KURUNJANG PRIMARY SCHOOL ~ “Learning Together”

NEWSLETTER 4 - 2019

Thursday 28th February, 2019

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Welcome to census day today in all Victorian Government

schools. Today we notify the Department of Education of our enrolment numbers on which the confirmed budget for the year will be calculated. It follows yesterday’s financial and governance audit for D.E.T. The audit was extensive, lasting

11 hours and checking all financial and process reports for the management of the school. I sincerely thank Business Manager Susan Carpenter for her hard work and organization not only for the necessary preparation for the audit but at all times throughout the year.

Our population today is 601, nearly 200 students more than 4 years ago. In our first 4 weeks of school this year, it is great to witness the increase in confidence and independence in not

only the Foundation students but all the younger students, in the short time they have been at school. Particularly great are the parents who realize the importance of allowing their children to carry their own bags etc and the children are coping very well inside, in taking out the necessary items such as their take home reading books etc. Nurturing reasonable independence is a known pre-determiner for optimum success in learning.

Please may I remind all parents/carers to allow an extra few minutes to find a safe and legal park to ensure your children’s safety when arriving or going home from school. When driving

through school zones please adhere to the 40km speed limit and be aware of all staffed school crossings. Failing to stop/remain stationary at school crossings is a $379 fine and 3 demerit points. Stopped-Double parked is a $91 fine and exceeding the speed limit by 10kmph but less than 15kmph is a $303 fine and 3 demerit points. This is just an example of some of the fines which can be imposed by traffic authorities; however, we, in conjunction with the police and Melton City Council, urge all to drive and park safely as the fines are never the worst that can happen for children in cars and on roads.

Some important events coming up include, for the students, the school photos on Tuesday. School Photos are a precious and

valued item for most families. In my own family we recently pulled out the school photo albums and reminisced about the class mates, the years of having braces etc. Please ensure the children are in complete uniform without any non-uniform accessories.

This week you received information regarding our first student learning conferences for 2019, scheduled for Tuesday 12th

and Wednesday 13th March for all year levels F-6. Please

ensure you are able to log on to COMPASS to book a time with your child/ren’s teacher/s. If you are not able to access a computer at home, you are most welcome to book conference times at school. Interest in your child’s learning at school actually increases their potential for success and the information which you can provide the teachers and vice versa, will ensure that all that is needed to be shared, can be, to make the children’s learning optimal.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Also coming up in March is the School Council Annual General Meeting (26th March).

All parents and carers are invited to either self-nominate or nominate another parent in our forthcoming school council elections. You will received a letter today explaining the work of school council and we invite interested persons nominate to a position on school council. Please pop into the office for the respective nomination forms for lodging before 4.00pm on the 15th March.

Tomorrow’s assembly is for years F-2. We look forward to

seeing you there if you are able to attend.

~ Learning Together

STUDENT OF THE WEEK

AWARDS

Student of the week awards are made each week and announced in the newsletter on a Thursday. The awards are presented to the

students at assembly on Friday at 2.30pm in the Gym.

Parents are most welcome to attend.

Foundation Mel ~ George Thompson Foundation Mel ~ Alex Pesci

Foundation Potts ~ Declan Bice Foundation Potts ~ Ava Mather

1/2 Havers ~ Willow Fulford 1/2 Havers ~ Jared Zammit 1/2 Sarah ~ Nyanayul Yony 1/2 Sarah ~ Cooper Moller

1/2 Patton ~ Jaimiah Randall 1/2 Patton ~ Ekamveer Lubana

1/2 Reading ~ Leon Bateman-Howard 1/2 Reading ~ Max Davy

1/2 Templeton ~ Seraphina Tellis 1/2 Templeton ~ Tythan Sim

1/2 Castellas ~ Isabelle Anastasi 1/2 Castellas ~ Harlem Morgan

NO BREAKFAST CLUB

SCHOOL PHOTO DAY

There will be no breakfast club on school photo day to enable the space to be utilised for school photos.

Thank you for your understanding.

WEARING OF SCHOOL HATS

Please note that the wearing of school hats is compulsory in Term 4. Please make sure your child has a Kurunjang Primary School

embroidered hat for Term 4. School hats are only available from PSW in Deer Park.

