Welcome
I would like to welcome back the school community to what shapes as an exciting term 2. With the anticipated removal of an industrial dispute we can now all breathe out and get on with the job of educating our students without the barriers.
I would like to welcome Anthony Weston as the new Physical Education teacher who is replacing Alan Holm for the next two terms. There will be some minor timetable adjustments to accommodate this change.
Over the break we were able to start some refurbishments to the MP –REI precinct on the middle level, a new entrance to the VCE common room and a total makeover of the ICT room 315. These investments are a result of our accumulated savings over the years.
Prospective Students and Parents for 2014 and beyond
Open Day and Information Evening
The Prospective Students and Parents Open Day will take place on Thursday, 2nd May. Members of the School Leadership Team, assisted by students assisted will take school tours at 10am, 12 noon and 2:20pm. Information packages will be distributed on the day. All families will be invited to join staff and students for refreshments and to view the Learning displays located in the new building. The structure of this day is similar to what has occurred in the past so I ask you for your support in “spreading the word”. If you know of someone who would be interested in attending our Open Day please pass on this information to them. Information has also been distributed through pre-schools, primary schools and the local media. We also ask families to help with the distribution of postcards over the next two weeks. These are located in the foyer near the office.
Information Evening pitched at prospective Prep and Year 7 families will take place on Thursday, May 9th at 7pm in the library and will include the Principal’s address.
Finance
URGENT APPEAL for a parent or community member to be our school council treasurer. No particular skills are required although a knowledge of book keeping or accounting practices would be useful. Training and mentoring will be provided.
I have compiled a list of items that pertain to fundraising which l hope will clarify the College processes. Some reference may be made to the following policies:
- Money Handling Policy
- Fundraising Policy
Item 1 – Individual class program budgets may have deficit funds in relation to extra curricula programs such as camps, incursions and dancing. These deficit funds may be set against any surplus funds from the classroom program budget after reconciliation. In some cases, if there are insufficient funds to cover the deficit amount then the Principal may elect to use any surplus fundraising funds to cover the extra-curricular losses (but not Program Deficit amounts). Deficits in extra-curricular programming may occur when students withdraw at the last minute or unexpected costs arise.
Item 2 – Fundraising (from Thursday Market or other approved activities) remains the property of the class and the teacher/class carer largely activate the expenditure (with the exception of extra curricula programming deficits – see item1).
Item 3 – All purchases from fundraising accounts must be made using a school purchase order which needs to be signed by the principal. Class carers should liaise with the class teacher(s) and/or the principal before making small purchases. In the case of large purchases (>$100), the carer should consult with the class teacher and a good percentage of the class parents (if possible).
Item 4 – Surplus fundraising funds for each primary Steiner class roll over each year with the class until year 8. However, surplus fundraising funds for all primary MP (REI) classes stay with the nominated year level. Eg If MP 1-2 (REI Julie/Cat) had a surplus fundraising amount in 2012 then that amount would stay with that class even if some students move up to the next class grouping the following year.
Item 5 – Class carers and/or teachers can request a ‘Sub Program Report’ or a ‘Sub Program Transaction Report’ (the latter provides more transaction details by listing the name of the invoice, etc) at any time or by email to Laraine Milburn (milburn.laraine.l@ edumail.vic.gov.au) in the College Administration.
Item 6 – All monies raised through fundraising must be banked using the College banking system and the counting of money must be in accordance with the Money Handling Policy. Records of all revenue and expenditure should be kept for all fundraising activities by the event organisers.
Item 7 – All Fundraising events outside of Spring Fair and Thursday Market require Principal approval. If Principal approval is not granted for a particular event, an appeal may be lodged with the Finance Committee who may forward reasons requesting the principal to reconsider his/her decision.
Item 8 – Class fundraising is generally used to support the classroom learning environment, lowering excursion and camp costs, support for disadvantaged children, major project costs/subsidies, special items of equipment and the purchase of miscellaneous items such as small gifts, water filters, flowers, etc.
