ASSEMBLIES
Junior Primary ~
held weekly.
Upper Primary ~
3 per term.
Whole school ~
two per term.
ABSENCES
It is a DECS
requirement that a reason is given for all student absences. Therefore, please
inform your child’s teacher if your child is absent (via a note in child’s
diary/communication book or a phone call and state reason why child is absent).
Then let Wendy in the front office know either in person, or by phone. If your
child has an illness or there is a family reason for being absent over a long
period of time, please inform the school as soon as possible.
When a child is
absent for three days without a reason, the school will make contact. If your
child has been absent without an explanation, you will receive an Education
Department form on which to provide the reason for the absence to return to the
school.
ATTENDANCE
Once a child
turns 6 it is compulsory for them to attend school. Parents are expected to send
a note to explain all absences. Staff also appreciates it if parents can ring
the school to let us know if their child will be absent on the day or for a
particular period of time. Messages can be left at any time with the Front
Office staff and they will pass it on to the relevant teacher. Teachers are
obliged to monitor student absence and lateness through their roll books. When
concerns or patterns emerge parents are contacted.
Children who
arrive after 8:45am are required to sign in at the front office and pick up a
blue card to give to their class teacher to show they have signed in. parents
are required to give a written explanation for all lateness.
BELL
TIMES
The school day
begins at 8:45am. All students should be in their classrooms and ready to start
lessons by this time. If children are late to school they miss roll call,
morning routines and other activities that set the context for the day.
Children are
able to enter school yard~ Yard Opens ~ 8:30am
Lessons Start ~
8:45 to 10:50
Recess ~ 10:50
to 11:10
Lessons Continue
~ 11:10 to 12:40
Lunch – Eating
Bell ~ 12:40 to 12:50
Play ~ 12:50 to
1:25
Toilet/Line up ~
1:25 to 1:30
Lessons Continue
~ 1:30 to 3:15
School Ends ~
3:15
Yard Supervision
Closes ~ 3:25
BANKING
The school bank
day is Tuesday. Students can bank with BankSA. All bank money should be sent
with your child and given to the teacher as soon as your child arrives at
school. The bank boxes are then sent to the front office where a member of
BankSA will process them. The books are then returned to the relevant
teachers’ pigeonhole, to be returned to the children. Please ask at the front
office for the necessary forms if you would like your child to develop good
saving habits through the use of the school banking service.
BICYCLES
We have two
areas, which have bike racks for children who ride bikes to school. All bikes
should be locked with a chain. Bicycles are stored at the owner’s risk.
Children are allowed to ride their own bikes on the BMX track at break times,
but care must be taken. Any dangerous or rough riding will not be tolerated.
Helmets must be worn.
CHARITABLE
APPEALS
We support one
charity per year. The SRC usually determines which charity they wish to support
and then organise a fundraising activity.
COMMUNICATION
Class teachers
send out a class newsletter at the beginning of each term, outlining the
term’s activities and any relevant information.
The school
newsletter is sent out every Tuesday. If you wish to receive the newsletter via
e-mail, please give your email address to Wendy in the front office.
Notes are sent
home via class diaries, or individual students, or through the oldest child in
each family.
If you wish to
communicate with the school, you may:
Write in your
child’s diary
Write a note to
the class teacher
Make an
appointment to see class teacher/Counsellor/Deputy Principal/ Principal
Approach a
Governing Council Member with your concerns
Enclosed with
this folder is a copy of our school Policies.
CONTACTING
STAFF/CHILDREN
The most
convenient times to ring staff are….8:15 – 8:30 a.m, 10:50 – 11:10a.m,
12:50 – 1:25p.m and 3:15 – 3:30p.m. Parents are to avoid trying to contact
staff during lessons times.
Please try to
avoid ringing with messages for your child/ren during school times, unless it is
an emergency.
CUSTODY
and ACCESS
Custodial
parents are expected to provide the principal with information about custody and
access. This is important to ensure the safety and well being of al involved.
