Parent Information for St Patrick's Swansea Primary School

Welcome

We welcome you to our community. St Patrick’s Primary School Swansea is a proud Catholic school built on Awabakal land. May you find your association with our community both happy and rewarding.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

Here at St Patrick’s, we stand in the footsteps of the custodians of this land.  May we acknowledge these traditional owners, the Awabakal people, whose culture, and customs have nurtured, and continue to nurture this land and the waters. 

We honour the presence of these ancestors who reside in the imagination of this land and whose spirituality flows through all creation.

OUR VISION STATEMENT

“Learning, loving and serving together through Jesus”

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

We will:

• Challenge and support one another to succeed through innovative, adaptive and holistic learning.
• Promote and celebrate the uniqueness of each child as a gift.
• Embrace our Josephite foundations by seeing a need and always taking action.
• Acknowledge and honour our indigenous cultures.
• Serve one another and be generous with love.

Contact Information

Street address:        213 Northcote Avenue, Swansea NSW 2281

Postal Address:       213 Northcote Avenue, Swansea NSW 2281

Telephone number: (02) 4971 1560

Email address:        admin@swansea.catholic.edu.au

Website:                 http://www.swansea.catholic.edu.au

School Terms In 2024

OFFICE / ADMINISTRATION TIMES

Our school Office Manager works from Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 3:30pm.

OUR SCHOOL PRAYER

This is our school, let peace abide here. Let the rooms be full of contentment. Let love abide here, love of one another, love of mankind, love of life itself and love of God. Let us remember that, as many hands build a house, so many hearts make a school. Amen

OUR SCHOOL SONG: “ASPIRE TO THE EXTRAORDINARY”

Anti-bullying Information

Rationale: “We are made in the image and likeness of God” (Genesis 1:27) and at the core of the Church’s pastoral action is a deep respect for the innate dignity and uniqueness of the individual person. Bullying is not acceptable. Bullying can impact on the capacity of children to achieve their God-given potential. St Patrick’s School is committed to developing a positive, supportive, physically and psychologically safe school. 

Definition of bullying: Bullying is repeated and systematic attacks on others. It often occurs where there is a power imbalance. It can include psychological and/or physical attack. Bullying can often be invisible to adults but very obvious to children. Bullying differs from harassment in terms of occurrence; harassment can occur as a single incident whereas bullying is characterised by repeated attacks.

What can the school do? The school has an anti-bullying policy. We have a zero-tolerance policy of harassment and bullying. We promote a culture of peace where conflicts can be resolved without aggression, and we give generous praise for pro-social and helpful behaviour. Parents will be notified if their children are involved with bullying, and immediate and appropriate action will be taken according to our Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Policy.

Administration of medicine and first aid

If your child becomes ill at school, a staff member will make a judgement as to whether or not to contact you.  We are reluctant to notify parents for what appears to be a minor injury or illness, but we will always err on the side of caution.

If a child sustains a serious injury requiring urgent medical attention, the school will call an ambulance and then contact the parents. The school subscribes to the ambulance service; hence, there are no out-of-pocket ambulance expenses for parents.

No medication can be given to a student without the written permission of a parent/guardian. All medication is to be administered at the school office by the medication registrar (Mrs McKenzie) or a designated staff member authorised by the Principal.

Mrs McKenzie is the nominated staff Medical Officer in relation to first aid and advice. In the absence of Mrs McKenzie, the Principal or nominated teacher will be the designated officer.

Parents or carers of children who require medication during the school day must notify the Principal. Self-administration of medication by a student under adult supervision may occur only with the approval of the Principal after receipt of a written request from a parent/carer.

All medication kept on the school premises is required to be kept in a locked cupboard in the sick bay. The school maintains a medication register. The medication register will provide the following information when a student requiring medication leaves the school premises for excursions, sporting activities and other activities:

• Date / Time / Name of student / Type of medication / Dosage
• Name of person administering medication (normally the medication registrar)

A request form for short-term administration of medication can be found on our website.

If your child requires medication for asthma, we need an updated asthma plan from your doctor EVERY YEAR.

Medical plans are also required for, but not limited to, anaphylaxis, seizures, medication etc.

Aerosol cans

Aerosol cans are banned at St Patrick’s. Items such as deodorant and insect repellent must be of the roll-on variety or pump spray.

Afternoon pickup

For safety reasons, parents and carers are asked not to use the car park to drop off your children in the mornings or to collect them in the afternoons. Street parking is available, although it is limited, particularly at 2.55pm when the students are dismissed from class. The Kiss and Ride option facilitates an efficient dismissal each afternoon. Please refer to the ‘Kiss and Ride’ information on how Kiss and Ride works.

Many parents and carers wait in the car park (having parked their vehicles in a neighbouring street) to collect their child/children of an afternoon. Those children whose parents/carers arrange to meet them outside the school are escorted via the back gate to the car park.

Other students have parent permission to walk, cycle or catch the bus home each afternoon.

Some children travel directly to Swansea High School on the Out-Of-School Hours Care (OOSH) bus.

Afternoon Pickup Kiss and Ride

There is a designated “Kiss and Ride” zone outside the school. Within this zone:

• Drivers may stop to drop off or pick up children for a maximum of 2 minutes.
• Drivers must remain in, or within 3 metres of, their vehicle.
• Ensure that your child enters and exits the vehicle on the kerb side.
• Please queue in an orderly manner. Drop off and pick up your child as close as you can to the eastern end of the zone, allowing vehicles following you to enter the designated area.
• No U-turns. U-turns in this busy school zone are dangerous and place children at risk. When leaving the Kiss and Ride zone, drive forwards to exit the area.
• Designated Kiss and Ride area only. Do not use the Bus zone.

Kiss and Ride zones are designed for your convenience and for your child’s safety. Designed for quick entry and exit, these zones minimise congestion and risk when used properly by all parents and carers.

In the afternoons, the students are escorted to the Kiss and Ride zone by a teacher. It is important that your child knows whether they are being collected from school so that they will know that they must exit the school from the Kiss and Ride line.

The “Kiss and Ride” students will normally be there at 3.00pm. If you arrive before 3.00pm, ensure that you are not parked in the zone for any longer than 2 minutes, or you may incur a fine and lose two demerit points.

Every parent of new Kindergarten students is given a laminated sign bearing their child/ren’s surname. You are asked to display this sign on the inside of your windscreen so that it is clearly visible to the teacher. The teacher will call the family name of the student/s who is/are being collected from the Kiss and Ride zone. Those students will walk immediately to the vehicle. Other parents may request a laminated family name from the school office.