Spring Fair 2012
The following items were successful in receiving funding in excess of $30,000 from the funds raised from our spring fair in 2012:
- Purchase a Badge Maker machine – $390
- Program support for Indigenous Studies -$3000
- Theatre Upgrades to stair lighting and sound – $9000
- Parents Association items such as marquees, ice chest and aprons -$2300
- Outdoor Ed equipment -$2000
- Canteen Plants – $700
- Recycle bins – $920
- Outdoor Furniture for mezzanine -$2400
- Mandarin Cultural Festival – $1000
- KG Program support – $7000
- Program Scholarships – $2500
- Charity Donation(s) – $500
Car Parks and Travel
The College Council has asked me to establish a safe zebra crossing in our loading bay area and to provide a more pedestrian friendly and safe walk way adjacent to the staff car park.
To do this, we will need to prevent car access at drop off and pick up times in these areas. I am sorry for any inconvenience this may cause but the safety of pedestrians on school grounds is paramount in this matter. The school is currently investigating drop zones and other measures by working with the City of Yarra and Tara Watson (Parent and Travel plan consultant). I ask parents to consider the use of the Hoddle St overpass and other potential temporary drop zones to work through this issue.
An expanded new bike parking arrangement has been installed in the cover way outside the Gym area. The congestion of bikes outside the canteen area made this area quite hazardous.
School Sport
Our Years 7 Girls Volleyball won their divisional play-off round last term by defeating Pascoe Vale Girls and Glenroy College. Well done Girls and good luck in the next round.
Our Years 8 Girls team defeated Glenroy College and AIA but lost narrowly to Pascoe Vale Girls.
Both Year 7 and 8 boys Volleyball teams won their way through to the Northern Region Finals.
Parents Association
I would like to congratulate the interim office bearers of our newly formed PA. They are now busy forming a constitution to present at their inaugural AGM in early May. Stay tuned for more announcements.
I would also like to introduce Wolfgang Maschek (mashcek.wolfgang.w@edumail.vic.gov.au) who is our Community Liaison Officer. Wolfgang’s role is quite diverse but if you need to have a chat to someone who has an excellent knowledge of the school then Wolfgang is your contact person. He can answer your questions or direct you to someone who can. Wolfgang also chairs the canteen committee and he attends School Council meetings.
School Council
The College Council has an enormous responsibility in providing the governance for the school. It can only do this work effectively with the support of parents and staff. To assist with this work we use sub-committees consisting of staff, parents and community members with particular expertise or interest.
The sub- committees are:
- Finance
- Buildings, Environment and Sustainability (BES)
- Education and Policy (Edpol)
- Marketing and Publicity
If you would like to be part of the work that adds value to the governance of this school then please contact Stan Pamieta (Pamieta.stanley.j@edumail.vic.gov.au) or Wolfgang.
Principal’s Community Report – April 2013
Welcome
I would like to welcome back the school community to what shapes as an exciting term 2. With the anticipated removal of an industrial dispute we can now all breathe out and get on with the job of educating our students without the barriers.
I would like to welcome Anthony Weston as the new Physical Education teacher who is replacing Alan Holm for the next two terms. There will be some minor timetable adjustments to accommodate this change.
Over the break we were able to start some refurbishments to the MP –REI precinct on the middle level, a new entrance to the VCE common room and a total makeover of the ICT room 315. These investments are a result of our accumulated savings over the years.
Prospective Students and Parents for 2014 and beyond
Open Day and Information Evening
The Prospective Students and Parents Open Day will take place on Thursday, 2nd May. Members of the School Leadership Team, assisted by students assisted will take school tours at 10am, 12 noon and 2:20pm. Information packages will be distributed on the day. All families will be invited to join staff and students for refreshments and to view the Learning displays located in the new building. The structure of this day is similar to what has occurred in the past so I ask you for your support in “spreading the word”. If you know of someone who would be interested in attending our Open Day please pass on this information to them. Information has also been distributed through pre-schools, primary schools and the local media. We also ask families to help with the distribution of postcards over the next two weeks. These are located in the foyer near the office.
Information Evening pitched at prospective Prep and Year 7 families will take place on Thursday, May 9th at 7pm in the library and will include the Principal’s address.
Finance
URGENT APPEAL for a parent or community member to be our school council treasurer. No particular skills are required although a knowledge of book keeping or accounting practices would be useful. Training and mentoring will be provided.
