​ASCOT NEWS
10 February 2023, Term 1 Issue 1

Ascot Vale Primary School
‘Unique Learning Community’
Where we value:
RESPECT      RESPONSIBILITY      EXCELLENCE      EMPATHY      GRATITUDE
"Hands up, hands down. We are on Wurundjeri land."
PLAYGROUND UPDATE
No doubt your children have shared the exciting news that our new playground is now 'open for business'.
Feel free to visit on the weekend if you havent already seen it.
​It is AMAZING. 

Thank you to our AVPS School Council Buildings and Grounds Sub Committee members for volunteering time to help oversee this project: 
Melinda Morpeth (Parent), Ben Kline (Staff Member), Richard Moody (Parent), Michael Downing (Convenor)
Please click on the headings below to discover more. 
REMINDER: You can change the language at the top left hand corner of the webpage
FROM THE PRINCIPAL TEAM 
Dear parents, carers, staff, and students,
 
It has been a pleasure to welcome our school community back to school in person in 2023; the first time in three years where the pandemic has not dominated our lives and school procedures. 😊

Thank you to:
  • Our incredible staff team for their hard work and collaborations to prepare classrooms and teaching/learning programs, which has helped pave the way for a very smooth start to the school year.
  • Parents and carers for preparing children so well for their return to school, or in the case of Year Preps and several other new students in higher year levels, their first day of school at AVPS. Also see ‘Welcome Year Prep Students’ below.
  • Our amazing AVPS students for settling in so very well to the 2023 school year and bringing a smile to everyone’s’ faces at AVPS.

WELCOME one and all to the 2023 school year at AVPS. 
 
Best wishes for a successful year to you and your families.
Kind regards,
​From the principal team
Sue & Michael 

Ps, it is also great to see more and more community activities for kids returning, for example, Auskick.
Please click on the ‘Community Noticeboard’ below for details about some local children’s’ activities your family may be interested in.
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Sue Osborne, Principal
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Michael Downing, Assistant Principal
KEY DATES & EVENTS 
Please access our AVPS Key Dates & Events page AT THIS LINK.

​UPCOMING EVENTS
We are putting the finishing touches on plans for upcoming events and will send these details via Compass alerts in the coming weeks. Please save the dates for:
  • MONDAY 20th Feb - Year 3-6 Unit Information Sessions (From 3:45pm - Exact times TBC )
  • WEDNESDAY 22nd Feb - Year P-2 Unit Information Sessions (From 3:45pm - Exact times TBC )
  • WEDNESDAY 1st March and MONDAY 6th March ‘Getting to Know You’ Meetings between parents/carers and teachers. (From 3:45pm - Exact times TBC)
  • 20-26 March – HARMONY WEEK @ AVPS – Details TBC. AVPS will recognise inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. More details to follow. Wear orange to show your support this week.  
​WELCOME YEAR PREP STUDENTS
​Congratulations to parents and carers of our new Year Prep students for preparing your children so well.
​
Reports from some parents and teachers, coupled with our observations, suggest these students are doing a great job of transitioning to school life at AVPS. We are also glad to hear from some that the Wednesday ‘day off’ in February comes as a great relief for tired little people. This is, therefore, doing the job it is intended to do; help ease year prep students into the busy life of being a school kid, as it can be quite physically and mentally exhausting for young children.
​
‘Wednesday’s off’ also provides teachers with valuable time to conduct compulsory Prep/Foundation testing. Unit teachers will communicate individual appointment times with parents/carers, please look out for these on Class Dojo or in paper form, alternatively contact your child’s teacher if you are unsure of your allocated time. 
ANNUAL PRIVACY REMINDER FOR OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY
Our school collects, uses, discloses and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy.

Please take time to read our school’s collection notice, found on our website here: https://avps.vic.edu.au/uploads/9/5/6/5/95656824/privacy_collection_notice_2023.pdf
 
We ask parents to also review the guidance we provide on how we use Google Workspace for Education safely at the school and what parents can do to further protect their child’s information. If after reviewing the guidance, you have any questions or concerns regarding your child using Google Workspace for Education, please contact the school.

