Dropping off and collecting your children
Parking is available in Hayward Avenue and North Parade for dropping off and collecting your children. The car park at the front of the school is for our staff members and visitors to the school only, so we ask that you not use this space, as it can be very congested and is unsafe for children. Enter the building using the side and rear doors once the 8.50am bell has sounded.
Absences from School / Late Arrivals
If your child is going to be away from school or late, please give us a call in the morning so that we can inform their teacher and the roll can be marked accordingly.
If your child arrives late to school, they will need to present to the front office, sign in and collect a pink slip before heading to class.
Collecting your child early
If you need to take your child out of school early, for an appointment for example, please come to the front office to sign them out and collect an early departure slip to give to the teacher.
NUT AWARE SCHOOL
At Torrensville we have a number of children with nut allergies, some severe. We ask that you respect this and refrain from placing nuts/nut products in your child’s lunch box.
Hot/Wet Weather
If the current temperature is 36 or above, children will remain inside during their lunch break. During wet weather children will remain inside or under sheltered areas.
Contact Details
It is very important that we have accurate and up-to-date contact details on file. If your child becomes ill or has an accident at school, we will need to contact you as soon as possible. If at any time your details, or your emergency contacts details change, please let us know.
Introduction
Statements
Parents are encouraged to help make decisions about their child’s education.
Parents will be informed by teachers of the content of the curriculum being taught to our students.
Supporting your school child
The following are some ways you can be involved in the school and or your child’s education. We understand that some parents are unable to help in the classroom and whole school but you will be able to help with ideas at home.
At Home
Parents are encouraged to:
In the Classroom
Whenever possible come to:
Whole school
Whole School decision making
If you would like to be involved these are ways you can:
Governing Council:
Parents & Friends (Fundraising), Finance, Sustainability Committee, Out of School Hours Care Committee
What happens if my child is unwell during the school day?
If your child is feeling unwell during the school day we may decide that they just require a rest in our sick room, or we may call you to come and collect them. If we are unable to reach you, we will try your emergency contacts.
What happens if my child is involved in an accident?
If an accident happens every effort will be made to contact you or the emergency contact person that you nominated at enrolment. It is very important you provide up-to-date information about where you or another person who can care for the child can be contacted.
Our staff are trained in Basic First Aid procedures and one staff member has Senior First Aid. In the case of a serious accident, an ambulance will be called immediately. Minor injuries will be treated and the child returned to class.
If your child requires medication at school, we ask that you come to the office to discuss with the administration staff and complete the necessary paperwork. There are strict policies and procedures which must be followed when administering any medicines
If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
If your child suffers from an ongoing medical condition, has a severe allergy, has asthma etc. We require a Health Care Plan from your family doctor. If the condition requires medication, this must be in the original packaging with the pharmacists label, clearly stating the child’s name and dosage.
At Torrensville we support the right of any member of the school community to have issues and concerns addressed.
Arrange a time to speak to the person concerned
Let the person know what you consider to be unfair
If the grievance is not addressed let the person know you will be speaking to someone else
Arrange a time to speak to someone in the school leadership team, Deputy Principal or Principal
Arrange a time to speak to the person concerned
Let the person now what you consider to be unfair
If the grievance is not addressed let the person know you will be speaking to someone else
Arrange a time to speak to someone in the school leadership team, e.g. Assistant Principal, Principal
If you are still dissatisfied contact the Parent Complaints Unit on 1800 677 435
If you are still dissatisfied you may wish to direct concerns to the Minister for Education
Services outside the school you may wish to contact for advice or support could include:
Interagency Referral Manager
Aboriginal Legal Rights
Arrange a time to speak to the person concerned
If the grievance is not addressed speak to your line manager and ask for their support in addressing the grievance by speaking to the person involved.
If the grievance has still not been resolved speak to someone in the leadership team.
At our school we aim to:
To achieve these goals we expect students will:
Learning
Be prepared for lessons
Participate in learning programs, on task. Complete tasks.
Attendance
Be punctual
Attend regularly; explain absences Dress Code
Be dressed neatly in school colours. Communication
Communicate respectfully with other students, staff and visitors.
Movement
Move in a safe manner in classrooms, corridors and around school buildings.
Safety/Relationships
Keep our environment free from all forms of harassment
Respect for property
Keep our environment free of graffiti, vandalism and theft
Make up time/work missed
Communication with parents
Student Development Plan to establish and monitor learning goals.
Apology
Time Out/Take Home
Repeat the movement appropriately
Grievance procedures
Suspension/exclusion
Police contact
Non-participation in future events
Return/replace/repair property
Positive verbal/written feedback from staff and peers.
