school information handbook 2018 a4 - annabay-p.schools ... · years 1‐6 resume school ‐...

Anna Bay Public School Courtesy and Co-operation

School Information

Handbook

2018

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191 GAN GAN ROAD ANNA BAY NSW 2316

TELEPHONE: 0249 821187

FACSIMILE: 0249 821879

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.annabay-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

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Office Hours: 8.30 am to 3.00 pm

SCHOOL INFORMATION HANDBOOK

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Welcome to Anna Bay Public School

Anna Bay Pubic School is a warm, caring school which works closely with

the whole school community to ensure our students receive a quality

education in a quality learning environment. Our Mission, “Courtesy and Co-operation” reflects the

very high standard of social, academic and cultural opportunities provided by the school.

This booklet is designed to provide you with important information about the School and how it

operates. You will also find it a handy reference to have in your home for a variety of situations

which will present themselves as your child progresses through the School.

If you are new to the district you may be interested to know that Anna Bay Primary School was

the first school to be established on the Peninsula as a small one-teacher school in 1879. As it

continues to grow we are constantly expanding our services making it the efficient, modern school it

is today.

Education is a partnership between your child and the school. We should communicate with each

other regularly and we encourage your input into your child's education.

We welcome you to the school community and look forward to your support and involvement in

school activities. Parents are actively encouraged to become members of our P&C Association or to

nominate for School Council Representation. Our P&C meets on the last Monday of the month

during School terms at 7 pm in the School Library.

Mat Freeman

Principal

ANNA BAY PUBLIC SCHOOL

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Contents

Staff ............................................................................... 6

Executive Staff ...................................................... 6

Administrative Staff ................................................ 6

Teaching Staff........................................................ 7

Other Staff ............................................................. 7

The 2016 School Year ...................................................... 8

The School Environment .................................................. 9

Courtesy and Co-operation .............................................. 9

The Enrolment Zone ........................................................ 9

Enrolment Rules .................................................. 10

School Hours .................................................................. 10

Attendance at School .................................................... 11

Bus Travel ...................................................................... 12

School Assemblies ......................................................... 13

School Uniform ............................................................... 13

Representative Fixtures ....................................... 13

Health & Hygiene ........................................................... 14

Illnesses ............................................................... 14

Chicken Pox ........................................................ 14

Measles ............................................................... 14

German Measles ................................................. 14

Whooping Cough ................................................. 14

Mumps ................................................................. 14

Ringworm ............................................................ 15

Impetigo ............................................................... 15

Head Lice ............................................................ 15

Conjunctivitis........................................................ 15

General Hygiene .................................................. 15

Administering of Prescribed Medication ......................... 15

Anaphylaxis and Allergies .................................... 16

Self Administration of Prescribed

Medication by Students .................................... 17

Emergency Care .................................................. 17

Non-Prescribed Medications ................................ 17

Voluntary School Contributions ...................................... 18

Basic Equipment ............................................................ 18

Clothing and Personal Equipment .................................. 18


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Ornaments and Jewellery .......................................... 18

Contacting the School ............................................... 19

Messages for Students ................................... 19

Reporting to Parents .................................................. 19

Sports ........................................................................ 20

Sports Houses ................................................ 21

Parents and Volunteers in the School ....................... 21

School Captains ........................................................ 22

Discipline and Award System .................................... 22

The School Library .................................................... 23

Excursions ................................................................. 24

School Scripture Lessons .......................................... 25

The School Council ................................................... 25

Communication Between School and Community ..... 25

Parents and Citizens Association (P&C) ................. 26

School Canteen ......................................................... 27

Parking Conditions .................................................... 27

Helpful Tips for Kindergarten Starters ....................... 28

The First Weeks of School .............................. 29

Accident Insurance for Students ................................ 30

Bicycles and Scooters ............................................... 30

Mobile Phones, Ipods and Other

Electronic Devices .......................................... 31

Extra Curricula Activities ............................................ 31

Gan Gan Family Centre ............................................. 32

Gan Gan OOSH Centre ............................................. 33

School Map .............................................................. 34


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STAFF PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS

Mrs Gail Thompson Mrs Rhondda Shaw Mrs Corrine Daly

Mr Mathew Freeman Mrs Susan Reid Mr Bre Woolfe Miss Melissa Quick

Ms Helen Barwick Mrs Anne Uhrig Mrs Janelle Young Mrs Emma Brown

Mr Tony Newton

LEARNING SUPPORT STAFF

GENERAL ASSISTANT

OFFICE STAFF

Mrs Cindy Smith


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TEACHING STAFF

Mrs Margaret Allan Mrs Kerrie Bayliss Miss Maree Brown Mrs Laraine Cutbush Mrs Catherine Connick

