#school guidelines

 COMMUNICATION AT SHEARWATER

It is important the proper lines of communication within the school are understood so it is clear who to speak with when you have a matter to discuss about your child’s education.

First, please speak with your child’s Class Teacher or Guardian. They are the people who really know your child and the class. 

If your query is not satisfied you can contact Faculty Coordinators to discuss the issue.

Coordinators are: Playgroup - Sonia Davidian; Preschool - Craig d’Arcy; Kindergarten - Jane Michaelis; Primary - Rosemary White and Cherie Kendall; Junior Secondary (Yrs 7& 8) - Justin Isaac; Middle Secondary (Yrs 9 &10) - Gabrielle Mangleson; Senior Studies (Yrs 11&12) - Gerard Braithwaite.

If you feel your concerns have not been satisfactorily addressed, then please contact Greg Parkes, Head of School. Appointments can be arranged by phoning Kay Long on 6684 3223.

Each class has a designated Class Parent Representative (CPR) who has a list of parent emails to support the Class Teacher to circulate messages or, at the teacher’s request, to organise activities. These parent email lists are created for class communication instigated by the Class Teacher and should not be used as a forum for the discussion of class matters/issues/grievances. Any questions along these lines, should be first taken by the parent to the Class Teacher and then follow the communication process as outlined above.

Students will do their best if their school work is supported at home by positive, genuinely interested conversations about their activities, consistent routines and rhythms to their day, healthy diet, and adequate sleep. All these factors help students to arrive prepared and able to participate in class activities. The activities students participate in outside school greatly effect their ability to focus and engage fully at school. Particularly in the case of Primary School students, I would ask parents to consider the effects of listening to music or playing computer games on the way to school. 

Please make yourself familiar with school guidelines regarding dress, the use of TV and ICT technologies at home and whilst traveling to and from school, as well as the requirement to provide explanations of student absence from school - this information can be found in the School Handbooks. 

Student absences:  Parents must notify the school by phone on the day a child will be absent. Notes to explain why your child is absent should be provided to Class Teachers/Guardians when they return to school - if notes are not received within 7 days of the absence an ‘Unexplained Absence’ will be recorded against the student.

Primary students - no ICT (music devices, computer games etc.) If a Primary aged child needs to bring a mobile phone to school, it should remain in their school bag and turned off. 

If you would like to speak with your child’s Class Teachers or Guardians you can arrange an appointment through the school office (6684 3223) or by phoning the teachers. Teachers are happy to take a phone call from parents outside of class hours, but not just before school starts, or late at night.

Class Meetings are held each term, attendance by parents is both desirable and worthwhile as teachers give some insights into child development, and outline the Learning Program of the class. These meetings provide valuable feedback to both parents and the teachers about the progress of the class.

Safe Driving: Please observe the speed limits, and consider our children, neighbours, and the wildlife! Take special care around the School Zone, and be aware that the police regularly ‘blitz’ Left Bank Road. It can be a very expensive school-run if you receive an on the spot fine!

Guidelines on visiting the school:

A reminder to all that visitors to the school must sign in at the office. *

Visitors to the school are always welcome, and are asked to observe the following: 

If for any reason parents or carers need to visit class areas during school hours (9am - 3pm) or see a student, please go to the office first and sign in, where you will be given a visitors badge to identify you as a visitor on the campus.*

If you are collecting your child after school, please wait until after class time before going to their classroom.

If your child arrives late, or you need to pick them up early, please go to the office first to sign them in/out. 

If a child arrives late to school and the roll has been marked, they will be registered as absent for that day unless they have signed in as a ‘Late Arrival’ at the office.

 * this does not apply if you are visiting the canteen, Tuesday Market, or Jo’s shop, or dropping students off or picking them up outside school class time.

I hope this helps to clarify some of the day-to-day arrangements for children attending Shearwater, and gives parents clear lines of communication within the teaching and administrative body.