Acting Principal Update

Thank you to our families for your flexibility during our recent relocations. We now have the process running smoothly, with Upwey Primary now our second home! The students have been fantastic, embracing their new surroundings and adapting with ease whenever they are on site. I would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Upwey Primary School for their warm welcome and for generously providing full access to their facilities.

Continuous Reporting

From this week, you will notice that the continuous reporting will now be presented in a different and consistent format. On most Friday afternoons, we will be releasing via Compass a report covering one or two curriculum areas, so please keep an eye out. I will be sending out a Compass post containing more information on how to access your child’s reporting if you are unsure.

School Sausage Sizzle and Information Night

Thank you to all our families who attended the sausage sizzle and information night. It was great to come together and provide an opportunity for our new families to get to know the school community as well as gaining some information regarding school operations this year. 

Getting to Know You Interviews

Tomorrow afternoon (Thursday, 19th Feb) we will be holding our ‘Getting to Know You’ interviews. This time will provide a great opportunity to touch base and inform your child’s teacher of everything they need to know to make 2026 a successful year. These interviews are not intended to be a report on student progress, just a chance for you to share. If you haven't already done so, you are able to make your bookings via Compass.

Community Book Exchange

Don’t forget that we have our community book exchange which can be found as you enter the BER. We warmly invite you to come in and browse the current selection - there may be a book that catches your eye! You are also welcome to contribute by sharing your preloved books and adding to the collection. We hope this exchange becomes a well-loved part of our school community, bringing people together through a shared love of reading.

Lunchtime Clubs

Thank you to our Student Voice representatives for gathering the most requested activities for lunchtime clubs:

- Reading and drawing

- LEGO

- Chess

- Arts and crafts

- Trading cards

We are now finalising the details, and these activities will begin next week.

Breakfast Club

Our breakfast club has now been operating for just over a week, and we are still tweaking the process to make it as user friendly as possible. I would like to thank our amazing staff who are cooking up a storm! 

• Breakfast club is operating out of the multipurpose room, 5 days a week
• Starting time is now 8:40am
• We will stop serving when the music goes at 8:50am
• If you are happy to volunteer on a morning, please let Kate or Nadja know
• The menu is as follows: 
  • Monday:              scrambled eggs on toast / cereal
  • Tuesday:             toast / cereal / raisin toast / fruit cups
  • Wednesday:      baked beans on toast / cereal
  • Thursday:           toast / cereal / raisin toast / fruit cups
  • Friday:                 pancakes with honey, jam or butter / cereal / fruit

Building Works Update

- The decking is now nearly complete at the end of the specialist classrooms, as well as at the rear of the multipurpose room. 

- The fencing is being installed around the playground and will be completed by the end of the week.

- Concrete footings are being poured this Saturday in the admin building.

Kitchen Garden Allergies

We have released a Compass event asking parents to please let us know about any food allergies, intolerances, or aversions your child may have. This information is very helpful for the Kitchen Garden staff as they plan the cooking schedule for the term. If you haven’t already done so, we would greatly appreciate you completing this information by the end of the week.

Volunteers: Working with Children Check

Our school values the many volunteers that assist in our classrooms, at sporting events, on camps and excursions, and at other events and programs.  To ensure that we are meeting our legal obligations under the Worker Screening Act 2020 and the Child Safe Standards, Menzies Creek Primary School is required to undertake suitability checks. Specifically, volunteers are required to have a Working with Children Check or equivalent. 

Volunteers are asked to produce their valid card to the Office for verification on their first visit to the school in the following circumstances:

- Volunteers who are not parent/family members of any student at the school are required to have a WWC Check if they are engaged in child-related work regardless of whether they are being supervised. 

- Parent/family volunteers who assist in school activities, regardless of whether their own child is participating or not

- Parent/family volunteers who assist with excursions (including swimming), camps and similar events, regardless of whether their own child is participating or not.

- Parent/community School Council members sitting on School Council

To ensure you can fully involve yourself in the life of the school I encourage all parents and carers to ensure they have a valid Working With Children Check - they're free for volunteers!

First Aid

If your child is ill at school, or suffers an accident, we will give immediate care and appropriate first aid. However, it is necessary on occasions to contact families.  Please make sure you notify the office of any changes to your or your Emergency Contact details as well as mobile phone numbers for our SMS system. Please also keep the Office informed of any change in medical issues faced by your children as this helps us to make the best choices for their welfare. 

As we are in the fire season it is a good time to remind our families to ensure that all your details are up to date at the school. If you have changed address, got a new phone number or have a new alternative contact please contact the office to give us the details so that we are able to contact you if required.

Visiting the School

A reminder to everyone that we have a policy which requires all visitors to report to the office first when entering the school. Should you need to visit the school, please report to the office first to sign the visitor’s iPad. This ensures that in an emergency we can account for all people at school. 

If you are having someone collecting your child(ren) that is not on your emergency contact list or does not normally pick up your child, can you please send a note to your teacher or let the office know.

School Values 

INTEGRITY – RESILIENCE – PERSONAL BEST – RESPECT – KINDNESS

Focus Value for Weeks 3 and 4: KINDNESS

Congratulations to our Week 1 and 2 award winners, receiving recognition for displaying exceptional kindness: Harrison S, Levi and Violet

Assembly

Our next assembly will be held this Friday, 20th February at 3:00pm in the multipurpose room. We look forward to the grade F-3 students presenting this week. See you there!

Have a wonderful week.

Kind regards,

Nadja