The teacher will wait until 3.10pm. At that time, any students who have not been collected will be escorted to the school office. Their parents will be required to come into the school to collect their children.

ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day

Our school acknowledges those who have served our country in war and in peacekeeping forces. To this end, our students march in the Swansea RSL Sub-Branch ANZAC Day march, and we send a delegation of senior students to the Remembrance Day service each year.

Assemblies

Every morning, the school gathers together in the courtyard to commence the school day. This is a time to settle for the day, pray together, give messages, hear from students regarding any achievements or causes to celebrate and to acknowledge birthdays. It is also a time to greet visitors for the day.

The students gather in the school hall every second Friday (odd weeks of each school term) at 2.30pm for our Awards Assembly. The assembly, which is led by the Year 6 students, provides a wonderful opportunity for the staff to affirm individual students on their achievements throughout the fortnight, to reflect on the events of the fortnight, and to remind the students about forthcoming events.

Parents, grandparents and carers are welcome to join us at all our assemblies.

Attendance

Regular attendance at school is essential if students are to maximise their potential. Schools, in partnership with parents, are responsible for promoting the regular attendance of students. While parents are legally responsible for the regular attendance of their children, school staff, as a part of their duty of care, monitor part or whole day absences.

Parents/carers are responsible for:

• enrolling their children of compulsory school age in a government or registered non-government school or registering them with NESA for home schooling.
• ensuring that their children attend school regularly.
• explaining to the school the absences of their children promptly and within seven days. In diocesan schools, parents/carers have the option to explain absences through the Compass platform.
• taking measures to resolve attendance issues involving their children.

If a student has continual unexplained days off during the term, then the Principal / Executive member will request an interview to discuss the reasons for the consistent lack of attendance. If the reason is due to continuing illness, then a medical certificate will be asked for.

The Assistant Director will be informed of students for whom chronic non-attendance is an issue and for whom school strategies have failed to restore regular attendance.

Attendance-Absences from school

Rolls are marked each morning at 9:00am by the class teacher. If you do not notify the school of your child’s absence you will receive an unexplained absence notification text message.

When your child needs to be absent from school, you are asked to:

• Notify the school of your child’s absence via the Compass Parent Portal, or:
• Write a letter/email to your child’s teacher and Admin outlining the reason for the absence.

You must notify the school within seven days of the absence. If this is not done, the absence is marked as ‘Unexplained’.

For any absences longer than 10 consecutive days that involve travel, parents must apply in writing to the Principal for an exemption from the legal requirement to attend school. The Application for Extended Leave that the parent must complete is available on our school website.

If a parent or carer wishes to withdraw their child for reasons other than travel, e.g. employment in the entertainment industry or participation in an elite arts/sporting event, the parent/carer must apply to the Principal by completing Form B1: Application for Exemption from Attendance from School. The Principal will supply this form on request.

Applications for exemption from school attendance must be submitted in advance. Exemptions from school attendance cannot be granted retrospectively.

An exemption from school attendance may be related to:

• Exceptional domestic circumstances, including but not limited to participation in family holidays during school term, subject to being satisfied that this is in the best educational interests of the child.
• Other exceptional circumstances such as health of the student where sick leave or alternative enrolment is not appropriate.
• Employment in the entertainment industry or participation in elite sporting events for short periods of time, i.e. for one or two days, and at short notice.
• A Certificate of Exemption may be granted when it has been clearly demonstrated by the parent that an exemption is in the student’s best interests in the short and long term, and that alternatives to exemption have been considered. For example, in some cases, application for distance education may be more appropriate than seeking an exemption from school attendance.
• Generally, Certificates of Exemption will not be approved in the case of students who have been the subject of a Community Services report or Child Wellbeing Unit report and for whom unresolved issues concerning a risk of harm remain.
• The Principal may grant an exemption from school attendance for periods totalling up to 100 days in a 12-month period for any one student.

Attendance-Late arrivals and early departures

It is sometimes necessary for children to be away during school hours (for appointments, etc). If a child is late for school, parents are required to accompany the child to the school office where they must log their child’s late arrival on the Compass Kiosk.

If a child must be collected from school before the end of the school day, parents are required to log their child’s early departure in the same manner. Parents are requested to notify the school office as early as possible if they wish to collect their child before the end of the school day.

Behaviour management

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) is a school-wide behaviour framework that employs a whole school approach to addressing problem behaviour and to reducing its effects on student outcomes and on the school community. It is based on three school rules: Be Safe, Be Respectful and Be Responsible. PBL encourages positive behaviour from students, which has been shown to improve their self-concept and motivation to learn.

At no stage will corporal punishment be a part of the school’s behaviour management plan.

We have a hands off policy and violence towards other students, teachers or parents will not be tolerated. Students not adhering to our hands off policy will be sent home. Return to school will be pending a meeting with the Principal.  

Bell times

Book Club

The Scholastic Book Club operates within our school. Order forms are sent home at regular intervals. This club provides an opportunity to buy books which are reasonably priced and suitable to the age and interest of the children in each grade. Points earned from book sales are then redeemed as extra resources for the library and as teaching resources.

Buses

You will need to apply for an Opal Card if you require your child to travel by bus to and from school. This form is available at the school office, or online on the link below:

Bus routes and timetables can be found on our school website.

Canteen

Volunteering to work at the canteen is a great way to get to know other parents. Currently, our school canteen is open on Fridays for lunch orders. Our canteen meets the healthy canteen guidelines endorsed by NSW Health. To order your child’s lunch:

• Download the QKR app onto your android phone or iPhone. iPad users can download the iPhone app.
• Follow the steps to register, and either find our school or search for it by name. (Typing in ‘Swansea’ secures the fastest result).
• Register your children and then you are ready to go!
• QKR orders must be received before 12.00pm on Thursday morning.

Our Year 6 run a ‘Pit Stop Tuck shop’ at lunch. Small snack items are available for students to purchase with cash. We discourage children from bringing large amounts of money to spend at the canteen.

Collection of money and notes

With the widespread use of the QKR app, most monetary transactions are done online. Any cash sent to the school should be enclosed in a sealed envelope. On the front of the envelope you should write:

• Your child's name.
• Your child’s class.
• The amount of money enclosed in the envelope.
• What you are paying for.

Either you or your child should take the envelope to the school office. Children should do this at the beginning of the school day.

Communication between home and school

Meeting with the Principal:

For a brief chat, feel free to approach the Principal. If you wish to discuss a matter that is likely to take more than a few minutes, it is advisable to make an appointment. If you have any concerns regarding your child, the first point of contact should be your child’s teacher. If further clarification is required, or if an issue is not resolved, please make an appointment to meet with the Principal.