DAILY
FITNESS
Children are
required by DECS to have Daily Fitness sessions. Children are required to wear
suitable clothing and footwear to enable them to participate fully. (No thongs,
slip on shoes, high heels) Only those with an illness or injury who a note from
parents/caregivers will not be made to participate.
DOGS
No dogs allowed
on the school grounds, (even on a leash) due to health hazards from droppings,
and children’s safety.
DECS
The education
department is now called DECS – the Department for Education and Children
Services. Along with the acronym ‘DECS’, staff at the school uses many other
acronyms. If we use “educational jargon” that you have never heard of please
let us know so we can use the full titles. We are aware of this habit and make
every effort to ensure parents understand what we mean!
DENTAL
SERVICE
An application
form is available from the front office for the school dental service.
When you collect your child’s enrolment forms from school you will be
given an application form. The Dental Service is situated on Flinders Terrace in
Port Augusta and is available for check ups and treatment. The Dental Service
will post you an appointment card with a time and date on it.
ELECTRONIC
GAMES, TAZO’S, ETC
All electronic
games, e.g. Pokemon, Digimon, Gameboy, etc are banned from being brought to
school. If a student is found to have one at school, it will be confiscated by a
staff member, labelled and taken to the front office – where it can only be
collected after school by a parent/caregiver. This rule also applies to Tazo’s/spinning
tops.
EMERGENCY
CONTACT INFORMATION
Parents must
complete and return the Student Emergency Cards during the first week of each
year, or upon enrolment. The information provided enables us to make contact
with a parent or caregiver if students are hurt or ill. Please let us know as
soon as any of your contact information changes.
ENROLLING
at STIRLING NORTH PRIMARY SCHOOL
Please let the
school office know as soon as you decide to enrol your child/ or if you know of
another family that wishes to enrol at Stirling North Primary. All DECS schools
are staffed on current and estimated enrolments so it is important that we are
able to keep our registers up to date. When you enrol the Principal or Deputy
Principal would like to meet you to discuss your child’s needs as a learner.
Children may attend school the day after they enrol.
If you do not
reside in the Stirling North area, then you must write a letter to Bill Parker
(District Superintendent) seeking his permission to attend the Stirling North
Primary School. Address the letter to:- Bill Parker, 115 Nicholson Avenue,
Whyalla Norrie, 5608.
Transition
Program
A transition
program is provided as pre-entry to school. Information about the Transition
program is given to parents via the Stirling North Kindergarten.
The first visit
occurs when the Reception class visits the Kindy for a Reverse Transition visit,
which usually takes place in week 5 (Week 6 in Term1). The following week the
Kindy Children (who are starting school the following term) visit the school and
a parent information meeting is held in the staffroom. The transition visits
gradually increase in time until the child stays all day.
Reception
Stirling North
Governing Council recommends that children beginning reception for the first
time do not attend on Wednesday of the 1st five weeks to enable them
to adjust to school routines more easily. However, parents may choose for their
child to attend each day.
Whichever
options parents choose, they must advise the school prior to their child
commencing. If there needs to be a change to their option, this needs to be
discussed with the class teacher concerned.
Length
of time in Junior Primary (Reception – Year 2)
Children will
generally have from between 10 and 14 school terms in Reception – Year 2.
Transferring
to Stirling North Primary from another school
Whenever
relevant and possible, we will contact your child’s previous school to speak
with teachers so we can support continuity in your child’s education.
Transition
to High School
The Highschool
runs a transition programme for Year 7 students. Around the middle of the year,
students will be given a tour of the high school. Towards the end of the year
they will participate in 2 days of lessons at the high school and will be given
a ride on the high school bus to see where all the stops are.
EXCURSIONS/CAMPS
When signing
your child’s emergency contact card/permission forms, you give the school
permission to take your child/children on excursions within walking distance of
the school. All other outings/excursions will need additional parental
permission slips signed. Aquatic Consent and Medical Forms must be completed for
any activities involving swimming.
