WELSHPOOL

WELSHPOOL & DISTRICT PRIMARY SCHOOL

PROFILE

Welshpool & District Primary School is a school with a history of over one hundred years, located centrally between Foster and Yarram in South Gippsland. The school population is drawn from the township of Welshpool, the fishing village of Port Welshpool and the rural communities of Hedley, Wonyip, Woorarra, Binginwarri and Agnes. Over 50% of our students travel to school by bus.

The local community is committed to an educational facility in the area, as demonstrated by the support for the merger of Port Welshpool and Welshpool Primary Schools to form this new entity. The school is a focus of the local community, and enjoys much community energy and commitment.

Welshpool & District Primary School aims to promote equality of opportunity for all children, irrespective of class, gender, race or religion in order to achieve maximum personal and academic growth. Effective communication between individuals and groups enable friendly and valuable relationships within the school, its neighbourhood and the general community. Each child is encouraged to achieve their potential academically, physically and socially. We, in partnership with parents and family, encourage students to become increasingly independent, responsible and compassionate individuals with a positive attitude to life.

We provide an extensive curriculum in the eight Key Learning Areas as set out in the Curriculum and Standards Framework (CSF 11). Specifically these areas are English, Mathematics, Science, Technology, Health & Physical Education, The Arts and Studies of Society and Environment and Languages Other Than English (Indonesian). Curriculum programs are delivered in grades of two or more year levels with some specialist teaching in the areas of Music, Library and Physical and Sport Education. Curriculum enhancing programs include Instrumental Music Program, Concert, Camps, Sporting participation (local and regional level), Intensive Swimming Program, Mobile Area Resource Centre (MARC), Junior School Council, and Junior Red Cross.

Over the last three years, English has been concentrated on with the implementation of the Early Years strategies. Early Years Numeracy is a new government initiative which will be undertaken over the next three years. Information Technology is well catered for with a network of computers set up in each classroom to give students access to educational software programs across the curriculum as well as access to the world wide web.

The school is strategically placed around a historic building, which houses an administration area, library and classroom. Other facilities include a building, a full size basketball court, full sized oval, large adventure playground and amphitheatre set amongst young, native plantations.

It is a pleasure to welcome to the school the parents of new children and we trust that your association with the teachers, other parents, and the school in general will be both pleasant and rewarding.

Your active interest in your child’s education and your co-operation with the school are requested to make effective the team effort of school and home. Please encourage your child to participate fully in all aspects of this school’s educational program.

Inquiries are always welcome and if you do have any problems, please ring the number below to discuss the matter, or for an appointment to see the Principal or a teacher.

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The following information is supplied to assist you in any communication you may wish to make with the school.

THE 2002 SCHOOL YEAR FOR ALL PUPILS WILL COMMENCE ON WEDNESDAY 30^TH January AND FOR TEACHERS ON TUESDAY 29^th JANUARY.

Preps should arrive at school between 8.45 am and 9.00 am the first day of school in the mornings.

The Port Welshpool bus leaves school at 3.20pm and the Barry Beach bus leaves at approximately 3.40 pm. Children not travelling for any reason or wish to be dropped off at another stop, require a dated note to be provided to both Gordon and the school.

If you wish your child to leave during the school hours (for dental appointments etc.), it will be necessary for you to inform the Class Teacher, either personally, or by phone or letter as to the arrangements you wish to make for your child’s dismissal and collection from school. If another person is collecting your child, please communicate with the school.

Initial parent / teacher interviews take place during term one, with another meeting mid-year.

Teachers are always willing to discuss problems at your request. On such occasions, it is most desirable if this can be arranged when teachers are not involved with class duties. Please arrange an appointment suitable to you and the teacher.

Newsletters are usually given out every Thursday. It is vital that you receive these. One is provided for each family and usually issued to the eldest family member at present in the school. These newsletters keep you abreast as to what has happened / is happening within the school.

Money should be brought to school only for excursions, or any other specific purpose in which the school may be involved from time to time. Money should be sent in an ENVELOPE (securely sealed) which shows the child’s name, grade, amount enclosed and the purpose: this envelope should be given to the child’s teacher.

Lunches are eaten in the classroom from 12.55 pm - 1.10 pm. Teachers supervise the children in the rooms or outside. Parents are requested to encourage children to bring home any uneaten lunch. It is difficult for some parents to establish what is adequate - some children bring far too large a lunch. Teachers will permit children to finish eating when a reasonable amount is consumed, if too much lunch is sent. Parents can then adjust lunches accordingly.

Money for lunch orders should be sent in a clearly named envelope. Lunch orders can be obtained from Welshpool Take Away Store (Guy’s) on Mondays and Fridays or from Port Welshpool Store on Fridays.

