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School
Information
If a
student is involved in an accident at school, parents will be contacted. All
information in connection with an accident at the school is recorded, as it is
essential for legal purposes if court proceedings should follow and the school
or a teacher called upon to give evidence. Qualified First Aid staff are on duty in the front office during all break
times. First Aid treatment is only administered by qualified First Aid Officers.
There are currently 3 options for after school care
for Larapinta students. Front Office staff are happy
to assist parents with enquiries, but arrangements to access these programs are
best made directly with the businesses concerned.
·
Lil’ Antz,
Ph 89530015
·
YMCA. Phone: 0402 038 471
·
Gap Community Child Care
Centre Ph. 89538292
All
students at
Procedures - If parents contact the school by phone, absent messages will be given to the class teacher. Written notes are required if parents do not contact the school. These notes are kept for the school year. Record of absence is entered in the appropriate section of the roll. If a child is absent from school and no acceptable reason is given by the parent, the Principal must establish contact between the home and the school. It is preferable that personal contact is established with a view to finding out the reasons and determining the appropriate course of action to support the family and encourage the child to attend school. In the case of indigenous students the AIEW (Aboriginal/Islander Education Worker) and ARO (Aboriginal Resource Officer) officers will be the usual home contact officers (delegated by the Principal). Where a student is frequently absent without any notification a form letter is sent to the parents requesting information.
The
administration of
ACCOUNTABILITY
AND PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT FRAMEWORK (APIF)
During
the year, various performing artists visit
School Assemblies are held on Friday from 8:40am to approximately 9:00am each week. Senior students lead the assemblies. Each teacher selects one Award Student from their class. The students are invited to the stage and are presented with their certificate during assembly proceedings. In addition, award winners are notified in the school newsletter each Wednesday. The newsletter also advises parents if individual students or classes are to perform items.
Rationale:
The focus of our curriculum is on the students and their learning, growth and
understanding. The focus of any assessment is therefore designed to reinforce
student learning and to help teachers pinpoint difficulties so that appropriate
action can be taken. Assessment at
Student referrals are necessary when the classroom teacher, in consultation with appropriate management staff, identifies a child as needing assessment by a Guidance Officer, Speech Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, School Health Service or Welfare Officer. Parental consent is generally required before a referral can proceed. Following testing the guidance officer's report will be discussed with parents and teachers. A date for interview to discuss options and support programs may be set. A placement panel may be required to discuss and recommend the future goals and placement of the student concerned. Reviews of student progress against goals will be conducted as appropriate.
All students who ride bicycles to and from school are legally required to wear a helmet. Bikes are to be parked in the designated bike area located at the front of the school. Students are encouraged to lock bikes. Bikes must be walked in the school grounds at all times. All students are encouraged to respect other people's property by not interfering with other students' bikes. The bike shed is locked at approximately 8.45 am and opened at 2.50 pm to ensure security of students' bikes. The school accepts no responsibility for the loss or theft of bikes.
A Safe
School Team is formed each year with representatives from all areas of the school.
This team is available to assist with management of student behaviour in the
classroom and in the playground. Safe School Team members are valuable resource
people for classroom and playground management practices. It is the policy of
The school has a 25 seat bus. It is used to transport students to many extra curricula activities including swimming, interschool sport, and general excursions. The costs of running the bus are met through the school fees component of our budget. Students whose school fees are outstanding will be required to pay a $2.00 levy each time they travel on the bus.
At
present the school does not provide canteen services on a regular basis. A
fully equipped facility has operated in the past but currently is only utilized
on special occasions. It is available for class or special groups to use to
raise funds. More information about the canteen, including guidelines for its
use is available from the Office Manager. Emergency lunches for students who
come to school without food are available through the front office.
The School Council is responsible for the school cleaning contract.
The
Northern Territory Curriculum Framework (NTCF) gives teaching staff and schools
the structure for delivering outcomes focused student learning, while at the
same time allowing them to take into account specific local needs and to
promote multiple learning pathways. The curriculum is organised into eight
nationally agreed Learning Areas. These are English, Mathematics, Science, SOCE
(Studies of Society and Environment), Languages, Arts, Health and Physical
Education and Technology and Design.
The school has the services of a Community Based Police Officer. Where appropriate, this officer is able to assist in the management of behaviour at the school. Parents who would like to discuss issues with him are asked to contact the Principal.
Student
dental care is provided at Larapinta through the Community Mobile Dental
Service which visits the school once a term. All students are enrolled in the
Community Dental Program on enrolment.
Your child's safety is of utmost concern to us. It is really important that we be able to contact you in an emergency situation. Please make sure that contact details are kept up to date and notify the front office as soon as possible of changed phone numbers for home or work contact.
