The School Day
Attendance/Absence
Regular attendance is vital to the continuity of your child’s education. Should illness or an emergency prevent your child from attending school, please remember to ring the Office before 9.30am. If you know in advance that your child will not be attending school, please let either the Class Teacher/Guardian or the Office know. Additionally the School requires written communication explaining ALL absences.
A reason for a student's absence must be provided to the school within seven days . It is therefore important that parents/carers contact the school on the day of the absence to provide an explanation.
Illness or Medical Appointment: When a child is occasionally absent from school due to illness the normal procedures of notifying the school by phone, or email apply.
Approved Absence: The NSW Government has created this new category to designate absence in certain situations. Principals may record up to 100 days of Approved Absence in a school year, for students of compulsory school age.
Exemption From Attendance At School: If students of compulsory school age (under 17 years) are going to be absent from school for three or more full days, for reasons that are not related to illness or approved absences, their parents/carers must apply in writing to the school.
School hours
Playgroup: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 12.30pm for children under 3 accompanied by parents.
Preschool: Monday to Friday 9.00am until 3.00pm.
Kindergarten: Monday to Thursday 9.00am to 3.00pm. Friday 9.00am to 12.30pm.
Primary School and High School: Monday to Friday 8.50am – 3.00pm.
Supervision of students
The School provides supervision of students from 8.30am to 3.15pm. Parents must be prompt in collecting students at the end of the day. Parents working at School after hours or attending courses are responsible for the supervision of their own children. It is suggested this should be conducted away from the School. During school hours students may only leave the grounds with a written request from a parent or guardian.
The School works on a guideline of appropriate adults per students for any excursions requiring supervision. Whenever children travel in private vehicles they are strapped one per seat belt.
To ensure the safety of your children, we need to know as a general rule how he/she is coming and going to School. Should you need to make alternative arrangements in picking them up one day, please inform the Office.
The School Student Transport Scheme
The NSW Government provides support for students to access education through the School Student Transport Scheme (S ST S). That Scheme provides subsidised travel for eligible school students on rail, bus, ferry and long distance coaches. A subsidy is also available for transport to and from school in private vehicles in areas where there is no public transport.
Students driving to school
Student vehicles will only be permitted after a request in writing from the parent/guardian. This is in keeping with the School’s commitment to keep traffic along Left Bank Road to a minimum.
Picking up children and/or visiting school DURING or AFTER School hours
All visitors to the School – including ex-students and parents – are to report to the Office on arrival. Visitors will be issued with an identification tag and need to be escorted around the School grounds.
Visits by former students are welcome but need to be organised by the Office or Teachers. If equipment or books need to be picked up, organise this straight after school hours.
The Shearwater grounds are private property and are patrolled by security after hours.
Food
Morning tea and lunch should be brought to School each day. The children eat together in Class groups and, although they don’t share their lunches, these occasions are very much a social and community activity. Please be conscious of minimizing the amount of throwaway packaging (such as yoghurts, poppers etc) A fresh wholesome lunch with water is preferred (water dispensers are available throughout the school) to packaged juices. Also, no lollies, chewing gum or bubble gum.
A privately run canteen operates at Shearwater five days per week, open from 8:15 am until 3:30pm. Parents may open an account with the canteen to pay for and manage their children's purchases. Please enquire at the canteen for help setting up an account.
Clothing
Teachers ask for tidiness and cleanliness of hair, nails and clothing. There is no school uniform. Children should wear loose, comfortable clothing. Clothing, especially T-shirts, displaying inappropriate images or slogans are not acceptable.
Strong protective shoes are necessary in winter. In summer sandals are appropriate, but thongs are NOT acceptable due to occupational Health & Safety regulations. In under seven’s and primary classrooms each child requires a pair of slippers for indoor activities. Gumboots and shoes must be left outside the classroom door.
Hats are essential in spring and summer. The most suitable hats provide adequate protection for the face, ears and neck. If a student comes to School without a hat they will not be able to play outside.
Please label everything your child brings to school: footwear, lunch boxes, bags, jumpers, coats, swimmers, hats and anything else that comes to school regularly and may get lost. There is a lost property box next to the Office. If your child is missing clothing, check the box as soon as possible as the contents are regularly recycled.
