General Information - An A - Z Index
The General Information has been organised alphabetically. If you require further information about any of the topics contained below, or the information you require is not listed, please do not hesitate to contact the school on (02) 6205 7722.
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Absences - School Safety Program
Evacuation
Hats (Sun-Smart Policy) Hiring Of School Facilities
Immunisation
Lost Property
Market Day Medical Information Card Moneys and Valuables at School
Newsletter
Parent Information Sessions / Coffee Mornings Playground Supervision Pre-School Liaison
Religious Education
School Bands School Counsellor School Discos Security Sickness and Accidents Sports Houses Student Management Student Representative Council (SCR)
Uniforms
Volunteers
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ABSENCES - SCHOOL SAFETY PROGRAM
Parents will be contacted as soon as possible in the morning when unexplained absences occur. As part of our student safety program a staff member will phone home to confirm the whereabouts of a child if we have not received a notification about an absence. It would be of great assistance to this program if parents contacted the school if they know their child will be absent.
No child is permitted to leave the classroom or playground during school or break time without a note from a parent/carer and/or being signed out at the front office. Parents who need to collect children from class before 3.00 pm, or from the playground during playing time, are requested to report to the front office to sign out their child and then report to the class teacher or duty teacher.
Whole-school assemblies are held on alternate Fridays at 12:15 am as advertised in the Holt ‘Connection’. Parents and family members are invited and encouraged to attend. Classes host assemblies in turn.
BANKING
School banking day is Wednesday morning. Children place their bankbooks into the grey bank bags located in each classroom. The service is managed by parent volunteers. If you are available to spare some time to volunteer please contact the school via the front office.
BIKE SHED
Children who ride bikes to school should walk their bikes through the school grounds and put their bikes in the bike storage area immediately on arrival at school. This area is locked at 9.05 am and re-opened again at 2.55 pm. Although the bike shed is kept locked for the school day, we strongly recommend that you use a bike lock. Also, please remember that it is a legal requirement that cyclists wear an approved bike helmet when riding to and from school.
Because of storage difficulties we ask that skateboards NOT be brought to school.
Students in Years 3 - 6 have the opportunity to participate in a Camp. During these camps, students participate in a variety of outdoor education and social experiences.
Parents are informed of camp venues, dates and costs as early as possible so that, if desired, part-payments can be made throughout the year. We encourage all students to attend these wonderful unforgettable learning experiences.
CANTEEN
The school canteen is run on a non-profit basis to keep prices as low as possible. A paid Manager is employed and is assisted by parents or community members on a voluntary basis.
Canteen price lists are circulated to parents regularly. If you are available to help with the roster, please contact the Canteen between 10 am and 1 pm, or call the front office. Your help will be greatly appreciated.
CLASS MEETINGS
Classroom teachers organise a Class Meeting at least once a week. These meetings give students the opportunity to raise issues of concern. Many of the items discussed at Class Meetings are referred to either the Student Representative Council or to staff meetings for further discussion.
COMPUTER LAB
The school has a networked computer lab with access to the internet. All students visit the school’s computer lab for lessons with their class teachers. Each classroom also has its own computer bank. All students (parents for K—6 children) will need to have an ‘Acceptable Use Policy Form’ form signed before they are able to use these facilities.
CONCERT
A whole school concert is held each year. This occurs during Term 4 and we encourage all family and friends to attend.
CONTRIBUTIONS
For some educational activities, such as excursions, the school may ask for a financial contribution. Please note that The Education Act 2004 states that your child will not be refused benefits or services if you do not choose to contribute. Individual records of contributions are confidential.
CUSTODY AND ACCESS
The school should be notified of any custodial and access orders which may affect your child. A copy of any current orders should be given to the school. Without such an order, the school will not be able to prevent non-custodial parents from having access to their children at school. It is also important that the school has up to date telephone contact numbers.
EVACUATION
Whole-school evacuation procedures are practised throughout the year. During an evacuation everyone assembles on the oval beyond the eastern goal posts. The students meet in class groups and staff check attendance against class rolls. This is one reason why students need to be signed out at the front office if they need to leave school during the day.
HATS (Sun-Smart Policy)
Holt Primary School is a 'Sun-Smart' school. All students are expected to wear sun-smart hats when they are outside in the sun. A sun-smart hat is a broad rimmed hat or a legionnaire's cap, which is a cap with a flap at the back to protect the neck. If you would like more information, the school has a sun-smart policy which may be obtained from the front office or it can be downloaded from the 'Curriculum and Policies' section of this website.
