Parents / Carers

School Council

The Thornbury Primary School Council is as an official body representing parents and carers and teachers. The council consists of five parent representatives, two community co opted representatives  two representatives of the Department of Education, and the Principal as Executive Officer.

School Council Members 2022 

Christopher Burgess

Lucy Paplinska 

Michelle Harmer

Amanda Stevens

Jill Sparrow

Naomi Williams 

Jay Aggarwal 

Antoinette Vaiano

Stephanie Miller

 

Sub-committees

The work of School Council is supported by a number of sub-committees, each of which is responsible to School Council. The committees provide advice and recommendations to School Council in specific areas in order to assist in decision-making.

Many parents lend their expertise and support to the school by joining one or more of our School Council sub-committees, and new members are always welcome.

The current sub-committees are:

Finance

Masterplan and Grounds

Comms Team

Education Policy 

OSHC

Enviro Team

Social Committee

 

Contacting School Council

Correspondence for the School Council can be sent by emailing:
schoolcouncil@thornburyps.vic.edu.au

All relevant correspondence will be tabled at the next available meeting of the School Council.

 

Meeting dates 2022

School Council meetings are held on a regular basis and will generally be open to the school community to attend as observers. At Principal and School Council discretion certain meetings may be closed due to the nature of information and ensuring privacy and confidentiality. Meetings scheduled for 2022 are communicated  via COMPASS ‘This week @ TPS’. If you wish to attend please notify school council so a suitable sized venue can be arranged.  

Should you wish to present to School Council regarding a School Council matter please submit your request via the School Council email listed below to be allocated time on the agenda.

 

Parent/Carer Involvement

Parent/carer involvement is welcome in all formal and informal aspects of school life. We encourage parent/carer interest and support to help create a friendly and effective school environment.

We realise all parents/carers are busy – some have no time to spare and others just a little.

We hope that there is something that may suit your time, needs and interests. Remember that you need a current Working With Children (WWC) card in order to be able to assist in the school.

The school would appreciate any assistance or time you can offer. Please get in touch with the office or our teachers if you want to help out.

Fundraising

Our active fundraising group brings together the school community in fun, social events to raise funds to support our school programs. The group welcomes new members to assist with events.

Class Helpers

Helpers are always welcome in assisting in classrooms under the direction of the classroom teacher. Working with small groups, hearing reading, being a role model, supporting and encouraging children in their efforts, helping on excursions, during the swimming program, gardening etc. are invaluable for our school. To work in schools as a helper you will need a current Working with Children Check (WWCC) available from major Australia Post offices. They are free for volunteers.

Social Events

The Arts Festival, NAIDOC Day and Winter Festival are a few examples of occasions that showcase student skills and talents but they are also great opportunities to mix socially – parents/carers, teachers, children, extended family and friends of TPS.

 

TPS Register of Skills 

TPS has an amazing community of families and staff, with an amazing range of skills. Volunteering some of your time or skills to TPS is an invaluable way to help your child, the school, and build a strong sense of community. Our “Register of Skills”, is where parents/carers can sign up and list what skills they have that the school can call upon when needed. All skills welcome etc sewing, craft, music, building, carpentry, gardening, arboriculture, cooking, language, cultural knowledge and insight, plumbing, puppetry, architecture, lighting and sound technical, staging, IT, veterinary… to name just a few! Register Here

Some ways parents/carers can help:

  • Help on excursions or barbecues
  • Join the fundraising team
  • Offer to help in classrooms eg. hear children read, type stories, tell stories, sing songs
  • Help in Working Bees to fix up the buildings, school grounds and gardens
  • Assist with the Swimming Program
  • Assist with the gardening program
  • Help in the art room eg. put up displays
  • Help in the library eg. repair, cover books, re-shelve books, make books
  • Attend information afternoons/evenings
  • Repair broken furniture, games etc.
  • Represent parents/carers on the School Council
  • Assist with coaching, training of school sports teams
  • Demonstrate skills to children/other parents/carers eg. crafts, cooking, music, work skills
  • Support Koorie Culture Classes 

Compass School Manager

We use Compass School Manager as our Parent/Carer Portal.

Using our Parent/Carer Portal you will be able to:

– View up-to-date class and school attendance information

– Approve or enter upcoming or past absences for your son/daughter

– Update your registered email and mobile number (used for SMS alerts) details

– Keep up-to-date with upcoming events, newsletters and notices

– Access your child’s Semester Reports

– Book your Parent/Student/Teacher conferences – Download, print and approve upcoming excursions

Accessing Compass Compass is a web-based system that is accessible on any web browser or by using the ‘Compass School Manager’ app available for iOS or Android.

To access our Parent/Carer Portal, please click the link: https://thornburyps-vic.compass.education and enter your unique login and password.

 

If you are having trouble logging into your account or forget your username or password, it is very easy to recover your details. When you are on the login page, simply select ‘Can’t access your account?’ and follow the prompts.

If you have any questions please see the Compass School Manager guide below or contact the office for assistance.

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Compass School Manager Info Guide

Parent Payments

https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/parent-payment/guidance

School Hours

8.50am Music

8.55am  Bell

9.00am – 11.00am Teaching and Learning

11.00am – 11.15am  Eating time

11.15am – 11.45am  Play Break 1

11.45am – 1.30pm Teaching and Learning

1.30pm – 1.45pm Eating time

1.45pm – 2.30pm Play Break 2

2.30pm – 3.30pm Teaching and Learning

3.30pm Dismissal

The last day of each term dismissal is usually 2.30pm and the last day of the year is generally 1.30pm. Children should be at school before 9.00am so that they are settled and ready for their first lesson.

