77
Caboolture Montessori School Parent Handbook 2012 Parent Handbook 2012
Harmony Montessori Caboolture
Caboolture Montessori School
Parent Handbook 2012
Parent Handbook 2012
Contents
5Principal’s Welcome
6About our school
6Our Vision
6Our Mission
6Our History
6School Philosophy and Methodology
8School Structure and Organisation
9School Staff
10Our Location
10Contact Information
10Emergency Contact Information
10School Office Hours
11Campus Map
12Moreton Bay Montessori Association Inc.
14Caboolture Montessori School Parents & Friends Association Inc.
15School Calendar
18SCHOOL POLICIES & PROCEDURES
18Duty of care
18Child Protection Policy
18The School Day
19Attendance
19Access to the School
20Access to Students
20Students’ Personal Property
20Lost Property
20Smoking
20Traffic and Parking
21Animals on School Grounds
21Fund Raising – Outside Organisations
21University Students – Teaching Practicum
22Financial Policies
22Fee Schedule
22Fee Policy
23Cash Handling Policy
24Education Program
24Montessori Curriculum
24Exceptional Students
24Homework
25Specialists Programs
26Camping Program
26Assessment and Reporting
27Parent Education
28Behaviour Management
28Code of Conduct
30Health Management
30Allergies and Anaphylaxis
30Infectious Diseases
32Medication at School
32Head Lice
33First Aid
34Dress Code and Sun Safety
34Sun Smart Policy
34School Uniform
35Management of Excessive Heat
35Education Programs
36School Services
36Student Banking
36Tuckshop
36Office Services
37Room Booking Facilities
37Advertising in our Newsletters
38Communication
38General Communication
38Newsletter
38School & Class Meetings
38Our Website
38Parent Responsibilities
39Appendices
40Appendix 1 – Compulsory Schooling
41Appendix 2 – Complaints Policy
47Appendix 3 – Behaviour Management Policy
Principal’s Welcome
Dear Parent/Guardian,
The Caboolture Montessori School welcomes you to our family! Our Vision and Mission statements remind us that we work as a team cooperatively to achieve greatly. With your support our environment will be inviting and children, parents and staff will look forward to spending time in their second home.
Montessori education is providing growth to many children and will continue to prepare students for the future in a caring and knowledgeable way. As parents our desires for our children are that they are happy, respectful and will be successful at anything they choose to do as adults; our task is to ensure we offer experiences appropriate for their stage of development and that all we do is done with what Dr Montessori refers to as ‘intelligent love’. Our nurturing is backed by understanding of, and respect for, these young individuals who attend our lovely school.
When you decided to give your child a Montessori education, you embarked on an amazing journey. You have chosen to be part of your child’s learning, you have selected to understand and support their individual academic and personal development and, most importantly, you have made a conscious decision to discover with your child their potentiality.
Our staff are among the most passionate and giving individuals and are always ready to provide honest communication, so you have always a clear perspective of levels of achievement of your child. They too are in a learning stage, hence are happy to hear your ideas and your dreams for your children. A Classroom Director (Teacher) has your child for approximately three years; therefore, therefore there is some ownership of that child too.
We welcome you again and hope to share this exciting and mysterious journey together and all to become part of a community ‘Learning to Learn’.
Yvonne Rinaldi
Principal
Caboolture Montessori
“Each human being possesses the strength of becoming aware of,
and of facing dangers, the temptations of the world so as to become
inured to them in order to overcome them.
But in order to attain this level through education, it is necessary
to seek the child and to consider him under a new aspect.”
Maria Montessori
(From Childhood to Adolescence)
About our school
Our Vision
To promote positive, peaceful learning with creative, independent, joyful children in a beautiful, inclusive, prepared environment through caring and knowledgeable adults.
Our Mission
The Caboolture Montessori School educates individuals in our school and community, by implementing the Montessori philosophy and methodology. Our aim is to prepare a developmentally appropriate environment to encourage our children to responsibly and respectfully engage in their learning journey.
This mission is best accomplished by:
· Providing a curriculum adhering to rigorous Montessori standards, informed by current thinking and research on child development and learning
· Fostering a love of learning
· Embracing a diverse student body in which students experience and learn to respect ethnic, cultural, economic and other differences and seek to identify common ground
· Recognising that personal growth involves responsibility toward others and toward the Earth
· Facilitating the involvement of parents, Classroom Directors, students and the larger community
Our History
The Harmony Montessori School, Caboolture opened in 1998, operating out of the Caboolture Historical Village with just 8 students. In 1999, the school moved to its current location at 200 Old Gympie Road with 23 students and in 2008 changed its name to Caboolture Montessori School. 2010 was a very special year for the School – we purchased the land at our current location which has secured our position and future in Caboolture and the School was also accredited to include Prep aged children in 2010.
From these modest beginnings, our school has grown to be a thriving community of children, parents, faculty and staff and in 2011 serves around 130 students between the ages of 4 ½ and 12.
School Philosophy and Methodology
Our Day
We start our day by welcoming each student to their second home and then students get ready for the day by preparing their work. A three hour work cycle is followed daily to provide our students with maximum time for concentration and lengthy work (big work).
Morning tea is a short break of approximately ten to fifteen minutes. This provides the child with time to have water and a snack and then return to work refreshed. Children are given an approximate time of when they can have their break and it is left to the student to responsibly manage their time.
Lunch time at the CMS is preceded by play time. Children have time to expend energy and enjoy the outdoors before sitting in the class for a formal lunch. Lunch brought to school has to be healthy and follow school policies.
Our day usually ends with a group activity and always with a class duty for each student. Duties deal with our environment. Each child is responsible for their environment and to keep it beautiful and inviting. Children will tidy shelves, clean materials, water plants and any other activity that will prepare their class for the next day.
Group activities are limited to class general information or cultural activities. Children will participate in group activities if they choose to share their work with the rest of the class. Group work is done by children selecting to work together on a task or project. Often a class director will gather students at the end of the day to read a novel or at the beginning of the day to discuss daily work expectations.
Our Class
Each child and staff member regards their environment as their second home and as such cares for their classroom by preparing it each day.
There are at least three age groups (6-9 and 9-12) in each class, except for our Foundation class. This class has children from 5-6 and occasionally 7 year olds. The reason for the choice of the multi-age classroom is to adhere to developmental levels set by Maria Montessori. Children in a specific stage of development have similar needs therefore gain greatly by being in the same environment; furthermore having older children is supportive of learning for younger students. Older students benefit by having younger pupils to care for; this increases their empathy and confidence.
Our class extends to our outdoors. Students are able to sit and complete their work at desks on the veranda; however, what we really mean by outdoors is the environment that surrounds our classrooms. Studying leaves is far more interesting under a tree or by a bush; learning about insects and birds is more exciting if we can sit near a river or a billabong. Learning takes on a different meaning when it is real and can be applied to our environment.
Lessons within the class are always presented through a ‘Three Period Lesson’. Children are adapted to a new concept through Montessori equipment or sensorial resources, they then practice with these materials until they feel they understand and can work independently. At this point students are then assessed by asking them to repeat the lesson and show their understanding.
Our Adults
Adults at the Caboolture Montessori School are first and foremost passionate educators and learners. Each Classroom Director has completed a four year degree in education and some have completed further studies. Each Classroom Director has completed a Montessori Diploma or is in the process of gaining their Montessori qualifications.
Staff and management work together to continue improving our educational setting and to adopt strategies to build better partnerships with our students and parents. Our Montessori vision is managed and promotes by all in the school.
Our Curriculum
At the Caboolture Montessori School we follow the Montessori curriculum. We have incorporated Queensland ‘Essential Learnings’, the ‘Year 2 Net’ and sections of the Queensland Curriculum to provide a rich and comprehensive integrated curriculum. We are preparing to adjust to the National Curriculum, however, maintaining the integrity of our Montessori scope and sequence.
Montessori Terms
Classroom Director: In a Montessori class we do not have a ‘teacher’; we have a guide or Classroom Director. This adult is there to support learning and teaching, by meeting individual learning styles and abilities. We are most certainly not there to teach, but to learn with our students and share information we as adults have learned through experience.
