Principal's Desk

Parent Payments (School Fees)

Last month at School Council, the Parent Payments (School Fees) were finalised for 2024. Whilst there has only been a slight increase from 2023, the Council position is that we seek to keep family costs to a minimum - it still only equates to $1.55 per day!

Once payment is received through Compass, book packs will be delivered from mid November to your child's classroom, as in previous years, and the rest of the items will be supplied to your child by the school. 

All computers and iPads will continue to be provided by the school. 

Full details are available on Compass, under 'Course Confirmation.'

Hay fever season

Just a reminder that with Spring comes hay fever. If you require us to store hay fever medication at the office, we require a Medical Action Plan which is completed annually by your General Practitioner. 

Seeking Support - 2024 Student Learning Groups

Over the next 3 weeks, we will be working with students, to identify five (5) students in their year level that they work well with. 

I ask that you also have the same conversation with them at home as well. We all know, someone we work well with is not always our best friend and it may also be someone in another class. 

By having those conversations at home, it prepares them to understand the importance of providing the best 5 names to assist in their development as learners. Furthermore, these 5 names are not preferenced but a list of names in which we will match at least one of them (in most cases multiples). If you have sent a request in over the last few weeks and included names of children to be paired with, please have the same conversation with your child to ensure these names match-up.

I strongly encourage all families to take the time to have these small but important chats. By doing so, it not only goes a long way in helping us in making the best learning environments for 2024 but also it significantly assists us in formulating the best class groups we possibly can based on the information we have available. 

It is important to note, that now that the class placement process has begun, it is extremely difficult to make changes after the fact. My hope is that families recognise and respect the huge process in formulating grades, using the information provided to us and understand that changes cannot be made once the communicated timelines have passed.

Melbourne Cup Day

Tuesday 7 November is Melbourne Cup Day. This is a Public Holiday and students are not required to be at school.

Staff Professional Practice Day & (final) Curriculum Day

Wednesday 8 November, is our whole school staff Professional Practice Day. Teachers will be spending the day writing student reports. Furthermore, there will be a Curriculum Day on Wednesday 15 November - Day 2 of our Berry Street training, therefore students will not be required at school on both of these two days. 

Dealing with distressing online content

With the tragic and distressing events unfolding in the Middle East, Australia's independent regulator for online safety, eSafety, has issued guidance to help parents and carers support their children in dealing with distressing online content. The eSafety website has resources for parents and carers about online safety. 

These include information on extra precautions you can take to protect your children from seeing disturbing content online.

eSafety encourages parents and carers supporting young people who may be more vulnerable to check in with them. If they are presenting with signs of distress, support is available through external services including: 

• headspace: 1800 650 890 
• Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800 
• Lifeline: 13 11 14 
• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636.

Protecting against mosquito-borne diseases

Victoria’s mosquito season started this month and will extend to late April 2024. 

Warm and wet weather can result in greater numbers of mosquitoes and increased risk of illnesses from mosquito bites. While the overall risk is low, some mosquitoes carry diseases that make people sick. 

The best protection against mosquito-borne illness is to avoid mosquito bites.

Families can protect against mosquito bites by: 

• covering up as much as possible with long, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing  
• applying insect repellent that contains picaridin or DEET on exposed skin when leaving home 
• limiting outdoor activity if lots of mosquitoes are active.

To reduce the risk of illness linked to mosquitos, such as Buruli ulcer, promptly wash any new scratches or cuts with soap and clean water and apply a topical antiseptic and dressing. 

Families with any health concerns should see their doctor or phone NURSE-ON-CALL: 1300 606 024 (available 24 hours). Free Japanese encephalitis vaccines 

Japanese encephalitis virus is spread to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes and can cause a rare but potentially serious infection of the brain.

Free Japanese encephalitis vaccines are available to protect Victorians at higher risk of the virus. 

The Victorian Department of Health encourages eligible people who live or work in high-risk local government areas to get vaccinated ahead of summer, which brings an increased mosquito presence. 

For more information, including what is considered a high risk area and eligibility for a free vaccine, refer to the Department of Health’s Japanese encephalitis webpage. 

Find out more:

For more information on protecting against mosquito-borne diseases, families can refer to the following Better Health Channel pages:

• Mosquitoes can carry diseases
• Protect yourself from mosquito-borne disease, including a handy checklist to help reduce mosquito breeding sites at home and resources translated into other languages
• Japanese encephalitis 
• Buruli ulcer.

School term dates for 2026

There have been changes to the Victorian school term dates for 2026. Following the announcement that the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Victoria will not proceed, the original 2026 school term dates have been reinstated.

The 2026 Victorian school term dates are:

• Term 1: Tuesday 27 January to Thursday 2 April 2026 
• Term 2: Monday 20 April to Friday 26 June 2026
• Term 3: Monday 13 July to Friday 18 September 2026
• Term 4: Monday 5 October to Friday 18 December 2026.

For the list of school term dates until the end of 2030, refer to School term dates and holidays in Victoria.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Please feel free to pop in for a chat with either Carrie, Brendan or I, should you wish to discuss anything. 

Our doors are always open! 

Take care,

Mr. Dale Blythman