KERANG TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOLkerangths.vic.edu.au/resources/techtalk/20160219.pdf · School Council Elections Each year school council elections take place in Term 1. It is important

EVENTS CALENDAR: FEBRUARY & MARCH Students & Parents

Fri. 26th : Interschool Swimming—Swan Hill

Wed. 2nd March : Year 7 Parent Night 5pm—6.30pm

Thurs. 3rd : School Photographs

: Year 7 Immunisations

Thurs. 10th : Summer Sports

Mon. 14th : LABOUR DAY Holiday

KERANG TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL Telephone: (03) 5452 1062 Facsimile: (03) 5452 2649

Murray Street, PO Box 201, KERANG 3579 [email protected] Webpage: www.kerangths.vic.edu.au

A State Secondary College

19th February 2016 Vol. 4

SCHOOL COUNCIL Parent Representatives

Tami Leggett—President

Jeannette Teasdale

Linda Stanton, Peter O’Brien

Karen Radcliffe, Dean Radcliffe

Wayne Gurnett

Principal’s Report

No School Accident or Personal Property Insurance

At times the school is required to call an ambulance if a student is injured or sick.

The school will always err on the side of caution and call an ambulance if we think it is needed. The school tries to contact the perspective parent/guardian, but sometimes they are not

contactable. This is why it is very important that all contact details are up-to-date.

I would like to remind all parents/guardians that:

Parents/guardians of students, who do not have student accident insurance, are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including the cost of ambulance attendance/transport and any other transport costs;

Parents/guardians can purchase insurance policies from commercial insurers

Further to this the Department does not hold insurance for personal property brought to schools and it has no capacity to pay for any loss or damage to such property.

Chaplaincy

Chaplaincy is up and running with the first committee meeting conducted last week. The Chaplain (Michael) works to provide well- being assistance to the school community. Michael is only able to do this with the support of the Chaplaincy Committee and with this in mind I would like to extend an invitation to all school community members to attend. Conversely you may not have the time to commit to a meeting once a month but would still like to be involved in some way. Chaplaincy Committee is always looking for volunteers to assist with functions and if you are able to help in any way, it would be much appreciated.

Please contact the school if you are wanting to help. The next Meeting is set for KTHS on Thursday, 10th March at 7:30pm.

Drought Assistance Response Package

The school has been informed that we are in a drought affected area and therefore eligible to apply for the Drought Response Package. This financial assistance is AVAILABLE to ALL students regardless of economic circumstances and ALL families are encouraged to apply. This will be a ‘one-off’ drought assistance payment of $375 per student with the money sent to the school and credited to your family account (April 2016). For you to access the money you need to fill in the attached form and return it to the school as soon as possible.

Please take note of the Drought Assistance Information and forms at the end of Tech Talk.

Swimming Sports

Last Friday the school held its swimming sports. The day commenced with fashions at the pool with students dressing up in house colours. This set a tone of camaraderie, get in and have a go and friendly competitiveness. The number of students participating was well up on previous years. Congratulations to all the students for their behaviour and level of participa-tion. Thank you to the parent helpers and spectators who came along to support the students. Also a big thank you to ALL the staff who made the swimming sports possible. This year’s run away winners were Loddon House.

School Council Elections Each year school council elections take place in Term 1. It is important to have parental representation as they pro-vide important viewpoints and have valuable skills that can help shape the direction of the school. Apart from this, it is a wonderful way to be involved in your child’s school that is both rewarding and satisfying.

Nomination for School Council will open in the next few weeks. There will be four parent positions vacant for the School Council.

Mr Dean Rogers.

Principal.

HOUSE SWIMMING SPORTS

Loddon House Captains, Shelby Faulkner and Nick Mason accepting the Perpetual Trophy from Principal, Mr Dean Rogers.

2016 started in similar fashion to the previous with another win to Loddon House. This year however, it was quite a margin. 140 points clear of second placed Murray House. The team effort was seen across all age groups with a clear advantage with those willing to enter the water. The day began well with Ella Semmler and Brandon Alford taking out the best dressed but from the moment the students entered the water it was a wash with

Loddon victories. I would like to thank the following parents: Kelly Heffer, Debbie Gardiner, Kristen Hall and Megan Lobb, who volunteered their time to assist throughout the day. Their contributions helped to make the day run smoothly. The Swan Hill Division Swimming Sports to be held on Friday 26th February in Swan Hill. Students have been notified that they qualified this week. Best wishes to all participants. Nathan Henry, Sports Co-ordinator.

