Parents
Term Dates & Bell Times
Term Dates 2024
Term 1
27 January (students start 31 January) to 28 March
Term 2
15 April to 28 June
Term 3
15 July to 20 September
Term 4
7 October to 20 December
Bell Times
The school bell times are as follows:
8:45-9:00
Students onsite and enter their classrooms
9:00-9:50
Learning Time
9:50-10:40
Learning Time
10:40-11:10
Morning Recess outside
11:10-12:50
Learning Time
12:50-1:05
Lunch eating time inside
1:05-1:50
Lunch Recess outside
1:50-2:40
Learning Time
2:40-3:30
Learning Time
3:30-3:45
Playground supervised during pickup
Out of Hours School Care is available both before and after school to assist families outside of these time
Parent Communication
News
Compass
We are now using an app to send instant messages, news items and notices. Compass is a useful tool that keeps parents informed and up to date with notices, news and events. It is easy to use and also has the benefit of helping reduce our paper consumption by printing less. Every family has an individual login. Contact the school office for further details.
Compass provides a vital link between school and home. Communications are available via the Compass app using your login. It is important that parents read the notifications for information about events at the school and activities conducted by Parents’ Club and School Council.
Notices
Individual notices are regularly sent home, either with students or via the Compass app, advising parents of upcoming events. Please read these notices carefully and, if requested, reply promptly. Requests for money for excursions and camps are always provided in written form. Payment can also be made via the Compass app, Cash, BPAY, EFTPOS or payment plan (contact the school office if you require assistance). The due date for the return of money is always specified.
Lunch Orders
Whilst Strathmore Primary School does not have a canteen on the premises, parents are able to order their child’s lunch from Revitalise in Napier Street.
Lunch orders will now be processed through a app called Qkr.
All orders and payments will go directly to the cafe Revitalise. Cash in envelopes will no longer be accepted at school.
9:00 am will be the cut off for placing your child/childrens orders.
Uniform
Strathmore Primary School has developed a dress code that prescribes the articles of clothing to be worn as part of the compulsory school uniform and that reflects the school colours of navy blue, pale blue and maroon. A SunSmart policy is implemented where it is compulsory for students to wear a broadbrimmed hat in Terms 1 and 4.
Uniforms can be purchased from Noone Imagewear, 543 Keilor Road, Niddrie. The uniform price list provides phone numbers and trading hours for your convenience.
Out of School Hours Care
Our out of school hours service provider is TheirCare
Phone: 1300 072 410
Click here to see a short video about who TheirCare are.
School Council
The school council has particular functions in setting and monitoring the school’s direction.
School councils have three main responsibilities:
Finance: overseeing the development of the school’s annual budget and ensuring proper records are kept of the school’s financial operation
Strategic Planning: participating in the development and monitoring of the school strategic plan
Policy Development and review: developing, reviewing and updating policies that reflect a school’s values and support the school’s broad direction outlined in its strategic plan.
Other key functions of school councils include:
- raising funds for school related purposes
- maintaining school grounds and facilities
- entering into contracts
- reporting annually to the school community and the Department
- creating interest in the school in the wider community
- representing and taking the views of the community into account
- regulating and facilitating after-hours use of school premises and grounds
- operating a children’s service at the school.
Parent Participation
Strathmore Primary School values the important role the parents have in supporting their child’s learning. A comprehensive Parent Participation Plan is published at the start of each term. The school strongly encourages a partnership between the school and the home through providing opportunities for involvement in:
- Special Events
- School Council and Sub-committees
- Parents’ Club.
Parents’ Club
Strathmore Primary School has a dedicated, active and enthusiastic Parents’ Club which meets regularly to plan and organise social and fundraising activities. All parents are encouraged to become involved as membership provides and excellent opportunity to make new friends and work with the school community to reach specific goals. The school community will be notified as to the date and time of meetings via Compass.
