Pre-commencement campus visit

After the summer holiday break some students may benefit from another visit to the school prior to commencing, where they can see their classroom and meet their teacher prior to the first day. A meet and greet session will take place on Wednesday 31 January between 2 and 3pm. 

See the Year level specific tab at the end for the relevant transition details for students entering Years 4 and 6. 

Orientation evening

The 2024 SFPS parent orientation evening will take place on Wednesday 7 February at SFPS in Burwood. You will hear from the campus leadership, tour the campus and have the opportunity to learn about the program for the year, meet your child's teachers, and the other parents in the class.

Further details will be sent at the start of the year.

New Parents Welcome

First time parents at Mount Scopus in all year levels are invited to our New Parents Welcome scheduled to be held just prior to school commencing. In 2024, this is planned for the evening of Monday 5 February. This allows the opportunity to meet some of the College Leadership Team, as well as other new parents. 

An invitation will be sent in December.

Each year some students commence after the beginning of the school year leading to some differences with the processes.

• Teachers will make contact after your child commences and are available to answer any queries about your child throughout the year and are best contacted by email or via a phone call or message.
• Please note that teachers are not required to teach any topics to new students that have already been taught at Mount Scopus however if you have any concerns please discuss them directly with your class teacher in the first instance.

Booklist and stationery supplies

All SFPS students receive their stationery and required texts in class at the start of the year and as required during the year. This is included in the tuition fees. Parents do not need to place an order. 

For e-learning resources see below.

Year 4 and 5 students

In Years 4 and 5 the iPad continues to meet the needs of learners given the range of educationally relevant apps available, together with ready access to a camera. This combined with the mobility, weight and durability of iPads continues to make the iPad the appropriate learning device for students in these year levels for the foreseeable future.

All iPads connected to the College network have had the Messages application blocked. We anticipate that this will reduce the potential for distraction during school learning times.

Devices are connected to the College which filters and monitors all internet traffic that flows through our network. 

We encourage parents to practice and demonstrate safe internet usage to and with your children, and ongoing parent  and student education sessions are provided to this end.

Students will receive a College-owned iPad that will be managed and maintained by the College. The devices will remain on the College grounds at all times, stored and charged in classrooms overnight. This will alleviate the pressure of being responsible for an expensive device to transport every day to and from school. The College will provide a case with keyboard for the iPads.

Parents will need to provide volume limited headphones with, if possible, an inbuilt microphone suitable for children. These can be find at general department stores as well as specialist audio stores. If purchasing wireless headphones you will need to ensure that they are also charged overnight, along with the device.

Year 6 students

As they begin their transition to secondary schooling, our Year 6 students begin to transition the way they use their devices as tools for learning, communication, creativity, and collaboration.

Year 6 students have a BYOD program. Whilst the College's recommendation is for your child to use a laptop where possible, an iPad or similar tablet technology will also be deemed appropriate.

It is recommended that families do not purchase a brand new Apple iPad as they are not deemed to be a suitable device for Year 7 students and a laptop or 'hybrid' device will be mandatory in the secondary school.

The required device specifications outlined via the link below will assist those needing to purchase a new device although students in the primary school do not require the apps listed other than the Google suite and Zoom. 

2024 Year 7 12 BYOD Requirements

Year 6 2024 BYOD Letter To Parents

To ease the logistics for parents of school aged children, the College offers a private bus network. 

Families can choose to use the bus on a permanent or casual basis. 

Permanent usage incurs an annual charge, billed alongside the school tuition fees.  Students can travel on their standard permanent route OR use the early or late buses as required for school activities. 

Casual users are charged per use (currently $12 per trip) and have access to an online booking system. Casual users are not charged to use the early or late bus to attend a before school or after school activity run by the College. 

Students are required to tap on and tap off the bus for each journey with their bus pass that is provided to them when they start using the bus. 

Important: unless you advise otherwise, your child will automatically be booked as a permanent user of the bus and the transport levy charged. To opt out please email Wendy Saffer by Monday 4 December, 2023. 

Creating a bus user account

Bus route information

Bus routes, including bus stop and times are reviewed each year in line with the changes to the distribution of addresses of families at the College using the bus service so your child's bus stop next year may be different from the one they used for their visits to Burwood. 

The bus stop details will be  made available via the bus portal in December, to allow plenty of time for parents and students to familiarise themselves with the location of their stops prior to the commencement of school. 

Accessing bus route information

• a notice is issued to parents once the information is available on the portal;
• Click here to access instruction on Boarding the Bus (p1) and creating an account (p2). 
• families will need their child's Student Code to be able to set up a new account; this code is available via Parent Lounge (see the Website, apps and portals tab for further details); 

Tip: On occasion, students may need to use the early or late bus services which have two routes each. To determine the most convenient route / stop to use parents can refer to the map on the portal. 

Winter Friday afternoon drop off times 

On Friday afternoons in Terms 2 and 3 and some other days as advised during the year, drop off times will be approximately 35 minutes earlier than the advised standard drop off stop time in line with the earlier starting time for Shabbat.