Ms Kylile McGrane Ms Linda Merrilees Mrs Phyllis Parker Mrs Jo‐Ann Parson Ms Frances Reid

Mr Chris Jonas Mrs Wendy Sharpe Ms Jacqui Orwell Mrs Petra Offen School Counsellor School Chaplain Co‐ordinator Co‐ordinator Gan Gan Family Centre Gan Gan Family Centre

Ms Denise Lepschy Mrs Vienna Ayton Mrs Linda Vial Mrs Pauline Schein Mrs Claire Morrison

Learning And Support Learning And Support


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THE 2018 SCHOOL YEAR

Term 1

Commences ‐ Monday 29 January

Staff Development Day ‐ Monday 29 January

Years 1‐6 resume school ‐ Tuesday 30 January

Kindergarten commences ‐ Thursday 1 February** (subject to change)

Last Day of Term ‐ Friday 13 April

Term 1 Autumn Vaca on ‐ Monday 16 April to Friday 27 April

Term 2 Commences ‐ Monday 30 April

Staff Development Day ‐ Monday 30 April

K‐6 resume school ‐ Tuesday 1 May

Last Day of Term ‐ Friday 6 July

Term 2 Winter Vaca on ‐ Monday 9 July to Friday 20 July

Term 3

Commences ‐ Monday 23 July

Staff Development Day ‐ Monday 23 July

K‐6 resume school ‐ Tuesday 24 July

Last Day of Term ‐ Friday 28 September

Term 3 Spring Vaca on ‐ Monday 1 October to Friday 12 October

Term 4

Commences ‐ Monday 15 October

K‐6 resume school ‐ Monday 15 October

Last Day of Term (Students) ‐ Monday 17 December

Staff Development Days ‐ Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 December**

Term 4 Vaca on ‐ Thursday 20 December 2017 ‐

STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAYS ARE PUPIL FREE DAYS ON THESE DAYS THERE WILL BE NO SUPERVISION FOR STUDENTS

All dates are subject to confirmation


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THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

Anna Bay Primary School is located in a pleasant bushland environment with ample grassed areas for children to play. Class teachers endeavour to create an attractive, motivating atmosphere to encourage children to produce their best work. The School boasts many modern buildings which provide attractive learning environments. The Assembly Hall, Administration Building and Library are very modern and provide the latest resources for our school community. All classrooms in the school are equipped with interactive whiteboards, computers, current literacy and numeracy resources and are fully air-conditioned. The school is fully wireless network enabled, allowing the use of portable devices such as laptops, iPads, tablets and other wireless devices. In terms of teaching and learning, this has enabled students and staff to access and utilise a greater variety of resources both on line and locally that support student development across all learning areas. Our school library is used regularly in connection with the children’s classroom work as well as for more formal Library lessons and book borrowing. The Library collection is always expanding and features the latest in children’s literature. It is also a popular quiet area for students to work, read and play quiet games including chess and checkers. A pleasant school environment is regarded as important for the well-being and engagement of children and all children are encouraged to appreciate what they have and to care for it in a proper manner.

COURTESY AND CO-OPERATION The motto of Anna Bay School is “Courtesy and Co-operation”. We teach our children that courtesy means thinking of others and co-operation is working together and helping each other.

THE ENROLMENT ZONE The School’s enrolment zone commences on Nelson Bay Road at the Port Stephens Drive roundabout and finishes at the intersection of Gan Gan Road and Nelson Bay Road. All children residing in this area which includes Anna Bay, Fishermans Bay, Boat Harbour and One Mile Beach are zoned to attend Anna Bay School. As a rule “Out of Zone” enrolments are not accepted unless there are exceptional extenuating circumstances. All “Out of Zone” enrolment applications are considered by the School’s Enrolment Committee.


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Enrolment Rules

1 Children may be enrolled if their 5th birthday falls on or before 31 July of the year they are

enrolled to commence school. Children by law must be enrolled by their sixth birthday.

2 Parents will need to complete the following forms as part of the enrolment procedure:

a Application for Enrolment b Student Information Sheet c Application for Opal Pass (bus transport if applicable) 3 All infants are entitled to free bus travel but primary students must live outside a 1.6 km

radius from the School to be eligible.

