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Rollins Primary School

PREP 2019

(Foundation)

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Welcome to School

Welcome to Rollins Primary School. We hope that your child has an extremely beneficial and enjoyable time learning at our school. Our staff and students take great pride in the programs we offer and the success we achieve. It is our hope that your child will enjoy school life and we will play our part in making school both stimulating and enjoyable, so that each child's learning potential can be reached. The school believes that success in education will only come if your child is interested and stimulated to learn.

Parents and teachers together share the responsibility for the education of each child by providing an environment where children can grow and develop naturally. This growth and development, as you the parents realise, occurs at different times and at different rates. The school fully understands this and plans the learning experiences for each child accordingly.

Our school is comprised of two campuses. The main campus is situated in Wolseley Grove, Bell Post Hill. The Batesford campus is located 4kms away at Batesford. This campus comprises of 30 students from Years 3 to 4 with class sizes of 15 per grade. This is one of the many unique features of our “rural” campus.

Student Support and Welfare is a high priority at Rollins. Parent concerns are listened to and acted upon appropriately.

This booklet is intended to provide parents with information about the school, as well as assist parents in preparing their child for the new school year. All of the information contained in the booklet is applicable to the Rollins main campus.

We look forward to your child commencing school next year, and

welcome the opportunity of playing our part in the

education of your child.

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School Hours for Preps Preps will commence school Monday 4

th February. Children should arrive before 9:00am.

They will need to bring a snack and their lunch.

During February, Prep students attend school four days of the week; (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday).

Children will need a piece of fruit or vegetables, a small play lunch and their lunch (packed separately). Children will be dismissed from the foot of the Prep steps at 3.30pm.

There will be NO school for Prep children on Wednesdays for the month of February while mandatory assessments are being conducted.

Please be punctual when dropping off and collecting your child.

It is important students do not arrive before 8:45am for their own safety.

Please be aware that the school grounds are ONLY supervised from 8:45am until 3:45pm. Punctual and regular attendance is necessary for a happy settling-in experience.

To minimise congestion in the Prep rooms and in order to assist young children to gain

independent school skills, we ask that parents remain outside the school buildings when bringing and collecting children from the school.

# Please refer to the Term 1 January —February 2019 Calendar.

Standard attendance times are from 9.00am – 3.30pm beginning Monday 4th February.

School Hours 9.00am Starting Time

11.00 - 11.30am Morning Recess

1.30 - 1.40pm Lunch is eaten in classrooms

1.40 - 2.30pm Lunch Play

3.30pm Dismissal

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School Council The School Council plays an important role in school accountability and improvement processes while assisting in the efficient governance of the school.

The function of School Council is the following;

To enhance the educational opportunities for students

Develop, review and update policies

Maintain buildings and grounds

Oversee contracts e.g. Cleaning/construction work

Financial management

Raise funds for school-related purposes

Promoting interest in the school and reporting to the school community.

Choosing to take an active interest in the school council will be personally rewarding and benefit all students. The school council meets twice a term and elections are held during March of each year. Rollins School Council consists of 8 parents and 4 staff members.

Camp Australia

Outside School Hours Care The Rollins Primary School Outside School Hours Care program operates before and after school. The program provides :

A safe and stimulating environment

A range of craft activities, games, toys and sports

Either casual or permanent placements

High quality child care at an affordable price

A program based on fun and active participation

Vacation care

Please go to the Camp Australia website for further information: www.campaustralia.com.au

Canteen

To order lunch, send a paper bag marked clearly with your child's name, grade and the order.

The canteen operates three times a week on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The canteen is open at morning recess and lunchtime. Preps often lose money so it is best to include all snacks with the main order. Please enclose correct money where possible. If money must be sent, please keep it to a minimum.

Newsletter A newsletter is published every second THURSDAY. This newsletter is emailed to all families via the Compass Parent Portal. If you would like a hard copy, these are available from the school office. The newsletter will keep you informed about school activities. Sometimes notices may be sent home on other days, so please check your child's school bag and diary EVERY DAY.

The Rollins Primary School Facebook Page is a great way to keep up to date.

You do not need to have Facebook to read our page. Simply Google Rollins Primary School Facebook.

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Label all clothing Many items of clothing are lost each year because they are not clearly named. Please label all

clothing, lunch boxes, lids, drink bottles etc and regularly check names don’t wear off during

washing.

Health Care We have a well-equipped sick bay and trained staff to attend emergencies. Although we will

administer first aid, we will contact you if your child is ill or injured.

PLEASE BE SURE WE HAVE CORRECT CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS AT ALL TIMES.

Sick children should be kept at home.

