General News
Canteen News
Famlies are reminded that there has been a price rise on some items in the Canteen.
BYOD Portal
The school provides access to netbooks and desktop computers for all students. Students in Years 4-10 also have the option of bringing their own digital device for use at school. Our technicians will set up the device so it can be used both at school and at home. BYOD offers significant advantages for students. They can be customised for each individual student and will operate at fast speeds. They can also be used at home for personal use. Many families may already have a device at home that can be readily set up for use. If you decide to get a new device for your child, they can be purchased from any of the normal suppliers. The school has also set up a parent portal with JB Hi-Fi, which gives families easy access to purchase a device that is preferred for school use. The link for the portal is www.jbeducation.com.au/byod Please contact the office for the school code. This is optional for families to use and devices may be purchased from any company.
Water Bottles and Hats
Term 1 in Sunraysia is always hot! Primary students must wear a broad-brimmed hat when out in the yard and during outdoor sport and PE classes. Secondary students are strongly encouraged to do the same. Please make sure hats are clearly labelled with students' names. We recommend that all students take a water bottle to class every day. This keeps them hydrated, helps them focus and reduces interruptions to learning. Many of our bubble taps are refrigerated, so bottles can be refilled with icy cold water during the day!
Family Payments 2020
The Primary Family Payment Schedule for 2020 has been inserted above. Payment can either be made at the school’s main office or you can arrange for the payment to be made in instalments. Payment can also be made electronically, details are on the form.
The Parent Payments Policy and copies of all Family Payments schedules are also available on the school website.
The Secondary Family Payment Schedule for 2020 was sent home with students at the end of last year. Please ask at the main office for more information.
Conveyance Allowance Program
The Conveyance Allowance Program offers families in rural and regional Victoria help with the cost of transporting their children to their nearest appropriate school or campus. Students must be attending the nearest school appropriate to their year level and reside at least 4.8km from the school by the shortest practicable route to be eligible.
Eligible students can receive a conveyance allowance based on:
- the least expensive public transport fares and/or
- a distance based allowance when travel is by private car or private bus.
Parents applying for the allowance must complete an application form and return it to school. We will then process applications using the Student Conveyance Allowance System (SCAS).
2020 Year 7 CSEF Uniform Pack
Students who have commenced Year 7 in 2020 and are recipients of the CSEF payment, automatically qualify to receive a Uniform Pack through State Schools’ Relief.
An order form can be collected from the main office. To find out more about CSEF or to apply for assistance go to www.education.vic.gov.au/csef
Uniform Shop
School uniforms can be purchased from the school’s main office between the hours of 8.45am and 4pm during the school week. If these hours are inconvenient for you, please ring the school to make an alternate arrangement.
School Bank Account
BSB - 063 714
Bank Acc Number – 10060535
Account Name - Merbein P-10 College Official Account
Weekly Newsletter Emailed
The school distributes a weekly school newsletter every Thursday to families via email. With our new inewsletter you can now receive the weekly newsletter on your mobile phone if you have the school COMPASS App installed on your phone. Please give us feedback on our new Newsletter system and let us know what you think. If you have not received the newsletter by email, please notify the school to either of the following email addresses: Giddings.beth.l@edumail.vic.gov.au or
merbein.p10@edumail.vic.gov.au, with the subject Newsletter Email, so this can be rectified.
Students in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 who would like to take home a printed copy of the newsletter each week, can collect one from the main office every Thursday at 3.15pm.
Breakfast Club
The Merbein & District Community Bank is financially supporting the Breakfast Program. Foodbank Victoria also supports the breakfast program with donations of food. The following organisations provide volunteers to assist with the program; the Board & Staff of the Merbein & District Community Bank, Merbein Development Association, Merbein Lions Club, and Merbein Uniting Church. Merbein P-10 College parents are welcome and encouraged to volunteer. The Breakfast Program is held in the school cafeteria. All students are welcome to come along between 8.00am and 8.45am each morning if they would like a FREE tasty breakfast to kick-start their days learning.
If you have time to volunteer for this community service from 8-8.45am on school days, please contact the school, we would love to hear from you. Please note that volunteers will need a Working with Children’s Check.
Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF)
To be eligible for this funding, a parent or legal guardian of a student attending the school must
be the holder of a Veterans Affairs Gold Card or be an eligible Centrelink Health Care Card (HCC) or Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) holder, OR
be a temporary foster parent and submit an application to the school before the end of February 2020.
If your child was enrolled at this school last year and you were a successful applicant for the funding last year, you will not need to apply for the funding again this year.
Ask at the school office for an application form, or to enquire about more information.
Student Absences
If your child is away from school, please notify the school before 10am. The preferred method to notify of absences is via the compass portal or by phone or sending an email to the following email address: Collihole.heather.h@edumail.vic.gov.au
An automated text message will be sent to your phone if your child is not at school and the school has not been notified.