Developmental Stages: Length of time within an individual’s life where specific needs should be monitored and aided for optimal growth. Dr Montessori, Piaget, Erikson, Levinson and others have identified similar developmental stages. In our environment we identify stages that include approximately three years (0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12).
Sensitive Periods: Sensitive Periods are transitory periods in our life when specific developmental needs translate into an interest towards areas of learning. Learning during this time becomes easy and enjoyable. These periods can last a month or a few years. Maria Montessori identified specific sensitive periods for various ages.
Absorbent Mind: The truly impressively absorbent mind of the child between the ages of 0-6 is the greatest factor humans have for learning. This individual is in tune with everything around them and memories of events and concepts are formed unconsciously and then consciously within their inquisitive brain.
Three Hour Work Period: This is the morning working session in a Montessori class. Children have the ability to focus for longer periods and to spontaneously motivate themselves and concentrate on tasks. Maria Montessori identified patterns of learning that can only happen if there are no interruptions to distract the individual. These observations were recorded scientifically.
Observation: Our methodology was based on the Doctor’s observations of children and our legacy is to adopt this tool and use it in a scientific manner to collect relevant data in a natural environment.
Cycle: Our classrooms are defined as Cycles. Each class/Cycle has at least three age groups within them. It is the responsibility of the class Director to provide an environment specially prepared to support the attributes and characteristics of the age group in that class.
Prepared Environment: The classroom has a truly important role in the performance and holistic development of the student. Adults prepare the class and provide an environment that meets the child’s stage of development and attributes that empower ownership of the space around them.
Transition: Our children move to the next Cycle usually after three years of being in this class. The move will happen when and if the student shows signs of readiness for the next developmental stage.
Normalisation: A child who enrols at our school will not always have had a Cycle 1 (3-6) Montessori education and, therefore, may not be able to function independently in a Montessori class. The student who can choose appropriate work, who can concentrate on and complete their chosen task, who is ‘master’ of their own environment and is generally a happy, busy, respectful little human – a ‘Normalised’ child!
Cosmic Education: Maria Montessori and her son Mario Montessori developed an integrated curriculum for the following areas: science, botany, zoology, history, geography, physics, psychology, etc. These disciplines were to be studied by the child with a global view of our world and with the intent that the child would see herself/himself as part of this world; in fact it is important that the child perceives their role in managing or changing the world they live in.
Elementary: The word elementary is used in Montessori books instead of primary (elementary class, instead of primary class). In Europe and America, education for children between the ages of 5 and 12 is called elementary.
School Structure and Organisation
The Caboolture Montessori School is fully accredited by the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board (NSSAB) (www.nssab.qld.edu.au), the regulating body for independent schools in Queensland.
Our School is governed by the Moreton Bay Montessori Association Inc. (MBMA), a not-for-profit Incorporated Association managed by a Management Committee. The MBMA is responsible for the broad strategic planning for the school and is accountable for the financial management of the school. The MBMA upholds legal responsibility for the school and is the registered body for State and Federal recurrent education funding. Further information about the MBMA is contained on page 12.
The Principal manages the School and all staff on a day to day basis and manages all aspects of our Education Program. Each classroom, or Cycle, is managed by a Classroom Director who is assisted by Classroom Assistants.
Affiliations
Our School is a member of Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) (www.aisq.qld.edu.au), a not-for-profit organisation that supports and represents the interests of independent schools in Queensland. Our School is also a member of the Montessori Australia Foundation (MAF) (www.montessori.org.au), an organisation that promotes Montessori Education and represents the interests of Montessori Schools in Australia and around the world.
School Staff
Principal
Yvonne Rinaldi
Classroom Directors
Nido (Infant Group)
Marlene
Cycle 1
Bernice Wooler (Sea Turtles)
Kathy Bennett (Sea Stars)
Cycle 2
Natasha Salerno (Sea Horses)
Nikki Butcher (Dolphins)
Cycle 3
Elizabeth Hudson (Amphibians)
Anne Miller (Otters)
Specialist Teaching Staff
Learning Support Teacher
Carmel Ailey
LOTE Teacher (Italian)
Rosie Contarino
HPE Teacher & Librarian
Kelly Webster
Classroom Assistants
General
Leah Brindley
Sue Eades
Leah Jessop
Theshnee Moodley
Jane Smith
Jody Thornely
Learning Support
Debbie Williams
Administration
School Secretary
Chris Ham
Nicky Iliffe
Business Services Coordinator
Psyche Clark
Financial Officer
Hayley Martin
Ancillary Staff
Cleaner
Tracey Bolton
Grounds & Maintenance Coordinator
Filip Krygsman
Our Location
Our school is located at:
200 Old Gympie Road, Caboolture, Queensland
SHAPE \* MERGEFORMAT
Contact Information
Mailing address:
PO Box 1610
CABOOLTURE QLD 4510
Phone:(07) 5495 5877
Fax:(07) 5499 3927
Email:School Secretary:[email protected]
Business Services Coordinator:[email protected]
Financial Officer:[email protected]
Principal:[email protected]
Web:www.cms.qld.edu.au
Emergency Contact Information
Our phone system does not work when we have a power failure and this means that parents are not able to contact the school at these times. The school owns a mobile phone for use when our phone system is not working (so that parents can contact the school) and for when we need to evacuate the school during an emergency (so that we can contact emergency services).
Please add our emergency mobile number to your mobile phone contacts and place in an accessible location at home and work.
Emergency Mobile Phone Number:0400 688 933
School Office Hours
Our School Office hours are between 8.15am and 4.00pm during term.
Office hours for each school holiday will be announced in the last newsletter issued prior to that holiday.
Campus Map
Moreton Bay Montessori Association Inc.
The Caboolture Montessori School is owned and managed by an incorporated association, the Moreton Bay Montessori Association Inc. (‘the Association’).
Each year at the Annual General Meeting, members of the association elect a Management Committee to manage the Association’s affairs for a period of twelve months.
The purposes, powers and responsibilities of the Association and its Management Committee are set out in the organisation’s Constitution, lodged with the Office of Fair Trading (Queensland). A copy of the Association’s Constitution is available for perusal at the School Office.
Becoming an association member enables you to have a say in determining who manages the Association’s business and to nominate, if you wish, for election to the Management Committee. Those elected play a direct role in governing the Association and School.
The Management Committee is accountable to the Association members for ensuring the future strategic development of the organisation, including responsibility for the overall approval of capital development, educational, financial and human resource management policies governing the Caboolture Montessori School.
The Management Committee is also accountable to the State and Commonwealth Governments for all grant-funding contracts and to the Non-State School Accreditation Board for the provision of education as a Service Provider, both of which enable the school to operate.
The day-to-day operation of the school is delegated to a professional staff of teachers and administrators under the leadership of the Principal, who is directly involved in formulating, recommending and implementing school policies. The Principal is the first point of contact for all matters relating to the management of the school.
The Current Management Committee
The current Association Management Committee is made up of:
President:Bronwyn Conway ([email protected])
Vice President: ([email protected])
Treasurer:Matt Gray ([email protected])
Secretary:Yvonne Packbier ([email protected])
Committee Member:Kirsten Berkan
Committee Member:Andy Carl
Communication of matters regarding the Association may be addressed to the Management Committee via the Secretary either by email to [email protected] or in writing to:
The Secretary
Moreton Bay Montessori Association Inc.
Suite 414, 193 Morayfield Road
MORAYFIELD QLD 4506
Benefits for Members
All Members receive:
· Voting rights and the opportunity to take an active role in seeing to the fulfilment of the ‘Objects of Association’, as set down in the Constitution.
· An invitation to the Annual General Meeting and other Association functions.
· A copy of the Annual Report.
Your responsibilities when becoming a Member of the Association include:
· Endeavour to promote and learn about the Montessori philosophy.
· Loyalty and/or obligations assumed with membership of any organisation.
· Foregoing your own self-interest – a group with aligned vision has more power to accomplish association goals than the individual.
· Acknowledging the Management Committee acts from a ‘big picture’ viewpoint – whose elected responsibility and accumulated knowledge decide forward direction and policy in line with ‘best practice’ good governance.