Meeting with teachers:

If you wish to speak to your child's class teacher, he/she is usually available before and after school. We prefer that you make an appointment with the teacher if the matter is likely to take more than a few minutes. Teachers are not free to speak with parents during class time.

Compass Parent Portal:

The Compass Parent Portal is an integrated, online portal that allows you to access up-to-date and meaningful information about our school and your child's progress. It is a web-based system that is accessible on any modern web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari) or by using the Compass iOS or Android apps. Search for 'Compass School Manager' in the store. Each parent is given a specific and secure log in to the portal. Compass includes many different features, including the ability to:

• Monitor your child's attendance, and enter an explanation for absence
• Update your family contact information.
• View the school calendar and newsletter.
• Download and view your child's semester reports (Terms 2 & 4) and interim reports (Terms 1 & 3).
• Book parent/student/teacher conferences.
• Receive alerts, reminder notifications and important messages.

School Newsletter:

The school newsletter is published every second Friday and is accessed electronically through our school website, through Compass. Please read the newsletter as it contains important information about upcoming school and parish events, as well as general interest items about the school community.

Parent information meetings:

These meetings take place early in Term 1 each year. At these meetings, the teachers outline the intended yearly programme for each class. Teachers are also able to answer any queries that parents may have about class protocols.

Academic reports:

At the end of Terms 2 and 4, parents and carers will receive a report detailing their children’s academic progress, as well as their children’s personal and social development and work habits. At the end of Terms 1 and 3, parents and carers receive an interim report which reports on each child’s personal and social development and work habits. Parents and teachers should avail themselves of the opportunity to follow up on these reports with a parent-teacher interview if necessary.

Facebook:

We regularly publish important reminders and also post pictures of events and activities on our Facebook page. We encourage you to follow us on the Facebook link below:

Text messages:

If your child is marked absent on a class roll, you will receive a text message prompting you to explain. Text messages are automated and are delivered by 9.30am each morning.

Compass

Compass is a comprehensive system that enables the school to effectively manage all information relating to your child/children. This forms part of a broader implementation of a student information system for the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. This solution will offer a secure, yet easy connection to essential information you need in relation to your child.

The different types of information you will find as part of the Compass system include: Viewing ‘My News’, a news feed of school announcements, alerts and updates. Monitoring your child’s attendance and entering explanations for late arrivals or absences. Downloading and viewing your child’s Semester Reports.

Initial Log In

What do you need to do?

STEP 1. Go to http://swansea-nsw.compass.education  on your computer (initial log on is best via your computer as opposed to a smartphone)

STEP 2. Using the unique code that was provided to you (by email last year and/or sent home with your child this year) as an individual parent/carer. Upon your first log on attempt, you will be prompted to create an individual password. Please be mindful of the importance of protecting this password.

Compass School Manager Smartphone APP

Once you have completed the log on process as outlined, use the opportunity to download the Compass School Manager App on your smartphone. This log on process is identical. Please ensure you have downloaded the APP and allowed push notifications. Ensure you regularly check the portal for key information relating to your child/children. This will ensure effective communication between St Patrick's and home.

Where do I go for help?

If you are experiencing difficulty in accessing the system or forget your password, please contact the school office for assistance via admin@swansea.catholic.edu.au  or 4971 1560.

Complaints & Grievances Resolutions

For classroom-based complaints and grievances - in the first instance please see your child’s classroom teacher. Your classroom teacher is happy to discuss these issues with you at a time that suits you both. Please be aware you may need to book an appropriate time as teachers often have duties before and after school. Please ensure you have discussed any classroom-based issues with your classroom teacher before requesting to speak to the Principal.

Additionally, please see the attached parent and community information brochure, an agreed process for positively resolving concerns in our school community. 

Curriculum

The curriculum at St Patrick’s encompasses Religious Education and the six Key Learning Areas as prescribed by the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA). The Key Learning Areas are:

1. Religious Education.
2. English, which includes Speaking & Listening, Reading & Viewing, and Writing & Representing.
3. Mathematics, which includes Working Mathematically, Number & Algebra, Measurement & Geometry, Statistics & Probability.
4. Human Society and Its Environment, which includes History and Geography.
5. Science and Technology.
6. Personal Development, Health and Physical Education.
7. Creative Arts.

With the assistance of the Catholic Schools Office and external agencies, St Patrick’s aims to cater inclusively for children with additional needs.

Religion

The Religious Education curriculum is based on the Pedagogy of Encounter, which invites the students to do more than simply learn facts and content. It invites them to reflect on what these facts mean for them and how they are significant for their way of being in the world. There are four areas of learning in Religious Education: Faith, Story, Witness and Wisdom. A thematic approach to the teaching of Religious Education equips them to develop a depth of understanding of the mystery of God as expressed in the Catholic faith.

English

The reading programs that we use include:

• Lexia, a technology-based reading intervention program.
• InitiaLit, a whole class literacy program which aims to provide students from Kindergarten to Year 2 with the essential core knowledge and strong foundations to become successful readers and writers.
• MiniLit, an early literacy program which targets the bottom 25% of students and which is specifically aimed at struggling Year 1 readers.

Creative Arts

The students of Years 5 and 6 have the opportunity to participate in ASPIRE, an initiative of the Catholic Schools Office that showcases the talents of students in music, singing, dance and drama.

The school’s Visual Arts program exposes students to a variety of artistic techniques. These techniques include drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, digital art, fibre, photography and ceramics. During the weeks leading up to St Patrick’s Day each year, the school runs a St Patrick’s Day art competition. The winning artworks are displayed in the school foyer.

Personal Development, Health and PE

Our sport program includes athletics, swimming, team sports, dance and gymnastics. Following our school’s cross country (Term 1), athletics carnival (Term 2) and swimming carnival (Term 4), our students have opportunities to represent their region and their diocese at carnivals and, ultimately, for those who excel, to represent at state level. Our students also have the opportunity to represent their diocese in a range of summer and winter sports.

During Term 1, all classes will participate in a Gymnastics program on Tuesdays.

During Terms 2, 3 and 4, Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 will continue to have sports day on TUESDAYS while Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 will have sport lessons on WEDNESDAYS.

The students wear their sport uniform on their sport day, and their regular uniform on all other days.

If a medical condition prevents your child from participating in sport lessons, you are requested to write a letter or email to your child’s teacher, requesting exemption from the lesson.

For the purpose of whole school sporting events, the students are divided into three house teams: Seagulls, Pelicans and Swans. Siblings belong to the same team.

