Operational
What are the school times?
The official instruction time starts at 8.55am and finishes at 3:00pm. Students are expected to be at school by no later than 8.50am in time for roll call.
Students break for lunch at 10.55–11.35am and 1.20–2.00pm.
When does the office open?
The office opens at 8.15am each morning and closes at 3.30pm each afternoon.
The phone is answered between 8.15am and 3.30pm each day. A message can be left on the school message service outside of these hours.
When is assembly on?
Junior assemblies (P-2) are held in the hall on selected Wednesdays from 2.10pm. Dates will be advertised.
Senior assemblies (3-6) are held in the hall on selected Wednesdays from 2.10pm. Dates will be advertised.
There will be whole school assemblies each term also.
Parents, families and community members are welcome to attend any assembly.
When are P&C meetings held?
P&C meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 5pm in the school Administration Building. All welcome to attend.
Uniform and canteen
What colour shoes can my child wear?
Black covered shoes with navy blue socks is the appropriate footwear as per the school’s uniform policy.
When is the Uniform Shop open and how do I contact them?
The Uniform Shop is open on Wednesday from 2:00–3:30pm.
Cash and card is accepted.
Alternately, uniforms can be purchased using the QKR app. When purchased through QKR the uniforms are delivered to the classroom for your child to bring home. Orders prior to 5.30pm will be fulfilled the following day. If ordered after 5.30pm the order will have a 24hr delay for processing.
If you wish to collect your order from the office or need to make alternate arrangements, email the office admin@bellmeress.eq.edu.au. to arrange.
On what days is canteen open and how do I order?
Canteen operates on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Orders are completed using the QKR app after registering your details, or you can order using the paper bag service ($0.50 charge). All orders must be completed by 8.15am. Should you need to cancel an order this must be organised before the 8.15am cut off through QKR. This will leave a credit in the app to use another time, or if you miss the cutoff you will need to arrange collection of the order from the office via email admin@bellmeress.eq.edu.au.
Absences/Attendance
What happens if my child is sick and I need to pick them up or they need to go to an appointment during the day?
If your child is sick and needs to go home, you will be called and asked to collect them from the office. They will be signed out once picked up.
If you are collecting your child for an appointment and have not notified your classroom teacher in advance, you will need to sign them out on the office iPad. You may need to show a form of photo ID if the office staff don't already know you. The iPad prints a slip that you need to hand to the classroom teacher. Your child will then be allowed to leave with you. Please aim to collect your child before or after lunch breaks due to the difficulty in locating them during lunchtime.
What do I do if my child is late for school?
Please send your child to the office to receive a late slip which is to be handed to the class teacher on arrival (after 9.30am). However, please avoid late arrivals where possible.
Personal/School property
If my child has lost something, where should I look?
The lost property items are kept outside of G Block (opposite the Administration Building). Please check here if the lost item is not in or around your child’s classroom.
Is my child allowed to bring a mobile phone to school?
If your child brings a mobile phone to school, they will be asked to leave it in the office for the day. The student signs the phone in on the office iPad when they arrive at school and out again at 3pm. Phones should be sent for emergency use only or for your child’s trip to and from school.
What happens if my child loses their library book?
You may be invoiced for the replacement costs of any lost library books or books that are damaged beyond repair. The cost of the book/resource is dependent on a number of factors. Please check with the office and they will organise for the invoice to be sent to you or email admin@bellmeress.eq.edu.au.
Finance
I need to pay an invoice. How can I do that?
You can pay an invoice the following ways (in order of preference):
- BPoint online through the QParents app. or via the link on the invoice.
- Bank transfer.
- EFTPOS or cash in the office
- Centrepay payments - arranged through the office and a debited from Centrelink payments fornightly.
Can I set up a payment plan to pay invoices (i.e. Student Resource Scheme, camps, etc.)?
Yes. You can arrange a payment plan with the Business Manager. Payment schedules are flexible and can be set up for weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments.
Centrepay is also an option.
Appointments
I’m concerned about my child’s learning and would like some advice on how to help my child. Who should I talk to?
In the first instance, you should make a time to speak with the class teacher. Meetings should be arranged for before or after school hours.
You might also like to speak with a specialist teacher or support teacher. This can be arranged through a conversation with the class teacher.
In some cases, our Head of Diverse Learners, specialist staff and other members of Admin may be the most appropriate person to meet with. This can be organised by contacting the class teacher.
If I need to set up a meeting with the principal or deputy principal, how do I do that?
Please see the administration staff in the front office. The staff will ask if you have spoken to the classroom teacher or the teacher involved? If this hasn’t occurred, they will direct you to the classroom teacher. If you have already spoken to the teacher, the office staff will ask you for details of the concern or ask that you put this into an email to admin@bellmeress.eq.edu.au. which will be forwarded to the Principal or Deputy Principal.
Excursions/Extra-curricular
How will I know if my child has an excursion coming up, how much to pay and the permission form to sign?
Mostly, excursions will be advertised by the class teacher in class newsletters at the beginning of the term. Once organised, the excursion note, invoice and Facebook message will be sent out. All current excursion forms are available on the school website at Documents page. Online consent forms are available in the QParents app. Users of the Qparents app will receive a notification when they have a consent to manage. Payments can be made in Qparents via BPoint.
Excursion information is also put onto the QKR app where payments can be made.
Excursions are expected to be paid in full by the due date in order for your child to attend. No late payments will be accepted.
Any questions relating to the excursion should be directed to the class teacher or organising teacher.
If my child is sick or can’t attend an excursion that I have paid for, will I get reimbursed?
You will need to read the refund policy and complete a Refund form (accessed on the Documents page). Once the form is completed, it can be taken to the office or emailed to admin@bellmeress.eq.edu.au. Excursion payments may be refunded in full or in part or not at all, having regard to the associated expenses incurred and the circumstances of the non-participation.
Leaving the school
I have moved residence and am leaving the school to go to a different school. What do I need to do?
Inform the office by completing and signing a transfer form (available from the front office). It is important to notify the school of your intention to leave and where you are enrolling.
All outstanding payments will need to finalised. Any surplus money after finalising all accounts will be credited to you.