For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents. This information is also available in ten community languages:
  • Amharic
  • Arabic
  • Dari
  • Gujarati
  • Mandarin
  • Somali
  • Sudanese
  • Turkish
  • Urdu
  • Vietnamese
ANNUAL CONSENT PROCESS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING, FILMING, AND RECORDING STUDENTS
​As communicated via a COMPASS alert on 6/2/23

During the 2023 school year, staff at AVPS anticipate there will be many occasions where students may be photographed, filmed, or recorded participating in school activities and events.

Ascot Vale PS understands that parents and carers have the right to withhold permission for our school to use photographs, video, or recordings of your child or children.
 
Please read the attached documents (found below):
  1. AVPS Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Policy
  2. AVPS Annual Consent Form for photographing, filming, and recording students

If, after reading the attachments, you are comfortable with the school using photographs, video or recordings of your child as described in the attachments, you do not need to take any further action.

However, if you have decided that you do not want photographs or recordings of your child to be collected or used by our school, please complete the form on page 3 of the consent document and return it to the Ascot Vale PS office immediately. Copies of this form are also available at the office.

Parents or carers must complete a form each school year if they do not consent to AVPS using photos, videos, or recordings of their children. AVPS has removed such consent collection from the enrolment form and now follows the updated attached AVPS policy, which reflects current Department of Education and Training policy, found here https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/photographing-students/policy . Therefore, consent forms collected prior to 2023 are now considered null and void.

Please contact the school if you wish to discuss this policy and procedure. 
photographing_filming_and_recording_students_policy_feb_2023.pdf
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avps_annual_consent_form-photographing_filming_and_recording_students_2023.pdf
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PARENT PAYMENTS 2023 - NOW OPEN
The Course Confirmation and Payments Portal in Compass is now open to accept parent payments and donations for 2023.

Please see the documents below which outline the various contributions for your child's year level.

These can also be found on the Parent Payment Page of our website here: https://avps.vic.edu.au/parent-payment.html

If you have any queries, please contact the school office in person or on 9370 6507.
prep-_avps_parent-payments-arrangements-.pdf
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yr1.2_avps_parent-payments-arrangements.pdf
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yr3.4_avps_parent-payments-arrangements.pdf
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yr5.6_avps_parent-payments-arrangements.pdf
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RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS
Rapid Antigen Test are no longer available for collection from AVPS. They are available for all Victorians from Local Council sites.  People can get 2 free packs (10 tests) for themselves and 2 free packs (10 tests) for each of their household members.
People with disability and their carers can get up to 4 free packs (20 tests) in line with existing RAT distribution for people with disability.
Further information can be obtained at Council Rapid Antigen Test Program.
OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS CARE (oshc)
OSHC phone:​​ 0423 795 247
Coordinator:​​ Dee Seneviratne
How to get started ​​before using our programs you must register online for an account. Registering is quick and easy. Visit our website to begin www.campaustralia.com.au​​

Once registered you can make bookings and cancellations, view your statements and manage your details anytime of the day online. Keep in mind we are able to take bookings at short notice to help busy families. ​

Save on Care. ​You can save 50% or more on Before and After School Care fees with the ​non-means tested Child Care Rebate. Almost all families are eligible. To find out more, call our Customer Service Team on 1300 105 343 Monday to Friday
​Please access files below to view the OSHC fortnightly report and/or the Camp Australia Holiday Program.
​
Dee and the OSHC team
SCHOOL COUNCIL NEWS - ELECTIONS
AVPS School Council Elections - call for Nominations

As communicated via a COMPASS alert on 6/2/23
 
Dear Parents/ Guardians
 
The February AVPS School Council Meeting, to be held on Monday 27/02/2023, will be the final meeting of the 2022 School Council.

Nominations to join the 2023-2025 AVPS School Council are now being sought from interested parent community members.

We have 4 parent member vacancies that will run for a two-year term. Nomination forms are attached below, as well as available at the school office.