· Joining in sub-committees and ad hoc working groups when available, acknowledging if all members assist in planning and development tasks – within delegated guidelines for actions and rules of conduct – cohesive, concerted actions for the organisation may be achieved.
· Bringing to the attention of the Management Committee issues regarding the organisation – its goals and actions – in writing, clearly and succinctly, highlighting concerns and addressing possible solutions.
If you are not already an Association Member
If you wish to become an Association Member, please ask at the school office for an application for membership. Your application must be endorsed by two association members and will be effective once it has been approved at an Executive Management Committee meeting.
MONTH
DATE
EVENT
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
–
17 February
24 March
–
19 May
June
21 July
25 August
22 September
20 October
–
1 December
–
Executive Meeting
Executive Meeting
–
Executive Meeting
Date to be Advised
Executive Meeting
Executive Meeting
Executive Meeting
Executive Meeting
–
Executive Meeting
Caboolture Montessori School Parents & Friends Association Inc.
The role of the Parents & Friends Association at the Caboolture Montessori School has been a supportive and caring role. It is a way of getting the community involved with fun events and more importantly to share in the vision of the school by providing means to achieve in areas that would not be addressed if the P&F did not help.
Fundraising:
The P&F Association is actively involved in fund-raising. The P&F organises and administers raffles and drives throughout the year and operates the School Tuck Shop. They are instrumental in planning and running the Biannual Fete. All funds raised through the School are returned to the School, to benefit students.
Volunteers:
The Caboolture Montessori School values our parent volunteers. The P&F offers many opportunities for parents to become involved with their child’s School such as becoming an Executive Member of the Management Committee, helping out in the Tuck Shop and organising fundraising activities. Any time you can give will be appreciated and considered significant.
If you would like any further information about your P&F please feel free to call the School Office on 5495 5877.
Management Committee
The current P&F Committee is made up of the following members:
Chairman:Ray Murrell ([email protected])
Vice Chairman:Kimberley Martinsen ([email protected])
Secretary:Candice Fearn ([email protected])
Treasurer:Paul Fazey ([email protected])
Committee Member:Ally Willemsen ([email protected])
Committee Member:Wendy Ryan ([email protected])
Committee Member:Robyn Jones ([email protected])
Committee Member:Vicki Cole ([email protected])
Tuckshop Convenor:
Meetings
The P&F meets at 6.30pm on the 1st Thursday of each month. Please come along and become involved in the future of your child's school.
MONTH
P&F Meeting
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
-
3rd
10th AGM
7th
5th
2nd
-
4th
1st
6th
3rd
1st
School Calendar2012 Academic Year
School & Class Events
EVENT
DATE
Assembly & Candle Ceremony
Class Meetings
Anzac Day Assembly
Class Meetings
Mother’s Day Stall
NAPLAN Testing
Parent/Directress Conferences
QCAT Testing
Class Meetings
International Montessori Children’s Day
Maria Montessori’s Birthday
Father’s Day Stall
Working Bee
School Concert
Environment Day
Class Meetings
Photographs
Cycle 3 Transition Forum
Grandparents Day
Working Bee
Parent/Directress Conferences
Graduation Dinner
Graduation Assembly & Disco
------------------------------------------------------
Cycle 3 Camp
Cycle 2 Camp
------------------------------------------------------
Sports Day
------------------------------------------------------
Book Fair
Book Fair
------------------------------------------------------
Open Day
Open Day
Open Day
Open Day
1 February
1 – 4 February
27 April
2 – 6 May
6 May
10-12 May
14 – 17 June
Term 3
25 – 29 July
4 August
31 August
2 September
3 September
14 September
18 September
10 – 14 October
6 September
31 August
4 November
12 November
21 – 25 November
24 November
1 December
----------------------------------
3 – 5 February
18 – 20 August
----------------------------------
19 August
----------------------------------
T.B.A
T.B.A
----------------------------------
13 March
10 June
11 September
17 November
Community Events
Semester One
EVENT
DATE
TIME
New Parents’ Welcome
Community Meeting
Meet the Board
Principal’s Open Forum
T.B.A
9 February
27 April
5 May
6.30pm – 8pm
2pm – 3pm
9am – 10am
9am – 10am
Semester Two
EVENT
DATE
TIME
New Parents’ Welcome
Community Meeting
Meet the Board
27 July
24 August
25 August
6.30pm – 8pm
9am – 10am
9am – 10am
Parent Education Events
Semester One
EVENT
DATE
TIME
Volunteering in a school
Practical Life at home and school
Journey & Discovery
Dealing with Technology
NAPLAN
Choices & Consequences
Monday 21 February
Monday 7 March
Friday 1 & Saturday 2 April
Monday 4 April
Monday 9 May
Monday 6 June
9am – 10.30am
9am – 10.30am
7–8.30pm & 8am–12.30pm
9am – 10.30am
9am – 10.30am
9am – 10.30am
Semester Two
EVENT
DATE
TIME
Sensitive Periods and Learning
Montessori and the Golden Beads
Journey & Discovery
Grammar in Montessori
Stress and Our Children
Positive Reinforcement
Monday 25 July
Monday 22 August
Friday 5 & Saturday 6 August
Monday 12 September
Monday 10 October
Monday 14 November
9am – 10.30am
7–8.30pm & 8am–12.30pm
9am – 10.30am
9am – 10.30am
9am – 10.30am
9am – 10.30am
NOTES:Dates for School & Class Events, Community Events and Parent Education Events are set well in advance and are subject to change. Changes will be advertised as soon as they are known.
SCHOOL POLICIES & PROCEDURESDuty of care
The Principal and Teachers hold duty of care responsibility for all enrolled students on school grounds, during school hours between 8.15am and 3.15pm. Our School enjoys the involvement of parents and the community for volunteer activities at many times outside of school hours and many parents bring children with them at these times. We need to advise parents that any children brought onto school grounds outside of school hours (other than for scheduled school events) are entirely the responsibility of the person who brings them. Children not enrolled at our School who are brought onto school grounds during school hours must be supervised at all times by a parent/guardian. The school is only staffed at very specific times during school term, and cannot maintain duty of care outside of specified school hours.
Child Protection Policy
It is important that you familiarise yourself with the Child Protection Policy to ensure understanding of safety measures that may affect your child/ren. A copy of the policy is displayed in the School Office on the Notice Board at the front door. Please ask the School Secretary for a copy if you would like one.
The School Day
School Hours
Our school (classroom) day runs from 8.30am to 3.00pm.
Arrival
Student drop-off is between 8.15am and 8.30am.
We are not able to accept children into the classroom before 8.15am as our Classroom Directors need to complete their preparation for the day’s activities. We appreciate your cooperation with this difficult issue.
Late Arrival
All children must be in their classroom and ready to commence the day’s activities by no later than 8.30am. If your child arrives at school after 8.35am, they must report to the School Office to be signed in by the person dropping them off. Teachers will not accept children into their classroom after 8.35am without a “Late to School” slip from the School Office.
Collection
Student pick-up is between 3.00pm and 3.15pm.
If parents find that it is necessary to alter daily arrangements for collecting children at 3.00pm, it would be appreciated if a phone call could be made to the school before 2.30pm. This will assist Administration Staff in ensuring children are located and the message delivered. Children collected before 3.00pm must be signed out at administration.
If children are being picked-up by anyone besides the usual adults, please advise administration. This is a safety matter.
Late Collection
It is very important that all children are collected by 3.15pm, as the school is not staffed to supervise children after this time. Please ensure that alternate arrangements are made if you are not personally able to collect your child/ren by 3.15pm.
Attendance
The Queensland Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 states that it is compulsory for all children enrolled at our School to attend school on every school day unless they are excluded due to illness. Any child who is absent from school for more than 10% of school days in any term, without a suitable explanation from a parent or guardian, may be referred to the Dept of Education. Please see Appendix 1 for further information on compulsory education.
Absenteeism
The School Secretary must be notified when a student is going to be absent from school for any reason. If no notice is received by the start of the school day, a parent or guardian will be contacted. When a child returns to school following an absence of any duration, a signed note from a parent or guardian explaining the reason for absence must be sent to the School. When a note is not received, parents will be asked to complete one. You may be required to bring a note from your family physician, if so required by the Principal, if your child has been absent for a few days.
Compulsory exclusion from school due to illness
Students who contract communicable illnesses must remain at home for the specified minimum length of time as detailed in our Exclusions Policy on page 27. The School Secretary must be notified immediately In the event of your child contracting one of these illnesses so that other parents can be informed if necessary and teachers can observe other students for symptoms.
Students must not be brought to school when displaying symptoms of any illness, even if there has been no doctor’s diagnosis. We have a duty of care to protect all students and staff and any child sent to school with symptoms of any of the illnesses listed on our Exclusions Policy will be removed from class immediately and parents/guardians will be called to take them home.
If a child becomes ill or is injured during the school day, parents will be asked to collect their child from school. Children must be collected within 1 hour of a parent being notified, as our school is not staffed or equipped for the extended care of sick children.
Exemption from Class Activities
Should you desire that your child be exempted from school activities (e.g. Physical Education or Sport that may seriously affect the child’s health) a note must be forwarded to the child’s teacher, stating the reason for the exemption and the length of time that this exemption is to be effective.
Access to the SchoolVisitors
For safety reasons, all visitors to our School, without exception, must report to the School Office to sign in to our visitor book and receive a visitor badge. This includes any parent/guardian/etc. visiting the school for volunteer activities or for meetings with the Principal or other members of staff.
Removal from school grounds
Under the Safety In Schools program run by the Federal Government, the Principal has the authority to remove from school grounds any person without a legitimate reason for being there, or any person who poses a danger to any other person or to school property. Should the Principal not be on school grounds when such an individual is identified, then any member of staff has the authority to carry out this duty on the Principal’s behalf.
If any person does not immediately comply with a demand from an authorised person to leave the school grounds, the police will be called to ensure their removal.
Volunteers
Our School prospers greatly from the help of parent volunteers, for which we are very grateful. We would, however, like to advise that it is not appropriate for parents volunteering at the school to go into their child’s classroom during school hours without prior arrangement with the teacher as this is very disruptive to the class. Volunteers must report and sign-in at the administration block before attending their work at school.
Access to Students
Should you require access to your child during school hours, all requests must be made through the School Office.
Permission to leave school grounds during school hours
Should you need to remove your child from class during the school day, they will need to be signed out and signed back in (if they are returning to class that day) through the School Office. Teachers will not release children from the classroom without a “Student Absence Notice” slip from the School Office.
We will not remove a child from the classroom unless there is an emergency or by prior arrangement. Any appointments for activities not directly related to your child’s health or education should be scheduled outside of school hours.
Telephone access
Unless there is an emergency, neither teachers nor students will be called to the telephone during class time and routine matters or messages for teachers and students will be handled by Administration Staff.
Students may not carry or use mobile phones while on the school campus. Students may use the school phone to call parents at the discretion of Administration Staff should the need arise.
Students’ Personal Property
No responsibility is taken for the safekeeping of any valuable items brought to school by students. Items not required for academic or extracurricular activities (such as toys, games, iPods, etc.) may not be used during the school day.
Lost Property
It is essential that all property be labelled with the child's name so that they may be returned to the owner if lost. A receptacle for lost property is located in the School Office and parents may visit the school at any time during office hours to check for lost items. As the School does not have space for long term storage of such items, any unlabelled lost property not claimed by the last day of each term will be donated to the uniform shop for resale/donated to charity/thrown away (as applicable).
Smoking
As per Education Queensland’s smoking policy, there is strictly no smoking allowed on or within 10 metres of School grounds.
Traffic and Parking
Our traffic signs and direction will change once our car par extension has been completed, for now:
Please observe the following traffic and parking rules while on school grounds:
1. There is a speed limit of 10 km/hr at all times when driving on school grounds.
2. All visitors (INCLUDING PARENTS/GUARDIANS) must park in the Visitor Parking lot. Parking in any other area is not allowed.
3. Parking in front of the administration building is reserved for Staff.
4. A waiting zone is located in front of the first classroom block and extends back around the driveway. Parents must not leave their cars when using the waiting zone – the Visitor Parking lot must be used if you wish to leave your car.
Animals on School Grounds
Stray animals on School Grounds will be referred to the local animal pound for removal. This is to ensure the safety of our children. Animals visiting classrooms will be permitted only within the scope of our Animals on School Grounds policy. Please do not bring dogs to the school when dropping off/collecting children.
Fund Raising – Outside Organisations
It is our policy not to allow any form of fundraising by outside organisations (e.g. Scouts, Guides, sporting groups) to be conducted within the school unless official approval has been obtained from the Principal.
University Students – Teaching Practicum
Our school is a training centre for Diploma in Teaching, Bachelor of Teaching and Bachelor of Education students from a number of Universities in the Brisbane Metropolitan and Sunshine Coast areas. Students attend the school throughout the year for varying periods of time to gain experience in classroom teaching practices. They are supervised by Administration Staff and Teachers.
Financial Policies
Fee Schedule
The fee schedule for 2012 is detailed below:
1st Child
2nd Child
3rd Child
4th Child
Term Fee
$890.00
$845.50
$801.00
$712.00
Building Fund
$100.00
$50.00
$25.00
$25.00
A further 10% discount is available if the full year’s Term Fees are paid at the start of the year.
Payment Methods
Fees can be paid by:
1. Cash
Please make cash payments at the School Office either in person to Administration Staff, or using one of our Cash Payment Envelopes (our secure mailbox in reception can be used if the office is unattended). Please ensure that payment details are clearly written on Cash Payment Envelopes so that funds can be applied to your account without delay.
We will issue a receipt for all cash payments.
2. Cheque
Please deliver or mail cheques to our School Office. Please ensure that a remittance advice is attached to all cheques to assist staff. Alternatively, a Cash Payment Envelope can be used to provide payment details.
Please make cheques payable to “Caboolture Montessori School”.
3. Electronic Funds Transfer
Please use internet banking or contact your bank to arrange a transfer of funds to our bank account. Please use your invoice/statement number as a reference.
Our account details are:
Term Fees:
Financial Institution:NAB
Account Name:Caboolture Montessori School
BSB:084 004
Account Number:174182377
Building Fund Levy:
Financial Institution:NAB
Account Name:Caboolture Montessori School – Building Fund
BSB:084 004
Account Number:174185463
4. EFTPOS
Please visit the School Office to make EFTPOS payments using debit cards, Visa and MasterCard. Credit card payments can be made over the phone during office hours.
Fee Policy
Fees are due 2 weeks after the start of each term – please see our Finance Officer, Hayley Martin, to arrange a payment plan if you would like to pay weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
Please contact us as soon as possible if you think you will have trouble paying your school fees to ensure that the School can assist you to meet your responsibilities and needs.
Cash Handling Policy
The School has adopted the following policies and procedures in relation to cash handling:
1. All cash payments must be made using a School Payment Envelope. Each family will be provided with a supply of envelopes at the beginning of each term and they are also available from the School Office.
2. Cash (or any other) payments, INCLUDING payments for class activities, will not be accepted by teachers and must be made to our Administration Staff. We have a secure mailbox for all correspondence and payments on our School Office front door should the office be closed or unattended.
3. All cash payments must be issued a cash receipt by Administration Staff to facilitate the tracking of these payments. Should cash payments be left in our secure mailbox, a receipt will be sent home with your eldest child on the same day (or the next school day if not posted on a school day).
4. No responsibility, whatsoever, will be assumed by the School for cash that is mailed to us through Australia Post.
Education Program
The Caboolture Montessori School provides a full Montessori curriculum and addresses all areas of the Australian Curriculum and Queensland Education requirements. Programs are based on the Montessori syllabi and include outcomes from the Australian Curriculum. Outcomes are monitored using a range of continuous assessment strategies which support our methodology and at the same time provide clear direction for student learning. Our reporting to parents is via an individual student Report Card twice a year in conjunction with Parent-Teacher interviews. The School Annual Report to the community and Education Queensland provide information on the school’s achievement of:
· Montessori understanding
· Student Outcomes
· Degree of satisfaction of parents, students and staff
· School Achievements
Students are offered a three hour work cycle. This ensures students have an uninterrupted work session every morning to enhance concentration and self-motivation.