Medication Sometimes it may be necessary for medication to be administered at school. It is the usual practice of this school that if medication has to be taken at school, an AUTHORITY TO DISPENSE MEDICATION FORM must be completed before any medication is administered.

The form, which is available at the General Office, MUST have the following information:

Student’s name

Name of the medication,

The dosage/s and time to be administered

The Medication form and medicine is to be given to the office by the parent, or supervising adult.

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Absences Please do not send your child to school if he/she is unwell. Children are best cared for at home

when they are ill. We use the COMPASS School Manager Parent Portal to record all student

absences. Parents will receive personal log in details at the start of the year. On EACH day that

a student is away, parents simply log the absence and the reason.

If a child has been diagnosed by a doctor with : Chicken Pox, Mumps, Impetigo, Whooping

Cough, Rubella, Scabies, Measles, Ringworm, Conjunctivitis the school must be notified

immediately. Please keep your child home according to the doctor’s instructions.

When in doubt, please check at the general office.

Curriculum In line with the Victorian Curriculum, students will be involved in English,

Maths, Science, Music, Art, P.E and Indonesian. There is a whole school

focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

Preps are also involved in a Buddies Program and Developmental Play.

School Entry Immunisation Certificate and Birth Certificate

must be provided along with your enrolment in the school. Department regulations state the following: When a student enrols at a government school for the first time, principals should ascertain the student's residential status and eligibility for enrolment and obtain and file copies of:

birth certificate for Australian born students

immunisation certificate

citizenship papers, passport or travel documents for non-Australian born students

for overseas born non-resident students who are exempted by ISPPU1 from fee payment, the letter provided by ISPPU verifying the student's SGB funding status

Please make sure that these certificates have been handed in before your child commences!

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Assessment

There will be two formal reports at the end of Terms 2 & 4. Three way conferences are held to share progress with parents.

Teachers may request to speak with parents at other stages during the year if required.

School Finance The Department of Education & Early Childhood Development (DET) provides funding to schools for the standard curriculum program and associated education items, equipment and operational costs. The school is proud of the quality programs it offers to all students and the stimulating learning environment we maintain.

Our School Council has developed and approved a School levy policy regarding parent payments which covers essential education items, optional extras, and voluntary financial contributions. Rollins Primary School ensures that parent payments are kept to a minimum and does not exceed the cost of the relevant materials or services to the student. We ensure parents are provided with early notice of requests of payments for excursions and other activities.

School Uniform Rollins uniforms are available from:

BELLARINE UNIFORMS

162 Moorabool St, Geelong

Ph: 5221 9199

Trading Hours are Monday to Friday 9am-5:30pm and Saturday 9am-1pm. (Please refer to the pamphlet outlining their current price list).

Rollins PS adheres to a RED and NAVY UNIFORM, if you wish to purchase clothes without our logo PLEASE ADHERE TO the SCHOOL COLOURS.

#Navy Broad brimmed hats are compulsory in Terms 1 & 4 providing the best sun protection for the face, head, ears and neck.

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The First Day - What to Bring YOUR CHILD WILL NEED TO BRING THE FOLLOWING TO SCHOOL:

(Please note, stationery is not necessary. All book packs are ordered in a shared bulk pack and managed over the year by the teachers).

Smock for painting (named).

Large box of tissues.

A school bag no smaller than 40cm x 30cms. A backpack is best because it leaves a child's hands free. Rollins School bags are available from Bellarine Uniforms .

Broad brimmed school hat (named).

Important...

Term 1: No school for Prep children on Wednesdays for the month of February. Finishing time is 2.30pm on the last day of each term.

Prep Term Dates for 2019 Term 1 4th February - 5th April

Term 2 23rd April - 28th June

Term 3 15th July - 20th September

Term 4 7th October—20th December

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School Lunch Lunch at school is a new experience for your child whose growth depends on a wide variety of healthy foods. Lunch box contents are always a great topic for discussion during eating time. We love to celebrate healthy efforts. The following suggestions may help to make school lunch fun and encourage good eating habits. Your child will be encouraged to put any uneaten food back in his/her lunch box, so that you are able to monitor the amount eaten.

FRUIT SNACK

This is eaten mid morning - Fresh fruit or vegetables ONLY. If oranges and apples are sent, please ensure they are cut up at home.

MORNING RECESS

Fruit and raw vegetable pieces have been the accepted mid morning snack for the kindergarten year - continuing this healthy habit at school would be a great idea. Encourage your child to use the water fountain.

LUNCH

During lunchtime at school there are many distractions and only a short eating time so your child may not eat very much. We will ensure left over food comes home to eat after school.

Keep lunches simple and easy to eat foods. i.e.

*A sandwich

*piece of fruit

*raw vegetable sticks OR

*cheese cubes

*hard boiled egg

It is a good idea to practise unwrapping food

and opening lunch boxes at home.

