Information for Parents/Carers

A child is enrolled in Linuwel School on the understanding that the child’s class teacher and parents/carers will work together for the balanced development of the child, and that the parents/carers will support these requirements and the ethos of the school. In all dealings with members of the school community parents/carers are expected to treat others with politeness and respect. When you are attending School activities please remember your purpose is to support the children. It is a time to put your personal and business activities aside and to be fully present for the children.

Punctuality and Attendance

Students are to arrive at School no earlier than 8:15am unless a prior arrangement has been made, and no later than 8:40am. If your child arrives after 8:45am, please accompany them to the office and sign a late slip which they will need to take with them to their classroom. Office staff will accompany young children to their class.

An important aspect of Steiner education is the continuity of lesson content and social interaction from one day to the next. A low rate of absenteeism is vital to your child’s progress and to the class. Students are expected to attend to the last day of each School term, and to participate in class performances and other activities which may take place in the evening or on weekends.

Please Note: Class camps are an integral and compulsory part of the School’s programme, and non-attendance must be supported by a doctor’s certificate.

If your child will be absent please contact the office via email or phone before 8.40am to alleviate concerns regarding your child’s whereabouts. It is a legal requirement that the School is notified of the reason for absence verbally or in writing. You must contact the School each day of absence until you can advise the date when the child will be returning to School.

Leave

It is important for each child, and the continuity within the class, that holidays are not taken during term time. There are 2-3 weeks of scheduled holidays in addition to state school holidays each year.

If travel during school term is necessary, the parents/carers are legally required to apply for extended leave by completing an Application for Extended Leave form (available from the class teacher) seven (7) days prior to travel. There is no power to grant approval retrospectively. In order to grant a Certificate of Extended Leave, the Principal must follow the Department of Education guidelines. For other leave, apart from sick leave or family emergencies, parents/carers are required to complete an Application for Exemption from Attendance at School (available from the class teacher) in advance.

Food

Diet has an important effect on a child’s well-being through the day, especially the effects of sugar and food additives. Apart from occasional class fund-raising activities there is no School canteen, and parents/carers are asked to provide a nutritious morning tea and lunch for their child. Sweets, soft drinks, crisps and other packaged treats and snacks are not permitted.

Linuwel School Dress Code

Whilst there is no school uniform, Linuwel School has a school dress code that has a focus on self-care, awareness and care of others and what the School deems as appropriate, safe and practical attire. Primary school refers to Classes 1-6, high school refers to classes 7-12. A dress code for the Kindergarten will be provided by the teachers on enrolment.

Cooperation and compliance with the dress code is expected, and any breaches of the code will be addressed by staff.

The School reserves the right to determine whether a student’s clothing is acceptable at school/school activities. This should never be confused with it being about personal judgements or preferences.

It is the responsibility of all parents to ensure that their child adheres to the dress standards.

Clothing

We ask that children and young people come to school in clothing that supports our aim to provide an environment that is simple, beautiful, and free from the influence of marketing and media. A visually restful environment allows students to focus on their learning. Please support your child/ young person to dress appropriately for school.

Sun safe and appropriate for the season. Shoulders, midriffs, sides and upper thighs will always be covered.

Clean, neat and tidy, and incorporating colour. ‘Designer’ rips in clothing are not acceptable.

Students are encouraged to wear colour, as colour is enlivening. Students from Class 5 up may wear a black T-shirt/ top. A colourful design on a black background would be acceptable. In High School students may choose between a black top or black ‘bottoms’.

School is a workplace therefore clothing must be sturdy and practical to allow students to be physically active and to move freely. It needs to be unrestrictive, not too tight, too loose, too short, too long or too revealing.

All clothing, including hats, must be free from images and words that promote brands or media, are irreverent, frightening, negative, offensive or grotesque in any way. This includes images that promote illegal activity such as drug taking or gang activity. Fluorescent colours should also be avoided. Camouflage / armed services style clothing have a variety of connotations none of which belong at our school.

We don’t want children to be walking advertisements, or to distract each other from learning.

Hats and Shoes

Primary students must have a wide brimmed hat (minimum 6cm brim) for all outdoor activities.

High school students need a wide-brimmed hat for camps and outdoor day trips. During days at school high school students may wear a plain cap worn with the brim facing forwards.

Hats and head coverings are not to be worn in classrooms, unless for religious reasons.

Shoes must be suitable for impromptu walks, sports and practical activities.

All shoes for school (if they are not fully enclosed) must have a heel strap, and tread on the sole. Ugg Boots, slides, thongs, and smooth-soled sandals are not appropriate footwear for school.  Pull on boots, sturdy sports shoes, walking/ sports sandals are all ideal.

Jewellery and personal grooming

Primary school

In primary school the only acceptable jewellery is a pair of stud earrings or small sleepers.

If children wear a necklace for religious reasons this must be underneath their clothing.

In primary school dyed hair is not acceptable.

Hair styles must not be exaggerated or draw attention to the individual. Examples include a number 1 shave, patterns etched into shaved hair, coloured or beaded hair extensions. For individual children culturally appropriate hair styles are acceptable.

