General Information
Absences
If your child is going to be absent for some length of time from school it would be appreciated if you phoned or wrote a note to the school. On the child's return, the class teacher requires a note for our records, even if you have phoned in advance. Any unnecessary absenteeism can affect a child's progress. However, home is the place for a sick child. It is also not advisable to send back to school a child who is still weak as a result of an illness. Please do not phone the school for a short absence; send a note with the child on his/her return to school.
Assemblies
Assemblies for the whole school are held each Friday in the Hall at 2.45pm where the children are seated in their classes. The focus of our Assembly is to provide public speaking opportunities for our student leaders, the sharing of positive announcements and rewards and to give the children experience of being a polite audience. Parents are very welcome at our assemblies, but are asked to stand at the rear of the Hall to minimise distractions for the students.
B
Before and After School Care
Before and After School Care on site is organised by Youth Leadership Victoria. Their office is in the hall building and their co-ordinator is Sharon Bentley. Before Care commences from 7:00am. After School Care until 6:00pm. Children are welcome on a permanent or casual basis any day of the week. They also offer school holiday programs and care on Curriculum Days, which usually involves an excursion trip. Access to fee relief is available. Any enquiries, please call 9799-6075 7:00-9:00am and 3:15-6:00pm.
Bicycles
Children who ride their bicycles to school must wear a helmet. Children are to wheel their bikes within school grounds and place bikes in the designated area (between the Grade 1 portables). Children need to be reminded that bikes brought to school are at their own risk.
Book Club
The school acts as an agent for Ashton Scholastic Book Services who offer paperback books at reasonable rates. Catalogues are distributed approximately every six weeks, with a return date. Selections, if desired, should be returned to the class teacher with the form, correct money and properly set out envelope. Delivery is approximately 4 - 5 weeks.
C
Canteen
All lunches are eaten in class under supervision. The School Council has appointed a Canteen Manager in 2007 to work with teams of volunteers to provide lunches on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as giving the opportunity for limited window sales.
Orders are to be sent to the Canteen from the classrooms by 9:00am. A canteen list of available foods and prices will be sent home early first term. Items on the menu will be in keeping with City of Casey and State Government Guidelines regarding School Canteens and the provision of healthy foods.
Correct ordering is essential; please write clearly, in biro, on the lower half of a clean paper bag.
| Example Label |
Mary Sparrow
Grade 4 Room 32 (often written as 8/32) Teacher: Mr. Landford |
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| Example Order |
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The aim of the canteen is to provide a nutritious lunch and snacks at a reasonable cost.
No child may go home for lunch unless a note of permission has been given to the class teacher.
No child is permitted to go to the local shops.
Please
do not allow your child/ren to bring excessive amounts of money to
school for window sales at recess and lunch as it may be lost and cause
your child to be upset.
Curriculum (Child-Free) Days
Each year schools have up to four days without students, usually to enable staff to plan new curriculum areas, training, for Parent Teacher Interviews or preparing reports. These are called "Curriculum Days" or "Child-Free Days", which need to be approved by School Council. You will be advised in advance via the newsletter of these days. Students do not attend school on these days and should not be permitted to play within the grounds on these days without adult supervision.
E
Emergency Contacts
Parents are asked to immediately notify the school if they change their place of work, phone number, or friend who would act on their behalf in an emergency. It is essential that we are able to contact parents promptly if an emergency occurs.
Early Dismissals
If an occasion occurs when you want to take your child early, rather than normal time, you require permission from the office. The person picking the child up must sign the "Early Leavers" book and be issued with an early leavers pass. If a person other than a parent/guardian is calling for the child, the school must be notified in writing or by telephone well before that person comes for the child. This ensures the safety/security of your children at their school.
G
Gumnuts
H
Hot Weather and Hats
Sensible approaches to hot or other inclement weather are required. River Gum hats are compulsory for all students in Term 1 and 4. Teachers are expected to wear hats when outdoors during these terms also. Children are also encouraged to apply sunscreen. There is no maximum temperature at which children may be sent home.
L
Lost Property
Name belongings - especially clothing!As small children do not readily recognise their own clothing, it is in your own interest to ensure that your childs clothing is labelled clearly with their name.
If your child should "lose" any clothing, please feel free to check the Lost Property Box, situated outside the Prep Building.
At the end of each term we have a final attempt to reunite clothing with owner by a walk-by parade. Any unclaimed articles are sent to a charity organisation of the school's choosing.
M
Medications at School
A staff member will administer prescribed medicines to children if appropriate details are supplied. Medicines must be in the original container and have the chemist's instructions clearly identified. Please ensure that the medication is clearly labelled with the name of the medication and the child's name.