4 Prior to the enrolment of Kindergarten children, parents must produce a copy of their child’s Birth Certificate.

5 An Immunisation History Statement must be submitted to the school office on or before the first day of school. This certificate is issued by the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (Health Insurance Commission).

6 If a child is transferring from a non-government school, or from an interstate school, it is

necessary to provide proof of date of birth and name (birth certificate) and a copy of the child's Immunisation Certificate.

SCHOOL HOURS

School commences at 9.00 am. The lunch break is from 11.10 am to 12.10 pm and the recess break is from 1.40 pm to 2.00 pm. School finishes at 3 pm.


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Children usually assemble five minutes before lessons commence so they can have a settling down period before going to their rooms. During this period they are given the opportunity to go to the toilets, wash their hands and have a drink. The school playground is not supervised by teachers before 8.35 am each morning so parents should not send their children to school before this time. Children should wait on the lunch seats until the 8.35 am bell rings. Those children catching buses home from school are supervised by a teacher until they board the bus. After the buses leave, the playground is unsupervised. A teacher will supervise bicycle riders so that they leave the school in an orderly manner each afternoon.

ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL

Regular attendance is most important for educational reasons as well as being a legal requirement. The roll is marked each day and must be made available to Home School Liaison Officers on request. The school must also keep a file of notes which explain ALL absences. If your child is away for any reason, a note should be provided which explains the reason for the absence. If your child is sick with an infectious illness, please consult the page on communicable diseases so you will be able to take correct action. On the occasion when a note is required for an absence, please be certain that each note you send is dated, has your child's name and class, states the dates on which she/he was absent and the reason for the absence and that the note is signed. If you have made a telephone call about the absence, please follow it up with a note which can then be filed. Notes should also be provided for 'partial absences'. If a child is late, or is absent for part of a day, the student should report to the Office, accompanied by a parent/carer, to obtain a partial absence slip.


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If you wish to collect your child from school prior to the school's normal finishing time, please write a note to the class teacher stating the date, time and reason that the child will be collected. Parents are required to present to the School Office to complete, sign and collect a "Student Leave Pass" to hand to the Class Teacher. You may be required to provide proof of identity at any time prior to being issued with a leave pass. Teachers will request the Leave Pass prior to allowing a child to leave. If the child is to be collected by a friend or relative, this must be stated in the note to the teacher and proof of identity will be required before a Leave Pass is issued at the office.

BUS TRAVEL

If your child is going to travel by bus, you need to apply for a School Opal card. All students in K-2 are eligible for free bus travel, ie there is no minimum distance. Students in Y3-6 need to be outside the 1.6km straight line distance, or 2.3km walking distance of the school. 1 Complete the application at transportnsw.info/school-students 2 After completion, the application form must be printed, dated, signed and submitted to the

School Office for endorsement. 3 The School will send the endorsed application to Transport for NSW. Once approved the

School Opal card will be sent to the address you provided on your application. Please ensure you write your correct address.

4 If you wish to enquire about school bus routes and/or timetables, please call the local bus

company, Port Stephens Coaches, on 49822940.


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INFANTS AND PRIMARY ASSEMBLIES Assemblies for Infants and Primary are held each fortnight in the Assembly Hall on Fridays. Infants Assembly commences at 2.00 pm and Primary Assembly commences at 12.15 pm. Children are presented with awards to acknowledge achievement in both academic, social and sporting areas. Classes or grades take it in turns to run the Assembly and present musical or dramatic items. Parents and visitors are very welcome to attend these Assemblies.

SCHOOL UNIFORM

Anna Bay Public School, its P&C Association and School Parent Community support the concept of a school uniform and implement the policy of the NSW Department of Education in encouraging children to wear it. The specification for the Anna Bay School uniform is found below. All school uniform items can be purchased from "Lowes" located at Salamander Square, Salamander Bay.

SUMMER: Boys and Girls: Navy blue shorts with pale blue and white side piping and navy blue polo shirt with school logo WINTER: Boys and Girls: Navy blue polo shirt with school logo with navy blue track pants with side pale blue and white piping. Navy blue sloppy joe with school logo and/or navy blue track jacket with school logo SHOES AND SOCKS: Sturdy, supportive, black shoes. White socks. HATS: Navy blue bucket hat with ABPS with pale blue piping COMING SOON: Girls all year round dress

REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES: Students representing the school in inter-school competitions must wear the sports uniform whether the fixture be at home or involving travel.


