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Wandoan State School P-10 “Respect - Responsibility - Reaching” Success is Earned 2016 Information Booklet
Wandoan State School P-10 “Respect - Responsibility - Reaching”
Success is Earned
2016 Information
Booklet
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This creed has a longstanding tradition at Wandoan State School, as it was developed collaboratively with the school community over 60 years ago. It is reviewed annually by our Parents and Citizens Association at the commencement of each year. It is recited at the commencement of school assemblies each Monday and parents can elect for their child not to be present when the creed is spoken. Please inform your child’s form teacher if you wish for this to occur so arrangements can be made.
Our School Creed
I honour My God, My Queen and My
Country
I shall do my best work,
be truthful, courteous and helpful
to my teachers and class mates.
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PRINCIPAL’S WELCOME
Welcome to Wandoan State School P-10. Our school is a progressive Prep to Year 10 School with a
strong focus on the “basics” of literacy and numeracy. I am very proud to be the Principal of such a
fantastic school. The education and care of every child is very important to my staff and I, and we are
extremely honored that you have chosen our school.
We look to develop the whole child by providing academic, sporting and cultural opportunities in a caring and supportive environment. We strive to ensure that every student, every day is being given quality educational experiences that will lead the students to be lifelong learners and be active citizens in an evolving community. The staff at Wandoan State School P-10 recognise the responsibility that they have in educating your children. We trust that your children will be happy here and that the educational opportunities that they engage in will be rewarding. Our school motto is “Success is Earned” which is underpinned by our school values of Respect, Responsibility, Reaching. Consequently Wandoan is a “3 R’s” school. These values underpin everything that we do and form part of a common understanding between students, staff and community. Our strong emphasis on positive reinforcement seeks to develop lifelong skills of responsible self-discipline and respect for ourselves and others. Again, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to our school and I invite you to become part of our Wandoan State School P – 10 community. I look forward to working in close partnership with you, encouraging all students to be the best they can be during the 2016 school year. If I can assist you with any further information please do not hesitate to contact our school Administration Office. Regards Rowena Price Principal
SCHOOL DETAILS
PO Box 103 49 North Street Wandoan QLD 4419
[email protected] [email protected] http://wandoanss.eq.edu.au
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Phone: 4628 8888 Fax: 4628 8800
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STAFF LIST Principal: Rowena Price Administration: Leesa Rathbone
Primary Teaching Staff: Prep: Cecily Bradshaw Year 1/2: Jill Hazard Year 3/4: Amy Lawson 5/6: Ali Bishop Secondary Teaching Staff: Louise Oakman Judy Hoonhout Meg Goodwin Jason Cox Specialist Teaching Staff: Peter O’Farrell Christine Stoeckert Kathryn Mulcahy Teacher Aides: Christine Beard Anne Pitkin
(Leave term 1)
Daisy Klass Roanna Cranstoun (Leave Sem 1)
Kym Gunther Jess Bradshaw Auxiliary Staff: Barbara White Mareea Bradley Rachel Walsh Groundsman: James Klass
2016 SCHOOL OPENING PROCEDURE Wandoan State School P-10 will officially open on Monday 18th January 2016 for new enrolments and administrative business. To book an enrolment meeting please contact the school Administration on 4628 8888.
2016 SCHOOL CALENDAR
Semester One
Term One (Nine Weeks)
Start: Wednesday 27th January Concludes: Thursday 24th March
Easter Vacation: Friday 25th March – Friday 8th April
Term Two (Eleven Weeks)
Start: Monday 11th April Concludes: Friday 24th June
Winter Vacation: Monday 27th June – Friday 8th July
Semester Two
Term Three (Ten Weeks)
Start: Monday 11th July Concludes: Friday 16th September
Spring Vacation: Monday 19th September – Friday 30th October
Term Four (Ten Weeks)
Start: Tuesday 4th October Concludes: Friday 9th December
Christmas Vacation: Monday 12th December 2016 – Monday 23rd January 2017
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DAILY SCHOOL PROCEDURE
Please Note: Students are discouraged from arriving at school prior to 8:15 am.