We appreciate all efforts to keep waste to a minimum.

Drink Bottles

Water is encouraged.

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Reading Time -

Make it a Happy Time In addition to bed-time stories, keep a regular time when you can sit down and share your child’s day and look at the work brought home.

……..Read the new ‘take home’ book with him/her nightly.

Please sign the book in the take home book cover.

……..Talk about the pictures

“What do you think is happening?” ‘What do you think will happen next?”

……..As you read, with the aid of your finger, he/she will get the idea of reading from left to right, and that the printed words have meanings.

……..Don’t force recognition-it will come eventually.

……..Don’t worry if it takes time for things to develop. Your child will learn at his/her own rate as he/she is ready.

……...Praise his/her efforts and achievements.

……...Every child matures at a different rate.

Encouragement and praise = a happier achiever ………....in time!!!!!!

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Daily Checklists For Parents- When your Child Commences School

Beginning school should be a most exciting, challenging experience for the young child. Your child’s first days at school can be an overwhelming experience unless your child is adequately prepared. We hope that the following hints will help all children adjust smoothly to their new surroundings.

Please make sure that your child:

Has had a good night's sleep

Has clean face, hands and nails

Is dressed cleanly and comfortably

Has eaten a balanced, unhurried breakfast

Has been to the toilet

Has brushed his/her teeth

Is dressed for outdoor activities

Has a nourishing lunch

Is leaving home in a happy frame of mind

Has long hair been tied back in bands

Is ready and eager to take part in school activities

HOW CAN PARENTS HELP ?

Parents need to be aware that starting school can sometimes be an unsettling and emotional time. Children need parents to be positive about the whole school experience.

You can help by doing the following:

Listen, children love to explain their work and benefit from doing so

Show interest, trust and support

Be aware that no two children learn at the same rate

Make sure that you are firm about your child attending school regularly

Encourage PUNCTUALITY

Provide a place at home for the display of school work

Help us by training your child never to leave the school grounds alone in school time. Students are frequently reminded to always play at least 1 metre away from the fence.

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Parents and Partners

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR CHILD FOR SCHOOL Starting school is a big change for children. Often the hardest part is being away from home and joining a group of children. Anything you can do now to help will make school a happier place. Here are some of the things that you can do:

Over the next few months let your child get

accustomed to:

Putting on and taking off clothes

Putting on and tying up shoes

Eating and drinking without help

Using scissors correctly and safely

It is important that your child knows how to:

Use and flush the toilet

Use a urinal

Ask clearly for things (could a teacher understand your child?)

Say his/her name and address

Cross a road safely

Also try to let your child get accustomed to:

Playing with groups of children the same age (encourage sharing toys and taking turns)

Using playground equipment safely

Staying at friends' or relatives' houses for a few hours without you

Caring for and putting away play things

Helping with small jobs around the house such as wiping benches, washing up, putting clothes away

Calling the roll (Role play this activity with your child as some children are bashful about answering their names in public)

Before he/she commences school, walk with your young child to school, pointing out the landmarks and the school crossings

Train your child in the crossing of the road, the use of pedestrian and school crossings, and crossing the railway lines. You should choose one route to school and keep to that. Choose one that helps the child to use the maximum protected crossings.

Every encouragement is given for the children to walk to school, however, on those occasions when inclement weather forces parents to drive children to school, we strongly urge that you strictly adhere to all road laws, in respect to crossings, restricted parking zones, double parking etc.

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Some additional information

The following items are strongly discouraged: -Sticks, guns/any war toys, water pistols, chewing gum

-Tattoos

-Matches, sharp instruments such as knives, ride on toys

-Toys

-Collectable trading cards such as Footy cards

Only stud earrings or small sleepers are to be worn during school time.

LIBRARY BOOKS Please supervise your child’s return of books on a weekly basis, so that a regular borrowing habit is cultivated. The blue reader bag can double as a library bag.

SCHOOL EXCURSIONS: Excursions are arranged from time to time to enable our children to have first hand experience on a variety of topics. Permission notes for excursions are sent out with early notice and gives all information you require including the cost. Please return your permission note along with correct money to your child’s classroom teacher. This money should be placed in an envelope or snap lock bag to keep it safe.

# It is important that money is given to the teacher and not the office as this ensures accurate recording and internal control is adhered to. Thank you.

HOME LEARNING:

The general policy on home learning is determined annually by teachers at the different year levels. It will vary according to age and learning needs. Take home readers, word lists and Mathletics are typical at Foundation level.

Our School...in a nutshell

We want the Staff and the total school community to cooperate to make the time each child spends at Rollins, a happy and profitable experience that will have lasting effects.

Jenny Hassett

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