In this issue:

1. Student validation

2. SACS Backup Guidance for SEOs

3. Finance Update Courses

4. Credit Cards

5. Playground Safety Training Course

6. Sports Equipment Grants to Government Schools

1.  Student Validation

Schools and colleges are required to complete the validation forms for students currently enrolled in a Tasmanian Government School.  Students moving between schools or returning to the government school system should not be given a new enrolment form.  The Data Warehouse should be checked for details that may be on record, and that information sent home in the validation form.

All schools and colleges are required to use the validation form in SACS - schools should not create their own or modify the form in any way.  Like the enrolment form, the validation form has questions that are established by the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA).  All schools must follow the same format when asking for information and providing reporting results.

Validation forms serve the following functions:

• Information on record is kept current and accurate
• All government agencies are required to tell their customers (in this case students) what information is recorded
• Fewer clashes will occur if details are taken from the Data Warehouse as the student will be recorded under one ED ID
• We ensure that we meet national reporting requirements

Check out the web for more information about the validation process and form: http://www.education.tas.gov.au/admin/ff/enrolment/procedure/validation.htm

2.  SACS Backup Guidance for SEOs

• For instruction on how to backup SACS, contact your Network Controller (NC) or Network Support Officer (NSO) for training and advice.
• Confirm with your NC or NSO you have the correct permissions on the SACS server to perform a backup.
• Ensure the details of all server passwords are updated and stored in the school safe.

3.  Finance Update Courses

For those people who have expressed an interest in attending one of our Finance Update courses, we will be in contact with the dates and venues shortly after the Easter break.

4.  Credit Cards

More words of wisdom from Ron...

When creating a new credit card account in SACS always use the Account Centre Code LC01.

This is a system control account and all credit cards must be linked to it when they are created.

Info about credit cards is available on the web:  http://www.education.tas.gov.au/admin/ff/expenditure/default.htm - listed under "Corporate Card".

5.  Playground Safety Training Course

The Department of Education has engaged experts from Standards Australia to run a 1-day training course in Playground Safety on Tuesday 19 April 2005. The course is part of the Tasmanian Government’s Playground Blitz initiative designed to help schools and child care centres purchase safe and enjoyable playground and sports equipment for children in schools and communities.

The course will provide an understanding of the new Playground Safety Standard AS 4685:2004 (Part 1 - 6) and identify the differences between dangerous and safe playground equipment. There is a limit of 30 participants. To attend, contact Cath Parker, (Email: Cath.Parker@education.tas.gov.au) or Phone: 6233 8976 before Friday 8 April 2005.

Information about the course is available on the website:  http://www.education.tas.gov.au/admin/ff/playground/training.htm

For further information check out the Playground Blitz website:  http://www.education.tas.gov.au/admin/ff/playground/default.htm

6.  Sports Equipment Grants to Government Schools

Between December 2004 and February 2005 every Government Primary School, High School and District High School was given a grant of $5,000 to purchase a range of sport and recreational equipment.

We are interested to know how useful the grant was to your school, and how you spent the funds. Please contact Cath Parker with your feedback or even send is some digital photos showing how you might have used the grant in your school.  (Email: Cath.Parker@education.tas.gov.au) or Phone: 6233 8976.

Past BSS Banters

Want to have a quick look over some of the recent Banter articles?

You can find all past Banters on the website:  http://www.education.tas.gov.au/admin/ff/banter/default.htm