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ABSENTEEISM When children are absent from school, parents are required to either contact the school by telephone or send a note, signed and dated with the reason for absence. After 3 days absence without an explanation the school will contact parents by letter asking them to explain their child's absence. After such an absence, a student is expected to give a note of explanation to their teacher (that includes a date) which clearly explains the reason for the absence. ADMISSION TO SCHOOL Regulations provide that a Year One child must attain the age of Five (5) years on or before the last day in December in the year prior to enrolment. Year One children may be enrolled at the commencement of the school year, but it is recommended that enrolment be completed in November of the preceding year. Prep is available to students who turn five (5) years by the last day of June of the year they are enrolled. Prep is not compulsory schooling. Students enrolled in Prep are expected to attend 5 days a week unless they have an explained absence. AFTER SCHOOL CARE After school care programs are provided every school day from 7:00am to 8:30am and from 3:00pm to 6:00pm. The After School Care building is situated in Sussex Street. Vacation Care is provided from 7:30am until 6:00pm. ARTS COUNCIL Queensland Arts Council visits on a regular basis, usually once in Terms 1, 2, 3. Permission notes are sent home several weeks prior to each performance. Permission for attendance is at the discretion of parents. The entry fee (currently $5.00 per child) must be paid to the school office prior to the performance. BELL TIMES First Bell 8:50am School starts 9:00am H2O Fruit & Veg Break 9:45am Morning Tea 11:00am – 11:30am Big Lunch 1:00pm – 1:40pm School finishes 3:00pm BICYCLES Bike racks are provided inside the grounds. Children are to place bikes in the racks. Cyclists are not permitted to ride bikes within the school perimeter fence. The racks are out of bounds to all children unless depositing or withdrawing bikes. Parents are urged to consider - (a) Helmets are compulsory by the Traffic Act. Fines apply. (b) The dangers of allowing small children to ride bikes to school. (c) The purchase of a lock and chain to secure your child’s bike at school. (d) A safe route using Bike Ways, Traffic Lights, and Lollipop Ladies, to make turns and cross roads. BOOKLISTS A Booklist for each class is issued annually. Whilst the list is kept to a minimum, it is expected that each child will obtain items on the list. Pads, pencils etc. should be renewed when necessary. BOOK FAIRS Families have the opportunity to purchase books suitable for the wide range of student readers at regular Book Fairs. BOOK CLUB There are 8 issues of Book Club a year. If you wish to order any of the books on offer just fill out the Order Form on the back of the booklet making sure your child’s name and class information are completed. Enclose the order form with the correct money in an envelope and return to the school office by the due date. Cheques are to be made out to Maryborough Central State School. CAMPS AND EXCURSIONS Educational excursions are undertaken from Prep to Year 7 and relate directly to current curriculum. CHANGES TO FAMILY INFORMATION Our Enrolment Form records each child's: 1. Date of birth. 2. Religious Denomination. 3. Names of Parents. 4. Address and telephone number of parents and Adults sanctioned by parents to sign child out in emergency. 5. Particulars on Health and Doctor's Name. 6. Family circumstances. Parents are strongly requested to notify the school of any changes to this data, particularly addresses and telephone numbers, so that accurate details are available for use during emergencies. The school needs to be able to contact you during the day. COLLECTION OF MONIES The correct money forwarded to school should be enclosed in a sealed envelope, showing child's name, class and purpose; eg. John Brown, Year 2A, Excursion Money and placed in the slots situated in the office. Collection of money has a deadline. This is published in the newsletter and individual letters home about events/activities. COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE The Education Act requires children to attend school on each school day. Exceptions to this rule include - illness, unavoidable causes, other reasons acceptable to the Minister. Students are expected to be punctual. All students should be at school by 8:45am. DENTAL CLINIC A Dental Clinic exists in the school grounds. The clinic is not permanently manned. The school is not directly involved in the running of the Dental Clinic. Dental concerns and appointments should be dealt with by phoning the clinic. Telephone: 07 4123 441. DEPARTURE FROM SCHOOL At the end of the school day all children should have left the school grounds by 3.15 pm unless - they are waiting for transportation - they have out-of-school activities to attend - they have school permission to remain. Children waiting for transport or for the arrival of their parents must wait inside the perimeter fence. Children waiting to catch buses must wait inside the school grounds in the designated area. Children still at school after 3:15pm must wait at the office. A Leaving grounds prior to commencement of school Once a child arrives at school, the child is not to leave the grounds. Children must be signed out by an authorized adult at the office if they