Official start time is 8.50 am although staff are on duty and you can drop off any time from 8 am.
Morning Meetings are an important part of our school life and ethos wherein many important issues are discussed. We expect all children to attend and, of course, be punctual. Children and staff are called to the morning meeting just before 8.50 am. Parents and visitors are welcome to attend, but please don’t be late.
Lunch and snacks are provided, which includes the occasional hot meal. This sharing of common food is a key feature of this school. It contributes to the development of living skills, connection and to a family atmosphere.
We ask parents to support this practice with their children because of the community spirit it helps create. Please make community spirit the priority and leave food fads at home. Of course, if your child has special dietary requirements, please let us know.
School meals and snacks are shared affairs, and this includes staff, parents and friends. Please feel free to partake of any food on offer.
School adults please tidy up after yourselves when using the kitchen. Adults who informally coach the children in domestic skills are appreciated. We would love it if all parents occasionally helped clean the kitchen, as it sets a good example for the kids.
Classes finish at 3.00 pm at which time the children do a short, 10 to 15 minute clean. If you arrive while this is underway, please check that your child has finished their tasks before taking them home. And if you are not in a rush, feel free to make a small contribution yourself. Please collect the children by 3:25 pm. After school activities generally run until 4.15 pm. When your child has an after-school activity, please be at school five minutes before it ends to pick them up. There is no supervision outside of these times and activities.
We’ve struggled with access to pools for the last couple of years, but our aim is to take the majority of the children swimming most Wednesdays. In first term we generally swim at the Fitzroy Pool, and then for the rest of the year we go to the Collingwood Pool or Brunswick Baths. Our swimming program is greatly assisted by parental help with supervision at the pool, and getting to and from the pool. If you are able to come along, please get in touch.
Our school is a no gadget space. If it has a screen and is interactive it is a gadget. ie mobiles, tablets, smart-watches & fitbits.
Hats and sunscreen are a must. Please make sure sunscreen is applied before school on sunny days. Please send you child to school with a named hat in terms one and four, and no singlet tops.
Wednesday afternoons is lolly time when the children go to the corner shop. We recommend $2.00 for Tinies, Littlies and Juniors, $2.50 for Middlies and $3.00 for Biggies. There are to be no lollies at school at other times. NO chewing gum EVER!
We are an inner urban school, fronting onto a busy street and have many outings. Please ensure your children understand that the road is dangerous and that they are not to cross any street without an adult. Children are not to wait outside (on the street) to be picked up; encourage them to wait in the library (Brunswick Street) or front garden (Normanby Avenue) if you want a quick get-a-way.
We love the Wednesday BBQ tradition, and hope that you can be part of it from time to time. If you'd like to offer your time, please let us know.
Some families routinely engage in a search for clothing at the end of the school day (especially younger ones on hot days). To avoid an annoying end to the school day, we recommend that you encourage your children to put their clothes (and shoes) in their bag. We’d also encourage you not to send them to school in their most expensive or precious outfit. Similarly, precious toys and teddies should stay home.
Most items tend to resurface eventually. Socks do not need to match!
Parents are welcome to visit the school at any time on any day. Parents who are unable to visit regularly are urged to take at least a couple of hours per term to spend time at the school. Our experience is that an occasional short visit tends to allay any concerns.
If teachers have any concerns, they will contact parents. Similarly, parents are encouraged to initiate a chat with teachers or to make an appointment if desired. Our school has been made richer over many years by parent volunteers. So, if you’d like to volunteer please let us know and we’ll see if we can organise a time. Volunteers all need to share their WWCC with the school.
Every Wednesday, there is an adult afternoon tea from 2.45 pm to 4 pm, to which all parents are welcome. We ask that parents assist us in ensuring that this is a child-free space and so remains a time when the adults can have an uninterrupted chat.