General Information for Parents

Emergency Contacts

Each child will have a list of emergency contact numbers kept on record at the school. 

If you change your address, place of work or telephone number, please contact the school as early as possible so that we can update our records.

 

Visitor Protocol

All staff are constantly monitoring adults in the school building and yard.

Visitors must observe established protocol.  

Visitors collecting students at the end of the school day should wait outside the buildings to keep the corridors and doors clear, to allow for the safe movement of children.

 

The protocol is: ALL parents and visitors must first report to the office in the administration area before approaching any student or classroom. Staff approval must be gained before entering the classrooms or offices.

Visitors and parents are assured that this protocol is designed to support the safety and wellbeing of students.

 

Late Arrival / Early Departure Register

If your child is late to school you will need to sign the Student Sign In/Out Register. 

If your child is ill during the day or if you decide to collect your child earlier than the end of the school day, please sign the Student Sign In / Out Register at the office prior to collecting your child.

Other adults collecting children during the day must be authorised to do so (ie, listed as an emergency contact on the enrolment form, or by notifying the office by phone or note).

 

Absences

If your child is unable to attend school due to illness, family holiday or some other reason, you are asked to contact the office on 5447 7022 as soon as practicable to advise them of your child’s absence (a message service is available to advise us out of school hours).  

You can also advise us of an absence by texting 0438 738 788, or by using the COMPASS app which you can download onto any smartphone or computer. 

An absence slip is also available from the office for you to complete if you know of an upcoming absence. 

Parents will be rung on the day if you do not advise us of the reason for absence.

 

Illness at School

There are sickbay arrangements at the school so that any child who is ill can be supervised. 

If, at the discretion of the teacher, your child needs to go home when ill, you will be contacted to pick up your child. 

Children must be signed out at the office by parent/guardian when leaving the school early.

 

If your child is ill before school, please keep them home. 

It only places extra stress on your child and the teacher as well as risking the health of others in the class. 

Please notify the school on the day if your child is absent.

 

Exclusion period for infectious diseases: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/school-exclusion-table

 

Medicines

It is sometimes necessary for medication to be administered to children at school. 

To assist teachers:

• Parents must supply medicine in a container, which gives the name of the child, the dose and the time the medication is to be administered.  
• The name of the medicine should also be clearly marked on the container. 
• A Medication Authorisation Form will need to be completed. 
• Office staff will take the role of parents in the control and supervision of all medication.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES IS A CHILD PERMITTED TO CONTROL OR ADMINISTER MEDICATION WITHOUT TEACHER SUPERVISION.

 

ASTHMA

Parents must supply the school with an Asthma Action Plan annually if your child suffers from Asthma. 

Your child’s doctor must complete the form and sign the document.

 

It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that the school is informed promptly when the Asthma Action Plan has been updated or your child’s medical circumstances change.

 

Asthma medication, pumps and spacers should be clearly named and labelled. 

The school is able to keep items in the office, in the classroom and in your child’s school bag, depending on the requirements of the Asthma Action Plan.

 

Blank Asthma Action Plans are available from the Office or via the Asthma Foundation website: www.asthmafoundation.org.au

 

ANAPHYLAXIS (Severe Allergic Reaction)

Parents must supply the school with an ANAPHYLAXIS PLAN annually if your child suffers from Anaphylaxis. 

Your child’s doctor will need to complete the Anaphylaxis Plan at the start of each school year and will need to sign the document.

 

It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that the school is informed promptly when the Anaphylaxis Plan has been updated or your child’s medical circumstances change.

 

Epipens (or similar) should be clearly named. The school will keep Epipens at the Office.

 

All staff are trained in both Asthma and Anaphylaxis as a requirement of our school policy and government regulations.  Retraining occurs on a regular basis.

 

School Information

 

STAFF MEETINGS

Staff meet weekly as a whole staff, as a Unit team or as a Professional Learning Team.

 

Reports and Parent / Teacher Interviews

Information regarding Parent / Teacher Interviews and Parent Information Sessions will be available early in the year.  Reporting to parents and sharing information regarding curriculum and school policy is of paramount importance at Big Hill Primary School.

 

Smoke – Free Zones

In accordance with Department Policy, the whole school is a smoke-free zone. 

Visitors are requested not to smoke in the school grounds during school hours or in any buildings or school entrances at any time.

 

Fundraising

The school conducts various fundraising activities throughout the year. 

Each family is encouraged to help in these activities. 

Please keep your eye on the newsletter for upcoming events.

 

Emergency Management

This is carried out as required during the year and children assemble according to the Emergency Management Plan.

Full details of the Emergency Management Plan is available at school upon request.

