NEWSLETTER No 10 – 23rd April, 2021

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Chalcot Lodge Primary School proudly acknowledges the traditional owners and their rich culture and pays respect to their Elders past, present and future.

WELCOME BACK!

CHALCOT WEEKLY

Growing a Supportive Community of Active Learners

SCHOOL VISION

Chalcot Lodge Primary School empowers all

students to embrace learning, achieve their

personal best and build their emotional, social

and physical well-being.

School Council is very pleased to announce that Paul Poliviou has been appointed as the new Principal at

Chalcot Lodge Primary School.

Following the retirement announcement of Monica Ghirxi, the search began for our new Principal. A

Principal Selection Panel was chosen consisting of staff, parent and DET representatives. Following a

process of review, interviews and consultation, the Principal Selection Panel presented to School Council

that Paul was the panels preferred applicant, who then unanimously approved the recommendation.

Paul was offered the position and he accepted it with excitement, delight, and his usual high level of

enthusiasm.

This is an exciting announcement for the school and community and we know his appointment is a positive

one and a forward move for Chalcot Lodge.

As a wise old Jedi Master once said, “a Principal must have the deepest commitment and the most serious

mind”. Paul has this and so much more!

On behalf of School Council and the school community, we would like to congratulate Paul on his

appointment and we look forward to working with him as Principal from today and to infinity and beyond.

Paul Coad

School Council President

ANZAC Day Ceremony

Many thanks to our Chalcot family for participating in this morning’s ANZAC Day ceremony. The flowers

placed during the ceremony by students were just beautiful. Our School Captains did a magnificent job of

helping everyone to understand the spirit and meaning of ANZAC Day. Our flag bearers ensured the

Australian flag was respectfully lowered and raised at the appropriate times and our sound system leaders

are commended for the quality of the sound and music played during the assembly. I am also extremely

proud of all our students; they did a fantastic job on preparing the amphitheatre for the ANZAC Day

ceremony.

Disabled Parking

A reminder to all parents and carers that unless you hold a valid Disabled Parking permit you should not

be parking in these spaces. City of Casey Parking Officers do patrol the area and will issued fines. We

also have families that have permits and do need access to these parking spaces.

Mother’s and Others’ High Tea

On Friday 7th May, we are holding a Mothers’ and Others’ afternoon High Tea, beginning at 2.30pm.

Mums or a special female are invited to come along and enjoy afternoon tea. The cost of the afternoon tea

and a little surprise is $5.00.

Payments will be available via Compass from Monday, please RSVP, as it is important for catering

purposes and for our COVID safe plan.

Mothers’ and Others’ Day Stall

A reminder that Mothers’ Day is on Sunday 9th May. Our Parent Club will be holding their annual

Mothers’ and Others’ Day Stall on Thursday 6th May with gifts ranging from 50c to $5. Children love to

give something special to their Mum or special someone in their lives, so please support this activity. Many

thanks to the Parent Club for organising the stall.

We Want Our Students To Tell Us What They Think!

We value student voice as a means to improving student engagement, wellbeing and quality instruction and

are conducting a survey to find out what your child thinks of our school. The Attitudes to School Survey

is an annual student survey offered by the Department of Education and Training to assist schools in gaining

an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. Our school will use the survey results

to plan programs and activities to improve your child's schooling experience.

Students from Year 4 to 6, at our school will participate in the survey. Your child will complete the survey

online during school hours using a purpose built secure online survey tool. It is important to note that we

are not in any way “testing” your child. Your child has the right to refuse or withdraw from the survey at

any point before, during, or after completion of the survey.

Your child will be provided with a unique login to complete the survey. The student login is an assigned

identifier that may be used to link data for statistical and research purposes only. All responses to the

survey are kept anonymous in the response file. Personal identification data will not be recorded in the

survey response file. This ensures that the confidentiality of your child’s responses is protected at all times.