leave during school hours. B Leaving grounds for exceptional circumstancesThe Principal may allow a child to leave the grounds, in exceptional circumstances. Children must seek permission from the Principal if they need to leave the school grounds. EARLY ENTRY TO SCHOOL GROUNDS Parents are reminded that only limited supervision is provided from 8.30 am – 8.50 am bell. Children who arrive before this time, must be seated in the undercover area until they are given permission to leave. EVACUATION AND TAKE COVER Regular practices are undertaken each term to keep the whole school community aware of safe practices in case of emergencies. In case of fire all staff and students assemble on the school oval adjacent to Sussex Street. A Take Cover Plan is used in response to those situations where it is potentially dangerous to be in an exposed area eg. cyclone, hail, severe storm or hostage/siege situations. During Take Cover all staff and students stay indoors taking cover. Parents visiting the school are expected to follow school policy on Evacuation and Take Cover. FAMILY LAW COURT ORDERS Some families are bound by Family Law Court Orders. Documentary evidence of these must be provided to the school where they exist. Clear legal guidelines are required in these documents. HEAD LICE Parents will be advised if Head Lice are an issue in their child’s class by letter. Parents are expected to inspect their child’s hair regularly and commence treatment when necessary. If a child has an itchy head and it may be because of head lice then the school will contact parents to let them know and ask that they look at their child’s hair and scalp and commence treatment if lice are present. HOMEWORK Please refer to appendix 3 for school policy. H2O FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM Students are encouraged to bring a piece of fruit or vegetable to school daily to eat, as managed by the class teacher, during the 1st session of the school day. Drinking water and eating fresh fruit and vegetables promotes well-being and readiness to learn. INFECTIOUS DISEASES
INJURIES AND ILLNESSES AT SCHOOL The school maintains a first aid kit, and treats minor bruising, scratches etc. When doubt exists concerning injuries, an ambulance may be called and or parents contacted. When children report themselves ill and are unable to remain in the classroom, parents will be contacted to take them home. LATE ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL Children are expected to be in the school grounds at 8.45 a.m. so that instruction can commence at the designated time. For this reason, a bell is rung at 8.50 a.m. to summon children to prepare for lessons that commence at 9.00 am. Late arrivals should report to the office before going to class. LIBRARY Borrowing: Children may borrow books for personal loans. Years Prep and 2 1 book. Years 3, 4 and 5 2 books (1 fiction, 1 non-fiction). Years 6 and 7 3 books (maximum of 2 fiction). Return: The period of the loan is 1 week. Care: Parents are asked to ensure that books are cared for at home and returned by the due date. Parents are asked to provide a Library Bag to protect books while they are out of the library. Losses: Losses are not normally expected, however, if a book is lost by a child, it should be either replaced or paid for by the parent. MEDICATION AT SCHOOL Note:- This notice refers to medication prescribed by a qualified medical practitioner. The School does not hold stocks of patent medicines such as panadol, aspirin etc. and staff are not permitted to administer this type of medication to children. The parents of a child who has to have medication at school must complete a form giving full details. This form should be completed at the office. Medication to be administered at the office must be in a packet or container with a prescription label for each child as prescribed by the doctor and administered by the pharmacist. Medication is only administered at the office and children report to the office at the prescribed time. A register of each medication administered is kept at the office. MOBILE PHONES, PAGERS, PORTABLE CD’S AND MP3 PLAYERS The use of mobile phones, pagers, portable CD and MP3 players, personal digital assistants and similar electronic devices in class is disruptive to the learning environment of all students and is strongly discouraged. Students wishing to use these devices in special circumstances need to negotiate through the Principal or Deputy Principal for phones and players to be left at the office. Refer to Appendix 4 NEWSLETTERS Newsletters are issued weekly on Wednesdays to the youngest in all families. On occasions, special newsletters are issued. Parents are asked to enjoy the newsletter with their child each week. Parents are asked to ensure that newsletters are not left in school bags unread. The acknowledgment receipt should be returned to the school. Acknowledgment receipts are placed in a box for the lucky draw that is held each Friday on assembly. The lucky draw prize is a free morning tea to the value of $5.00 from the tuckshop. PARENTS AND CITIZENS ASSOCIATION Our P&C Association meets at the school in the Staff Room on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7.00 p.m. All Parents/Caregivers and interested community members are able to apply to be members of the P&C. Association on a yearly basis, and a cordial invitation is extended to you to attend. PARENT / TEACHER PARTNERSHIPS