Enrolment

Information

Handbook

2018

Addresses / Telephone Numbers………………………………………………….…………….. …. 4

Absences / Access to Children………………………………………………………………..…… 4 Proud Culture ….. Strong Spirit …..Smart Minds

Table of Contents

Principal’s Welcome 3 Contact Details 4 Aitkenvale State School Processes 5 Dress Code 6 Intensive Language Centre (ILC) 8 Library 8 Newsletter 8 Out Of School Hours Care 8 Overseas Students 9 Parade 9 Parents and Citizens Association 9 Photography of Students 10 Reporting 10 School Sports 11 School Wide Positive Behaviour Program 11 Students with Difficulties 15 Swimming 15 Tuckshop 15

Welcome to Aitkenvale State School. Our school has a proud history from its origin in 1924 to being a leading educational centre in multicultural education and diversity within the North Queensland region. At Aitkenvale our exemplary school culture is to have “Every Child Succeeding Every day”. How do we define culture and what makes one exemplary? In many ways an exemplary culture is something that is intangible and cannot be seen; it is more of a ‘feeling’ that you have in a school. People working in a school with an exemplary culture feel positive and respond positively to one another. An exemplary culture in a school is about staff, parents, students and the community feeling enormous pride in their school. It is about teachers feeling energized, appreciated and motivated; being open to new challenges; unafraid to look critically on current practices and a willingness to work as part of a team. It is about students striving to do their best and feeling proud of their learning. It is about visitors to the school saying that this school has a great feel about it. It is about parents who are keen to be involved in their children’s learning and who want to send their children to the school because it feels right. An exemplary school culture is one in which evidences:

High expectations and commitment for teaching and learning.

Strength and connection in every relationship.

Processes to allow students to have independence over their learning.

Productive communication between all sections of the school community.

Ongoing evaluation of programs, improvement and a data driven culture .

Inclusiveness of the school community in decision making.

Parental and community involvement.

Challenging and engaging programs accessible to all students.

Respect for high standards of achievement.

High staff and student morale. ……….but most all everyone is immersed in the PROUD, STRONG and SMART culture that makes our school a special place to grow, learn, live and care. Aitkenvale State School culture is exemplary and something we all belong to Thank you for choosing to be part of our wonderful school Yours sincerely

Mr Judd Burgess Principal

School Contact Details: Address: Aitkenvale State School OR PO Box 50 67-85 Wotton Street AITKENVALE QLD 4814 Email Address: the.principal@aitkenvaless.eq.edu.au or admin@aitkenvaless.eq.edu.au Web Page: www.aitkenvaless.eq.edu.au Facebook: @AitkenvaleStateSchool Phone number: 44 212 333 Please note the school office opens between 8am-4pm during the school term. School Times: 8:25am First bell rings 8:30am Classes begin 10:30am First lunch break 11:15am Second session begins 1:00pm Second Lunch break 1:30pm Third session begins 2:35 Classes finish As there are seldom any teachers in the school grounds before 8:00am, we request that students do not enter the grounds before that time. When students arrive prior to 8:25am, they are to go directly to the Covered Play Area were a teacher is able to supervise students. They may only move from that area after the 8:25am bell, when they will go directly to class.

If students are still in the school grounds after 3:00pm a bell will sound to tell them to go to H block where they are to be collected by parents / caregivers.

Parents, if you are going to be late picking up your children after school please phone the office. This is something that should happen only occasionally – not on a regular basis.

Aitkenvale State School Processes: Absences: If your child is absent from school please contact the school on 44 212 333 on the day of the absence or Email Address for absences – absent@aitkenvaless.eq.edu.au. Absences can also be sent through the skoolbag app, QParents or replying to the absent text message sent to the designated person. Gates: Our school gates are locked daily between the hours of 9am and 2pm. Please use the gate located beside the school hall on Wotton Street to gain access to the school office between these hours. Lateness: If your child is late (after 8:30am) they are required to come to the office for a late pass to enter class. We actively discourage lateness as it makes a major impact on key learning time. Leaving Early: If your child has an appointment during the day for something that cannot be scheduled out-of-school hours please come to the office to sign your child out. At no time is it acceptable to go to your child’s classroom during the school day to collect your child. Department policy on who can pick a child up from school is quite clear. Nobody, other than the legal parent or guardian can pick a child up from school unless the parents or guardian forwards a written request for the principal to do so, or unless the principal knows the person concerned and is sure that this is normal practice. In the case of parents who have separated, the child can only be released to the parent who is deemed by the courts to have custody, or according to joint parenting orders held at the school. Sickness: If you child becomes ill or sustains an injury during the day, the office will provide simple care or first aide. Parents are asked to collect students when they may require professional medical assessment. Parents are asked not to send students to school when they are unwell.

