Principal's Report

A Great Start to 2023!

Welcome to the 2023 school year! It has been great to see everyone's smiling faces during the first two weeks. It’s nice to report that the term has started very positively for all concerned. Thanks to everyone for helping us get away to such a smooth start. 

As always, we use the first couple of weeks to build relationships and set expectations and routines. This work is very important as we set ourselves up for success in our classrooms and the playground.

A very big welcome to our new Prep (Foundation) students who commenced school life at SGPS last Thursday. Welcome also to all of our new students across the school and their families. I hope your time at SGPS is very positive. A special mention also to our Year 6 students who are completing their last year of primary school. I hope everyone has a wonderful year and I look forward to working with you all at different stages throughout 2023. 

A big note of appreciation for the time and effort that our staff have put in to ensure everything was ready for the new school year. It was a smooth transition, and we are fortunate to have such a wonderful team.

Correct Uniforms

Most students are in the correct SGPS uniform and looking great. Please remember that our socks and shorts are not to have any logos i.e. Nike, Adidas, etc. Our uniform supplier, Noone, can supply these. You can also purchase these at numerous retail shops around Bendigo.

If you have any second-hand uniforms, please drop them off at the office and we will use these to support other families.

School Assembly

Our assemblies will be held will be held in The Hub at 3:00pm each fortnight, starting tomorrow. Families are most welcome to attend.

The following awards are handed out at assembly:

Principal Awards - Principal Awards are nominated by the classroom teacher. This year student awards will follow the schedule/cycle below: 

1. Preps, Grade 1 and Grade 2 

2. Grade 3 to Grade 6 

The Principal Awards are based on the School Values. 

GuGu Awards - These awards are part of our School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support program (SWPBS). Students will be recognised at assembly for reaching key milestones i.e. 25, 50 and 100 stickers.

Specialist Awards - These awards are nominated by Michael Smith (Health & PE), Shannon Leed (Visual Arts), Adele Riordan (Auslan) and Effie Hamilton (Music).

Families will be notified on Thursday via Compass if their child is to receive an award at Friday assembly. 

Supervision of Students

A teacher is on duty from 8:30am in the morning. In the afternoon, two teachers are on duty until 3:30pm, one teacher at the back gate and one teacher at the front gate. At 3:30pm, all remaining children (including those who are still at the back gate) will go to (or remain at) the front steps near the office, where they will be supervised until 3:45pm. A phone call will be made to the parent/s if a child is not collected by 3:45pm and students will wait in the office. If these times are not suitable, Camp Australia's Outside School Hours Care is available every morning and afternoon, operating out of the Manya Building. 

Booklist Collection Day

I would like to thank parents for supporting booklist collection day. Special thanks to Sonia for organising this event. 

New Staff

This year we have two new faces at our school

• Miss Georgia Mortlock (Teacher - Prep)
• Mrs Katie Moss (Social Worker)

I wish our new staff and returning staff well for the coming school year. 

Staffing Structure for 2023

Class Teachers:

Prep A – Miss Maddy Vernon

Prep B – Miss Georgia Mortlock

Prep C – Miss Madie Floyd

Grade 1/2 A –Mr Luke Crawford

Grade 1/2 B – Mrs Kate Murphy

Grade 1/2 C – Mrs Natalie Todeschini / Mrs Amy Arthur

Grade 1/2 D – Miss Jade Patrao-Hurley

Grade 1/2 E – Mrs Jane Rodda / Mrs Jenna Brewer

Grade 3/4 A – Mr Rohan Daenke 

Grade 3/4 B – Miss Caitlin Green

Grade 3/4 C – Mrs Lauren Schulz

Grade 3/4 D – Miss Alisha Mitchell

Grade 3/4 E – Mr Luke Staley / Mrs Jan Alexander 

Grade 5/6 A – Mrs Kelly Byron 

Grade 5/6 B – Mr Corey Greer

Grade 5/6 C – Mr Chris McClellan

Grade 5/6 D – Mr Daniel Lidgett

Specialist Teachers:

Visual Arts – Ms Shannon Leed

Auslan – Mrs Adele Riordan

PE & Health – Mr Michael Smith

Music – Mrs Effie Hamilton

Tutoring – Mrs Evelyn Hartney 

Tutoring/Literacy Intervention – Mrs Emma Orr

Welfare/Allied Health Staff:

