Principal's Report
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back for term 2. I hope you and your family had a relaxing holiday and spent quality time together enjoying things as a family. I like to take the time to catch up with family and friends, as well as find time to do not much at all. These holidays we, as a family, celebrated my husband’s 60th birthday.
Attendance: Regular school attendance is important. At Melton West Primary School, we prioritise regular school attendance. We will work with families to ensure students are in class with their peers and teachers and enjoying all the benefits that brings. Attending school every day means experiencing what counts – the learning, friendship, fun and opportunities that can shape your child’s future. We understand that there are times when your child will need to miss school but to ensure minimal disruption to their education, please consider scheduling family holidays or medical/dental appointments outside of school time. If your child is well enough to attend but is worried about friendships, schoolwork or exams, please encourage them to come to school. Avoiding school can make these feelings worse and can create a negative pattern of behaviour. If your child is having difficulty attending school, talk to their teacher or our Wellbeing Team, through Mr Egan about getting support. We know that parents and carers can be juggling challenges daily to get your children to school. If your child must miss school, notify us as soon as possible via leaving a message on the phone line or Class Dojo so we can work together to support them. For more information about the importance of everyday attendance, see Attendance and Missing School. Remember, Every Day Counts. I have included the Attendance Policy as part of this newsletter.
Riding to School Safely: It is great to see so many of our students making their way to school using their bike or scooter. Active travel choices are great for physical health, mental wellbeing, and can increase the confidence and independence in our young people. However, some students are being observed entering and leaving school without helmets. I would like to remind families that it is the law for anyone riding a bike or scooter, need to be wearing a helmet. Helmets reduce the chances of a serious head injury by almost 70 per cent. Please help your child to arrive safely by supplying them with a helmet and actively encouraging them to use it. When choosing a bicycle helmet for you or your child, make sure:
- it is not damaged- it fits firmly and comfortably on the head – the gap between the eyebrows and helmet should be no more than two fingers wide- the helmet doesn’t tilt too far forwards, backwards or sideways – the rim of the helmet should sit just above the eyebrows- the straps around the chin are firm, not slack, and the straps make a ‘v’ just under the ears- it has a label showing it meets approved safety standards.
Helmets should usually be replaced every 5 years because the protective foam can wear out over time. If a helmet is involved in an accident or dropped on a hard surface, it should be replaced immediately. Thank you for your support with this. I have included the DET policy related to Cycling To and From School for your reference.
Prep Enrolments 2026 Open: If you or somebody you know has a child turning 5 before 30th April 2027 they are eligible to attend school in 2027. All children have a guaranteed place in their local school, and some schools, like ours, can accept enrolments outside their designated area. If you feel they are ready to start school next year and would like to find out more about what we have to offer, please call the office to join one of our small group tours. These are fortnightly on a Thursday from 9.30am or monthly in the evening at 6.00pm. To help with organising staff and preparing for an effective transition program, enrolments should be received by 26th July 2026.
School Council Vacancies: We still have 2 casual vacancies in the Parent Member Category for School Council. This is an important role and a great way to find out more about the school operations. Being a School Councillor gives parents the opportunity to be part of some of the decisions we make for the benefit of the students. Research also shows when parents are involved with their child’s education, the learning outcomes for their child improve.
School Photos: School photos have been booked for May 13th. You should have received a form indicating how to order. We have also sent home an updated Photography Consent form that includes a box indicating whether you want your child in the class group photo or not. If you DO NOT wish your child to be part of their class group photo, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you send back the consent form as soon as possible. The default is for all children to be part of the group photo; however, we would like to honour parent/carer wishes if you do not wish them to be in their class group photo. You can still order a class photo and get an individual photo taken if you choose. Please contact the office if you did not get a note, or you have misplaced yours.
Year 7 Placement Forms: The important process of enrolling your Year 6 students in a secondary school has begun. Forms went home this week and need to be returned by FRIDAY 1st May, so we can continue with the process. Please note, the form needs to be returned even if your child is going to a Catholic or Independent school.
Canteen: We welcome our new canteen manager Srinivas who has been working hard and prepping a new menu for the start of Term 2. To order online please create yourself a Flexischools account. Details on how to action this are in the Canteen section of this newsletter along with the new menu. If you hold a balance with the previous online canteen company Quickcliq please reach out to them for a refund. We hope you enjoy the new menu and we welcome any feedback, please contact our office.
High Levels of Learning for All
Michelle Costa
Principal