Specialist programs are delivered on Fridays or in the afternoon and are monitored to ensure they follow our philosophy of learning.
Montessori Curriculum
The Caboolture Montessori School offers your child a comprehensive and pedagogically sound curriculum. All learning areas are addressed through the Montessori curriculum, based on Dr Maria Montessori’s philosophy and methodology. The school has a unique curriculum; CMS embeds expected standards from Australian Curriculum outcomes into our syllabi.
Our curriculum is comprised of, but not limited to, our ten learning areas (English, Mathematics, The Arts, SOSE, Technology, LOTE, Health & PE, Science, Practical Life and Sensorial). Learning that happens in the classroom, outdoors and at home is considered an essential part of our curriculum.
Exceptional Students
Within the Montessori environment, students are encouraged to view everyone as different and to value the differences we each bring to our community. Our curriculum is designed to foster attributes necessary to meet children’s needs from a wide spectrum of abilities:
· Learning sensorially with a ‘hands on’ approach. Children learn through our concrete materials;
· Learning through a visual, auditory and kinaesthetic manner with each concept taught;
· The materials are self-correcting; this provides a high level of self-esteem;
· The curriculum is developmental and sequential. Each individual can extend their learning vertically or horizontally within a specific learning area, according to their skill set;
· Each concept taught has been broken down into consecutive steps for better acquisition;
· Each classroom offers materials that will be introduced in a higher Cycle (level), so they can extend their learning;
· Comparative achievements between children are never made.
Our school offers a program to support students with exceptional needs, however our preference is to maintain as much as possible complete integration with class learning. Gifted & Talented or children that require some learning support, have similar needs and we believe at the Caboolture Montessori School that all deserve a ‘fair go’, hence we are committed to offer the best program with the family’s help.
Homework
Children become aware very soon that in a Montessori environment, homework is not a normal occurrence. However, we follow a Freedom and Discipline rule: children are free to work in class during work time; if this does not happen, work is sent home. Homework tasks can be based on practical life skills or can be research based. Please ensure students complete the work themselves, as it demonstrates their ability and motivation.
Reading, spelling and times tables usually require the support of parents at home as many children still need a rote learning process (a mechanical memorising process using routine or repetition, often without full attention or comprehension).
In Cycle 1 & 2, a reading folder may be sent home every day. This is not indicative of a policy that older students should not read. Please give your children the luxury of having many selected books to provide them with a love of reading. There is no set homework amount; it is at the Classroom Director’s discretion based on the term’s plan and your child’s specific needs.
Specialists Programs
Classroom Music
All children participate in a classroom music program. The program is provided by our teachers and focuses on the provision of access and opportunity to develop performance skills in this learning area, but more importantly entice the student to learn more within this discipline. Classroom music is assessed separately from Instrumental music.
Instrumental Music
Independent teachers of Instrumental Music visit the school weekly and offer lessons in Piano, Violin, Guitar, Singing and Recorder. Please contact the music teachers directly for further information.
Visual Arts
Our curriculum integrates all learning areas as much as possible and art is particularly easy to introduce in any discipline. Students learn that their mathematics work can represent a work of art as well as their sketching of a task in zoology.
Drama & Dance
Our children participate in role plays, concerts, formal speaking and many daily activities to support this area of learning. We include specific external programs for the older students to increase their social awareness and physical skills, as well as enhance their creative abilities.
The Cycle 3 students will be involved in the art of debating. This will foster confidence and public speaking.
Health and Physical Education
As we value having healthy and mentally alert scholars, we provide a Physical Education program that includes the Montessori aspect of social interaction and cooperative learning. Children are involved in a variety of physical events and staff include activities that support healthy attitudes. Encourage your child to always participate in physical work/activities. We will include at times external programs to support our P. E. program, such as archery and the Active After-School Communities Program.
The AASC program will run three times a week.
LOTE (Languages Other Than English)
Our School has selected to teach the Italian language as our second language. Our rationale for this decision is the following:
· Maria Montessori was Italian
· Italian being a Latin derivative supports learning (spelling, writing, etymology)
· Research confirms that learning a second language establishes more pathways in the brain, to enhance learning
Camping Program
The Montessori philosophy would not work unless we provide students with experiences to foster independent learning. Camp is just one of these activities. Children are given opportunities to be with their peers and to find ways of coping away from their parents and familiar surrounds. It is a safe and healthy way to give our growing individuals experiences with direct cause and effect.
The general aim of this program is to provide an opportunity for each child to develop self-reliance and independence, to develop skills through social interaction (such as confidence, co-operation and tolerance of others) and also to experience a range of environmental learning activities related to various aspects of the curriculum.
Attendance at camp is a requirement at the Caboolture Montessori School.
Locations and Parent Support
A selection of locations is offered, to ensure students visit a variety of sites and experience different activities. All camps are investigated to address safety and professionalism and are selected with the children’s developmental stage as a pre-requisite.
Parent support is very beneficial and we appreciate parents that volunteer their time and expertise. Parents should choose to come on camp because they are willing to support the Classroom Director and not to supervise their own child. Trust your child to cope for a few days away from you.
Assessment and Reporting
Evaluation / Assessments / Tests
Montessori recommended that we do not identify specific tests to form opinions of children, but to rather avail ourselves with a variety of assessments, including ‘natural observations’ (observations of children in a familiar environment). Assessments are an integral part of the teaching and learning process. At the Caboolture Montessori School we adopt different assessment methods and the objectives of these are:
· to assess the progress of the child in all areas of the curriculum;
· to assess the effectiveness of our teaching approaches;
· to evaluate the effectiveness and quality of all programs;
· to develop a program that is continuous and consistent with current trends;
· to report to parents; and
· to report to Education Queensland on the progress of students.
We are required by the Queensland Government to complete specific testing with our students. NAPLAN testing in year 3, 5 and 7 are done in May each year and results are received around August/September. A report is issued to the parent from the school. Please do not compare students when receiving these tests. The information derived would be statistically inaccurate and invalid. Children can be in a Cycle for more or less time than another student of the same age. The tests are relevant to inform our teaching and to give us another picture of each student. Our students complete Queensland Comparable Assessment Tasks (QCATs) for English, Mathematics and Science in years 4, 6 and 9. The moderation of these tasks is helpful to ensure students are prepared for higher education and for staff to promote, assist and improve learning and teaching.
All schools are required to share school and student achievements with their community. Privacy is observed at all times.
Parents have the right to ask the school to withdraw their child from any external testing.
Reporting
Written Reports
Written reports of student progress will be issued at the conclusion of each Semester. These reports will be easy to understand and will give a clear window into your child’s progress.
Parent Conferences
Formal parent conferences to discuss each student’s progress will be scheduled at the same time as the distribution of the written report.
Parents who wish to discuss a concern at other times of the school year may arrange an appointment with the Classroom Director. Please do not expect a meeting with Classroom Directors before or during class time, unless planned with the Director/Principal.
Parent Education
Children are happy learners in an ideal learning environment. For this purpose, and because Montessori is misinterpreted far too often, we offer parents a complete parent program. The benefit of parents attending is multi-fold: children feel more understood, parents comprehend better what their child does during the day at school, and parents are more aware of what is being delivered and are able to assess the program more effectively.
Parent Education is part of your commitment when you enrol at the Caboolture Montessori School. For children to succeed, Montessori recommends that three entities should be involved: Parents, the School and of course the Children.
The programs we offer are the following:
· Parent education sessions – monthly
· Journey and Discovery – 2 or 3 workshops a year
· Class meetings – Learning Journeys
· Montessori material making – making equipment for the children
Behaviour Management
Caboolture Montessori School recognises that pastoral care and behaviour management is a cooperative process that relies on a consistent and shared approach between home and school. Through positive steps staff, students and parents strive to develop a genuine sense of belonging. We endeavour to foster positive self-esteem so that each individual may develop skills to enable them to meet expectations and own responsibilities, consistent with our beliefs and goals as a Montessori school.
