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General Information
Newsletters
These are sent out on Monday each week. They are given to the eldest child in each family. Our school Newsletter includes information about what is happening in our school. It is important that you know what is happening at Somersby Public School and the Newsletter is a very strong communication link between school and home. Please note that a PDF of the newsletters can be found under the News Link on this website.
School Sign
This provides parents with an indication of upcoming major events or significant school achievements. The sign is changed approximately once a week.
School Sandwich Board
Occasional use for ‘special’ messages.
Recess and Lunch
All students are to remain seated in the Basement, COLA and picnic table area to eat their lunch/recess before being permitted to play. During play time all students have access to a wide range of play equipment, including the fixed equipment, on a regular basis.
Morning Assemblies
These are held every morning at 9.00am. This K-6 Assembly provides an opportunity for the teachers and principal to address the whole school on daily events. Parents are invited to attend these short assemblies.
Formal Assemblies
Assembly is held every second Friday in the afternoon from 2pm – 2.50pm (usually even weeks e.g. Week 2, 4, 6 etc. this can change on special occasions and will be advertised in the Newsletter). Assemblies are organised by the School Leaders and classes take turns to present special items. Class Awards and Birthday Certificates are presented at these assemblies. Parents and family members are welcome to attend.
Notes
These are sent home giving information about special events, like excursions, with details of dates, times and cost. When children are attending these activities they must have a permission note. All notes and monies must be handed to the classroom teacher between 9.00 – 9.10am each day – clearly marked with the child’s name, name of activity/excursion and amount of money given in the envelope. Please send the correct money. Cut off dates for money and permission notes will be adhered to.
Sport
Sport is held every Friday – sports uniform is to be worn.
Also, students participate in a range of fitness activities on a daily basis.
Annual carnivals are:
Cross Country Term 2
Athletics Term 3
Swimming Term 4
Scripture
Scripture is held every Monday from 1.50pm – 2.20pm for Early Stage 1 and Stage 1 and 2.20pm – 2.50pm for Stages 2 and 3 students. Religious denominations include: Catholic and Protestant. The school must be notified of your religious preference for your child. Non-Scripture supervision is also provided, although attendance at Scripture classes is strongly encouraged as the focus is on values education during this time.
The Library
This is a major educational centre for our school where children can work individually, in a small group or as a class. The library is fully automated with computers which control borrowing, returning, cataloging and enquiries. The library contains a Smartboard and a bank of computers which are used to integrate technology into all Key Learning Areas.
Borrowing limits for children vary according to the child’s grade.
Kindergarten: 1 book at a time
Years 1 & 2: 2 books at a time
Primary: 4 books at a time
Library Borrowing: All books have a 2 week borrowing time limit and must be returned if finished and exchanged, or re-borrowed after this time.
After the due date (i.e. 2 weeks after the book was borrowed) the book is overdue. The computer system will not allow books to be borrowed when the student has overdue books. Overdue notices will be issued to students twice per term.
Long term overdue notices will be issued at the end of term as messages to the parents. Borrowers’ cards are kept in the library and all staff, students and parents are welcome to borrow.
The use of library bag is essential to help keep books from getting damaged or lost. Children are encouraged to borrow over the term breaks but there will be no borrowing over the Christmas holiday break.
There will be no borrowing during the times of stock take.
Lost or Damaged Books: If you think a book has been lost or damaged, please contact the school librarian. We will:
- Check the shelves to ensure that the item has not been returned (it may have been incorrectly scanned on return)
- Check with the classroom teacher to see that it has not been left in the classroom
- Ask for payment of no less than $10 to replace the book
- If the book is found at a later date, a full receipted refund will be given
Book Club
Students may purchase books through Book Club each month. Pamphlets are sent home with your child and should be returned to the school office with an order form and payment.
Book Fair
Book Fair is held once a year during Education Week. This is organised by the Librarian with the aid of our excellent parent helpers. Parents and students are able to select and purchase books and may choose to make book donations to the library.
Bookmobile
Gosford City Library operates a Bookmobile (mobile library) service at school every 2nd Tuesday. Students must join Gosford City Library in order to borrow. Community members can also use the Bookmobile when it visits the school.
Books must be returned after 2 weeks or the borrower will incur a fine.
Band
Students in Stages 2 & 3 are eligible to join the band after auditions. Rehearsals are held every Tuesday and Thursday morning prior to school, 8pm – 8.45am. Group tuition lessons are then provided throughout Thursday afternoons from 12.20pm – 2.40pm. Some instruments are provided by the school. The band is a user pay system. Band fees are $80 per child per term or $60 per term if your child has their own instrument.
Technology
Technology plays an integral role in your child’s education at Somersby Public School. Computers and Smartboards are used intensively in all classes to access curriculum.
Student’s use individual USB drives to store class computer work. All NSW public school students are provided with their own email address and have access to the internet from their classroom and library computers.
