Important Information for Parents

Our first newsletter edition of the year is always full of important information and reminders for parents. Please spend a few minutes reading this page to be up to date.

Updates to Student Enrolment Information

Last Friday families should have received via email a Student Enrolment Form for each child to review and check all information is correct. There is no need to print this form. If there is any information that is incorrect, please notify the school in writing either by emailing teesdale.ps@education.vic.gov.au or if you choose to print the form and hand write any changes, you may do so. It is assumed if information has not been updated by Friday 26th February, there are no changes to your personal information.

If you did not receive this email, please contact the office.

Confidential Student Medical Forms

This form is updated each year for the purpose of a teacher excursion register and to note if any changes have been made to your child's emergency and medical details. A copy of this document was included in the email sent last Friday. If there are any changes to your child's medical information, please complete and return this form to the office by Friday 26th February. One completed form is required for each student. N.B. Most Foundation students have already completed one for this year.

Back To School Payments

A huge thank you to all families who have paid for book packs, essential learning items and voluntary payments. We appreciate the timely manner in which payments were received. The option to BPay was very popular and convenient for many families. Please keep your BPay details handy as this is your family's unique reference.

Camps, Sports & Excursions Fund (CSEF)

The CSEF will be provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school excursions, camps and sporting activities. If you hold a valid means-tested concession card you may be eligible for CSEF. Payment amounts this year are $125 for eligible primary school students.

If you applied for CSEF through our school last year, you do not need to complete an application form this year, unless there has been a change in your family circumstances.

If you would like to apply for the first time or are unsure, please contact the school office on 03 52815218 and ask for an application form. Alternatively, you may download a form attached below. Please return completed forms to the school office as soon as possible. For further information please see the attached flyer or visit:

www.education.vic.gov.au/csef

Medical Forms

For parents who indicated that their child suffers from asthma, anaphylaxis or epilepsy, it is a Department requirement that the appropriate plan is signed off by your child’s doctor and returned to school. Completed forms are required before your child can attend OSHC. Parents should notify the school immediately if there are any changes to the plan. Students are required to have their own asthma medication and spacer. We are not allowed to disinfect and reuse the spacers. We do have disposable spacers on hand, but parents will be invoiced to reimburse the school for the $8.00 cost.

What is Anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis is a severe and sudden allergic reaction when a person is exposed to an allergen. The most common allergens in school-aged children are eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, cow’s milk, fish and shellfish, wheat, so, certain insect stings and medication. The key to prevention of anaphylaxis is avoidance of any know triggers.

We currently do not have any students at risk of anaphylaxis.

Illness and Emergency Medical Care

If your child is unwell or injured at school, they must be collected from school in a timely manner. If a parent is unable to collect their child due to work commitments, you must arrange an alternative emergency contact to collect them. The school is unable to provide emergency transport for sick children. Parents are therefore advised to consider the need for ambulance cover for their families, as ambulances will be used in cases of serious illness or injury.

Medication

At times children attending school need medication to manage certain illnesses.

Parents are required to complete the appropriate medication permission form (available at the office) noting the dose and time the medicine is to be given. The medication should be clearly marked with the student’s name and parents are requested to discuss the matter with the child’s teacher.

Under no circumstances, are children permitted to have medication at school without the teacher’s knowledge.

Library Books

If any school or classroom books were found at home over the school holiday break, could they please be returned to school as soon as possible.

Book Club

Scholastic Book Club operates eight times a year and is very easy to use.

LOOP is the NEW Scholastic Book Clubs Linked Online Ordering and Payment platform for Parents.

Click here for the Scholastic Book Club Parent Log In Page or to register for new users.

How to order

Click on ORDER in the top menu or REGISTER first to save your details for the first time. Select Teesdale PS and your child’s class. Add your child’s name and last initial. Enter the item number from the brochure.

You can order for multiple children at once. All orders are linked directly to the school. Books will be distributed through your child’s classroom.

If parents wish to collect them personally from the office, please let the school know.

Our school receives bonus points, which are redeemed for a variety of books for the children.

Last year through “Book Club” we received over $2500.00 worth of books and resources for our school and we thank you for your continued support.

Scholastic Book Club brochures will be sent home this week. The deadline for Book Club orders on the LOOP is Tuesday 16th February.

