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.

At Welshpool & District Primary School we value:

Equality of opportunity for all children, irrespective of class, gender, family background, race or religion in order to achieve maximum personal and academic growth

Effective communication between individuals and groups that enable friendly and valuable relationships within the school, its neighbourhood and the general community

Children’s ability to achieve their potential academically, physically and socially

Partnerships with parents and family, which 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.

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.

The school and its community are actively involved in complimentary and challenging activities that enhance the student’s educational experience. Welshpool & District Primary School sees itself as a friendly and welcoming school within a rural setting. It is integrally involved in the community on a variety of levels ranging from participation in local events to providing facilities and services.

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.

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

The 2007 School year will commence for teachers on Monday 29th January and for students on Tuesday 30th January. Parents can contact the school from Monday 22nd January 2007, if they have any queries or concerns.

Preps should arrive at school between 8.40 am and 9.00 am the first day of school in the mornings. During the month of February, there will be NO school for preps on a Wednesday.

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 the school. If a note or phone call has not been received your child will be put on the bus as normal.

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 - 1.05 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.

The wearing of school uniform is not compulsory but it is preferred that all students will have clothing that complies with the uniform (as set out below) and wear it on most occasions.

The school colours are red and black and as a general rule clothing in this combination of colours is considered to be school uniform.

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.

All items for students' work will be provided at the start of the school year and replaced as necessary throughout the year.

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. Towels and bathers are often misplaced, so please label these clearly.

Calls for volunteers are made at different times throughout the year. Please volunteer if you can. School Council requires that all regular volunteers undergo a police check.

Parents’ Club meetings are held 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. This is a good opportunity to meet with other parents and become involved in activities which support your child and our school.

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 Staff Room. 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 at the time of the new council's formation, usually in March. You will be notified of this via the newsletter.

These people are your representatives. Please contact these people if you have any issues needing school council attention.

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. Only children with a written exception, based on ideological grounds, will be excluded.

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.

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.

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 ANZ - Welshpool Rural Transaction Centre. School banking day is every Tuesday.

The MARC Van visits our school one day per week. A literacy /library program is run on Fridays by the MARC Van teacher with each grade. Children can borrow books for a week, but need to return them the following Friday.

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.

2007 SCHOOL TERM DATES