.Errol Street News #36

School Council News

School Council Report - Wednesday 19 October 2016

Our most recent School Council Meeting began with a review of the amended Standing Orders relating to the guidelines for School Council meeting observation. These Standing Orders have been reviewed by an independent party and returned to council for final approval. The School Council endorsed the Orders and these will be made available to the school community in due course.

The release of the School Provision Review for Docklands Stage Two Report and the announcement of an Inner City School Package was and the implications this announcement will have on the NMPS community discussed.  It was determined that this matter warrants further investigation, and the council have requested a briefing from the DET to explain how issues such as the new Designated Neighbourhood Area will impact NMPS.

Building and Grounds' (B&G) work around the school continues to be a strong focus for the School Council with many ongoing projects initiated to manage the  increase in student numbers. The B&G committee recognise the need for more bike parking areas and are looking at appropriate locations within school grounds. The City of Melbourne have also been encouraged to  set up bike racks outside the grounds for parent use when dropping students at school. The Kiss and Drop zone on Murphy Street was acknowledged as working well with a more regular flow of traffic through the area. The bottleneck that develops at the Murphy Street gate is being lessened with the  double gates at that entrance being  opened at drop off and pick up times.

The issues with staff parking have been lessened following the School’s negotiations with the City of Melbourne and other local businesses, which has resulted in car parking spaces being reallocated to all day parking options that staff can access. NMPS continue to have positive discussions with the City of Melbourne about accessing open spaces outside the school grounds..

The Education committee were proud to announce that the initial NAPLAN results were looking excellent. The results are due to be discussed by the leadership team before being sent on to the committee for further discussion and reported in full to the School Council at the next meeting. There were also pleasing results in the recently completed Maths competition where participation has increased once again this year.

Earlier this year a parent survey circulated by School Council determined that the parent community of NMPS wanted to identify ways that they could support the school to resolve some of the enrolment pressures. In response, the School Council along with a number of volunteer parents will host a Parent Forum to discuss the issues and identify priorities in finding solutions. More details can be found in an announcement in the newsletter and on tiqbiz.

NMPS Parents Forum

One of the clear themes that emerged from the parent survey earlier this year, was the need to address the enrolment pressures on the school and identify ways in which the parent community could support the school in resolving these increasing pressures.
In response to this, a NMPS Parent Forum will be held on

Wednesday, 9 November from 7pm to 9pm at the North Melbourne Community City at 49 Buncle Street, North Melbourne.

The intention of this meeting it is to discuss the enrolment pressures experienced by the school community and to identify and prioritise actions the parent body take to collectively to address these issues - covering short, medium and long term priorities.
Please note no  NMPS staff will be present at this forum, as it is being arranged by members of the School Council and parents who have volunteered to assist.

Next Meetings

School Council Biz-E-Kidz on Thursday 3rd November 8am

School Council Finance Sub-Committee on Wednesday 9th November 5.30pm

School Council on Wednesday 16th November 6pm

See our website for School Council Reporting

Biz – E – Kidz

2017 Before and Aftercare Enrolments
 

Biz – E – Kidz is starting to get ready for 2017, so please take note of the important dates below. Families with current enrolments are reminded that before and aftercare bookings do not carry over from year to year, and need to be resubmitted for each school year.
Biz – E – Kidz will be closed after Tuesday 20th December until the holiday program commences on Monday 9th January 2016.
 
Important Dates
·         Week beginning 31st October: families with current enrolments will receive enrolment forms by mail. To make the process easier, Biz – E – Kidz will be mailing current families with a partially filled in form that simply needs to be checked, the forms signed and the booking form filled in before returning to Biz – E – Kidz. New families can collect a blank form from the Biz – E – Kidz building. Prep families will receive an enrolment form in their prep information pack at Prep orientation / information sessions
·         Friday 11th November: 2017 Before and after school care bookings open Bookings can only be made by returning a completed enrolment form to Sharon (the coordinator) Eva, Kelly or Ace (the assistant coordinators). PLEASE NOTE: bookings WILL NOT be accepted if forms are returned early, left at the school office, with teachers or other staff
·         Friday 18th November: 2017 Bookings close. Applications for bookings can still be made after this date, but will be ineligible to be considered in the initial ‘priority of Access to childcare’ allocation. For more information see: https://www.education.gov.au/priority-allocating-places
·         First week December: Confirmations of 2017 Before and aftercare places Confirmations of bookings and waitlist allocations will be made to families via mail.
·         Wednesday 14th December: All before and aftercare fees are due To secure 2017 bookings, all before, after care and holiday program fees and deposits are due by Wednesday 14th December
·         Tuesday 31st January: First day of School  for grades 1 – 6 children
·         Thursday 2nd February: First day of school for Foundation  / Prep students

Summer 2017 Holiday Program Important dates and Price Increase

As of the Summer 2017 Holiday program, Biz – E – Kidz will be charging a flat rate of $60 per child / per day before child care benefits. This is to keep up with rising costs and to allow greater flexibility for programming incursions and excursions.
Biz – E – Kidz will be running a Summer Holiday program from Monday 9th January -  Monday 30th January (Pupil free day for the school), and will commence before and After school care on the first day of school (for grades 1 – 6), Tuesday 31th January.
Please note: 2017 Foundation (prep) students cannot attend the Summer 2017 holiday program and Biz – E – Kidz will be closed Thursday 26/01/17 for the Australia day public holiday
 
Important Dates
·         Tuesday 8th November: Holiday program release The holiday program will be available at Biz – E – Kidz and via the school newsletter
·         Monday 21st November: Holiday Program bookings open. Bookings can be made by returning your booking form to Sharon (the coordinator) or Eva, Kelly or Ace (assistant coordinators). Please DO NOT leave your booking form with the school or other staff
·         Friday 25th November: Holiday program bookings close. bookings can still be made after this date, but will be ineligible to be considered in the initial ‘priority of Access to childcare’ allocation. For more information see: https://www.education.gov.au/priority-allocating-places
·         First week December: Confirmations of holiday program places Confirmations of bookings and waitlist allocations and deposits owing will be made to families via mail.
·         Wednesday 14th December: Deposit and before and aftercare fees due To secure summer holiday program places all before, after care and holiday program fees and deposits are due by Wednesday 14th December
·         Tuesday 20th December: Last day of school. Biz – E – Kidz will be closed after Tuesday 20th December until the holiday program commences on, Monday 9th January.
·         Monday 9th January: Holiday Program commences and runs until Monday 30th January excluding Public holiday on Thursday 26th January
·         Tuesday 31st January: First day of School  for grades 1 – 6 children
·         Thursday 2nd February: First day of school for Foundation  / Prep students

 

Biz – E – Kidz Philosophy available for feedback

The Biz – E – Kidz educators and sub - committee have just completed a philosophy review. The role of the Biz - E – Kidz philosophy is as an expression of our overarching values and goals that helps guide all aspects of our operation. A copy of the philosophy is available for feedback under the Biz – E – Kidz tab of the North Melbourne Primary School website : Website link

Sharon Goodwin, Coordinator, Biz - E - Kidz
Errol Street North Melbourne Primary OSHC
210 Errol Street, North Melbourne. VIC 3051
ph (03)9329 5529
Mob 0400 838 448
ohsc@netspace.net.au