We are planning to run the survey next week. The survey results will be reported back to the school before

the end of Term 2. All survey data that is made available in reports are for groups of students only so that

no individual student can be identified. If you have any question about the survey, please ask your child’s

teacher.

Parent / Teacher Interviews

A reminder that Parent/Teacher interviews will be held on Thursday 29th April between 2.00 – 7.30pm.

This will be a great opportunity for the class teacher to discuss your child’s progress so far this year, your

child’s individual learning needs and areas of future learning. Written reports will be distributed to parents

at the end of Terms 2 and 4.

Between 2.30pm and 3.30pm, students will be supervised by non class teaching staff.

Interviews are of a ten minute duration. You may wish to make a further appointment time with your

child’s teacher if all issues have not been discussed within the ten minutes allocated.

Please reserve your interview time via Compass by Sunday 25th April. Ensure you book in an interview time

for each child. Once times have been booked they are final, so please book in early to get your preferred time.

School Policy Review We are currently reviewing our Volunteers & Visitors policies. School community input is welcome. If

you would like to make any comments in relation to the policies, please feel free to email your comments

to me via the school email address at chalcot.lodge.ps@education.vic.gov.au.

Paul Poliviou

Principal

Senior School Assembly time change

Our Senior School Assembly will be held at the special time of 9.10am on Wednesday morning next week

due to our Parent teacher interviews being conducted on Thursday afternoon.

Chalcot Clean up Crew –Badge Presentation

We have some very enthusiastic Year 3 and 4 students who have been doing a wonderful job of keeping

our yard clean every day. This has been entirely initiated by these students and we really appreciate their

enthusiasm and hard work. They will be presented with their badges at the Wednesday morning

assembly. Congratulations to Farzad Inayatullah, Erfan Naderi, Ihaia Para, Drit Memedi, Nethaka Perera

Christopher Bennett, Csaba Szabo and Levi Saunders.

Working Bee Afternoon – Wednesday 28th 2:30-4:30pm

Calling all green thumbs and those who like to lend a helping hand. Next Wednesday afternoon our Parent

Club are asking for parent volunteers to help plant succulents in the area near the new ramp at the back of

the school. Please BYO gardening gloves and utensils (if you have them). If you are able to attend could

you please email Parent Club at chalcotlpc@gmail.com.

Multicultural Coffee and Chat Thursday 29th 9:15am

Our next Multicultural coffee and chat will be held at 9:15am on Thursday 29th April in the STEAM room.

(Please note venue change). All Parents (and little ones) are welcome to connect, practise English and

make new friends. Please let the office know if you are attending and if you would like to bring a plate of

food to share.

Therapeutic Gardener

We have recently engaged a therapeutic gardener, Tanya, to work with students in individual or small

groups. Therapeutic gardening is the process of promoting physical, mental and social wellbeing for

individuals and communities through gardening and outdoor nature-based activities.

The program uses mindfulness and grounding activities to promote participants’ mental wellbeing and help

them to manage their emotional regulation as well as addressing anxiety and depression.

Tanya Bearup is a qualified social worker with 25 years of experience working in child/youth and family

services as well as disability and aged care. As a horticultural (gardening) therapist Tanya provides

counselling and therapeutic support using gardening and natured based activities to engage with

participants

Whilst her time is limited, if you think your child will benefit from inclusion in the program please contact

me on 9700 4455.

COVID QR Code

The school now has a COVID QR code. Every person that attends Chalcot Lodge for longer than 15

minutes must scan the QR code. These records will help with any future contact tracing that may be

necessary in slowing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). All visitors are still required to sign in via

our electronic visitor register (iPad in the front office) when volunteering or visiting the school.

Tamsin Bearsley

Acting Assistant Principal

SENIOR CHALCOT LEGEND AWARD

Jethro Roberts

JUNIOR CHALCOT ACHIEVER AWARDS

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected by their teachers to receive Chalcot

Achiever Award. Chalcot Achievers will receive their certificates at assembly on Tuesday 27th April.

