2009 School Board Report

Absences

All pupil absences should be reported to the school in writing. When the absence is to be of one or two days only, a note should be sent when the child returns to school. If the absence is likely to be more prolonged, a phone call to the school would be appreciated. A note should still be sent upon return to school. If a child needs to leave the school between 9:00am and 3:00pm a note should be sent to the child’s teacher.

Appointments with Teachers

Staff are aware of the importance of maintaining close contact with families. Important and useful information is often shared at the beginning and end of the school day. Please be mindful that staff need to be ready to teach at 9.00am as well as supervising children leaving school in the afternoon. Staff also have meeting commitments in the afternoons commencing at 3.15pm. We would greatly appreciate appointments being made for discussions, which require more than a few moments.

Assemblies

A whole school assembly is held three times each Term on Fridays at 12.30pm. The assemblies are organised and conducted by unit classes in turn and are an opportunity for students to showcase work and perform items such as plays, dances and instrumental/choral items. Parents and family members are encouraged to attend. Assembly dates and presenting classes are published in the Newsletter and the Term Calendar at the start of each Term.

Before and After School Care

Duffy Primary has a Before and After School Care Program which runs daily during the school term. The program is available for students P-Yr6. Families need to contact Communities@work on 6293 6500

Canteen

The school canteen operates 2 days per week on Monday and Friday, with a menu that places emphasis on healthy foods with a high nutritional content. Children place lunch orders into a class basket which is delivered to the canteen by 9.05am and returned to the unit at lunchtime. Children may make over the counter purchases at recess and lunchtime. Volunteers run the canteen and new recruits to the roster are always welcome.

Class Placements

Each teacher is responsible for the education and pastoral care of a class group. Children are placed in classes according to age and individual need. Class groups are formed to achieve the most effective learning situation for each child.

Collecting Students and Late Arrivals

Parents collecting children for appointments or dropping children into school later than 9.00am are required to sign the Arrival and Departure Book. This Departmental requirement is a safety procedure in the school.

Contact Information

To facilitate speedy contact with parents in an emergency, any change in home or work phone numbers, home address, place of employment or name of emergency contact should be notified immediately. Student information sheets are sent home at the start of each year to gather parent contact information for ready reference and should be returned promptly to the Class Teacher. The only exception is for new school enrolments. Parents of new students are asked to comple their sheets at the time of enrolment.

Enrolment Policy

The school draws enrolments from the surrounding area. Out of area enrolments may be accepted if places are available and after consideration of any special circumstances. For further information go to the departmental policy on Enrolment in Primary Schools

High School

Duffy Primary School is a feeder primary school for Stromlo High School (SHS). A liaison and orientation program is run with SHS. Close liaison occurs between Duffy Year 6 and SHS Year 7.

Homework

Study and research habits developed at primary school stand students in good stead for future studies. Students are not expected to learn new work at home. However, assignments requiring exploration, discovery, observing, recording and process thinking may be set. Homework may include practising tables; spelling or reading; discussing stories, pictures or news; research; or sharing activities with the family.

Illness or Accident

In the event of a child becoming ill during the day or having an accident, every attempt will be made to contact the parent or the emergency contact person nominated by the parents. If this is not possible staff will seek professional medical assistance when necessary.

Lost Property

Labelling your child’s clothing and other possessions will help ensure that anything that is lost is returned. Lost property is collected in each Unit and then sent to the lost property area in the corridor outside the Corin Unit. Items are sorted each term and where possible returned. Items not claimed are either donated to the school pre-loved uniform shop or donated to charity.

Medication

Parents need to inform teachers and front office staff, of the medication students are taking. Medication needs to be clearly labelled (name, dose, times for administering). Written authority is required from parent/guardian for a member of staff to administer prescription medication. A written statement is also required from the student’s doctor for prescription medications. Medications are stored securely by the front office staff. Responsibility for collecting medication rests with the student. For further information go to the departmental policy on Administering Medication - www.det.act.gov.au

Messages During the Day

Parents bringing messages, lunches or materials, to school during the day, should leave them at the front office with the school office staff who will ensure that they get to the appropriate class.

Money Collection

All monies sent to school should be handed to the classroom teacher in the envelope provided with your child’s name, activity details and amount clearly marked on the outside of the envelope. A receipt is issued for amounts over $5.00. Eftpos facilities are available for amounts over $10.00.

Newsletter

The Duffy Newsletter is sent home every Thursday with the youngest child in the family. It contains up-to-date news of the school. Parents are encouraged to read the Newsletter and respond to requests for information. As a general rule all notes go home on the same day as the Newsletter.

Personal Items and/or Money

Children are discouraged from bringing large sums of money or expensive items to school unless prior arrangements have been made with the class teacher.

Playground Supervision

No scheduled supervision of students occurs before 8.45am. The playground is supervised during recess and lunchtime. All children eat lunch with class teachers. Children are expected to leave the school ground at 3.00pm unless other arrangements have been made.

School Uniform

The School Board endorses the wearing of a uniform as it is part of the school ethos of helping to create a sense of belonging and pride in the school and so engender a positive school spirit.

Term Overview

Early each term an overview is sent home by class teachers. This term overview outlines the educational program to be covered in your child's class during the term as well as including details of planned excursions, camps, class routines and calls for parental assistance and involvement. A term calendar is also sent home with the Newsletter of Week 2 detailing important dates and events for the term.

Visitors, Volunteers and Parents

All visitors to the school should enter via the front office, sign in and out, and wear a visitor’s or parent helper badge. This is a Departmental requirement to ensure the safety of children at school. Parents, grandparents, volunteers and tradespeople are all regarded as ‘visitors’. We greatly appreciate your cooperation in this matter. For further information go to the departmental policy on Volunteering in Schools