Visitors and Parent Helpers

All visitors, parents and friends are asked to please report to the office before visiting any classroom or school grounds. We do request this measure most politely but always, as I’m sure you would understand, there are security risks of people on or near the school grounds. We also try not to disrupt class time programs and activities and for this reason, we politely request that you wait for your child outside the school buildings at home time.

Visitors and voluntary helpers are requested to sign in and out of the register at the front office, as a security and safety requirement. A current Working with Children card is required for all parent helpers and volunteers. To apply go to: https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/

Further information will be made available regarding Parent Helper Information Sessions at a later date.

Late Arrivals and Early Departures

Should you child arrive late or depart early, there is no longer a sign in/sign out folder at the office for parents to sign. Teachers are responsible for marking attendance and will update their roles accordingly.

If you need to collect your child before 3.15pm, please notify your child's teacher via Sentral or by calling the office. Please note parents are not permitted to go directly to the classroom during school hours. Please report to the office to collect your child.

Student Absences

Parents are reminded that an absence notification is required for all student absences by 11am on the day. The most efficient way to advise an absence is via the Sentral Parent Portal where you can send an email directly to your child's teacher. For all new families, an email was sent last week with your log in details to access Sentral.

Click here to go to the Parent Portal

Alternatively, please phone the school on 5281 5218.

Sentral For Parents app

The Sentral for Parents app allows you to monitor your child’s school journey simply and efficiently. You will find numerous smart features that help streamline communications with the school. Receive messages and notifications from teachers, report absences, and more. The app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

For more information on how to use the app, please read the attached User Guide for Parents.

Parking

The parking outside the school is very hectic at 8:45 a.m. and especially at 3:15 p.m. We understand that car parking is extremely limited and we ask parents to be diligent and patient.

Please do not back out against the traffic, or complete U-turns in our neighbouring driveways. Children are to remain inside the school gate until their parent has arrived to collect them.

Staff are on duty 15 minutes before and after school to supervise students. Remember that our OSHC program is available, so please book children in if you are going to be later than 3:30 p.m.

The west side of Sutherland Street outside the school office is a NO STANDING ZONE at these times and parents should not park in this area.

It is very dangerous to park there, as cars back out into the zone and children are not permitted to cross over the busy road.

Please be aware of the “4 hour parking limit during school days” and the CFA “no parking signs” near the fire equipment.

PLEASE PARK YOUR VEHICLE AND MEET YOUR CHILD AT THE SCHOOL GATE.

PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW STUDENTS TO WALK ACROSS SUTHERLAND ST OR WALK THROUGH THE STAFF CARPARK. PLEASE USE THE DESIGNATED WALKING PATHS.

SCHOOL ZONE 40km SPEED LIMITS APPLY

8:00 – 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.

Remember the priority to student’s safety is of paramount importance.

Riding Bikes

Students in junior grades are not encouraged to ride their bikes to school without adult supervision. Please ensure all students and their parents wear the appropriate helmet protection when riding bikes, scooters and skateboards to school.

For safety reasons, students must not ride in the school grounds. Please dismount to walk bikes to the bike shelter.

Timetable for 2021

Our daily school timetable is as follows:

Students may arrive from: 8:45 a.m.

School Commences: 9:00 a.m.

Morning Tea in Classroom 11:00 a.m.

Morning Recess Start: 11:05 a.m.

Morning Recess Finish: 11:30 p.m.

Lunch in Classroom 1:30 p.m.

Lunch Play Commences: 1:45 p.m.

Lunch Play Finishes: 2:15 p.m.

School Finishes: 3:15 p.m.

Children are not required at school before 8:45 a.m. Students are not permitted in classrooms until teachers are on duty.

Health Alerts

Please note we have had a reported case of head lice at school. Please check your children’s hair and take the necessary steps to treat them if required.

Health Warning on Mosquitos and Ross River Virus in South West Victoria

Residents and visitors to the Surf Coast, Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula areas of Victoria are being warned to protect themselves against mosquito-borne diseases such as Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus.

Ross River virus has been detected in mosquitoes in Anglesea.

These viruses can cause symptoms including joint pain and stiffness, headache, fever, rash and fatigue.

A range of information about protecting against mosquito bites is available on the Better Health Channel’s Beat the Bite web page.

Chicken Pox

Please note we have had a confirmed case of Chicken Pox at school. For more information about symptoms, please click here.

Annual Privacy Statement

Our school collects, uses, discloses and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy. For more information about privacy, please see the attached document.

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