SCHOOL UNIFORM Wandoan State School P-10 has a mandated school uniform which is endorsed by the school’s Parents and Citizens Association. Parents are asked to ensure that students wear the correct uniform at all times. Wearing the school uniform with pride demonstrates pride in yourself as well as your school. General Uniform (Day/Sports Wear) Girls
Maroon shorts, skirt, skort or cullotte
School Polo shirt (Primary/Secondary)
Low cut, lace up or Velcro joggers – predominantly white/grey/black in colour
White short socks
Hats – WSS hat
Boys
Maroon or grey shorts
School Polo shirt (Primary/Secondary)
Low cut, lace up or Velcro joggers – predominantly white/grey/black in colour
White short socks
Hats – WSS hat
Junior Uniform Secondary Uniform
Bell Times Routine
8.45 am First Bell
8.50am Form / Parade Monday
9.00am Lesson 1
9.40am Lesson 2
10:20am Lesson 3
11.00am Morning Tea
11.25am End of Morning Tea
11.30am Lesson 4
12.10pm Lesson 5
12.50pm Lunch
1.35pm End of Lunch
1.40pm Lesson 6
2.20pm Lesson 7
3.00pm End School Day
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Formal Uniform – Years 7 - 10 - to be worn on assembly days and official school events. Girls
Maroon skirt, skort or cullotte of a respectable length.
WSS blouse with maroon tie.
Black dress shoes with short white socks or stocking socks OR general uniform joggers.
Boys
Grey shorts
WSS formal buttoned shirt
Black dress shoes with short white socks OR general uniform joggers.
Female Formal Uniform Male Formal Uniform Winter Uniform
Maroon track suits may be added to the regular uniforms.
Long grey dress pants are acceptable.
Undershirts, like any under garment, should not be visible.
Stockings (maroon, grey or flesh colours) may be worn.
If students are unable to wear the correct uniform on any given day they are expected to wear sensible sun-smart clothing to school. A note from home must also be provided with an explanation of why the student is out of uniform.
Sports House Competition Plain coloured polo shirts may replace the school polo shirt and be worn with maroon shorts.
Cherwondah – Yellow Juandah – Red Cooringa – Green Purchase of Uniforms
Maroon shorts, all polo shirts, and girls’ formal primary and secondary uniforms are available from the school. A price list can be collected from Administration.
Uniforms are ordered in September through a form inserted in the school newsletter. If a uniform is required outside of this ordering period, please contact the P & C Uniform Coordinator.
Please note:
Formal wear must be worn each Monday and for School Photographs, Presentation Night, etc.
All students are to wear hats with a brim. NO HAT – NO PLAY; Caps are not acceptable. Hats are not to be worn in the classroom or between classes. Hats are to be left in school bags or lockers during class time.
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Sporting representatives should wear maroon (skirts/shorts) with the appropriate school polo shirt.
Miles and District and South West uniforms are approved for sporting days/occasions only, not for general daily use
Year Ten Jerseys are approved as part of the day uniform for general school days only
No make-up is to be worn including nail polish.
Items such as beanies, gloves and scarves are not a part of the uniform.
Hair ties, ribbons and clips may be worn in school colours (maroon, grey, white).
Hair colourings in natural tones (brown, black, blonde or red) are permitted so long as the nature of the colouring is discrete. (No large patches of colour or stripes.)
Hair styles must be of a conservative nature and neatly presented. It is recommended that long hair is tied back and must be in particular subjects.
Students are required to be clean shaven or have neatly trimmed facial hair.
Wrist watches, medic-alert bracelets or medic-alert neck laces and small gold or silver ear piercing sleepers or studs are allowed. A maximum of two pairs of earrings are acceptable. Others forms of jewellery including spacers are not acceptable. If other piercing exists, they must be covered completely while at school. The wearing of jewellery presents a safety concern for students undertaking activities in many subjects.
