​ASCOT NEWS
29 November 2024, Term 4 Issue 2

Ascot Vale Primary School
‘Unique Learning Community’
Where we value:
RESPECT      RESPONSIBILITY      EXCELLENCE      EMPATHY      GRATITUDE
"Hands up, hands down. We are on Wurundjeri land."
Please click on the headings below to discover more. 
REMINDER: You can change the language at the top left hand corner of the webpage
HELLO FROM the principal team  
Thank you, kind regards and stay safe,
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​From the Principal Team
Sue, Michael (until the end of 2024)  & Ben (from 2025)
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Sue Osborne, Principal
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Michael Downing, 2024 Assistant Principal
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Ben Kline, 2025 Assistant Principal
KEY DATES & EVENTS 
Please access our AVPS Key Dates & Events page AT THIS LINK.
END OF YEAR / START OF YEAR KEY DATES

TERM 4, 2024​
Friday 20th December - Last Day Term Four - Early finish time 1:30pm.


TERM 1, 2025​
Wednesday 29th January - First Day Term One - Year 1-6 Students.  See you 'On Time At 9'
Thursday 30th January - First Day Term One - Year PREP / Foundation Students 
Friday 7th March - Pupil Free Day - Please make alternative childcare plans on this day
Monday 10th March - Labour Day - Public Holiday - SCHOOL CLOSED
Friday 4th April - Last Day Term One - Early finish time 2:30pm.

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Staffing News 
Planning for 2025 unit placement
Enrolment for 2025​
report writing day - Pupil free ​
interuption to teaching and learning  
right to disconnect policy 
​There has been an important update regarding teachers' rights to disconnect outside of school hours. Under new legislation effective August 26, 2024, teachers and school staff have the right to set clear boundaries around after-hours communication. This means teachers are not required to monitor, read, or respond to work-related messages from students, parents, or colleagues outside of their regular working hours, except in urgent or exceptional circumstances.

​We encourage everyone in our school community to be aware of and respect these boundaries, which help ensure our teachers have the time they need for personal rest and family responsibilities. Thank you for supporting our teachers as they strive to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
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photographing students policy 
The Department of Education has updated the Photographing Students Policy to shift from an 'opt-out' to an 'opt-in' approach. The AVPS policy attached below outlines clear guidelines for the safe and respectful use of photographs and videos taken at school and during school events. It ensures that all images of students are managed responsibly, with privacy and consent being top priorities.

This change means that soon, parents and guardians will be required to actively provide permission for their child’s photos to be used or published by the school, rather than permissions being assumed.
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We will soon be reaching out to all families to obtain consent. This new approach ensures that every family’s preference regarding student photos will be clearly recorded and respected.

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photographing_filming_and_recording_students_policy_28-10-24_2024.pdf
File Size: 224 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
swimming​
To help families stay safe around water in the school holidays, please refer to:​
resilience, rights and respectful relationships
Lost Property
SECONDHAND uniform
community connections
parent reps
Fresh Fruit Friday (FFF) Term 4

​Here is the FFF schedule for term four:

Week 8 - Unit 2 and 3
Week 9 - Unit 1 and 6
Week 10 - Unit 4 and 5
Week 11 - No Fruit

FFF volunteers must have a current Working With Children Check (or receipt), which can be obtained online here: https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/individuals/applicants/how-to-apply-1. 
Applications need to be lodged at an Australian Post Outlet. 
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Full FFF instructions appear in the file below.
fresh_fruit_friday_-_instructions.pdf
File Size: 275 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
2024 Parent Reps
Thank you to the following volunteers who will share the Parent Rep roles in 2024.
UNIT 1 PARENT REPS
Kathy Faulkner

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UNIT 2 PARENT REPS
Sarah Wauters
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​UNIT 3 PARENT REPS
Lily Jiang
Meike Koenig
Mutlu Yurdal 
Helen Radloff
​Karen Villanueva
​UNIT 4 PARENT REPS 
Katherine McConnell
​Sue Macaulay
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​UNIT 5 PARENT REPS
Erin Katsavos
Kerryn Herman
Danielle McKeown
Kate Harris
Kyra Low
Kirsten Deruddere
Jemima Flego
​UNIT 6 PARENT REPS
Jayasree Pushpa Raghunadhan 
Kurt Gleich
​Shelley Smith



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school council 
Driver Behaviour and Pedestrian Safety Around our School 

At our October School Council meeting, we had planned to welcome Lisa Bagnati, Transport Project Officer from Moonee Valley City Council to discuss the Better Moves Around Schools Program and options for AVPS to improve student safety at pick up and drop off time in our surrounding streets. 
Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, Lisa was unable to attend but will now join us for our November meeting. The School Council is eager to address important safety issues with her, including:
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  • Garbage collection times on Moonee and Bank Streets, scheduled at school drop-off times, which have recently been changed following AVPS lobbying to improve congestion and safety near our school at peak times.  
  • A request from a local resident for the installation of a zebra crossing.
  • Reported pedestrian near-miss incidents on 17/05/2024 and 30/10/2024.
  • An AVPS student collided with a car on 27/05/2024, thankfully, with minimal injury to the child.
  • Ongoing hazardous parking and frequent U-turns by motorists adjacent to the school, despite numerous requests for drivers to refrain from double parking and conducting U-turns. ​


2024 AVPS School Council Members and Sub Committees are
FINANCE 
Matt Vitins - Parent / Treasurer
Joseph Egan - Parent 
Michael Downing - Staff
Rozeena Sen - Staff 
Sue Osborne - Principal 

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EDUCATION & POLICY
Annalise De Mel - Parent - Vice President 
Elizabeth Jones - Parent 
Ken Willis - Parent 
Bianca Bertolacci - Staff

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BUILDINGS & GROUNDS
Phil Burn - Parent / President 
Michael Downing - Staff
Ben Kline - Staff

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OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS CARE
Melanie Quin - Parent 
Nicci Bilinsky - Parent 
Sue Osborne - Principal 

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policy news
FINANCE
2025_prep_parent_payment_full_information.pdf
File Size: 410 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
2025_year_1_to_2_payment_full_information.pdf
File Size: 419 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
2025_year_3_to_4_payment_full_information.pdf
File Size: 414 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
2025_year_5_to_6_payment_full_information.pdf
File Size: 415 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Buildings and grounds
environmental team news
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Doug Skate
MUSIC NEWS
mvimp - mOONEE VALE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM
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Amanda McClure - MVIMP Liaison Teacher
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Jason Simpson - MVIMP Liaison Teacher
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] 
OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS CARE (oshc)
The Outside School Hours Care subcommittee of the School Council is pleased to announce Camp Australia as the successful applicant, following a recent Expression of Interest process to confirm an OSHC provider agreement at Ascot VAle PS from 2025.

We look forward to continuing the partnership with Dee, Steph and the wider Camp Australia organisation in 2025 and beyond.

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OSHC phone:​​ 0423 795 247
Coordinator:​​ Dee Seneviratne
Camp Australia Contract - Expression of Interest process 

The OSHC Sub - Committee will be working towards managing an Expression of Interest process, which is necessary as we near the end of our five-year contract with Camp Australia. It is anticipated that this process will be completed before the end of term 3. 

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VACATION CARE
bookings have begun to fill for the Camp Australia holiday program, Rocketeers, commencing onsite at Ascot Vale PS .
Register at www.campaustralia.com.au/rocketeers


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ASCOT VALE COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
Please peruse the community notices in the files and slideshow below:

Location