ST J’SRIRY SCHOOL 

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Contact us

St John’s Primary School Principal – Mrs Renay Condon

11 Murwillumbah Rd (PO Box 358)

Mullumbimby NSW 2482 02 6684 2386

sjpmull@lism.catholic.edu.au www.mbyplism.catholic.edu.au

St John’s Catholic Church Deacon - Rev Chris Wallace

15 Murwillumbah Rd (PO Box 27)

Mullumbimby NSW 2482 mullumbimby@lismore.catholic.org.au

Parish Office: Wednesday & Thursday 10am-5.30pm 6684 2106 Mobile 0423 086 984

Catholic Education Office, Lismore PO Box 158

Lismore NSW 2480 Phone: 02 6622 0422

Fax: 02 6622 0990 www.lism.catholic.edu.au

  

 

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From the Principal    

Thank you for choosing St John’s Primary School and welcome to our beautiful school in Mullumbimby. Our school has served the Brunswick Valley community for the last one hundred years with quality education from kindergarten through to year 6. With high academic standards, a strong extra-curricular program and a warm, caring community underpinned by our Catholic foundations, we provide a first-class education preparing students for life in the twenty-first century.

At St John’s we are small enough for each student to be well known and supported. We work closely with each individual child to develop their personal strengths and capabilities, helping them to explore themselves and their work in a structured and safe environment. As a staff we are proud of our reputation at St John’s for being inspiring, creative and caring. We challenge each student to discover his or her particular gifts and talents in a variety of ways and believe that each child is special.

We offer a variety of choices with creative enrichment programs for students, and we are always seeking new and interesting ways of engaging, challenging and motivating our students.

Our pastoral care at St John’s supports each child on their journey and our social justice program allows for students to embrace their community and approach the world from a perspective of understanding, tolerance and compassion.

I would love to meet with you and your child in person and show you, first hand, what we have to offer at St John’s. If you have any questions please call. I look forward to beginning a long association together with you and your family as part of the St John’s school community.

Kind regards, Renay Condon

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School Staff

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BELL TIMES

Supervision begins at 8:25am

Classes commence at 8:50am

Fruit break at 9:50am

Lunch is from 10:50am to 11:20am

Recess: 1:20pm to 1:50pm

School finishes at 2:50pm

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ASSEMBLIESASSEMBLIES

Twice per term, an assembly is held in St John’s hall. These assemblies are run by the student leaders, with selected classes coordinating the assembly. Parents are invited to share the students’ learning.

NEWSLETTERNEWSLETTER The school newsletter is published every Thursday afternoon on the school website. This is our way to keep you informed of what is happening in our school and our community. Parents and guardians are able to receive notification when the newsletter is available by using the SKOOLBAG phone app or by sending a newsletter subscribe request to sjpmull@lism.catholic.edu.au

DROP OFF AND PICK UPDROP OFF AND PICK UP A staff member is on duty each morning from 8:25am; children arriving before this time are required to sit quietly inside the school gates. Children are under the supervision of a teacher until 3:10pm. Those children not collected by this time will be walked to the office area and, if necessary, a phone call made to parents. We ask that parents, who enter the school grounds to collect their children, wait near the steps area inside the school gates.

We are aware that it can be difficult to find a park at the end of the school day so we offer a ‘drive through’ facility at the front of school. Students will be brought to the edge of the pathway as their parent’s car becomes first in line. Parents are asked to not get out of their cars here.

PROCEDURE FOR PICK UP, BIKES & SCOOTERS PROCEDURE FOR PICK UP, BIKES & SCOOTERS : ● Children to be picked up after school form a line on the ramp at the front gates. ● A teacher walks children up to the area outside the hall. All students are to be seated on the ground away from the car park. ● Once most cars have cleared from the queue and the traffic along the walkway has died down, children with bikes, scooters and

skateboards can collect them from outside the Hall area and meet the teacher in the pick-up zone ready to cross the road.

Please ensure that all students walk their bikes, boards and scooters across the road, rather than ride them. Also please ensure that helmets are on and firmly fastened.

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BUS TRAVELLERSBUS TRAVELLERS

Every afternoon, children are supervised by a teacher who ensures the children are placed onto their bus. Government legislation permits free bus travel for children in Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2. Children in higher year levels receive free bus travel provided they live beyond a 1.6 km radius of the school. Private vehicle subsidy may be available for families in outlying areas. Parents may also apply for free travel in cases of medical, safety or hardship, or if children have to walk more than 2.3 km by the most direct route. Application forms for both free bus travel and private car subsidy are available from the school office. Please contact the bus companies directly for school bus routes and timetables: Brunswick Valley Coaches Mullumbimby, Brunswick Heads, Ocean Shores, The Pocket, Palmwoods 6680 1566 Mullum Bus Company Mullumbimby, Main Arm 6684 6008 Northern Rivers Buslines Goonengerry, Lismore, Federal, Eureka, Clunes 6626 1499 G&N Bus Company Upper Main Arm, Wilsons Ck, Uki, Huonbrook 6684 4210 Parsons Bus & Coach Burringbar, Pottsville 6672 2353

BIKE RIDERSBIKE RIDERS It is school policy and the law that children who ride, scoot or skate to school wear a helmet. All bicycles can be parked and locked to the school bike stands on our grounds. For the safety of all children, bike riders, skaters and scooters should dismount at crossings and prior to entering the school grounds or car parking area . Children in Infants classes are not encouraged to ride bikes to school without parental supervision.

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LATE ARRIVALS TO SCHOOLLATE ARRIVALS TO SCHOOL Students arriving after school begins must enter via the office where they will be given a late note. This will give teachers a record of time of arrival, and it is a requirement from the NSW Board of Studies. For safety reasons the school gates are closed at 9:15 am each day.

STUDENT ATTENDANCESTUDENT ATTENDANCE Student attendance is recorded electronically each day. If a student is absent, an SMS alert is sent to the parent’s mobile phone requesting an explanation for the absence. A return SMS is required by 2:30pm of the day of absence. If your child is absent and you do not receive an SMS, please contact the school office to advise of the absence and to ensure that the school has the correct mobile phone number on file. In exceptional circumstances where there is a planned absence, such as: participation in elite arts or elite sports; or employment in entertainment industry; and for any travel interstate or overseas, parents/guardians must complete Form B1 “Application for Exemption from School”. Certificates of Exemption may be granted when it has been clearly demonstrated by the applicant that an exemption is necessary or desirable and that alternatives to exemption have been considered. Further, the exemption must be in the student’s best interests in the short and long term. If the application is successful, a “Certificate of Exemption from Attendance at School” will then be issued to the parent/guardian.

COLLECTION OF CHILDREN DURING SCHOOL HOURSCOLLECTION OF CHILDREN DURING SCHOOL HOURS

If a child is to be picked up early or is absent during part of the school day, a green Partial Absence Recorded card must be obtained from the office on departure (and, if returning that day, on return). The partial absence is recorded by the office and the green card should be given to your child’s teacher to notify them that the office has recorded the partial absence. It is preferable to notify the office prior to collecting your child early. We ask that you proceed to the office to collect your child, where you child MUST be signed in or out accordingly.

VISITOR SAFETY GUIDELINESVISITOR SAFETY GUIDELINES

We welcome family and friends and encourage you to visit us. For the safety of all of our students we ask that you sign in and sign out the visitor’s book in the office when you visit us for any reason. If you wish to assist in the classroom you are required to hold a valid Working with Children Check.

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FIRST AID, SICKNESS & MEDICATIONFIRST AID, SICKNESS & MEDICATION If a child becomes unwell or is injured during the day, they are taken to the sick bay to be cared for. We record the visit in a sick bay register and send the child back to class if they improve. If the illness or injury is of a more serious nature we will contact a parent to discuss the situation further. We are unable to administer any medication without the written permission of a parent/guardian. All medication is kept in sick bay, clearly labelled with original packaging and chemist’s label. We require all relevant information for the child for whom it has been provided. At no time during the school day should a student have medication in their possession. If your child has a specific medical condition, please provide the school with the necessary information to help us to keep your child safe and happy at school. From time to time young children catch a variety of contagious diseases. The NSW Health Department has produced a detailed chart outlining the symptoms and signs, how long a child should be isolated or excluded from school and how long contacts should be excluded. A copy of this chart is available on the NSW Health Department website. Head lice are an ongoing problem in all schools. Children who had head lice can return to school once an appropriate treatment has been completed.

AMBULANCE COVERAMBULANCE COVER Ambulance Cover is purchased by the school for all students. This provides the security of knowing that if a child has an accident or falls ill whilst at school and requires ambulance services; neither the school nor the parents will be responsible for the payment of an account.

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BOOKCLUBBOOKCLUB Purchase of books through the Scholastic Book Club is available at regular intervals throughout the year. This includes books suitable for preschoolers as well as Years K to 6. Order forms are sent home with the children. Books purchased through Bookclub support the School’s library in obtaining more books.

SCHOOL PHOTOSSCHOOL PHOTOS

A photographer will come to the school to take photos of our class groups, family groups and individual students. Parents are able to order photos in the photo envelopes that are sent home prior to the day, or they can contact the photographer to re-order photos.

REPORTING TO PARENTSREPORTING TO PARENTS

The school endeavours to maintain close contact with parents, keeping them informed of their child’s progress.

The format will be:

Term 1 Parent Information Night; Parents, Student and Teacher Conference Term 2 Formal Report Term 4 Formal Report, with the opportunity to request a teacher conference

Parents are encouraged to arrange an interview with their child’s teacher to discuss any matters arising at any time.

MESSAGES to STUDENTSMESSAGES to STUDENTS Messages are sent to the children at 2:30pm via the class message bag. If possible, we ask you to contact the school before 2:30pm to pass any message on to your child. Any message that you would like to send to the office can come to school with your child who can place the message in the class message bag which is sent to the office every morning.

ENROLMENT POLICYENROLMENT POLICY Children applying for enrolment at St John’s School Mullumbimby are subject to the enrolment policy formulated by the Catholic Schools Office in Lismore. Preferences for enrolment will be given to children who are baptised Catholics living in the local area. This does not mean that other applications will not be accepted.

IMMUNISATIONIMMUNISATION Children enrolling in Kindergarten are required to provide the school with a Certificate of Immunisation; this can be provided by your doctor or by Immunisation Australia. If you have chosen not to immunise your child you are required to supply a letter stating your objection. As immunisation itself is not compulsory, in the event of an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease in a school, unimmunised children will be required to remain at home for the duration of the outbreak for their own protection. The vaccine-preventable diseases are Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping Cough, Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Meningococcal disease.

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KEY LEARNING AREASKEY LEARNING AREAS St John’s Mullumbimby teaches across eight Key Learning Areas. The NSW Board of Studies syllabuses and the Diocese of Lismore guidelines are used to provide the learning experiences for all Key Learning Areas. These are:

● Religious Education ● English ● Mathematics ● Science & Technology ● History ● Geography ● Creative Arts ● Personal Development Health & Physical Education

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMRELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM We acknowledge the place of parents as first the educators of their children, especially in matters of faith. Therefore we aim to:

● assist the children to come to know the good news of God's love for them; ● unfold to the children an understanding of the traditions, culture, history and future of our Catholic faith; ● guide the children in the integration of religion with life leading them to respond to God's love through

prayer, celebration and witness; and ● nurture the faith development of the children in and through a supportive community of believers.

Children of other faiths are included in prayer, worship and religious instruction, but do not actually receive the Sacraments of the Catholic Church. The school is an integral part of the Catholic Parish Community of St John’s and parents are invited to take an active part in all aspects of parish. The parish provides programs for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist. Throughout the year children attend liturgies as a class or as a whole school. The liturgy is prepared by both the teachers and the children. Parents, families and friends are invited to attend.

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LIBRARY BORROWING POLICYLIBRARY BORROWING POLICY

Classes are taken to the library at least once a week. The children are encouraged to take books home to read and return them during the week or at the following week’s lesson. A school library bag is necessary for all classes. Parents and students are able to search library database via the school website for an update on books available for borrowing.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENTPARENTAL INVOLVEMENT At St John’s we are very proud of the extent of parent and community involvement in assisting our children. Parents are welcome to participate whenever possible in the life of the school, whether it is in class programs or outdoor activities. You will find the main body of involvement is through the Parish School Forum . The Parish School Forum is a team of interested parents who represent the school and parish community to provide that valuable link between home and school.