Lunchtimes

Please make sure your child has lunch each day in a lunch box. This prevents lunches being squashed and reduces unnecessary waste. Any drinks should be in plastic bottles which your child can unscrew. NO GLASS BOTTLES PLEASE. The fruit box style of drink is easily managed by young children. Children are supervised inside for lunch (1.30pm – 1.45pm). Good eating habits are reinforced at this time. Please aim for a healthy lunch and ensure all bottles and boxes are named.

Classrooms allow for regular fruit and water breaks during the day and water bottles are easily accessible on children’s tables.

We encourage students to bring their own drink bottles to keep in the classroom and refill with water throughout the day.

Children are NOT PERMITTED to leave the school at lunch time without school and parental/carer permission.

Lunch orders

Lunch orders are ordered through Classroom Cuisine. Lunch orders are available MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS

LUNCH ORDERS NOT AVAILABLE ON TUESDAYS

All orders are received by their easy to use website until 8.30am on the day the order is required.

For more information check out the website and register.

www.classroomcuisine.com.au

School Uniforms

You can order online at www.psw.com.au

TeamKids Before & After Care, Vacation Care​

TeamKids is the premium provider that exists to enrich children’s lives before school, after school and throughout the school holidays.​

Before & After Care Available Here!​

When attending TeamKids before and after school care, your children are in remarkable hands. Our full-time Director of Service is highly experienced in the field, and their number one priority is fun – your child will love the experiences we have on offer every day at TeamKids.​

When children join our team, not only are they able to explore their world through our designated activity zones and TeamKids Clubs, but they’ll get to connect, collaborate and learn with others in a supportive and nurturing environment that fosters their individuality and own unique interests.​

They’ll also enjoy an incredible menu, jam-packed with nutritious and delicious food. One thing is for sure, your child will not go hungry.​

From the moment you walk through the door, TeamKids provides an atmosphere that is welcoming, relaxed and inclusive.  At every opportunity, we aim to promote child agency and help to shape their innate leadership skills through a variety of in-house leadership opportunities and fun, engaging rewards programs.​

We offer industry-leading educator to child ratios of 1:10 (industry standard is 1:15), resulting in safer, better supervised experiences for all involved. ​

All our programs are fully approved under the National Child Care Subsidy (CCS).​

We’re excited and look forward to welcoming you to the TeamKids Family. ​

To find out more, register or book.  

https://teamkids.com.au/venues/thornbury-primary-oshc/

 

TeamKids Vacation Care​

TeamKids School Holiday Program Available Here!

TeamKids holiday programs are conveniently located here at your school, with extended hours to help families juggle work and home.​

Truth be told, TeamKids started out being Holiday Program specialists – so get set for an action-packed adventure your children are sure to enjoy! ​

During the school holidays, our focus is on FUN.  Our programming team work with the school, parents and children to build the best possible program for your community, including a broad range of  exciting experiences that include incursions, excursions and in-house activities that will ensure your child has an absolute blast every day. Programs may include activities like cooking, bubble soccer, trampoline parks, epic excursions, super sports days, giant laser tag, art attack, coding, construction, maker days, STEM days, robotics and so much more.​

The Fun Squad is poised and waiting, so don’t delay, book into our holiday program today.​

To find out more, register or book,  

https://teamkids.com.au/venues/thornbury-primary-oshc/

 

Contact Teamkids 

Phone: 1300 035 000

Email: info@teamkids.com.au 

To enrol: www.teamkids.com.au

Download brochure below.

Thornbury Primary Family Handbook

Curriculum days

Each year schools receive four student-free days. These days are used for professional development, school planning and administration, curriculum development, and student assessment and reporting.

The first day of Term 1 each year is a student-free day in all government schools to allow for appropriate planning to take place for the arrival of students.

School councils have the flexibility to schedule the remaining three student-free days each year to meet local needs.

Lost Property

At Thornbury Primary School we aim to minimise property losses and to return misplaced items to their rightful owners as efficiently as possible. There is a central collection point for lost property located under the centre stairwell where children and adults can look for missing items.

Parking Restrictions & Traffic Laws

Murray Street and Hutton Street can become congested, and we suggest that parking close to the school should be freed up for those who need it, such as families with preschool kids, babies or urgent matters.

If you can, park a street away from the school and enjoy the walk.

There are crossing supervisors on Hutton Street and on St Georges Road, who help teach our children road safety everyday.

We also have ‘Kiss and Go’ areas in front of the school. ‘Kiss and Go’ zones and ‘No Parking’ zones operate under the same conditions.

School Crossing

No parking or stopping within 18 metres of the school crossing.

Bicycles

Children under the age of 9 should not ride alone to school, adult company is required. Safety helmets must be worn. For eveyone’s safety all bicycles and scooters should be wheeled in the school grounds at all times. Bicycles are stored in a bike rack during the day. Please ensure you have your own lock to secure your bike and helmet.

‘No Stopping’ Areas

No Stopping means no stopping at all —even if you are only letting someone out of the car, and regardless of whether you leave the engine running and stay in the car. You must not stop where there is a continuous yellow line painted on the edge of the road.

‘No Parking’ Areas

You can stop in a No Parking area for up to two minutes provided you are setting down or picking up a passenger or loading or unloading goods, and you do not leave the vehicle unattended (‘unattended’ means you are more than three metres away from the vehicle).