Small Schools’ Days
The Mountain Small Schools come together throughout the year for sporting and educational activities. The Small schools are Central Mangrove Mountain Public School, Peats Ridge Public School, Kariong Public School and Somersby Public School.
Transition to Year 7
A transition program to prepare students for High School commences when students are in Year 5. This program is held in conjunction with our Local Management Group (LMG) schools and involves Leadership, team building and transition activities.
School Development Days
These are significant training and development opportunities for all staff. School Development days are held on the first day of the school Term during Terms 1, 2 and 3 and for the last two days of the school year.
Community Use of School Property
The Hall and school grounds are available for community groups to hire. Community groups hiring school facilities on regular basis must sign a ‘Community Use of School Facility Agreement’. Please contact the front office in regards to the hire of these facilities and costs.
Support Teacher Learning Assistance (STLA)
Children with particular education learning needs may be referred to the STLA for development of individual programs. This teacher visits the school several times a term and works with the class teachers to help address individual student’s needs by assisting with preparation and delivery of class programs and assessments.
Personal Possessions
Students are responsible for all items they bring to school. They cannot be reimbursed for lost or stolen property. Therefore, they should not bring valuables to school, and should keep any money in a wallet in a zip pocket. All clothing and other belongings should be clearly marked with the child’s name.
No toys or sports equipment other than tennis balls should be brought to school as they may be used inappropriately, lost or damaged.
The school provides equipment for children to use at appropriate times.
Nut products, fizzy drink, Chewing gum, lolly pops and bubblegum are banned from school.
Lost Property
Please ensure that all items are clearly identified with your child’s name. This means that items can be quickly returned to the correct child should they become lost.
All personal belongings found are placed in Lost Property and clothing that is unlabelled and not collected will be given to the P&C clothing pool at the end of each week.
Students are expected to develop responsibility for their own possessions and to respect the property of others.
School Car Park
The school car park is for staff cars. The car parking area is limited. Parents are requested to use the drop and kiss zone when dropping off and collecting their children. Please park in a considerate and careful manner for the safety of all.
Bicycles at School
Road Safety guidelines recommend that children less than 10 years of age should not ride bikes on public roads without parent supervision.
If ridden to school, bikes are to be wheeled onto school premises.
Children are not encouraged to ride bikes to school because:
- the road outside the school consists of a blind bend and various entry and exit points
- there is no shoulder to either side of the road where bikes can be ridden safely
- there is always a lot of traffic outside the school in the afternoons
- security sometimes causes problems.
Out-of-Bounds Area
In the interests of their own safety, students are not permitted in the school nature area unless supervised by a teacher.
Student Leaders
Somersby Public School runs a Leadership Program for Stage 3 students to develop leadership skills and participate in school processes of democracy and decision-making in the areas of student activities, school facilities and policies. During Term 4, Year 5 students will be asked to nominate for a Student Leadership position for Year 6 if their behaviour rating is acceptable. Senior students are given a variety of responsibilities. These include such things as recycling, flags, sports shed, library and lunch order monitors and school signs.
Mufti Days
A Mufti Day is a “no uniform” day. Sometimes, a special theme is chosen but on most occasions children wear normal “weekend” clothing. They may wear uniform as usual if they wish. Mufti Days usually are held to raise money, so a small “fine” is charged. Children should still wear appropriate footwear - no thongs, sandals or slippers.
Visiting Performances
Performances may occur throughout the school year to enrich and support classroom programs or extend children’s educational horizons. The performers are approved by the Department of Education and Training and are carefully selected by the school. It is hoped that all students will participate in these valuable learning experiences. Most performances have a fee associated with them.
Swimming School
Somersby Public School participates in the Department of Sport and Recreation’s 10 day Learn to Swim Program each year. Students from Years K–6 are targeted for participation in this program. The program is designed for non-swimmers to advanced swimmers and is aimed at increasing the swimmer’s confidence and competence. Qualified instructors and school staff supervise these lessons. Students receive a certificate indicating the level achieved. Kindergarten students undertake Water Safety Lessons through to the more advanced swimmers participating in Life Saving Lessons. Parents must meet the cost of the bus fares and pool entry for ten days. This is held in Term 4 each year.
Resolution of Complaints and Providing Suggestions
Informal Complaints:
Parents are encouraged in the first instance to address informal complaints or suggestions to the class teacher of their child/children. Please contact the class teacher to make a suitable meeting time if you wish to discuss any issues or concerns. For ongoing concerns parents are encouraged to contact the Principal.
After discussing complaints or suggestions with the Principal or teachers, parents who are still not happy with the proposed resolutions have the right to formalise their complaint.
Formal Complaints:
The Department of Education and Training has established a formal complaint and suggestion procedure which should be used for the resolution of complaints of serious and significant nature.
Parents are invited to contact the Principal and ask for a copy of these procedures and forms. The Principal will outline the procedures, indicate the rights of the parents and supply the forms. |