Strong parent / teacher partnerships are an essential part of each child’s education. Parents are encouraged to: - meet regularly with their child’s class teacher to discuss their child’s progress and curriculum; - attend regular meetings of the P & C Association at which school policy is discussed and reports on school activities are given; - attend school functions such as Sports Days, Central Fair, Socials, Fetes; - attend special information meetings arranged for parents by teachers; and - participate in School committees set up for specific purposes such as Reviews / Strategic Planning and Environmental Scans PARENT VISITS TO CLASSROOM Parents are most welcome to make appointments with class teachers at mutually convenient times. We encourage appointment times to be outside lesson time so that the teaching/learning process receives maximum available time. REPORTING TO PARENTS Reports are sent to parents twice per year – at the end of First Semester in June/July and at the end of Second Semester in early December. Parent/Teacher interviews are conducted after School Report Cards are given to parents each semester. Parents of students are invited and strongly encouraged to visit the school regularly to discuss their child’s progress with the class teacher and/or the Principal. SAFETY To ensure all children are safe at school the following guidelines are provided:
SAFE, SUPPORTIVE, DISCIPLINED SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT The school’s Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students is available on the school website. An abridged version is located at the back of this handbook - please see Appendix 1. SCHOOL CROSSING SUPERVISORS & PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS School Crossing Supervisors are assigned to Sussex Street, Kent Street and John Street crossings. Children and parents should use this service at all times. Parents driving to and from the school are asked to respect the road laws with regard to pedestrian crossings and parking/loading zones. Parents are requested not to summon children across roads at places other than the three designated above. If possible use Sussex Street, as there is less traffic, more parking space, and children do not have to cross a road. Do not use the Wide Bay Resource Centre Car Park. It is out of bounds to children. SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES Interschool Sport is arranged in the Maryborough Zone during Term 1 and Term 4 of the school year. Sports on offer include: Soccer, Rugby League, Hockey, Tennis Touch Football, Netball, Basketball and AFL. SPORT HOUSES The school houses have been named after three explorers of Queensland. House COOK (Named after Captain James Cook who charted Australia’s east coast) FLINDERS (Named after Matthew Flinders who circumnavigated Australia) PETRIE (Named after Edward Petrie, a Queensland pioneer) STUDENT DRESS CODE Please see Appendix 2 STUDENT PROTECTION POLICY The Student Protectinon Policy is designed to protect students and ensure that schools are safe and supportive learning environments. Our SHROs (Sexual Harassment Referral Officers) are Ms Erin Alloway and Mr David Clark. Students are expected to contact their class teacher, Principal or SHRO’s about concerns they have. Parents are also strongly encouraged to bring concerns to the attention of school staff. Central actively responds to concerns raised about student safety by following departmental procedures. SUPPORT SERVICES Children with special needs such as gifted and talented, learning difficulties, hearing impairment have their educational needs met through Leaning Support Plans. Parents with concerns, should approach the class teacher to arrange a referral to support staff. Parents are expected to attend meetings with support personnel. TRANSFER CERTIFICATES A School Transfer Certificate is issued on the last day of attendance when a child transfers to another school. By presenting this transfer certificate, enrolment procedures are simplified for re-enrolment. Parents must advise the school, stating the reason for transfer and the name of the next school within reasonable time before the last day of school. (Departmental Regulation 30) TUCKSHOP The Tuckshop operates Wednesday, Thursday & Fridays. Lunches are on pre-order system. Parents are encouraged to order for morning tea and lunch so that the convener can meet the demand and students can have their choices. Some items are sold over the counter. Years 1 and 2 classes place orders into classroom baskets which are taken to the tuckshop by classroom monitors. Parents of children tendering large amounts of money may be contacted to verify whether the child should have this amount in their possession. TUCKSHOP SUB-COMMITTEE This group is a sub-committee of the P. & C. Association that meets regularly and is involved in the operation of the Tuckshop, catering at school sports and in fund raising activities. VEHICLES IN SCHOOL GROUNDS It is potentially dangerous to drive vehicles in the school grounds. No vehicles are permitted in the grounds without prior approval of the Principal. VOLUNTARY PARENT WORKERS Individual teachers utilise the assistance of voluntary parents in a variety of ways - reading, cooking, computers etc. If you are able to assist please negotiate with teachers or Learning Support Teacher at times that are mutually acceptable. |
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