MOOLAP NEWS – ISSUE 01, FRIDAY 07 FEBRUARY 2020

PRINCIPALS NEWS Welcome to all students, parents and families to the 2020 school year! It has been a pleasure seeing everyone back at school during the past week. A special welcome to our new Prep students and their families, as well as other new students to the school. We trust that you will enjoy your education at Moolap PS! Prep students will have each Wednesday off school during the first 5 weeks of the year. Their first full week will be following the March long weekend. This week’s newsletter is printed for all families, with future additions being published online and emailed to families. You can subscribe to the newsletter via the link on our school webpage https://www.moolapps.vic.edu.au/. Log in details to our new Compass platform will arrive home today via students. If you did not receive your log on details or are a separated family and require separate log on details, please see the Office for an Additional Family Forms. We are starting with a few simple modules and will add more options during the coming year. Many parents would have seen the improvements made to the school as part of our building project, completed in December 2019. Some extra painting was completed during the holidays. We are now waiting for new doors to the pavilion to be installed, which should be some time soon. Our new STEM space looks amazing with its new furniture and Mrs Taylor is busily preparing the new Library space for students to use. This year Ms Courtenay will work an additional day here at the school, where she will not only teach digital technology to P-2 students this semester, but work on STEM projects with classes, beginning with our Year 3-6 students. We will be holding a STEM family evening here in Week 6, so look out for further information to arrive home. You will also have noticed that our old junior playground was removed over the holidays, with a new one to be installed by the end of the term. We can’t wait! These improvements really assist us to provide an inviting and engaging learning environment to our students here at Moolap. Our students have each made a positive start to the year and have been busily settling into their classroom routines. Our 2020 Classes and teachers are as follows: Prep A: Courtney Little Prep B: Laura Blackwell 1-2 A: Nghia Tran 1-2 B: Meg Wiffen 1-2 C: Mina Spiteri 3 A: Kate Henrys 3-4 A: Greg Seach 4 A: Sara Fitzpatrick 5-6 A: Cam O’Neill 5-6 B: Lauren Bayly Our school leadership team consists of the following staff: Mina Spiteri, Greg Seach, Lauren Bayly, Cam O’Neill and Peter Knight. The predominant role of the leadership team is to support our staff and students with student learning and wellbeing, as well as ensure that we are working positively towards our school goals. Specific roles of our leaders include: Mina Spiteri- P-2 Leader; Greg Seach- 3-6 Leader; Lauren Bayly- Inclusions Co-ordinator; Cam O’Neill- Maths Priority Leader. We welcome back Mel Parsons from her family leave. Mel will be working 3 days per week and supporting Greg and Mina’s classrooms as they perform their leadership roles. We also welcome Dana Ellis to the school. Dana joins us from Westgrove PS and will be working two days per week across our Year 5-6 classes to assist Cam and Lauren’s leadership roles.

WHATS ON THIS FORTNIGHT

MON 10 FEB PREP SCREENING TUES 11 FEB PREP SCREENING WED 12 FEB PREP FREE DAY THURS 13 FEB BOOKCLUB ORDERS DUE PREP SCREENING FRI 14 FEB COMMINITY EVENT 2.45P.M. TUES 18 FEB INFO EXPO – 3.30P.M. WED 19 FEB PREP FREE YR 456 GIRLS FOOTY CLINIC FRI 21 FEB ASSEMBLY – 9.15 A.M.

Our Specialist Teachers include: Phys Ed: Steve Clarke (all classes have PE each week) Visual Arts: Alison Cook (all classes have Art each week) Music/ Drama: Tara O’Neill (Year 3-6 classes will have Music/Drama this semester) Digital Technology/ STEM: Courtenay McLaughlin Our Education Support Staff: Education Support Staff primarily assist students who are providing with additional funding for specific learning needs. They also assist with special programs, such as Oracy and perform other valuable tasks around the school. Our staff are Michelle McIntosh, Deb McNeill, Norelle Clarke, Jodie Lewry, Michaela Sultmann and Olivia Flynn. Michelle Taylor is our Librarian. Kylie Egan is our Business Manager and Dawn Arlow works in Administration. Paula Vicary is our School Chaplain and works on Monday and Thursday. Our first school event for the year will take place on Tuesday 18 February, which is an opportunity for you to pop into your child’s classroom, meet with his/her teacher and find out about the programs and areas of learning focus for the semester. It is an informal open afternoon, no need to book, just pop in with your child anytime between 3:30-5:30pm. The afternoon is designed to connect our families with the school and teaching staff as we begin a big year of learning together. During our assembly this week, we had the pleasure of presenting official badges to our 2020 Student Leaders. Our school recognises that student leadership is an integral part of our community, where we are committed to providing a welcoming and nurturing environment aligned to our school values: Respect, Responsibility, Integrity and Safety. Congratulations to our School Leaders, Ashleigh Stokes, Toby Woodford and Abbey Wilcox. Our school’s House Program will have a greater profile this year since the change of house names and symbols: Perridak (Blue) Tyler Marange and Jemima Stansfield; Lelon (Red) Nate Van Kriekan and Riley Cummins; Barnong (Green) Taj Marhad and Chase Phillips and Kuwarrk (Yellow) Ainsley Drayton and Tia Jackman. Emily Arends is our Art Leader and Katelin Cobb is our Eco Leader. Congratulations to all leaders and best of luck as you represent our school throughout the year. Extend Before School Care - Are you interested? A few parents have asked about the potential of a Before School Care program here at Moolap PS. The Extend Service has developed a small survey to gather some feedback from parents. They would need at least 8 children each day to make it a viable option. Please click on the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J9PDRRQ The service currently operates Mon – Fri – 3.20p.m. – 6.00 p.m. If you require further information you can give them a call on 1300 366 437 or see Extend's Website - click here. To register please visit LookedAfter. Have a great week! Peter Knight Principal STUDENT SAFETY AND PARKING

As you know, there are designated car parks outside the school grounds to assist and ensure safe

pedestrian movement for our students and families. These carparks have some important rules:

1. Parents need to reverse their cars into the car spaces. This makes it safer when you drive out.

2. Parents and students are asked to encourage students to use only the designated walking paths around

the carpark.

3. Parents of younger students should walk their child to and from the school yard.

Please be aware that several parents have received parking tickets, particularly around the bus stop area. This is

enforced by City of Greater Geelong Local Laws in the interests of safety and is not organised by the school. As we do

not have a designated drop off area, parents will need to park in the carpark to drop off children. With so many large

and small vehicles using the areas around the school, the beginning of the year is a perfect time of the year to chat to

your child about their safety, especially if they are one of our senior students who enjoy physical exercise by riding

their bikes to and from school each day. A timely reminder also to please avoid parking in the staff carparks.

2020 SCHOOL TIMES 8:45am - School Opens (Outside Supervision provided) 8:55am – 10.55 a.m. – Session 1 & 2 10.55 – 11.30 a.m. – First break 11.30 – 12.30 p.m. – Session 3

12:30 – 12.50 p.m. – Lunch Inside eating break with supervised activities 12.50 – 1.50 p.m. – Session 4 1.50 – 2.20 p.m. – Second Break 2.20 – 3.20 p.m. – Session 5 3:20pm - Dismissal

STUDENT LUNCH ORDERS Lunch orders are available for students once a week each Thursday. Please see school website for further information.

Orders are to be completed online before 7.00 p.m. Wednesdays for Thursday delivery. Register with Quickcliq, set up credit through then order online (before 7 p.m. the previous day), lunch is delivered the following day to your child /ren. Information below is to assist with the process is available on the school’s website: 1/ QuickCliq Parent Information for parents - Click Here 2/ Set up registration on line - Click Here 3/ Once you have set up your account, added credit to your account, place your order - Click Here for Menu

FRIDAY CANTEEN Parent volunteers run canteen each Friday. Items such as Primas, flavoured milk, popcorn, icy poles (and sometimes special treats) are available for students. If you are interested in being on the weekly roster please notify the office. SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB - ISSUE 1 OUT NOW

Don’t forget to look for the Book Club Issue catalogue sent home with the eldest in the family (except for Preps who received one each). Ordering from Book Club is easy—simply go online and place your order and then Scholastic’s ‘book elves’ take care of the rest. Issue 1 Orders are due by Thursday 13 February. Orders can be placed online or drop in named envelope with enclosed order & payment to the office. Delivery is approximately 2 weeks from closing date.

