February 7th, 2008 College Chronicle

IMPORTANT NEWS!

A Note from the Bursar…

Education Maintenance Allowance

The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is provided to assist eligible families with the costs associated with the education of their children. To be eligible for receipt of the EMA you must:

1. Be either a parent or guardian of a primary or secondary school student up to the age of sixteen; and
2. Be an eligible beneficiary of a Centrelink allowance, pension or benefit, such as a Health Care Card.

The eligibility criteria must be met as at the 29th January 2008, for the first payment and the 14th July 2008 for the second payment. Even if you have previously claimed EMA, a new form must be submitted.

The EMA provides an annual amount of $215 for primary students and $430 for secondary students (under 16 years) and is paid in two instalments, Term One and Term Three.

If you are eligible for the EMA please come in to the office and collect a form. Your completed form must be returned to school by Friday 19th February. Please note that no late applications will be accepted by the Department.

Conveyance Allowance

The Conveyance Allowance is a government subsidy for student travel to and from school if you live more than 4.8 km from school. The allowance is paid directly to the school and will be deducted from your school fees on receipt. The criteria to receive a conveyance allowance is found on the form.

If claiming the allowance for the first time or adding a new child, please complete a form for each child. New forms must be completed if there are any changes to travel arrangements from last year e.g. New address, change from private to public transport. (You are obliged to provide the correct details to the government as incorrect information can lead to repayment of allowance).

Please collect from the office and return the completed forms by Friday 19th February.

If you have any queries regarding the above, please do not hesitate to call me during school hours.

Regards, Kelly

FIREWOOD:

Good quality dry hardwood, home delivered. $100 per cubic metre (m³). Order a 12 m³ truck load and only pay for 10 m³ (2 m³ absolutely free!)
Stock up for winter at this special discount rate. (Note: Tipper tray loaded to full capacity holds exactly 12 m³). Please phone 5966 6121.

GARFIELD FOOTBALL CLUB:

Junior Registration Day on Tuesday 12th February .... 5 - 7pm.
Notices are available from the office regarding this.

MISSING:

1 BLAZER FROM LAST YEAR. It is a Size 68 and has the initial of TB on the inside of the inside pocket. Please check your families blazers in case there has been a mix-up and if found return the blazer to the office please.

JUNIOR BOYS SOCCER:

Unfortunately Mr Pepping is not able to offer soccer training anymore due to his work commitments.

Family Information Forms:

Today, attached to your Chronicle you will find the Report that has the details known to us for your family. Please take the time to carefully check that these details are accurate. Once checked and adjusted then you are asked to return this to the College office. If the report is totally up to date you are asked to still return it please.

DINNER AUCTION MEETING:

All committee members are reminded that our first meeting for 2008 is on Friday 22nd February at 7.30pm. We will be holding this meeting at the home of Michael and Lisa Braaksma.

SPORTS NOTICES

TENNIS: Just a thank you to parents for handing back the tennis forms so promptly. A few students still need to hand their forms in, especially VCE boys. If parents could please make sure that they have paid $12.00 per child to the office by the end of next week, that would be greatly appreciated.

CRICKET: Term One is when all Year 9/10 Boys and Year 9/10 Girls participate in the regional cricket tournaments. The aim is to continue on the St. Thomas Aquinas tradition by earning a place in the state finals which are held in Melbourne later in the year.
Cricket Victoria has made a tentative date of Thursday 6th of March. However, this date at the moment is subject to change. More details later.

SWIMMING CARNIVAL: It’s that time of year again when students compete in their houses at the Garfield outdoor swimming pool. Students over the last few years have been working on their swimming skills and aquatic education. This is the chance that students have to show off their swimming prowess!
The swimming carnival is a compulsory event for every secondary student from year 7-12, non negotiable. It is not within the college spirit to ‘opt out’, instead, students will all attend and support their house.
Every student will be in at least one event. Weaker swimmers will definitely be catered for by the numerous novelty activities.

Dates:
Girls-   Monday 25th of February 9:00am- 2:00 pm.
Boys - Friday 29th of February 9:00am- 2:00 pm.

Transport: Parents are to drop off and pick up their own children from Garfield Outdoor Swimming Pool.
Cost: $3.50 per student. Please fill in the permission form that was sent home earlier this week and return with the money to the college office between now and Friday the 22nd of February.
Parents are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and attend. Please note that all small children who are not secondary students are to be actively supervised at the pool at all times by their parents.
Students will receive more information in the near future.
Many thanks to all the secondary parents for your help and support, should you have any queries whatsoever, then please do not hesitate to contact Miss Schaefer at the school.

FIRST FRIDAY— FOOD FRIDAY

Tomorrow the St Gerard League has its food collection to help those families in the parish who are in need.
All families are asked to donate an item of non perishable food. A container is placed in each classroom for the children to leave the food in. Many thanks in anticipation of your help.

Email Addresses:

The College is planning to make some correspondence to parents through email. We therefore require your email address to add to our data base. Please fill in this form and return to the Office during the next week.
Parent Name (please print) _______________________________________________
Email Address: Father: __________________________________________________
                       Mother: __________________________________________________

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