FAQ's
Q. What are the requirements to enrol my child at school?
1. A completed enrolment form available from the school office or online.2. A copy of your child's birth certificate or proof of birth.
3. A 'School Entry Immunisation Certificate' showing your child's current immunisation status.
Q. What is the 'School Entry Immunisation Certificate' and why do I need one?
- Your child has been immunised against measles, mumps, diphtheria, tetanus and polio, or
- There is good reason why your child has not been immunised, or
- You, as a parent or guardian, have undertaken to have your child immunised within the next six months
Q. What is the school's uniform policy?
The uniform items are generic and can be purchased from the Blackfish Boutique in Koo Wee Rup but many parents elect to purchase them from larger department stores.
Iron on badges are available from the scBlackfish Boutique.
Q. When will I receive my child's booklist and where do I purchase books?
All curriculum items are supplied by the school upon payment of school fees at the beginning of each school year. Prior to the commencement of school year you will be asked to come to the school on a predetermined date to pay for books and classroom supplies. Upon payment, you will receive a package of books, pens, etc which will remain the personal property of your child. All other supplies are distributed to classroom and specialist areas for general use. Towards the end of the year you will be notified by letter of the collection date. If you have any difficulty with payment, please ask to discuss alternate arrangements with the Principal on collection day. Parents who hold a Commonwealth Health Care or Pension card are entitled to claim an Education Maintenance Allowance for each child attending school and can arrange to have this payment deducted from this claim.Q. Can my child attend preps full time from the start of the year if I believe they are ready?
It is the practise at Koo Wee Rup Primary School for prep children to attend Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (full days) during the month of February. Each Wednesday during the month of February is used by the prep teachers to conduct extensive assessment tasks with each student on a 1:1 basis. Each prep child (together with a parent) will be invited to accompany their child to the school on one of the Wednesdays for a brief interview and then some crucial assessment. (This will take approximately one hour) Wednesdays have been designated as assessment day as it provides a valuable break for the younger students mid week to help them get through a very tiring early year program.
Q. What are Curriculum (Pupil Free) Days?
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) determines four days each year when teachers participate in curriculum planning, professional development or report writing. Children do not attend school on these days. The first three days of Term One are always a curriculum days, when teachers are on duty, but students do not attend. The fourth day is approximately three weeks before the end of term two.
Q. What do I do if my child is ill and does not attend school?
All children are expected to attend school punctually and regularly, however if your child is sick please keep them at home. The Department requires all absences to be explained with a note, which should be given to your child's teacher on their return to school. If an occasion occurs when you need to take your child early from school, it is required that you notify the child's teacher in writing and sign the child out at the General Office before collecting your child. If your child is absent for three consecutive days, please alert the office between 8.30 and 9.30am on the 3rd morning.
Q. What should I do if my child is late for school?
It is important that children arrive at school in time to commence the day's activities. In the junior grades, our literacy activities are conducted in the first two hours of the school day so it can be very disruptive if your child continually arrives late for class. Parents bringing children to school after the commencement of the teaching program are asked to go via the General Office and collect a Late Pass, which is then handed to the classroom teacher. Teachers will contact parents for their cooperation if children are repeatedly late for school.
Q. How do I arrange for my child to leave school early?
If an occasion occurs when you need to take your child early, it is required that you notify the child's teacher in writing and sign the child out at the General Office before collecting your child. NB: If a person other than a parent is calling for the child, the school must be notified in writing prior to collection. (If an emergency arises, a telephone call from the parent to the school prior to collection of the child will be acceptable).
Q. How is the Sick Bay organised?
The First Aid room is used only by children in need of attention, or those children waiting to be taken home by parents. The school provides the best possible care for students. In the case of minor injury, first aid will be administered at the school, however in the case of a serious accident or illness, medical aid will be called and every effort made to contact parents. It is most important to ensure that the School Office is made aware of any changes to telephone numbers / addresses for home or business, and that names and phone numbers of your emergency contacts are kept up to date. It is also important to notify the school of any known medical problems that your child may experience.
NB: A list of children with specific problems and / or allergies is provided to each teacher for inclusion in their Student Attendance Register. Parents of children with special medical needs should discuss the child's needs with the Principal and classroom teacher. Tablets or medicine should be supplied in a container marked with the child's name, grade, dose and time the dose is to be given. It must be handed to the office for safekeeping. When a child attends the First Aid room and receives treatment, parents will be notified via a "Sick Bay Notification Form". This form outlines the time of admittance, the treatment provided and the name of the attending staff member. Disprin and other such pain relievers will not be administered to children without prior parental consent.