STUDENT DETAILS Please be aware that the office needs to be notified throughout the year of any change to your child’s details as soon as possible, especially changes to contact numbers, emergency numbers, change in medical details etc. Current Student Details will be emailed to families shortly. Please ensure all contact details are kept up to date throughout the year. LATE OR EARLY ARRIVALS Children arriving late to school or leaving earlier than 3.20 p.m. are required to be signed in / sign out at the office and collect a slip to provide to the class teacher. SMS notifications will be sent out for ‘unexplained absences”. BIRTH / IMMUNISATION CERTIFICATES Please ensure if you have not provided a copy of these details to the office that you do so as soon as possible. EXCURSIONS AND SPORTING EVENTS

Reminder:

• Permission notes sent home from the office will also be placed on the school website for easy reference (in the case of lost or misplaced notes). Excursion dates will be listed on the school website calendar. Extra excursion forms will also be available from the office.

• The school aims to provide parents with at least two weeks’ notice of upcoming excursions.

• Students are only permitted to travel outside the school with written permission from parents or guardians. Verbal permission will not be accepted as per Education Department Guidelines.

• All permission notes and monies must be provided to school at least 48 hours prior to the excursion. This allows the school to organise accurate student numbers, medical procedures, confirm those attending with the venue and bus company, print out relevant permission notes etc. The due date of the permission note and money will be marked on the excursion note.

CSEF – CAMPS SPORTS & EXCURSION FUND The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payment for eligible students to attend camps, sports and excursions. CSEF applications open again from term one 2020. Parents or legal guardians are no longer required to submit a new CSEF application form each year. New applicants will need to collect, complete and return form to the Office. Application Forms are available from the office. The CSEF program for 2020 closes on 26 June 2020. Please ensure all competed application forms are returned to the office prior to this date.

MOOLAP COMMUNITY GROUP (MCG) What is Moolap Community Group? The Moolap Community Group is a team of parent/carer volunteers of children attending the school, along with the School Principal and selected Staff, who meet once a month to oversee fundraising opportunities and facilitate change within the school, to enhance the experiences and learning for our children. Who Can Be Involved? Anyone can be involved, whether it be grandparents, parents or carers of children enrolled at Moolap Primary School. What Does the Group Do? We co-ordinate fundraising and collaborate with School Council on how to spend funds raised, along with organising events for the children at the school. The group also organises the canteen and helps out on other projects around the school as required. How Do I Become Involved? You can request to join the Moolap Community Group page on Facebook which will then be approved by Administration. This is a closed group which is only available to Moolap families. Please make sur you answer the questions when requesting to join. You can also check the noticeboard in the front of the school yard for updates on what is happening during the Term. Attendance at the monthly meetings helps you to be informed and have your say on what happens at school. If you are unable to attend meetings but still wish to have your say, you can talk to the office or one of our friendly MCG parents. There are also updates in our fortnightly newsletter, so please find the source of communication that best suits you to stay informed. If you have any queries regarding the group, please ask at the Office for assistance. How Much Involvement Do I Need to Commit To? You can commit an hour of your time once a year, or you can be active every day in the group. The choice is up to you and any help is most welcome. There are rosters for certain events which you may make yourself available for or you can take work home to do if it is applicable at certain times of the year (e.g. wrapping of gifts or stapling of Raffle Books). What Are the Plans for 2020? So far, the group has scheduled in an Obstacool course, and have a few fundraisers in their early planning stages for this year. As we progress through the year there will be notification regarding these. The Mother’s Day and Father’s Day stalls and of course the Easter and Christmas Raffles will be a part of these activities throughout the year. How Can I Get More Information? Our first meeting is at 2.20pm on Friday 7th February 2020. Please report to the office and they will direct you where to go, children are most welcome to attend. If you are available to attend, this is a great way to become informed, have your say and get involved in your school community, as well as meet some new parents! Also, staying up to date via social media through the Facebook page is a huge help. Any further queries can be directed via the Office. Thanks for taking the time to consider how you can be involved in your child’s education, and we look forward to meeting all of you over the coming months!!! A reminder that - Moolap Volunteers are required to have a current ‘volunteers’ Working with Children Check. A copy must be provided to the Office prior to volunteering. STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE Parents or guardians are advised that students who do not have student accident insurance, are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including the cost of ambulance attendance or transport as well as any other transport costs. Parents or guardians can purchase insurance policies from commercial insurers. The Department does not hold insurance for personal property brought to schools and it has no capacity to pay for any loss or damage to such property.