Regular attendance is vital to the continuity of your child’s education. Should illness or an emergency prevent your child from attending school, please remember to ring the Office before 9.30am. If you know in advance that your child will not be attending school, please let either the Class Teacher/Guardian or the Office know. Additionally the School requires written communication explaining ALL absences.
A reason for a student's absence must be provided to the school within seven days . It is therefore important that parents/carers contact the school on the day of the absence to provide an explanation.
Illness or Medical Appointment: When a child is occasionally absent from school due to illness the normal procedures of notifying the school by phone, or email apply.
Approved Absence: The NSW Government has created this new category to designate absence in certain situations. Principals may record up to 100 days of Approved Absence in a school year, for students of compulsory school age.
Exemption From Attendance At School: If students of compulsory school age (under 17 years) are going to be absent from school for three or more full days, for reasons that are not related to illness or approved absences, their parents/carers must apply in writing to the school.
School hours
Playgroup: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 12.30pm for children under 3 accompanied by parents.
Preschool: Monday to Friday 9.00am until 3.00pm.
Kindergarten: Monday to Thursday 9.00am to 3.00pm. Friday 9.00am to 12.30pm.
Primary School and High School: Monday to Friday 8.50am – 3.00pm.
Supervision of students
The School provides supervision of students from 8.30am to 3.15pm. Parents must be prompt in collecting students at the end of the day. Parents working at School after hours or attending courses are responsible for the supervision of their own children. It is suggested this should be conducted away from the School. During school hours students may only leave the grounds with a written request from a parent or guardian.
The School works on a guideline of appropriate adults per students for any excursions requiring supervision. Whenever children travel in private vehicles they are strapped one per seat belt.
To ensure the safety of your children, we need to know as a general rule how he/she is coming and going to School. Should you need to make alternative arrangements in picking them up one day, please inform the Office.
The School Student Transport Scheme
The NSW Government provides support for students to access education through the School Student Transport Scheme (S ST S). That Scheme provides subsidised travel for eligible school students on rail, bus, ferry and long distance coaches. A subsidy is also available for transport to and from school in private vehicles in areas where there is no public transport.
Students driving to school
Student vehicles will only be permitted after a request in writing from the parent/guardian. This is in keeping with the School’s commitment to keep traffic along Left Bank Road to a minimum.
Picking up children and/or visiting school DURING or AFTER School hours
All visitors to the School – including ex-students and parents – are to report to the Office on arrival. Visitors will be issued with an identification tag and need to be escorted around the School grounds.
Visits by former students are welcome but need to be organised by the Office or Teachers. If equipment or books need to be picked up, organise this straight after school hours.
The Shearwater grounds are private property and are patrolled by security after hours.
Food
Morning tea and lunch should be brought to School each day. The children eat together in Class groups and, although they don’t share their lunches, these occasions are very much a social and community activity. Please be conscious of minimizing the amount of throwaway packaging (such as yoghurts, poppers etc) A fresh wholesome lunch with water is preferred (water dispensers are available throughout the school) to packaged juices. Also, no lollies, chewing gum or bubble gum.
A privately run canteen operates at Shearwater five days per week, open from 8:15 am until 3:30pm. Parents may open an account with the canteen to pay for and manage their children's purchases. Please enquire at the canteen for help setting up an account.
Clothing
Teachers ask for tidiness and cleanliness of hair, nails and clothing. There is no school uniform. Children should wear loose, comfortable clothing. Clothing, especially T-shirts, displaying inappropriate images or slogans are not acceptable.
Strong protective shoes are necessary in winter. In summer sandals are appropriate, but thongs are NOT acceptable due to occupational Health & Safety regulations. In under seven’s and primary classrooms each child requires a pair of slippers for indoor activities. Gumboots and shoes must be left outside the classroom door.
Hats are essential in spring and summer. The most suitable hats provide adequate protection for the face, ears and neck. If a student comes to School without a hat they will not be able to play outside.
Please label everything your child brings to school: footwear, lunch boxes, bags, jumpers, coats, swimmers, hats and anything else that comes to school regularly and may get lost. There is a lost property box next to the Office. If your child is missing clothing, check the box as soon as possible as the contents are regularly recycled.