HOUSE CHAMPION Loddon 406 Murray 266 Pyramid 197 Wandella 170

AGE GROUP CHAMPIONS

Junior Girls: Laura Thomas & Demby Makeham

Junior Boys: Thomas Meehan Intermediate Girls: Sidney Dyer & Maddison Makeham

Intermediate Boys: Lachlan Hall

Senior Girls: Sophie Hird Senior Boys: Adam Gardiner

MURRABIT FOOTBALL

CLUB Inc.

WANTED: JUNIOR FOOTBALLERS

ThM.F.C. is currently seeking football-ers for both Junior grades.

Under 17.5’s under coach Sam Randall; Under 14’s under coach Scott McNeil.

Girls are eligible to play in our Under 14’s

competition. NEW PLAYERS VERY WELCOME

For further enquiries please contact our Junior Development Officer Scott McNeil on 0419 561126 or

Charlie Gillingham on 0457 719874

SCHOOL-BASED APPRENTICESHIPS/TRAINEESHIPS

1. Aged-Care at Northaven—please see Miss McClure

for further details if interested.

2. Dental assistant at Boort.

Training will be conducted onsite at Boort District Health by the Bendigo

Kangan Institute of Tafe for a period of up to 24 months from commencement during the school week hours per week including alternate Saturdays, chair side with additional work book study time. At the successful completion of training you will receive a Certificate III in Dental Assisting. This involves a minimum of 15 nterested students resumes to Troy at:

[email protected] or call 0408 020 696 for any more information.

Pauls Oswin’s paintings of Mallee Birds: Sir John Gorton Library, Kerang until 29 Feb. 2016.

Bendigo Writers Festival 2016

The Vox Bendigo Book:

A YOUNG WRITERS ANTHOLOGY Bendigo Writers Festival in association with The Rotary Club of Bendigo invites our school to enter the students’ writing for the

chance to be published in THE VOX BENDIGO BOOK: YOUNG WRITERS ANTHOLOGY.

The theme is: MY PLACE. Submissions of any kind of writing - stories, poems or prose - can be up to 1000 words and there is no minimum word limit.

A place you love to visit, a place you remember that has changed, a place that is private and special or a place that is important to the whole community. Describe that place, or tell a story

about it. Use your imagination or research a place you are curious about. We’re looking for writing that is lively, thoughtful and entertaining.

There are two divisions for entries: Students from Years 3 to 7 & Students from years 8 to 11

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THE END OF TERM 1, THURSDAY, 24th MARCH, 2016.

THE VOX BENDIGO BOOK: YOUNG WRITERS ANTHOLOGY will be published by Bendigo Publishing and launched at Ben-digo Writers Festival’s Text Marks the Spot schools program on Friday August 12, 2016.

The judging panel to select the winning entries is Cecile Shanahan (co-ordinator), John Charalambous and Penny Davies.

AUTOMOTIVE APPRENTICESHIP Position available for an Apprentice Automotive Technician

(Mechanic). Seeking young, enthusiastic, reliable applicants with a passion for the industry. Please send applications with resume to:

Jason Greenwood, C/- Arnoldt & Greenwood, Box 86, Kerang, VIC 3579

ABSENCE NOTIFICATION LETTERS

There is a requirement set out by DEECD for parents to explain any absences a student has. There are

very clear links between student attendance, academic performance and student wellbeing.

Unless parental notification is received an absence is known as Absent- Unexplained. These need to be

altered to Absent – Medical, Absent – Illness, Absent – Parent choice, etc through communication with

the office.

PROCESS OF LATE OR EARLY DEPARTURE:

If a student arrives late to school – They require a NOTE from a parent outlining the reason and this is

handed to the office as the student signs into the touch screen. If a note is not received it remains as

Late – Unexplained.

If a student is departing early from school - They are required to go through the Year level coordinator

(with a note) and obtain a Green slip which will be filled in and the student hands this to the office while

signing out. This makes the process explained and no notification will be sent to parents.

Any absence where this process is not carried out will be marked as “Unexplained” and these will be

forwarded to parents for clarification.

INABILITY TO OPEN ABSENCE LETTER ATTACHMENT:

Parents who are receiving emails through their phone or portable device will need to have a Word

viewer to open the attachment which is easily obtained from an App store. A Word document (.doc)

does allow parents to type straight into the file and email straight back linking a reason with the date

presented.

PARENTS NOT RECEIVING EMAILS:

If you have not got your email on the school system or have changed it recently please notify the

office. Parents without an email can request letters to be sent home with their child. You can do this

by writing on the below form or emailing - [email protected]. Parents can request

absence notes through the office at any time.