There is great
value in camps and excursions. School or class excursions may include whole or
part day visits to local venues, which reinforce study undertaken at school.
School camps may
include sleep-ins, bus tours or camps under canvas. Camps and excursions can
provide: shared learning for a whole class which is most beneficial to social
development; first hand experiences which are the most powerful forms of
learning; an enrichment of language development by activities both prior to and
following such outings; an opportunity for children to develop independence and
self discipline.
Parents will be
given ample prior notice of an intended camp or excursion.
Objectives and
itinerary will be supplied by the teacher for parents’ information.
Keeping costs to
a minimum is a major consideration at all times, and arrangements can be made
with the Schools’ Finance Officer to pay by instalments.
Consent forms
must be signed by parents/guardians before a child is allowed to attend a camp
or excursion.
Children not
attending camps or excursions with their class groups MUST attend school. They
will be relocated in another classroom for that period of time.
GOVERNING
COUNCIL
As the school is
a P21 school, it is run by a Governing Council in conjunction with Judy Woolcock
- Principal. Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month (unless it
falls during school holidays) at 7:30pm. Visitors are welcome.
Lee Heron is the Chairperson & Irene Hedley – secretary. We have a
number of committees and new members are always welcome. E.g. Canteen,
Fundraising, Road Safety, Finance, Education, Grounds & I.T.
HATS
The School’s
Sun Protection Policy requires children to wear a broad brimmed or bucket hat of
no less than 6cm. All children are required to wear a hat of this type
throughout the school year. The
School’s Sun Protection Policy and the Yard Behaviour Management Policy
includes a ‘No hat –be in specified areas undercover. Bench time out is
given to those who play without a hat in the yard. Hats may be purchased from
the Front Office.
HOMEWORK
See Homework
Policy included in this folder.
HOT
& WET WEATHER
The school is
air-conditioned and therefore we do not dismiss early on hot days. The school
does have an “Extremely Hot or Windy Weather” policy. This allows for a
shorter lunch break and restricted play areas. On wet days, when it is raining
at recess or lunchtime, the rain bell will ring and students are to remain in
the buildings.
LEAVING
THE SCHOOL EARLY OR DURING THE DAY
No child may
leave the schoolyard during school time unless accompanied by a staff member,
parent or guardian.
When this is
necessary, a note must be sent to notify your child will be picked up by the
appropriate adult. Once a child has arrived in the school grounds they will not
be allowed to leave without written permission. When a parent/caregiver is
collecting a child – they must report to the front office and the child will
meet you there for collection and the sign out book will be filled out.
The consequence
for leaving the school grounds without permission is to spend time in the
Time-Out Room. Parents will be notified. If they are unavailable, the police
will be contacted.
LIBRARY
BORROWING
Children may
borrow books from the Library during library lessons or at other times when the
Library is open. The children require some form of plastic or material bag to
protect the books in transit to and from school.
LOST
PROPERTY
All lost
property is taken to the front office and placed in a green plastic garbage bin,
which is kept in the small bathroom between the Time-Out room and the Sickroom.
It is advised that hats/jumpers/jackets/lunchboxes/water bottles, etc be clearly
labelled with the child’s name. Parents are asked to check for any lost
property regularly as at the end of each term all remaining items are given to a
local charity. Valuables, which are found and brought to the front office, are
kept in a safe place and can be claimed when the owner identifies their lost
property.
LUNCH
ORDERS
The school
canteen operates only four days per week, Tuesday to Friday. THE
CANTEEN IS CLOSED EVERY MONDAY! Children are to place their lunch order in the
bucket provided in their classroom. Monitors will then take it to the canteen.
At lunchtime, monitors pick up the ordered lunches and take them back to class.
A canteen price list is available from the front office, and lunch order bags
are available from the canteen. The canteen is always on the lookout for more
volunteers so if you have any free time, please don’t hesitate to let the
school know.