SENIOR CHALCOT ACHIEVER AWARDS

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected by their teachers to receive Chalcot

Achiever Award. Chalcot Achievers will receive their certificates at assembly on Wednesday 28th April.

0CB Grace Panditi 0TC Mia Martin

0JZ Ivan Bartus 1/2B Archie Hird

1/2K Grace Heitmann 1/2L Zavier Kan

1/2P Carter Twyford

3/4K Kitty Wu 3/4L Charli Jarrett

3/4O Hector McDonald 5/6A Saakya Madurapperuma

5/6D Skyler Sumondis 5/6Q Sebastian Howlett

Well done Neriah on being a responsible learner and always trying your best. You have shown

improvement in your learning both in Reading and Writing. I am very proud of your commitment to

learning. Keep up the great work superstar!

For his fantastic attitude towards his learning across all areas. He has shown a great passion and strength

in Civics and Citizenship. He has shared his vast knowledge with the class and engaged us all.

Congratulations on a great start to Term 2! Keep it up legend!

JUNIOR CHALCOT LEGEND AWARD

Neriah Piho

CANTEEN NEWS – LUNCH ORDERS

Cash orders need to be brought to the school office by Tuesday afternoons

3.30pm. Online orders need to be submitted by Wednesday 9.00am.

Lunches will be delivered on Wednesdays’ at lunch time.

Tuesday 27th April Junior School Assembly 2.45pm

Wednesday 28th April Senior School Assembly 9.10am (Due to parent

teacher interviews)

Thursday 29th April Multicultural Coffee & Chat 9.15am – 10.30 Library

Thursday 29th April Parent Teacher Interviews 2.00pm – 7.30pm

Wednesday 5th May Kinder Club 2.30pm – 3.30pm

Thursday 6th May Mothers’ Day Stall TBA

Friday 7th May District Cross Country Selected students

Tue – Thurs 11th –

13th

May NAPLAN Years 3 & 5

Wednesday 12th May Fathering Project Launch with special

guest Rodney Eade

6.30pm

Thursday 13th May School Council Meeting &

Governance Training

5.30 – 8.30

Wednesday 19th May BFF & Me Sports Activity Session

(Best Father Figure & Me)

5.00pm

Friday 21st May Project Rockit Years 3 – 6

ENGAGEMENT AWARD WINNERS

JUNIOR

OC OB OZ

Stephanie Bennett Miriam Oostwoud Kobe Millane

1/2K 1/2L 1/2P 1/2B

Nithika

Ahangama Baduge

Harmony

Zaldana Jansz

Olivia Kirschner Piper Wilhelm

SENIOR 3/4L 3/4K 3/4O

Maddison Jordan Audrey Sime Sophie Heitmann

5/6D 5/6A 5/6Q

Georgia Corrigan Kareena Sahni Elisha Mac

Chalcot Lodge Primary School

VISITORS POLICY

INITIAL COPY DRAFT MODE

21/05/2005

PURPOSE

To provide a safe and secure learning and teaching environment for students and staff by establishing processes to

monitor and manage visitors to Chalcot Lodge Primary School.

SCOPE

This policy applies to any visitors who may attend school grounds when the school is open for instruction between

the hours of 9.00am to 3.30pm, during before and after school between 7.00am to 9.00am and 3.30pm to 6.00pm

and when the office is staffed to monitor/receive visitors at reception from 8.30am to 4.00pm. Outside of these times,

our front office is not staffed and the only visitors who are permitted on school grounds are parents/carers or their

delegates who are dropping off or picking up students from before and after school care, school events such as parent

teacher interviews, concerts, or other school activities, and community and other groups who have entered into

contracts or agreements with the school to use school premises outside of school hours.

DEFINITIONS

Child-related work: As defined by the Working with Children Act 2005 (Vic), child-related work is work that usually

involves direct contact (including in person, over the phone, written and online communication) with a child that is

a central part of that person’s duties. It does not include work that involves occasional contact with children that is

incidental to the work.