The
Principal is responsible for the enrolment of students at
Most schools levy school fees as a way of seeking parental support on an equitable basis in addition to other kinds of fund raising. Larapinta has a fee scale as follows 1st child - $70 per year, 2nd child - $65 per year 3 + children - $60 per year. Fees cover extra resources including stationery and books, travel on the school bus, art council performances and other extra curricula activities that occur on a regular basis. If school fees are not paid, parents will need to pay for some extra curricula activities.
All schools are required to have an established procedure for Fire Evacuation. Larapinta has a developed plan for evacuation of staff and students in an emergency.
Teachers
will provide homework to all students from Year 2 – Year 6. At all year
levels, reading is considered an important activity at home. The expectations
of homework in each class will be communicated to parents at the beginning of
the school year. Whilst staff recognizes the benefits
homework can provide and encourage students to take part in homework
activities, we also recognize that some parents have genuine reasons for not
supporting homework. In these cases, there will be no consequences if homework
is not completed.
The staff and students at Larapinta are divided into four houses. Erldunda - BLUE, Andado - RED, Ooraminna - YELLOW, Undoolya - GREEN. New enrolments are assigned to a house as part of the admission procedure.
Larapinta has the services of a Special Education teacher and a Special Education Assistant. These two staff provide a service to students with special needs by assisting classroom teachers to develop or adapt appropriate learning programs to cater for an identified group of children. This may include teaching/supporting students in small groups and/or individually both on a withdrawal from classroom basis, or within the classroom.
The library is open before school (8:15 - 8:30) at lunchtime (12:45 - 1:15) and after school (3:00 - 3:15). Students can borrow at these times as well as during their library class. Parents may visit at any time. We have a small parent library which you are welcome to borrow from. You can help your child to choose a book or explore a CD-Rom. All students are asked to provide a library bag for borrowing to assist in protecting books. These may be cloth or plastic. Putting the child's name on the library bag is helpful. The Teacher Librarian controls funds for the purchase of student and teacher resources as well as administration and operating costs. Staff are invited to submit requests for resources to the teacher librarian.
All belongings of students need to be clearly labelled. If no labels are attached lost articles are placed in the Lost Property Box located in the front office. This is put outside the main student entrance of the administration area. Regular displays of lost property are organized. At the end of each term excess lost property is sent to a charity organization.
LOTE (Languages other than English)
It is
the policy of the NT Government that students become proficient in English and
at least one other language. LOTE in
Music is taught as patrt of the Arts program in each class. Students in Year 5 and 6 may access an instrumental program provided by the NT Music School. The program caters for students who wish to learn to play a musical instrument and perform in a school band.
No medication will be administered to students unless consent from the parent is received prior to medication. Written consent is required for all medication except in the case of emergencies, when parents will be contacted by telephone. If parents request medication to be administered at school the following requirements must be met. The doctor prescribing the medication must be aware that the school will supervise or carry out administration. It is desirable that the doctor provides medical instructions to the administering officer. Parents who wish medication to be administered to their child must give written consent. Medication for administration should be delivered by the parent to the school office. The medication will be stored in a locked cupboard in the sick room. All medication should be contained in properly labelled containers showing the name of the medication, the name of the student and the appropriate dose and frequency of administration. The designated officer records the administration of any medication.
NB NO MEDICATION EITHER PRESCRIBED OR UNPRESCRIBED WILL BE ADMINISTERED WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT.
Due to the fact that Territory Health Services has now declared nit infestation to be a health risk where recurrent or prolonged attacks occur, the principal has the authority to exclude students with infestations from school until such time as appropriate head treatment has been carried out. Students with headlice are sent home and parents requested to treat hair before the child is readmitted to school. In cases where nits are noticed a form letter will be sent to each family in the class advising that treatment may be necessary.
The school newsletter is issued weekly on Wednesdays and is sent home with the eldest child in each family, including preschool. The newsletter is compiled by the secretary and contains information and news important to the operations of the school, together with celebrations of our successes and community news which may be of value and interest to parents.
PARENT PARTICIPATION / INVOLVEMENT
NT
DEET has a commitment to the involvement and participation of parents and the
community in school management and the education process.
Larapinta
Preschool is an integral part of
Tuesday
to Thursday 8.15 AM – 11.00AM
Friday
8.15 AM – 12.00 AM
Afternoon Group
Monday
to Thursday 12 midday – 3PM
PSPI (
The
Parent School Partnerships Initiative is part of the Australian
Government’s Whole of School
Intervention Strategy which encourages schools and local Indigenous
Communities to work in partnership to develop and deliver projects to improve
educational outcomes for Indigenous school students.