MEDICATIONS
If at any time
your child needs to take medication at school, please contact Wendy in the front
office and she will administer the medication at the correct time. Written
instructions must be given to the school with the correct dosage and other
relevant information supplied. We cannot dispense medications that are not
clearly labelled with the name of the medication, the times, dosage and name of
the child.
This is very
important so please contact the school for further information. On enrolment, if
your child has a medical condition that requires treatment at school, you will
be asked to fill in the relevant Health Management Plan. It is your child’s
responsibility to come to the front office for his/her medication.
MESSAGES
Messages to
teachers can be sent through the student diary or communication books or in any
note form. Telephone messages through the school office to your children during
the day should only be requested on an emergency basis.
MONEY
All money paid
to the school for fees; class activities or school programs must be sent in a
sealed envelope clearly marked with the child’s name, class, amount and
purpose. This can be paid directly to the front office or placed by the child
into the moneybox kept in each classroom. This is then sent to the front office
via monitors. Receipts will be sent home via the child as soon as the money is
processed.
INSTRUMENTAL
MUSIC TUITION
Some music
lessons are available to children in Years 5,6 & 7. Depending on the
instrument chosen lessons will either be held at the school or at the Port
Augusta High School. All fees and costs associated with Music Lessons are the
responsibility of the parent/caregiver. Transport is also the responsibility of
the parent/caregiver.
NEWSLETTER
The school
newsletter is sent home every Tuesday via the eldest child in a family. It is
edited by the Principal and contains information about the school’s activities
and policies. A diary dates section is included to remind parents of upcoming
events. To ensure that school-home communication is at its best, parents are
asked to check their child’s bag each Tuesday and to then read the newsletter.
Class teachers also send home class newsletters at the start of each
term. If you would like to receive your newsletter via E-mail, please let Wendy
know your E-mail address at the front office.
OFFICE
HOURS
The school
office (front desk) operates between 8:15a.m and 4:00p.m. Daily
The School’s
Finance Officer (Roma Masters) starts work at approx. 9:00 each morning.
PARENT
PARTICIPATION
The school
actively promotes and supports parent involvement and parent participation. If
you are willing to help with anything, please contact the school. Some areas
where parents can volunteer to help are: canteen, listening to reading in class,
transport, success room, fundraising, catering, busy bees. You will be made to
feel welcome in whichever way you choose to help.
PARENT
RESPONSIBILITY
Ensure that your
child/ren attend school and encourage them to be involved in school and class
activities and curriculum.
Know that
students must have permission from a teacher as well as parents to leave the
school grounds.
Support students
to wear appropriate clothing – a broad brimmed hat or bucket hat, covered
shoes or sandals – no thongs, high heels, slip on shoes, etc. No singlet tops
– shirts/dresses must cover shoulders.
Remind students
to bring the equipment they require to do school work each day.
Provide students
with a healthy lunch & recess and water to drink for the day.
Support the
School Behaviour Management Policy. Discuss any concerns with the class teachers
and the Principal.
Make an
appointment to discuss any concerns with your child’s teacher as soon as the
concern arises. Negative comments you make about the school and the staff may
pass onto your child and possibly affect the way he or she approaches the
school/staff member.
PICKING
YOUR CHILD UP FROM SCHOOL
Please make your
child’s teacher is aware of any arrangements if anyone other than you, or a
regular caregiver, collects your children. It is best for written authorisation
to be given if any changes occur.
SCHOOL
FEES and the SCHOOL CARD SCHEME
Roma Masters,
our school Finance Officer, is able to advise you regarding these matters.
Please drop in and see her if you have any concerns. Arrangements can be made to
pay school fees by instalments.
SCHOOL
WATCH
All State
Schools are in School Watch. Please report any suspicious activity to the Port
Augusta Police Station on: 86 48
5020.