POLICY

Chalcot Lodge PS strives to create an open and inclusive school community, and encourages parents and carers to

be actively involved in their child’s development and education. We also strive to foster strong partnerships with

local community services, schools and other organisations.

Chalcot Lodge PS is not a public place. The principal has the authority to permit or deny entry to school grounds,

and encourages all visitors to familiarise themselves with our school’s Statement of Values, Child Safe Policy,

Statement of Commitment to Child Safety and Child Safe Code of Conduct.

From time to time, different members of the public may visit our school. Visitors may include, but are not limited

to:

Parents

Volunteers – see our school’s Volunteers Policy for more information

Prospective parents, students and employees

Invited speakers, sessional instructors and others addressing learning and development

Public officials (eg Members of Parliament, local councillors)

Persons conducting business eg: uniform suppliers, booksellers, official school photographers, commercial

sales people

Tradespeople

Children’s services agencies

Talent scouts

Department of Health and Human Services workers

Victoria Police

Persons authorised to enter school premises (eg Worksafe inspectors, health officers etc)

Other Department of Education and Training staff (including allied health staff) or contractors

NDIS therapists or other allied health or health practitioners

All visitors to the school must enter via the front school gate and are required to report to the administration office

prior to undertaking any activity within the school.

All visitors will be required:

to sign using the iPad and will be assigned a “Visitor” badge which they must wear at all times within the

school to indicate that they have School Council approval to work at or beyond the school premises on

school business.

report to the administration office at the end of their visit to return their badge and to “sign out” and leave

the school via the front gate.

Follow instruction from school staff and abide by all relevant policies relating to appropriate conduct on

school grounds.

Chalcot Lodge Primary School will ensure that our school’s Child Safety Code of Conduct/Child Safety

Statement of Commitment are available and visible to visitors when they sign in.

Requirements for visitors to produce a valid Working with Children Check card

All visitors who are engaged in child-related work (see definition above) must have a valid WWC Check.

In some circumstances, visitors to Chalcot Lodge Primary School who are not engaged in child-related work will

also be required to produce a valid WWC Check depending on the particular circumstances of their visit. For

example, Chalcot Lodge Primary School will require a valid WWC Check for:

visitors who will be working regularly with children during the time they are visiting, even though direct

contact with children is not a central part of their normal duties

visitors (e.g. contractors), who will regularly be performing work at the school and in circumstances where

they will be performing their work in an area where they will be unsupervised and around children.

Further background checks, including references, may also be requested at the discretion of the Principal.

Visitors who will be working in areas away from students (e.g. a visiting auditor who will be located in the front

office with administration staff) or who will be supervised and accompanied by a staff member during their visit

(e.g. a Member of Parliament, a journalist, a prospective parent on a school tour) will not be required to have a WWC

Check.

Sworn Victoria Police officers or sworn Australian Federal Police officers are exempt from requiring a WWC Check,

but may be asked to verify that they are sworn officers by providing proof of identification.

Under the Summary Offences Act 1966 and subsequent amendments, the Principal reserves the right, and has the

authority to prohibit any potential visitor from entering or remaining within the school, and also has the authority to

invite or exclude people from using or being within the school boundaries inside or outside school operating hours.

Invited speakers and presenters

On occasion, Chalcot Lodge Primary School may invite external speakers or providers to deliver incursions,

presentations, workshops and special programs for our students. Visiting speakers do not have the authority to

supervise students in schools. Teachers must supervise their students during a presentation from a guest speaker.

