Anti-Bullying
As part of our Well Being Policy, the school has a high
commitment to promoting Anti Bullying strategies. The school explicitly
teaches strategies to prevent bullying and to build resilience in
students. One of the major programs is the "You Can Do It" program which
is a part of all the "Well Being" programs for all schools in the
Whitebridge Cluster. Staff, parents and students work together to keep
the school a happy, safe and successful learning environment.
Counselling Service
A School Counsellor
visits the school on one day each week to help in meeting the needs of
children. Teachers can refer children to the School Counsellor when
concern is felt over apparent deficiencies in the learning ability of
the child, or over a social or behaviour problem or where there is
evidence of low self-esteem. Parents may also initiate a meeting with
the School Counsellor. This can be done by making an appointment
through the School Administrative Support Staff in the reception area.
Discipline
A school community needs
discipline in order to function effectively. Discipline is a shared
responsibility between the school and parents. It provides children
with direction in order to become responsible citizens. A system of
relationships, requirements, rules, rewards and sanctions designed to
progressively develop self-discipline within the pupils, operates in
this school.
Rules are necessary for
the safety and well being of the people in our school, for an orderly
environment, to allow education to progress and for efficiency of
operation.
A set of school rules
exists for behaviour in the playground and common areas indoors. Rules
apply to classrooms, but vary according to the teaching style and
management of the individual teacher.
Commendations play an
important part in the school discipline and they are many and varied.
Weekly awards, teachers’ special stamps, visits to other classes and
teachers’ special comments are some of the awards for individual, group
and class achievements.
Guiding children to be
responsible citizens lessens the need for handling many discipline
problems, and leadership opportunities are given to individuals and
groups.
The consequences used
include task redirection, verbal reprimands, special restrictions,
limitations of privileges, withdrawal from groups, counselling, parent
involvement, detention and suspension (severe behavioural problems
only).
In 1989 the Fair
Discipline Code was issued by the Department to all schools. The Code
was discussed at length by the Staff and Parents at Charlestown South
Public School.
At a Public Meeting
there were two decisions made -
1. No
Corporal Punishment would be administered.
2. Uniforms
would be compulsory for all children
The School Community has
adopted the following as basic to our Discipline Policy:
Schools should provide a
stable, safe and ordered environment within which students learn
effectively and behave responsibly.
Schools should promote
national pride and inspire in students a sense of common purpose.
Principals should
provide strong and effective leadership of the school staff, students
and wider community in establishing and maintaining the highest tone and
clear direction for the school.
Schools need to create
and maintain positive relationships within the school community.
Students should be
encouraged to develop self-discipline by accepting responsibility for
their own behaviour.
Schools should foster in
students a feeling of belonging to the school and its community.
School staffs should
contribute with enthusiasm to establishing and maintaining the desirable
tone and direction of the school.
Schools should insist on
responsible student behaviour and develop practices which prevent
irresponsible behaviour.
Students should be
encouraged to value the personal dignity and worth of themselves and
others.
Schools should promote
in students a respect for the values that underpin our society and its
laws.
* This code was
reaffirmed by the parent body in 1997.
Drug Education
The school has
policies for the implementation of current Child Protection Awareness
and Drug Education programs
Enrichment Programs
The school offers the
opportunity for students to participate in a range of enrichment
programs:
Ø
debating,
drama, band, choir, performance, leadership, swimming and gymnastics at
a school level;
Ø
one day
workshops for special interest groups (e.g. maths, electronics, drama,
art) at a cluster or district level; and
Ø
weekend
workshops on a variety of topics for student with special talents at a
state level.
Band
Students in Years 3-6
may audition for the school’s Concert Band. Some instruments are
available for lease. Students using school instruments pay $15 per
term. The general band fee is $20 per term. The level of commitment to
the band is very high as places are limited. Private tuition is
available with payment being made directly to the tutor.
Choir
A choir is formed each
year, from volunteers from Years 3 to 6. The choir sings at special
occasions and also enjoys singing just for the fun of it.
Computer Education
The school has a variety
of IBM compatible computers and printers. Some of these are placed in
classrooms. Computer instruction is provided on a regular basis to all
students (K - 6) by a part-time teacher, in the Computer Room (within
the Library), where a network of 15 computers provide “hands-on”
training for all pupils each week. Students gain experience working
with peripherals such as data projectors and digital cameras as well as
online services.
Debating
Languages
Other Than English (LOTE)
Japanese language is
taught to students in Years 1 to 6. Students have the option of
continuing Japanese at Whitebridge High School or selecting another
language.
Health and Wellbeing
If feeling ill, children
report to their class teacher or supervising teacher before proceeding
the School Administration Office for first aid treatment.
If a student is so ill
as to necessitate going home, the school will attempt to make telephone
contact with the parent or the person nominated by the parent on the
Student Welfare Card. The student is comforted and kept under
observation in the sick bay until a parent or carer arrives.
First Aid
A staff member has a
current First Aid Certificate and will administer First Aid to students
in cases of injury or illness.
However, in cases
considered to require medical attention, parents or a nominated contact
person are notified. In serious cases, if neither parent can be
contacted, the child will be taken by ambulance to the John Hunter
Hospital from where contact with the parents and / or the doctor
nominated on the Medical Form will be made.
Free ambulance cover
within N.S.W. is provided for each child by the P&C Association.
Accidents to school
children are recorded in a register. Minor injuries (cuts, grazes,
etc.) are treated by a trained First Aid person (the School
Administrative Support Staff).
The school contributes
to the Ambulance Scheme and this means that all pupils attending the
school are covered for free ambulance travel during the time they are at
school and on approved excursions with the school within N.S.W. On
occasions when pupils have accidents at school which require medical
attention, every effort is made to contact parents / guardians or other
nominated persons, before the child is transported to hospital. However,
if contact cannot be made, and the case is considered serious enough,
the Principal or Assistant Principal will seek medical attention as
required. If you have any objections to the school, on the advice of an
Ambulance Officer, sending your child to a hospital Casualty Department
for urgent medical treatment under these circumstances, please contact
the school in writing.
At the time of enrolment
parents are asked to complete a STUDENT WELFARE CARD. These cards are
used for QUICK REFERENCE in cases of illness or accident and it is
important that these are accurate and kept up to date. Parents are
requested to notify the school as soon as possible of any change of
address, telephone number, or alternate contact person, etc. Any other
information to help with the care and welfare of your child should be
notified in writing to the class teacher and office or by personal
interview.
Student Leadership
Each year the children in
Years 2 - 6 vote for School Captains, Vice Captains and a boy and a girl
prefect. Students who nominate for election are required to address all
Year 2 - 6 pupils prior to the election. Elections are held in November
each year. Captains and Vice Captains are invested on Presentation
Day. A special investiture ceremony is held early in Term 1 the
following year for Prefects, Librarians and Sport Captains. The parents
of the captains and prefects are invited to these ceremonies.
Sun Protection
Each classroom has a
dispenser of sunscreen for use by students prior to going out into the
playground.