Larapinta
Primary has a very active and effective PSPI Parents Group. Various initiatives
are proposed by the parent group each year and funding applied for through
Federal Grants. The PSPI Parent Group and the programs are overseen by the
AIEW.
Parents are reminded that it is very important for students to be on time for classes. The early morning is the time for setting up routines for the day and attending to all administration matters. Late students are noted on the roll book and recorded on their Student record Files. Consistent lateness will be followed up by the Principal.
In accordance with Section 73 of the Education Act the Secretary may make regular provision for religious instruction under such conditions and at such time during which the school is open. Under Section 23 of the Education Act a parent may withdraw a child from religious instruction by notifying the Principal that they wish to do so. At Larapinta Religious Instruction is held in Second Semester. Students attend RI lessons with appropriate personnel nominated by The Alice Springs Ministers Fraternal.
Reporting
to parents about student progress is an essential component of a teacher's
professional responsibility. The following is an outline for reporting student
progress to parents/guardians of
Term 1 - Informal meet the teacher night, portfolios sent home for parent comment
Term 2 - Three way conferences (Parent, Teacher, Student), proforma of conferences sent home, portfolios sent home for parent comment. A – E report covering English and Maths Learning areas.
Term 3 - Interviews on request, portfolios sent home for parent comment
Term 4 - Formal summative report, portfolios sent home
Each
teacher will maintain ongoing folios of student work throughout the year. These
folios will be sent home with the students once per term.
The
Northern Territory Department of Education has a commitment to the involvement
and participation of parents and the community in school management and the
education process. Within this policy individual school communities, through
school councils, are able to identify local education priorities, plan the
development of education services and carry out a range of advisory and
administrative functions for the benefit of their schools.
Larapinta
Primary School Council is incorporated under the Education Act and has a
constitution that requires the approval of the Minister of Education. The
constitution sets out the membership structure of the council and the terms of
office of its members.
The
Larapinta Primary School Council is elected at the AGM in March each year and
meets twice per term at the school. Meetings are open to all parents. The
council also operates four sub committees; Finance, Education Policies and
Procedures, Grounds and Maintenance and Fundraising. If you are interested in
joining one of these committees please contact the Principal, the School
Council Chairperson or talk to one of the ladies in the front office.
Lessons commence 8:30am
Recess 10:30 - 10:50 am
Lunch supervision 12:30 - 12:40pm
Lunch Play 12:40 - 1:20pm
Classes dismissed 3:00pm
Children who are unwell should not attend school. The Northern Territory Department of Education in consultation with Territory Health Services has developed guidelines on recommended minimum periods of exclusion from school or preschool for infectious diseases cases and contacts. This information is available through the front office. In cases where students are sick at school parents/guardians will be notified and expected to collect students.
In April 1989, all departmental vehicles and premises were declared non-smoking areas. In line with this policy teachers, parents and visitors should not smoke in the school or in front of students.
Larapinta staff attend two programmed staff meetings each week. Each Tuesday they meet from 3.15pm and each Wednesday morning from 8.00 – 8.30am. On Wednesday mornings, classes start at 8.40am. Parents are asked to be sensitive to this arrangement when requesting meetings on a formal or informal basis with staff.
SRC ( STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL)
Each
year a Student Representative Council is elected from students at
The Northern Territory Government provides funding for essential supplies to students. Each student is given a basic supply of essential components. If additional supplies are needed through loss, students are asked to replace those items.
Semester 1
Term 1 - Thursday 31st January – Friday 4th April
Term 2 – Monday 14th April – Friday 20th June
Semester 2
Term 3 – Tuesday 22nd July – Friday 26th September
Term 4 – Monday 6th October – Friday 12th December
Any
child (including those from Preschool) is eligible to enrol in Transition at
the beginning of the year as long as they have turned five years of age before
the 30th June. The enrolment process for transition students is the
same for all other students. (See ‘Enrolments’)
In line with Government Policy, all students at
School uniform is as follows
GIRLS - School T-shirt with logo $25.00
Ink shorts with LPS
print $25.00
Skort
with LPS print (with pocket) $25.00
BOYS - School T-shirt with logo $25.00
Ink shorts with LPS
print $25.00
Jumpers $25.00
Jackets $50.00
Bucket
Hat $
15.00
Baseball
Hat $
10.00
Hats
are compulsory and must be worn for all outdoor activities.
All
items of school uniform (excluding footwear) are available for purchase at the
school.
Sandals
and shoes are regarded as the minimal standard of acceptable footwear. In the
interest of safety thongs and surf sandals are not considered to be appropriate
footwear.
The school colours are teal
and ink (dark navy).