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HEALTH AND HYGIENE

If your child is ill or unwell, please consider his/her wellbeing before sending him/her to school. Please also consider the possibility of infecting other children, teachers and staff at the school. If children are ill, the classroom teacher will assess the student’s condition and ascertain whether he/she is well enough to be at school. If your child is considered to be too ill to be learning effectively, the School will contact you to come and collect your child. Good health is vital to a child’s progress at school. The Department of Health provides a variety of services. The following conditions require the patient to be excluded from the school to prevent further infection: Chicken Pox The student is excluded for 7 days after the first spots appear. Contacts may

continue to come to school. Measles The student is excluded for 7 days from the date the rash first appears. The

Department of Health recommends the immunisation of all infants and primary aged children.

German Measles The student is excluded as for Measles. The Department of Health

recommends the immunisation of boys and girls in their early teens. Whooping Cough The student is excluded for 3 weeks and the cough must cease before

returning to school. Earlier return is possible if a medical certificate is provided. Contacts (siblings) are not excluded.

Mumps The student is excluded for 2 weeks. The swelling should be gone before

returning to school. Contacts are not excluded. Ringworm The student is not excluded but infection must be treated and covered. Impetigo The student is excluded unless the sores can be properly covered with a

bandage so they are not exposed or able to be scratched. Head Lice The student is excluded until effective treatment has been carried out and

"nits" (eggs) have been combed out of the hair. As the removal of the "nits" can be very difficult and only possible over a period of time, children may re-turn after they have been treated with a shampoo which also kills the "nits". Parents should continue to remove these until all have gone.

Conjunctivitis The student is excluded until the infection is gone. General Hygiene A student can be excluded if his/her general cleanliness is and Cleanliness below standard and is offensive to others. For more information regarding childhood illnesses visit http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/studentsupport/studenthealth/conditions/infectdiseases/index.php


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ADMINISTERING OF PRESCRIBED MEDICATION AT SCHOOL

When a medical practitioner has prescribed medication that must be administered during the school day, parents are responsible for: bringing this need to the attention of the school ensuring that the information is updated if it changes supplying the medication and any ‘consumables’ necessary for its administration in a timely

way (ie supplying daily dosages in a suitable weekly container with the student’s name clearly marked)

collaborating with the school in working out arrangements for the supply and administration of the prescribed medication.

The administration of such medication forms part the Department’s common law duty of care to take reasonable steps to keep students safe while they attend school. This duty of care is fulfilled through its staff members. Key points to remember: Parents of children who require prescribed medication to be administered at school must

complete a written request in advance. The school will provide the forms to the parent. If parents have difficulty in completing the forms they should ask the principal for assistance. Students must not carry medications either in their school bags or on their person, unless

there is a written agreement between the school and the student’s parents that this is a planned part of the student’s health care support.

Please note: Students’ immediate access to prescribed medication is very important for the

effective management of conditions such as asthma and anaphylaxis. If deemed appropriate, the Principal can give permission for the student to carry this medication with them.


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Except in an emergency, only individual staff members who have volunteered and been trained, will administer prescribed medication to students.

The principal will oversight implementation of the course of action that he or she has

determined is necessary for the support of the student’s health needs Anaphylaxis, Allergies and Asthma It is your responsibility as a parent to notify the school if your child is at risk of an anaphylactic or allergic reaction and/or suffers with Asthma. This notification should occur either at the time of enrolment, or if the student is already enrolled, as soon after diagnosis as possible. As with other serious health conditions, it is important that schools provide support to assist the parent in the management of their child’s health. For this support to be effective it is important that:

a partnership is established between the parent and the school to share information and clarify expectations.

• every reasonable effort is made to minimise the exposure of students at risk of an allergic reaction to known allergens within the school environment.

• an emergency response strategy is developed and implemented. If written information provided by a parent confirms that their child has been assessed as being at risk of anaphylaxis, an individual health care plan must be formulated by the principal in consultation with the parent and staff. Likewise for children suffering with Asthma. The individual health care plan must incorporate an emergency response plan and a plan for the avoidance of known allergens based on advice from the student’s parent and medical practitioner. Action Plans for anaphylaxis and allergic reactions can be downloaded from http://www.allergy.org.au/health-professionals/ascia-plans-action-and-treatment Action Plans for asthma can be downloaded from http://www.asthmaaustralia.org.au/nsw/about-asthma/resources (asthma care plan for schools)


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Self administration of prescribed medication by students The common law duty of care does not extend to administering prescribed medication to students who are reasonably able to self administer. However, if a student self administers prescribed medication the Department has a duty to take reasonable steps to ensure that the self administration is carried out safely.