The school’s Behaviour Management Policy highlights the need for productive partnerships between home and school in order to successfully manage behaviour using positive preventive action, skilful problem solving and providing intensive support where needed. Mutual respect, courtesy and fair treatment between parents, staff and students is essential for this to be achieved.
The Education Act’s provision to suspend or exclude students for serious and/or repeated inappropriate behaviour is included within the school’s program.
For further information of Behaviour Management please see Appendix 3.
Code of Conduct
In the classroom
1. Be kind and gentle to one another, respect your fellow neighbour.
2. Everyone has a right to privacy and concentration. Allow children who are concentrating on their work to work without distractions.
3. Stay on task and work productively in class.
4. Follow all reasonable teacher requests.
5. Everyone has a right to feel safe and secure. Talk about the things that are upsetting you rather than expressing anger or upset feelings in a way that insults or threatens someone else.
6. Everyone has the right to his or her personal belongings. Only touch other people’s belongings if you have their permission. If you accidentally lose or break something, please replace it without a fuss.
7. Everyone has the right to be physically safe. At all times be aware of actions that might hurt or endanger anyone in any way. This includes using verbal put downs towards anyone in the school.
8. At Caboolture Montessori School, no one is allowed to fight, push, trip or use any other aggressive behaviour.
On the playground
1. Only play in designated areas and only when a teacher is present. The parking lot is only for vehicles, the area behind the classrooms (down the side of the school) is for cars to drive through.
2. All children must have shoes and a hat on when playing outside at any time. That includes before and after school. NO HAT, NO PLAY in the sun!
3. Use the playground equipment as intended, e.g. always walk (don’t run) on the green mat area and slide down the slide rather than walking up. Follow teachers’ instructions on the playground.
4. Think about what types of games you play at play time. They need to be inclusive, cooperative and fun for everyone.
5. Always be mindful of the effect your physical actions have on other people around you. We all want to feel safe and happy at our school.
6. Please put all balls, ropes and other outdoor equipment away when you are finished playing with them.
7. Leave sticks and stones on the ground at all times.
Care of the environment
1. The environment belongs to the children and is, therefore, their responsibility as well.
2. Everyone is expected to help maintain the cleanliness of the school. Throw all litter in the bin.
3. Students are expected to help with the daily clean up and care of their class areas.
4. All areas of the school are entrusted to students and adults to care for and maintain.
5. Observe and walk around our trees – they are the animals’ homes.
6. Please respect the plants and animals on school property (and everywhere!).
General safety
1. Always stay under the supervision of your teacher and always ask permission to go anywhere so that they know where you are.
2. Stay on the campus and only leave it with an authorised adult.
3. Please walk (don’t run) on the verandas, in the classrooms and in the toilets.
4. Children may only play on the school grounds outside school hours when they are in the presence of their parent/guardian.
Grace and Courtesy
1. Practice grace and courtesy at all times. It is always wonderful to hear a please, thank you, excuse me, pardon, hello and goodbye.
2. We only use language and signs that are positive and which build us up at the Caboolture Montessori School.
3. Feel good by looking after yourself and looking good.
4. Take pride in your work and all that you do.
5. Be a role model to new students and offer to support them during their initial stages at school.
6. We demonstrate grace and courtesy by always being respectful to one another, no matter our age.
If your child/ren have not read and signed our Code of Conduct Agreement form please contact Administration.
Health ManagementPersonal Medical Information
It is essential that parents advise the School of important details of a child's medical history. This information can then be recorded and conveyed by way of student profile to the relevant teacher, year by year.
Allergies and Anaphylaxis
The School must be informed of any serious allergy that a child has. A serious allergy is one which usually requires the use of antihistamines or, in extreme cases, adrenaline. Any child with an anaphylactic allergy will need to provide the School with an anaphylaxis management plan from their doctor along with 2 Epipens (one for daily use in the classroom, which can be taken home each day, and a backup for the School Office). Parents will be asked to update the action plan at the start of each year and staff are given training in the use of adrenaline pens.
Infectious Diseases
The diseases below may have a period of exclusion attached. Should a student be diagnosed with any of these the parent must contact the school office for exclusion details before sending the child to school. In the event of your child contracting one of these illnesses, notification to the School Secretary is essential in helping us to manage communicable diseases.
Section 47 of the Health Act makes it an offence to send an infected child to school, or for a teacher to knowingly admit an infected child into a classroom, and allows for the compulsory medical inspection of pupils attending school. The most common of these have the exclusion details below for your quick reference.
Condition
Exclusion
Exclusion of Contacts
Chicken pox
Exclude for at least 5 days AND until all blisters have dried.
Any child with an immune deficiency (for example leukaemia) or receiving chemotherapy should be excluded for their own protection. Otherwise not excluded.
Conjunctivitis
Exclude until discharge from eyes has ceased.
Not excluded.
Cytomegalovirus Infection
Exclusion not necessary.
Not excluded.
Diarrhoea
Exclude until diarrhoea has ceased.
Not excluded.
*Diphtheria
Exclude until medical certificate of recovery is received following at least two negative throat swabs, the first not less than 24 hours after finishing a course of antibiotics and the other 48 hours later.
Exclude family/household contacts until cleared to return by an appropriate health authority.
Glandular fever (mononucleosis)
Exclusion is not necessary.
Not excluded.
Hand, Foot and Mouth disease
Exclude until all blisters have dried.
Not excluded.
Haemophilus type b (Hib)
Exclude until medical certificate of recovery is received.
Not excluded.
*Hepatitis A
Exclude until a medical certificate of recovery is received but not before seven days after the onset of jaundice or illness.
Not excluded.
Hepatitis B
Readmit with a medical certificate of recovery.
Not excluded.
Hepatitis C
Exclusion is not necessary.
Not excluded.
Herpes ("cold sores")
Young children unable to comply with good hygiene practices should be excluded while the lesion is weeping. Lesions to be covered by dressing where possible.
Not excluded.
Hookworm
Exclusion not necessary.
Not excluded.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV AIDS)
Exclusion is not necessary unless the child has a secondary infection.
Not excluded.
Impetigo
Exclude until appropriate treatment has commenced. Sores on exposed surfaces must be covered with a watertight dressing.
Not excluded.
Influenza and rhinovirus (‘common cold’)
Exclude until well.
Not excluded.
*Leprosy
Exclude until approval to return has been given by an appropriate health authority.
Not excluded.
Measles
Exclude for at least four days after onset of rash.
Immunised contacts not excluded. Unimmunised contacts should be excluded until 14 days after the first day of appearance of rash in the last case. If unimmunised contacts are vaccinated within 72 hours of their first contact with the first case they may return to school.
Meningitis (bacterial)
Exclude until well.
Not excluded.
*Meningococcal infection
Exclude until adequate carrier eradication therapy has been completed.
Not excluded if receiving rifampicin.
Molluscum contagiosum
Exclusion not necessary.
Not excluded.
Mumps
Exclude for nine days or until swelling goes down (whichever is sooner).
Not excluded.
Parvovirus (slapped cheek, erythema infectiousum, fifth disease)
Exclusion not necessary.
Not excluded.
Poliomyelitis
Exclude for at least 14 days from onset. Re-admit after receiving medical certificate of recovery.
Not excluded.
Ringworm, scabies, pediculosis (lice), trachoma
Re-admit the day after appropriate treatment has commenced.
Not excluded.
Rubella (German measles)
Exclude until fully recovered or for at least four days after the onset of rash.
Not excluded.
Salmonella, Shigella
Exclude until diarrhoea ceases.
Not excluded.
Streptococcal infection (including scarlet fever)
Exclude until the child has received antibiotic treatment for at least 24 hours and the person feels well.
Not excluded.
*Tuberculosis
Exclude until a medical certificate from an appropriate health authority is received.
Not excluded.
*Typhoid fever (including paratyphoid fever)
Exclude until approval to return has been given by an appropriate health authority.
Not excluded unless considered necessary by public health authorities.
*Whooping cough
Exclude the child for five days after starting antibiotic treatment.