Sunglasses may only be worn if they are plain in colour and are approved by the Cancer Council of Australia.
Shoes/joggers should be predominantly white/grey/black in colour. No bright colours acceptable. The following pictures provide guidelines for appropriate general and formal shoes:
Formal Shoes
General Uniform/Sports Shoes
NOT
NOT
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CURRICULUM Our curriculum at Wandoan State School P-10 is designed using the Australian National Curriculum and Queensland’s Department Education and Training Employment’s (DETE) objectives. Differentiated programs are created to suit the needs of our students. Within our Primary classes (Prep – Year 6) curriculum focuses on all 8 Key Learning Areas:
English
Mathematics
Science
Health and Physical Education
Technology
Humanities and Social Sciences (History, Geography, Economics and Civics)
The Arts
Languages – German (Years 5-6)
Specialist Teachers provide instruction in Physical Education, Music and Instrumental Music. Secondary teachers also take specialist classes in their areas across the Primary areas. Our Secondary (Year 7 – 10) curriculum includes:
YEAR 7/8 YEAR 9/10 Core Core
English
Mathematics
Science
Health and Physical Education
History
Geography
Business Economics
Civics & Citizenship
The Arts
Technology
Languages – German
English
Mathematics
Science
Health and Physical Education
History
Electives
The Arts
Industrial Design
Home Economics/Certificate 1 Hospitality
Agricultural Studies
Geography
Business Economics/Civics & Citizenship
Secondary teachers are assigned to subject areas and classes based on their level of experience, specialisation and the needs and educational interest of students. Full details of our curriculum offerings in the Secondary Department are available in the Secondary Curriculum Guide. Our students are also provided with a wide range of varying extra curriculum opportunities throughout the school year which are designed to both inspire and challenge them academically. These activities may include but not be limited to:
Excursions and school camps
Arts Council
Instrumental Music Program—Beginners and Concert Band
Curriculum Workshops
Science and Engineering Challenges
Book Club
School Leadership Program
School Sport
Curriculum Competitions
Guest Speakers and Activities
Industry Placement
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GENERAL SCHOOL INFORMATION Absences If a student is away from school, parents are required to provide a note, phone call or email of explanation. The school’s administration email is [email protected]. For longer term absences known in advance (eg- holidays), parents should contact the student's teacher to obtain work to complete. Arrival and Departures Students are not to be at school until 8.15am. If students are unavoidably here before then, they should come and wait at Administration until 8.15am. All students arriving late or departing early must be signed in and out of the school via the ‘Student Arrival and Departure Register’ by a parent or guardian, located in Administration. Assembly A whole school assembly is held every Monday morning at 8.45am in the school hall. Major announcements and presentations are made at this assembly, including the celebration of student achievements. Parents are very welcome to attend. Parents of students receiving awards/recognition at assembly will be invited to attend. Assessment Assessment in the school is continuous throughout each term across all year levels from Prep to Year 10. In the Secondary Department, students will be given an Assessment Outline at the start of each term. All assessment needs to be handed in on the due date unless an extension is granted. Students require the teacher’s permission for an extension for an assignment. Bags Primary students are to keep their school bag in the bag rack nearest their room. Secondary students are to keep their school bag in their locker. Banned Items The following items are banned from the school; chewing gum, spray-on deodorants, white out, nikko pens, iPods, MP3 players, electronic games. Students can leave these items at Administration if they are brought to school in error. Behaviour All students have the right to come to school and feel safe and to be able to engage in learning. Students have the responsibility to treat other students and staff with courtesy and respect to enable optimum learning outcomes. There are high expectations of behaviour of all students. Our three key behaviour areas are:
Respect – Care for self, others and property
Responsibility – Make good choices for learning and behaviour
Reaching – Do your best to reach your goals
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These key behaviours are reflected across the school in classroom and whole school expectations. Wandoan State School P-10, like all Queensland Government Schools has a Responsible School Behaviour Plan (RSBP) outlines the school-wide expectations and procedures for supporting all students on a daily basis. Our RSBP focuses explicitly on the following key areas:
Expectations
Rights and responsibilities of staff and students
Minor and major behaviour categories
Bullying
Consequences of behaviour for students
School Disciplinary Absences
Wandoan State School P-10 is a Positive Behaviour for Learning school. Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) is a school’s process for teaching expected social and behavioural skills so the focus can be on teaching and learning. Wandoan State School P- 10 is committed to promoting a respectful, responsible community that enables our students to reach their full potential. Positive Behaviour Support
Replaces undesired behaviour with a new behaviour or skill
Alters environments positively
Teaches appropriate behavioural skills
Rewards appropriate behaviour
Bullying Bullying will not be tolerated. Bullying may be verbal (name calling, put-downs), physical (pushing, punching), psychological (exclusion, body language, non co-operation), harassment (teasing, body image comments) or cyber bullying. The bullying policy is outlined in the RSBP. Buses If a student has to travel more than 3.2 km (Primary student) or 4.8 km (Secondary student) to school or a bus stop, they are eligible for a Conveyance Allowance. Please contact Queensland Transport Roma Office on 4622 9509 for details of entitlements. A large number of our students commute to and from school by bus each day. Currently there are four bus runs servicing our school:
Taroom Road Roche Creek Road Guluguba Bundi Road Responsible behaviour on school buses is a school expectation at all times. Computers Our school has a very good student to computer ratio. Each student needs a User Identification and Password to access the school curriculum network. This will be given to them on enrolment. Students are not permitted to use the User ID and Password of another student. In order to have complete access to computer resources, students are expected to use them appropriately at all times. Chaplaincy (DEPENDANT ON FUNDING APPLICATION APPROVAL) Wandoan State School P-10 has a part-time Chaplain working two days per week. The Chaplain is involved in a wide range of programs, including in-class support, pastoral care programs, personal
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support for students, staff and parents, and general school well-being. These programs are free from religious and spiritual content, and chaplaincy is a separate program to Religious Education. Complaint Management During the course of your children’s school years, you may have cause to make a complaint about an issue with your child’s education. Education Queensland is committed to ensuring that all complaints are dealt with in a fair and equitable manner. There are processes and support structures in place to enable parents/carers and students to work through any issues they may have with Education Queensland provisions. When making a complaint, it is in the best interest of complaint resolution to ensure that you:- • provide complete and factual information in a timely manner • deliver your complaint in a non-threatening and non-abusive manner and • not make frivolous or vexatious complaints or include deliberately false or misleading information. You should be aware that if you are making a complaint about a staff member, that in most instances the staff member will be told of the complaint and offered the right of reply. You also have the right to have a support person participate throughout the process. If your complaint relates to suspected official misconduct or criminal activity then you should make your complaint directly to the Crime and Misconduct Commission (www.cmc.qld.gov.au/) or the Queensland Police Service (www.police.qld.gov.au/). The following 5-step procedure may assist parents/carers, and school staff to reach an outcome that is in the best interests of the student. 1. Discuss your complaint with the class teacher If your complaint is with your child’s teacher or relates to an issue concerning your child’s experience at school, make an appointment with that teacher as soon as possible through the school office. Share the information you have about the problem with the teacher. Give the teacher an opportunity to tell you all he/she knows about the incident or problem. Together, both parent/carer and teacher, should then take steps to resolve the problem at this level. The teacher will make a record of the complaint and report your meeting and any outcomes to the school principal. 2. Discuss your complaint with the Principal or ask the principal to assist by participating in
informal conflict resolution Where the teacher has been approached as above but the issue remains unresolved, make an appointment with the school Principal to discuss the issue further. Alternatively, you and the teacher may agree to ask the Principal to act as a go-between in informal conflict resolution in an attempt to resolve the problem. If your complaint is related to the school more generally including issues of school policy or its compliance or non-compliance you should raise your complaint directly with the Principal or his/her delegate. For example, the principal may refer your complaint to a Deputy Principal or Registrar. The staff member will make a record of your complaint and work with you to resolve the issue. Complaints to the Principal may be lodged in person, by telephone, writing or via electronic format through the “Schools directory” at www.education.qld.gov.au/schools/directory - select relevant school, then click on the email link. 3. Contact DET district office If you have discussed the issue with the principal and still feel that your complaint has not been addressed, you have the right to contact the Executive Director (Schools) who is the supervisor of the
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Principal and oversees activities of schools in that particular education district of Queensland. Complaints may be lodged by telephone or in writing. Complaints should be specific in detail, and outline the steps taken to date to resolve the issue. Remember to date the letter, give your full name and address and sign it. The district office will make a record of your complaint. Anonymous complaints will only be acted upon if enough information is provided to allow for follow up with the Principal. Addresses and telephone numbers of district offices are listed under the heading Education Queensland in the White Pages of your local telephone directory and are also available through the “Schools directory” at www.education.qld.gov.au/schools/directory When you contact the district office you will be advised that your name and the nature of your issue will be reported back to the Principal of your school. Staff at the district office will assist in seeking resolution to the issue. 4. Complaint still not resolved If, as a parent/carer you feel that your issue has not been resolved through the district office process, you have a further right to make a complaint to the central office of Education Queensland. Parents/carers may choose to progress their complaint in writing to the Deputy Director General of Education Queensland. The Office of Education Queensland will seek to assist with the resolution of your complaint through referral: • to the Executive Director (Schools) for further action or • to another departmental unit for appropriate action. The Office of Education Queensland can be contacted at: Education Queensland, PO Box 15033, CITY EAST, Qld 4002 Tel (07) 3237 0618 or fax (07) 3221 4953. 5. Independent review If, as a complainant you feel that your issue has not been resolved through these formal processes the Queensland Ombudsman provides an avenue for an independent review of the Department’s decision. The Ombudsman may be contacted at: Office of the Ombudsman, GPO Box 3314, Brisbane, Qld 4001 Email: [email protected] Tel (07) 3005 7000 or Toll Free 1800 068 908 or fax (07) 3005 7067 A role for Parents and Citizens’ Associations (P&Cs) It is understandable that parents/carers may sometimes feel overwhelmed when approaching a school or the department with a complaint. While the Queensland Council of Parents and Citizens’ Associations Inc (QCPCA) does not advocate on behalf of individual parents or carers, individuals can request their own P&C to provide support in these circumstances. The P&C can in turn seek assistance from QCPCA to provide guidance in resolving the complaint. Complaints about services that are run or managed by the P&C at your school, for example, after school care or the canteen, should be directed to the P&C in the first instance. Damage to School Property The school provides considerable equipment, resources and facilities to enhance the learning of students. Any damage caused by deliberate student action will require restitution as determined by the Principal Detention Room There is a Formal Detention Room that operates at lunchtime in the dining room in C Block (Secondary). It operates from 1.00 pm to 1.20 pm. This is used with students who display repetitive
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behaviours which have not been corrected with normal teacher strategies. Students undertake specific programs aimed at teaching positive behaviour. Emergency Evacuation The school has an emergency evacuation procedure where, on continual the ringing of the school bell students are evacuated to the top oval, rolls are marked and all personnel on the school site accounted for. Evacuation procedures are displayed in all rooms and there are practice emergency evacuations during the year. E-mail All students have a school e-mail account that they may access through the school. Students are encouraged to use this. The e-mail is filtered and any inappropriate words that are used are brought to the attention of the relevant teaching administrator.
First Aid Incidents If a student is injured at school or feels ill, they notify their teacher and are sent to the First Aid Room in the Administration. Here, they are assessed by a First Aid Officer. Minor incidents are treated at school and where necessary parents are advised of the first aid administered. When an incident requires professional attention, the ambulance or a parent, depending on the severity of the circumstances, is called to convey the injured child to the doctor or hospital. Again, please ensure up-to-date contact information is held at the office. Games Students playing games before school or at lunchtime must use common sense to ensure the safety of all students and property. No tackle or hold football is allowed. There is no running on the concrete or verandahs or kicking or throwing of balls near buildings. Hats Students are required to wear a wide brimmed hat for outside activities including morning tea and lunch activities. If students do not have a hat, then they need to be under the buildings in the shade. No hat -no play. Homework Homework is an important part of school work where students consolidate and practise work they have covered at school. It may range from reading a small book in Year 2 to completing a set of Maths Questions in Year 10. Homework is not meant to be onerous. If a parent finds that a student cannot do the work or is spending too much time on homework, they should stop the child and write a note to their teacher. A guide to the amount of homework per day would be Lower Primary - 5 minutes, Upper Primary - 15 minutes, Year 7/8 - 30 minutes, Years 9 and 10 - 1 hour. Secondary students need to recognise that there are three types of homework; day to day homework, longer term assignment work and study. Houses The school has 3 sporting houses. They are Cherwondah (yellow), Cooringa (green) and Juandah (red). These form a basis for the Inter-house competition for students.
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Human Relationship Education HRE (Sex Education) is taught by the School Nurse usually in Years 8-10. Parental consent is always requested before any sensitive topic is taught. Instrumental Music The school is fortunate to have a school concert band. It is made up of students who learn instrumental music. The band plays on the school assembly and at school and public functions. Students are strongly encouraged to join the instrumental program. Internet Students have access to the internet at school with a User Identification and Password. A signed Internet Use Agreement form must be completed and returned to the Administration before a child can use the internet. Jewellery Jewellery is strongly discouraged at school. Students may wear a watch, a signet ring and have plain studs/sleepers in their ears only. No other jewellery is accepted. Laptop Program Students in Years 7 to 10 are invited to participate in our school’s Laptop Program. The program involves students and families leasing a school laptop at a cost of $90 for student use both at school and at home. Laptops are a fantastic study tool for students, through access to the internet, and home publication of assessment tasks. Further information on the Laptop Program is available at Administration and is distributed to families for the beginning of each school year. Leaving school If students have to leave school for some reason during the day, they must have a note from their parents or care giver requesting permission to leave at a specific time. This must be given to the student’s Teacher/Form Teacher in the morning. Parents are to collect the students from Administration and the Student Register must be completed and signed. Levies The school has a voluntary Textbook and Resource Hire Scheme for secondary students. This is $90 and provides for general classroom needs and resources, appropriate text books and materials used in all specialist lessons – Agriculture Studies, Home Economics, Art, Industrial Design and Technology. In the Primary we have a voluntary Parent Contribution Scheme for primary students. This is $70 and provides for general classroom needs and all student workbooks. There is also an instrumental levy of $10 to enable servicing, purchase of music and sundries to keep instruments at their peak level. Full information regarding these levies is available at Administration and is distributed to families for the beginning of each school year. Parents and caregivers are advised that, unless levies are paid in full or a formal payment plan created and adhered to, that students will not be eligible for excursions, camps or representative sport.
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Library Students are encouraged to borrow from the school library. A maximum of 5 books may be borrowed at any time however this may be restricted when assignments are given to ensure an equitable distribution of resources. Lockdowns A lockdown is an emergency procedure where students need to be placed in a secure environment. This is signalled by 6 short rings of the school bell and all classes sit on the floor below the window line. On hearing this staff will lock all doors, turn off classroom lights and students will remain silent and out of sight for the duration of the incident. The Principal will notify all students and personnel as to when the procedure has completed. We have practice lockdowns throughout the year and the procedure is displayed in all rooms. Lockers Each secondary student is entitled to a locker. Lockers will be allocated at the start of the year. Each locker has a combination lock. Students must keep the combination of this lock in a safe place. Lockers must be locked at all times. The school cannot accept any valuables that go missing from a locker, even when locked. The best place to store any valuables that are unavoidably brought to school is in the main office. Lost Property All student property should be named. Property which is lost is taken to the cleaners' room and displayed or hung up outside it. Parents are welcome to come into school to check this area for lost property. At the end of each term, all clothing still in lost property is donated to local thrift shop. Lunch Lunch is eaten under the primary wing for primary students. Students must wait until they are allowed to go by the teacher on playground duty. This will be after they have had some time to eat and the area is clean. Students in Years 7 & 8 eat in the designated area outside of the Year 7/8 classroom. Year 9/10 students may eat between C Block and the Activities Hall or under the Cola building. Students are not allowed to go out of the school during lunchtime. Any request to leave the school grounds must come to Administration. The purchase of lunch from a business in town is not allowed. Students are required to bring their lunch or purchase it at the tuckshop (on Fridays). Media Release A form allowing students photos to be used in newsletters, the school magazine must be signed by parents before this practice can occur. This is included in the Permission Booklet available from Administration and is distributed to families for the beginning of each school year. Medical Records All parents will complete the student Medical Details Form upon annual enrolment. These forms are to be updated immediately if any medical information changes for your child/ren. Forms are available as part of the annual enrolment process from the school Administration. Information from these forms is used for all camps and class excursions.
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Medication Students are not permitted to self-medicate at school. If students are required to have medication at school, a Medication Form must be completed at the Administration Office and approved by the School Principal. All medication will be administered at the school Administration Office under the supervision of the approved staff member. All medication must be labelled with an original pharmacy label detailing the name of the person authorised to take the medication, dosage, time to be taken and medical practitioner’s name. Non Prescribed medication or over the counter medication cannot be administered unless it has a Doctor’s letter outlining the above information. On no account are tablets and medicines to be kept in school bags by students. Analgesics such as Panadol are not administered by the school. Parents should contact the Principal to make arrangements should your child require special health care at school. Messages Urgent messages will be passed on to students if parents ring the school office. Mobile Phones We understand that mobile phones are an important means of communication, however they are not an acceptable communication tool during school hours. Under no circumstances are mobile phones to be switched on or in use at school. All communication must be channelled through the office. Students found in possession of mobile phones on the campus will be asked to hand to the office and be available for collection at the discretion of administration. National Anthem and School Creed The School Creed is recited and Advance Australia Fair is sung on Assembly each Monday morning. Newsletter The School Newsletter, "The Wandoan Weekly" is produced every week and given to the youngest child in the family on a Wednesday afternoon or emailed to the family. Copies are available from the Post Office and the Administration. Items to be included in Newsletter must be submitted by Monday lunchtime (12 noon). The Newsletter is regarded as a community newsletter and does include community notices. Personal Details/Change of Address/Emergency Contact Parents are strongly encouraged to ensure that their family and personal details, such as address, phone – both landline and mobile - and emergency contact information that is held at the office is up-to-date at all times. All parents are contacted frequently throughout the school year for a range of circumstances. Most importantly, you need to be contactable should there be a sudden emergency or accident involving your child. Please make every effort to inform the school of any changes to your personal details or circumstances.
