A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
The A-Z of Information about Palmerston
Welcome to Palmerston District Primary School. We have provided an A-Z of information to assist in a smooth transition to Palmerston Primary School. If you have any further questions, please call the front office on 02 6142 1440 and they will endeavor to assist you.
Absences from School
It is a legal requirement that class rolls are marked at the beginning of each day. Students who arrive late to school (after 9:15am) must sign in at the Student Services window located at the Front Office. This will be recorded as a partial attendance on the class roll. Under the ACT Education Act 2004, it is the responsibility of parents/carers to report their child’s absences to the school. This may be done by a phone call, email or return text message via our SMS absence system. Students who are absent must bring a note from a parent/guardian explaining the reason. If a child needs to leave the school between 9:00am and 3:00pm parent/carers must sign the student out at the Front Office.
If a student is taking extended leave for more than 25 days, parents/carers will need to complete an extended leave form available at the Front Office.
For further information please refer to the Directorate website to download the Education Act.
Accident/Illness
First Aid Procedures
First Aid is provided throughout the school day. Children are provided with a comfortable place to rest, or to wait to be collected if their injury or illness requires a parent/carer to be called. We need to be able to contact parents/carers quickly in an emergency. Please make sure we have up-to-date contact numbers.
Ambulance Transportation
The school will always call an ambulance if a child’s medical condition requires emergency medical assistance. This is determined by the First Aid officer and the Executive Staff. Parents/carers will be notified that an ambulance has been called. ACT students injured while under supervision at school or in a school-related situation are transported free of charge to the emergency section of the closest ACT hospital.
Casualty Treatment
Under the Medicare arrangements no charges are raised for services provided at the accident and emergency sections of ACT public hospitals.
- If a student is subsequently admitted to hospital after receiving treatment in the accident or emergency section, the student will be automatically classified as a Medicare patient and no charge will be raised.
- If a parent/carer elects to have their child treated by a doctor of their choice, a hospital charge will apply. The doctor may also charge for their services. Parents/carers are advised to have medical insurance if they wish to choose this option.
Management of Medical Conditions/Medication
The school cannot be responsible for the general management of medical conditions.
In special circumstances, First Aid staff may be able to assist with the administration of medication. In these cases, departmental policy requires a comprehensive written authority from the student’s parents and a written statement from the student’s doctor authorising a member of the First Aid staff to administer the prescribed medication. Forms may be collected from the Front Office.
Where a child requires specific first aid treatment (that is, specific instructions provided by the child’s doctor) in addition to standard first aid treatment, a Personalised First Aid Action Plan is to be completed by the child’s doctor and returned to school (For example asthma and allergies).
Student Medical Information and Consent Form
Please complete the medical information and consent form that you will receive at the start of the year/upon enrolment.
Appointments
Communication between school and home is highly valued. The school recommends parents make an appointment through the Front Office for any discussion. In the first instance please contact the child’s teacher. If further assistance is required, please contact Executive teachers. If it is felt that concerns have not been resolved an appointment can be made with the Deputy Principals. An appointment will be arranged at the earliest possible time and attention will be given immediately to urgent issues. Appointments are necessary to ensure that they have time to meet and address concerns fully. For all serious issues such as discussions on court orders or important family concerns please contact the Front Office to organise an appointment with the Principal.
Assembly
Classes are rostered to organise and host assemblies. Special assemblies may be held to commemorate events such as NAIDOC week, Anzac Day, Harmony Day etc.
At school assemblies students sing the Australian National Anthem and complete a ceremonial ‘Acknowledgement of Country’, acknowledging the Ngunnawal People. We sing the school song at the end of each assembly. Preschool students attend various special assemblies (e.g. Book Week) over the year.
K-2 (Jnr) and 3-6 (Snr) assemblies are usually held in weeks 5 and 10. They are hosted by different grades and information about these are shared throughout each term.
Assessment and Reporting
Throughout the year we provide regular formal opportunities for you to learn about your child’s progress. Parents/carers are welcome to make an appointment to discuss their child with the class teacher. At Palmerston we report to the Achievement Standards of the Australian Curriculum.
Beginning of the Year
At the beginning of term one, teachers will invite parents/carers to a ‘get to know you’ interview.
Middle of the Year
A mid-year, written report is sent home at the end of term two. Parents/carers are welcome to follow up the written report with an interview. These interviews involve the parent/carer, teacher and child and focus on a reflection of learning and goal setting.
Learning Journey
During third term parents/carers will be invited to take part in a learning journey with their child. The child will escort their family on a tour of the classroom and demonstrate their learning by explaining various activities, showing pieces of work on wall displays, presenting workbooks or accessing on-line resources, including websites and work samples. Learning journeys are a very special occasion.
End of the Year
An end-of-year written report is sent home at the end of term four.
NAPLAN - Years 3 and 5
In term 2 each year, students in years 3 and 5 take part in the National Assessment Program For Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). Results are sent home later in the year, when they are received by the school.
BASE - Kindergarten
Kindergarten students are assessed at the beginning of term one and again in term four in literacy and numeracy using BASE (Baseline Assessment). This program is conducted in all government primary schools throughout the ACT. The BASE reports are sent home at the end of the year.
Attendance Procedures
Palmerston District Primary School School-Based Attendance Procedures