Consistent with Department of Education and Training requirements, Chalcot Lodge PS will:

ensure that the invited external provider is supervised by a staff member at all times when face to face with

the students

ensure that the content of presentations and programs by external providers contributes to the educational

development of our students and is consistent with curriculum objectives

ensure that any proposed visit, programs or content delivered by visitors complies with the requirement that

education in Victorian government schools is secular and is consistent with the values of public education,

Department policies and the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic). In particular, programs

delivered by visitors are to be delivered in a manner that supports and promotes the principles and practice

of Australian democracy including a commitment to:

o elected government

o the rule of law

o equal rights for all before the law

o freedom of religion, speech and association

o the values of openness and tolerance

o respect the range of views held by students and their families.

Parent visitors

We understand that there may occasionally be a reason why a parent or carer may want to speak to or see their child

at school, during school hours.

If there is a particular pressing or unavoidable issue that cannot wait until the end of the school day, we ask that

parents or carers call the school office to make the request to speak to or see their child during school hours.

We also ask that parents avoid arranging to visit their children at school wherever possible, as this can cause

inappropriate disruptions to the school day.

All parents or carers who visit our school during school hours, other than for the purposes of school pick ups and

drop offs or for specific school events (eg parent teacher interviews, concerts, assemblies etc), are required to sign

in as a visitor at the school office.

Other visitors

All business operators, tradespeople and other visitors attending the school to conduct work must report to the school

office upon arrival for instruction and follow the sign in procedure outlined above.

RELATED POLICIES AND RESOURCES

Statement of Values, Volunteers Policy

Statement of Commitment to Child Safety

Child Safety policy

Child Safety Code of Conduct

REVIEW PERIOD

The Visitors Policy will be reviewed by the Principal and Assistant Principal in consultation with the Education

Policy Committee, every three years or sooner if required.

Chalcot Lodge Primary School

VOLUNTEERS POLICY

INITIAL COPY DRAFT MODE

01/08/2018

PURPOSE

To outline the processes that Chalcot Lodge Primary School will follow to recruit, screen, supervise and manage

volunteers to provide a child safe environment, and to explain the legal rights of volunteers.

SCOPE

This policy applies to the recruitment, screening, supervision and management of all people who volunteer at our

school.

DEFINITIONS

Child-related work: work that usually involves direct contact (including in person, over the phone, written and online

communication) with a child that is a central part of that person’s duties. It does not include work that involves

occasional contact with children that is incidental to the work.

Closely related family member: parent, carer, parent/carer’s spouse or domestic partner, stepparent, parent/carer’s

mother or father in-law, grandparent, uncle or aunt, brother or sister, including step or half siblings.

Volunteer worker: A volunteer school worker is a person who voluntarily engages in school work or approved

community work without payment or reward.

School work: School work means:

Carrying out the functions of a School Council

Any activity carried out for the welfare of a school, by the School Council, any parents’ club or association

or any other body organised to promote the welfare of the school

Any activity carried out for the welfare of the school at the request of the Principal or School Council

Providing assistance in the work of any school or kindergarten

Attending meetings in relation to government schools convened by any organisation which receives

government financial support

This is a broad definition and means that volunteers who participate in school community activities, such as

fundraising and assisting with excursions, are legally protected (ie indemnified) from action by others in the event

of an injury or accident whilst they are performing volunteer school work in good faith.

POLICY

Chalcot Lodge PS is committed to implementing and following practices which protect the safety and wellbeing of

children and our staff and volunteers. Chalcot Lodge PS also recognises the valuable contribution that volunteers

provide to our school community and the work that we do.

The procedures set out below are designed to ensure that Chalcot Lodge PS volunteers are suitable to work with

children and are well-placed to make a positive contribution to our school community.

Becoming a Volunteer

Members of our school community who would like to volunteer are encouraged to:

Join Parent Club

assist with Parent Club Fundraising activities

Assist with school programs

Approach the classroom teacher

All parent volunteers must read and agree to the school’s Parent Helpers Obligation.