Medication: We are not permitted to administer un- prescribed medications such as Aspro, Panadol. If you have prescribed medication for your child, please inform the administration staff. Please present the medication, in the original container with the doctor’s instructions, and a completed medication permission form (available at the office) to the Administration Office. Medication cannot be administered without the above being provided. Asthmatic students should have ready access to their asthma medication during school hours. This may be kept safely in the classroom. If inhalers are sent to the office a medication form needs to be completed. If preferred, parents may come to the office during the day to administer medication to their children. ******All asthmatics require an Asthma Plan from their G.P. before administering medication. Lost/Found: We encourage the students to be very careful with their belongings and we ask that all belongings are named. In the event of a lost item the student should check the lost property trolley located under B Block. Visitors/Volunteers: If you are visiting or volunteering at the school you must present yourself to the school office to sign in and out. Dress Code: Students are expected to wear school uniform at all times. Even on uniform free days, students are expected to conform to a desired standard of dress. Singlets as outer garments, bright board shorts and two-piece (bare midriff) outfits, are unsuitable, and should not be worn. Motifs and comments on some T-Shirts are also unsuitable for school wear and must not be worn. For formal occasions (eg. parades, special visitors etc) and for school excursions, all shirts are to be worn tucked in. Jewellery and nail polish are not permitted at school. Signet rings may be worn. For safety students with pierced ears are to wear sleepers or studs only. Earrings are the only piece of facial jewellery able to be worn.

Only closed footwear (with socks) is suitable for the range of activities that students engage in each day. Medical conditions requiring other than closed in footwear need an explanatory note from parents. As Aitkenvale is a SunSmart school, students need to wear wide brimmed hats / bucket hats or legionnaire style hats to protect them from the sun. Caps / visors are not acceptable. A ‘no sunsafe hat, no play’ policy is enforced. BOY'S UNIFORM Green polo shirt with black and white collar, Aitkenvale school emblem in black, pocket-sized, on left chest. • Black shorts. • Suitable closed footwear with socks. • Wide-brimmed hat / bucket hat or legionnaire style hat. GIRL'S UNIFORM Green polo shirt with black and white collar, Aitkenvale school emblem in black, pocket-sized, on left chest. • Black perm-a-pleat netball skirt, skorts or shorts • Suitable closed footwear with socks. Wide-brimmed hat / bucket hat or legionnaire style hat. Also available on sale from the office: Hijab (Black / Green) Availability of uniforms: The following stores stock our uniforms: Cueldee- 76 Charles Street Aitkenvale - 47793833 Tropic T-Shirts - Castlemaine St, Kirwan – 47231990 Lowes Aitkenvale – Stockland Plaza Ross River Road - 47757486 Lowes Kirwan – Willows Shopping Centre - 47232906

N.B. School uniforms as well as bucket hats (green or sports colours) are available from the school. Please enquire at the office.

Intensive Learning Centre (ILC): Students for whom English is an additional language or dialect (EAL/D) require specific support to build the English language skills required for effective communication and access to the Australian Curriculum. The purpose of the ILC is to meet the individual learning needs of students for whom English is an additional language or dialect. Library: We are fortunate to possess a very well stocked, modern and air-conditioned resource centre, and we encourage all students to use it regularly. The resource centre is automated to enable a more efficient operating system. Resource centre books are very expensive and we ask for your support to ensure that books are well cared for when on loan to students and that they are returned by the due date. The resource centre is open during the first lunch break. Newsletter: Our Digital Newsletter is released every Thursday during the school term. Newsletter alerts will be sent through the Skoolbag app, if you require a hardcopy of the newsletter please see our friendly staff in the office. Outside School Hours Care: Aitkenvale State School has a wonderful, well-staffed outside school hour’s facility run by Camp Australia. Students from Prep to Year 6 are welcome. We have a very high standard of care and we also have great facilities including a fully equipped kitchen. The following sessions are available: Before School Care: 6:30am – 8:30am Vacation Care: 6:30am – 6:00pm After School Care: 2:35pm – 6:00pm Student Free Days: 6:30am – 6:00pm For bookings contact Camp Australia on 1300105343 or email@campaustralia.com.au. The coordinator can be contacted on 0412582934 between 6:30am-8:30am and 2:00pm-6:00pm or we can be found under D Block.

