Tecoma Primary School
Learn · Grow · Achieve
Everything families need to know
From Compass and term dates to camps, working bees and getting involved — it’s all here.
Staying connected
Compass is our online communication and management platform, used for recording student attendance, sending Semester 1 and 2 reports, and communicating between home and school. Once your child commences at Tecoma Primary, you’ll receive a letter with information on how to set up your family account and download the app. If you ever have trouble logging in or setting up the app, the office team is always happy to help you get started.
Information and notices are communicated through the fortnightly Tecoma Times school newsletter, published on Thursdays and delivered via Compass, which keeps everyone informed while reducing our carbon footprint. Each edition brings together classroom news, student achievements, upcoming dates and community notices, making it the easiest way to stay across everything happening around the school.
School assembly is held fortnightly on Monday mornings at 9:05am in the gymnasium. The national anthem is sung, followed by news, announcements and musical presentations. Student achievements, sporting results and house points are shared, and all parents are welcome to attend. It is a lovely way to start the week and celebrate what our students have been working towards.
Parent/carer–teacher sessions are held early in the school year at each year level, covering curriculum content, the learning process, and expected levels of achievement. Additional sessions run through the year for camps, programs and transitions.
Formal meetings are held in Terms 1 and 2, focusing on student attitudes and academic development. An open invitation exists to arrange personal interviews whenever the need arises. Just make an appointment with the teacher.
Reports are provided in June and December via Compass, covering each student’s attitude, achievements and performance, with the opportunity to discuss them with class and specialist teachers.
Everything for the school year
| Term | Dates |
|---|---|
| Term 1 | Thursday 29 January (students start) – Thursday 2 April |
| Term 2 | Monday 20 April – Friday 26 June |
| Term 3 | Monday 13 July – Friday 18 September |
| Term 4 | Monday 5 October – Friday 18 December |
Pupil-free days are announced via Compass and the Tecoma Times.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 9:00am – 11:00am | Morning learning session |
| 11:00am – 11:45am | Morning recess |
| 11:45am – 12:00pm | Supervised eating time |
| 12:00pm – 2:00pm | Middle learning session |
| 2:00pm – 2:30pm | Afternoon recess |
| 2:00pm – 3:30pm | Afternoon learning session |
| 3:30pm | Dismissal |
Parent payments & contributions
Under the Department of Education Parent Payments Policy, Victorian government schools are required to provide transparent information to their school community on voluntary parent/carer contributions. Documents outlining the voluntary contributions for Prep to Grade 6, along with the Department’s Parent Payment Policy, are available from the office.
Qkr! will not be open for payment until January 2026. Payments can be made at any stage throughout the 2026 year and can be made in instalments.
The CSEF is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities. Families holding a valid means-tested concession card, or temporary foster parents, are eligible to apply — $150 per year per eligible primary student, paid directly to the school and tied to the individual student.
If you applied for CSEF last year, you do not need to reapply unless your family circumstances have changed (e.g. new student enrolments). Application forms are available from the office.
If you would like to discuss payment plans, please contact Karin via the office on (03) 9754 2354 for a confidential discussion.
Fresh local lunches on Wednesdays and Fridays
Lunch orders are available on Wednesdays and Fridays each week, provided by two local Belgrave businesses. Orders are placed and paid for online through the Qkr! app, so there is no cash handling involved.
Available on iOS and Android from your app store.
Search for and select Tecoma Primary School.
You can order up to two weeks in advance. Always double-check you have selected the correct date before confirming.
Complete payment securely through the app at the time of ordering.
Orders must be submitted by 9:00am on the morning of delivery. Late orders cannot be accepted.
Hot food, rolls, sandwiches, pizza subs and more.
A range of fresh sushi handrolls and hot items.
The current menus are available to download below.
A note on payments: all payments are made through the Qkr! app at the time of ordering. Transactions will appear on your bank or credit card statement as The Blacksmith Belgrave Pty Ltd for both Blacksmith and sushi orders, as they are the owners of the business.
Please note that while some items are marked gluten free (GF), The Blacksmith does not operate a separate kitchen, so these items cannot be certified as suitable for coeliacs.
In line with the Victorian Department of Education's Canteens, Healthy Eating and Other Food Services Policy, menu items are marked with a coloured dot to help families make informed choices.
Everyday (Green)
Nutritious whole foods that provide the vitamins, minerals and energy growing bodies need. These are the best choice for everyday lunches, and there is no limit on how often you can order them.
Select Carefully (Amber)
These items still offer some valuable nutrients, but they may contain added fat, sugar or salt. They are fine as part of a balanced lunch, just best kept to sometimes rather than every order.
