School News

Mr Irwin's Message

Hello families and welcome to this week’s newsletter

As we start the year I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to have the grounds busy with parents at drop-off and pickup times. It was also terrific to have a busy Friday afternoon assembly too. I hope this continues throughout the year.

With this influx which we welcome, its’ timely to focus this week’s newsletter on the expectations we have for engaging with teachers and coming onsite across the school day. There’s no doubt we’ve become a bit rusty with this over an interrupted few years. It's also the point in time of the year you may need to make some contact with teachers regarding your child and wonder the appropriate way to do this.

Before and after school parents are welcome to come on-site to drop off and pickup their children. At 8:45am until 9:00am students complete their morning routine so learning can commence right after Mr Irwin’s morning message. Please don’t expect in this time that teachers will be available for a lengthy discussion in the classroom. In this time their duty rests with supervising students and getting ready for the day ahead. 

If you do come on site in the afternoons to wait for students to be dismissed, please be mindful of waiting in a spot that isn’t disruptive to learning and students resetting at the end of the day. Whilst it can be tempting to ‘sneak a peak’ of what students are doing in class, sets of eyes peering into rooms is distracting and disruptive for teachers and students. It is however a great time to meet and get to know other parents in the school. A reminder too to families that dogs are not permitted on school grounds. 

Coming on site at drop-off and pickup times doesn’t require families to sign in at the office, however, should you need to attend school at any time of the day to collect your child, drop something off or participate in a meeting signing in via the office is essential.  

Our teachers have meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, which means they can be available by appointment on other mornings or afternoons during the week. Appointments can be made by messaging teachers via Sentral, or calling the office and leaving a message for teachers to contact you.

The manner in which parents and carers communicate with school staff is extremely important. Our Schools Statement of Vision and School Philosophy outlines the expected conduct of parents when interacting with staff, and also outlines behaviour I am to consider unreasonable. 

Without paraphrasing the policy our teachers are hardworking and dedicated,  and, want to work in positive partnerships with all parents and their children. They have the best interests of all students at heart when making the many thousands of decisions teachers are required to make each day. Any correspondence with teachers be it face to face, telephone via email or via SENTRAL needs to be respectful, courteous and constructive. 

Our Statement of Values and Philosophy can be viewed on our website in full: 

https://www.teesdaleps.vic.edu.au/uploads/Statement-of-Vision-and-School-Philosophy-2020.pdf

School Council Elections

Tonight is a meeting of our current School Council. There are now five (note: video says four which incorrect!) vacancies open for interested parents to nominate or be nominated for over the next two weeks. Nomination or Self Nomination forms are available from the office and close on Wednesday March 8th at 4:00pm. The role of School Council is provide Governance in the areas of Policy and Finance. Over the past few years Council have achieved some exciting things in the school including building our Covered Outdoor Learning Area, engaging an external OSHC provider and last year participating in our School Review. If you have any questions regarding the role of being a school councilor do not hesitate to contact me. 

Notification of Footpath Works

The Golden Plains Shire Council will be conducting footpath maintenance works from Monday 13th February to update the asphalt footpath along the Bannockburn-Shelford Road. The works are expected to occur over the next 3 months. There will also be a pile of stone on the nature strip near the crossing car park. This should not affect the car park area. Please ensure students stay safe travelling to and from school while the upgrade works are being conducted.

Community OSH News

Healthy Lunch Box Choices and Nude Food

Please help reduce waste in our school by packing 'Nude Food' (food without excess packaging) and whole foods or unprocessed foods in your child's lunch box.  Click here for further resources and 'Healthy Lunch Box' suggestions or to download the Pick and Mix poster for the fridge!