Changes in information
Please contact the school immediately if:
- you change your address
- there is a change in your emergency contact number
- your child will be collected by anyone other than yourself or your emergency contacts
- any significant changes occur with regard to your child's health
- you feel we should know of any other changes which relate to your child, eg custody arrangements.
Accidents
If your child has:
- superficial wounds, they will be treated by one of the school's First Aid Officers
- injuries requiring expert medical attention, you will be contacted immediately, especially head injuries or suspected breaks.
Admission
Children who are age eligible for prep are required to forward a copy of their birth certificate to the office with their enrolment papers. Children must turn 5 before the 30th of June in the year in which they are enrolling. Children born after the 1st of July onwards will attend prep the following year.
Arrival time
Children do not need to be in the school grounds before 8.30am, unless they catch a bus. It is preferred that children are not sent to school too early, as teachers are busy preparing for the school day and therefore children cannot be closely supervised. Those arriving prior to 8.15am are required to sit quietly under the school until a staff member arrives.
Assembly
Assembly is usually held on Monday and Friday mornings from 9am. Due to the varied number of messages delivered to the children each week, the time varies, but usually our assemblies last 20 minutes. Assemblies are an important time for children as they provide an opportunity to share information and acknowledge the efforts of children in academic, social and behavioural areas. Families are welcome to attend these assemblies.
Attendance
Regular and punctual attendance is necessary for any level of success at school. Please ensure regular attendance as each day's work is built upon the previous day's work. However, sick children do not give their best, so they should be kept home for maximum care to ensure a speedy recovery. Departmental regulations require that a written excuse be sent with a child to explain the reason for his/her absence. If it is known that a child is going to be absent or late, a note to the teacher or a phone call to the office would be appreciated if possible.
Bicycles
Children may ride their bicycle to school if parents wish. The wearing of bicycle safety helmets is compulsory in Queensland. The following safety rules have been established:
- Bicycles must not be ridden at any time within the school grounds.
- Children must dismount from their bicycles once they reach the culvert at the front of the school.
- All bicycles must be stored in the racks provided.
Book club
Throughout the year, our school offers children the opportunity to purchase material through the Scholastic Book Club. Leaflets detailing available books are distributed approximately eight times a year. Leaflets are usually stamped with the required return date. Please ensure that the correct money is forwarded with any book club order.
Book levy
Our school offers the service of purchasing all of the children's stationery and equipment and making them available for parents to take home to cover and label on the student free days at the beginning of the school year. In return, parents pay a levy of $50 per year, per child. Invoices are sent home in the first term of the year. When students run out of items during the year, they can purchase additional items at our school prices. A copy of the booklist for each year level is available upon request.
Care of personal property
Please help your child care for his/her belongings by:
- Ensuring your children's belongings (clothing and school requisites) are clearly named.
- Inspecting the lost property box at any time
Classroom visits
Parents are welcome to lend a hand in the classroom. There are a number of ways that you can volunteer to help out in our classrooms and to help our children. Please discuss your willingness to volunteer with the relevant teacher.
Code of behaviour
All parents, children and staff have signed an agreement as part of our Behaviour Management Plan. We have all agreed to conduct ourselves in a way that upholds respect, safety, effort and self responsibility in our association with the school.
Integral to our Behaviour Management Policy are the Applethorpe State School behaviour procedures. These procedures are based on the acceptance by all students and community members of the school's 5 core values known as the Applethorpe APPS which encompass:
- Good manners
- Accept responsibility
- Respect for others
- Pride in our work
- Pride in our school
All students are explicitly taught how these Applethorpe APPS apply to all facets of their school behaviour and encouraged to take responsibility for their own actions and understand that with rights come responsibilities.
More detail is contained in the School's Behaviour Management Plan, which is available upon request.
Conveyance allowance
Parents who transport their children over a certain distance to the school bus or to the school may be entitled to a conveyance allowance paid by the Department of Transport. Further information can be sought from the School Transport Officer at the Department of Transport in Toowoomba. It is each parent's responsibility to lodge the claims for this allowance. The school is asked to check and verify these claims at intervals throughout the year.
Dental visits
The Department of Health Dental Van is on a roster to visit schools. If parents agree, their child's teeth are checked and parents are notified of any dental work that is required. This work is generally carried out by the visiting dentist. This is a free service.
Emergency evacuation
Well documented emergency procedures are practised at regular intervals throughout the year. These procedures are displayed in every room of the school, and include fire drills, lock-downs and safety discussions.
Excursions
If your child takes part in an excursion as part of a planned learning experience:
- your written consent is required.
- all students are to wear full school uniform, including wide brimmed hat.
- all excursions are notified and approved through P&C meetings prior to the event.
Hats
Children are required to wear hats when outside at school. This is part of Education Queensland's sun safe policy. Hats are available for purchase from the uniform list and are a wide brimmed hat with the school logo patch on the front. The school has a strict 'No Hat, No Play' policy.
Head lice
To combat this problem, the school will:
- ask you to check your child's hair carefully and regularly
- notify the parents of any child whom has a head lice infestation
- recommend the child returns to school after appropriate treatment
- recommend parents refer to the Department of Health pamphlet 'The facts about head lice' for further information
- notify parents of an outbreak at the school by way of a note home.
As head lice spread quickly, it is not advisable that a child be at school until their hair has been adequately treated, including removal of eggs from the hair.
Homework
Homework is an integral part of our school programming. The type and amount varies from year level to year level, but should be completed on a regular basis for maximum benefit.
In the early years, the emphasis is on letters, sounds and letter shape, moving through to maths homework as well, for years 2-6. In addition to their normal homework, students in years 3-6 may also be issued with assignments that require completion by a set date.
Infectious diseases
Students who are ill should not be sent to school. We follow guidelines drawn up by the National Health and Medical Research Council, on the premise that students who have been ill with an infectious disease will not return to school until they have fully recovered.
Internet forms
Throughout the year, students are required to access the internet during lessons and for research purposes. All parents and students are required to sign and return an Internet Permission Form, which includes the use of photographs of students on our school website and photographic displays. These forms are sent home at the beginning of each year and need to be signed and returned immediately.
Interviews
We aim at making this a personal school. We welcome interviews with the teaching staff to discuss the performance of your children. The most convenient time to have an interview with our teachers is after 3pm, as our teachers will be busy preparing for the day's activities before school and have responsibilities to all children in the class during school time. Please contact your child's teacher to arrange a mutually convenient time.
At the end of semester 1 and semester 2 we encourage every parent to come in and have a chat with their child's teacher about his/her progress.
Leaving school grounds
Written parental approval is required for children to leave the school grounds at any time during the school day. Any request for a child to leave the school grounds early on a regular or casual basis should be made in writing by the parent before the stated time.