FORWARD PLANNING

Friday 1st March

Year 3/4 Camp Non Refundable Deposit ~ Due Tuesday 5th March

NO BREAKFAST CLUB TODAY

School Photo Day Thursday 7th March

Year 5/6 Coach Approach Friday 8th March

Year 3/4 Melb Museum Exc. ~ Money Due

Year 5/6 Camp Non Refundable Deposit ~ Due Tuesday 12th March & Wednesday 13th March

Parent/Teacher Learning Conferences Friday 22nd March

Year 3/4 Melbourne Museum Excursion Tuesday 26th March

School Council Annual General Meeting Friday 29th March

Year 3/4 Melbourne Museum Excursion Friday 10th May

Year 3/4 Camp ~ 1st Payment Due

Year 5/6 Camp ~ 1st Payment Due Friday 14th June

Year 3/4 Camp ~ 2nd Payment Due

Year 5/6 Camp ~ 2nd Payment Due Friday 9th August

Year 3/4 Camp ~ Final Payment Due Friday 23rd August

Year 5/6 Camp ~ Final Payment Due Wednesday 28th August to Friday 30th August

Year 3/4 Lady Northcote Camp Monday 9th September to Wednesday 11th September

Year 5/6 Beach Experience Camp Monday 7th October, 2019

Curriculum Day ~ Students not required at School Monday 4th November 2019

Curriculum Day ~ Students not required at School

PFA NEWS

If you would like to assist the PFA in any way please leave your details at the office or contact Elizabeth Bajada on 0404 525 975 or

lizbajada@hotmail.com.

The PFA is a great way to be involved in your school community as well as make some new friends.

CHANGE OF DETAILS

If you have changed any of your contact details could you please advise the school office ASAP so that our records can be updated. It is vitally important that we have current contact details in order to call parents.

WEDNESDAY’S MULTICULTURAL

PLAYGROUP AT KPS

Children 0-5 years are offered the opportunity to join Playgroup with VICSEG.

PLAYGROUP AT KPS ~ FRIDAY’S 9-11AM

Children from 0-5yrs. Come along and meet new people while your child learns through play experiences.

New members welcome however, you must phone to register. For further information on any of our playgroups, please contact Kathleen McInnes on 9743 0633.

Friday 8th March Reptiles

M.P.S.S.A. SWIMMING CARNIVAL

On Tuesday, thirteen swimmers represented our school at the Melton Primary Sports Association Swimming Carnival. It was wonderful to see the parental support as our superfish gave their best. Many experiencing such an event for the first time.

All children were a credit to themselves and the school. Congratulations to Tahlia Moutsos who is only eight years old for finishing 3rd in the 10yrs butterfly and to our 12yrs freestyle relay team Phoenix Merrett, Ryan Wright, Mia Gower and Eva Bice finishing 3rd .

A big thank you to Mrs Moutsos for her assistance on the day. FANTASTIC EFFORT SWIM TEAM.

Mrs. Craig

CELEBRATION OF LEARNING

Students in 1/2 Patton have loved doing handwriting. They are recognising words that contain the letter that we are focusing on and the sound it makes as well as forming their capital and lower case correctly.

APPLICATIONS FOR CSEF

CAMPS, SPORTS & EXCURSION FUND FOR

NEW STUDENTS/FAMILIES

If you are you are a current parent and have additional students at the school this year or you are a new parent this year and you have a valid means tested concession card or you are a temporary foster parent you may be eligible to get assistance through the CSEF. Please collect an application

form from the school office and return it with your current Health Care/Concession card ASAP

OSHCLUB NEWS

OSHClub Kurunjang BSC: 6:50am-8:50am & ASC: 3:10pm-6:30pm each day during the school term. We are operating in Room MB(E)3, the room next to the playroom.

Our program provides a healthy breakfast and afternoon tea each day. Permanent and occasional vacancies are available for Before School & After School Care.

Please feel free to come in and see our program and the fun activities our staff provide!

Program Phone: 0400 028 149 Coordinator: Brittany Assistant: Danielle

All families must be enrolled to attend the program. Please create an account online at www.oshclub.com.au. All bookings and cancellations can also be managed via your online account. For on the day bookings please contact the Coordinator direct at the program.

CANTEEN

3 Party Pies Mini Muffin

Juice Box (apple or orange or

tropical)

$5.00

LOST LIBRARY BOOKS

If you found any school library books at home over the holidays could they please be returned to the school library ASAP.

Thankyou Lynne Notman ~ Library Technician

SICK BAY REQUEST

If you have any uniform items that your child has out grown the sick bay is looking for donations.

Thank you

COMPASS PASSWORD RESET

If you require your Compass password to be reset, please contact Stacey Williams in the school office for assistance.

School Council Election 2019 - Information for Parents

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 state-wide 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:

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.

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.

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

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 i 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 the principal for further information

Wilson Pee Wee Tennis (4 – 7 years) MLC Hot Shots (5 – 12 years)

Junior & Adult Coaching (Group & Private Lessons available)

Squad Training for Elite Juniors Mums in Tennis Program

Professional Racquet Restringing Ask us about NEW Cardio Tennis!

Phone: Steve Kelly 0409 173 273