SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT
School will commence on Monday 23 January, 2023.
CLASS TIMES
Prep - Year 3
School commences: 8.05am
First Break Lunch 10.20 – 10.40am
First Break Play Time 10.40 – 11.05am
Second Break Play Time 12.35 – 12.55pm
Second Break Lunch/PC 12.55- 1.15 pm
School concludes 2.40pm*
*Prep finish at 2.20pm | Yr 1 finish at 2.30pm
Years 4-6
School commences 8.05am
First Break Play Time 10.20 – 10.40am
First Break Lunch 10.40 – 11.05am
Second Break Play Time 12.35 – 12.55pm
Second Break Lunch/PC 12.55 – 1.15 pm
School concludes 2.40pm
PRIOR TO DAY ONE
A letter will be emailed in the week prior to the commencement of the school year to students and parents from their Pastoral Care teacher. This will outline information particular to the year level and routines of the school day.
Chapel
For Upper Primary (8.05 – 8.25am), and for Lower Primary (9.55-10.20am). Chapel will take place on Fridays each week.
Assemblies
Assemblies will take place on Wednesdays at the following times/weeks:
Lower Primary (P-3) meet in ‘even’ weeks (e.g. 2,4,6,8), and Upper Primary (4-6) meet in odd weeks (e.g. 3,5,7,9).
COMMUNICATION
Parent involvement in the Primary Years activities is most welcome and information about these opportunities will be detailed by class teachers as discussed at Year Level Information sessions. Parent/Teacher interviews are held at the end of Term 1 from Prep to Year 6 as well and in Term 3. Written reports on students’ academic progress are available at the end of each semester (June/December).
All members of staff have email and parents are welcome to use this to organize parent-teacher meetings as well as share relevant information to support their child’s success at school, however, please bear in mind that our teachers’ priority is actively teaching children so emails may not be checked within a school day. Urgent messages should be relayed to classrooms by calling Student Services – (07) 3470 3888.
Weekly news is incorporated into the College newsletter, Cornerstone. Other news will regularly be updated on the College’s Learning Management System, Firefly. Please be sure to check the class/year-level blog of your child. Important, relevant information is written here.
Supplementary information will be sent home at other times throughout the year via letter or email. Individual year levels often prepare their own notices to parents pertinent to upcoming events to that year level and some classes may have a weekly BLOG.
UNIFORM
Your child’s Pastoral Care teacher will share information about the days of Formal and Sports uniforms in their welcome letter.
Students must be neatly dressed each day in clean, well-fitting uniforms that meet College guidelines. Black leather lace-up shoes are required for the formal uniform while sports shoes are the prescribed footwear for all other times. Please name all items of clothing.
St Peters is an official SunSmart school and a regulation is that the appropriate hat is always worn outdoors. Rash shirts must be worn during swimming lessons. Sunscreen is also a requirement when going outdoors and is available in every classroom. We request that sunscreen is applied at home before the student comes to school each day.
Students who suffer with allergies should bring their own personal supply of sunscreen to school. A roll-on stick clearly marked with the child’s name is preferable.
Other Expectations
Fingernails
Nail polish should not be worn at school.
Hair
Students are to keep their hair neat, clean and tidy.
Extreme haircuts and hairstyles are not allowed. Hair is to be a singular, natural colour. Hair should be brushed or combed to maintain a neat appearance. Gel should not be used for hair sculpting.
The Head of Primary Years is the final arbiter on what constitutes an extreme hair style or hair attracting undue attention.
Should a student wish to have a hair style significantly different to the natural shape or lay of their hair, permission must be gained from the Head of Primary Years before the style is adopted.
Boys
Crew cuts must be no shorter than a No 2 blade.
Hair is to be out of the eyes, not below the bottom of the collar and not below the bottom of, or covering, the ear.
Girls
Shoulder length hair or hair touching collar must be tied back and kept out of the eyes.
Plain maroon or plain white ribbons/head bands/bows are to be used or plain combs that are maroon, white, clear or match the student’s hair colour.
Scarves, beads or other forms of head dress are not to be worn.
Note: The Head of College may vary these rules in the interest of a student’s well-being or because of other unusual circumstances a different agreement concerning hair is required.
Jewellery
Only the following items will be allowed:
- a watch;
- a gold or silver chain holding a cross which cannot be seen; and
- girls only may wear a pair of small plain gold or silver matching studs/sleepers; only one per ear and in the lower part of the lobe.
- Jewellery should create no safety concern.
Makeup
Students are not to wear any makeup unless approval via relevant documentation from a medical practitioner has been granted and this has been discussed with the Head of Primary Years.