SCHOOL
UNIFORM and DRESS CODE
The school
colours are brown, bone, yellow, light & navy blue. We encourage all
students to wear clothes of these colours. We are also able to provide you with
the number of a dressmaker who is willing to make school uniforms and stocks the
material required. We have a small number of windcheaters available for sale,
just call in to the front office and Roma or Wendy will be willing to help you.
We also have a small number of second hand uniform items for sale. If your child
has outgrown his/her uniform and it is no longer required – we are always
trying to replenish our stocks.
SICKNESS,
ACCIDENTS and HEALTH
When you enrol
your child at school, you will be asked for the following information:
The name of two
people, besides yourself & partner, who
are generally available for us to contact in the case of an emergency.
Your Doctor’s
name and phone number and your Medicare Number.
Any medical
condition or allergy that may affect your child at school
This information
is vitally important to us.
If your child is
sick, please do not send them to school. They often become distressed and would
be more comfortable at home or with a friend or relative. Colds and flu are very
easily spread when children come to school sick.
In general, if
your child is unwell or has an infection, you or your emergency contact will be
required to take him/her home., Therefore it is important that current phone
numbers for home, work and your emergency support are accurate. We will ask for
these to be checked periodically.
In the case of
injury, accident or illness at school, an authorised member of staff will take
the following action:
Administer the
necessary first aid. If follow up is needed, inform the parents by phone or in
writing,
Contact parent
or emergency contact person to collect the child or negotiate appropriate
action,
If no contact
can be made, check the child’s medical record, then arrange for appropriate
treatment – Note: parents are liable for any cost incurred,
Complete an
Accident Report Form as soon as possible after an accident.
Asthmatics
should keep their own ‘puffer’ with them at all times. A ‘labelled
spare’ should be given to Wendy to keep in the First Aid Cupboard.
If an ambulance
is needed, costs incurred will be the responsibility of the parents.
Please keep the
school updated with your current work, home and mobile phone numbers and let us
know of any changes to your emergency contact numbers. This enables us to keep
up to date records of important information affecting your child’s welfare.
(Please only write emergency contact numbers of those who live close to the
school, e.g. The Port Augusta and Stirling North area. It is no use to your
child if you put down a contact that lives in Adelaide or the like, as they will
be unable to assist us.)
Infectious
Diseases
Measles, Mumps,
Chicken Pox, etc:- We also need to know if your child has caught any childhood
diseases. Because these diseases are quite contagious they carry with them
exclusion periods from school. Family members may also be excluded for a period
of time if a brother or sister is infected. Please check with the Front Office.
Disease Recovery
Period
Chicken Pox ~ 7
days from the appearance of the spots
Hepatitis A ~
Notifiable! Minimum exclusion: 5 days after treatment begun
Measles ~ 7 days
from the appearance of the rash
Mumps ~ 10 days
from the onset of the symptoms
Rubella (German
Measles) ~ 7 days from the appearance of the rash
Whooping Cough ~
Excluded for 4 weeks unless medical certificate of recovery is produced
Head Lice or
Scabies ~ Absent until effective treatment is carried out
Ringworm, School
Sores, Tinea ~ Excluded until effective treatment has been carried out
Conjunctivitis ~
Excluded during the acute stage of the infection
Head lice
If your child
contracts head lice please contact the school for information about how to treat
it. Do not send your child to school until they have been treated. You will also
need to wash all bed linen, towels, toys, and hairbrushes, etc in the home in
hot soapy water. It is a time consuming process to get rid of lice in a school
and therefore head lice are best treated early before more children get them and
the cycle continues. The school will inform you of any occurrence of head lice
in your child’s class.
SAPSASA
SAPSASA –
South Australian Primary Schools Amateur sports Association – is a unit of the
Department of Education and Children’s Services. SAPSASA is committed to
improving the quality and quantity of sporting opportunities available to
primary school students in South Australia. SAPSASA Sport is characterised by
fun, enjoyment, participation, competition, challenge, character development and
social interaction.
