BALGA PRIMARY SCHOOL An Independent Public School 11 Fernhurst Ave Balga WA 6061 Ph: 9344 2602 Fax: 9345 3725 INFORMATION BOOKLET 2018 Term Dates Term 1 Wednesday 31 Jan Friday 13 April Term 2 Monday 30 April Friday 29 June Term 3 Tuesday 17 July Friday 21 September Term 4 Monday 8 October Thursday 13 December BALGA PRIMARY SCHOOL
Index ENROLMENTS 3 ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE TIMES 3 TELEPHONES 3 VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS and 4 CHARGES ASSEMBLIES 5 ATTENDANCE 5 BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT IN SCHOOLS 5 (BMIS) CLASS POLICIES 5 COMMUNICATION 6 REFFERALS 6 REPORTING TO PARENTS 6 BICYCLES 6 CANTEEN 7 FACTIONS 7 HAT POLICY 7 SUDDEN SICKNESS OR ACCIDENT 7 MEDICATIONS 7 HEALTH PROVISIONS 7 LUNCHTIME 8 MERIT AWARDS 8 LOST / DAMAGED EQUIPMENT 8 PARKING 8 SCHOOL UNIFORM 8 SPORTS DAY 9 SWIMMING CLASSES 9 VALUABLES 9 P & C ASSOCIATION 9 SCHOOL BOARD 9 VISITORS 10 SMOKING ON SCHOOL PREMISES 10 PAGE 2
The school extends a warm welcome to all parents and caregivers. The staff of Balga Primary School is committed to the provision of quality educational outcomes for all students and works to establish a close relationship with parents and members of the school community, to provide well-rounded educational opportunities for each child. Please feel free to make contact with members of staff. ENROLMENTS: All enrolments must be supported by an extract of birth or some other evidence to support your child s date of birth, proof of your residential address and your child s immunisation record. Parents are required to make custody details known to the school at the time of enrolment or as situations change. Please ensure that the school is kept informed of ANY CHANGE of telephone number, address, emergency contact numbers or medical conditions, etc. This is important information in the event of an emergency. ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE TIMES: The school hours of instruction are as follows: 8:50 am Begin classes 10.40am 11.00am Morning recess 12.40am 1.20am Lunch 3:00 pm End of school day for children Playground supervision is not formally provided before the commencement of tuition at 8.50am. Students should not arrive on school grounds before 8.35 am; however provision is made for early arrivals. At the end of the school day students should leave the grounds promptly. TELEPHONE: Except for urgent matters, personal telephone messages cannot be accepted for students. Students will not be permitted use of the school telephone other than in an emergency. The Kindergarten has a separate telephone for urgent messages regarding sick children or accidents. Kindergarten: 9344 1903. 3
VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS AND CHARGES In accordance with the Department of Education s Contributions, Charges and Fees Policy (September 2001), a maximum voluntary contribution of $60.00 per child is set for Years K 6. These funds are used towards the cost of materials, services and facilities used by students in the educational program. In consultation with the School Board, Voluntary Contributions for Balga Primary School have been set at: $30 per student. Charges payable during the school year: The term charges refers to the provision of extra optional activities which are part of an education program and which contributions do not cover. If a particular event does not go ahead within the school year, no charges for that event will apply. Parents will be advised in advance when these activities will occur and when payment is required. All 2018 cost optional activities have been approved by the Balga Primary School Board and have been set as follows: ACTIVITIES THAT STUDENTS WILL ACCESS: Description K PP 1 2 3 4 5 6 Personal Items List $36.80 $48.35 $52.75 $68.00 $67.00 $64.80 $54.45 $59.60 Mental Math s Text $11.65 $11.65 $11.65 $11.65 $11.65 $11.65 Book Excursions ** $40 $80 $80 $80 $80 $80 $80 $80 Incursions / in-school $40 $80 $80 $80 $80 $80 $80 $80 activity** Swimming $50 $50 $50 $50 $50 $50 $50 Interschool sports travel $40 $40 $40 $40 Choir $10 $10 $10 Yr 6 graduation shirt $50 Yr 6 Camp * $250 Yr 6 Graduation ceremony and activities * $50 * The costs associated with the Year 6 Camp, Graduation ceremony and activities are normally reduced by fundraising held throughout the year. ** Based on one possible excursion per term and one possible incursion / inschool activity per term. Please note that the level of Charges & Voluntary Contributions has been approved by the School Board. Contributions and charges can be paid at the school office. 4
ASSEMBLIES: School assemblies are held twice a term in the undercover area commencing at 9:00 am. The dates will be confirmed in the school newsletters. Assemblies are child centred and formal occasions. Assemblies are also conducted on special occasions. Parents, family, friends and community members are welcome to attend school assemblies. ATTENDANCE: Since the law makes schooling compulsory from Pre-Primary to Year 6, a record of student attendance must be maintained and kept by the school. Explanations in writing must be given for absences and these notes should be handed to the class teacher to be held on public record. Students are expected to arrive at school to be in class on time. Students who are late will be required to present themselves to the office for a Late Slip and it will be noted in the attendance roll. Parents of a child who is persistently