Social Worker – Mrs Katie Moss

Speech Pathologist – Mrs Simone Fraser

Occupational Therapist – Mrs Courtney Ireland

Leadership:

Principal: Mr Francis Trezise

Assistant Principal: Mr Brett Parkes

Learning Specialist:

Mr Luke Staley

Mrs Jenna Brewer

Administration Staff:

Business Manager: Mrs Sonia Lewis

Office Assistants:     Mrs Wendy Sloane

                                       Ms Jayme Hudson

Integration Staff:

Mrs Gen Rodda

Mrs Sophie Smith

Miss Julie Robertson

Miss Rachel Tingley

Mrs Jacqui Jones

Mrs Neveen Budair

Mrs Emily Ludeman

Mrs Tegan Edwards

Mrs Emma Clohesy

Miss Taylah Collins

Miss Abbey Dunn

Gardens:

Ms Tanya Kemp            

School Times

As mentioned in the newsletter at the end of last year, we have made some slight changes to the bell times. Although the start and finish times are the same, some of the other bell times have changed. The school times are:

School Crossing Times

The school crossing is supervised from 8:00am-8:45am and 3:00pm-3:45pm by our friendly crossing supervisor, Sam. Please make sure your children use the crossing at all times if they are crossing Spring Gully Road. 

Children’s Photos for the Media or Web Page

On occasions, we have journalists attend the school who wish to photograph children for articles; we publish photos in the newsletter or on our web page. We are currently seeking information on students whose photographs are NOT to be published. If you do not wish your child’s photograph to be included, please contact the office. It is assumed that if you do not contact the office, then we have permission to ‘responsibly’ use your child’s photograph. 

Family Law Courts & Intervention Orders

Families that have Family Law Court Orders or Intervention Orders are requested to provide a copy to the school so that the school can act in accordance with any orders.  Family Law Court Orders stipulate the rights of both parties and enable us to act appropriately and lawfully.  It is also appropriate that the school is in possession of the most recent Family Law Court Orders or Intervention Orders.

Student Accident Insurance

As a school we do as much as we can to protect and care for injured students including first aid, notifying parents and emergency contacts if students are injured or hurt, and if necessary, an ambulance is called.  Parents and guardians are generally responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including any transport costs. Most medical costs will be refunded by Medicare.  If you are a member of an ambulance or health insurance fund, you may also be able to claim transport or other expenses from that fund.  The Department of Education and Training does not hold accident insurance for school students.  Reasonably low-cost accident insurance policies are available from the commercial insurance sector and these can be obtained by parents for their children.

Late Arrivals and Punctuality

If your child does arrive late, we ask that you come via the office and sign your child in. This is necessary as class rolls are marked by 8:45am and if your child is not in class at this time they will be marked as absent. By signing your child in we are able to adjust our records, so your child is then marked as late rather than absent. Punctuality is very important.  Please assist your child by having them to school on time.

Bushfire-At-Risk-Register Policy

The Department of Education and Training (DET) in association with Emergency Management Victoria have worked closely to develop new policy that will ensure Victorian schools are prepared for bushfire season. Currently when a Code Red Fire Danger Rating (FDR) day has been determined, schools on the Bushfire At Risk Register (BARR) are required to pre-emptively close.

Now, under a new policy developed by DET certain schools in exceptional circumstances may also pre-emptively close or relocate on days where an Extreme FDR day has been forecast.

A decision to close or relocate will only be made in extreme circumstances and through close consultation with the Department of Education and Training, and advice from Emergency Management Victoria.

Parents will be notified of any closure or relocation by 3:00pm the day prior to the forecast Extreme FDR day.

Our highest priority is the safety of all of our students and staff, and the Department and Emergency Management Victoria have worked closely on this policy to ensure that all schools are prepared for the bushfire season. 

School Council Elections 2023   

The Annual General Meeting for Spring Gully Primary School will be held on Monday, 20th March at 7:00pm followed by a School Council General Meeting at 8:00pm. Spring Gully Primary School has four Parent Member vacancies and two DET Employee Member vacancy. The vacancies are for a two-year term.

