12th February 2016

School Council Elections 2016

What is a school council and what does it do?

All government schools in Victoria have a school council. They are legally constituted bodies that are given powers to set the key directions of a school within statewide 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?

For most school councils, there are three possible categories of membership:

1. 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 engaged in work at the school.

2. 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.

3. 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.

Generally, the term of office for all members is two years. The term of office of half the members expires 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 or

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 of Election and Call for Nominations following the commencement of Term 1 each year. All school council elections must be completed by the end of March unless the usual time line has been varied by the Minister.

If you decide to stand for election, you can arrange for someone to nominate you as a candidate or you can nominate yourself in the Parent category.

DET employees whose child is enrolled in a school in which they are not engaged in work are eligible to nominate for parent membership of the school council at that school.

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 in the mail following the receipt of your completed nomination.

Generally, 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. Contact Ken Jones for further information.

Notice of Election and Call for Nominations

An election is to be conducted for members of the School Council of Bonbeach Primary School

Nomination forms may be obtained from the school office and must be lodged by 4.00 pm on Friday 19 /2 /

2016.

The ballot will close at 4.00 pm on Friday 19 / 2/ 2016

Following the closing of nominations a list of the nominations received will be posted at the school. The terms of office, membership categories and number of positions in each membership category open for election are as follows:

If the number of nominations is less than the number of vacancies, a notice to that effect and calling for further nominations will be posted in a prominent position at the school.

Ken Jones

MEMBERSHIP

CATEGORY TERM OF OFFICE NUMBER OF POSITIONS

Parent member From the day after the date of the declaration of the poll in 2016 to and inclusive of the date of the

declaration of the poll in 2018

3

DET employee member

From the day after the date of the declaration of the poll in 2016

to and inclusive of the date of the declaration of the poll in 2018

1

Sun 14/2 Bonbeach Farmers’ Market 9am-1pm Mon 15/2 Life Education Mobile learning Centre Tue16/2 Life Education Mobile learning Centre Uniform Shop open 8:50am-9:15am Wed 17/2 Prep Entry Assessment Appointments – No Preps at school Life Education Mobile Learning Centre Fri 19/2 Prep/1 Colour Dress-up Day - Blue Mon 22/2 Yr 5/6 Coonawarra Farm Resort Camp 1st instalment due $150 Wed 24/2 Prep Entry Assessment Appointments – No Preps at school Fri 26/2 Prep/1 Colour Dress-up Day - Green 2016 CSEF Applications due Tue 1/3 Preschool 3yr old 2017 Expression of Interest Applications Open Wed 2/3 Prep Entry Assessment Appointments – No Preps at school Year 5 & 6 Water Safety & Survival Program-Session1 2pm-3pm Fri 4/3 Prep/1 Colour Dress-up Day - Pink Mon 7/3 District Swimming Sports 9am-2:30pm Wed 9/3 Prep Entry Assessment Appointments – No Preps at school Year 5 & 6 Water Safety & Survival Program-Session 2 2pm-3pm Fri 11/3 Prep/1 Colour Dress-up Day - Orange Lightning Premiership 9am-2:30pm Sun13/3 Bonbeach Farmers’ Market 9am-1pm Mon 14/3 Labour Day holiday Wed 16/3 Prep Entry Assessment Appointments – No Preps at school Year 5 & 6 Water Safety & Survival Program-Session 3 2pm-3pm School Sport Victoria Team Online Registration closes Fri 18/3 Prep/1 Rainbow Party Yr 5/6 Coonawarra Farm Resort Camp 2nd instalment due $150 Wed 23/3 Prep Entry Assessment Appointments – No Preps at school Year 5 & 6 Water Safety & Survival Program-Session 4 2pm-3pm Thur 24/3 Last day of term 1-students dismissed at 2:30pm Sun 10/4 Bonbeach Farmers’ Market 9am-1pm TERM 2 Mon 11/4 Term 2 begins 9am Thur 14/3 Yr 5/6 Coonawarra Farm Resort Camp final payment due $50 Fri 15/4 Whole School Student Photos CANTEEN CLOSED Mon 25/4 ANZAC Day holiday Tue 26/4 Year 5/6 Coonawarra Farm Camp depart Fri 29/4 Year 5/6 Coonawarra Farm Camp return Sat 30/4 Year 4-6 Schoolaerobics Competition– Event 1 Preliminary Sun 8/5 Bonbeach Farmers’ Market 9am-1pm Mon 16/5 Year Prep & 1 Swimming Program-Session 1 Tue 17/5 Year Prep & 1 Swimming Program-Session 2 Thur 19/5 Year Prep & 1 Swimming Program-Session 3 Fri 20/5 Cross Country 9am-2:30pm Year Prep & 1 Swimming Program-Session 4 Mon23/5 Year Prep & 1 Swimming Program-Session 5 Tue 24/5 Year Prep & 1 Swimming Program-Session 6 Thur 26/5 Year Prep & 1 Swimming Program-Session 7 Fri 27/5 Year Prep & 1 Swimming Program-Session 8 Sat 4/6 Year 4-6 Schoolaerobics Competition– Event 2 Final Sun 12/6 Bonbeach Farmers’ Market 9am-1pm Mon 13/6 Queens Birthday holiday

Year 5/6 Water Safety & Survival Program Wednesday 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd March

A reminder to parents the Water Safety & Survival Program commences on Wednesday 2nd March. Thank you to the families that have already paid. If you would like your child to participate in the program payment of $35 per student and the permission slip must be returned to the Office by Friday 20th February.