SCHOOL CANTEENSCHOOL CANTEEN The school canteen is open on Mondays and Fridays and is coordinated by Ms Jacqui Coward. The canteen aims to provide nutritious, healthy food to the children as well as raising funds for school resources. A price list is available from the office or you can view it on the school’s website.

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SPORTSPORT Sports Day is on Thursdays where children are exposed to various experiences and instruction in a variety of sports throughout the year. Sports uniform is worn on Mondays and Thursdays. Children within the school are divided into two sports teams:

Malachi (Red) Named after the first nun at our school. Williams (Green) Named after the first priest of our parish

Carnivals held during the year:

Late Term 4: Swimming Late Term 1: Cross Country Late Term 2: Athletics

Children eight years and above are eligible to represent our school at the Richmond Zone Carnivals. The Diocese of Lismore currently offers primary school students representative opportunities in the following sports: Athletics, AFL, Basketball, Cricket, Cross Country, Diving, Hockey, Netball, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis and Touch Football.

EXCURSIONSEXCURSIONS

The educational importance of extending education beyond the classroom is recognised and carefully planned by teachers. Parental consent in writing is required before a child is included in a specific education excursion. An excursion policy is available.

TERM DATESTERM DATES

School term dates generally match the NSW public school term dates, however it is advisable to check the school calendar on the school website as the dates may vary slightly.

School PoliciesSchool Policies School policies and other useful information are available from the Catholic Schools Office Lismore Diocese website: http://www.lism.catholic.edu.au And on the school website: http://www.mbyplism.catholic.edu.au

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Functions of the PARISH SCHOOL FORUMFunctions of the PARISH SCHOOL FORUM

Functions of the Parish School Forum are to:

● listen to families and seek ways to serve their authentic needs through appropriate support and education ● provide a network to disseminate and exchange information within the school community ● ensure that Catholic Church teaching on discernment, collaboration, partnership, co-responsibility and the common good are

practised in the life of the parish school community ● promote a co-operative partnership between parents, teachers, students, administrators, clergy and the wider community. ● advise the principal and parish priest of the views of parents and staff ● provide appropriate nominations for parish and local community groups as needed ● nurture the spiritual lives of all those involved in the Parish School Forum

Meetings are held twice each term at 6pm on Tuesday evening in the school staff room

To know, worship & loveTo know, worship & love

The text, To Know, Worship and Love is used in each class. These books are sent home at intervals for parents to keep abreast of units of work children are working on.

Annual Year 6 Religious Education TestAnnual Year 6 Religious Education Test

Each year, in Term 2, Year 6 students will participate in the Religious Education Test. This test assesses content from the Religious Education Curriculum and Mass responses.

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UNIFORMS

INDEX 15

AMBULANCE COVER 9 ASSEMBLIES 6 BELL TIMES 5 BIKE RIDERS 7 BOOKCLUB 10 BUS TRAVELLERS 7 CANTEEN 12 Contact us 2 DROP OFF AND PICK UP 6 EARLY DEPARTURE 8 ENROLMENT POLICY 10 EXCURSIONS 13 FIRST AID 9 IMMUNISATION 10 KEY LEARNING AREAS 11 LATE ARRIVALS 8 LIBRARY BORROWING 12 MEDICATION 9

MESSAGES to STUDENTS 10 NEWSLETTER 6 Parent Information Night 10 PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT 12 PARISH SCHOOL FORUM 14 Partial Absence 8 PHOTOS 10 Policies 13 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 11 REPORTING TO PARENTS 10 SPORT 13 Staff 4 Student and Teacher Conference 10 STUDENT ATTENDANCE 8 TERM DATES 13 UNIFORMS 15 VISITOR SAFETY 8

Need More Information? This handbook is continually being updated to provide comprehensive information to parents. Please let the office know if you notice any errors or omissions.

Last updated Feb, 2019

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