2 STUDENT WELFARE
We aim to develop self–esteem in all students. This is a key element in all curriculum and school activities. A whole-school approach using Restorative Practices has been adopted. Student Wellbeing is vital for student learning to occur and is, therefore, a priority at Edithvale Primary School.
2.1 BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT MANAGEMENT
At the beginning of each year the negotiated Class Rules and Playground Rules, based around our values of Kind, Determined, Respectful, will be sent home. Parents are asked to discuss these rules with their children and support them.
The school has high expectations of student behaviour. Every effort is made to reinforce positive behaviour and modify inappropriate behaviour. To achieve this, parent cooperation is vital. As students will participate in making the rules, they will be very familiar with them. Students are expected to follow the rules and will understand the consequences that breaches of the rules will bring. When a serious breach of discipline occurs, parents can expect to be involved in its resolution.
A fair and consistent Student Behaviour Management Plan exists and all staff have been trained in the use of Restorative Practices. This process encourages students to take responsibility for their actions and to work through the issues that have arisen from these actions. A counselling process, with trained staff, is used to help students identify the issues and discuss how to ensure the behaviour is not repeated.
2.2 ATTENDANCE
There is a direct link between attendance and achievement.
If students miss the basic skills in the early years of schooling they often experience learning difficulties later on. Children need to attend school regularly to make the most of the educational opportunities available to them.
It has been shown that poor patterns of attendance in the early years can lead to poor patterns of attendance throughout the school years.
Poor attendance makes it difficult for students to form positive friendships with their peers.
Student Attendance
It is important for all students to be at school every day.
It is also important that children are at school on time. Arriving late is upsetting and unsettling for both the child who is late and their class. For safety reasons children arriving late to school must be escorted to the office to be signed in on the iPad at reception. A Late Pass will be issued before they go to class. It is a legal requirement that teachers mark the time of arrival/departure on their roll sheets each day.
Extended Family Holidays
If there is some known reason which requires your child to miss school for an extended time (eg. operation, overseas trip, etc.), parents are asked to discuss the matter with their Classroom Teacher first and then inform the Principal. You will need to complete a written form notifying the school of the details.
We urge parents to use the school holiday periods for their family holidays if at all possible and to avoid having their children miss classes immediately before and after scheduled holidays.
Absent Children
If your child is away for any reason, please report absences using Compass, alternatively, you can notify the school, on the day, by phone and then provide a written explanation to your child’s teacher on their return to school. It is a government requirement to have all absences explained. In the case of unexplained absences, proformas will be sent home each term for you to complete. If a child is to be away longer than a week please keep the school informed. The school is required to report any unexplained absences to Department of Education and Training.
Taking Children Out of School for Appointments
When parents or their nominated representative are picking children up early from school for appointments, personal reasons or sickness, children must be signed out at the office and an early dismissal pass for the class teacher will be given to you. Children cannot be released by teachers without this formal process being completed.
Please note: The school must be clearly informed in writing of custody arrangements and access agreements in regard to picking up children from school. Notes must also be provided when any student is picked up from school by adults other than their parent/s.
Emergency Information
Please make sure you provide the school with two Emergency Contact numbers. It is very important that these are kept up to date with any changes in home, business and emergency contact phone numbers and addresses.
2.3 HEALTH
Health Information
The school needs to know if your child suffers from a medical condition eg. Asthma, Diabetes, Epilepsy or if he/she is allergic to anything such as nuts, stings etc. Each child with an ongoing medical condition eg. Asthma, ADHD, Epilepsy, severe allergic reactions and long-term seasonal medical conditions such as Hay Fever require a Medical Condition Management Plan to be formulated by a doctor in consultation with parents.Copies of Medical Management Plans will be kept with medication.Medication delivery devices eg: Asthma nebuliser pumps and spacers are to be provided by parents.
Medication
If student medication is required to be administered at school, a Medication Authority Form must be completed. These can be collected from the school office. Medications must be in original containers, clearly named and labelled with exact dosage requirements and will be stored in the school’s sick bay.
Infectious Diseases
As infectious diseases spread quickly, a child must be excluded from school for the period mentioned or until a medical certificate is provided.
| Chickenpox | Until all blisters have dried
Note: Some remaining scabs are not an indication for continued exclusion. |
| Conjunctivitis | Excluded until discharge from eyes has ceased |
| Diarrhoea | Exclude until there has not been a loose bowel motion for 24 hours |
| Impetigo (School Sores) |
Exclude until appropriate treatment has commenced |
| Measles | Until fully recovered. |
| Pediculosis(Head Lice) | Excluded until the day after treatment has commenced |
| Pertussis (Whooping Cough) |
5 days after starting antibiotics treatment. |
| Ringworm, Scabies | Exclude until the day after appropriate treatment has commenced |
| Rubella (German Measles) |
Until fully recovered and at least four days from the onset of the rash. |
| Streptococcal (Including Scarlet Fever) |
Excluded until child has had antibiotics for at least 24 hours. Until a medical certificate of recovery is produced. |
| Worms | Exclude until there has not been a loose bowel motion for 24 hours |
Infections
If your child has an infectious disease, such as Scarlet Fever, Meningococcal Infection, Tuberculosis, Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fever, please phone the school so that other parents may be informed (confidentially, of course).
2.4 CERTIFICATE OF IMMUNISATION
Prior to entry to school, the parent/guardian of a child is required to provide a certificate of immunisation issued by the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register and can be obtained from Medicare.
If an outbreak of an infectious disease occurs at the school, children who have not been immunised, or their immunisation is incomplete, will be sent home until the danger has passed.
2.5 FAMILY COURT ORDERS
Copies of all Family Court Orders are required for all students who have custody and access arrangements as negotiated legally within the Family Law Court. The school can only act on these orders as literally presented. The school acts on behalf of the child according to legal, written documentation.