Welcome to Monbulk Primary School. We are a family at Monbulk Primary School, and we are strongly connected to our local community.

2022 Prospective Parents tour

Prep at Monbulk Primary School

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At Monbulk Primary School our values of respect, responsibility, relationships and resilience underpin the way we work and play together.

We spend time getting to know each student and their individual needs and learning styles which enable us to provide effective classroom learning programs. Students have access to a range of Specialists including Art, Music, Physical Education, STEM and Kitchen Garden, as part of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program. We also offer a variety of extra- curricular activities including choir, and private instrumental tuition in piano, drums, guitar, and voice. Students also choose to start clubs based on their own interests, which are supported by teachers.

All Monbulk Primary School staff are highly committed to their profession and bring a wealth of knowledge and commitment to our school. Our teachers works as part of a team; with each other, and with our families. Parents and carers are encouraged to communicate with teachers and the school leadership. Our parents are also welcome to participate in a range of activities such as the junior reading program, kitchen garden volunteering, fundraising and working bees.

We are strongly connected to our local community, and community members are invited to participate in a wide range of activities that support the operation of the school. Our connections with local sporting teams, CFA, RSL, CWA and the Monbulk Historical Society help continue the proud tradition of our school in the community.

We are a Resource Smart School and we value sustainable practices in and out of our classroom. This is supported by our Kitchen Garden program where students learn about plants and gardening, and cooking our harvest.

As a school we work to develop each child’s academic learning, but also their social and emotional development. As we also oversee the running of Monbulk Pre-School we have the opportunity to support student’s growth and development from the very start of their formal learning journey.

We are a very friendly and welcoming school, and we care about each other and for each other, and for our environment. We are very proud of our school, and the work of our students and staff. We invite you to learn more about our great school, and see our school motto in action, Expect more, Achieve more.

Estelle Alder
Principal

History

On the 18th of January, 1887, in response to a petition signed by 57 local settlers, State School No. 3265, the then “Dandenong Forest Village Settlement State School” was opened. The building itself was second-hand, the white ant-eaten buildings transferred by bullock wagon to Monbulk from Wellington Road State School in December 1886.

The site on which the school was situated was incredibly rough, described by the first head teacher, James B Boyle, as “…in the very heart of the forest, surrounded by trees 100 feet high” In 1899, following the establishment of an official post office in the town, the school was re-named Monbulk school. Since then the school has had a long and occasionally colourful history, facing a measles outbreak in 1911, and burning down in 1913. The school was rebuilt in 6 months and still stands today, as our historic building on the corner of Main Rd and David Hill Rd.

Many generations of Monbulk locals have attend Monbulk Primary School, and we cherish and celebrate our history and community connection.

Monbulk School Grade 2. 1989
1901, Teachers Mr & Mrs Tipping, Minnie Martin, Miss Peters.
School Grades 1-3, 1924.
Monbulk Main Street Scenes from 1940s
School Group 1909

Getting Involved

At Monbulk Primary School we welcome parent/carer/kin involvement in our learning community. We know that strong links between home and school foster student learning and community engagement. We have plenty of opportunities for parents to assist and be part of their child’s learning. They include:

  • Parent Helpers (in classrooms)
  • School Council
  • Kitchen Garden (cooking and gardening)
  • Excursions
  • Camps
  • Fundraising (Foodie Fridays, Sushi & Sausage Roll Thursdays, Book Fair, School Fair, Mother’s & Father’s Day Stalls)

We understand that some parents have more flexibility than others. We value and appreciate any family involvement which we is a huge part of what makes our school such a wonderful place to learn and work.

To volunteer in a school, you need to have a current Working with Children Check (WWCC), presented to the office for our records.

To apply for a WWCC click on the link below:

https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/individuals/applicants/how-to-apply-1

Vision and Values

At Monbulk Primary School we build confident learners of outstanding character who are valued members of our community.

Confident Learners are curious, resilient, take risks, and share their ideas. They know what they’re learning, use different strategies to improve and give and receive feedback.

Students of Outstanding Character show our values of Courage, Compassion, Co-operation and Respect.

Valued Community Members have a sense of belonging, and are accepting and inclusive of others. They understand their responsibilities towards their community, and are actively connected to their school and wider community.

Our Mission

We work collaboratively in all areas; planning, learning, teaching, decision making and problem solving.

We all share responsibility for the learning, engagement, and wellbeing of all students at our school.

We use evidence and data to inform our teaching, professional learning, and to guide decisions.

As a whole staff we work collaboratively, share responsibility, and use evidence to achieve our Vision.

Our school values are:


Bushfire At-Risk Register Schools

School procedure for the bushfire season

Fire danger ratings and warnings are used in Victoria to provide clear direction on the safest options for preserving life.

Schools and children’s services listed on the DET Bushfire At-Risk Register (BARR) will be closed when a Code Red fire danger rating day is determined in their Bureau of Meteorology district.  Our school has been identified as being one of those at high bushfire risk and is listed on the BARR.

​Where possible, we will provide parents with up to four days’ notice of a potential Code Red day closure by letter and SMS message/phone tree and compass notifications.  A Code Red day will be determined by the Emergency Management Commissioner no later than 1.00 pm the day before the potential closure.  Once we are advised of the confirmation of the Code Red day we will provide you with advice before the end of the school day.

​Once confirmed, the decision to close will not change, regardless of improvements in the weather forecast.  This is to avoid confusion and help your family plan alternative care arrangements for your child.

​It is also important to note that:

  • No staff will be on site on days where the school is closed due to a forecast Code Red day.

  • Out-of-school-hours care will also be cancelled on these days

  • School camps will be cancelled if a Code Red fire danger rating day is determined for the Bureau of Meteorology district in which the camp is located.

​On these Code Red days families are encouraged to enact their Bushfire Survival Plan – on such days children should never be left at home or in the care of older children.

For those of us living in a bushfire-prone area, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) advises that when Code Red days are forecast, the safest option is to leave the night before or early on the morning of the Code Red day.

As part of preparing our school for potential hazards such as fire, we have updated and completed our Emergency Management Plan, and had scheduled maintenance in the yard.

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What can parents do?

  • Make sure your family’s bushfire survival plan is up-to-date and includes alternative care arrangements in the event that our school is closed.

  • Ensure we have your current contact details, including your mobile phone numbers.  Keep in touch with us by reading our newsletters, by checking our website and by talking to your child’s teacher or any other member of the teaching staff about our emergency management plan.

  • Most importantly at this time of year, if you’re planning a holiday or short stay in the bush or in a coastal area, you should check warnings in advance of travel and remain vigilant during your stay.

  • If your child is old enough, talk to them about bushfires and your family’s bushfire survival plan.

  • You can access more information about children’s services closures on the Department of Education and Training website – see http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/pages/closures.aspx​

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For up-to-date information on this year’s fire season see: