NEWSLETTER

• The School Newsletter is published weekly and contains important information for parents.
• Featured in each issue is the Principal’s Report, Calendar outlining dates to remember for future excursions, activities and social events as well as educational and other issues related to the school.
• The newsletter is sent home with the eldest child from each family.
• Generally all notes go home on Thursday.

ORIENTATION DAYS

• Orientation days for the following year Kindergarten students will be held during Term 4.
• High School Orientation Days occur during the year for Year 6 students and their specific High School late in Term 4.

PARENT ORGANISATIONS

Como West Public School is fortunate to have very supportive parent organisations -

·        School Council consists of elected parents, staff and community members. The School Council assists in formulating school policies and procedures.

·        Parent & Citizens Association (P&C) Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm in the Hall.

Sub-committees operating within the school include:

·        Fund Raising Committee.

·        Canteen Committee.

·        Uniform Committee.

·        Before & After School Care Committee.

PARENT PARTICIPATION

• The school is the centre of our Learning Community and as such, Community and Parental involvement in creating a strong partnership is encouraged. Ways you can get involved include:
• Being trained to be a reading tutor.
• Supervising homework.
• Treating activities at home as educational opportunities.
• Involvement in Class Activities - assisting with reading & maths
• Excursions.
• Parent-Teacher interviews.
• Orientation Days - Kindergarten & Year 6 entry to High School.
• Involvement on School Committees.
• School Canteen.
• P&C Meetings.
• Sport - Carnivals, as officials.

PLAYGROUND SUPERVISION

·        Teacher supervision of the playground is provided before school (8.50am Mon-Thurs and 8.30am Fridays), at recess and at lunch.

• There will be no supervision available to students outside these hours unless students are involved in an organised school activity.

PRESENTATION ASSEMBLY

• This assembly is held in the last weeks of Term 4 each year.  School, Academic, Sporting and Cultural achievements are recognised. 
• Parents are invited to attend.

PUBLIC SPEAKING

• Students participate in the zone public speaking competition in term 3.
• Students have to present an impromptu and a prepared speech.
• Speech duration vary according to the stage.

READING AT HOME

• Reading at home is an important part of each child’s journey towards literacy. 
• Parent encouragement and support for ‘Home Reading’ programs and modelling of reading for pleasure cannot be underestimated.

REPETITION

• Decisions relating to the repetition of students will be made as a result of discussion between the Class Teacher, Principal, the School Counsellor and Parents
• The final decision regarding repetition is made by the parent.

REPORTING TO PARENTS

• Written reports are forwarded to parents at the end of Term 1 (March), Semester 1 (June) and Semester 2 (December).
• If at any time parents are concerned about their child’s progress interviews can be arranged with the class teacher through the office or by contacting the class teacher
• Teachers are very busy just prior to class and at the end of the day. Unexpected interviews at this time may not result in the most desired outcomes. 

ROAD SAFETY

• Parents are requested to observe the parking and speed regulations that operate around our school. 

• If dropping picking up from a car please remember to park on the school side of the road NOT on the other side of the road and call your child across to the car.

• Teach your child basic road safety, use the Wombat Crossing and set a good example yourself.
• Do not park your car across any driveway, or the Staff car park.
• Students are not to walk through the car park.

SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT DAYS

• The first day of terms 1, 2 and 3 are ‘pupil free days’ where staff undertakes professional learning programs and term planning activities.

SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS

• Students are photographed in their class groups and individually each school year by professional photographers.
• Special group photos may be taken e.g. choir, dance and sporting teams etc.
• Family photos (school children only) can also be arranged.
• Summer uniform is the preferred uniform for photos
• Parents are under no obligation to purchase photographs

SCHOOL RULES

As a responsible school and community member I will:

·        Behave myself in the classroom and playground

·        Show respect, care and consideration for myself, others and the environment

·        Wear the school uniform

·        Play safely and fairly, being in the right place at the right time

SCRIPTURE

·        Religious instruction is conducted by a group of volunteers every Tuesday.

