Parent Communication
Communication Between School and Home
At Cheltenham East Primary School, we believe that regular and open communication between school and home is essential. A weekly newsletter is published every Friday to keep families updated on school news and events. The newsletter is available through our school website and through Compass, our student management system.
Your child’s academic and social–emotional development is supported through scheduled formal parent/carer and teacher learning progress meetings. Written reports are also provided twice a year via Compass.
We proudly maintain an ‘open door policy’; however, booked appointments are preferred. Parents and carers are welcome to discuss any aspect of their child’s education with their classroom teacher. Teachers may also contact families when they feel communication is necessary. The Principal also welcomes parent/carer communication, though we respectfully ask that families contact their child’s classroom teacher first if they have concerns.
We use Compass as our school’s communication and student management platform.
Through Compass, families are able to:
- Provide consent for camps, excursions, and incursions
- Make secure online payments
- View your child/children’s reports
- Book parent/carer–teacher learning progress meetings
- Notify the school of absences and view attendance data
- Access newsletters and school notices
- Stay informed about important updates through school notifications
- View the school calendar
- Receive live notifications through the Compass app
Parent Payment Information
DET Parent Payment Policy available here: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/parent-payment/policy
Qkr – Fundraising/Special Food Day Payments
Uniform
Classroom Cuisine
1 Ordering lunches on line
Log onto www.classroomcuisine.com.au and register as a new user. Submit your order and select your child’s grade from the drop down list and pay with your credit card. You can either have two courses or three courses. There are gluten and dairy free options. They deliver before lunch.
2 How it works
Each lunch order consists of either a Two or Three course lunch. There are 30 Options from which to choose within each course selection on each day. Orders are received by our Customer Friendly Website until 8.30am on the morning of the day the order is required.
3 How to register
4 Payment
We post a Menu for the whole term at the beginning of the term so ordering or payment can be for one lunch or as many as a required over the term. (Orders placed in advance can be cancelled and a voucher issued if it comes to pass that a child is sick or has a school activity which means they won’t need the lunch).
School Council
Our School Council, made up of six parent representatives, three staff representatives, three community representatives and the Principal, plays an increasingly important role in the functioning of our school. Their areas of responsibility cover finance, grounds, buildings, policy and 101 other matters that pertain to school administration. School Council meets on average twice each term for a total of 8 meetings per year, generally on the third Wednesday of the month. Elections for School Council are held each year in late February/early March. No special experience is required to be a member of School Council, just an interest in your child’s school and the skills to work cooperatively with others to help shape our future. Your support of Council functions is always appreciated.
School Councillors 2026
Executive: Robert Ridgway
President: Kelly Applebee
Vice President: Melinda Morgan
Treasurer: Rhian Godwin
Secretary: Naomi Smith
General Committee Members
Jared Chaplin
Samantha Waugh
Rachel Billington
Jessica Doedee
Ainslie Henshaw
Jen White
Nicki Glenister
School Council Meeting Dates
2026 – 6.30pm
Term 1
- Wednesday 18th February
- Wednesday 18th March (including AGM)
Term 2
- Wednesday 20th May
- Wednesday 17th June
Term 3
- Wednesday 19th August
- Wednesday 16th September
Term 4
- Wednesday 21st October
- Wednesday 18th November
Parents’ Committee
The Parents’ Committee at CEPS meets approximately once a month during school terms. The meetings are friendly and informal. The role of the Parents’ Committee is wide and varied. They are the group that organises fundraisers, plans social events for the school community, including the Mother’s and Father’s Day Stalls, discos for the children, special food days, and much more. Becoming a member of the Parents’ Committee is a great way to be involved with your child’s school and meet other parents in a relaxed and informal way. The Committee is elected each year at the Annual General Meeting held in November, with all positions open for nomination each year. New members are always welcome. Apart from fundraising, members help in many areas of the school’s program and activities, especially in the areas working directly with the children.
Meetings are held in the Staffroom at 7.00pm.
2026 meeting dates are yet to be confirmed, but will be listed here when they become available.
TERM 1
TERM 2
TERM 3
TERM 4
Outside Hours School Care
BEFORE CARE HOURS: 7:00 am to 8:45 am.
AFTER CARE HOURS: 3:30 pm to 6:30 p.m.
Our Out of Hours School Care Program, operated by Team Kids, provides a friendly and caring environment where children can engage in a wide range of stimulating activities. Regular options include cooking, painting, dress-ups, magnetic block construction, picnics, origami, board games, LEGO, clay modelling, jewellery making, disco dancing and other sports games.
In Before Care, breakfast is provided with choices such as cereal, toast, fruit, raisin toast, pancakes, yoghurt and muffins. During After Care, children enjoy afternoon tea, which may include hot savouries, popcorn, fruit, vegetables, yoghurt, sandwiches, spaghetti, rice crackers and other snacks.
Our School Holiday Program provides fun and engaging activities for children during school holidays. Kids can participate in in-house activities, incursions, and excursions, all designed to encourage creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving. Breakfast, morning tea, and afternoon tea are provided, while lunch should be prepared by parents.
Outside School Hours Care
We are proud to partner with Team Kids to provide our outside school hours care program.
To find out more about the program at our school, including hours of operation, fees and how to register please click here https://teamkids.com.au/
How Parents Can Help
At CEPS we recognise that Parents are the first educators of our students and that it is vital that a strong relationship exists between school and home. We endeavour to keep our parent community well informed of what is happening in the school and to involve them in its various activities. All volunteers require a current Working With Children Check which must be sited by administration staff and worn at all times whilst with children.
The Parents’ Committee and School Council all provide opportunities to assist in activities to support the school programs as well as being a great place to socialise with the parents of your child’s friends.
Useful Links
Some websites you may find useful.
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD).
Treating & Controlling Headlice
DEECD has also developed a website “Connect” which has dedicated sections for early childhood, primary students and secondary students.