 

Boundaries of the School

Children are not to leave the school boundaries (fenced area) without a note from parents or permission of the teacher.  

During Outside School Hours Care children play in a limited area including oval, big kids playground and sandpit.

 

Scholastic Book Club

Your child will have the opportunity of purchasing literature through the Scholastic Book Club at regular intervals throughout the year. Book Club details will be included in the newsletter.

 

Pupil Free Days

The Department of Education and Training (DET) allows schools to be closed on nominated days in order for the school staff to take part in professional development activities, which improve on school curriculum and policy. 

You will be notified of the dates well in advance.

 

Protect – Child Safe Standards

Big Hill Primary School is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. 

The child safe standards require our school to consider all aspects of child safety and put measures in place to protect children from all forms of abuse, including: sexual or grooming offences, physical violence, serious emotional or psychological harm, and serious neglect. 

We implement the seven standards in all our school wide practices, ensuring that all students are safe.

 

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF)

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) commenced in 2015 and provides payments for eligible students to attend camps, sports and excursions.

 

CSEF applications open early in Term 1. 

Parents or legal guardians are required to submit a CSEF application form to their child’s school.

 

Victorian Government Prep students who are CSEF approved recipients are also automatically eligible for a uniform support. 

For more information regarding this initiative, please see the following website: https://www.ssr.net.au/.

 

Families holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply. 

$125 per year is paid for eligible primary school students. 

A special consideration eligibility category also exists. 

Payments are made directly to the school and are tied to the student.

 

For more information visit:

http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/Pages/csef.aspx

 

Excursion Permission Forms

A local excursion is an activity organised by a school during which students leave the school grounds to engage in educational activities. 

The activities are chosen because they add to and enhance the curriculum such as visiting the art gallery, gym and museum.  Some excursions will be free and some will have a cost component. 

You will be notified about all excursions via the newsletter or a note sent home. 

A student will not be permitted to leave the school, unless these forms have been signed and returned.

 

Bus Services

There is a public bus service that operates from Kangaroo Flat to Big Hill PS run by Christian’s Bus Company.  

For further information and the bus route, please call Christian’s on 5447 2222.

 

The school bus service runs from Ravenswood (Fogarty’s Gap Road) along the Calder Highway to arrive at school at approximately 8:45am and return in the afternoon at 3:15pm. 

(This bus also picks up and drops off along Belvoir Park Road). 

An application form MUST be collected from the office and completed before travelling. 

It is a free service for children who meet the zone criteria. 

Arrangements can be made for fare paying students outside the zoned area. 

All children are expected to comply with the bus rules when using this service.

 

Traffic Control - PURPOSE: SAFETY IN THE CAR PARK

Please note that signs have been erected in the car park and McInnes Street areas to assist with the safety of all families. 

Speed humps are also installed. 

All families are expected to adhere to the directions.  

Staff, student teachers and relief teachers are required to park in the car park at the back of the multipurpose room.

This provides more parks for parents in the busy times. 

 

The area at the front of the main entrance in the car park is used as a quick drop off, pick up area. 

Other areas are clearly marked NO STANDING.  

Some parents delay their arrival at school by ten minutes to collect their children to alleviate congestion.

The first ten minutes after dismissal are the busiest. 

 

These arrangements have been made in the interests and safety of everyone. 

For it to work effectively all parents need to comply with the directions.

FRAMEWORK: MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES

• Entry to the car park from McInnes Street.
• Vehicles are expected to limit their speed to walking pace

     (approximately 10 kph) within the car park

• The Ravenswood & Kangaroo Flat buses drop off and collect students on Calder Highway in the bus zone

 

Wet / Hot Day Arrangements (Severe Weather Conditions)

On the occasions when it is not suitable for the children to play outside they will remain in the classrooms under teacher supervision.  

This may include extremely hot days or when it is too wet for the children to play outside.  

There is a certain amount of undercover shelter available to the children during brief showers. 

During inside times they will be offered a variety of appropriate activities.  

Dismissal times do not alter on wet days.

 

Bicycles / Scooters / Skateboards etc

These are not to be ridden in the school grounds. 

They must be locked in the school’s bike shed. 

 

PLEASE NOTE: 

Children under the age of 9 should not ride to school unless accompanied by an adult (as recommended by the RTA). 

Parents are reminded of the law which requires the compulsory wearing of any approved helmet.

 

Qkr! Payment App

We also have a payment app to enable parents to pay for excursions, camps, canteen orders and OSHC accounts using their smartphone, tablet, notebook, laptop or computer.  Download also from iTunes or Android App store and follow the instructions below:

 

• Download Qkr! by MasterCard
• Register
• Find our school
• Register your children

 

Now you are ready to order and pay for canteen, excursions etc.