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Parents & Citizens Association Wandoan State School P-10 is strongly supported by our Parents and Citizens Association who work tirelessly to raise vital funds for our school to enhance on-going programs and to strengthen new initiatives. Our P&C Meetings are held every 2nd Monday of the Month at 5.30 pm in the Library. Please come along and support our students and P&C by getting involved in our school community. Personal Details/Change of Address/Emergency Contact If your personal details/ address/ emergency contacts change, could you please contact the office as up-to-date information is important for our records. Parent /Teacher Night Parent teacher nights and interviews are held throughout the year, however all staff are accessible to parents to discuss their child's education. Please contact the Administration to arrange meetings with your child’s teacher. Details regarding set interviews will be advertised through our newsletter. Presentation Night Presentation Night is held at the end of the school year. Students in all years participate in the night, gaining recognition for achievements throughout the year. Information regarding the night will be given in Term 4. Primary/Secondary Area Primary and secondary students keep to designated areas in the school. This includes separate amenities, eating and play areas. Religious Education All students have the opportunity of attending religious education lessons. These lessons are held each Wednesday morning for Primary students and fortnightly each Wednesday for Secondary students. These lessons are taught by volunteers. Permission for attendance is gained on enrolment to the school. Reports and Parent Teacher Interviews Formal reports are produced for Semester 1 and 2. Interim statements are given for Term 1 and 3. These formal reports are a clear and accurate indication of a student’s ability to meet the academic standards of their year level/subject area based on an A to E national scale. Parent teacher Interviews are also held in Terms 1 – 3. All parents are strongly encouraged to take the opportunity to meet with teachers to discuss their child’s progress and work in close partnership with teachers to enhance the educational journey for their child. Representing our School Throughout the year there will be many opportunities for students to represent our school. We encourage full student participation in all activities offered, however student eligibility will be dependent on payment of school fees, student behaviour and attendance. Safety Safety of students is a major priority for our school. If parents or students see any unsafe situation or procedure, the school should be notified. School Photos School photos are taken each year. Information will be given to parents through the newsletter.
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Sick Bay If a student feels ill at school, they notify their teacher who will send them to the First Aid Room located in Administration. Parents will normally be contacted and asked to collect their student if they are ill for more than 2 periods. If a student is injured at school, they are also sent to the First Aid Room and parents will be contacted if the injury requires attention of the Ambulance. Sport A wide variety of sporting opportunities are available at different times of the year and students are expected to participate in school sporting activities. Sporting opportunities are provided for at Inter-House, Inter-School, Miles and District and South West Regional levels. Students remain eligible to represent the school as long as school levies are paid. Stationery Lists These are provided at the end of the year for each year level. All students are encouraged to buy the items in this list (although many items may be carried over from one year to another). Secondary students do not have to buy their textbooks as these are provided under the Textbook and Resource Hire Scheme. Student Leaders Each year the following school leaders are elected:
School Captains – Year Ten
House Captains – Year Ten
Student Representative Council Members – From Years 5 to 10
Towards the end of each year students able to and interested in taking on leadership positions for the upcoming year will be given a school Leadership Information Package which outlines the roles and responsibilities of school leaders and the application and nomination process. Traineeships Year 10 students or, under certain circumstances, Year 9 students, may be considered for a School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship if available. Parents need to contact Administration to discuss possible placements. Tuckshop The school Tuckshop operates on a Friday for Morning Tea and Lunch. It is coordinated by our P&C Association and is staffed by parent volunteers. A menu is published each term in our newsletter and is found on our webpage. Morning Tea and Lunch are ordered using separate bags delivered to the tuckshop. Students in Prep - Year 2 place their orders in designated baskets in their classrooms. Use of School Phones by Students Students may use the Administration phone only in an emergency after seeking permission. Valuables Students are strongly discouraged from bringing valuables to school. If students have to, they should lodge the valuables at Administration. These should not be left in bags, desks or lockers.
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Visitors All visitors must report to the Administration and sign the Visitors Register when arriving at school. They must also return to the Administration to register their departure. Work Experience Year 10 students normally complete a week of Work Experience during the last week of Term 2. This will be coordinated through the school and local business houses. Year 10 Graduation Dinner Year 10 students end their education at Wandoan State School P-10 with a School Graduation Dinner. This is arranged by the students and parents, with a designated teacher.
