Nar Nar Goon Primary SchoolPrep Transition – session #1

Welcome!

• Acknowledgement of Country.

We respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we live, work and learn, and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respect to their elders - past, present and emerging.

A little bit about our school

• Enrolment – 210 students.

• Enrolment Zone – Nar Nar Goon township and surrounds, Tynong, Maryknoll.

• Class Structures – vary from year to year to keep numbers to a minimum. 2021: 2X Foundation classes, 3X 1/2 composite classes, 2X 3/4 composite classes, 1X Year 5 and 2 X Years 6 classes. (10 classes)

• Specialist subjects: Art and Physical Education.

• LOTE: Auslan (sign language for the deaf)

• 21 staff members- comprising of Principal, Assistant Principal/Learning Specialist, classroom teachers, specialist teachers and Education Support staff (integration and office).

• (No before/after school care provided on site.)

School Hours:

• 9:00am -3:30 pm

• Staff on duty from 8:45am.

• Recess: 11:00am – 11:30am

• Lunch: 1:30-2:15

Children eat their recess snack and lunch in the classrooms 10 minutes before the bell. They have the opportunity to finish any uneaten food in the designated eating areas.

At the end of the day, if parents are running late children wait in the Multi Purpose Room where they will be supervised with the bus travellers.

Student Attendance –

Foundation students

• All students start on Monday 31st January 2022.

• Foundation students do not attend on Wednesdays for the month of February.

• Please book in for a one-on-one appointment for your child to complete an early years assessment on one of these Wednesdays. Parents do not attend.

Stationery , Materials and

Uniforms.

• Stationery packs are ordered by the school. Delivered to classrooms prior to the children beginning on day 1.

• The cost of the stationery packs for 2022 is $120:00. Parents are also invited to contribute to Voluntary Contributions of $90:00 (Totalling $210:00)-payable via Eftpos – Tap & Go, Credit Card over the phone or Direct Debit

• Students will also need: Art Smock and Library Bag.

• Uniforms are compulsory: Beleza Uniform Shop. 7/99 Bald Hill Road Pakenham.

• Iron on logos available from the office for $1:00 ea.

• Good quality shoes or runners – no sandals or open toed footwear. Please avoid outlandish colours/styles.

• A broad brimmed school approved hat is required for every student from October through to April. (We are a sunsmartschool).

• NNG school bag is recommended but not compulsory.

• Hair must be tied back and away from the face (no school is immune from head lice).

• Please provide a spare change of clothes, particularly underwear for your Foundation students.

Food at school:

• Each child needs to be provided with a snack for recess eg: a piece of fruit, muesli bar, savoury biscuit and cheese or a yoghurt.

• Lunch: Please don’t over pack–Foundation students often feel they have to eat EVERYTHING in their lunch box.

• Please ensure your child has had practise opening and closing clips on lunchboxes and food packaging. (Enjoy sharing a picnic with your child in preparation for school.)

• Lunch Orders: Provided by Nar Nar Goon Takeaway. Place money in an envelope with the order written on the front, including their name and class.

• Special PAFA meal deals – COVID permitting!

• We DO NOT allow students to share their food with others – please reinforce this with your child. Avoid providing nuts in lunchboxes.

Parking/Traffic on Spencer Street:

The procedure in place for parents dropping off/collecting children from school,is to drive Eastwards down Spencer Street and park on either side of the road onSpencer Street before the school crossing. There are NO STANDING clearwayseither side of the school crossing and NO STANDING zones on both sides of theroad immediately outside the school. (see red lines in diagram above.) Drive tothe second driveway that leads to the football ground, turn right into this carparkand exit from the top driveway back into Spencer Street. Do not proceed into thebowl of the court.The carpark across the road at the football ground is a designated parent parkingspace and the designated staff park is outside the Scout Hall carpark.

Bus Travellers:

Buses are managed by PTV (Public Transport Victoria) and coordinated by the Pakenham Secondary College.

Please visit our website for eligibility and to apply.

There is no bus service for families travelling from Pakenham/ not within our enrolment zone.

Students travelling on buses must go to the Multi Purpose Room at the end of the day where they will be supervised until their bus arrives.

NB: If your student catches the bus it is critical that you contact the school to cross their name off the bus list if you are picking them up or have a change of arrangements on any particular day.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Visiting the School during the day:

Every person who comes onto the school grounds between the hours of 9:15am and 3:15pm must do so through the main office to ensure that we know who is on the school grounds at all times. In line with current Department of Education Operation Guidelines, parents and visitors must use the QR code before entering buildings and must show proof of double vaccination.