Enrolments

Applications for enrolment are available from the school office throughout the year. Upon enrolment, birth certificate and immunisation status should be made available. PLEASE NOTE: you do not need to be Catholic to enrol in a Catholic School in the Maitland Newcastle Diocese.

For parents seeking enrolment for their child into Kindergarten for the following year, the child must celebrate their fifth birthday on or before May 31 of the year they will be in Kindergarten.

Evacuation and lockdown drills

Throughout the year, we undertake evacuation and lockdown drills. All people on site, including visitors and volunteers, must participate in these drills. Evacuation and lockdown procedures are clearly posted at every exit throughout the school.

Excursions

The Event permission will be given via Compass.  Consent and payment for the event is processed via the Compass App.

Local Excursions

Local excursions are covered under the local excursions permission given as part of the enrolment process. Notice will be given via Compass, Newsletter and/or a hard copy note if your child is attending one of these excursions.

Fruit break

Please provide your child with a fresh fruit or vegetable snack and a drink of water to have at fruit break. Fruit break is held during the morning, with the time being at the teacher’s discretion.

Vegetables

• All fresh vegetables are permitted (e.g. celery, carrot sticks, broccoli bits)

Fruit

• All fresh fruit (e.g. whole fruits, chopped melon)

• Dried fruit like sultanas or apricots are allowed but should be limited. This is because dried fruit tends to cling to teeth and is a concentrated source of sugar, increasing the risk of tooth decay.

Gifted Education Lead School

St Patrick’s is a Gifted Education Lead School in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. Our focus is on identifying Gifted Learners and assisting with the process of developing talent by providing specific opportunities for learning, training and practise. We have high expectations for all students. 

The school’s Gifted Education Mentor (GEM) assists teachers with collating and analysing data, identifying the strengths and needs of students and providing appropriate strategies to meet their needs. 

St Patrick’s is committed to planning and embedding a sustainable whole-school approach to gifted education within the school’s overall philosophy of learning. We deliver a flexible curriculum that meets and furthers student’s learning needs.  

Our teachers actively engage in professional learning opportunities in gifted education. All teachers aim to implement differentiated teaching, learning and assessment strategies to challenge and equip gifted learners to optimise learning and progress.   

We acknowledge that students learn in different ways therefore, programs must be developed that contain several different options for learning. These can be inclusive of, but not limited to, accelerating the mastery of basic skills and reorganisation of the curriculum according to higher level skills and concepts, engaging students in problem-based learning and project-based learning and providing students opportunities for making connections within and across systems of knowledge. 

Homework

Homework provides an opportunity for families to share in their children’s spiritual, physical, emotional, social and academic development. It assists in strengthening partnerships between parents/caregivers and the school and is designed to support each child in developing the attributes of a lifelong learner.

While we recognise the benefits of homework, we also acknowledge the importance of family time in an increasingly complex and busy world. Reading is a mandatory homework task. There are other homework tasks that are considered optional.

Infectious diseases

COVID-19:

The following procedures apply to both students and staff members:

• If a student shows flu-like symptoms, the staff will refer the student to the sick bay where they can be isolated.
• The parent / carer will be contacted so that arrangements can be made to take the student home.
• If a student has been absent due to flu-like illness or develops flu-like symptoms while at school, they are not to return to school until they are symptom-free.

The following guidelines give the recommended time a child who is suffering from an infectious disease should be excluded from school.

• Acute Conjunctivitis: Exclude until all discharge has ceased.
• Chicken Pox: Exclude until fully recovered, at least seven days after first spots appear.
• Glandular Fever: Exclude until recovered or until a medical certificate is produced.
• Infectious Hepatitis: Exclude until all symptoms have disappeared or until a doctor issues a certificate of recovery, but not before seven days after onset of jaundice.
• Measles: Exclude at least seven days from appearance of rash.
• Rubella (German Measles): Exclude until fully recovered - for at least ten days after rash appears.
• Impetigo (scabby sores): Consult the family doctor. If sores are being treated and are properly covered by a clean dressing, children are allowed to attend school.
• Pediculosis (head lice): Child must be excluded until hair is completely clean of lice and nits.
• Whooping Cough: Exclude for four weeks from onset of illness or until doctor issues a certificate of recovery.

Jewellery and make-up

The wearing of jewellery is limited to:

• 1 pair of earring studs or sleepers - No “dangly” earrings
• 1 ring
• 1 necklace inside the uniform
• 1 watch
• 1 bracelet

If any jewellery is deemed to present a hazard, your child will be asked to remove the item and it will be returned at the end of the day. All care but no responsibility will be taken for the loss of jewellery at the school. Lipstick, lip gloss, blush, mascara, eyeshadow, foundation and all other forms of makeup are not permitted at St Patrick’s. We do encourage application of standard sunscreen.

Kindergarten - Successful Foundations

Successful Foundations supports the positive transition of children to Kindergarten. Successful Foundations provides children with the opportunity to actively demonstrate their knowledge, build relationships and become familiar with the context of the school, through PLAY!

Successful Foundations provides teachers with the opportunity to become familiar with children and families as they develop deep and meaningful relationships through their observations and interactions with the competent, creative and capable child.

Successful Foundations assists teachers to get to know their children by implementing play opportunities in the first weeks of Kindergarten. In particular, it assists Kindergarten teachers to observe, listen to, document and analyse children’s learning, skills and knowledge, facilitate conversations with children, families and colleagues and profile children’s strengths, interests and learning needs.

Lost Property

Please label all items and check the labels from time to time, items that have names on them are easily returned to students. Items without names on them are placed in Lost Property. Lost Property is located outside the Library.

Items not collected at the end of each term is put in the second-hand items in the Uniform Shop.

Library

The school has a well-stocked library from which the children are able to borrow books on a weekly basis. We ask that all children have a library bag, and that they handle books carefully whilst the books are on loan. We have a simple rule for the protection of our books: No bag, No books, No borrowing.

If a student fails to return a borrowed book by the due date, the parents/carers will be notified. Consistent failure to return borrowed books will result in the children losing their borrowing privileges. In the case of a lost book a replacement fee will apply. If the book is lost, a replacement fee will be charged.

Each class attends the library once per week for a library lesson.

Lunchtime activities

There are a variety of lunchtime activities at St Patrick’s that give an alternative to playing on the playground, if a student chooses. Lunchtime activities are organised and supervised by the Wellbeing Pastoral Care Worker. Parent volunteers are always welcome.

Masses and Liturgies

Parents are the first and primary educators of their children. The role of the school is to support parents in this role. St Patrick’s is an integral part of the East Lakes The Good Shephard parish community. At different times during the year, we join the broader parish community to celebrate Mass. Families who are not Catholic are very welcome to join us at Mass, and they should feel part of the worshipping community. On special occasions, such as feast days and special celebrations, the students have opportunities to participate in school-based liturgies.