Suitability checks including Working with Children Checks

Working with students

Chalcot Lodge PS values the many volunteers that assist: in our classrooms, with sports events, excursions, Cookery

Program and fundraising activities. To ensure that we are meeting our legal obligations under the Working With

Children Act 2005 (Vic) and the Child Safe Standards, Chalcot Lodge is required to undertake suitability checks

which may include a Working With Children Check, proof of identity, work history involving children and/or

reference checks.

Considering our legal obligations, and our commitment to ensuring that Chalcot Lodge PS is a child safe

environment, we will require volunteers to obtain a WWC Check and produce their valid card to the Administration

Staff for verification in the following circumstances:

Volunteers who are not parent/family members of any student at the school are required to have a WWC

Check if they are engaged in child-related work regardless of whether they are being supervised.

Parent/family volunteers who are assisting with any classroom or school activities involving direct contact

with children in circumstances where the volunteer’s child is not participating, or does not ordinarily

participate in, the activity.

Parent/family volunteers who assist with excursions (including swimming), camps and similar events,

regardless of whether their own child is participating or not.

Parent/family volunteers who regularly assist in school activities, regardless of whether their own child is

participating or not

Parent/community School Council members sitting on School Council with student School Council

members, regardless of whether their own child is a student member or not

In addition, depending on the nature of the volunteer work, our school may ask the volunteer to provide other

suitability checks at its discretion (for example, references, work history involving children and/or qualifications).

Proof of identity may also be required in some circumstances.

Non child-related work

On some occasions, parents and other members of the school community may volunteer to do work that is not child-

related. For example, volunteering on the weekend for gardening, maintenance, working bees, Parents Club

coordination, School Council, participating in sub-committees of School Council, during which children will not be,

or would not reasonably be expected to be, present.

At Chalcot Lodge, volunteers for this type of work will still be required to provide a valid WWC Check.

School Council members and volunteers on any sub-committee of School Council will be asked to provide a valid

WWC Check. Whilst we acknowledge that these volunteers will not be engaging in child-related work as part of

their role, even when there is not a student sitting on the School Council, we believe that it is important that our

volunteers who are involved in making important decisions about our school which will have an impact on students

do have a valid WWC Check.

Management and Supervision

Volunteer workers will be expected to comply with any reasonable direction of the Principal (or their nominee). This

will include the requirement to follow our school’s policies, including, but not limited to our Child Safety Policy,

Statement of Commitment to Child Safety, our Child Safety Code of Conduct and our Statement of Values and

School Philosophy. Volunteer workers will also be expected to act consistently with Department of Education and

Training policies, to the extent that they apply to volunteer workers, including the Department’s policies relating to

Equal Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and Workplace Bullying.

The Principal has the discretion to make a decision about the ongoing suitability of a volunteer worker and may

determine at any time whether or not a person is suitable to volunteer at Chalcot Lodge PS.

Chalcot Lodge will provide any appropriate induction and/or training for all volunteer workers. The Principal (or

their nominee) will determine what induction and/or training is necessary depending on what type of work the

volunteer will be engaged in.

All volunteers will be provided induction in relation to Chalcot Lodge child safety practices, including reporting

obligations and procedures. These procedures can be found in the school’s Parent Helpers Obligation document.

The Principal (or their nominee) will determine what supervision, if any, of volunteers is required for the type of

work being performed.

Compensation

Personal injury

Volunteer workers are covered by the Department of Education and Training’s Workers Compensation Policy if they

suffer personal injury in the course of engaging in school work.

Property damage

If a volunteer worker suffers damage to their property in the course of carrying out school work, the Minister (or

delegate) may authorise such compensation as they consider reasonable in the circumstances. Claims of this nature

should be directed to the Principal who will direct them to the Department’s Legal Division.

Public liability insurance

The Department of Education and Training’s public liability insurance policy applies when a volunteer worker

engaged in school work is legally liable for:

a claim for bodily injury to a third party

damage to or the destruction of a third party’s property.

REVIEW CYCLE

The Volunteer policy will be reviewed by Principal and Assistant Principal, in consultation with the staff every

three years or sooner if required.