IMPORTANT DATES

Issue 2- 8th February 2018

Monday, 12th Feb
–  Prep Healthy Skills for Life Begins

Thursday, 15thFeb
  –  Prep Welcome BBQ at 5.30pm

2018 Term Dates

Term 1:
29 January (school teachers start) 30 January (school students start) to 29 March 2018

Term 2:
16 April to 29 June 2018

The School Council Election Process started today. The Information for Parents notice and a Schedule 4: Notice of Election and Call for Nominations are available to view at the front office.

Nominations forms are available at the office.  Please note that this process is highly legislated and closing dates must be strictly adhered to. Nomination forms may be obtained from the school office, and must be lodged by 4pm on Thursday, 15^th February, 2018.

A Schedule 8: Nomination Form Receipt will be issued to all Nominees. If you nominate and do not receive this form by the close of nominations, please contact Jo in the office immediately.

Please contact me should you require further information.

Ron

Oakleigh South Primary School

School Council Election 2018 – 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 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:

• 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 coopted 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.

Car Parking

Parents are NOT to use the Staff Car Park, or the disabled parks, regardless of the time of day. It is NOT to be used as a quick drop off or collection point.

This includes after Choir on a Wednesday

This also includes your civic duty to follow the road laws and rules. This includes completing 3 point turns in the middle in the intersection!

Please click here for further parking information oakleighsouthps.vic.edu.au/about-us/#parking

School Payments

This year we will continue to use QKR as our preferred payment method.  We ask that you use QKR when making payments for all your school accounts – this includes Essential Learning Fees, Excursion, Incursions and any other charges to come up through the year.

Charges are child specific, so please make sure you select the correct child and year level when making payments. If the incorrect child is showing, tap their name at the top, and select the correct child from the pop up box.

Family Statements will be sent home via the classroom by mid February.

Library Fund Donations cannot be made via Qkr, but they can be made at the Office or via Bpay. Please contact Jo Chapple if you use the Bpay option. chapple.joanne.j@edumail.vic.gov.au

Please click here for further information QKR! Information

If you have any questions regarding QKR, please contact the office.

School Banking

OSPS is excited to again offer the Commonwealth Bank School Banking program to all students in 2018.

School Banking day is MONDAY. Each week you need to bring your completed bank book and correct money to your class and hand it to your teacher.

First day of banking for 2018 is Monday, 5th February.

For more information about School Banking, please visit our school website:
https://oakleighsouthps.vic.edu.au/parents/#banking

Music Lessons

The Music School is again pleased to offer guitar (Friday) and keyboard (Wednesday) lessons after school hours at Oakleigh South Primary School for students in years 1– 6.

Please click here for full details and how to enrol your child: The Music School – Term 1 Guitar and Keyboard lessons

CSEF Information

The Victorian Government offer a Sports, Camps and Excursions Fund for families who hold a valid means-tested concession card or are temporary foster parents are eligible to apply. A speci​​al consideration eligibility category also exists. $125 per year is paid for eligible primary school students. Payments are made directly to the school and are tied to the student.

Click here for further information CSEF Website

Please click here to apply CSEF Application Form