News from the Office

Grassfire Preparedness

Ahead of the upcoming fire season, Ceres PS has been assessed as Category 4 on the Bushfire At-Risk Register list, meaning we are in an area considered at some risk of grassfire.

Please see the below attachment for important information on our bushfire preparations, including information on school closures on days with a Catastrophic fire danger rating:

School Saving Bonus

In Term 4, 2024, families with a child enrolled in a government school from Prep to Year 12 in 2025 will receive the one-off $400 School Saving Bonus.

The $400 School Saving Bonus provides families with support for education-related costs, such as school activities and/or school uniforms and textbooks.

The School Saving Bonus is not available for full-fee international students, home schooled students, TAFE students and students attending kindergarten in 2025.   

Actions for parents and carers

Before 18 October 2024, the Department of Education is asking parents and carers to:

• Complete enrolment: If your child, or children are changing government school for Term 1 2025, or starting Prep or Year 7 in 2025. For more information, read about Enrolling in School. 
• Check your contact information: Ensure your email address and phone number is up to date with us. You can check this information on your Compass account.

We need to ensure your contact information is up to date as the Department of Education will email you twice:

• in October, to verify your email address
• in November, with your $400 School Saving Bonus.

A reminder that if you are moving on from Ceres PS next year to also notify us by 18 October so the funds are distributed to the 

Carpark Bus Zone reminder

A reminder, as per Jess' Compass post, to please note that the Bus Zone, located directly in front of the school gate is a No Standing or Parking Zone. Please leave this space free and do not park here. It poses a safety problem for cars entering or leaving the car park, particularly the disabled car park when cars are parked or stationary in this spot. 

The carpark is very congested at 3pm and it can be challenging to find a car park, but it is a lot emptier around 3:10pm. Teacher supervision of students is from 3pm until 3:15pm. Thank you for your co-operation. 

Photography, Filming and Recording Students Policy

DET has updated how we are to manage our photography, filming and recording of students. Please see the below attachment for our updated policy. 

As of 2025 a new, one-off, consent form will replace the online annual form we currently complete. This will not come into effect until next year. 

Beleza Uniforms School Holiday Hours

A reminder to label uniform items to avoid them being lost!

Music Bus lessons

The Music Bus has opened their Term 4 enrolments and are inviting new students to apply. 

Classes offered are: 

· Keyboard (Prep-y6) 

· Ukulele (Prep-y6) 

· Drums (Y1-y6) 

· Guitar (Y2-y6) 

Lessons are: 

* be 30 minute duration - once per week 

* held in the hi tech music classroom on wheels on our site 

* cost $20 per week ($22 drums) payable by the term on commencement.

If you wish to take part please complete this expression of interest form. https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/ee4627a5204c46158e1ab17e7c8069c6

Fresh Meal Fairy Canteen

A reminder that canteen orders are to be placed by 9pm the Thursday before delivery at school on Friday and are to be placed through the Flexischools app. 

If you have any issues with an order, please go here to report a problem:

https://freshmealfairy.com.au/report-an-issue 

Entertainment Membership

Entertainment Memberships are running a 'Double the Donation' promotion which ends on Monday! 

For a limited time, they are doubling the donation to Ceres PS when you purchase an Entertainment Membership! 

Here’s how you can make a difference: 

• Purchase a 12-month Single City or Multi City Membership 
• 20% of your Membership purchase will be donated 
• They will automatically double that to 40%! Maximising your contribution! 

By purchasing a Multi City Membership, you’ll contribute $48 directly to Ceres PS, or $28 if you purchase a Single City Membership 

Purchase an Entertainment membership here:

QKR - support for families

QKR is our payment platform. Please see the attached user guide for more information. 

Masterpass Help Desk: 1800 689 562

Compass - support for families

Please see the attached user guide for information on how to use Compass.

Indigenous Artwork headers

For more information on the artwork used for our newsletter headers please see Issue 10 of our Ceres PS newsletter.