HIRING OF SCHOOL FACILITIES
Community groups are able to hire school facilities, such as the Assembly Hall, for use outside of school hours. Please contact the school for hire rates and available times (02) 6205 7722.
IMMUNISATION
Parents are required to produce evidence of their child’s immunisation prior to enrolment at Holt Primary School.
Full immunisation prior to primary school involves:
Three Triple Antigen (usually given at 2, 4, 6 months) and Boosters (either given at 18 months or 4 years) or three CDT (usually given 2, 4, 18 months or 4 years)
Four Sabin (usually given at 2, 4, 6 months and 4 years)
One Measles or one Measles/mumps (12 months and 5 years)
One Meningoccocal at 12 months
Hepatitis B injections are provided for Year 6 students at school by the Government.
LOST PROPERTY
Please ensure that your child’s clothing and possessions (lunch boxes, drink bottles, stationery etc.) are labelled clearly so we can reduce the amount of lost property that occurs each term.
Lost property is centrally located in the corridor near the main entrance. Parents may drop in and check for lost property during school hours.
At the end of each term, unnamed lost property is donated to charity. Due notice of this collection is given in the weekly newsletter so that parents and children are reminded about coming to search for lost items.
MARKET DAY
As part of the school's Enterprise Education program, senior students organise, set up and run their own stalls on 'Market Day' and choose items on which to spend the money raised. Please keep an eye out for donation requests prior to Market Day.
MEDICATION
Any medication required by children during the school day MUST be given to the school’s front office . A form authorising the office staff to administer the medication needs to be completed before any medication can be given. Medication will not be given without prior written approval from a parent/caregiver. Parents are also requested to advise the school if their children have any medications such as Ventolin for self-administration. The school does not carry paracetamol for student use.
MEDICAL INFORMATION CARD
Parents are asked to complete the yellow Medical Information card each year. This card is used to contact parents / carers in cases of need. Alternative contact names and details should also be recorded in the event that parents/carers cannot be contacted. We also request that you keep the school updated with any changes to contact details.
MONEYS AND VALUABLES AT SCHOOL
Children should not bring large amounts of money to school unless for requested purposes, such as excursions or camp. While teachers may take care of money for children, they cannot in any way be held responsible for it. It is recommended that children do not wear jewellery or bring any other valuable items (such as expensive toys) to school. These articles can be easily misplaced or accidentally damaged, causing much distress.
NEWSLETTER
The school’s weekly newsletter, the 'Holt Connection’, containing information for parents, goes home with the youngest child in the family on Mondays.
PARENT INFORMATION SESSIONS / COFFEE MORNINGS
From time to time, parents are invited to attend information sessions. These sessions provide an opportunity for parents to find out about school programs, policies and procedures. They are advertised in the 'Holt Connection’.
PLAYGROUND SUPERVISION
Teachers provide direct supervision in the playground during recess and at lunchtime in clearly defined areas. Children requiring assistance or first aid should report to the teacher on duty.
There is no direct supervision of children in the school playground either before or after school. The emergency staff contacts during these periods are advertised clearly throughout the year in the newsletter and at school assemblies.
Parents are reminded that children should arrive at school no earlier than 10-15 minutes before 9.00 a.m. when lessons commence.
Children are expected to go straight home from school in the afternoons and not play in the playground. The playground equipment is OUT OF BOUNDS both before and after school.
PRE-SCHOOL LIAISON
Close liaison has been established with Holt Pre-School to facilitate the smooth transition of children from pre-school to primary school. Teachers and children exchange visits. School visits and discussions are provided for parents to acquaint them with the philosophy and organisation of Holt Primary School. These visits are advertised in the 'Holt Connection'.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Religious Education has been offered in the past by Combined Christian Churches. The education consist of 4 X 30minute lessons twice a year, once just before the Easter break and the other towards the end of the year before the Xmas break. Parents who would prefer that their child not be part of this program are asked to advise the school in writing. The school provides notice of these classes well before they are held.
SCHOOL BANDS
The school currently has a combined Year 5/6 band. The band occasionly plays at the assembly and in the past the school band has played at a variety of other venues including Wee Jasper (NSW), St James Church fete, Ginninderra Village Nursing Home, The ACT Bands Festival and the Canberra Stadium. The band is taught by an external teacher through IMPACT (Instrumental music Program ACT) which is an ACT Department of Education and Training program. The school contact person is Damon Patterson.