Mission activities

Throughout the year, we organise fundraising activities to support charitable organisations. Our preferred charities are Caritas, St Vincent de Paul, Catholic Mission and the Mary MacKillop Foundation.

Mobile phones

Children are discouraged from bringing mobile phones and smart watches to school. However, if your child is required to bring a mobile phone or smart watch to school, it must be handed in to the class teacher at the start of the day and collected at the end.

No Pets at school

For the safety of students with allergies, intolerances and fears we ask that you do not bring your pets to school. Please negotiate with the Principal for further clarification on this matter if needed.

Office of Safe Guarding

The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle has an absolute and abiding commitment to promote the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children. As a parent sending your child or children to a Diocesan school, you should be aware of your rights and obligations in protecting your child and all children in our schools.

The Children and Young Person’s (Care and Protection) Act 1998

In NSW, you can report certain information to the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ). If we are concerned for one or more of the children in the school, you can discuss your concerns with a teacher, Assistant Principal or Principal. You can report your concerns to the Child Protection Helpline (132 111, 24hr/7 days) if you have reasonable grounds to suspect that a child or young person is at risk of significant harm and your concerns are current. Risk of significant harm may occur from a single act or omission or a series of acts or omissions. It is better to be safe than sorry, so if uncertain, talk to a staff member at the school.

Part 4 of the Children’s Guardian Act 2019

This legislation defines diocesan schools as a “schedule 1 entity” and as such we must have systems for preventing, reporting (to the Children’s Guardian) and investigating reportable conduct. All staff and volunteers who hold a Working With Children Check in diocesan schools fall within the scope of Part 4 and may be investigated for alleged “reportable conduct”, which includes sexual offences, misconduct, assault, ill-treatment, neglect and behaviour that causes psychological harm to children. The Office of Safeguarding is the Diocese’s specialist child protection service. It works with the Children’s Guardian to ensure the Diocese meets its obligations under Part 4 of the Act. Information about the role and functions of the Office of Safeguarding can be found on the link below: 

The Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012

Under this legislation, people who undertake a role in child-related work in a paid or volunteer capacity in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle are required by law to have a Working with Children Check clearance. Please consult the Unpaid Helpers framework as this does not apply to school-based Close Family Members. This “clearance” can be obtained from applying online at the link below:

As a parent, if you learn about a staff member or a volunteer working in the school without a clearance, you should talk with the Principal or Assistant Principal as soon as possible. If you believe nothing is being done about your concerns, you can contact the Office of Safeguarding directly (4979 1390, Mon-Fri).

Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle Reporting Policy

As a parent, you can report any concerns you have for a student, or group of students, to our Principal, Assistant Principal or directly to the Office of Safeguarding (4979 1390, Mon-Fri). Information about reporting concerns for a child can be found on the Office of Safeguarding website below:

As parents you are entitled to contact the Office of Safeguarding directly about any concerns you have about the safety, welfare or wellbeing of a child or if you are concerned that the school isn’t addressing allegations of reportable conduct or abuse. (4979 1390, Mon-Fri).

Out-Of-School Hours Care (OOSH)

Caves Beach Before and After School care operates at the “Green Shed” in the grounds of Swansea High School. The area is completely fenced and it provides a safe area for the care of children. Mornings: 7.00am to 9.30am. Afternoons: 2.30pm to 6.00pm. The OOSH students are brought to school by bus each morning from the OOSH facility. Following our afternoon assembly, OOSH supervisors collect our students scheduled for pick up, taking them to the Green Shed. For inquiries about OOSH, phone 0418 661 321.

P&F / Parent Engagement Group (PEG)

The P&F / PEG format at St Patrick’s is currently under review.

Pastoral Care, Wellbeing and School Counsellor

At St Patrick’s, we provide an environment in which children can grow socially, emotionally, spiritually and intellectually in a way that allows them to develop quality relationships, to make informed decisions and to demonstrate respect for other people.

Our school counsellor works one day per week. Our counsellor works collaboratively with the Principal, staff, parents, carers and other agencies to support learning and wellbeing outcomes for students by providing psychological counselling, assessment and intervention services.

Our Pastoral Care Worker is responsible for supporting the spiritual, social and emotional wellbeing of our students. Pastoral Care is not a counselling service, but simply an extra pair of ears and hands to address the needs of students and often their families in times of hardship, sorrow and indeed times of joy. Our Pastoral Care Worker co-ordinates social and wellbeing support groups as well as some lunchtime activities. The Pastoral Care Worker operates closely with classroom teachers and Principal to help meet the needs of all students.

Procedures for investigating conflicts at school

It is not uncommon for children to have accidents or to get into the odd argument or fight. Such incidents can lead to high emotions both at home and at school. We ask children and parents to apply the following guidelines:

For Children

• Tell a teacher when you are injured, upset or feeling insecure.
• If the teacher is busy, go to the school office and tell another teacher or tell your classroom teacher when you go to class.
• Tell the truth, even if you may be at fault.

For Parents

• Step 1: Complaints and grievances should be raised at the earliest possible time. The classroom teacher should be your first port of call.
• Step 2: If the complaint and grievance is not resolved by the classroom teacher, direct the complaint/grievance to the Principal and/or delegate.
• Step 3: If a complaint or grievance is not resolved by the Principal after all efforts have been made to do so, or the complaint or grievance is about the Principal, the parent/carer should refer the concern to the Catholic Schools Office (phone 49791200).
• Step 4: If a complaint or grievance remains unresolved, the parent/carer or the Assistant Director may refer the matter to the Director of Schools for review. A formal avenue of appeal is available in accordance with the Diocesan Pastoral Care Policy. All such appeals should be made to the Director of Schools in writing and in a timely manner.
• Step 5: If, ultimately, the parent/carer is not happy with the way their complaint or grievance has been dealt with by the school or the Catholic Schools Office, they may wish to go to an external agency or legal advocate for advice and assistance.

Notes

• There may be a number of investigations proceeding that you are unaware of, all of which require care and thorough attention. Simply because a result is not immediately forthcoming does not mean that the issue is not being dealt with.

• Investigations can take time. Schools are busy places, and your patience is appreciated. Decisions about discipline that are made in haste can be the wrong decisions.

• The manner in which we deal with issues in school, teaches children skills about how to make better choices in real life. It is about choice and consequences. All children make mistakes. The Catholic Schools Office’s Complaints Resolution policy and procedures are also available on our website.

Public speaking

St Patrick’s sends representatives from Kinder to Year 6 to the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle Regional Public Speaking Competition in September each year.