Note re Emergency Care Schools do not generally supply or administer medications in an emergency unless they have been provided by parents as part of the negotiated individual health care plan for a specific student. In an emergency which has not been anticipated in the emergency/response care section of an individual health care plan, staff will provide a general emergency response, eg call an ambulance. Where an emergency response requires the immediate administration of medication to prevent serious illness or injury, staff should administer the medication eg Ventolin for a first asthma attack.

Non-prescribed medications In general, schools do not administer medication which has not been specifically requested by a medical practitioner for an individual student for a specific condition. In some cases the medical practitioner may not write ‘a prescription’ for such medication because it may be available ‘over the counter’. NSW Health advises that this does not mean that the medication is not potentially harmful and that schools should follow the same procedures for such medications as for ‘prescribed medications’, ie written advice from a medical practitioner provided to the school.


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VOLUNTARY SCHOOL CONTRIBUTIONS

Although they are voluntary, these funds provide an important part of the school community funds towards the education of your child. A text book fee is also included to provide necessary prescribed texts. All contributions and fees are kept to a bare minimum. Any other donations are gratefully accepted.

BASIC EQUIPMENT Children are supplied with most of their basic equipment in Infants classes. A similar scheme operates in Primary classes but children of Years 4, 5 and 6 are asked to supply their own pencils and pens. Occasionally children who misuse or lose equipment are asked to supply their own. Otherwise parents need only supply extra items such as rubbers, textas, coloured pencils, paste or pencil sharpeners.

CLOTHING AND PERSONAL EQUIPMENT

Each year a large quantity of clothing and other personal property accumulates at school because ownership cannot be traced despite regular attempts to display these articles at assemblies. The main kinds of clothing involved are jumpers, cardigans, track-suit tops, raincoats and rainhats. To assist with the quick return of lost clothing you are asked to put your child’s name tag or other identification on all articles which children are likely to take off for sport or a change in the weather. It is also advised that identification be put onto lunch boxes, drink bottles, coloured pencils, textas and similar articles. Valuables and electronic equipment such as iPods, Nintendos, mobile phones, etc, should not be brought to school.

ORNAMENTS AND JEWELLERY

Ornaments and jewellery have often contributed to serious accidents, especially during play and sporting activities. Items such as earrings, brooches, rings, bracelets and bangles have been involved. Students are not to wear earrings to school other than studs or small sleepers. Other articles should be kept to a bare minimum if they are of sentimental value, but rings with joins, sharp edges or stones are not permitted.


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CONTACTING THE SCHOOL Many parents have day-to-day contact with their child’s class teacher, especially in the early years, when some parents bring their children to school. Sometimes a situation arises which causes your child concern. A word between parent and teacher can often resolve this situation simply and easily. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher if such a situation arises. Messages to Students - Emergency Cases Only Parents are asked to limit requests for messages to be given to students to emergency cases only. Office staff do not know the people who telephone in with requests to pass messages on to children. These messages often concern altering the child’s trip home. This process can be very dangerous, especially if the person calling the school is not at the number which is listed in our records. We cannot confirm the identity of the caller and therefore, your child could be placed at risk. Please make sure your child/children knows who they are to go home with each day. They should also know where to go if this routine is varied. They should know which family friend or relative may pick him/her up from school.

REPORTING TO PARENTS Each child will receive two written reports during the year. The first report is for the period ending in June. When this report is prepared, you will be invited to the school to discuss your child's report with the class teacher. The second is for the period ending in November. Please read your child's report carefully and with understanding. Not all children work at the same level in all subjects. We attempt to help each child succeed at his or her own ability level. This means that some children may work at a modified or advanced level and some at the normal class level. It is important to realise that written reports cannot cover the same amount of information as a discussion with the class teacher.

PARENTS AND VOLUNTEERS IN THE SCHOOL Parents/Volunteers are always welcome within the school and are encouraged to become involved. As a volunteer helper you will be required to apply for a mandatory Working With Children Check prior to commencing your volunteer work within the school. This can be done online at: http://www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/working-with-children/working-with-children-check. Please contact the class teacher or School Office for further information. All visitors to the School are requested to report to the School Office to sign in and out of the School and collect a Visitors Badge. This is a safety precaution in case of emergency evacuation or lockdown procedure.