Exclude unimmunised household contacts aged less than 7 years for 14 days after the last exposure to infection or until they have taken five days of a 10-day course of antibiotics. (Exclude close child care contacts until they have commenced antibiotics).
Worms (intestinal)
Exclude if diarrhoea present.
Not excluded.
*The School is required to notify the nearest Public Health Unit as soon as possible if attending children or staff are diagnosed with any of these conditions.
Medication at School
Medicines administered at school will be those prescribed by Doctors only. Medicines, including analgesics (paracetamol, aspirin, etc.), cannot be administered unless a "Medication Request Form" is completed and signed by a parent or legal guardian.
It is necessary that all medicines be forwarded in a container, with the Doctor's name and full instructions clearly labelled on the outside by either the Doctor or the Pharmacist. The following extract is from the Education Office Gazette Volume 88, No.22:
· "It is important that medicines be prescribed for administration during school hours only when it is absolutely necessary. In general the medical profession is aware of this so that any medication that is prescribed for dosage while the student is at school is deemed vital for the maintenance of the functional level of the body.
· Should medication prescribed by the student's medical practitioner be required to be administered while the student is at school or involved in school approved activities, a parent/legal guardian must, in the first instance, make a written request to the Principal of the School.”
The instructions on the medication container need to indicate the specific times at which medication is to be administered, as well as the quantity of medication to be administered. Non-prescribed oral medications (such as analgesics and over-the-counter medications) require written directions from the student’s medical practitioner. Cough Lozenges MUST NOT BE BROUGHT TO SCHOOL and will not be administered.
All medication will be stored at the School Office and will be administered by Administration Staff.
Should parents desire to personally administer medication during school hours they may do so by arrangement with the Principal. A register of all medication requests is maintained at the school.
Asthma Medication
Pupils who are responsible for administering their own asthma medication at home will not be denied access to their medications at school.
The following procedures must be followed for those students who administer their own medication:
· Parents or legal guardians must provide written permission for their child to administer their own asthma medication. These requests will need to be made at the beginning of each year.
· The child will be responsible for their inhaler at all times. Parents should provide a second inhaler for emergency situations. This ‘back-up’ supply will be stored in the School Office.
· Inhalers will be returned at the end of each school year.
Head Lice
It is the parent's responsibility to detect and treat head lice infestations. Students with head lice will be removed from class and parents will be contacted to collect them. Children may only return when there are no live insects found.
Please visit the School Office if you would like further information on head lice management.
First Aid
Trained staff deliver first aid in the event of injury or illness and records are kept of even the most minor ‘treatments’ performed by any staff member. We will consult parents immediately if a situation appears to be serious.
Ambulance
The school contributes to the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) so that enrolled students can be treated and transported free of charge if injured while involved in any approved school activity. If we need to call an ambulance to treat your child, we will notify you immediately.
Dress Code and Sun Safety
In view of the dangers of overexposure to the sun, the Caboolture Montessori School has undertaken a dress code and sun protection strategies in the following areas:
· School uniform
· Management of excessive heat
· Management of drinking water
· Education programs on sun safety and preventive measures
Sun Smart Policy
Our school adheres to the Education Qld Sun Safety Strategy recommendations and sun protection strategies recommended by the Cancer Council of Australia and Queensland.
School Uniform
Expectations
Children are expected to wear school uniform at all times. The wearing of the uniform contributes greatly to the development of a positive school tone. Safety of students and property can arguably be linked to quick identification of students. It is particularly important that children wear the uniform on all school outings unless otherwise advised. Our school uniforms were selected to provide children with an additional protective element against the Queensland sun.
The general school uniform consists of a girl’s and boy’s uniform for summer and winter, a wide brimmed hat and closed, black shoes (with white socks for girls and navy socks for boys).
The school community decided on the choice of our uniform, therefore it is the expectation of the school that every child wears our uniform at all times and that parents support the school and their child with this.
Purchasing School Uniform
Orders for school uniforms can be made via the Pickles School Uniforms website at www.youruniformshop.com.au. Sample uniforms are available from the School Office to try on for size.
The School will hold a second hand uniform sale twice a year at the end of 2nd and 4th terms where parents may sell their unwanted uniforms. Details of these sales will be advertised in our newsletters.
Hat Policy
Our school observes a strict ‘no hat, no play’ policy and all children must wear a hat when outdoors. A baseball type cap, which exposes the ears and neck, is not regarded as a sun safe hat and is not to be worn at school.
Shoes
Children are to wear closed black shoes at all times for health and safety reasons.
Sun screen
Sun screen from the Cancer Council is available in each classroom and students will be reminded to apply the screen for outdoor activities. Due to the many varieties of allergies in children, we ask that parents check the product available in their child’s classroom, and supply an alternative sun screen if required. We expect each child to know whether they can or can’t use the classroom sun screen.
Free Dress Days
On occasions, a Free Dress Day may be held. These occasions will be advised in the newsletter prior to the event. Please ensure that your child/ren adhere to Sun Smart guidelines when choosing clothing for free dress.
Jewellery
Jewellery must not be worn to school, unless there is a religious or medical reason for doing so. No responsibility is taken for the safekeeping of any form of jewellery worn by children.
Management of Excessive Heat
The Caboolture Montessori School will remain open during periods of excessive heat; however, we manage these periods in the following ways:
· We modify or suspend normal school activities during excessive heat
· Postpone outdoor or sporting activities
· Make available to our students and staff cool areas in which to work/play
· Provide monitoring for students with special needs including their hydration
· Remind and encourage students to drink more frequently
· Remind students to follow the traditional – slip, slop, slap & slide
· Ensure school lunches are stored in cool areas
· Provide normal first aid procedures in cases of heat stress
· Plan a strategy of communicating with parents should Queensland Education warn of Extreme Heat
Management of Water Drinking
The Caboolture Montessori School has provided each classroom with a water-filter device and a shelf for the storage of student water bottles. Children are encouraged to drink whenever they feel thirsty or if the staff feel a child shows signs of dehydration. Water is available at all times for students and staff.
Education Programs
Staff participate regularly in professional development regarding health and safety matters, including sun-safe strategies. Students are involved in educational programs that address sun safety and preventative measures.
Our Parents & Friends Association is aware of our policies with regards to Health and Safety in the school and in turn promotes events accordingly.
The staff at the Caboolture Montessori School will endeavour to always promote the importance of role modelling for students in relation to our dress code and sun protection strategies.
References:
Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20.
School Services
Student Banking
Parent volunteers process student deposits through electronic banking and the Commonwealth Bank provides cash incentives, which help to resource the school. More importantly, however, regular saving teaches our students the value of money and saving.
Student banking deposits may be left with the School Secretary at any time, and these are processed each Friday.
Student banking packs can be obtained from the School Office.
Tuckshop
The Tuckshop convener follows the Caboolture Montessori School Policy of healthy food. The P&F run regular tuckshops throughout term – these will be advertised in newsletters.
Office Services
The school provides the following office services to parents and the community:
Printing
Black & White A410c per page
Black & White A320c per page
Colour A435c per page
Colour A370c per page
Copying (self service)
Black & White A410c per page
Black & White A320c per page
Colour A435c per page
Colour A370c per page
Laminating (self service)
A4 or smaller (80 microns)50c per page
A4 or smaller (125 microns)$1.00c per page
A3 (80 microns)$1.00c per page
A3 (125 microns)$1.50c per page
A2 or larger$10.00c per page
Binding (self service)
With covers front & back (A4 or smaller)$1.25c per booklet
Without covers (A4 or smaller)25c per booklet
Faxing
Faxing$1.00c per page
Scanning (please provide your own memory stick or blank CD)
A3 or smaller$1.00c per session
These services are available during School Office hours and all prices are subject to change without notice.
Room Booking Facilities
Our kitchen and Multi-Purpose Room is being used by many people in our school and this has caused in the past some difficulties; therefore, should you need to use the MPR or kitchen for events or working with students, you will need to make a room booking in the relevant booking calendar held by our School Secretaries at reception.
Advertising in our Newsletters
Advertising is available in our fortnightly newsletters at a rate of $25 per term for an eighth of a page listing. Larger sizes can also be reserved. This represents excellent value as our newsletters will be published on our website.
