Dear Parents and Carers,

We invite you to attend our upcoming Parent-Teacher Interviews on the 26 and 27 March, to discuss your child’s progress, achievements, and goals for the year ahead. These meetings provide a valuable opportunity to strengthen the home-school partnership and ensure we are working together to support your child’s learning and well-being. Bookings will open on Compass next week. We look forward to connecting with you.

School Council Elections
School Council plays an important role in helping to make decisions about the school’s direction, policies, and overall management. The council is made up of a mix of elected parents, teachers and the principal.

Some of the main responsibilities of a School Council include:
1. Setting the school’s budget and financial plans: School Councils help allocate funds for resources, school programs, and infrastructure.
2. Developing school policies: This can include policies on student behaviour, curriculum, and school activities.
3. Monitoring school performance: The council oversees the school’s progress, helping to guide the school towards meeting its goals.
4. Supporting the school community: School Councils may also help with organising events, fundraising, and fostering school spirit.

Our School Council comprises of 8 parent members and 5 members from the Department of Education. This year, there are 5 parent positions and 2 DE position available for the next term on the School Council.
Nomination forms can be obtained from the office from Monday 24 February. The positions have a tenure of 2 years, and nominations close on Friday 7th March, at 4 pm. In the event of receiving more nominations than available positions, a ballot will be conducted.
The annual School Council General meeting is being held on Monday 24th March where office bearers will be elected.
School Council Dates for 2025 – Monday nights at 6:00pm:
24th February
24th March
28th April
26th May
16th June
18th August
15th September
27th October
24th November
8th December

Family Food and Fun Night
Thank you to the wonderful group of parents who were available to meet today after assembly to begin planning our amazing event.

The following table outlines what each class will be offering on the evening.

Every day at school counts
Attending school, every school day, enables students to participate in the school’s educational program as well as develop their social skills. Regular attendance enables the school to:
• plan an organised educational program that is delivered in a consistent way and has continuity
• facilitate shared student learning experiences that support the educational program, monitor student progress and adjust the educational program to meet student needs.

It is a requirement that all late arrivals and early leavers be signed in/out through the front office. Late passes will be issued to students and are required by classroom teachers. Absence notifications can be added directly by a parent/carer through Compass or by contacting the office.

Please be advised that student attendance is monitored daily, and absence queries will be followed up with parents and carers, as required.

Monitoring students activities online
In today’s digital world, children have greater access to online content than ever before. While technology offers valuable learning opportunities, it also presents risks. Monitoring your child’s online activity helps ensure their safety, well-being, and responsible digital habits.
We encourage open conversations about internet use, setting clear boundaries, and using parental controls where needed. By staying informed and engaged, we can work together to create a safe and positive online environment for our children.
For tips and supporting information, you can refer to:
• https://www.vic.gov.au/safe-socials-parents-and-carers-primary 
• https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/parental-controls 

Meet our new Office Manager
We are delighted to welcome Kellie Preyer who will be joining us as Office Manager from Monday. Kellie brings with her a wealth of experience and is excited to contribute to our school and support our students in their learning journey. Please read a little about Kellie below.

I grew up in the beautiful Yarra Valley and have been involved in the education system in various roles for over 16 years. Throughout this time, I developed a deep passion for supporting others in their learning, a passion influenced by my family’s strong connection to education. In 2021, my husband, daughter, and I made the move to the Mornington Peninsula, and we’ve since loved exploring the stunning surroundings with our dog, Fleur. We also have a 35-year-old horse named Missy and a King Parrot called Pickles, who are cherished members of our family. In my spare time, I enjoy watching ice hockey (especially the Vancouver Canucks), attending soccer matches, camping, and traveling. I truly believe that everyone is a lifelong learner, and I’m excited to begin my journey at Boneo Primary School, where I can support and nurture learning within the community.

School Voluntary Financial Contributions 2025

Schools provide students with free instruction to fulfil the standard curriculum, and we want to assure you that all contributions are voluntary. The ongoing support of our families ensures that our school can offer the best possible education and support for our students. Your voluntary financial contributions support our school to continually update and add to the digital devices within the school, complete upgrades to our buildings and playgrounds, purchase additional educational resources for student use and provide additional support staff to run extra learning programs. A reminder that school financial contributions can be paid via Compass. You may also pay at the front office.

Financial Assistance for Families

Conveyance Allowance

The conveyance allowance is a contribution towards transporting children to and from school.

To be eligible for the conveyance allowance a student must reside 4.8km or more from the school/campus they attend. This distance is measured as the shortest practicable route from the student’s residence to the school/campus using all-weather public roads drivable by car.

To be eligible for a conveyance allowance a student attending a mainstream school must attend:

their nearest government school/campus appropriate to their year level – being the closest school determined by the shortest practicable route from the student’s residence, or

the student’s Designated Neighbourhood School (DNS) – refer to Find my School website to identify a student’s DNS

The conveyance allowance may be available to students attending government or non-government schools and:
• travelling by public transport or by private car, motorbike, bicycle or bus, and
• whose nearest school is not serviced by a free school bus provided under the School Bus Program.

Please contact the office if you require further information or would like an application for Conveyance Allowance.

Camps, Sports and Excursion Fund – CSEF

Please contact the school office if you have any questions regarding CSEF.

Queen Victoria Market – Year 3

The Year 3s had a wonderful time at the Queen Victoria Market yesterday! The students received compliments from the public for being so kind and respectful. It was lovely to see them take the opportunity to learn about different cultures, try new foods, and step outside of their comfort zones.
This excursion tied in perfectly with our unit of inquiry, where we focused on the idea that “our different cultures and beliefs impact who we are.” As part of this, we explored Humanities (History), Personal and Social Capabilities, and Intercultural Capabilities.
While at the market, the students spent time discovering various foods and engaging with the stallholders to learn about the origins of the foods, the cultural backgrounds behind them, and any related celebrations. We are currently in the ‘Finding out’ phase of the Inquiry cycle, and this exploration will lead us into the next phase, ‘Sorting Out,’ where students will dive deeper into areas of interest.

T.R.E.C

Our Year 5 and 6 TREC program commenced this week with students engaging in collaborative, high interest, project based learning. This year we are excited to have more options on offer than ever before with groups including, the Human Powered Vehicle program, Lego Robotics, Art & Craft, Strategy & Board Games, Performing Arts, Wildlife Warriors, Kids Cafe and the FUSE e-sports Cup! Students have been excited for what the year will bring through these learning lenses.