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All teachers welcome the assistance of parents who manage to find the time to become involved with learning, sporting or cultural activities. Some ways in which parents can assist are:

1 Coaching sporting teams 2 Listening to groups of children read; 3 Assisting with art/craft activities 4 Providing transport for class excursions 5 Supervising computer groups 6 Working in the Canteen

If you can help in any of these ways please contact the teacher of your child’s class.

SPORTS Apart from Daily Physical Education lessons, all Primary (Years 3-6) children take part in organised sports on Friday afternoons Infants Sports (K-2) is held on Wednesdays . The major sports which are taught are softball, netball, soccer and cricket. All students should wear sports uniform on their respective Sports Day. The main sporting competition days for the year are the Athletics Carnival (Term 2) and the Swimming Carnival (Term 1). At these carnivals, ribbons are presented to the outstanding boy and girl in each age group. The winner of the major divisions of Junior, Senior and Juvenile each receive a trophy donated by the P&C Association. Please note that Juveniles (i.e Kinder, Y1 and most Y2 do not compete in the swimming carnival.


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SPORTS HOUSES Each child will be allocated to a ‘House’ for school and inter-school sports. Our sports houses are Birubi, Kingsley, Hannah and Morna - all well-known local names and locations.

HANNAH - Yellow MORNA - Blue

BIRUBI - Red KINGSLEY - Green


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SCHOOL CAPTAINS In Term 3, Year 5 students nominate their fellow classmates for the School Leadership Team for the following year. Candidates present speeches to the Assembly and all students cast a vote for their favoured candidate. The School Leadership Team, consisting of six school leaders, will elect two School Captains to lead the team. The School Leadership Team will perform many functions for the School and represent the School on official occasions.

DISCIPLINE AND AWARD SYSTEM Core Rules Anna Bay Public School incorporates the NSW Government Schools “Core Rules” in our student behaviour expectations. THE CORE RULES All students in NSW government schools are expected to: Attend every school day, unless they are legally excused, and be in class on time and

prepared to learn. Maintain a neat appearance, including adhering to the requirements of the school’s uniform

and dress code policy Behave safely, considerable and responsibly, including when travelling to and from school. Show respect at all times for teachers, other school staff and helpers, including following class

rules, speaking courteously and co-operating with instructions and learning activities. Treat one another with dignity and respect Care for property belonging to themselves, the school and others. Behaviour that infringes on the safety of others, such as harassment, bullying and illegal or anti-social behaviour of any kind, will not be tolerated.


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THE SCHOOL LIBRARY

The School Library is regarded highly by the children of the school because of its pleasant atmosphere and ever-increasing collection of interesting and up to date reading materials and other resources. * Borrowing is for a period of up to two weeks. Kindergarten children may borrow one picture

book and one non-fiction book. Stories with dvds/cds are also available and can be borrowed. The number of resources which can be borrowed increases with each year.

* Children can only borrow if they have parental permission and the responsibility of care is with the student.

* Each child must have a Library bag to properly protect books. A good quality plastic bag is ac-ceptable but a school library bag is preferred.

* Each situation in which books are lost or damaged is treated according to individual circum-stances. In giving children permission to borrow, parents should consider the child's ability to care for books, as payment will be expected if the circumstances warrant it.

The borrowing and returning of books is possible on Monday to Thursday, when the Teacher/Librarian or Library Assistant are on duty.

The Library is used by classes formally when lessons are taken by the Teacher/Librarian and/or the Class Teacher. On other occasions children are able to carry out individual or small group activities such as research or reading for pleasure. Parents are asked to encourage children to use Library books regularly so they can have the benefit of the knowledge and pleasure which is to be found in reading.


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EXCURSIONS Children take part in three different kinds of excursions whilst they are at school. These excursions are: 1 Local Excursions - These are held within easy travelling distance of the school and often only

involve walking. A bus trip from which children return within the same day is regarded as a local excursion.

2 Sporting Excursions - These are local excursions which usually involve a trip to another school to play competitive sport.

3 Major Excursions - An excursion which takes more than one day, or one-day excursions which involve extensive bus travel, are regarded as major excursions.

Parent consent forms are required for any of these excursions and the note is sent home in good time to be completed and returned to the school. It is a legal requirement that parents give written consent for their child's participation in an excursion. Excursion permission notes can be downloaded from the School’s website. Excursions are only approved if they have educational or social merit, so all children should take part if they are to benefit fully from the learning activities which take place at school after the excursion. Parents who find it difficult to pay excursion costs are invited to approach the Principal. All discussions are confidential. These arrangements should be made well in advance of the excursion.