Please let the teacher know whether your child suffers from asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, allergy to drugs or stings and any other disability. Parents will need to supply a note from the prescribing doctor outlining the name, dose and administering time of the medication. A permission note is also required from the child's parent.
Please do not send cough medicine. If a child is sick, the child should be at home and not sent to school until recovered.
It is unfair to other children and teachers to send a child to school who is obviously ill. Please keep your child at home if he/she is not well.
N
Newsletter
A school newsletter, "Connections", will be given to the eldest child in the family Wednesday fortnightly. Please read the information carefully. It contains all current information pertaining to the running of the school.
P
Parent Association
The "Gumnuts", our newly formed parent associated, is steadily growing. This year, they will focus upon fundraising and assisting with school events such as Mothers and Fathers Day Stalls, the Annual Book Fair, Christmas Carols and Discos.
Parent Involvement
River Gum Primary encourages an "open door" policy. Parents are welcome to assist with a variety of programs including excursions, camps, literacy, lunchtime clubs, fundraising and swimming. All interested parents should let their children's teachers know if they are available to assist.
Punctuality
It is very important that all children be ready to commence work at 8.45am. We encourage all children to be at school by 8.30am. All latecomers must report to the Office for a Late Pass and parents will be notified by our Student Welfare Teacher if their child is continuously arriving late to school.
S
School Bank
A school-banking scheme operates with the Commonwealth Bank. Children bring bankbooks to school on TUESDAY only. The bank supplies a plastic envelope to contain the pupil's pay-in book and money. Applications for new bank accounts will be available in term 1 for Prep children.
School Council
The School Council governs school policy and financial policy. The School Council consists of 15 members, 9 elected non-Department members (Parents), 5 elected Department members and 1 co-opted member, when required. The School Council meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm in the staffroom. Support the Council and encourage it to support you.
School Hours
All children begin school at 8:45am, Monday to Friday.
- The school is open from 7.00am
- Recess 10:45 11:15 Play lunch is eaten prior to this time
- Lunch 1:25 2:15 Children are to eat their lunch inside between 1:15 and 1:25
- Dismissal is at 3:15pm. Children are to be supervised by the yard duty teacher. A bell will ring at 3:45 requesting children not picked up to gather and wait in the assembly area.
S.R.C
The Student Representative Council at River Gum Primary School is a proactive group of students who meet on a regular basis. The S.R.C consists of two students from each classroom from Grades 3 to 6 and two representatives from Grade 2. The S.R.C represents the whole student body and they make a valuable contribution to the way the school functions as a community.
Joining the S.R.C has a number of personal benefits for students. These include:
- developing skills in leadership and communication
- gaining an understanding of democratic processes
- being responsible for solving real problems and making real decisions
- sharing in decision making with the school executive, teachers, other students and the school community
- caring about the school and what happens in it and to it
- increased sense of belonging to the school
- more opportunities for fun and getting to know other students
- learning the satisfaction that comes from helping others
Sunscreen & Hats
In keeping with school's Health Policy, and "Sunsmart procedures" all children are required to wear a River Gum hat (or an approved "Sunsmart" hat with a River Gum logo) during terms 1 & 4. Children may wear sunscreen if they are capable of applying it.
Specialists
River Gum offers a variety of specialist programs including Art, Music, Physical Education, English as a Second Language, Reading Recovery and Special Needs. Extra curricular activities include camps, sporting clubs, lunchtime activities, choir and instrumental lessons.
Student Dress Code
The school community at River Gum Primary School has compulsory uniform. The School Council has approved this Student Dress Code. This is a brief outline and the full details are available from the General Office, your child's classroom teacher or the uniform shop notice board.
The school colours are jade and navy blue.
The purposes of the Student Dress Code are:
- to create a sense of collective and individual pride in students and increase their sense of identification with the school.
- to remove the sense of competition in dress, which can often cause distress among students, and
- to improve the safety of River Gum Primary School students by making them instantly recognisable in any group while on school excursions.
Swimming
All children will have swimming each week at a small cost to be paid at the start of the year or paid by instalments at the beginning of each term. Swimming is a part of our curriculum. Children who do not participate in the program must produce a medical certificate.
T
Toys and Valuables
Please do not allow your child to bring articles to school which could cause harm to others, eg. toy guns, water pistols, knives, arrows, stick swords etc. It may also be wise to avoid allowing children to bring expensive toys to school in case of loss or damage. The school does not take responsibility for any valuables or items children may bring to school. Please discourage children from bringing expensive items, including game boys, scooters, rollerblades, sporting equipment or heirlooms to school.
V
Visitors
For safety reasons any visitors to the school must sign in and collect a visitor badge from the Office.