Positive communication with home.
Presentation of awards/recognition at school assemblies.
The responses made to irresponsible behaviour will depend on the frequency and severity of behaviours.
When irresponsible behaviours are ongoing or severe a systems response may involve referral to regional support services e.g. Student Attendance Counsellor, Behaviour Coach.
At Torrensville we believe that communication between home and school is critical to promoting effective learning programs. We provide a number of opportunities for home/school communication.
These can include:
Skoolbag App
A communication book for students R-2
A diary for students 3-7
Good news calls
Classroom “semester overview” (twice a year)
Home surveys
School Newsletters – fortnightly
Open nights
Parent/Teacher interview information
Assemblies
Diaries and Communication Book are used by families for communicating:
Absences from school
Queries/concerns to teachers
Concerns relating to academic progress and behaviour management
Positive achievements
By Staff for communicating:
Positive achievements
Concerns relating to academic progress and behaviour management
Last minute reminders about events, programs, etc.
Homework tasks
Excursions
By students for recording:
Homework, placing newsletters, excursion notes and general school correspondence
Achievements highlights, concerns, points of interest
Primary student use of mobile phones and personal devices
Purpose
This policy provides direction to students, staff and families about managing mobile phones and other digital devices that students choose to bring to school. Digital devices include, but are not limited to, smartwatches, tablets or laptops that are not part of a separate Bring Your Own Device arrangement. This policy applies while students are at school, or attending an authorised school activity such as an excursion, during school hours.
Mobile phone use for primary school students
The department’s position is that primary aged students cannot use their mobile phones and personal devices at school during school hours. The department and the school recognise that there are legitimate reasons for students to bring a mobile phone or personal device to school. This may include:
During the school day students are not permitted to access or use their mobile phones or other personal devices. Students must switch off or mute their devices before storing them at the beginning of the school day. They will not be able to access their device until the end of the school day.
Storage of personal devices
Students’ personal devices are to be stored in a place pre-negotiated with their class teacher.
If the student does not comply
Students will be reminded of procedure. If there is ongoing issues regarding storage of devices during school hours, parents will be contacted to help reinforce compliance.
In the event of confiscation, students’ personal devices will be held by the principal until a parent meeting is held.
Roles and responsibilities
Principal
Make sure:
Enforce the policy and responses to instances of non-compliance.
Report and respond to incidents of inappropriate use of personal devices in line with department policy and procedures and any legislative requirements.
Consider requests for exemptions from the policy from parents on a case-by-case basis. Make sure that approved exemptions are documented and that relevant staff are informed about students’ exemptions.
Model appropriate use of mobile phones and support families to understand the importance of promoting safe, responsible and respectful use of mobile phones to their children.
School staff
Deliver learning opportunities and maintain a safe and productive learning environment. Take steps to minimise distractions from the non-educational use of personal devices in the learning environment at times when a device is being used by a student in line with an approved exemption or in circumstances where students’ devices are stored in the classroom.
Respond to instances of non-compliance in line with the school’s policy.
Report and respond to incidents of inappropriate use of personal devices in line with department policy and procedures and any legislative requirements.
Make sure that any student personal devices handed in for their care are stored in a secure location and are returned to the student (or their parent).
Model appropriate use of mobile phones and support families to understand the importance of promoting safe, responsible and respectful use of mobile phones to their children.
Students
Comply with the requirements of the school’s policy and follow all reasonable directions from the Principal and school staff.
If permitted to use a mobile phone or personal device in line with an exemption under this policy, do so in a safe, responsible and respectful way and support peers to do the same.
Communicate respectfully with others and do not use a mobile phone or other personal device to bully, harass or threaten another person.
Respect others’ rights to privacy and do not take photos, film or audio records of other people without their knowledge or permission.
Parents
Support the implementation of the school’s policy, including the consequences for non-compliance with the policy.
Use the school’s formal communication channels in all instances to communicate with the school (including where a student requires early collection from school). Encourage their child to always report to a school staff member in the first instance if they become unwell or experience an issue at school.
Recognise the important role they play in supporting their child to use their mobile phone (or other personal device) in a safe, responsible and respectful way.
Communication and review
Consultation has been undertaken with students and the broader school community to make local decisions regarding storage of students’ devices
Torrensville Primary School policies can be found at: https://torrensvps.sa.edu.au/general-information/
Policies are to be reviewed every 3 years.
Supporting information
Other policies and procedures that may interact with student use of mobile phones and personal devices such as:
