Principal's Report
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Principal: Mr Graeme Cupper Address: Commercial Street, Merbein, 3505 Phone: 03 5025 2501 Fax: 03 5025 3524 Email: [email protected] Website: merbeinp10.vic.edu.au Thursday, 28 May 2015 NEWSLETTER DATES TO REMEMBER JUNE PRINCIPAL’S REPORT nd 2 Tuesday Mr Graeme Cupper Sec Assembly LMR Cross Country 3rd Wednesday DISPOSAL OF FORMER PRIMARY SCHOOL SITES Advance Camp The Department of Education (DET) advised us on Tuesday, 26th May 5th Friday that they are about to undertake some demolition and clearance works Report Writing Day NO SCHOOL at the former primary school sites in readiness for disposal (sale). 8th Monday Normally such sites are first offered for sale to other Government Queen’s Birthday PUBLIC HOLIDAY Departments and local councils before being opened up for sale to the 9th Tuesday wider community. Sec Immunisations th 16 Tuesday In accordance with normal departmental practice, the management of Sec Girls Netball 25th Thursday the former primary school sites was handed back from Merbein P-10 Sec Assembly control to the DET in 2013-14. Since then the Merbein P-10 College 26th Friday Council has had no official responsibility for the sites, however we have Last day of Term 2 retained limited access and have tried to “keep an eye” on things. Early dismissal time of 2.30pm NOVEMBER I understand that one of the main reasons for the Department’s decision 9th-13th to clear and sell the land is that ongoing damage to the buildings is Grade 5/6 Lake Cullulleraine Camp creating significant maintenance and public safety concerns. 2015 TERM DATES Nevertheless, the timing of this decision is somewhat unexpected and th th Term 3: 13 July to 18 does not leave us much time to work through some issues of importance September to the local communities. One of these important issues involves the Term 4: 5th October to 18th December historical structures that are housed on some of the sites. MERBEIN P-10 FACEBOOK PAGE Items of Historical Significance Check the Facebook Page for updates about the school and upcoming Rotundas events. Residents in the Merbein District would be aware that the rotundas at www.facebook.com/merbeinp10colle the Jenner Street Campus are considered to be of historical significance. geparentsclub Contrary to a belief shared by some people in the community, the SCHOOL WEBSITE rotundas are not listed on the Heritage Register. In recent years the Reminder that the newsletter is Merbein Historical Society has been exploring options to preserve the uploaded to the school’s website each rotundas, but the cost to dismantle and re-assemble has been daunting. week - merbeinp10.vic.edu.au. The Historical Society and the school are currently re-examining options SCHOOL BANK ACCOUNT that hopefully may enable the rotundas to be preserved, but DET advice DETAILS suggests that the timeline is very short (weeks, not months). BSB - 063 714 Nevertheless we will work hard to achieve a positive outcome. Bank Acc Number – 10060535 Account Name - Merbein P-10 College Official Account. South Merbein Hall UNIFORM SHOP The community hall was originally located at the old Merbein South Open Tuesday 8.30 – 10.00am Oval. With the generous support of the Izard family, it was relocated to Open Thursday 2.00 – 4.00pm the primary school site many years ago. I understand that community If these times do not suit, please ring members are currently having urgent discussions to see whether they the school to make other can preserve the hall because of its historical importance. arrangements. Other Items: Assets Most of the assets of value to the school have already been relocated to the Commercial Street Site. Assets surplus to our needs have been sold over the past few years. However there are several items the Department had previously quarantined that have now been approved for disposal. A notice will be placed in the Sunraysia Daily shortly inviting expressions of interest from potential purchasers along with an explanation of the sale procedure. These sites are not public lands (they are under the control of the Minister for Education) and contain hazardous materials such as asbestos and glass. Consequently, entry to the sites is strictly limited to supervised and authorised visitors only. Set times will be announced to enable access by interested people to inspect the remaining items that are being offered for sale. It is important to reiterate that Merbein P-10 College has little control over the timing of this disposal process, but we have advocated strongly in an attempt to ensure that sufficient time is provided for affected the community groups to properly deal with important issues such as the preservation of historical items listed above. One of the Jenner St Rotundas Water Storage Tank (West Campus) Toilet Block (South Campus) Merbein South Hall (next to Water Storage Tank) PARENTS’ CLUB RECIPE BOOK FUNDRAISER EMAIL ADDRESSES RECIPES NEEDED The school prefers to send the weekly newsletter The Parents’ Club are inviting every family from and other important information home via email as Merbein P10 College to send in their favourite this is the most reliable method. Please send your recipes to be included in the new 2015 Merbein email address to: P10 College Recipe Book. Please support this [email protected] asking for the fundraiser and the school by sending your best newsletter to be emailed to you. recipes as soon as possible to the Parents’ Club via Please note that those few students in Years 8/9/10 who still their email address: [email protected]. require a hardcopy of the newsletter, will need to collect their newsletter from the main office at the finish of their last class at the end of the day each Thursday. NO SCHOOL - PUPIL FREE DAY AND QUEEN’S CAMPS, SPORTS & EXCURSIONS FUND (CSEF) BIRTHDAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY The Victorian Government has introduced the CSEF There will be no school for students next Friday, 5th to ensure that all students have access to camps, June as this is a Pupil Free Day for teachers to sports and excursions. prepare Student Reports. To be eligible to apply for this allowance you must There will be no school on Monday, 8th June as this hold a valid means-tested concession card (such as is a Public Holiday. Health Care or Pension card) or be a temporary foster parent. The allowance will be paid directly to CROSS COUNTRY REPORT AMENDMENT school to use towards expenses relating to camps, Congratulations to Jess Hall who came 2nd in the 13 excursions or sporting activities for your child. The Year old Girls and Shae Congress for coming 2nd in annual CSEF amount will be $125 for Primary the 14 Year old Girls. Great effort, well done girls! students and $225 for Secondary students. If you wish to apply for the allowance, please fill in an application form (available at the school office) by 26 June, 2015. For more information, please see the flyer attached to this newsletter. MERBEIN P-10 COLLEGE BREAKFAST PROGRAM The Breakfast program is being financially supported by the Merbein & District Community Bank & Merbein Development Association. The following organisations also provide volunteers to assist with the program – Merbein P10 College Parents’ Club, the Board & Staff of the Merbein & PRIMARY OPEN DAY/NIGHT District Community Bank, Merbein Development The Primary Section hosted a very successful Open Association, Merbein Lions Club and Merbein Morning/Evening last Tuesday. A very big thank Rotary. you to Wendy Finn, Kelly Mangan and Cheryl Hodge The breakfast program is held in the cafeteria. All for helping to make the visiting families welcome in students are welcome to come along between the evening. 8.00am and 8.45am each morning if they would like NEW VICTORIAN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT a FREE tasty breakfast to kick-start their day’s (DET) SCHOOLMATE APP learning. Minister Merlino was thrilled to launch this new app for Victorian parents to help them understand IMPORTANT DATES TERM 2 JUNE what their children are learning and to get more nd involved in their education. The App is intended for 2 Tuesday LMR Cross Country Whole School Assembly parents of students in Prep to Year 10. 3rd Wednesday Advance Camp returns Thursday afternoon It is easy to download, easy to use and is free. 5th Friday Pupil Free Day – Report Writing Updates to the app will occur over time (curriculum 8th Monday Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday th changes etc) and I am sure there will be 12 Friday Secondary Interschool Girls Netball 21st Monday 2nd Semester Subjects commence (Sec) enhancements as more feedback is provided by users. Download SchoolMate today by visiting the App Store or Google Play and searching for SchoolMate. PRIMARY NEWS To access an electronic copy of all information contained in the kit, see: MERBEIN COMMUNITY BANK SCHOOL STUDENT www.education.vic.gov.au/schoolmate BANKING PROGRAM CHANCES FOR CHILDREN If you wish your child to participate in this Please find below a link that may be of assistance if program, send your child’s bank book along to the you have young people requiring support for school Green Building Office every Thursday morning. The associated trips. Bank will collect and process your child’s banking The Victorian Government have unveiled a new and then drop your child’s bank book back to the $148 million initiative to ensure all Victorian school before the end of the school day. students can take part in school trips and sporting MERBEIN P-10 COLLEGE OUTSIDE SCHOOL activities. HOURS CARE Further information is available here, including Cheryll Hodge is our school’s OSHC coordinator and information about the application process: can be contacted on 0428 258035 if you have any queries.