Class placements

Class lists are organised by the Campus Coordinator together with the teachers of the previous year level. Information received from parents, as well as observations from the trial visit are factors considered when placing new students, along with balancing numbers of students and learning needs across the year level. We ensure that new students are placed with at least one requested friend where applicable. Where this is not deemed to be in the best interests of the student/s then parents will be contacted.

For NEW students entering into SFPS please complete the class placement information survey below by Friday 27 October. Do not complete for current Scopus students.

SFPS 2024 class placement information survey

Hebrew classes are streamed according to level of ability in Years 5 and 6. In Year 6, students allocated to the Hebrew extension level will also study Jewish Studies in the Hebrew language.

If a student’s ability is not aligned with the class they have been placed in then the opportunity exists for them to be moved to an appropriate class.

In the first instance, class allocation is based upon feedback from parents via documentation and in the family meeting, as well as from previous school reports (where applicable). 

Class lists

Students will receive their class list prior to the Summer holidays; this will allow the opportunity to socialise with children in their class over the break.

Class lists and family contact details for the year group will be made available to parents in the Parent Lounge once school commences. These lists are only to be used for contacting other families for invitations and the like. They are not to be used in any way for commercial, marketing, fundraising or other purposes.

NB: It is up to parents to share their details via the Parent Lounge so if contact details are not visible it means the parent/s have chosen not to share them. If a student has two listings then it means that their parents are separated and we encourage invitations to be sent to both parents' details to ensure the child does not miss out.

One of the hallmarks of a Scopus education is the vast range of extra-curricular programs on offer.

Whilst some take place during the course of the school day, others happen out of hours. To enable these to happen, the College operates two early and late bus routes which are available at no extra cost for both permanent and casual users to attend an activity run by the College.

The types of activities on offer will vary throughout the year, but may include the following:

Before school

• cross country running
• swimming
• cooking breakfast for the swim squad (Year 6 only)
• orchestra rehearsal
• support and enrichment activities

After school

• Achrayim leadership program (Year 6 only)
• volunteering
• robotics / coding club

Every term a wide array of lunch time enrichment clubs are also offered. Whilst some are year level specific, others are on offer to all SFPS students. They encompass sporting activities, craft, garden and pet club, technologyand musical options. Activities vary on a term by term basis in line with seasonal considerations. Students are invited to sign up to participate and are expected to attend for the entire term. Whilst not compulsory, many students will choose to participate.

Performing Arts

Private music tuition

Mount Scopus operates an extensive music program with a range of performance opportunities.

Private instrumental and vocal tuition is available to take place at the College during school hours, or in some cases, after school, pending the teacher's availability. During school hours, students are withdrawn from classes on a rotating basis so they do not continually miss the same class.

Tuition is available in a wide range of instruments, including, but not limited to the following:

• Piano
• Voice
• Violin
• Cello
• Drums
• Flute
• Guitar
• Saxophone

To learn more about the diversity of performance opportunities peruse the handbook below.

Primary Music Handbook

Music scholarships are awarded each year to students in the secondary school, based on ability, which either cover, or contribute to the cost of the music tuition. The scholarship auditions are held on a Sunday in Term 3 each year and students in Year 6 will be invited to audition. Contact the Music department for further details.

Primary Musical

Every two years SFPS stages a musical in Term 2 which includes every student from Year 3 to Year 6. This allows students to develop confidence in performing. The main roles are allocated to Year 5 and 6 students, whilst Year 3 and 4 students participate in year wide chorus performances. The musical is usually based around an event in Australian history, providing a learning opportunity too. The next musical is scheduled for 2025.

Cafeteria

The Scopus Cafeteria is milchig, under Kosher Australia supervision. 

The Scopus Cafeteria offers a range of healthy cold and hot menu options prepared onsite that change seasonally and have alternating daily specials. Dietary requirements, such as gluten and dairy free, are also catered for.

The Caf is open for students attending before school activities, and remains open until the buses depart to allow those remaining for after school activities to purchase a snack.

Parents can order online via Flexischools (see the website, apps and portals page) or students can place their order with cash in an envelope directly into their class esky at the start of the school day.

Holiday Program

Students from Prep to Year 6 are able to book into the Holiday Program which operates from Gandel Besen House. The program offers a range of themed incursions and exciting and interesting excursions. Information about the program and booking procedures is released approximately two weeks prior to commencement.

The holiday program operates during all school holidays and staff development days, excluding Jewish holidays (including all of Pesach), public holidays, two weeks over the Summer break, and the three days prior to the commencement of the school year.

This program is approved for eligible families to receive the government Child Care Subsidy; all families considering using this program at any stage up to Year 6 will be required to complete separate online documentation via the Xplor platform. 

All bookings for OSHC programs are made directly via Xplor; registration and booking information will be advised in the lead up to each holiday program.  

