April 2026.  

Please note late applications cannot be accepted.  

If you have any questions, please contact the school. 

CSEF State Schools Relief Year 7 Uniform Package 2026. 

Who is State Schools Relief? 

State Schools Relief is a not-for-profit organisation that works closely with all government schools across Victoria. Each year State Schools Relief provides assistance to eligible families with school uniforms and footwear. 

2026 Year 7 Uniform Package for CSEF recipients. 

To be eligible to receive the 2026 Year 7 Uniform Package the student must be a Camps, Sports and Excursion Fund (CSEF) recipient in 2025.  

What’s in the 2026 Year 7 Uniform package? 

The 2026 package contains the following items: 

1X Uniform Voucher Value $85 

1 x Pair of Shoes (Lace Up or T-Bar) 

How to Apply for the Year 7 CSEF Uniform Package 2026? 

Information and Application Forms for the Year 7 CSEF Uniform Package are attached on Compass under School Documentation (Two-person icon), CSEF. 

Application Forms are also available at the General Office. 

Applications for the Year 7 Uniform Package for CSEF Recipients are Now Open and will close at the end of Term 1, 2026, Thursday 02 April 2026. 

Please note late applications cannot be accepted. 

Please complete the State Schools Relief Year 7 Uniform Package 2026 Application Form. 

Completed Applications Forms should be emailed to brentwood.sc@education.vic.gov.au  

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) 2026. 

In addition to the State Schools Relief Year 7 Uniform Package 2026 if you are a recipient of a valid means-tested Centrelink Concession Card you are eligible to apply for Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) 2026. CSEF Application Forms and Information for parents are available on Compass, School Documentation (Two person Icon), CSEF. 

CSEF Applications for 2026 close at the end of Term 2, Friday 26 June 2026. Please note late applications cannot be accepted. 

If you have any questions, please contact the school. 

Telephone interpreting service available

The attached flyer offers parents and carers a free inbound telephone interpreting service, which enables you to contact your school with the support of a telephone interpreter. This service ensures that families with limited English proficiency can connect with you and receive the support they need.

To assist with this, please use the simple step-by-step guide that explains how you can call your service using a telephone interpreter.

The guide is available in English and the Top 30 most commonly requested languages by families in Victorian government schools. Translated versions can be easily accessed through the links provided in the English version. 

Reminder on Brentwood's attendance policy:

• Students are on time and ready to learn for the commencement of the first scheduled session, every morning.
• Students are not to leave the school grounds at any time once they have arrived.
• SIGN IN POLICY: Any student who arrives at school after the beginning of the first scheduled session (for any reason) must report to the House Hub and sign in with the School Attendance Officer.
• Habitual lateness to school or class will incur consequences and may result in a student failing to meet attendance requirements for a specific subject.
• Unexplained absences are a breach of the College rules and will incur sanctions.
• SIGN OUT POLICY: Students who need to leave school early must provide a parent/guardian note (hard copy or via Compass) and see the School Attendance Officer.
• Year 12 students leave the school grounds, after the last scheduled session. If a student is not leaving the school after the last scheduled session, they must sign in at the Senior Learning Centre.
• In the case of illness, students MUST report to the General Office (sick bay) before leaving the school grounds.
• Parents contact the school on the day of any absence via Compass, email or phone.

A reminder that if you need to submit your medical certificate, submit it at the Attendance desk in person or by email brentwood.sc@education.vic.gov.au. 

Kind Regards,

Flora Xu

Attendance Officer

EVERY DAY COUNTS 

SECONDARY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE  

Going to school every day is the single most important part of your teenager’s education.  

Students learn new things at school every day – missing school puts them behind.  

SCHOOL IS BETTER WHEN YOUR TEENAGER IS THERE  

Why it’s important  

We all want our students to get a great education, and the building blocks for a great education begin with students coming to school each and every day 

Students develop good habits by going to school every day – habits that are necessary to succeed after school, whether in the workplace or in further study.  

Missing school can have a big impact on students academically and socially. It can affect their test results, including VCE & VCAL, and, just as importantly, it can affect their relationships with other students, and lead to social isolation.  

There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind, and can affect their educational outcomes.  

Each missed day is associated with falling behind in subject topics and assessment tasks, and lead to fewer subject choices and may impact on achievement in years 11 and 12 and post-school pathways.   

Getting in early  

 It’s never too late to improve attendance. Even in the middle years, when school can seem the most challenging for students and when attendance rates can be at their lowest, going to school more often can make a big difference. Every day counts.   

Schools are there to help – if you’re having attendance issues with your child, speak to your child’s House Leader about ways to address those issues.  

IN VICTORIA SCHOOL IS COMPULSORY FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 6 – 17 YEARS  

Student Absences   

The main reasons for absence are:  

Sickness – There are always times when students need to miss school, such as when they’re ill. It’s vital that they’re only away on the days they are genuinely sick, and setting good sleep patterns, eating well and exercising regularly can make a big difference.  