Friday afternoon
sports runs for 8 weeks of each term. One sport is chosen for the term and
competitions are with Port Augusta Schools. Parents are asked to provide
transport when the Stirling North teams play away. The Area Coordinator selects which sports the children will
play each term. Years 4-7 do athletics and swimming. Years 5 –7 participate in
everything else.
SCHOOL
SPORTS & SWIMMING
Children are
offered swimming lessons in term four of each year. Junior Primary Students go
for one week, Primary Students have two weeks. Children in years 5, 6 & 7
have the opportunity to choose between swimming and aquatics. Aquatics are held
in Term 1.
Sports Day is
usually held in term 3. The students are divided into four houses (Teams),
Minchin, Brown, Saltia and Elder. At the end of the day the team with the most
points wins the Shield. Junior Primary children participate in modified games
whilst Upper Primary children participate in discus, shotput, long jump, high
jump, etc in the morning. Running races and relays are held during the
afternoon.
SMOKING
All DECS schools
are SMOKE FREE ZONES, which means NO ONE is allowed to smoke on school grounds.
All parents are asked to respect this policy by not smoking when visiting
the school and participating in a school activity.
SPECIAL
EDUCATION
Teachers
constantly monitor student’s progress. Each year students are assessed in
aspects of Literacy and Numeracy. Students who the teacher considers are not
progressing are identified and given extra support. Parents are informed if this
is happening and are often involved in providing extra support at home as well.
When student progress is cause for serious concern, support from the DECS
Special Education Unit is requested by teacher (or parent through the
Principal). The Student is assessed by a Guidance Officer. This assessment is
followed up by a parent/teacher/Guidance Officer meeting, where an educational
plan that is best for the individual child is developed.
If you have any
concerns – please make an appointment to see Anna Nayda – Deputy Principal.
STUDENT
RECORDS
As required by
DECS, class teachers maintain a Pupil Record Folder for each child. The folders
contain enrolment information; copies of student assessments and reports; any
relevant documentation related to a student’s learning needs and special
education programs; and any medical information provided to the school by you or
your child’s practitioners. The Pupil Record Folder serves as a cumulative
record of your child’s schooling. The contents of the folder are only used on
a ‘need to know’ basis. If your child transfers to another school the
folders are passed on. In line with Privacy Principles, upon written request,
the folders are made available for your and your child to look through.
STUDENT
REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL (SRC)
The SRC meets
regularly to discuss issues raised by students through their class meetings. Two
representatives are elected from each class for two terms each. Reps are changed
in the middle of the year. The voices of students are important at Stirling
North Primary School and their opinions and ideas are listened to by the staff
and Governing Council and taken seriously. The SRC is an important decision
making group in the school.
TRAFFIC
Parents,
Caregivers, Relatives and Friends are asked to abide by the following guidelines
when dropping off and picking up children.
Dropping Off and
Picking Up: please do not allow your children to exit or enter your car from the
roadside. Insist they use the other side. Please ensure that you stand and wait
for your child on the school side of the road so that they do not run across the
road by themselves. If you take the time to walk just a little further, they
will be so much safer.
Do not park in
the Staff Carpark or let your children walk through this area. It is very hard
to see a child in amongst the cars and for this reason walking through and
parking in the carpark is banned.
Please do not
park on the school side of Railway Station Road, between the NO PARKING signs.
We have this no parking area for a reason, and it is to keep your children safe.
Cars are not
allowed to park in the area in front of the Front Office, as this is a flow
through area and must not be blocked.
TERM
DATES
DECS provides a
24hour recorded message service for term dates. Phone 8226 1650.
VALUABLES
AT SCHOOL
Parents should
ensure that valuables and large amounts of money are not brought to school. Any
money should be carried on the child’s person and not left in school bags or
on desks, or alternatively given to the teacher for safekeeping.