Sport House

New students are allocated based on balancing student / gender numbers within each year level in each house. Returning students will be placed in their old house, and siblings will be allocated into the same house where possible. House placements will be advised in October for new students to allow parents time to purchase the house coloured sports top. 

Parents of students entering into Year 6 may choose to purchase the generic secondary sports top which will be required from Year 7 onward.

Student Photos

Class and individual student photos are generally taken in Term 1. All students commencing after that date will be sent by their teacher to the Primary Office to have their individual student photo taken shortly after they commence. In 2024 the photo day is scheduled for Tuesday 6 February.

Principal’s Office:                                              

Dan Sztrajt                                                                       9834 0005

Deputy Principals:  

Deputy Principal, Primary        Greg Hannon                9900 4602

Deputy Principal, 

Director of Alter Family School of Jewish Studies and Ivrit

                                                   Matti Borowski             9834 0003

SFPS Reception:                                                             9834 0100

Campus Coordinator               Dana Rosenzweig         9834 0181

Main Reception:                                                             9834 0000  

For general enquiries at the College  

To contact financial and clerical administrative staff  

To contact Medical Centre

Enrolments:                                                                   9834 0070

Parents Association Administrator                             9834 0160

Accounts:

Tuition fee enquiries                                                       9834 0026

Holiday program and payment  enquiries                                  

Nikki Epstein                                                                    9834 0041

Fee assistance enquiries          Laurent Schonker         9834 0027 

Year 5 camp

The Year 5 camp is scheduled for November 2024. Further information will be provided next year.

Simcha register

The Parents Association coordinates volunteers who run the Simcha list to avoid clashes in scheduling Bar and Bat Mitzvah functions within a cohort. It is not compulsory to register. Please note that not all parents do register their simcha, not all parents will invite the whole year level, and the list is for all events in that year which will include simchas of other children not in the same year level, ie Batmitzvahs from the year below or possibly some Barmitzvahs from the year above. Contact the PA Administrator for further details.

Transition Day - Tuesday 28 November, 2023

Year 6 will see a significant intake of new students in 2024, many of whom undertook trial visits earlier in the year. 

To facilitate a smooth integration next year, there is a transition day scheduled for all current and joining students in that cohort.

The day will include a number of activities in the Year 6 learning spaces as well as using the different facilities and areas around the Gandel Campus and opportunities for all students, both current and new, to spend time together. This will assist in class placements for students.

Similarly, some students may undergo assessments to help provide a clearer understanding of their current knowledge and learning skills. 

Students will travel on the College's bus network as this forms an integral part of the school day for Scopus students. Even if your child will only use the school bus on a casual basis next year, or only for before and after school activities, it is recommended that they use the bus for their transition visits to provide a level of familiarity with the process.

New students - only students whose place acceptance documentation has been returned are able to attend these days.

A water bottle should be brought from home. A morning snack should be brought from home. Lunch will be provided by the Caf.  

Students can wear casual clothes, including runners for a PE activity. Boys must wear a kippah at school. 

A permission form will be sent for new families, including lunch options, and must be submitted by for Thursday 16 November.

The bus and buddy details will be issued to all current and new students in the days prior. Please note that the bus and bus stop used for the transition visit may not be the same one allocated in 2024 as the routes are reviewed over the summer break each year.

Year 6 camp

The Year 6 camp is a key highlight of the program at Mount Scopus. Students travel to Canberra for a four day visit of some major institutions, tying in with their learning of Australian history and civics. These have included attending a session at the Parliament of Australia, the Australian War Memorial, the Israeli Embassy and Questacon.

The camp is scheduled for the week of 19 February, 2024 . Further information will be provided in due course.

Bar and Bat Mitzvah programs

The College runs an array of meaningful programs for Bnei Mitzvah.

For girls, the program runs in Year 6 and includes a range of components which families can choose from to provide a tailored program to suit their needs and interests. The options include a mother / daughter learning program, a mother/daughter Shabbaton weekend scheduled for late May 2024, assistance in Dvar Torah preparation, leyning, and an end of year ceremony. Contact Enrolments if you require further information.

For boys, Rabbi Avrohom Goldberg is available to provide individual tuition to learn the Parsaha, Haftora, Brachot and relevant prayers, as well as helping understand the meaning of the Parasha, and support for the Dvar Torah/speech. He can also assist in working out which is the correct Parsaha for boys, and help find a Shul where this special occasion can be celebrated if required. Whilst most of this will take place in Year 7, many boys will start their learning in Year 6.

Simcha register

The Parents Association coordinates volunteers who run the Simcha list to avoid clashes in scheduling Bar and Bat Mitzvah functions within a cohort. It is not compulsory to register. Please note that not all parents do register their simcha, not all parents will invite the whole year level, and the list is for all events in that year which will include simchas of other children not in the same year level, ie Batmitzvahs from the year below or possibly some Barmitzvahs from the year above. Contact the PA Administrator for further details.