·        Supervision is provided for those students who do not attend these classes.

SMOKING

• It is a DET requirement that all school buildings and playgrounds are ‘Smoke Free’ zones.

SPORT

• Each child is allocated to a Sporting House upon enrolment and is determined by sibling or age to keep teams as even as possible
• Thorpe         -        Yellow
• Freeman       -        Red
• Bradman       -        Green

·        All children are expected to wear the Como West Sports Uniform when taking part in Sporting activities.

• School Swimming, Cross Country and Athletics Carnivals are conducted each year with the best swimmers and runners representing the school in Zone, Region and State Carnivals.
• Teams may take part in NSWPSSA knockout competitions and gala days
• We participate in Sutherland Zone PSSA competitions in junior and senior sports, currently Soccer, Netball, Softball, T-Ball and Cricket.

STAGES of LEARNING

• Early Stage One     -        Kindergarten
• Stage One              -        Years 1 and 2
• Stage Two             -        Years 3 and 4
• Stage Three           -        Years 5 and 6       

STUDENT LEADERSHIP - Parliamentarians

• Instead of School Captains and Prefects, we have a Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Speaker and 5 Ministers.

·        Democratic elections are held at the end of each year to determine the student leaders for the following year using recognised election procedures. Students from Year 2 to Year 6 vote.

·        Parliamentarians perform specific roles and they coordinate the assemblies.

·        Every effort is made to provide leadership opportunities for all students

STUDENT WELFARE

The Student Welfare Policy endeavours to support the social, personal and emotional needs of our students by

§         providing a school and classroom that is conducive to learning.

§         ensuring a safe and secure environment.

§         encouraging appropriate forms of behaviour.

§         clearly defining consequences for actions which provides clear expectations for children, teachers and parents and by providing consistency in dealing with breaches of rules.

§         Restorative justice practices forms the basis for resolution of welfare issues.
 

• At Como West Public School we are committed to the provision of a caring school community concerned for each child’s welfare.
• Every teacher has a responsibility for student welfare.  The Principal and the School Executive have specific leadership roles for planning, co-ordinating, monitoring and evaluating the student welfare program. 
• The School Counsellor and other teachers with special expertise support children, teachers and parents.
• Students receive special awards to reinforce and encourage positive attitudes and behaviour.

SUN SAFE

• Student are required to wear their school hat when involved in outdoor activities
• If students do not have a hat they have to play in the shade.

TEXTBOOKS

• Requests for Text Books are kept to a minimum and then only to support the class/stage program in a curriculum area.
• Early in Term 1 parents will be advised of the Text Book requirements.

UNIFORMS

• All students are expected to wear the Como West Public School uniform and sport uniform.  See Appendix A for details
• All students are to wear a school hat when outdoors.
• All items of uniform should be clearly marked or labelled with your child’s name and class. 
• The only jewellery to be worn at school is a watch, ear studs or sleepers.

The Uniform Shop

·        Is situated in the School Hall is open on Thursday afternoon, between 3.00 and 3.30pm for sales and orders.

• Members of the Uniform Committee will be in attendance on Kinder Orientation Day for sales, to show samples of the uniforms, and to take any orders
• For Uniform list, prices and order form see Appendices C, D & E

VALUES

• We have adopted the 9 Values for Australian Schools. These shared values are part of the Australian democratic way of life. They reflect our country’s commitment to a multicultural and environmentally sustainable society where all are entitled to justice.
• Care and Compassion
• Doing your Best
• Fair Go
• Freedom
• Honesty and Trustworthiness
• Integrity
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Understanding, Tolerance and Inclusion

WEBSITE

• There is a school website where a variety of information is available
• http://www.comowestps.nsw.edu.au

WET WEATHER

·        It would be appreciated if students could arrive closer to bell time on wet mornings.

·        Recess/lunch breaks may involve some use of the hall facilities depending on conditions and circumstances.

·        If weather particularly inclement then students may be asked to stay in classrooms during the recess or lunch breaks.