Recycling

St Patrick’s recycles a range of materials, including green waste, paper, cardboard, glass and metal. We provide garbage bins on the playground only on Fridays when the canteen is open. This program saves the school a great deal of time and money, and it is an environmentally sustainable way of managing our waste and our environmental footprint.

Release from face-to-face teaching 

Full-time teachers receive two hours per week of release from face-to-face teaching. Part-time teachers receive a pro rata portion of this time. This release time is taken when the Teacher-Librarian and the RFF teacher teach the classes, as well as whole days at various times of the year. Teachers use this time to plan their teaching programs and to undertake professional development.

Representation at Diocesan and Polding sporting events

Participation at Catholic Schools NSW Diocesan and Polding sporting events now requires registration via the new CSNSW Sport portal. In the past, registration was only required for Polding events. Please see below for instructions on how to do this. Additional information is also available on the CSNSW website link below:

SETTING UP AN ACCOUNT

If you had an account on the previous website (www.csss.nsw.edu.au), you would have received an email requesting you to go to the new portal to update your details. You will need to go to csnsw.sport, click on login, then "Forgot Password" - as your password will need to be reset.

If you have NOT previously had account, you will need to set one up so you can register your child.

1. Go to www.csnsw.sport
2. Click on Create A New Account which is located in the blue box on the top right hand side of the page
3. Click on Setup Parent Account
4. Complete all the fields and click on Create Account. You will receive a confirmation email.

ADDING A CHILD

1. Click on Add Child
2. Complete all fields. Click NEXT
3. Complete all fields on the next page and click on Add Child

REGISTER FOR A SPORT

1. Scroll to your child’s profile
2. Click on Register for a Sport
3. Select the Sport
4. Click Next
5. Review your child’s details and if they are correct tick the “Acknowledgement” box and click Next
6. Sport Specific Details - review all the event information and click Next
7. Consent to Participate - Complete all the fields and click on NEXT
8. Your registration is not complete until you have completed all steps - including payment if payment is required (Checkout)

PROGRESSION TO NEXT LEVEL

Once you have been selected to the next level you will receive an email to login in to your account

1. Scroll to the child’s profile and there will be a box in red “Confirm Selection”. Click on the box.
2. Review your child’s details and if they are correct tick the “Acknowledgement” box and click Next
3. Sport Specific Details: Review all the event information and click Next
4. Consent to Participate: Complete all the fields and click on Finish
5. Add to Cart: Levy and uniform will be displayed. (If applicable)
   Follow the prompts and click on Checkout
6. This will take you to the payment options. Complete payment.

CHECKING THE PROGRESS OF YOUR CHILD'S REGISTRATION

At any stage you can check your child's registration progress. The stages are colour coded

• GREEN - the registration is complete
• ORANGE - the registration is awaiting Principal Approval or School Action
• RED - You have not completed the registration and must return to the process

You can check details, what you have agreed to and your cart/orders by clicking on View Registrations and scrolling through the sections. (Purchases are at the end)

Sacramental programs

For many families, Baptism is the beginning of the faith journey for their child. Many children are baptised as babies. For other parents, their desire to seek baptism for their child may happen when the child is older. We offer a sincere welcome and assurance that our local parish community will love, support and welcomes the child as they are baptised into the Catholic Church.

As they continue through their journey in faith, those who are baptised may wish to enrol in the sacramental programs of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist. While these programs are run by the parish, St Patrick’s School, as an integral part of the Parish of Jesus the Good Shepherd, supports the sacramental programs in an administrative capacity, in an educational role, and in the pastoral support that is offered to the children enrolled in the programs.

The school disseminates through its regular newsletter all information regarding the parish sacramental programs. Enquiries can be made to the parish office by phoning 4945 4402, or by emailing elmparish@mn.catholic.org.au .

School Community Code of Conduct

Parents/Carers and volunteers in Catholic school communities agree to:

• Understand and abide by all diocesan policies, procedures and guidelines, which are available on the CSO website link below:
  

• Model positive behaviour to their child and all children in the school community.
• Ensure children attend school on time and every day on which the school is open for instruction.
• Take an active interest in their child’s school and their learning and to engage positively in all aspects of their child’s learning.
• Participate in the liturgical and faith life community of the school, including participation in all aspects of the Religious Studies program regardless of personal beliefs.
• Work in a positive manner with the school to achieve the best outcomes for their children.
• Communicate constructively, respectfully and in a spirit of partnership with the school and use processes and protocols outlined in the CSO Complaints Resolution Policy documents when raising concerns.
• Communicate with their child’s teacher or the Principal directly regarding any concerns about their child, other students, staff or community members.
• Reject aggressive, abusive and confrontational language and behaviour, as this is counterproductive to the sustainability of any relationship. Approaching students, community members and/or staff in a confronting manner will not be tolerated.
• Support all school staff to maintain a safe learning environment for all students.
• Treat all school staff, students, other members of the school community, visitors and volunteers with respect in all dealings with them both personally and through the use of all social media technologies at all times.
• Discuss with the Principal any barriers to meeting the financial obligations agreed to at the time of enrolment and seek to form an agreement with the school to meet these.
• Ensure any agreement made with the school is honoured.

School Fees

School fees are issued in Term 1 for the full year. School fees are emailed to the feepayer of each family. Fees are only posted if there has been no email address provided.

School fees are payable as per the Conditions of Enrolment Document. 

Failure to pay fees or discuss your circumstances with the school Principal may compromise your child/rens enrolment.

School fees may be paid using either cash, cheque, BPay, credit card or direct debit from a savings account. Direct debit forms are available from the school office. Discounts are available to parents who have a health care card or who are in receipt of a pension.

Parents who are experiencing difficulties in paying school fees should make an appointment to speak with the Principal. No child will be denied a Catholic education because of his/her parent's genuine inability to pay fees.

From 2024 School fees cover all expenses throughout the year, excluding:

• Overnight excursions
• Year 2 Intensive Swimming
• Representative Sport
• Gala Days
• The Year 6 “big day out”
• Charity days on which the students are invited to donate a gold coin

School Uniform

All children are required to dress in correct school uniform each day.

The students of St Patrick’s wear their uniform with pride.

A school uniform creates a sense of belonging, unity and pride, as well as adding to the tone of the school. It also helps identify our students when engaged in external school activities, such as excursions.

At St Patrick’s, wearing our uniform:

• Develops in the student a sense of pride in their school
• Encourages uniformity and aids identification of our students by the implementation of a modern and functional uniform
• Promotes equality and removes competition between students in regard to fashion items of clothing.