SCHOOL SCRIPTURE LESSONS Scripture classes are taken by members of the local clergy or voluntary teachers each Tuesday afternoon. Children are automatically allocated to a scripture group at school from information provided by parents/caregivers on the student's enrolment form. The only acceptable reason for exempting your child from school scripture classes is if you belong to a faith whose teachings conflict with those available at school. If parents/caregivers have a concern about the Scripture group for their child/children, please contact the Principal.

THE SCHOOL COUNCIL The School Council is the "governing body" of the School. It consists of the Principal plus up to eight elected members who come from both the parent, and teaching bodies. There is one nominated community member. The major function of the School Council is to determine and monitor the long term goals of the school. It is not involved in the day to day management of the school, which is the responsibility of the Principal.


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COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE SCHOOL AND THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY

"The Advertiser" is the school's weekly newsletter and main source of communication to parents. It includes news relating to all school activities, including academic, social and sporting events. “The Advertiser” is distributed via email. Please ensure you provide an email address to receive your copy each week. The School‘s website can be accessed at http://www.annabay-p.schools.nsw.edu.au where you will find lots of information relating to school procedures. We also have a ‘facebook’ page where you will find lots of current information on the week’s activities. Text

messages are sent out via the Skoolbag App which you can download from http://www.skoolbag.com.au/. Once downloaded, search for Anna Bay Public School. You can also submit absence notes via the App.

THE PARENTS AND CITIZENS ASSOCIATION The P&C is an active association which serves a number of purposes. The two most important purposes are: 1 To act as a group which sometimes communicates with authorities such as the local

members of parliament or the Shire Council in an effort to gain improvements for the children of the school.

2 To raise funds which will allow the children of the school to benefit from improved learning situations and conditions.

Many teaching resources, library books and items of sporting equipment have been provided by the P&C Association’s fundraising efforts. The Association has also been successful in providing physical improvements to the school. The construction of the Sports Shed and the provision of air conditioning to some classrooms are good examples.


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The P&C Association meets on the fourth Monday of each month at a time printed in “The Advertiser” and advertised on the School’s website prior to the meeting. Meeting time is 7.00 pm in the Library.

THE SCHOOL CANTEEN

The Canteen is open each day of the week, and provides a full lunch service. We try to provide a very healthy selection of food at all times. Items such as pies, cakes and ice creams are sold on a limited basis and monitored closely to ensure children are not exposed to excess fatty or sugary foods. The very popular apple based icy drink,“Slush Puppy” are only available at lunch time. Orders can be placed for lunch and recess each day, but the Canteen is not opened at Recess (1.40 pm to 2.00 pm) The Canteen is run by a Canteen Supervisor who reports to a voluntary Canteen Committee BUT our school canteen cannot run smoothly without the assistance of volunteer helpers such as yourselves. All children just love to see their parent, grandparent or family friend behind the counter in the Canteen. They feel proud to be able to say “My Mum, Dad or Gran is on canteen today”. You get shown off to their friends AND you also have the chance to meet their friends AND meet new friends at the Canteen. Hours: 8.30 am to 12.00 Noon. You can put your name on the list by contacting the School Office or the Canteen Supervisor directly. Prices: These are determined by the Canteen Committee as necessary and a price list is available from the Canteen/School Office on request or can be downloaded from the School’s website.


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PARKING CONDITIONS The Roads and Traffic Authority has identified various parking and stopping areas around the School. Please make yourself aware of these zones as they are strictly enforced by the local Council Rangers and hefty fines apply for breaches of parking restrictions. The school car park is for use by staff or people visiting or working with the school only. It cannot be used as a student drop-off or pick-up point. The staff car park is an ‘out of bounds’ area for children. Please use the front gate and stair access to enter and leave the school. As part of our WHS, pedestrian use of the school access driveway is not permitted at any time. Parents are encouraged to use the “Drop and Go Zone” at the front of the Administration Building in Gan Gan Road for students to disembark from vehicles. Parents transporting their children to and from school should use the unrestricted parking areas along Gan Gan Road.


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HELPFUL TIPS FOR KINDERGARTEN STARTERS

The Night Before the First Day of School Lay out your child’s clothes, shoes and socks.

You may want to make your child’s lunch tonight and pop it in the fridge.

Help your child to pack his/her school bag.