CHANGE OF DETAILS NOTIFICATION

Child’s Name: …………………………………………………………………………………………….…………...……

Date of Birth: ………………………………………………. School Year: ……………………………..

Parent’s/Guardian’s Full Name: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...…………

New Address: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...…….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..……. Postcode: …………………………..…

Family Email: ……………………………………………………………………..………….@…………………………………………………...………………….

Contact numbers: Parent name:…………………………………………………………………..…………………….

After Hours: ……………………………...… Business Hours: ………………...………… Mobile:…………………………..………………

Contact numbers: Parent name:…………………………………………………………………..…………………….

After Hours: ……………………………...… Business Hours: ………………...………… Mobile:…………………………..………………

Name & Address of Family Doctor: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

Medicare Number: ………………………………….………. Student Number on Card……………….... Expiry…………...……………….……

Medical/Hospital Insurance Fund: …………………………………..………… Contribution Number: …………………………………………….…….

TEAR ALONG THIS LINE

CAMPS, SPORT and EXCURSIONS FUND (C.S.E.F.) In 2015 the Department of Education and Training introduced the CSEF of $225.00 per student, and it has continued this year. This money can only be used to pay for Camps, Sporting Activities and Excursions. To be eligible to apply for this payment, parents/guardians must be in receipt of a Centrelink Health Care Card or Pension Card as at 1st day of Term 1 – 27th January OR 1st day of Term 2 – 11th April. To claim for the CSEF payment parents/guardians must complete an application form, available at the school office and show their card, which must be copied. Applications close on Monday, 29th February. This money will be paid directly to the school and credited against the family account. Terms and conditions have been placed on this payment, it cannot be refunded at the end of the year and it will carry over into 2017. If students transfer to another school, the money remaining will be transferred to the new school.

STATE SCHOOLS’ RELIEF - YEAR 7 UNIFORM PACKAGE As part of the Victorian Government’s funding for school uniforms, every 2016 Year 7 Government school student who is a recipient of the CSEF will be eligible for a uniform pack to the value of $225.00. This was introduced at the end of last year. If you applied and received the CSEF from your Primary School last year, you will be eligible for a summer package. Most parents will have already purchased the Summer uniforms, therefore you may use this “voucher” for a Winter package. The Uniform pack includes basic items: Jumper or Rugby Top; Blue, Maroon or Sports Polo Shirts. For girls: Summer dress, shorts or slacks. For boys: Shorts or long trousers.

As KTHS runs a Uniform Shop the voucher will be sent to the school, this will be issued to parents to use at the KTHS Uniform store. The voucher is valid for 75 days, from date of issue. The maximum voucher value is $225.00 and any shortfall will need to be paid by parents.

VICTORIAN CONVEYANCE ALLOWANCE - PRIVATE VEHICLE This is an allowance that can be claimed by parents who are required to drive their children more than 4.8kms to their nearest bus stop. The only condition is that you must not be bypassing your nearest Government School. Parents need only apply once when your child starts Year 7, and this will continue through Secondary School, unless of course you move residences. An allowance based on kilometres is paid per child per term to the school, which will paid to parents, usually at the end of each semester. Claim forms are available from the office, applications close on Monday, 1st March. Those parents who are already in receipt of this allowance are not required to complete another application unless you have a child starting Year 7.

NEW SOUTH WALES CONVEYANCE ALLOWANCE - PRIVATE VEHICLE You must be a resident of New South Wales and are required to drive your child/children more than 1.6kms to the nearest bus stop in Victoria. This allowance is paid per km/per child by number of school days attend-ed. KTHS is required to submit a return to the NSW Transport authority at the end of each semester. Money is deposited directly into parent’s nominated bank account. Claim forms per student are available from the school office. Applications close 29th February.

DROUGHT ASSISTANCE PAYMENT AVAILABLE – APPLY NOW As part of the Victorian Government’s drought assistance package, all Kerang Tech High School students are eligible for a drought assistance payment through the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF). This includes parents and independent students that do not hold a means-tested concession card, but are experiencing financial hardship as a result of drought conditions. Families who receive the means-tested CSEF payment are also eligible. A “one off” amount of $375 per student will be paid to the school to be used towards educational expenses for the direct benefit of your child. HOW TO APPLY: Complete the CSEF Drought Package application form attached to this newsletter and return it to the school office before Monday, 29th February. Should you have any concerns, regarding the above items of interest, please contact me. Helen Reilly, Business Manager.

HOME ECO. FEES: FRIDAY, 19th FEBRUARY WAS/IS THE DATE THAT YOUR FEES WERE DUE FOR ALL HOME ECO CLASSES. Please note, that if fees are not paid, your child/student will be unable to cook in class.