A-Z School Information

Absences

Class rolls are kept in accordance with Departmental Policy. A written explanation is required whenever a student has been absent. If a student is going to be late to school or absent it would be appreciated if a phone call could be made to the General Office. If a child is likely to be absent from school for a prolonged period please contact the teacher who may suggest activities for the child to complete during the absence. Unexplained absences will be followed up by the school. Children are not permitted to leave the school or playground during the school hours (8.45am-3.30pm) without permission from the Principal and a note from their parents.Parents/Carers must complete an early release form at the General Office before collecting them from the classroom. If children are late to school they must be signed in at the office and a late pass collected.

After School Hours Care Centre

The OSHC Program at Moonee Ponds West PS is run by Camp Australia. The programs aim is to create a secure atmosphere where children can relax after the school day. Afternoon tea is provided, and varied activities include craft, art, music, cooking, games, computers, puzzles, and a range of sporting activities. The Centre is open from 7.15-8.45am and 3.30 – 6.15pm each school day. Vacation Care is provided every school holiday from 8.00am-6.00pm and is located in the school hall. Details of enrolments, fees, etc are available directly from the Program or Camp Australia direct on. The program contact phone number is 9375 7906.

Appointments

Communication between school and home is highly valued. Parents are asked to make an appointment for any discussion with the Principal, Deputy Principal, Guidance Officer or teachers. An appointment will be arranged at the earliest possible time and attention will be given immediately to urgent issues.

Arrival at School

Please ensure children arrive at school between 8.45am and in time to commence lessons at 9:00am. A late arrival is very disruptive and often your child will miss important announcements. Children should not arrive before 8:45am as there is no staff supervision.

Assembly

A whole school assembly is held weekly on Mondays at 9.00am and on other special occasions. These assemblies feature are run by students selected from the senior team. They have reports from students, displays of work, awards and other general announcements. Whole-school gatherings create a cohesive school community and maintain a heightened school spirit. Parents are welcome to attend.

Buddy Classes

Buddy classes are a feature of the pastoral care, social and academic program at Moonee Ponds West Primary School. Each class, Prep to Year 6, has a buddy class. Classes meet regularly to share class work, singing, excursions, portfolios, games etc.

Canteen

The School does not run a canteen. We have an arrangement with a local Milkbar in Eglinton Street to provide a canteen service. The Shop Price Lists are published at the beginning of each term or are available from the Shop or Front Office upon request.

Change of Contact Numbers

Contact numbers and addresses need to be kept up to date with the General Office. Children can be distressed unnecessarily when sickness or illness occurs and the contact number is out of date.

Class Groups

The organization of classes is based on a multi-age structure that encourages and enhances individual achievement and social development. The school is committed to teaching and learning based on real life experiences. In addition to the programs in English, Science, Mathematics, Music and Personal Development, specialist programs are run in PE, Creative Arts, Library, Japanese L.O.T.E, Instrumental Music and choir.

Clothing - School

Parents can buy school uniforms – sweatshirts, polo shirts, trackpants, girls’ shorts and hats directly from the General Office. School Bags are also available.

Community Partnership

The school has benefited from the generous support of members of the community making donations to the school of both money, goods, services and time and such contributions reinforce the partnerships on which our school is built. Please contact the Principal if you think your business or organisation could make a contribution.

Cross Age Tutoring

A Cross-Age-Tutoring Program operates at Moonee Ponds West Primary with the pairing of older and younger children to reinforce learning.

Dental Service

The school dental; services operate from a site in Geelong Road. The phone number is currently unavailable.

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

Families in receipt of a government pension or Centrelink allowance are eligible to apply in February for this grant. It is paid in two instalments, the first in February and the second in July each year. A new application needs to be completed annually with a photo copy of the current benefit card.

Environment Program

Moonee Ponds West Primary School Community is proud of its reputation as an environmentally and socially responsible community. The Environment Program links studies of society, health and environment with a program of community action to improve the physical and social environments of the school. The program offers many different opportunities for the whole school community – students, parents, staff and friends of the school – to participate. The wonderful grounds at MPW are the result of years of enthusiastic community and school involvement. In 2005-2006 the priority was the refurbishment of the new administration courtyard.

Equity Funds

The school has an equity fund that is used to assist students attending camps and excursions if needed. Parents who require assistance from this fund should approach the Principal or Office Manager for confidential assistance.

Evacuation Drill

Evacuation Drill is necessary for the safety of all those within the building and will be conducted at least twice a year to ensure all are familiar with the routine. Please obey all procedures if visiting the school during an evacuation.

Excursions and Camps

Educational excursions including camps are regarded as an integral part of the learning process and a fundamental part of children’s education. They provide experiences which stimulate curiosity and create springboards for further learning. Children are expected to participate as excursions are not isolated learning experiences. Written advice on excursions will be given to parents. If you have difficulty meeting the cost of a camp contact the Principal to discuss your position.