The current School Council members are as follows: 

Parent Members:

Retiring at this election – Mrs Kate Edwards, Mrs Jennifer Kurz, Mrs Kim Ross and Mr Damien Walsh  

Ending in March 2024 – Mrs Jessica Herdman, Mr Ronnie Lowe, Mr Ben Pollard and Mrs Annemarie McClure

DET members:

Retiring at this election – Mr Chris McClellan and Mr Daniel Lidgett

Ending in March 2024 – Mr Brett Parkes

Executive Officer: Mr Francis Trezise 

I would like to thank our ‘retiring’ school council members for their significant and important contributions to the school community. Retiring school councillors are able to renominate for School Council if they still meet the eligibility requirements. 

What is a school council and what does it do? 

All government schools in Victoria have a school council. They are legally formed bodies that are given powers to set the key directions of a school within centrally provided guidelines.  In doing this, a school council is able to directly influence the quality of education that the school provides for its students.  

Who is on the school council? 

There are three possible categories of membership: 

• A mandated elected Parent category. More than one third of the total members must be from this category. Department of Education and Training (DET) employees can be Parent members at their child’s school as long as they are not employed at the school. 
• A mandated elected DET employee category.  Members of this category may make up no more than one third of the total membership of school council. The principal of the school is automatically one of these members. 
• An optional Community member category.  Members are co-opted by a decision of the council because of their special skills, interests or experiences.  DET employees are not eligible to be Community members. 

The term of office for all members is two years. Half the members must retire each year, creating vacancies for the annual school council elections.  

Why is parent membership so important? 

Parents on school councils provide important viewpoints and have valuable skills that can help shape the direction of the school. Those parents who become active on a school council find their involvement satisfying in itself and may also find that their children feel a greater sense of belonging.  

How can you become involved? 

The most obvious way is to vote in the elections, which are held in Term 1 each year. However, ballots are only held if more people nominate as candidates than there are positions vacant. In view of this, you might seriously consider 

• standing for election as a member of the school council 
• encouraging another person to stand for election.​

Do I need special experience to be on school council? 

No. What you do need is an interest in your child’s school and the desire to work in partnership with others to help shape the school’s future.  

What do you need to do to stand for election? 

The principal will issue a notice and call for nominations following the commencement of Term 1 each year.  All school council elections must be completed by the end of March. If you decide to stand for election, you can arrange for someone to nominate you as a candidate or you can nominate yourself.  DET employees whose child is enrolled in a school in which they are not employed, are eligible to nominate as parents for the school council where their child is enrolled.  

Once the nomination form is completed, return it to the principal within the time stated on the notice of election. You will receive a Nomination Form Receipt following the receipt of your completed nomination. If there are more nominations received than there are vacancies on council, a ballot will be conducted during the two weeks after the call for nominations has closed.  

Remember

• Ask at the school for help if you would like to stand for election and are not sure what to do 
• Consider standing for election to Council this year 
• Be sure to vote in the elections, if a ballot is held. 
• Contact Mr. Francis Trezise for further information. 

School Council Election Timeline

• Notice of election and call for nominations – Friday, 10th February
• Closing date for nominations – Friday, 17th February at 4:00pm
• Ballot papers prepared and distributed (if required) – Friday, 24th February
• Close of ballot (if required) – Friday, 3th March at 4:00pm
• Vote Count (if required) – Tuesday, 7th March
• Declaration of ballot (if required) –Tuesday, 14th March
• School Council meeting (elect office bearers) – Monday, 20th March at 8:00pm

Keeping in Touch

Throughout the year there will be times when you need to contact your child’s teacher, Mr Parkes or myself. We encourage open discussions at all times and would suggest that any matter, major or minor, is best dealt with sooner rather than later. If there is something you are concerned about, unsure of or puzzled by regarding your child, we would encourage you to make an appointment with your child’s teacher. While it may be convenient to catch a teacher before or after the school day, this is certainly not the most appropriate time to have an in-depth discussion about your child. So how do you do this? Drop a note or email to the school, which will be forwarded to the class teacher asking them to contact you; alternatively, you can email the classroom teacher directly or via Compass.