Enrolment criteria for Banyule Primary School
Banyule PS has an approved enrolment ceiling. This means that there are restrictions related to enrolments as follows:
1. Proximity to Banyule Primary
We are obliged by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) to take in all students who live in the area surrounding the school. This means you will be offered enrolment at Banyule primary if we are the closest school to your permanent residence (residential address, not a business address). This will be measured, in a straight line, from your front door to the school's front entrance, on a Melways Map.
Alternatively the website http://www.street-directory.com.au/sd_new/mapsearch.cgi
may assist in determining your nearest school. Log onto the website, type in your address, click on green arrow, click on "find nearby community", click on "Education – Primary” and change to within 2 km. If Banyule PS is at the top of the list of schools, you may be eligible.
Proof of residential address will be required such as a rates notice, driver’s licence etc…
2. Siblings
Students with a sibling at the same permanent address who are attending the school at the same time will be accepted at Banyule primary school.
Information for first time prep parents
Your child MUST be 5 years of age by the end of April in the year they begin school. If your child turns 5 on May 1st, you will need to wait another year. There are no exceptions to this rule for any school.
There is NO cut off date for enrolling your child in primary school, however, it is wise to get it done by the end of June if possible so that schools can plan for staffing and class structures for the following year.
There is NO need to enrol in more than one school. If for example you are waiting to see if you are accepted into a catholic or private school, just wait until you have confirmation before you hand in enrolment forms to a state primary school. There will not be a problem getting in unless it is a ‘zoned’ school and you do not live in the immediate area. It creates many problems when people cancel enrolments so it’s better to wait.
Most schools have information evenings for prospective families around April/May each year. It is wise to attend all the ones you are interested in. Ring and find out when it is or check the school’s website.
Attend a tour at the schools you are interested in. Most schools will have organised group tour dates, but you can also arrange a tour with the principal at a time that suits you both. Do your homework.
Look at the websites for all the schools. The newsletters can give you a good idea of what is happening at any time during the year.
Ask people who attend the school already to find out more about the school, however, keep in mind what suits one family may not be the same for another. Do not judge a school based on the experience of one or two people. Take the information on board then go and check it out for yourself. Sometimes things change in a school and unless you go and see for yourself you may be receiving false information or the perception of someone else rather than the actual reality. This is really important.
All primary schools hold transition programs for new preps. It is really important that your child attend these sessions so that teachers can observe interactions, your child can make new friends and the anxiety of going to school is lessened. This program is only available to enrolled students. The school will let you know what the dates are after you enrol.
Specific Information about Banyule Primary School
Banyule PS has an approved enrolment ceiling. Enrolment restrictions apply.
If you qualify and if you are interested in enrolling your child at Banyule PS, ring the school and arrange a tour with the principal, Sharon Marmo, either in term one or term two if possible (9459 0732)
The school will hand you an enrolment pack on request. You will need to fill out the enrolment form and hand it in along with the following:
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Copy of birth certificate
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Copy of immunisation certificate
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Signed permissions form (list of general permissions that covers such things as going for local walks, watching ‘G’ or ‘PG’ rated films, publishing photos and information, use of the computer etc)
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Copy of any court orders if applicable
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Asthma or Anaphylaxis information (or other medical information)
Kindy Play Dates: These are set times you can bring your child to have a ‘free’ play with our existing preps. It is NOT the transition program. Simply ring and book into any of the sessions, bring your child along and watch them play with other children while you chat to teachers, other parents and ask questions of the principal. It is very informal and a great way for your child to develop a sense of what it’s like to be at school.
For this year’s dates please see ‘Notices & Newsletters’.
Transition program: Our structured transition program is held in term four each year. It is held on three Fridays in a row with graduating times so that your child can eventually experience recess and lunch with the rest of the school. They may be with a different teacher and group of children each week so they get to make as many friends as possible
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Bring your child to the assembly area near the school car park at 9:30am
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Find the table with your child’s name tag and sign them in
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A grade 5 child will escort you and your child to the assigned room for the day
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Say your goodbyes and leave your child in the good hands of the teacher
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Come back to the shelter at the end of the session to sign out your child and collect them
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On the last transition day, come back early for the graduation session in the shelter. Your child will receive a certificate and you will then find out which class they will be in for the following year
For this year’s Transition dates, please see ‘Notices & Newsletters’.
Prep Information Evening: Once the transition program is over, there will be a general information evening where any unanswered questions will be addressed along with other relevant information to prepare your child for school. The date for this evening can also be located in ‘Notices & Newsletters’.