Principal
Mr Chris Grimmer
Phone Policy
A reminder that the Department of Education has in place a mobile phone ban that requires students who bring mobiles phones to school to have them switched off and securely put away during school hours.
The department is requiring all schools to ensure this ban is in place and enforced from the start of the 2024 school year.
The ban applies equally to all government schools right across the state.
This helps ensure that school is a learning environment free from unnecessary distractions and disruptions.
By ensuring mobile phones are kept away at recess and lunch times, students can interact with each other face-to-face, without the distractions and social pressures that mobile phones can cause.
I ask for the support of all our families, staff and students in continuing to support the implementation of this policy in our school.
Any student who takes their phone to class or in the yard will have their phone confiscated and placed in the Main Office until end of the day, where they will be able to collect it. A second offence will mean a parent is required to collect the phone from the main office.
We would prefer not to do this which is why we ask that all students support us by adhering to the phone policy.
Further information
Exceptions: For a small number of students with particular health needs, an exception to the policy may be granted. Please contact Chris Grimmer (Principal) if you would like to discuss this.
Emergencies: In the event of an emergency or if you need to immediately contact your child, I ask that families contact the school office who will pass on a message as required.
School mobile phone policy: A copy of our school’s local mobile phone policy, which implements the government’s mobile policy in line with our local context, is available on the college website.
Parent support: The Mobile phones in schools webpage provides links to resources for families to help them balance their children’s time using mobile phones.
Reminder: Term 1 Student Free Day - Tomorrow, Friday February 23rd
As per the recent Compass post, Merbein P-10 College School Council has approved a Student Free Day on Friday 23rd February.
This day has been allocated so that our secondary staff can continue the work they started last year with Janelle McGann, from Leading Learning Consultancy, on differentiated practice. This work is vital to build the skills and knowledge of our staff to cater for the wide range of students we have at the college. Our Assistant Principal, Casey Stoetzer, will be leading the professional learning for our primary staff on this day.
Whilst all staff are required that day, no students will attend school on the Friday.
Reminder: 2024 Merbein P10 College Council Election Process
Due to the scheduled expiry of their terms of office, several members of Council will be retiring in accordance with DET guidelines and the Council Constituting Order. Consequently, the following vacancies are being declared:
- 3 Parent category vacancies
- 1 DET category vacancies
- 2 Student vacancies (filled by the 2024 SRC leaders)
One Co-opted Community position will be filled by the newly formed council following the conclusion of elections.
If either or both categories (Parent or DET) have more nominations than positions then a ballot will be conducted. All parents or guardians of students enrolled at the school are eligible to vote for parent members, and staff vote for staff members.
Parents who are DET employees may stand for election in the Parent category, but only up to a maximum of two. This is to ensure that the majority of the college council is created through a combination of parent and community members and not DET employees.
Nominations for a position on the Merbein P-10 College Council will open on Friday February 9th and close on Friday February 23rd, 2024.
The school council will continue to play a vital role in achieving the best-possible outcomes for our young people and in ensuring that our school continues to build effective connections with the local community. I therefore encourage parents and staff to consider nominating for a position on the Merbein P-10 College Council and to support us in the important work that lies ahead.
Parent nomination forms will be available at the school office for any parent considering nominating. If you would like a nomination form to be emailed directly to you, please contact the General Office.
As mentioned above, if there are more nominations than vacancies, an election will be called and candidates will be invited to prepare a statement of no more than 150 words. More details about the recommended content of statements will be provided for candidates if this occurs.
Building Project Update
The work on Stage 3 of our building project is well and truly underway, with framing started this week and steelwork planned for the coming two weeks. The photos below show the progress that is being made on the new admin and cafeteria and the final two images display what the new front entrance of the college will look like when the work is completed in July/August.