As a parent, you can support our uniform policy by ensuring that your child has all the required uniform pieces and by replacing lost uniform items as needed.

Lowes Belmont is the provider for selling St Patrick's Uniforms.  

SHOP IN STORE - the retail store is located at Lowes Belmont 548 Pacific Highway, Belmont NSW, 2280. Parents and students can access uniforms 6 days per week including most public holidays.

SHOP ONLINE 24/7 - St Patrick's Primary School Swansea uniform products will continue to be available for parents convenience to purchase online with delivery options.  Access to the online portal is available through the link here. 

School Hats and ties can be purchased from School and are ordered online through our QKR app. Your order will be processed within 48 hours and sent home with your child.

Second-hand uniform items are sometimes available and can be purchased from the School Office during the school term using either EFTPOS or cash.

To contact the second hand school uniform shop, please email: admin@swansea.catholic.edu.au

All students are expected to wear the school uniform correctly. The correct school uniform is as follows:

Please note that the shoes worn with the summer and winter uniforms are black leather lace-up, elasticised or buckle shoes that are able to be polished. Please do not be persuaded by your children to purchase anything other than these shoes.

Girls’ shoes should be of a suitable height that will allow them to engage in physical activity safely.

The only additional item of clothing permitted to be worn is a warm jacket during exceptionally cold weather.

Security

St Patrick’s grounds are fully enclosed. Our gates are opened for morning drop off and afternoon pick up then closed. During the school day, visitors are asked to buzz the intercom at the front gate to gain entry.

Sport

All K-6 students participate in the weekly sport program. Students have access to professional coaches through Sporting School’s Australia.

In addition, students aged eight years and over have the opportunity to represent at regional, diocesan and state level in athletics, swimming and cross-country. Students participate in soccer and netball gala days.

Students in Primary with above average ability in netball, basketball, soccer, touch football, rugby league, rugby union, hockey or tennis can attend regional trials, for selection to attend diocesan trials. Successful students at this level go onto represent the Diocese in the state competition and eventually to nationals if good enough.

Staff development days

During 2024, three days will be allocated as staff development days to enable staff members to undertake professional development. As these days are also pupil-free days, timely notice is given to parents so that alternative child-care arrangements may be made.

Standard Collection Notice

Student leadership

Our student leadership program aims to provide opportunities for students to play a significant and effective role in the decision-making processes of our school, and to ensure that student leaders are positive role models for other students. Each year, the student body elects student leaders from among the Year 6 cohort of students.

The school’s Mini Vinnies group is a group of students who are interested in social justice. The group meets regularly to plan activities that will enable them to help people in need within their school, local or international community. Our Religious Education Coordinator coordinates this group.

Students with disabilities

Funding is available for students with diagnosed intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities such as hearing impairment and autism spectrum disorder. Every child has access to learning support officers regardless of ability, to enable them to access the curriculum and meet their full potential.

The school works closely with outside agencies to provide the highest level of support to students with disabilities.

Sunsense

We teach the children to take responsibility for protecting themselves from the harmful rays of the sun.  We have a policy of "No hat, play under the COLA”. We encourage the children to use sunscreen. The children are asked to supply their own sunscreen. The roll-on sunscreen products are preferred as they are less messy. 

Volunteers and Working With Children Check (WWCC)

Parents and carers are encouraged to assist at St Patrick’s in the following ways:

• Reading with students
• Craft activities
• Excursions
• Sporting events
• Canteen
• Fundraising
• Parents and Friends Association

All volunteers at St Patrick's Primary School must have a current WWCC.

The Working With Children Check (WWCC) is a requirement for anyone who works or volunteers in child-related work in NSW. It involves a National Police Check (criminal history record check) and a review of reportable workplace misconduct. 

The outcome of a check is either a clearance to work with children or a bar against working with children. If cleared, the check will be valid for 5 years, however applicants are continuously monitored. 

If you're applying because you're a paid employee or self-employed, there's a fee for the WWCC. If you're a volunteer, a student on a professional placement, potential adoptive parents or an authorised carer, you won't need to pay the fee. 

Exemptions apply for volunteers who are a close relative of a student enrolled at the school.  There is a "Statutory Screening Selection Tool" included in the online registration process to assist you with this.

You can apply online for your WWCC. 

You will then be required to go to a Services NSW Centre to finalise the process by confirming your identity (100 point check).

Once you have received your WWCC number (by email) please complete the volunteer registation form below:

The school will then receive a clearance from the Catholic Schools Office. The school will notify you to make an appointment to complete the onsite WHS site induction. Once all of this has happened please contact the school to discuss volunteering opportunities.

When your WWCC expires you will be emailed a document called the statutory screening selection tool that you will need to complete and submit as detailed on the form.

ESPECIALLY FOR OUR NEW KINDERS

Getting Ready for School

It is a very big change for a five-year-old to pass from the intimacy of the family circle to school. Here are some practical ways in which you can help this transition:

• Buy clothing that is easy to fasten.
• Ensure that all articles that are brought to school (shoes, caps, coats, jumpers, bags, book, lunchboxes, etc.) are marked clearly in a prominent place with the child's Christian name and surname.
• Teach your child:
• To tie shoelaces, do up buttons, put on and take off outer clothing. This is very important when the students engage in sport lessons.
• To know their full name and address.
• To recognise their name among other names.
• To put away toys, books, etc. after use.
• To wash their hands and flush the toilet unassisted.
• To know the safest way to and from school.
• Some weeks in advance, rehearse with your child (in a spirit of play) the different situations to be met within school life:
• Open and close the school bag.
• Unpack and eat the school lunch.
• Dress for school and make the journey to and from school.
• Be away from home and parents for short periods.
• Use pencils, crayons, scissors, etc.
• Enjoy books by providing books which are bright, attractive and have only a little reading content. Read stories daily.
• Listen to stories, look at pictures and talk about them.
• Encourage your child to talk. Answer questions and encourage interest in the daily environment and activities. The best preparation for reading and writing is good language development. If your child writes his/her name, please do not use capital letters, e.g. Natalie not NATALIE. Using capital letters to write is a habit that is very hard to break.
• Greet friends by name.
• Encourage correct letter formation using the Foundation Handwriting Sheet. (See Appendix 1).