Excursions and Sports Levy

The school has an annual levy to cover excursions undertaken by each Team throughout the year. For families in receipt of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) this levy is covered by the school. The sports levy is used to cover all interschool sports activities.

Family Court Orders/Parenting Agreements

Please discuss any special circumstances with the Principal and lodge copies of these orders/agreements with the Office Manager. They are treated confidentially in our school.

Foster Child

Moonee Ponds West PS has had a long commitment to supporting a child in a Third World country. Fundraising and donations from students allow us to continue this worthwhile project which reminds us of global perspectives on social and environmental issues.

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Hours

Classes commence at 9.00am and conclude at 3.30pm. Recess is from 11.00-11.30am. Lunch is from 1.30-2.30pm. (In the ten minutes prior to lunch students eat their lunch with teacher supervision).

Immunisation

DE&T advises that all children attending school in Victoria should be immunised against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles, mumps, rubella and HIB (Haemophilus influenzae type b). We would ask that you check your child's present immunisation status to see whether it is complete for his/her age. Victorian Public Health regulations require schools to request proof of up to date immunisation when enrolling. Failure to provide this may result in your child being excluded from school should an outbreak of an infectious disease occur. A copy of exclusion periods for students with infectious diseases is available. Parents are asked to adhere closely to these requirements unless medical advice to the contrary is provided in writing.

Insurance

The school does not carry personal accident insurance for students. Parents are advised to take out their own personal accident insurance for their families.

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Leaving the School

Please inform the front office staff when students are moving interstate or transferring to another school. Teachers should also be informed with plenty of notice so that they can prepare transfer information for the new school.

Medical and Accidents

It is important that sick children are kept at home for their own comfort as well as the comfort of other children and staff. If a child becomes ill or is injured at school appropriate First Aid will be given and if necessary parents will be notified and asked to take their child home. If emergency treatment is required parents will be notified immediately and the child will be transferred by ambulance to hospital. In such cases ambulance services and treatment are at the parents expense. If medicine is to be taken at school it must be given to the General Office with WRITTEN instructions. All students who have an ongoing condition (eg asthma, diabetes, epilepsy) must have a treatment plan completed by parents and their GP and lodged at the school. Plan proforma are available from the Front Office.

If a child is to take a prescription medicine while at school, written directions and medicine must be left with office staff. Information on a child’s health status eg epilepsy, diabetes, should be given on enrolment or on diagnosis. If the health problem is serious please provide an up to date photograph of the child so it can be placed on our staffroom Medical Alert board.

A Community Health Nurse visits the school annually to examine children in Prep. Other children may be examined as required.

Head lice are extremely contagious but easily eradicated. Children with either eggs or live lice will be excluded from school until written evidence of treatment is produced. Please report any cases of head lice to the classroom teacher.

Quarantine periods for infectious diseases such as mumps, German measles, measles and chicken pox are provided on a separate sheet in the enrolment package. An immunisation form is required to be completed for all students enrolling in the Victorian system. The appropriate form is included in the enrolment package.

Music Program

The MVIMP Music Program, organized by a sub-committee formed from the feeder schools, provides individual professional tuition in a range of instruments.

The Soundhouse program is a separate program and operates from Prep and covers instruments such as Keyboard, Guitar as well as Singing and Performance (SAP)

Newsletter

The School Newsletter is distributed to each family. Please ask the children on Wednesday evening to ensure you are kept up to date with Newsletters or notes. The Newsletter is a valuable form of communication. Information includes school happenings and calendar dates and educational research on current issues. Newsletters can be sent to families via e-mail. Please contact the General Office if you would like to access this service.

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Parents Group

The Parents Group promotes community participation in the activities of the school. All parents and guardians of students at the school are members and other interested individuals may become members. The P&C has a number of objectives including:

• promotion of the interests of the school;
• encouraging close collaboration between staff, parents and other citizens; and
• provision of a forum where members can contribute to the development of the goals and policies of the school.

The Parent Group also conducts social functions and fundraising activities and has a parent representative members on School Council. All community members are welcome to attend monthly Parent Group Meetings.

Parking

Moonee Ponds West Primary School has limited safe parking areas in three adjacent streets around our school. In the interests of student safety and respect for the residents adjoining the school, parents and visitors are asked to make use of the parking area in surrounding streets rather double parking in Lennox, Athol, and Eglinton Streets.

A Stop, Drop, Go zone has been established on Athol Street. Parents should not use this area for parking.

Permission Notes

All permission notes for activities outside the school must be returned to the school signed by a parent/carer. Students cannot attend an excursion without a signed permission note.

Personal Belongings

Please mark clearly your child’s name on all personal belongings including clothing. Unclaimed belongings are kept in the Lost Property area and may be checked at any time. Items remaining at the end of each term are sorted - named items are returned to the children concerned and the remainder donated to charity. To avoid disappointment due to loss or damage we require all students to leave personal items and toys at home except by special arrangement.

