PO Box 305, Mt Eliza 3930 – Phone 9787 1385 Newsletter is available on the web site address :

www.mtelizaps.vic.edu.au on the web site

30th April, 2020

DIARY Term 1

May

Sun 10th Mother’s Day

Camp Australia For more details on After School Care, Before School Care and School Holiday Program please phone Camp Australia on 1300 105 343. Registration is available online at www.campaustralia.com.au

Uniform Shop The Uniform shop will be open on the following days once school returns from online learning.

Mondays - 8.30am to 11.00am Wednesdays - 2.00pm to 4.00pm

Claire McAvoy Uniform Shop Co-ordinator

Principal’s Report

I would like to begin by congratulating our staff, students and parents for the amazing way they are continuing to work remotely at this time. I have had the opportunity to visit many classes via Zoom and spoken with all teachers and know that you are all doing a fantastic job. I have loved seeing the smiling faces as children continue to connect with their peers and their teacher. I have also been greatly impressed by the way our teachers have worked to ensure our regular learning program is maintained as close to normal as possible. Having spoken to a large number of principals from across the state in the past 2 weeks, I know that it has not been as smooth or as effective in some settings. You guys are all doing a fantastic job. Like everyone, I hope that this does not continue for too much longer, but keeping everyone safe at this time has remained the priority and I commend all in our community for their wonderful work at this time. Goodbye As mentioned last term, I have picked up a new position with the Department of Education. This position begins next week, so Friday, 1st May, is my last official day as the Principal of Mt Eliza Primary School. Unfortunately there have been some delays in sorting my contract, which has prevented me from informing the community of my final day until now. However our school is currently handling the current situation extremely well and I am confident that we have developed the necessary processes to see this through. Bev Harvey is ready to continue as the Acting Principal at this time and will do a fantastic job of continuing to lead and support our community.

It certainly is an unusual way to finish up at a school, but I will return once school is back, to visit the students in person. I would like to thank all of the staff, parents and especially the students for the wonderful 5 years I have had leading the Mt Eliza Primary School community. There have been so many achievements that have occurred for our school while I have been here - from substantial changes to the facilities, including new classrooms and playgrounds, through to significant changes to the teaching and learning processes undertaken on a daily basis to support each learner make great progress in literacy and numeracy. I have been fortunate to gather a wealth of many happy memories from my time here at MEPS and will greatly miss the daily conversations with our beautiful students. They are always polite, interested and prepared to share their learning. I would like to wish you all the best for the rest of the year and look forward to staying in touch. Grounds Update A number of maintenance and grounds works have been completed in the past couple of weeks. This has included the installation of fake turf around the sand pit and the mulching of the large garden area near the staff carpark. They are all ready for when students return to school.

MEPS Newsletter

Brett Bell Principal

Prep Chalk Drawing Competition The prep families have had great fun drawing some beautiful pieces of chalk art for our competition this week. Congratulations to all of the children who took part. The drawings have been fabulous! Our very special guest judge, Mrs Croft has awarded one winner from each grade. Congratulations to:

Prep F Isla Rose: Prep G Isabella Tully: Such an impressive and colourful rainbow unicorn Fabulous use of humans in her butterfly drawing

Prep D Reuben Stephens: Very colourful and creative shooting stars and rainbows

from Grade 1C

For ANZAC Day

Lest we forget

Prep D

Remembering ANZAC Day at school

Attendance and Online Learning Attendance

Please note: Students are expected to attend their Online Learning Class every school day.

SMS NOTIFICATION OF NON ATTENDANCE: As on normal school days, your child’s teacher will be marking their class Attendance Register. It is important and expected that your child attend his/her Online Learning Class every day.

If your child is unable to attend his/her Online Learning Class you must text 0439 454 239 by 9.30am stating your child/ren’s Name, Grade, and the reason your child will not be attending. If you do not report your child’s absence, he/she will be marked as an ‘Absent unapproved’.

Grade 5’s ANZAC Day commemorations

Prep 2021 Enrolments

We will have further information regarding re-scheduling of the tours once social distancing requirements are eased. ‘Virtual Tours’ are another area of consideration. These may be organised once our Preps and their teachers have settled into their new routine of Online Learning this term. In the meantime, you can access school information by checking our website www.mtelizaps@vic.edu.au

CSEF (Camps, Sports & Excursions Fund) Applications

If you have recently been granted a valid means-tested concession card, you may be entitled to CSEF. Please read the information below.

‘The Camps, Sports & Excursions Fund (CSEF) is 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 and 8 amount per primary school student is $125.00. If you believe that you may be eligible for the CSEF you will need to contact the school to obtain and lodge a CSEF application form, and return it to school together with a copy of your concession card, so that applications can be processed. Alternatively, you will find a CSEF Application Form on pages 8 and 9 of this newsletter.

More information about the CSEF can be found at www.education.vic.gov.au/csef

STAY IN TOUCH WITH FLEXIBUZZ

STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH WEEKLY NEWSLETTERS, PTA, CLASS NOTICES, REMINDERS AND OTHER IMPORTANT MESSAGES.

CSEF APPLICATION FORM

All application forms must be returned to school with a copy of your current concession card

Good-bye and good luck Mr Bell

Thank you from all of us at Mt Eliza Primary School

We will miss you.