Health, Safety & Privacy
Medication
All medication belonging to students must be handed to the classroom teacher or office staff for safekeeping. A Medication Authority must be filled out with the student’s name and dosage and signed by the parent before any medication can be administered. Students should not have medication in their possession at any time, with the exception of an asthma puffers or epipens. If a child attends the Out of School Hours Childcare Program, parents are asked to provide the TheirCare co-ordinator with any information relating to the child taking medication. The school cannot pass on any such information due to privacy laws.
Asthma Management
Parents must fill out an Asthma Management Plan form if their child has asthma. The school’s Asthma Register contains essential information on known asthmatics within the school. All asthmatic students attending the school should have their own medication for immediate use.
First Aid
Yard duty teachers manage and administer first aid to students for minor incidents that occur in the playground. If more specific first aid is required the student will be sent to the sickbay and trained first aid staff will manage the situation. All parents will receive notification of the incident via COMPASS. Serious injuries will be reported to the Principal/Assistant Principal and parents will be contacted immediately.
Head Lice
Parents are asked to sign the consent form to conduct head lice inspections for their child to ensure that this health situation is managed effectively at school. Please inspect your child’s hair regularly at home and seek appropriate treatment if head lice or eggs are found and inform the school. Health regulations require that when a child has head lice, that child should not return to school until appropriate treatment has commenced.
Illness Exclusion
The following table indicates the minimum period of exclusion from schools and children’s service centre required for infectious diseases cases and contacts as prescribed under Regulations 13 and 14 of the Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 2001-Schedule 6. In this Schedule ‘medical certificate’ means a certificate of a registered medical practitioner.
Immunisation Certificates
A school entry immunisation certificate is a specific document which shows your child’s record of immunisation. It is a legal requirement to provide a school entry immunisation certificate on enrolment to a primary school in Victoria. Appendix A indicates the minimum periods of exclusion from schools as prescribed under regulations 13 and 14 of the Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 2001-Schedule 6.
Privacy Information
Media Consent
Strathmore Primary School is committed to promoting the achievements of the students, staff and community through various media such as Compass, school website, promotional posters, information brochures and newspapers. Before a child’s work can be used the parents are to complete the media consent form indicating whether the child’s name, photo and/or work samples can be included in the above publications. This documents is included in the enrolment form and is part of the enrolment process.
Parent Payments
Strathmore PS aims to ensure that parent payment practices are consistent, transparent and ensure that all children have access to the standard curriculum.
Strathmore Primary School is committed to creating a positive, connected school community and implementing good practices forms part of this commitment. With regard to parent payments, this includes consideration of how parent payments are set, clearly communicating how decisions are made and recognising that some families experiencing hardship may need additional consideration and support. Strathmore Primary School will establish clear expectations and provide support that promotes inclusion and strengthens partnerships with parents and the school community to continue improving student outcomes, wellbeing and engagement.
As per DE guidelines and agreed upon by School Council, payment arrangements at Strathmore Primary School are communicated via the following method:
All families will receive a notification on Compass, where it will be possible to make your payment.
In addition to Compass, payment arrangements and methods include:
- Payment plan or consideration of hardship (please contact the school’s “Parent Payment Contact”, Robyn Emerson)
- Centrepay – families in receipt of payments through Centrelink may access a free and voluntary service to pay bills and expenses through regular deductions from Centrelink payments (please find further detail using the link below)
It is possible for any family to pay by installments over time. Families may also wish to pay by installments.
Further information for families is provided using the links that provide information about requests for parent payments. The documents also provide information in the case where families wish to consult with the school to provide these items themselves or to discuss consideration of hardship.
Payment arrangements should be read in conjunction with each of the documents as listed below:
General questions may be directed to the front office.
In circumstances of hardship, the school’s “Parent Payment Contact”, Robyn Emerson may be contacted by families to confidentially discuss supports such as a payment plan or other consideration. Robyn is contactable either in person at the office, via the school’s phone number (03 9379 3991) or through the school’s e-mail address strathmore.ps@education.vic.gov.au.