We trust that your child has settled well into the start of the year. It has been a most exciting one as we occupy our new buildings for the first time.
As we strive to continually improve, it is important that we hear from you – our parents and guardians – about the way we shape our school for the future.
While you continue to support the education of your child/children at home, we ask you to consider supporting the school community by becoming a member of our governing body.
We are calling for nominations for positions on School Council. The term of office for members is two years. We meet as a Council once a month, usually at 5pm on the fourth Monday of the month.
There are three vacant Parent positions and one vacant DET position. Below you will find a FAQ information sheet which will give you an idea of the structure and business of School Council.
Parents on school councils provide important viewpoints and have valuable skills that can help shape the direction of the school. Those parents who become active on a school council often find their involvement satisfying in itself and may also find that their children feel a greater sense of belonging.
Nomination forms can be obtain from the General Office, or by contacting principal Judi Benny directly.
School Council – Frequently Asked Questions
What is a school council and what does it do?
All government schools in Victoria have a school council. They are legally formed bodies that are given powers to set the key directions of a school within centrally provided guidelines. In doing this, a school council is able to directly influence the quality of education that the school provides for its
students.
Who is on the school council?
There are four possible categories of membership:
- A mandated elected Parent category. More than one third of the total members must be from this category. Department of Education and Training (DET) employees can be Parent members at their child’s school as long as they are not employed at the school.
- A mandated elected DET employee category. Members of this category may make up no more than one third of the total membership of school council. The principal of the school is automatically one of these members.
- An optional Community member category. Its members are co-opted by a decision of the council because of their special skills, interests or experiences. DEECD employees are not eligible to be Community members.
- Student member. In 2018 positions were created for student members of School Council. Any student currently enrolled in the School (from Years 7-12) is able to nominate for School Council.
The term of office for all members is two years. Half the members must retire each year, creating vacancies for the annual school council elections.
Why is Parent membership so important?
Parents on school councils provide important viewpoints
and have valuable skills that can help shape the direction of the school. Those parents who become active on a school council find their involvement satisfying in itself and may also find that their children
feel a greater sense of belonging.
How can you become involved?
The most obvious way is to vote in the elections, which are held in Term 1 each year. However, ballots are only held if more people nominate as candidates than there are positions vacant.
Do I need special experience to be on school council?
No. What you do need is an interest in your child’s school and the desire to work in partnership with others to help shape the school’s future.
What do you need to do to stand for election?
The principal will issue a notice and call for nominations following the commencement of Term 1 each year. All school council elections must be completed by the end of March. If you decide to stand for election, you can arrange for someone to nominate you as a candidate or you can nominate yourself in the Parent category. Once the nomination form is completed, return it to the principal within the time stated on the notice of election. If there are more nominations received than there are vacancies
on council, a ballot will be conducted.