Q. Are prep children provided with extra time to eat their lunch?
Lunchtime begins officially at 1.30. Teachers are outside on duty from then until 2.15 pm. All children are required to eat their lunch indoors before going outside to play. Usually the time allocated is 10 minutes, however children in the younger grades are given up to 20 minutes or more as required. Our teachers plan their day according to the special needs of all children, particularly preps in their first year at school.
Q. How do children move to their specialist classes?
Teachers must always escort their grade to specialist classes. They will also collect them on the completion of their session. Physical education lessons and the Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) are conducted in the Gymnasium or outdoors, Italian, Music and Science in the old school house and Library/eLearning in the eLearning Centre.
Q. Is my child safe when going to the toilet?
Safety for all children is a priority at Koo Wee Rup Primary School. We have developed rules and procedures throughout the school to ensure the safety of any child who leaves the classroom for any reason. "
- Rule 1. No child may leave the classroom without permission from its class teacher.
- Rule 2. No child may leave the classroom alone and must be accompanied by a 'buddy' at all times. "
NB: Early in the year classroom teachers take Prep children to the toilet at frequent intervals to minimise the need for individual children to be excused from class during lesson time.
Q. How are children supervised in the yard?
A teacher is on duty before school from 8.40 am each morning. At recess and lunch play, we always have a teacher on yard duty to supervise the children in the yard. This includes the careful supervision of fences, gates and toilets. Teachers on duty carry with them a small first aid kit for minor injuries, while children requiring further treatment are taken to the First Aid Room and looked after by a staff member.
Q. What is the School's Discipline Policy?
The discipline rules and procedures are outlined in the school Welfare Book. (This book can be downloaded from this site) The school policy is based upon the principles of Assertive Discipline. The classroom teacher in consultation with their students determines rules and rewards for each classroom. However, consequences remain consistent throughout the school. Every new family to the school is provided with this booklet to discuss with their child/ren. The booklet provides information on children's, teachers' and parents' rights and responsibilities and it describes what happens when rules are broken and when rules are observed. Copies are also available on request from the General Office.
Q. What will my child be able to do in English and Mathematics?
It is perfectly normal for children in the same class or at the same age to be working at a range of levels. Children progress at different rates and the suggestions here are a sample of things children can do and understand at then end of their prep year. Prep (VELS Level 1)
Speaking and Listening
- Talk with others about familiar objects and events
- Follow simple instructions
- Speak clearly
- Join in songs, poems, nursery rhymes and stories
Reading
- Join in songs, poems, nursery rhymes and stories
- Recognise their own name and some easy and familiar words
- Enjoy hearing books read aloud and know how books work
- Have a go at reading familiar and easy books
Writing
- Convey ideas and messages through the use of drawing, writing and 'invented spelling'
- Try to write their name and other familiar words
- Hold writing implements to write and draw
Mathematics
- Recognise and name triangles, rectangles, circles and other common shapes
- Make, draw, match and build with shapes
- Automatically count to ten and beyond
- Write numbers up to ten Understand concepts of bigger and smaller
- Understand words like under, behind, forward and around
- Exchange money for goods in play situations
- Pour from one container to another to compare capacities
- Relate days of the week and months of the year to familiar events
- Use a calculator to explore counting sequences
The Prep Entry Assessment Procedure is a framework used to assess student learning needs on entry to school. This helps teachers plan programs to meet the individual learning needs of all students. It is part of the ongoing assessment of students within the Early Years Literacy and Numeracy programs. Testing is done individually each Wednesday in February.
Q. How will I know how my child is progressing?
Reports
Children's reports will be completed and sent home each semester. These reports are for the purpose of communicating accurate and constructive information about the nature and standard of student performance in key aspects of the curriculum. They provide information on:
- student progress - strengths and areas requiring additional assistance "
- strategies for support and extension "
- achievement levels in relation to VELS levels.
Interviews
Interviews are conducted twice a year and parents are able to make appointments at other times to check their child's progress.
Q. How can I help my child at home?
- Praise your child for all their efforts so that they may continue to gain confidence and accept challenges.
- Encourage your child to have a go, to take risks.
- Make a regular time to read together.