Playground Supervision

Students are expected to know and remain in playground areas. Students should arrive at 8.45am ready for school to start at 9.00am. Staff are on duty from 8.45am in classrooms preparing for lessons. Between 8.30 and 8.45am there is no teacher on outside duty. Students are requested to seek the assistance of the Assistant Principal or another teacher if they have concerns regarding the playground. The playground is supervised by the teaching staff before school, each recess, at lunchtime and after school. During wet weather students are supervised within the school buildings.

Photographs

Individual and class photographs are taken each year. Arrangements can be made to have group photographs taken of children in the one family who attend Moonee Ponds West Primary.

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Reporting to Parents

Moonee Ponds West Primary School believes that communicating student achievement in the most effective way possible is essential. Our aim is to develop a partnership between teachers, parents and students to ensure reporting is timely, accessible and informative.

Safety

Developing school and class rules is a collaborative effort and they are designed for safety and security of the whole community. These are regularly discussed during class meetings, SRC meetings and assemblies and should be clear to all students.

School Council

The School Council embodies the principle of collaboration between parents and staff, and community partnership in decision-making processes. Its members include nine parents (one being the President), four teachers, a Parent Group representative and the Principal.
Staggered two-year terms ensure continuity in the Council’s work. The MPW School Council encourages communication between the school and its community in determining the school’s budget, curriculum and education policies as well as its many needs in relation to buildings, facilities, equipment, funds and staff. Parents are welcome to attend any School Council Meeting and elected community members of the School Council can be contacted about school matters. The minutes of the School Council meetings are available from the Office.

Security

Outside school hours the school buildings are under the protection of a security system. However any suspicious behaviour on school property should be reported to Police immediately. Parents, students and community members who use the school after hours are asked to enter and leave by the entrance nearest the School Office in Athol Street.

Special Days

The school holds a variety of other special days through the year. These may include charity and school fundraising days or be linked to significant community events such as Clean up Australia Day, World Environment Day as well as Learning Journeys and Literacy and Numeracy Week where students and parents share learning experiences.

The school promotes socially acceptable behaviour based on the fundamental principles of respect, care and responsibility. Parents are assured the school will contact them if their child’s progress or behaviour indicates that this is necessary. The school requests that parents inform the teacher or Principal when their child’s school progress or behaviour might be affected in some way by circumstances not known to the school (serious illness in family, separation and so on).

Sunsmart

MPW Primary School follows the Sunsmart Policy Guidelines for Victorian Schools, "No Hat - No Play". A key requirement of the Sun Protection Policy is for students to wear hats which protect the face, neck and ears whenever the students are outside during the period 1st October to 1st May. Students without suitable hats are not permitted to play outside at recess and lunchtime. Parents are requested to provide a hat and also provide a sun protection factor (SPF) 15 plus water resistant sunscreen. The school has provided additional outdoor seating and tree planting as measures to support the policy.

Term Dates

The school operates on a four term system with holidays set by the Department of Education and Training.

Transfers

Children moving to another school should advise the class teacher and the Principal at least one week prior to the move. The student portfolio will then be ready for collection. If you are aware that you will not be returning to MPW Primary following the Christmas holidays please notify the school as soon as possible.

Toys

Children’s toys, unless specifically asked for by a teacher, should be kept at home. It is difficult sometimes for children to care for these properly at school and the chance of breakage is high. The school takes no responsibility for these items.

Uniform

Though the school uniform is not compulsory, the wearing of school uniform is recommended and students should be encouraged to wear it to promote school identity and school pride. The school colours are blue and Gold. Most uniform items are available from the General Office.

Volunteers

As per Education Department policy, all parents/carers who volunteer in classrooms, at sporting events, on excursions or as drivers etc need to complete a Volunteers Form available from the Front Office. Volunteers must sign in and wear a visitor’s badge each time they volunteer. Regular volunteers should also have a police check completed, paid for by the school.

From time to time parents are asked to assist with the transportation of students to special events. Your assistance is appreciated however the owner and/or driver is responsible for ensuring they carry the required driver’s licence, that the vehicle is appropriately registered and insured, is roadworthy, and that loading does not exceed the seat belt provision of the vehicle.

Water

Drinking water is essential for keeping the brain and body hydrated for learning. Students are asked to bring a plastic water bottle to school daily. Students are reminded to have regular drinks of water during the day. Students may drink water inside the classroom.

Wheeled Devices

If students ride bicycles to school they must wear a helmet. Bicycles must be placed in the bicycle compound which is out-of-bounds during the day. For the safety of all students no wheeled devices (including skateboards, in-line skates and scooters) are to be ridden in the school playground at any time. Skateboards and in-line skates are not considered to be safe transport to and from school for primary-aged children. The school will not accept the responsibility for the care of any wheeled device or associated equipment.

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Year 6 Farewell-Presentation Dinner

At the end of term 4 all Year 6 students are presented with a certificate to mark their completion of primary school. Year 6 students attend a Graduation Celebration and officially have a presentation ceremony.

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