Parents or guardians of currently enrolled AVPS students may nominate themselves by completing the ‘self' nomination form or they may nominate another AVPS parent/guardian using the ‘nomination’ form. These forms must be submitted to the school office by 4:00 pm on MONDAY 13th February.

Please find the following files attached below: 
  • Fact Sheet 1: school council elections - information for parents
  • 2023 School Council Election Process & Timetable
  • Form 2 notice of election and call for nominations
  • Form 3 - Self nomination form 
  • Form 4 - Nomination form
 
Please note, at the conclusion of the two year term, members need to re-nominate if they wish to extend their term.
 
More information regarding school councils can be found here:  https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/school-council-training/policy
 
Specific information about the AVPS School Council can be found on our website here: http://avps.vic.edu.au/school-council-parents--community.html
 
Please do not hesitate to contact the office if you have any queries regarding the 2023 AVPS School Council elections.
fact_sheet_1_sc_elections_-_info_for_parents.pdf
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2023_sc_election_process_and_timetable.pdf
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form_2_notice_of_election_and_call_for_nominationsdocx.pdf
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form_3_self_nomination_form_parent_category.pdf
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form_4_nomination_form_for_parent_member_category.pdf
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MUSIC NEWS
mvimp - mOONEE VALE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM
​MVIMP has well and truly started and we are excited. It’s great to hear music across the school.
 
Please take a look below to confirm the day that your child has their lesson.
 Monday
  • Percussion          
  • Brass                     
  • Saxophone        
Wednesday
  • Violin                    
  • Cello                     
Thursday
  • Clarinet/Flute      
  • Band                      
 
Don’t forget that BAND is on a Thursday afternoon at 2.30pm.
Band is made up of predominately year six students who have been part of the program for a few years. Some year 5 students have been invited to join by their tutor.
MVIMP camp occurs early in term 3. This is a time when some of our year 6 students in band are invited to attend. There are only a small number of spots available as all four of the MVIMP schools attend.
Band Members, you know who you are!
 
For those new students at AVPS, MVIMP is an instrumental music program offered to students in Years 3-6.  If your child is in Year 3-6 and they are interested in being part of the MVIMP program please let me know asap. We have some spaces still available in Woodwind, Violin and Strings.
 
Thanks,
Amanda and Jason
MVIMP Liaison Teachers
PIANO - LAMPLIGHT MUSIC
Private piano lessons are available on request (vacancies permitting).  The company providing this service is Lamplight Music.  Director:  Joshua Cowie
PH 0413 884 067 Email:  [email protected]  NB There are currently no vacancies.  Please contact Joshua to be placed on the waiting list.
SPORT & PE NEWS - 
It is with great excitement that I introduce and pass the reins to our new P.E. teacher, Emily Walker. Emily and I have spent the last couple of weeks completing an extensive handover as she transitions to her new role for 2023.
 
Term 1 is always a busy one in the P.E. department, with many exciting events taking place inside and outside of school.
 
Here are some of the events we have to look forward to this term!
  • A.V.P.S. Swimming Trials (Years 3-6) – Queens Park Pool, Friday 10th February
  • Ascot Vale District Swimming Championships – Keilor East Leisure Centre, Monday 27th February (Team TBC)
  • Dance Program (Years P-6), facilitated by Footsteps Dance Company – full details in a Compass event coming out soon!
  • Summer Interschool Sport Gala Days (Year 5/6) – Fairbairn Park & Royal Park Tennis Club, Tuesday 28th March &  Monday 3rd April
 
Wishing Emily and all of our A.V.P.S. students the very best in the year ahead. If the smiles and rosy cheeks of last week’s P.E. lessons are anything to go by, we are in for a good year of physical education!
 
Regards,
Jamie Saggers (2022 P.E. Teacher)
ENVIRONMENT TEAM NEWS  - COMING SOON
ASCOT VALE COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
Please peruse the community notices in the files and slideshow below:
ascot_vale_-_kelly_sport_term_1_2023__1_.pdf
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ascot_vale_yoga_flyer_2022.pdf
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ascot_kindergarten_flyer_1_2022.pdf
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