late will be asked to provide a written explanation. If a student needs to leave school during the day, parents and carers are to come into the office and sign out the child before collecting them from the classroom. BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT IN SCHOOLS (BMIS): Balga Primary School aims to: Create a positive environment, both in and out of the classroom, so that teachers and students can work together in harmony. Create a caring environment where the rights and responsibilities of the individual are recognised and respected. Establish a set of rules that protect the rights of all individuals. Establish a clear set of consequences for individuals who do not accept their responsibilities and break rules. Establish procedures so that conflicts can be resolved in a positive non-violent manner. Further information related to Roles, Responsibilities, Rewards and Consequences can be obtained by asking for a copy of our policy brief from the office. CLASS POLICIES: Individual class policies will be distributed at a class meeting early in Term 1. The policy will outline class procedures, schedules, routines and reward systems. 5
COMMUNICATION: The school policy is to maintain continued, open communication with parents. One source is through the school newsletter, published fortnightly and sent home on Thursdays. These are usually weeks 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 of each term. The school has a website that is kept up-to-date with current information, forms and school activities. Visit us at balgaps.wa.edu.au Parents are welcome to visit the school to discuss matters regarding their children at anytime. It should be noted that teaching staff have very limited time during the school day to meet with parents. Appointments should be made for before or after tuition time or other times convenient for both parents and teachers. Appointments should be made through the office. REFERRALS: The school has access to a School Psychologist and a School Health Nurse on a regular basis. Parents may approach the school Deputy Principal or classroom teacher to arrange a referral for their children to access these services on a needs basis. All referrals are conducted in consultation with parents and case conferences are arranged with all parties for information purposes. REPORTING TO PARENTS: Each year we report to parents in a variety of formats: an interim report sent out in Term 1 formal reports are issued at the end of Term 2 and Term 4. Parent/Teacher meetings are organized, on a needs basis, at the commencement of the year for the purposes of orientation and later in the year as an Open Session where parents, friends and community members are invited to peruse student work. BICYCLES: It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that bicycles are roadworthy and their children are capable riders with knowledge of the rules of the road. Helmets are to be worn by all children riding to and from school. Bicycle racks are provided for children s bicycles should they decide to ride. They are encouraged to use these racks. Under no circumstances are children to borrow bicycles to ride home for any reason. While on the school grounds all bikes must be walked. The school is unable to accept responsibility for student bikes while they are at school. A good security chain is suggested whilst bikes are in the enclosure. 6
CANTEEN: A canteen service is provided by the Warriapendi Primary School canteen Monday to Fridays. A variety of good quality food is available at reasonable prices. Lunch orders are to be placed in the boxes provided at the front office before school each day. FACTIONS: Jarrah - Red Karri - Blue Wandoo - Gold A faction system operates for sport and classroom activities in this school. Each student is allocated to a faction upon enrolment, with consideration given to family groupings. Students are encouraged to wear t-shirts in their faction colour for athletics carnivals. HAT POLICY: To ensure a safe environment for students and reduce the incidents of skin cancer, students must wear wide brim school hats during the year. The school has a policy of No hat no play for recess and lunch times. SUDDEN SICKNESS OR ACCIDENT: MEDICATIONS: Minor injuries or illness during the day are normally attended to at school with basic first aid. In more serious emergencies, every endeavor is made to contact a parent to arrange for the child to be collected from school. In extreme emergencies, or the event that parents are non-contactable the child may be taken to the doctor or other medical facility. Teachers will not as a general rule, administer medication to students. Should your child require regular or ongoing medication written parental permission is required. Forms for the administration of medication can be obtained from the office and should be filled in at the time the medication is given to a staff member. All medication is kept in a secured area. HEALTH PROVISIONS (Exclusions from school): The Principal of the school may, for a period as is deemed necessary, exclude from school any child who is suffering from any contagious, offensive or infectious disease. 7