SCHOOL COUNSELLOR
The school Counsellor, who is a qualified educational psychologist with a background in classroom teaching, is available for consultation with parents, teachers and children on any matter affecting a child’s school progress or social adjustment. The counsellor investigates the individual needs of children and assists teachers to meet these needs both by means of classroom activities and by support services available outside the school when appropriate. Parents can arrange a consultation with the school counsellor by ringing the school for an appointment. The counsellor is at the school for one day per week. As this day can change from year to year, it is best to ring the front office for more information about this service.
SCHOOL DISCOS
The Parents and Citizens Association arranges a school disco once per term for all grades. Separate discos are held (on the same night) for Junior (K-3) and Senior (4-6). Parental assistance at these discos is much appreciated. Without parental assistance events such as these could not occur.
SECURITY
For security reasons, the two side doors at the front of the school remain locked between 9.15 am and 2.45 pm. Visitors who need to enter the school during these periods are asked to enter via the main entrance, report to the front office and sign the visitors book.
SICKNESS AND ACCIDENTS
If your child becomes sick during the school day, our First Aid qualified office staff attends to them and parents are informed where necessary.
Children who are unwell in the morning should remain at home, as it is often difficult to contact parents should a child’s condition worsen during the day. There is also the possibility of other children or staff being affected by the illness.
Every reasonable effort is made to contact a parent immediately if a child is injured at school. Where necessary, or if there is any doubt about a student’s health, the ACT ambulance service will be contacted. This service is provided free of charge.
It is essential that parents inform the school of an up-to-date contact number for themselves or, for emergencies, somebody other than themselves so that appropriate action can be taken where necessary.
When collecting a child who is ill from the sick bay, parents are requested to report to the front office.
SPORTS HOUSES
On enrolment children are allocated to a Sporting House. The three Sporting Houses are named after sports men and women. House Captains and Vice Captains are elected in early February each year by the student body.
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House |
Colour |
Sporting Personality |
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Brock |
Red |
Named after Peter Brock - Motor Racing Champion |
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Freeman |
Green |
Named after Cathy Freeman - Champion 400M Runner |
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O'Neill |
Blue |
Named after Suzie O'Neill - Champion Swimmer
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STUDENT MANAGEMENT
The school has a comprehensive student management policy which is available at the front office counter on request. It is important that parents are aware of the details of this policy.
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL (SRC)
Two students from each class are elected to represent the class on the SRC for a semester. These children meet weekly with the SRC Co-ordinator. Children raise and discuss matters of interest and concern as reported from their respective classroom meetings, and are involved in school-wide decision making.
The SRC has conducted and initiated many school wide activities including Mufti Day, Jeans for Genes Day, Red Nose Day, as well as many other fund-raising activities for local charities.
UNIFORMS
The wearing of school uniform is strongly encouraged. The uniform assists teachers on playground duty and on excursions in making our students readily identifiable. The uniform offers excellent value for money and it eliminates competitive dressing.
The school colours are blue and yellow. Generally students wear gold tops (t-shirt, shirt, skivvy, polo shirt) and blue pants (shorts, culottes, trousers, cords, tracksuit). A blue or yellow sweater, sweatshirt, cardigan, tracksuit or sloppy joe may be worn on cooler days. An A-line uniform dress in blue/gold check is available. However, for daily physical education/fitness activities, pants as described above are usually more appropriate.
Shoes should be sensible and allow the student to take part in physical activity. Sandals may be worn in warmer weather. Thongs are not permitted as footwear at school.
In keeping with our Sun Smart policy, all children are required to wear protective hats when they are in the playground. These may be a legionnaire’s cap or wide-brimmed in style. Children without protective hats are required to stay out of the sun, under the designated shade tree for recess and lunch times.
Early in the year, senior students are given the opportunity to purchase a Year 6 T-shirt or sweatshirt which feature the names of all Year 6 students on the back.
VOLUNTEERS
We welcome parents to volunteer to help in classrooms, the canteen and at school activities, such as sports carnivals, discos and excursions. If you are able to help, please contact your child’s teacher, the front office or the contact person for the event.
It is a legal requirement that all volunteers sign on and wear a volunteer’s badge when working in the school.