High School

Subtle makeup and clear nail varnish are acceptable in the high school only; exaggerated synthetic nails will not be worn.

Subtle, natural hair colours or highlights are acceptable in the high school only; hair styles must not be exaggerated or draw attention to the individual. Examples include a number 1 shave, patterns etched into shaved hair, coloured or beaded hair extensions. For individual children culturally appropriate hair styles are acceptable.

Nose studs and nose rings are acceptable in the high school only. Jewellery (other than ear studs and sleepers) will be worn in the high school only and needs to be kept to a minimum for safety reasons. Rings are not permitted for safety reasons

Perfume and deodorant

Aerosol deodorant is not permitted at school, including on camps, day trips and sports activities. Perfume is not appropriate, however essential oils may be used.

Students wearing inappropriate or unsafe clothing may be required to change or may be withdrawn from classes or activities for the day.

Medical Conditions and Treatments

To ensure the health and safety of students at all times and to ensure that staff have necessary medical information, parents/carers – in relation to their children and/or charges – are responsible for:

• • keeping the School informed of any medical conditions, treatments and medical contact details;
  • providing staff with appropriate information and training/instruction where medical conditions require specialised treatment.
  • updating the School on any changes in medical conditions and/or required treatments.
  • obtaining the relevant blank medication forms from the School and arranging for their completion and return.
  • providing the medication in the original labelled container to the class teacher.
  • ensuring the medication is not out of date and has an original pharmacy label with the student’s name, dosage and time to be taken.
  • providing a written request by parents/carers and/or a medical practitioner for medication that is not obtained on prescription, indicating: Name of student, condition for which the medication is required, and guidelines for administration.

Daily Transport & Supervision Outside School Operating Hours

Pre-school and kindergarten children are to be brought to school and collected from school by a parent or adult known to the child, as train and bus travel are generally unsuitable for this age.

Either car park may be used for set-down in the morning. For pick up in the afternoon please use the car park near the soccer field to keep the bus turning/waiting area clear. Buses are available to most regions and a bus connects to the East Maitland railway station. Note that there is no supervision of students travelling on buses and trains. Pre-school finishes at 2:15pm, kindergarten at 2:30pm and the other classes at 2:45pm.

Prior to 8:15am and after 3pm the School does not provide supervision to students. If students are arriving early or remaining in the afternoons is it the responsibility of the parents/carers to arrange supervision for their child. If you are unexpectedly late for pick-up in the afternoon, please call the office on 4933 3095. Children who haven’t been collected by 3pm will wait in the office.

If arrangements other than normal have been made for student pick-up, or there is anything else which will impact upon transport home on the day in question, please inform the office.

Once students have left the school premises no duty of care exists on the part of the School and parents/carers must use their own discretion to determine the appropriateness or otherwise of available travel options for their child.

School Outings

School outings which extend beyond normal school hours will be notified beforehand, however impromptu class outings for sporting, recreational or cultural purposes (without prior notification) are a normal occurrence. This may involve use of the School’s buses, private cars or public transport.

Access to electronic games and media

Especially in the primary years, many behavioural, social and learning difficulties can be contributed to or exacerbated by exposure to electronic games and media. This is counter- productive to the children’s education and well-being, and parents/carers are expected to work with the class teacher in monitoring and restricting this access.

Phones and electronic entertainment devices are prohibited at school and if confiscated will be returned only to the parent.

Parent and students are asked to be mindful of privacy and ethical considerations when using electronic communications and social networking sites. No photos or video clips associated with School activities may be used without the express permission of every person featured in the images/video, and then only for private purposes, unless sanctioned by the School. The use of electronic or social media to transmit material which may denigrate, be offensive or upsetting to another member of the School community is not acceptable. Do not post or share personal information about another student or member of the School community, electronically or otherwise, such as their image, name, birth date, address, telephone number, email address, current location and/or School.

Work Health & Safety

The School has an obligation to provide a safe and healthy environment for staff, students, and other visitors. The School’s WHS Statement (available at the office) provides a framework for meeting this obligation.

All persons at Linuwel, including students, parents/carers, and other visitors, must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and take reasonable care that their conduct does not adversely affect the health and safety of others at the School or School events. They must also comply, so far as they reasonably are able to, with any reasonable instructions given by the School.

All visitors/volunteers to the School must first attend the office where they must sign on/off in the visitor’s register and wear a visitor I.D. tag or be accompanied by a staff member. In the event of an emergency the volunteer must follow the directions of the staff member.

Smoking & Alcohol

Neither smoking nor consumption of alcohol is permitted on School property, in the designated parking areas adjacent to the School or near public entrances to the School.

Separated Parents

The School is aware that some students have parents that are separated or divorced. In these cases, parents should not attempt to involve the School in any parental dispute that may arise. The School is not able to make judgments on the merits of claims made by one parent against another and should not be asked to do so. Nor should it be asked to take any action which is designed to disadvantage one party; the exception being that the School will comply with any subpoena orders made by a Court in relation to a student. It is not the role of schools to enforce family court orders or resolve family law disputes. When necessary, the School will place its obligation to ensure its duty of care towards enrolled students above the needs or wishes of a parent/carer.