LUNCH TIME: Students are not permitted to leave the school grounds to buy their own lunches from commercial premises, as these facilities are available through the canteen. All students are supervised while eating lunch in their classroom, undercover area or other shaded areas. MERIT AWARDS: Students are selected to receive merit awards at school assemblies. Awards are made to recognise student application and may be given for any aspect of school life and not restricted to academic achievement. Parents are notified of their child s award prior to the assembly, to provide the opportunity of attending the assembly. LOST/DAMAGED EQUIPMENT: Parents are expected to replace equipment from the school that is lost by the children, i.e. reading books, library books and other costly resources. Children are encouraged to respect private and public property. Vandalism is not acceptable and if instances of this do occur, parents may be asked to replace damaged property. PARKING: As with most schools, parking can be a problem for parents and school staff. Cooperation and awareness is needed by the whole school community to maintain high standards of safety. Staff car parks are NOT to be used by parents as this will present a major safety hazard. Parent parking is available on Fernhurst Crescent and Wittering Crescent. Please adhere to the 40k speed limit around the school. SCHOOL UNIFORM: The wearing of the school uniform is strongly encouraged to maintain a positive school culture. The Dress Code Policy is fully endorsed by the School Board, P&C and the teaching staff. All items of school apparel may be purchased through Lowe s at Mirrabooka Shopping Centre.. The uniform is as follows: navy blue and pale blue t-shirt with the school emblem navy blue pleated skirt or navy blue dress shorts for girls navy blue shorts for boys navy blue pants socks and shoes. broad brimmed navy blue hat with school emblem. If the school uniform is not worn, every effort to dress children in approximate school colours should be made. Please clearly LABEL all items which your child brings to school at any time during the year ie books, bags, lunchboxes, jumpers, raincoats and ALL other clothing. Lost property is located in the front office. Displays of lost property are made once per term and any items not claimed or able to be returned to their owners are either given to the second hand uniform shop or donated to a local charity bin. 8
SPORTS DAY: SWIMMING CLASSES: A Faction Carnival is held once a year. All years are involved, K to Year 6, and parents are welcome to attend and support their children and their factions. Students are encouraged wear T Shirts in their faction colour. The school also participates in a variety of inter-school sport events during the year. Each year Department of Education swimming classes are held within school time. Children from Pre-Primary to Year 6 are expected to participate, as it is part of the school curriculum for Physical Education. Bathers, towels and suitable sun protection are required. The cost involved is for bus fare and entrance to the pool only. Parents will receive further information in notes sent home with the children. VALUABLES: Valuable items, toys and large amounts of money are not to be brought to school by children. The school cannot in any way guarantee the safety of these valuables nor can the school accept any responsibility for any of these items. Mobile phones are to be taken to the office at the start of the day and will be returned to the student at the end of the day. The Mobile Phone Policy is available on request. P&C ASSOCIATION: Balga Primary School has a very active P&C group which regularly meets at the school. This group works for the well being of all children who attend the school. Your involvement would be appreciated. SCHOOL BOARD: Balga Primary School has an active School Board consisting of elected Parent Representatives, Community Representatives, School Staff and the School Principal. The Board meets once per term and is the voice of the school community. The role of the board is as follows: Take part in: establishing and reviewing from time to time, the school s objectives, priorities and general policy directions; planning financial arrangements necessary to fund those objectives, priorities and directions; evaluating the school s performance in achieving those objectives, priorities and directions; formulating codes of conduct for students at the school. take part in the selection of, but not the appointment of, the school principal or any other member of the teaching staff if prior approval is given by the Regional Executive Director. 9
Approve of: a charge or contribution determined by the principal for the provision of materials, services and facilities; the costs determined by the principal to be paid for participation in an extra cost optional component of the school s educational program; the items determined by the principal to be supplied by a student for the student s personal use in the school s educational program; and an agreement or arrangement for advertising or sponsorship in relation to a government school. Determine: in consultation with students, their parents and staff of the school, a dress code for students when they are attending or representing the school. Provide advice to the principal of the school: on allowing time for the special religious education of students in the school, up to a total of 40 hours in a year. Promote: the school in the community. VISITORS: When coming on to the school site, all visitors must register at the office. SMOKING ON SCHOOL PREMISES: Department of Education and Government premises are now officially Smoke Free areas and it is an offence to smoke on school grounds. 10