Piercings
Students are not to have any body piercing or tattooing that is visible and draws attention. Nose piercing, multiple ear piercing and any other facial piercing are not acceptable under any circumstances at St Peters. Clear studs are not to be worn.
If a student or family wishes to discuss this requirement for cultural reasons they may do so through the relevant channels although it is very unlikely that the College will deviate from this code.
Tattoos
In general, tattoos are not acceptable for St Peters students. Exceptions may be made when the tattoo has a genuine cultural significance to the student. In this case, students must ensure the tattoo is appropriately covered during school hours, whilst in school uniform and during any school-related activity.
Consequences of failure to meet uniform requirements
Infringements are managed by the classroom teacher. The Primary Years has a “no hat, no play” policy where children without hats will be allowed to play in shaded areas only.
SWIMMING
Swimming lessons (with a focus on stroke perfection and proficiency) are held throughout the year, and the College has partnered with WaterWorx and the Orion Swim Factory for these lessons to occur. Years 4 – 6 have weekly swimming lessons during Term 1 (beginning in Week 3) at WaterWorx, and Years 1 – 3 have swimming lessons at the Swim Factory in Term 4. These classes are conducted in a 25m pool. Students are required to bring their swimwear, towel, sunscreen, goggles and compulsory swim caps for each lesson. Pastoral Care teachers will notify the parents of the swimming program,
LUNCHES
Children are expected to bring healthy lunches from home to fit in with the health education program. Sweets, chocolates and other high fat / sugar foods are strongly discouraged. Children are not permitted to share lunches to reduce the risk of allergic reactions and meeting of dietary requirements. We are an allergy-aware school with procedures put into place to ensure the safety of all students.
Your child’s PC teacher will advise if there are severe allergies or dietary requirements specific to their class where other items may not be included in lunch boxes. This may change throughout the year.
For families who would like to use the services of our onsite tuckshop, Hearts Café – please refer to their information page which can be found on Page 27 of this guide.
BOOKLISTS
Please refer to the letter sent home about the change in book resource organisation.
BYOT (BRING YOUR OWN TECHNOLOGY)
Please refer to Firefly for information regarding BYOT iPad requirements for Years 4-6.
ATTENDANCE
Term Time Absence
Students enrolled at the College are expected to attend school and participate in a structured education program each day of the school year. On occasion, it may be necessary for your child to be absent from school when they are unwell or have a family emergency, bereavement etc. If the absence is expected to be for more than two days, please contact your child’s Pastoral Care teacher. Parents are asked to not book holidays during the school term as learning happens each and every day. If for some reason students will be away due to a holiday, requests must be sent to our Head of Primary to obtain permission. For absences more than 2 days or less than 5 days, please contact the Head of Primary Years, Prueann Browning. For absences over 5 days, please contact the Principal, Natalie Houston.
Before school - Lower Primary (Prep - Year 3)
Children should arrive no earlier than 7.45am and should depart immediately after school finishes, unless attending Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) or a supervised after-school activity. Although supervision is provided for a short period before and after school, to ensure the safety of children arriving and departing, it is not intended that this should be an extended play time. Please note that, for safety reasons, children should not be at school unaccompanied by an adult before 7.45am, as this is when staff supervision begins.
Parents will be contacted if students are dropped off early or picked up late.
Before School - Upper Primary (Years 4 - 6)
Duty commences from 7.45am. Students arriving prior to this should also be in a pre-arranged before school activity or Outside School Hours Care. Students may only access the oval and concourse area from 7.45 am once the teacher is on duty.
During school
Parents of students from Prep – Year 3 are required to accompany their child with their ID card to Student Services if arriving late or departing early. Students in Years 1-6 will receive an ID card early in the school year. Students in Years 4- 6 are required to sign in and out with this card at Student Services. This is a mandatory procedure as it serves as a record of attendance for students throughout the College.
After School
Students should make their way promptly to the designated pick up areas as soon as school has finished unless attending supervised after-school activities. They may not play on College grounds after school. To prevent any misunderstandings or concern for your child’s safety, please ensure that the school is advised of any changes in travelling arrangements.
PRIMARY YEARS - PARENT IN COMMUNITY
The College seeks volunteers each year to act in a voluntary role as Parent in Community (PIC). The PIC is charged with acting as a point of contact for families who may have questions about the daily operation of the school, and to coordinate class/year level specific social events e.g. Mum’s/Dad’s Coffee mornings, weekend or afternoon play dates at the park. Any parent interested in volunteering for this role for their child’s class is encouraged to contact their Pastoral Care teacher.
A warm welcome is extended to you all for your journey in Primary Years in 2023.