- Look through the school bag daily for notices and clues about the type of work being covered. Use these as discussion starters. Never throw out your child's work the instant it arrives home. Keep it for a couple of days before you "recycle" it.
- Talk with your child in a positive manner about what she/he did at school.
- Share your child's achievements with others - your family, friends and neighbours.
- Get to know your child's teacher. Join in with classroom activities if possible or offer to help at home.
- Take an interest in school events by reading newsletters and attending functions.
- Remember that children progress at their own rate so the children in your child's class will be working at a range of levels.
- Give the teacher your support, he/she only wants the best for your child.
We encourage parents to participate in their children's school activities and we really value your support. We always need help to hear reading and to work with small groups in Developmental Activities and Perceptual Motor Programs (PMP). Parent workshops will be made available to help you "skill up" in these areas, too. Just talk to your classroom teacher and they will let you know how and when you can help in the classroom. All persons entering the school grounds (other than to drop off or collect children) must sign the Visitors Book at the school office on arrival.
At Koo Wee Rup Primary School we have a homework policy which promotes the giving of homework to all children as part of the learning process. Homework is intended to provide students with opportunities to build on their learning and development at school. It also helps parents to follow their children's progress. At the beginning of each year, teachers will provide parents with information regarding their expectations for homework. In the younger grades, emphasis is usually on hearing your child read, completing unfinished tasks and revisional worksheets.
Q. What opportunities do I have to talk to my child's teacher?
1. A "Meet the Teacher" session is held early in the year so that a sharing of information between parents and staff may be used to assist both parties to help the child settle into their new grade and work to their full potential.
2. In July Parent-Teacher Interviews are conducted to discuss your child's progress. Prior to the July interview, you will receive your child's report which you will be able to discuss with the teacher during the interview. A formal interview will also be available by request in December. Informal interviews with the class teacher, specialist teacher, team leader or Principal are available by prior appointment at any time through the school year. Please contact the General Office to arrange an appointment so that the teacher can set aside an appropriate time when your concerns or issues can be discussed without interruption.
Q. How am I kept informed of school news and upcoming events?
Newsletters are sent home on a weekly basis on a Monday. Other notices are sent home as the need arises. Please encourage your child to bring home all such notices as they contain details of school activities and functions. Newsletters and general notices are always sent home with the eldest family member. For all excursions and class activities notices will be sent home which outline the activities in which your child may participate. Parents are required to return the attached permission slip and any payment due by the closing date indicated on the form.
Please note: Payment after the due date will not be able to be accepted as bookings, payments and final numbers attending often need to be forwarded in advance of the excursion/activity date. If you have any difficulty with payment, please contact the office or Principal prior to the payment date indicated on the notice.
School nurses are employed by the Department of Human Services. Their main role is to undertake a health assessment of all Prep Year students. They also offer a service to other primary school students where appropriate. Parents of prep year students are invited to complete a checklist about their child's health prior to the assessment. Where a concern is identified, the nurse will contact the parents to discuss appropriate action. Nurses are available to discuss concerns that parents may have about normal child health and development.
Q. What is the school Dental Health Service?
The School Dental Service (SDS) aims to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Following a dental check-up, dental care may include dental advice, cleaning of teeth, dental sealant to prevent decay, and fillings. Dental therapists provide general treatment and more complex care is performed by a dentist. Specialist dental care is not provided, but referral to a dental specialist can be arranged. Dental care is provided by a mobile dental van based at our school on a rotational basis and is available to all children in grades Prep to 6. The SDS offers care to all schools once every two years.
The service is FREE if you hold a valid Department of Social Security health card. Non cardholders pay a fee of $25 per child (maximum $100 per family) which includes a dental check-up and all general treatment. Payment cannot be claimed through private health insurance. Parents will be notified of the availability of the service through the school newsletter, but to access the service a consent/medical form must be completed for every child. The completed form and payment - a cheque made payable to DHSV must then be returned to the Dental Health Service in the reply paid envelope provided.
Q. What is School Banking?
Our Student Banking Scheme operates with the ANZ Bank. Early in the school year, officers from the ANZ Bank will visit Prep children to explain how bank books operate and distribute application forms for a passbook account. The completed forms should be returned to the school with an initial deposit and a savings coupon book will be issued in your child's name. Children need to bring bankbooks, together with deposit money and a completed deposit slip to school on Wednesday only. These are handed to the class teacher and returned as soon as possible. Details on school banking are available from the General Office during the year and provided to all new prep children during term one of their enrolment year.