Family holidays - It's vital that holidays are planned during school holidays where possible, and not during the term. If you are planning to go on holiday during term time, make sure that you talk to your school in advance, and work with them to develop an absence learning plan.  

“Day off” – Think twice before letting your teenager have a “day off” as they could fall behind their classmates – every day counts.  

Truancy – This is when students choose not to go to school without their parent’s permission or skip out of school during the day. There can be many reasons for truancy; the best way to address this is for schools and parents to work together.  

While all absences can effect academic performance, DET’s statistics show that unexcused absences are a much stronger indicator of lower reading and maths achievement.  

School refusal - School refusing children experience significant emotional distress not only when going to school but also at the thought of going to school; they may be absent from school for weeks or even months at a time. School refusal differs from truancy as children generally stay home with the knowledge of the parents and despite their best efforts to encourage their child to go to school. See: My child or teenager has anxiety  

BEING AWAY FROM SCHOOL FOR 1 DAY A FORTNIGHT EQUALS MISSING 1.5 YEARS OVER 13 YEARS OF SCHOOL  

If your teenager is away  

If for any reason your teenager must miss school, there are things you can do with the school to ensure they don’t fall behind:  

1. Inform the school via phone or Compass  
2. Find out what work your teenager needs to do to keep up.  
3. Develop an absence learning plan with your teenager’s House Leader and ensure they complete the plan.  

Remember, every day counts. Openly communicating with your teenager’s school about all absences is a good way to prevent attendance issues being escalated to a School Attendance Officer. A School Attendance Officer is a Department of Education and Training Regional Director who has authority to follow up attendance issues. Chronic or ongoing attendance issues that are escalated can lead to an Infringement Notice being issued to parent/s.  

If you’re having attendance issues with your teenager, please let the House Leader know so you can work together to get your teen to school every day.  

TOP ATTENDANCE TIPS FOR PARENTS 

• Schools want to work in partnership with parents – act early if you have any concerns by contacting your child’s school and asking for advice and support. 

• Remember that every day counts. 

• There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind and can affect their educational outcomes and their social connectedness.  

• Talk positively about school and the importance of attending every day.  

• Open and prompt communication with your child’s school about all absences is a good idea.   

• Avoid making routine medical and dental appointments during the school day or planning family holidays during the term.  

• Seek help from your school if you are concerned about your child’s attendance and wellbeing. Schools want to work in partnership with parents to support student attendance and wellbeing.  

FURTHER INFORMATION   

For more information and resources to help address attendance issues, visit:  

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/studentmanagement/attendance/Pages/improve-attendance.aspx  

Discounted School Uniforms

Brentwood has minimal stock of the following items to be cleared out at heavily reduced prices.  Please note these items are ONLY available at the reduced price through the school, NOT at PSW.  

If you are interested in purchasing some items, please contact:

Robyn Geshev via email:  Robyn.Geshev@education.vic.gov.au

OLD STOCK CLEARANCE

Keeping our school community well 

Parents, carers and students are encouraged to:

• wash and sanitise their hands regularly

• avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

• cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing

• stay at home if unwell and consult a general practitioner (GP) or NURSE-ON-CALL as needed

• stay up to date with flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Our school has masks for staff, students and visitors if they want to wear them. 

Public Transport - Prepaid Buses

To support safer bus journeys and the rollout of all door boarding , cash transactions were permanently removed from myki-enabled buses from 13 July 2020. Parents and students can ensure they continue to travel with a valid ticket by using the following:

• Online at ptv.vic.gov.au/myki
• New PTV app
• Auto top up
• Myki Retailers
• Quick top up machines
• Myki machines
• Ticket offices including train stations and PTV Hubs

Prepaid boarding will help reduce travel time for passengers as well as increase the reliability of services and Public Transport Victoria is continuing to make improvements to help passengers' transition to this new model. More information is available at ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki/buy-a-myki-and-top-up/ 

Annual Privacy Reminder

Our school collects, uses, discloses and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy.

Please take time to remind yourself of the school’s collection statement, found on our website.

For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents. This information is also available in nine community languages:

• Amharic
• Arabic
• Dari
• Mandarin
• Somali
• Sudanese
• Turkish
• Urdu
• Vietnamese

Student accident insurance, ambulance cover arrangements and private property brought to school

The Department of Education does not provide personal accident insurance or ambulance cover for students. Parents/carers of students, who do not have student accident insurance/ambulance cover, are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including the cost of ambulance attendance or transport as well as any other transport costs.

Parents/carers can purchase insurance policies from commercial insurers.

Private property brought to school by students, staff or visitors is not insured and the Department does not accept any responsibility for any loss or damage.

This can include mobile phones, calculators, toys, sporting equipment and cars parked on school premises. As the Department does not hold insurance for personal property brought to schools and has no capacity to pay for any loss or damage to such property, students and staff should be discouraged from bringing any unnecessary or particularly valuable items to school.