EVERY HELPER in our school must wear their Working With Children Card on one of our visitor lanyards, or a visitors badge when helping in classrooms.

If you have a message for your child or an item that needs to be delivered to the classroom please ask the office staff to pass it on rather than interrupt the class and/or the teacher during instruction time.

Anyone without a WWCC lanyard or Visitors badge will be redirected to the front office

Please visit:

https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/

Communication

• Newsletters are provided fortnightly. Subscribe via the school website to receive your copy via email.

• Seesaw app – day to day classroom activities (particularly during remote learning).

• PAFA (Parents & Friends Association) Facebook page-You can join at the start of the year- only parents/carers of current enrolments are accepted.

• SENTRAL parent portal.

Student Absence

Report absences in the following ways1. SENTRAL-Parent Portal2. Website: “Report an Absence”.3. Phone callIf an absence is not reported by 9:30 am you will receive a text message from the office. Repeated absences are followed up by teachers and/or Principal at all times.

When submitting online absence forms please ensure you provide us with details to enable us to determine whether or not they will be school approved absences or not.

• Parent Choice School Approved – Illness/medical, Religious/cultural observance, Bereavement, Special circumstances, Unforeseen circumstances, Ill family member.

• School Unapproved- No explanation provided by parent. Student absent due to participating in leisure or social activities such as shopping, a child’s birthday, visiting relatives or friends. A day off for no valid reason. No approval given by principal to attend family holiday (requires an absence learning plan with Principal’s signature).

Student Accidents/ Illness at school

• If your child is hurt during the day, they will be sent to the sickbay by the yard duty teacher. Depending on the extent of the injury, they may just be cleaned up with a band aid and sent back into the yard.

• For more serious injuries, they may spend some time recuperating on our sick bay beds – a phone call home will be made.

• Please note: All head injuries (no matter how minor) are reported to parents with a phone call.

• ALL STAFF are Level 2 First Aid Trained. (This includes Asthma and Anaphylaxis training with refreshers every 6-12 months.)

• If your child reports to the sick bay feeling sick, you will be called to come and collect them. (Particularly in this COVID environment.)

• Medications for students can only be administered by staff through the office – parents must fill in a form. Please speak to the office staff. No child is to keep medications of any sort in their school bag or classroom.

• Please advise the school if your child is an asthmatic, anaphylactic or has any other medical condition.

• Please be aware that the Education Department does not cover students for accidents in the school grounds, nor does it cover forAmbulance costs should the need to call an ambulance be necessary. Families are encouraged to please consider making personalinsurance and ambulance cover arrangements for all their children.

Support Services

STUDENT WELLBEING COORDINATOR – VIRGINIA

MEREDITH

SCHOOL COUNSELLOR –LORINDA EDEN.

CARDINIA NETWORK PSYCHOLOGIST.

CARDINIA NETWORK SPEECH PATHOLOGIST.

COMMUNITY LINKS FOR FAMILIES EXPERIENCING

DIFFICULTIES EG: WINDERMERE, CARDINIA

COUNCIL SUPPORTS.

Starting School:

First Day:

Parents are welcome to accompany their child into the classroom to get them settled on the first day. Please don’t linger – a swift “goodbye” and a kiss is the best way of avoiding tears (I mean yours!! Please don’t be offended when the teachers ask you to leave. )

Strategies to avoid separation anxiety on the first day and beyond:

• Keep the goodbyes short and sharp.

• Let your child carry their own school bag into the yard/classroom. Encourage their independence.

• Stay positive – talk about the happy things that happen at school.

• Don’t linger at the window where your child can see you-if your child is upset when you leave we will contact you to let you know they have settled down. Often the teachers will post a Seesaw message with a photo to reassure you.

• Let the classroom teacher know if you have had a bad morning before getting to school or if there are extenuating circumstances at home that might impact your child emotionally eg: a sick pet.

• Leave your child for periods of time with other trusted adults/family members or friends to get them used to not having you around. (Particularly in the lead up to starting school.)

• Visit the school playground during the holidays (COVID permitting).

Getting Involved:

SCHOOL COUNCIL

PARENTS AND FRIENDS ASSOCIATION (Fondly known as PAFA)

Special events: Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Grandparents Day, Book Character Dress Up etc.

Reading Helpers.

Open Learning Numeracy Program.

Sporting Events eg: Swimming & Athletics Carnivals.