Year 5/6 Coonawarra Farm Resort Camp Tuesday 26th April - Friday 29th April

A reminder to families the 5/6 camp deposit of $150 is due by Monday 22nd

February this will confirmed your booking. The second installment of $150 is due by Friday 18

th March and the final payment is due by Thursday 14

th April. If you have

not receive the notice that went home this week please check the website under School Notices.

Contact Details A reminder that it is very important we have up to date contact details should the school need to contact you in regard to your child/ren. Please let the office know of any changes immediately. If your child has a Medical Management Plan eg: Asthma, Allergies etc please provide a copy to the office as well.

Sending money to school When sending money to school please ensure that all money is in a sealed envelope with student name, grade, activity description, permission slip (when requested) and correct money enclosed to the office by the due date.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND PERMISSION SLIPS OR ORDERS WITHOUT PAYMENT. If you send the permission slip without payment the slip will be returned home via the student.

iPad Sign Out and In for Early Departure and Late Arrival Parents wishing to collect children other than at the normal dismissal time must go to the office to sign out their child/ren and collect an ‘Early Leave Pass’ before collecting them from their classroom. The pass is to be taken to the classroom and handed to the teacher. It is extremely disruptive to teachers and other students when children arrive late to class. If your child arrives at school after 9am you must go to the office to sign your child/ren in and get a ‘Late Arrival Pass’ to take to their classroom and hand to their teacher. Our children are not permitted to leave the school grounds during school hours unless accompanied by an adult and have been signed out. The class teacher must be informed that a child is leaving, in case of an emergency

If making arrangements with others to collect your child, please make sure the person and the child know the arrangements.

Student Messages Please note that the Office Staff are unable to pass on messages to students during the day except in an emergency.

Absence from School and Absence Notes If your child is absent from school, please inform the school either by telephone, by leaving a message on the absence line or email. Please send a note on the first day that the child returns. If your child or children are away for an extended length of time for illness or holiday we must have it in writing. This information is essential as it must be recorded in the Class Attendance Roll. The Department requires a reason to be recorded for all absences.

Thank you for your assistance.

Wendy & Sharon

Bonbeach Farmers’ Market!

Sunday 14th February

Open from 9am to 1pm

$2 donation per adult

Scholastic Book Club 2016

Book club is back for 2016 with catalogues already distributed to families. Catalogues will be given out per family, to the youngest child. If you would like an extra copy there will be spares on the display table opposite the school office.

There is now 1 catalogue with books for all ages included, instead of last year’s format of 1 catalogue per age group.

Orders can be done by using the order form inside the catalogue and handing in with the money at the school office. We encourage as many families as possible to place orders through the Scholastic LOOP web page. Once you have registered it is a very efficient way of placing your order.

For parents not wanting your ordered books given to your child in class, please select the ‘gift option’ during you online ordering process.

We will also be running several competitions throughout the year where you can possibly win books from Scholastic or a voucher to purchase a book of your choice.

Finally, our school benefits from all of your orders, big or small, through a rewards system. The school receives rewards based on 20% of all orders, which is used to purchase resources for our children!

Please contact Jenny Thompson or Emma Torresan for any questions or assistance with

Scholastic Book Club.

UNIFORM SHOP

The Uniform Shop is open

on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of

each month from 8:50am-

9:15am.

Prepaid completed orders

forms can be left at the office

to be filled. Orders will then

be available for collection

from the office.

Thank-you

Bonnie, Misako &

Katarina

STAFF CAR PARK

A reminder that the lower school car park is reserved for staff use only and also should

not be used by pedestrian traffic. In the interests of

safety the pathways should be used and care always taken at pick up and drop off time.

Thank you for you co-operation.

Please remember to wear your wide brimmed hat every day until the end of April.

Reminder that the Canteen is open on FRIDAY’S ONLY for over the counter sales of snacks and lunch orders. Friday 19th February Tally 9-10:30 Lynn J/Amanda McC Prep 11-1:15pm Stacey S/Nanae k/Sammi W/Travis J Serve 1:15-2:15 Jenny T/Anita McK/Scott McD

Thank you Canteen Committee

FREE Parent Information Night How do I raise a Resilient Child? - the 32 emotional and social skills involved in building resilience at any age Wednesday 16 March at 7.30pm – 9.00pm Location: Rosstrevor Hall, Brighton Grammar Old Middle School, entrance off Allee St, opposite the new Middle School and the Girrawheen Chapel Presenter: Melissa Anderson – Director of SHINE Academy for Girls and LONGFORD & FRASER for boys, resilience coach, counsellor, pharmacist Cost: Nil. A gold coin donation to a selected charity is welcomed Bookings: 9592 4948