Parent’s Club run a BBQ on Wednesdays at the school. Price lists are sent home early in Term 1 in the newsletter. Orders are required to be returned, with correct money, to the school on Wednesday mornings.

A roster is drawn up at the beginning of each Term to receive assistance with the cooking, and preparing of fruit salad and drinks. Without parent assistance this service for our children would not be available.

All outer clothing which children may need to remove should be clearly labelled with the child’s name. If your child loses an article of clothing, etc., please follow this with an inquiry as soon as possible. Unclaimed articles are usually assembled in one area of the school and displayed once a Term for children and parents to view.

Although the school uniform is not compulsory students are encouraged to wear clothing in our school colours - Red /Black. Red T-Shirts and Windcheaters with School Logo are available from the Fundraising Committee. The uniform is optional, but many parents prefer to use it. The advantages are:

· When a representative group from the School appears in public, it is desirable that they be in uniform.

GUMBOOTS, should be clearly marked with child’s name. THONGS are dangerous at school and are not to be worn.

During Terms 1 and 4 all students are required to wear a broad brimmed or legionnaires hat while outdoors. We encourage students to leave their hats in their bags at all times when not in use. Red broad brimmed hats can be ordered through the school.

· Please see that all his/her belongings brought to school are clearly marked with his/ her name.

First hand experiences are part of a vital education program. To participate in these group outings is a valuable aspect of a child’s education. Inclusion in any excursion is dependent upon your written consent upon a special form.

An excursion day is not a holiday - any child not participating is expected to attend school as usual and will be catered for within the school.

All children are involved in the swimming program at the end of the year. Children must be able to dress and undress themselves - please see their clothing is easy to remove.

Children are transported to and from Toora Swimming Pool by Gordon Tosch’s Bus.

If you can help and wish to join that band of helpers, please contact the school.

Parent’s Club meetings are held on the second Monday of each month at the school. The usual time is 9.30am, and this is confirmed in the School Newsletters.

All parents and friends are welcome to attend. The main aim of these meetings is to discuss and organise upcoming fundraising events.

The School Council is the legally Constituted body which, amongst many other duties, has a responsibility towards the disbursement of funds made available to the school by the Government, and funds raised by the School Council itself. Parents are welcome to attend meetings as observers. This is a great way to see how the Council functions. Meetings are held every 2^nd Tuesday of the month in the School Library. School Council elections are held for half the council in March. If you are interested in becoming a Councillor, please nominate.

School Council Members :- School Council members are advised in the newsletter.

All children have the opportunity to participate in Religious Instruction lessons. These lessons are taken for 1/2 hour, one day per week. Your child’s inclusion in these lessons is a matter entirely of your own beliefs. These lessons are based on an interdenominational program. Children not attending will be supervised.

Medical details and necessary telephone numbers are on file in the Office. All efforts are made to cope with accident or illness, as seems best. We will contact you if necessary. For this reason, it is vital that all changes of address, work and home telephone numbers, emergency contacts, etc., are KEPT UP TO DATE on our school records. Please notify the Office and grade teacher of any changes immediately.

Children absent from school are required to bring a dated note of explanation upon return to school even if you have personally notified us earlier.

Children who are sick should be kept at home, as we have limited facilities to cater for sick children.

If rainfall prevents children from playing outdoors during lunch play time, they will remain in their classrooms under supervision. The school will be dismissed at the usual times.

If the day looks as though it could operate as a wet day program, it is a good idea if children bring along a game to play during break times.

Under the Health Act 1958, all children are required to present an immunisation certificate when enrolling in a primary school. The certificate states whether a child has been immunised against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella. Students transferring between schools are also required to present immunisation certificates under these conditions.

The school offers banking through the Commonwealth Bank – Foster and Toora Community Bank – Toora. Application forms to open accounts will be available at the beginning of the year. School banking day is every Tuesday.

The MARC Van visits our school one day per week. Mrs Shandley runs a literacy / library program. Children are encouraged to borrow from the school library. Day of visit will be notified by newsletter early in the year.

Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) forms must be filled out at the start of each year. If you are eligible for this allowance, please call into the office and collect a form. A copy of your concession card must also be presented. Instalments are in two stages. One in Term one and the other in Term 3. Parents who have successfully applied for the first instalment, (and their situation has not changed), do not need to reapply for the second instalment.

Students who reside more than 4.8 kilometres, by the shortest practicable route, from the nearest bus stop are eligible to receive a conveyancing allowance. The office has the appropriate forms which need to be filled out.

Parent Education Programs are run throughout the year, for example, “Helping with Reading / Writing / Maths. Details are published in the school newsletter.

The School Council has set the 2002 school contribution at $45.00 for one child, $90.00 for two children, maximum of $110.00 for a family of three or more children. This levy pays for initial supplies of books and stationery for your child.

2002 SCHOOL TERM DATES