Important information from the Business Manager

Student accident insurance arrangements

Families are reminded that neither Koonung Secondary College nor the Department of Education and Training provide personal accident insurance for students. Parents and guardians are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including any transport costs. Student accident insurance policies are available from some commercial insurers. These cover a range of medical expenses not covered by Medicare or private health insurance. It is recommended that families seek assistance in this matter with their insurance broker or find a suitable personal accident insurer.

Collection of receipts

Receipts for payment of monies may be collected by students from the accounts receivable office before or after school, at recess or lunchtime. We will also be emailing statements of outstanding charges each month so that you have a current record of payments made to date.

Occupational Health & Safety at Koonung

The Department of Education and Training has a comprehensive Occupational Health and Safety Management System which has been in place at Koonung for some years. This helps to provide a safe school environment for staff, students, parents and contractors.

Please take note of the following:

Traffic within the College grounds

Student drop-off and pick-up is not permitted within the College grounds unless the student is injured or disabled. All traffic entering the school grounds must observe the speed limit of 10kmh (ie walking pace).

Smoking

It is an offence to smoke anywhere within the College grounds and within 4 metres of all school ground entrances. This applies 24/7 regardless of whether or not students are at school.

Asbestos

A comprehensive audit has been carried out, testing all building construction materials. Material containing asbestos was found to be in a safe condition and consisted largely of the comparatively low risk asbestos cement (AC) sheet with the majority located out of the way in eaves and ceilings. The results of this audit were used to update our existing asbestos register.

Note that a health risk exists only if safety precautions are not observed if the AC is disturbed.

To guard against any such risk:

All asbestos containing material is labelled either with a sticker (at eye level) or a painted red dot (high points e.g. eaves, ceilings).
Our computer based Maintenance Reporting System allows staff to remotely log any damage. This immediately generates an alert to our maintenance and facilities staff.
Before any construction work is started, the asbestos register is checked to determine whether the area to be worked is listed.
Only contractors with the appropriate licensing are permitted to work with asbestos.
A whole school inspection is carried out each quarter to check for damage or wear and to ensure advisory labels are in place.

Stace Kerr

Business Manager

Lost Property

We are having a lot of lost property handed in to Middle School, uniform items, diaries, text books, laptop cases etc.

Unfortunately a lot of these items are not named, which means that they cannot be returned to their owner.

Could you please ensure that ALL of your child's belongings are named so that they can be returned to their rightful owner should they be misplaced.

Please note at the end of each term unnamed lost property items will be donated to Wellbeing .

Camps, Sports and Excursions Funding (CSEF)

The CSEF will ensure that no student will miss out on the opportunity to join their classmates for important, educational and fun activities. CSEF will be provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.

If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. The allowance will be paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child.

The annual CSEF amount per secondary student is $225.

The CSEF application form is attached or it may be downloaded from:

www.education.vic.gov.au/csef

For more information about the CSEF visit www.educationa.vic.gov.au/csef

Fossicker

If you paid for a Fossicker last year and haven't yet received it please ask your child to go the general office to collect it.

Compass Photos

If you wish to order any photos please go to the 'Order 2019 School Photo Packs' on your Compass portal. Compass is using MSP for photos this year. All payments are handled through Compass, not through Koonung Secondary College.

Parents can now order individual Compass photos online. Compass advised that sibling photos will not be available for another four weeks, at which time they will send out another notification. Parents may wish to wait until then to place their orders.

Important information for Year 7 and Year 10 parents regarding Secondary School Vaccinations 2019

The Secondary School Vaccine Program offers free vaccines to Year 7 and 10 students. These vaccines provide protection against:

· Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) – one dose for year 7 students

· Human Papillomavirus (HPV) – two doses for year 7 students

· Meningococcal A,C,W,Y – one dose for year 10 students

Parents/guardians of year 7 and 10 students should look out for the vaccine consent card booklet coming home from school with your child. You need to read the information, complete and return the card regardless of whether your child is being vaccinated at school.

The City of Whitehorse immunisation service may contact you about the Secondary School Vaccine Program. Schools are authorised to provide basic parent/guardian contact details to local councils for this purpose. Contact the school by 28 February 2019 if you do not want your contact details given to The City of Whitehorse immunisation service.

To learn more about the Secondary School Vaccine Program, the vaccines, the diseases they protect against, or how you can prepare your child for vaccination, go to www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au

Additionally, the Commonwealth government is funding vaccinations for all children under 20 years of age who missed any scheduled vaccines, including a catch up program for Meningococcal ACWY vaccine for adolescents aged 15-19 years of age who have not already received the vaccine in school. If students have missed vaccines, either in childhood or adolescence, and require catch-up vaccines, they should speak with their immunisation provider. (ie. local council or GP).

We are seeking donations - hairsprays and hairdressers for World's Greatest Shave

On Friday 15 March, Koonung Secondary College will be taking part in the World’s Greatest Shave to beat blood cancer! There will be a bake sale at both recess and lunch, and of course the main event – shaving, in the amphitheatre! There will also be hair spraying – so save the date in your diaries! The Student Representative Council is looking for any spare hairsprays and there will be a box in the general office for you to donate them. We are are looking for any hairdressers – we would love your help on the day!

Please email KoonungSRC2019@gmail.com if you are available to help with hairdressing on the day.

Arun Olifent and Hannah Treisman - SRC Captains

Koonung Secondary College Newsletter

Issue 2 · 21 Feb 2019

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