Welcome Back

Welcome back to all members of the school community as we commence another school year. The past week has seen our students regrouping with old friends, forming new relationships and displaying excellent learning behaviours. All students have been adhering to the school motto and striving ‘to be the best that they can be’.

I can assure parents/carers that the Concord School staff will continue to do everything possible to ensure your child is working in a safe and supportive environment that values and celebrates student learning. I look forward to a very rewarding and successful year for our parents, staff and most importantly our students. Please contact me at any time if you wish to discuss any matter concerning your child’s education.

Staffing News

Kirrily Lamers, our Assistant Principal (Teaching and Learning), is the Acting Principal at Arthur’s Creek Primary School for terms 1 and 2 of this year. This is an exciting opportunity for Kirrily. Helen Edmonds will be the Acting Assistant Principal for this period of time. Karen Hickling is replacing Helen as the Team Leader of the Secondary 7-8 team.

For a complete list of our school staff, please go to the ‘Our Staff’ section of the school website.

School Communication and the use of Compass

The school is constantly working to ensure that parents/carers are aware of the events occurring within the school and receive information that is relevant to the educational and personal needs of their child.

The main way this occurs is through Compass, Newsletters and Communication Books.

It is important that all parents need to be logged into Compass so our school can communicate effectively with you. If you have any questions regarding Compass, or are having difficulty in logging-on, then please ring Karen Jordan at our school on 94673972. The Compass log-on can be found at https://concordsch-vic.compass.education or through the ‘Compass Parent Portal’ link on our website.

The following functions can now be accessed through Compass

Pay and provide consent for events and school fees
Monitor your child’s attendance and enter an explanation for absences or lateness
Communicate with your child’s teachers
Update your family contact information
View your child’s attendance at events through their timetable
View the school calendar
Book SSG meetings

From term 1 of this year, Student Learning Plans will be available for viewing and downloading through Compass.

The school Facebook page can also be accessed through https://www.facebook.com/concordschoolvictoria/

School Newsletters

I am pleased to announce that while the school will still be sending home fortnightly school newsletters, on the ‘alternate’ weeks each section of the school will be sending home their own newsletter. This will contain Important Dates as well as information on what the students have been learning over the previous two weeks and what they will be learning over the coming weeks. We know that parents want to know what their children are doing at school to encourage communication and help them with their learning.

Presentation Balls and Secondary Graduation Evening

The Secondary 11-12 team in consultation with the School Council have made changes to the program of the Presentation Ball and the Secondary Graduation Evening. This is to improve the quality and formality of the Secondary Graduation Evening. The Secondary Graduation Evening will be held outside of the school, in a Reception Centre or similar from 2019. As the Presentation Ball is currently held for Year 12's and these students also travel on an interstate camp from 2019. This means that the Presentation Ball will be completed by Year 11 students only in 2019.

For this to happen a changeover year will be required this year. In 2018 two separate Presentation Balls will be held for both the Year 11 and Year 12 students. The dates of the Balls are Friday 31st August (Year 11) and Friday 7th September (Year 12).

The Secondary Graduation Evening will be held in the school gym for the final time in 2018.

Information in regard to this will have been provided at the Meet the Teacher Evening last night. If you have any questions or require further information then please contact Bronwyn Hart (Secondary 11-12 Team Leader).

School Council Elections

An election is to be conducted for members of the School Council of Concord School.

Nomination forms may be collected from Debbie at the Bundoora Campus or from Kruni at the Watsonia Campus and must be lodged by 4pm on Monday, 12th February, 2018.

The ballot (if required) will close at 4.00pm on Monday, 26th February, 2018.

Following the closing of nominations a list of the nominations received will be posted at the school. The terms of office, membership categories and number of positions in each membership category open for election are as follows:

If the number of nominations is less than the number of vacancies, a notice to that effect and calling for further nominations will be posted in a prominent position at the school.

Membership Category Term of Office Number of positions

Parent member From the day after the date of the

declaration of the poll in 2018 to 3

and inclusive of the date of the

declaration of the poll in 2020.

DET employee member From the day after the date of the

declaration of the poll in 2018 to 3

and inclusive of the date of the

declaration of the poll in 2020.

Student Behaviour

In 2018, Concord School once again has high expectations in regards to student behaviour. Our students will be given the support they require to learn and succeed to the best of their ability and there is no excuse for inappropriate behaviour. Behaviour such as bullying, swearing, disobedience and property damage is completely unacceptable at school as well as in our society.

Parents/carers will be contacted and a conference convened if the student continues to breach school rules. The school places a high priority on making sure all students and staff work together in an environment that supports, encourages and stimulates learning and social development.

School Uniform

This is a reminder that it is compulsory for all students to wear the full school uniform each day and that the school uniform policy is strictly enforced. Thank you to parents/carers who have supported their children in wearing the correct school uniform.

For parents/carers of students in Years 7-12, class teachers will be informing you as to which days the sports uniform is to be worn. Please note the following policy in regard to the wearing of the school jumper.

Sport Uniform

The red woollen jumper is not to be worn with the ‘sport uniform’. Only the spray jacket and/or rugby jumper are to be worn with the ‘sport uniform’ over the polo shirt.

Formal Uniform

The spray jacket is not to be worn directly on top of the school shirt or dress. The red woollen jumper is the first item that must be worn if the student is cold. The spray jacket can then be worn over the red woollen jumper if the student is still cold.

Please contact Deb Whiteway in the school office regarding purchases of uniform. Further information, including policies and price lists, can be found through the school website at http://www.concordsch.vic.edu.au/our-school/school-uniform/

"Students striving to be the best they can be"

Jason Coningsby

Principal

Community Noticeboard

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