Occasionally (Red)
Treat items that are high in kilojoules, saturated fat, added sugar or salt. These are best saved for special occasions, and we suggest limiting them to no more than twice per term.
Care before and after the bell
Our OSHC program provides a safe, secure and stimulating environment in which your child can play and relax both before and after school — a child-centred, inclusive program focused on developmental, social and recreational activities appropriate to the needs of all children.
Children may attend OSHC on a permanent or casual basis. New families submit an expression of interest, then complete an enrolment form (with any medical details) before booking. Please allow up to two weeks.
Safe, supervised, and every day counts
Teachers supervise recesses and the fifteen minutes before and after school. Students are encouraged to seek duty teachers if a playground problem or accident occurs.
Full attendance is required unless your child is ill. A note, email or notification to the class teacher or office upon return, providing the reason for absence, is a legal requirement. Please notify the school immediately for mumps, chicken pox or measles.
The school notifies parents of unexplained absences the same day via Compass. Students arriving late must sign in at the office for a Late Pass; early collection requires an Early Leavers Pass (authorised persons over 18 only).
A student information record is kept for each child so we can contact parents or emergency contacts in case of accident or illness. Please advise the school of any change of address or phone numbers, and of any custody or access arrangements affecting your child’s security — handled in confidence.
We have a well-equipped first aid room and trained First Aid Officers in attendance every day; teachers on yard duty carry basic first aid supplies.
The Parents’ Association
Tecoma Primary has a Parents’ Association — a great way to connect with other families and support our school community. It works alongside the principal and school council to support students and staff, build community, and give parents a voice in school life.
To find out more or come along to a meeting, reach out to the school office — new members are always welcome.
Volunteering is one of the most direct ways to support your child’s school experience — helping on excursions, reading with students, or assisting at events. Before volunteering in any capacity involving contact with students, you’ll need a valid Working With Children (WWC) Check — a Victorian government requirement, and free for volunteers.
Go to workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au and select “Volunteer” as your category (no fee).
At an Australia Post outlet — bring the documents listed during your application.
Posted once approved — typically a couple of weeks, so apply early. Cards are valid for five years.
Let the office know your WWC number so it can be recorded. You may be asked to show your card each time you volunteer.
Help shape the direction of our school
All Victorian government schools have a School Council — a legally constituted body that sets the key directions of the school and directly influences the quality of education it provides.
Terms run for two years, with half the positions falling vacant each year for the annual elections held in Term 1 (completed by the end of March).
No — each member brings their own valuable life skills and knowledge. What you need is an interest in your child’s school and the desire to work in partnership with others to shape the school’s future.
If more nominations are received than vacancies, a ballot runs in the two weeks after nominations close. Ask at the school for help — and contact the Principal for further information.
Learning beyond the classroom
Excursions motivate and engage students in active learning, and camps build independence, social skills and self-awareness — always a highlight of the school year!
A night of fun activities and a sleepover at Tecoma Primary — perfect preparation for sleeping away in Grade 3.
Camp alternates each year between Forest Edge Camp and Phillip Island Camp.
Lakewood Park Camp, supporting our Bike Ed program.
Camp Coonawarra — the classic send-off adventure.
Prior to excursions, information is sent home with a permission and medical consent form. Teachers may request volunteer parents to help supervise groups (WWC Check required). Every effort is made to keep costs to a minimum, with details provided well in advance so they can be budgeted and paid over time. Parents/guardians also have the opportunity to attend their child’s camp, governed under our School Council Camps policy.
Working bees are an invaluable way parents, students and friends contribute to the maintenance of the school. We usually hold one each term to garden, tidy, make minor repairs, clean and construct — and they’re a great opportunity to meet new friends, share a coffee and often a BBQ, as well as getting your hands dirty.
Walk-around audits: we invite community members to join a walk around our grounds to help identify areas of need for future working bees.
In urgent need of repair! Our play cubby houses and surrounding play space need urgent repair. If you have building skills — or a young apprentice keen for experience — come and join us. We provide materials and basic tools; drop saws, drills, hammers, shovels, paintbrushes and wheelbarrows are all welcome. Meet at the rotunda — coffee and a sausage sizzle provided.
Individual instrumental tuition
Individual instrumental lessons during school hours are available from a number of different private teachers. All instrumental teachers are contractors who set their own fees and timetables.
Music lessons can fill up quickly, so waiting lists are a possibility for some instruments. If you are interested in music lessons for your child or children, it’s best to contact the teacher individually — the office can provide current contact details.
Our office team is happy to help with any question, big or small.
Tecoma Primary School stands with gratitude and respect on Wurundjeri Country. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners of the land where our children learn, grow and play beneath the mountain ash, and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. This land always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.
