Palmerston Out of School Hours Care
The Palmerston Out Of School Hours Care (OSHC) program caters for students who require before and after school supervision, outside of school hours. The team of educators and carers are passionate and empathetic. They take great care and consideration in providing a safe and positive environment for students. The OSHC Program Coordinator is an effective communicator who works closely with the school to ensure that consistent strategies are utilised for students with challenging needs. The OSCH team embraced the PBL framework and have worked hard over the past year to create a positive and safe space for Palmerston District Primary School students. They have consulted with the Deputy Principal regarding issues including attendance and student wellbeing concerns to ensure the social and emotional needs are met.
The OSCH team subscribes to the PDPS Facebook page, uses emails, and has conversations with staff members as a way of retrieving information regarding special event days. Activities and programs the OSCH have delivered include:
- Pyjama day - to coincide with a fundraising event during school hours the OSCH continued their connections with the school dressing in pyjamas.
- Book week - Palmerston OSHC educators participated in Book Week on the day of our whole school parade. All educators were dressed in costumes of their favourite book characters.
- Clean Up Australia Day - The children explained the importance of maintaining the schools' grounds in line with PBL expectations of being safe, respectful learners.
- As a part of community engagement, and in line with our Cultural Integrity action plans, Palmerston OSHC invited a young indigenous female into the service to speak to the children about her culture. During the visit, Palmerston OSCH children wrote their own Acknowledgment Of Country with Adina.
- The principal was approached by the ACT Education directorate to be the trial school for North Gungahlin. The OSCH program expanded to include preschool students at PDPS. This was driven by weekly planning meetings where our executive staff, teachers OSCH staff created a seamless 7.30-6.00pm program. Students were engaged in targeted activities to support their developmental needs. The trial has been so successful that the program has continued to provide support for preschool students at PDPS.
For more information, please see Communities @ Work website