I have compiled a list of items that pertain to fundraising which l hope will clarify the College processes. Some reference may be made to the following policies:
Item 1 – Individual class program budgets may have deficit funds in relation to extra curricula programs such as camps, incursions and dancing. These deficit funds may be set against any surplus funds from the classroom program budget after reconciliation. In some cases, if there are insufficient funds to cover the deficit amount then the Principal may elect to use any surplus fundraising funds to cover the extra-curricular losses (but not Program Deficit amounts). Deficits in extra-curricular programming may occur when students withdraw at the last minute or unexpected costs arise.
Item 2 – Fundraising (from Thursday Market or other approved activities) remains the property of the class and the teacher/class carer largely activate the expenditure (with the exception of extra curricula programming deficits – see item1).
Item 3 – All purchases from fundraising accounts must be made using a school purchase order which needs to be signed by the principal. Class carers should liaise with the class teacher(s) and/or the principal before making small purchases. In the case of large purchases (>$100), the carer should consult with the class teacher and a good percentage of the class parents (if possible).
Item 4 – Surplus fundraising funds for each primary Steiner class roll over each year with the class until year 8. However, surplus fundraising funds for all primary MP (REI) classes stay with the nominated year level. Eg If MP 1-2 (REI Julie/Cat) had a surplus fundraising amount in 2012 then that amount would stay with that class even if some students move up to the next class grouping the following year.
Item 5 – Class carers and/or teachers can request a ‘Sub Program Report’ or a ‘Sub Program Transaction Report’ (the latter provides more transaction details by listing the name of the invoice, etc) at any time or by email to Laraine Milburn (milburn.laraine.l@ edumail.vic.gov.au) in the College Administration.
Item 6 – All monies raised through fundraising must be banked using the College banking system and the counting of money must be in accordance with the Money Handling Policy. Records of all revenue and expenditure should be kept for all fundraising activities by the event organisers.
Item 7 – All Fundraising events outside of Spring Fair and Thursday Market require Principal approval. If Principal approval is not granted for a particular event, an appeal may be lodged with the Finance Committee who may forward reasons requesting the principal to reconsider his/her decision.
Item 8 – Class fundraising is generally used to support the classroom learning environment, lowering excursion and camp costs, support for disadvantaged children, major project costs/subsidies, special items of equipment and the purchase of miscellaneous items such as small gifts, water filters, flowers, etc.
Spring Fair 2012
The following items were successful in receiving funding in excess of $30,000 from the funds raised from our spring fair in 2012:
Car Parks and Travel
The College Council has asked me to establish a safe zebra crossing in our loading bay area and to provide a more pedestrian friendly and safe walk way adjacent to the staff car park.
To do this, we will need to prevent car access at drop off and pick up times in these areas. I am sorry for any inconvenience this may cause but the safety of pedestrians on school grounds is paramount in this matter. The school is currently investigating drop zones and other measures by working with the City of Yarra and Tara Watson (Parent and Travel plan consultant). I ask parents to consider the use of the Hoddle St overpass and other potential temporary drop zones to work through this issue.
An expanded new bike parking arrangement has been installed in the cover way outside the Gym area. The congestion of bikes outside the canteen area made this area quite hazardous.
School Sport
Our Years 7 Girls Volleyball won their divisional play-off round last term by defeating Pascoe Vale Girls and Glenroy College. Well done Girls and good luck in the next round.
Our Years 8 Girls team defeated Glenroy College and AIA but lost narrowly to Pascoe Vale Girls.
Both Year 7 and 8 boys Volleyball teams won their way through to the Northern Region Finals.
Parents Association
I would like to congratulate the interim office bearers of our newly formed PA. They are now busy forming a constitution to present at their inaugural AGM in early May. Stay tuned for more announcements.
I would also like to introduce Wolfgang Maschek (mashcek.wolfgang.w@edumail.vic.gov.au) who is our Community Liaison Officer. Wolfgang’s role is quite diverse but if you need to have a chat to someone who has an excellent knowledge of the school then Wolfgang is your contact person. He can answer your questions or direct you to someone who can. Wolfgang also chairs the canteen committee and he attends School Council meetings.
School Council
The College Council has an enormous responsibility in providing the governance for the school. It can only do this work effectively with the support of parents and staff. To assist with this work we use sub-committees consisting of staff, parents and community members with particular expertise or interest.
The sub- committees are:
If you would like to be part of the work that adds value to the governance of this school then please contact Stan Pamieta (Pamieta.stanley.j@edumail.vic.gov.au) or Wolfgang.