Please note the following in relation to advertising:
· parents and staff will be given preference over other businesses
· all artwork will need to be provided by the advertiser (we can also take scans of business cards)
· space is limited as we will only be allocating two A4 pages for advertising
Please contact the Business Services Coordinator for further information.
Communication
On January 6 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed in his State of the Union that if democracy is to survive and flourish, people everywhere in the world are entitled to four human rights:
· Freedom of Speech and Expression,
· Freedom of Worship,
· Freedom from Want and
· Freedom from Fear.
Dr Montessori would add to this quote that unless there is respect and understanding of others, these rights would be useless to all.
As a Montessori school we must demonstrate that we apply our philosophy in all we do and not just to the children during school hours. Therefore we endeavour to communicate in a respectful manner through any medium we select and we respectfully recommend that our community adopt this philosophy when communicating with others. ‘Children do what we do not what we tell them to do’.
General Communication
All communication, whether verbal or written, should be done in a respectful and caring manner.
Newsletter
Our fortnightly newsletter is delivered to you every second Thursday via your oldest child attending our School and is also available on our website and from our School Office. It contains items of news relating to curriculum, class events, P&F activities and decisions, coming events, community notices, etc.
We are moving towards a more environmentally friendly newsletter distribution system through email – if you have not previously advised us of your email address, please contact us for further information.
Newsletter submissions: all news items must be emailed or handed to our school office NO LATER THAN 9.00am on the Wednesday of the week of publication. Submissions will be included in our newsletter at the discretion of the Principal.
School & Class Meetings
We hold School/Community and Class Meetings each term in the first two weeks of term. School/Community Meetings are forums for communicating school events and policies or any general school related information and Class Meetings are held with the Classroom Director to discuss issues specifically relating to each class.
Our Website
The school’s website provides current information about our school and is continually being updated with events, information and tools for parents – please visit our site regularly for updates. Parents can also register for access to our members’ area – just click on the ‘Register’ link near the login and follow the instructions.
Our address is:
www.cms.qld.edu.au
Parent Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of all parents/guardians to carefully read all communications (such as newsletters) that they receive from the School to ensure that they are informed about all school events/information/issues. If information has been published in a newsletter, email or flyer sent home, the school will assume that parents/guardians have been informed.
Appendices
Appendix 1 – Compulsory Schooling
Appendix 2 – Complaints Policy
Appendix 3 – Behaviour Management Policy
Appendix 1 – Compulsory Schooling
Information provided by the Qld Government, Department of Education, Training and the Arts - reproduced from http://education.qld.gov.au/strategic/eppr/students/smspr030/schooling.doc.
What is meant by “compulsory schooling”?
Two sections of the legislation governing schooling in Queensland (the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006) help us understand compulsory schooling:
1. the definition of compulsory school age
2. the parents’ obligations
Compulsory School Age means if the child is at least 6 years (in 2007) or 6 years 6 months (from 2008) and less than 16 or completes Year 10, whichever is sooner.
Chapter 9 of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 is about Compulsory schooling. Part 1 Division 1 explains the parents’ obligations.
Section 176 “Obligation of each parent” of the legislation states:
(1) “Each parent of a child who is of compulsory school age must –
(a) ensure the child is enrolled at a State school or non-State school; and
(b) ensure the child attends the State school or non-State school, on every school day, for the educational program in which the child is enrolled;
(i) unless the parent has a reasonable excuse.”
(2) “Without limiting subsection (1), it is a reasonable excuse for a parent (the relevant parent) that –
(a) The child lives with another parent and the relevant parent believes, on reasonable grounds, that the other parent is complying with subsection (1); or
(b) In all the circumstances, the relevant parent is not reasonably able to control the child’s behaviour to the extent necessary to comply with subsection (1).”
The compulsory schooling requirements do not apply for:
· a child who may carry on an activity other than attending a State or non-State school under a law of the Commonwealth;
· a child who is provisionally registered, or registered, for home education, or if an application has been made for registration of the child for home education and the applicant has not been given notice of the decision on the application (s199);
· a child who is excluded from all state schools (s200(1)(a));
· a child who is excluded from a particular state school during the time reasonably required after the exclusion for the child’s parent to arrange the child’s enrolment with another state or non-state school or to provisionally register or register the child for home education (s200 (1)(b));
· a child who is excluded from particular state school(s) during the time reasonably required after the exclusion, for the child’s parent to arrange the child’s enrolment with a state school not affected by the exclusion or a non-state school; or to provisionally register or register the child for home education;
· a child for whom an application for enrolment at a state school has been made and the applicant has not been given notice of the decision on the application (s203);
· a child who is, or for whom an arrangement has been made for the child to become an apprentice or trainee under the VETE Act (s204).
The compulsory attendance obligations do not apply for:
· a child who is suspended from a state school at which the child is enrolled, while the child is suspended and the child’s access to an educational program under sections 286(2) or 291 has not been arranged (s200(2)(a));
· a child who is suspended from a non-state school at which the child is enrolled, while the child is suspended;
· a child who, for not more than 10 consecutive school days, is too ill to attend the state school or non-state school at which they are enrolled (s201);
· a child who is prevented from attending school because of a direction, declaration, order or requirement made under an Act or other law about an infectious or contagious disease (s202);
· a child for whom an application for enrolment at a state school has been made (s203).
Appendix 2 – Complaints Policy
Purpose of the Policy
The purpose of the Complaints Policy is to outline procedures for dealing with parental and/or students’ complaints as quickly as possible after they arise.
Scope
This policy applies to employees, volunteers, parents/carers, students and members of the public, and describes the step by step procedures to follow upon receiving a complaint.
Responsibility
Principal
Point of Contact
Principal/Person appointed by Principal
Definitions
A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction with a real or perceived problem. A complaint may be made if a parent or student thinks that the school has, for example:
· done something wrong;
· failed to do something it should have done; or
· acted unfairly or impolitely.
A complaint may be made about the school as a whole, about a specific department in the school or about an individual member of staff.
Policy
Rationale
Problems are likely to arise if parents or students feel that the school is not open to their concerns. It is better to have a direct complaint to a member of staff than to have parents or students sharing their dissatisfaction with others. Parents and students like to feel valued and involved with the school and they should be encouraged to voice their concerns. This is more likely to occur where the culture of the school is open and complaints are received in a positive manner.
An expression of concern, or a simple query, may grow into a painful matter if parents or students feel they have been brushed aside. Equally, issues with the potential to become acutely difficult may dwindle and fade if they are handled well at the initial stage.
The key principles for the handling of complaints are:
· The school is open to the concerns of parents and students
· Complaints are received in a positive manner
· Parents and students can expect to be taken seriously and can approach any member of staff about their concerns
· Information about complaints is clear and readily available
· Concerns are dealt with speedily and those who have raised them are kept informed about progress
· It is not acceptable for students to receive adverse treatment because they or their parents have raised a complaint
· Clear confidential files and a log are kept
· Confidentiality is respected and maintained so far as is possible
· Resolution of the matter is sought
· Staff training covers the handling of complaints
The school will ensure that all members of staff have appropriate training in handling complaints. Training will cover:
· the complaints procedure
· communication skills, such as listening, questioning and calming
· handling complaints, negotiation and mediation skills
· skills in observing, recording and reporting
· the benefits of handling complaints well and the consequences of handling them badly
Parental Complaints
If a parent has a complaint, you, as a member of staff, should deal quickly and honestly with the complaint if you feel confident to do so. Such a complaint might be in relation to a subject grade, perceived unfair treatment of a late assignment, and so on.
If you do not feel confident about handling the complaint, you should consult with your Classroom Director, in the first instance, and with the Principal if you and the Classroom Director think it is warranted.
If the complaint is about an area that lies outside your responsibility you should report it to the Principal immediately.
Matters incapable of resolution at a particular level should be referred to the appropriate senior person, with parents kept informed of the action being taken. This covers, for example, a complaint made to a relatively junior member of staff about a more senior colleague.
Senior staff will recognise when issues need to go straight to the Principal, with whom the responsibility for most complaints lie.
Certain parents will wish to go straight to