Pack a spare pair of underpants, socks and a change of clothes in a plastic bag. Let your child

know these are in his/her backpack in case they have any toilet accidents at school.

The First Day Be positive and happy about the first day with your child.

Let your child dress himself/herself as much as possible.

Tie long hair back or plait hair.

Apply sunscreen to your child each morning. He/She will need to wear a school hat when

outside the classroom.

Take photos!


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The First Weeks of School

The school will let you know when you may need to pack items for activities such as sport, art

or library.

Children are often very tired in the first few weeks of school. Your child needs lots of sleep.

Give your child a healthy breakfast to get him/her through the day.

Make sure your child knows who will pick him/her up each day.

Check your child’s bag each night for school notes and lunch box leftovers.

Try to establish regular morning routines.

Start a home reading routine.

Talk to the teacher about helping in the classroom, if you can.

Talk to the Canteen Co-ordinator about helping in the School Canteen.

Chat to your child about his/her day at school.

It is very important that your child still has time to relax, play outside and do things that he/she

enjoys once he/she has started school.


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ACCIDENT INSURANCE FOR STUDENTS

Parents/caregivers are advised that the school does not carry accident insurance for students. Whilst the occurrence of major accidents is rare, they do happen from time to time. The school is covered for ambulance transport. If you wish to take out private accident insurance for your child you will need to contact your insurance provider.

BICYCLES AND SCOOTERS

Only primary (ie Years 3-6) children are permitted to ride to school unsupervised. Children who ride to school are expected to obey the rules of the road and to park their bikes in the racks provided outside the School’s Canteen. Bicycles and scooters must be wheeled into the school grounds in the morning and out to the street in the afternoon. Children should not lend their bicycles to another student or double other children.

CHILDREN MUST WEAR SAFETY HELMETS

WHEN CYCLING TO AND FROM SCHOOL


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MOBILE PHONES, IPODS AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Students are not permitted to bring any electronic devices to school. There are a number of safety and security issues that arise with the use of this equipment at school. If there is an emergency situation, the school will always contact the parent or nominated emergency contact immediately. It is your responsibility to keep your contact details up to date and advise the Office of any changes to your contact details immediately they change.

EXTRA CURRICULA ACTIVITES

Chess Young Writers Jump Rope School Band School Choir PSSA Sport Knockouts Art Competitions Dance Teams Tomaree Music Festival School Bi-Annual Musical Production Special Swimming Scheme Academic Competitions School Leadership


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Gan Gan Family Centre is located within the school grounds near the back gate on Old Main Road.

The aim of the Centre is to provide information, education & support to families with children aged 0-8 years, living across the Tomaree Peninsula.

Some of the programs were offer include: new parents groups, baby massage, playgroups, early numeracy and literacy programs, art classes and TAFE Outreach courses. We also have a toy and book library with a wide range of toys available for children under 5 years of age.

Gan Gan Family Centre is open throughout the school term from Monday to Friday between 9 am and 4 pm.

Each school term a newsletter detailing our group and course timetable is available. Pick one up at the Centre and leave your postal or email address so we can send you future issues.

To find out more about Gan Gan Family Centre contact Jacqui or Petra on: 4982 1767.


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GAN GAN OOSH

Gan Gan OOSH operates out of the Gan Gan Family Centre located in the grounds of Anna Bay Public School.

Gan Gan OOSH is a privately owned service. The service caters for children a ending school from

Kindergarten to Year 6.

HOURS:

Before School Care ~ 7.00 am to 9.00 am

A er School Care ~ 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm

Pupil Free Days ~ 7.00 am to 6.00 pm

Our Philosophy

We will provide a safe, healthy and caring environment for school aged children at an affordable price. We

will create a comfortable atmosphere that offers acceptance and support in an environment that nurtures

the children’s development and values every child. We will provide ac vi es to enhance children’s

development, encourage individual interests and foster independence, where children have opportuni es

for self‐expression, self‐direc on and self‐discipline. We encourage parent involvement in decisions on

policy and programming issues. We will be suppor ve to our parents and strive for open communica on and

posi ve rela ons between staff, children, families and the local community.

provide high quality care for children within a safe, clean, caring, friendly and welcoming

environment

to have equipment and facili es that are suitable to the needs and abili es of the school aged

child

to encourage good nutri on through the provision of nutri ous snacks and by modelling good

ea ng habits

CONTACT: Nicole: 0422 045 194

Phone/Fax: 0249 842655


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