Overseas Students: Students born overseas must hold either an Australian passport or appropriate visa before applying to the school. Students who do not hold an Australian passport must present their passport and visa paperwork at the time of enrolment. Parade: Parade is held on a Friday morning at 8:30am in the hall, all parents and family members are welcome to attend. Parent and Citizens Association The Parents and Citizens Association meets monthly on the third Wednesday of each month. Meetings are held in the staffroom and commence at 3:30pm. Meetings are open to all parents and interested citizens. The Parents and Citizens Association provides a forum for discussion on educational and social issues that could affect your child's education as well as providing funding for resources. Personal Items: Toys, jewellery, electronic games and novelty cards e.g. ‘Pokemon cards’ are not permitted at school. The school cannot take responsibility if these items become lost or damaged. When a student brings a valuable item to school as part of class work please ensure that prior special arrangements have been made with the classroom teacher for its safe keeping. Money: Students are encouraged not to bring large amounts of money to school and we ask for your cooperation in this matter. Parents will be contacted if a child has more than $10 at school. Electronic Devices: Mobile phones, iPad, iPod etc. must be switched off and signed in and left at the office on arrival at school. They may be collected at 2:35pm and signed out at the office. The school will not be held responsible for any devices not signed into the office, if students are found with devices during school hours they will be confiscated.

Photography of students: Parents, volunteers and visitors, when at the school or attending school events, must not take photographs of children other than their own. When taking photographs at school events, parents must ensure they do not have other children within the frame unless permission has been sought from the child’s parents. If posting school event photos on personal Facebook pages, parents must ensure they have additional permission for this. Reporting: Parents are encouraged to consult with teachers regularly, on an informal basis, regarding their children’s progress and attitudes. In your endeavour to consult with the class teacher regularly, please keep in mind that he / she is extremely busy before school organising the room and lessons for the day’s work and cannot leave the class during teaching hours (8:30am – 2:35pm) for discussion. After 2:40pm is a good time to meet with teachers. Sometimes it may be necessary to make an appointment. ORAL REPORTS Oral reporting will be conducted twice a year.

Term 1

Term 3 WRITTEN REPORTS Written reports will be issued twice a year in Term 2 and Term 4. NATIONAL ASSESSMENT PROGRAM - LITERACY and NUMERACY (NAPLAN) For Year 3 and Year 5 student’s, nation-wide testing reports will be provided to parents when made available by the testing authorities.

School Sports: Here at Aitkenvale State School we have a long and proud sporting tradition. Each year our four houses compete in Swimming, Athletics and Cross Country events. From these carnivals students are selected to represent the school at a district level. At the beginning and end of the year, students also have the opportunity to join our Orcas swimming program which helps develop our interschool team. Our interschool Athletics and Cross Country Teams are selected from our inter house carnivals with 7 year old and older competing at Athletics and 10 years and over representing our school at Cross Country. Our school also participates in a variety of sports throughout the year and is spread over 3 seasons. Each season consists of 7 weeks and is conducted during normal school hours. Students between 10-12 years of age also have the opportunity to trial for a variety of district sports (13 in total) organised by Townsville School Sport. School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) is a research driven and evidence based process developed by two leading US academics Professor George Sugai from the University of Oregon and Professor Tim Lewis from the University of Missouri Columbia. Improving student academic and behaviour outcomes is about ensuring all students have access to the most effective and accurately implemented instructional and behavioural practices and interventions possible. SWPBS provides an operational framework for achieving these outcomes. More importantly, SWPBS is not a curriculum, intervention or practice but is a decision making framework that guides selection, integration and implementation of the best evidence-based academic and behavioural practices for improving important academic and behaviour outcomes for all students. In general, SWPBS emphasizes four integrated elements:

Data for decision making

Measurable outcomes supported and evaluated by data

Practices with evidence that these outcomes are achievable

Systems that efficiently and effectively support implementation of these practices

At Aitkenvale State School the SWPBS program encompasses: Anti-Bullying Program Bullying is repeated intimidation over time and is of a physical, verbal or psychological nature. Bullying is treated seriously at Aitkenvale State School. We teach students about bullying; the nature of it, effects of it, strategies for empowering victims, rehabilitating bullies and the importance of reporting incidents of bullying. Peace Builders Program Peace Builders is a program designed to help create an environment that reduces violence and establishes a more peaceful way of living. It is not a school curriculum and it is not a quick-fix for social skills. It is a way of changing interactions and inter-relationships to create a more harmonious environment in which to grow and work. It is a process, a set of proven tools. Peace Builders develops increased resiliency in individuals, whether they be children, adolescents or adults. Resiliency is the ability to bounce back after setbacks. Research studies show that the more resilient children are, the more they will excel in life. Positive Behaviour Program Aitkenvale implements a positive behaviour program, with the main focus being on acknowledging and rewarding excellent behaviour. All classes from Prep to Year 6 are involved in the program, with those students who show exceptional behaviour earning merit badges and receiving invitations to end of term reward days.

The aims of the program are to:

develop a caring, safe and supportive school environment that encourages a strong sense of belonging and where the rights and responsibilities of individuals are respected

foster positive relationships between all members of the Aitkenvale State School community

develop a clear set of expectations, rules and procedures that protect the rights of individuals and manage student behaviour in a positive manner

make students accountable for their own behaviour by providing acknowledgment for appropriate behaviour and implementing fair and effective consequences for misbehaviour

developing strong links with parents to keep them informed of their child(ren)’s progress

Aitkenvale State School is committed to providing a safe, respectful and disciplined learning environment for students and staff, where students have opportunities to engage in quality learning experiences and acquire values supportive of their lifelong wellbeing. The Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students is designed to facilitate high standards of behaviour so that the learning and teaching in our school can be effective and students can participate positively within our school community.

CONSEQUENCES FOR UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR: Aitkenvale State School makes systematic efforts to prevent problem student behaviour by teaching and reinforcing expected behaviours on an ongoing basis. When unacceptable behaviour occurs, students experience predictable consequences. Our school seeks to ensure that responses to unacceptable behaviour are consistent and proportionate to the nature of the behaviour. An office referral form is used to record all major problem behaviours. These are incidents that staff feel need to be investigated by an administrator. The recording of three minor behaviours constitutes a major behaviour. Minor and Major Behaviours When responding to problem behaviour the staff member first determines if the problem behaviour is major or minor, with the following agreed understanding:

Minor problem behaviour is handled by staff members at the time it happens.

Major problem behaviour is referred directly to the school administration team.

Students with Disabilities: Special education services are provided within the regular classroom. This means that students with special needs attend regular education classes along with their peers. The special education teacher, classroom teachers, teacher aides and therapists work together to provide each student with a program that meets his / her needs in an inclusive environment. Students who have intellectual impairment, autism spectrum disorder or a are supported by a special education teacher. Students who have other disabilities e.g. hearing, visual, physical impairment are supported by Advisory Visiting Teachers (AVTs). Students with speech / language impairment are support by Speech Language Pathologist. An ISP (Individual Support Plan) / ICP (Individual Curriculum Plan) with goals and objectives is developed as necessary for each student with special needs. A commitment is made to work on these goals and objectives throughout the day, both in and out of class. Swimming: Aitkenvale is very fortunate to have its own twenty-five metre swimming pool. Students participate in swimming lessons once a week, for five weeks in Terms One and Four. A qualified instructor develops programs at the appropriate level for the students. Swimming Fees are invoiced to parents in Term 1 and Term 4. As swimming is an essential part of the Health and Physical Education program students must attend all lessons. If a medical condition prevents your child’s attendance, please provide a note to this effect. Tuckshop: Tuckshop operates 5 days a week for both lunch breaks. Orders can be placed online using Flexischools or by placing your order directly at the tuckshop.