Melton West Primary School

Principal's Report 

Dear parents and carers,

 

Today a group of year 3 – 6 children are representing us at the local school’s athletic carnival at Cobblebank. I plan to visit and cheer them on at some stage throughout the day. Thank you to Mr Cliffe for selecting the students based on the athletics days we had earlier in the year and for the teachers and ES accompanying the students. What an absolutely perfect day weather wise to enjoy the outdoors and comes just after the euphoria of Australia’s success at the Olympics.

 

Year Prep 2025: Although we have passed the cut off dates for enrolment for 2025 Preps, we can still accept enrolments if your child or someone you know, is turning 5 before the 30th April 2025. Please call the office to make a meeting time to talk to a member of the Principal Class team if you or a friend is considering sending your child to Melton West PS in 2025.

 

Swimming: The final date to return forms for Years Prep – 2 is TOMORROW 16th August. Unfortunately, given the way the groups are formed and Year Preps having 8 per group rather than 10, we have reached capacity for the Year Prep students. As I write this there is ONLY 3 spots for Year 1 and 2 available. The final return date for Years 3 – 6 is the following Friday, the 23rd August, with only 15 vacancies as of today. Please ensure your notes are returned by then so we can make grouping and organisational arrangements. 

 

Landscaping Works: The pergola works are complete and look amazing. It is wonderful to see the students being respectful and caring towards the plants. We hope you enjoy this upgraded space.

 

Ramp Works: Unfortunately, these works have not gone to plan and taken longer than anticipated. The final component is to install the safety rails and safety edging. Hopefully they will be returning Friday to complete this. with the temporary fencing removed then. Thank you for your patience and disruption of not being able to enter the building with prams etc. The children and teachers have adapted well to the temporary arrangements.

 

Head Lice: Head lice are common in all school. They do not transmit infectious diseases and are transmitted by having head-to-head contact with someone who has head lice. Head lice are common in school-aged children and are the most adaptable of creatures. They have survived living solely on humans for 10,000 years! In order to limit the transmission of Head Lice it is important that parents and carers regularly check their child’s hair and inform the school if you find any. When head lice or eggs are found, it is IMPORTANT that your child’s hair is treated with safe products. Children can return to school once treatment has begun. For advice on finding, treating and preventing head lice please visit: 

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/head-lice-nits.

 

Child Safety Standards: At Melton West Primary School, we are committed to acting in the best interests of our students and keeping them safe from harm. The school regards its child protection responsibilities as being of the utmost importance. This means that in practice we are focussed on providing the necessary resources to ensure compliance with all relevant child protection legislation and regulations; and to maintaining a child safe culture.

The following principles underpin our commitment to child safety at Melton West Primary School:

  • All students deserve, as a fundamental right, safety and protection from all forms of abuse and neglect.
  • Our school works in partnership with families and the community to ensure that they are engaged in decision-making processes, particularly those that have an impact on child safety and protection.
  • All students have the right to a thorough and systematic education in all aspects of personal safety, in partnership with their parents/guardians/caregivers.
  • All adults in our school, including teaching and non-teaching staff, volunteers and contractors as well as the broader school community have a responsibility to care for children and young people, to positively promote their wellbeing and to protect them from any kind of harm or abuse.
  • The policies, guidelines and codes of conduct for the care, wellbeing and protection of students are based on honest, respectful and trusting relationships between adults and children and young people.

Supervision at Park: As you may be aware, there is a park on the corner of Coburns Road and West Melton Drive, where a number of students wait for their parents and carers afterschool. Please be aware that the school is not able to provide teacher supervision in this area. I therefore suggest that you consider an alternative location at which your child waits to be picked up. Can I also remind you that we have an After School care facility run by Extend that is safe and well supervised and children can attend at a minimal cost? Please contact the school if you would like further information about Extend. Enrolment Packs are available at the office. 

We have staff on yard duty, within the school grounds, before school from 8.30 am when gates are opened and afterschool until 3.20 pm. Please ensure your child is collected promptly at 3.05 pm when they are released from their classroom, as it can be very stressful for a child to be the only one left in the playground when all other children have gone home. 

 

I would like to remind parents that it is your responsibility to:

  1. Ensure that your child arrives to school safely and are in the care of school staff at the beginning of the school day, and 
  2. Ensure that your child is collected from the school premises at the end of the school day, or that alternative arrangements have been made for your children 

 

 

High Levels of Learning for All

Michelle Costa

Principal