Settling into school

The change from being at home or at pre-school to five full days per week at school can lead to some anxiety for small children. Some children may find it difficult to cope, especially during Term One. You can help your child to settle into school by following some of the following suggestions:

• Many little children find lunch time with a large group of children quite disconcerting. This can lead to poor eating habits at the beginning of the year. It is best to give little children smaller quantities of known favourites and to "top them up" when they arrive home. We do not have waste bins on the playground (except for Fridays), so the children bring home in their lunch boxes what they don't eat. This allows you to adjust lunches accordingly. Lunches need to be nutritious and healthy. Water bottles can be kept on desks in the classroom.
• Your child should go to bed early. A tired child cannot benefit from a full day at school.
• Kindergarten children often get very tired and feel the strain of being part of a large group. You will notice this particularly towards the end of the week for the first few months.
• If your child feels unhappy at school for any reason, please let us know. We cannot help with a problem unless we know it exists.
• Interviews and discussions between parents and teachers should take place before or after school, not during class time. Interruptions during class time can cause considerable disruption.
• Please ensure that your child is punctual in arriving at school.
• Let your child talk to you about his/her experiences. It is important that you share in his/her new life.
• Do not be surprised when you find that the little ones in Kindergarten are not taught all the formal prayers which older children and adults use. A five-year-old child should be allowed to speak to God in a five-year-old way; parents can do much to foster a love of informal prayer in little children.
• Develop the same routine for drop-offs in the morning. Always tell your child when you are leaving, reassure them if they are anxious, and let them know that you will return. Alert the teacher if it becomes apparent that your child is becoming upset. If your child is upset when you deliver him/her to school, leave quickly. The school will ring you to confirm that your child has settled. If you give into your child the first time, it will quickly develop into a habitual pattern which will make the start of the day traumatic for all concerned.

APPENDIX 1: HANDWRITING – NSW FOUNDATION SCRIPT

As many of the children are learning to write their names and sometimes other words as well, here is a copy of Foundation style writing, so that the children can learn to write the correct way from the beginning.

It is a good idea to encourage correct grip when learning to write, and to teach the children to write in lower case letter, not capital letters. People’s names begin with a capital letter, but the rest of the word is written in lower case.

Foundation style slopes a little. This allows for a smooth transition to joining their letters in a few years.

Note:

Capital J does not have a “top”.
Capital I does not have a “hat” and “base”.
Lower case k has an oval top.

APPENDIX 2: COMMENCEMENT OF THE CRIMES AMENDMENT (SCHOOLS PROTECTION ACT) 2002

The Commencement of the Crimes Amendment (Schools Protection Act) 2002 was brought into force on the 10th February 2003. This amendment arose from a proposal of the 16th August 2002 ‘Community and Parents and Police Forum’ which aimed to introduce specific measures in the Crimes Act to better protect school communities from Criminal Intruders.

Parliament passed the Law in December 2002 to reinforce the message to the community that schools are valued as special places and will be treated as such at Law. Offences under the new Act are:

1. Assaulting, stalking, harassing or intimidating any school student or member of staff while the student or member of staff is attending school – maximum penalty is 5 years imprisonment.
2. Assaulting a school student or member of staff while the student or member of staff is attending school in circumstances where the assault causes actual bodily harm. “Actual bodily harm” is an injury that is more than merely transient and trifling, including a psychiatric injury but not mere fear or panic – maximum penalty is 7 years imprisonment.
3. Maliciously wounding of a school student or member of staff while the student or member of staff is attending school. “Malicious Wounding” means breaking or cutting the skin of a person with malice, indifference to the outcome, recklessly, wantonly or with intent to injure the person – maximum penalty is 12 years imprisonment.
4. Maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm to a school student or member of staff while the student or member of staff is attending school. “Maliciously inflict grievous bodily harm” means an injury of a serious kind but not necessarily permanent, which is also done maliciously – maximum penalty is 12 years imprisonment.
5. Entering onto school premises with the intention to commit one of the above offences – maximum penalty is 5 years.

Some Principals have raised concerns about the relationship of this legislation to the normal discipline processes in the school. It is, in the view of the State Departments Legal Services Directorate, that if instances such as minor physical altercations, harassment or intimidation between students are dealt with in accordance with existing school discipline and welfare policies, they need not be reported to the police.

This is very important to all of us as members of a school community and the implications are far reaching. In the past some parents have felt it was within their right to approach students and staff on the playground to voice their opinions forcefully on altercations happening within the school context, the school has never condoned this. It is the school’s policy to discuss concerns in the context of an interview. In light of this legislation it becomes imperative to inform parents that entering the school grounds with the purpose of approaching students personally with grievances, will be seen as extremely serious and will result in strong action from the school, to the point of partial exclusion from school grounds for a specified period for the offending person initially and possibly the notification of this action to police if deemed necessary. All children have the right to be safe at school.

APPENDIX 3: REPORTING TO THE POLICE

In determining whether an incident involving students is required to be reported to the police, particularly where it involves harassment or intimidation, Principals will need to examine the facts relevant to each individual case. Factors to be taken into account include, but are not limited to:

• The effect of the incident on the victim.
• The extent of any physical injuries sustained.
• The nature of any threats that may have been made.
• Whether any weapons or other implements have been used.
• Whether the incident involved an individual student or a group of students.
• The age of the students involved and any age differential between the victim and the alleged perpetrator.
• Whether the incident was isolated or part of an ongoing dispute between the students involved.
• The likelihood of the dispute being resolved through school welfare and discipline procedures.
• Whether school welfare and discipline procedures have been used in the past but have failed to resolve the issue.
• Whether the events involve children under the age of 10 as alleged offenders. Children under 10 are not considered by the law to be capable of committing a criminal offence. (Principals will, however, need to consider whether action in accordance with child protection legislation is required, e.g. is the child at risk of harm and/ or in need of care).
• Whether the provisions of the Child Protection-Physical Mistreatment Act 2001 may apply.
• The views of the parents or caregivers of the victim. (Parents and students have the right to report a matter directly to the Police).

If Principals are in any doubt as to whether or not to report a matter to the police, they should contact their local police to discuss the issue.

APPENDIX 4: INCLOSED LANDS PROTECTION ACT (1901)

This Act created the offence of criminal trespass. Police can and should enforce this act. Set out below is a summary of the offence:

It is an offence, without lawful excuse, to:

• Enter enclosed lands without the consent of the owner, occupier or person apparently in charge, or:
• Remain on enclosed lands after being requested to leave by the owner, occupier or person apparently in charge. (Enclosed Lands Act 1901, ILPA s.4 – maximum 5 penalty points).

Some premises such as schools are specially prescribed and any entry to this carries a double penalty of 10 penalty units.

Furthermore, this Act has recently been amended and strengthened to allow police officers the option of issuing an “on the spot fine” to any person who breaches this Act:

• Entering school premises without lawful excuse or remaining on school premises after being asked to leave: $550.

• Acting in an offensive manner on school premises while remaining on those premises after being asked to leave: $250.