Attendance and Absences
School commences at 8.35am for secondary students, and 8.45am for primary students. School finishes at 2.55pm for all students from Pre-primary to Year 10, and at 2.45pm for Kindergarten students. Recess is from 10.25am to 10.45am. Lunch is between 12.35pm and 1.15pm.
Parents are requested to notify the school by phone on 9575 5300 or SMS a message to 0407 082 264 before 8.30 a.m. when their child is absent from school.
If parents are planning a vacation during term time, the school must be notified in advance by email and an “Approved Vacation” status will be entered for each child.
Kindergarten students attend five full days per fortnight – Monday and Thursday, or Tuesday and Friday, and each alternate Wednesdays.
Siren Times
Collecting Your Child or Visiting The School
We welcome parents visiting the school. If you wish to see your child’s teacher, or a member of the school administration, please ring to make an appointment. For the safety and welfare of all students and efficient delivery of goods and services to the school, all visitors must sign in at the reception area of the school using the Passtab App and collecting a visitors sticker.
Parents who need to collect their children before the end of school may do so by using the Passtab App at the front office. The school will not release a student to anyone other than the child’s parent or legal guardian, unless specific arrangements have been made with the school.
Student Health and Welfare
Medical Conditions
The Department of Education promotes student health, manages student health care needs and identifies and minimises health risks, within the context of the schools’ resources and the assistance available from specialist services.
Medical Conditions must be declared on the Enrolment Form. Details must be kept current during the year and reviewed each year. Parents of children with serious or life threatening medical conditions must complete an Individual Emergency Action Plan to cover any contingencies that may occur at school. EpiPens and other forms of medication are stored in the front office for ease of access. Parents are requested to collect their child’s medication during school breaks to ensure that it is stored appropriately, whilst the school is unattended. Please feel free to discuss your child’s needs at any time with either the classroom teacher or a member of the administration team.
Illness or Injury at School
In the event of a child being ill or injured at school, an attempt will be made to contact the parents immediately. It is important that school information relating to contacting parents in an emergency is kept up to date. In the case of a serious injury the student will be taken to the doctor, or in the event of an emergency an Ambulance called, and then the parent will be contacted.
The Department of Education and Training does not have an insurance scheme for accidents. It is recommended that a private scheme be investigated by parents/guardians. Please note that costs for an ambulance if required remain the parents’ responsibility.
Infectious Diseases
The exclusion periods for the most common infectious diseases are as follows:-
Chicken Pox – exclude until sufficiently recovered.
Measles – exclude for at least 7 days. Notify the school.
Mumps – exclude from school. Re-admit on Medical Certificate.
Ringworm – exclude from school. Re-admit on Medical Certificate of recovery or that the child is no longer likely to convey infection.
Rubella (German Measles) – exclude from school. Re-admit on Medical Certificate of recovery or where no medical Certificate is available, re-admit on subsidence of symptoms (sore throat and rash).
Head Lice – Students are not permitted to be at school with live lice. Students may return after treatment. Treat with commercially available treatments.
Medication
The school must be notified if students need to administer prescribed medicine while at school. Significant paperwork must be completed by parents, and often doctors, to enable medication to be administered at school. If children are required to have medication during school hours (including Panadol or paracetamol), please ask at the office for a Medication Permission Form. Primary children are not allowed to have medication in their school bags except for Asthma medications.
Even if your child carries and administers their own Asthma medication you are required to complete a student Health Care Summary (HSC) Form which provides an overview of your child’s health care needs and information for use in a medical emergency.
It is a requirement of the Education Department that all student health records are reviewed and updated annually.
Allergies
Gingin District High School is concerned about the safety and well-being of all our students. Many of you will know someone who is affected by anaphylaxis, a life threatening allergic reaction. Our school does its best to be an “allergy aware” school. Staff have had training in severe allergy management and the school has implemented strategies to help keep students at risk of anaphylaxis as safe as we can. Whilst these children are being taught to care for themselves at an age appropriate level, we ask that you help us educate your child on the importance of not sharing food with others, washing hands after eating and calling out to an adult if they think their friend with allergies is sick. With increased awareness and understanding of anaphylaxis, you will be able to help those around you. We request parents to assist the school in providing a safe environment by carefully considering the contents of your child’s lunch box and avoiding nut products in particular.
Student Excursions and Amenity
Carnivals and Country Week
The school participates in a number of inter-school competitions during the course of the year. Students not participating in these carnivals are still expected to attend school where a modified program will be conducted. If your child is not attending school on any of these days, then their absence should be reported as per the absences information outlined above.
Camps and Excursions
Throughout the year, students may be offered the opportunity to attend several excursions or camps. These are approved through the school Leadership and staff are required to undertake a rigorous risk management analysis for each excursion. Camps and excursions do incur a cost which is advertised to parents in the year prior to the event.
Year 6 Graduation
The end of Primary Graduation is a formal ceremony celebrating students’ achievements in their primary years and forthcoming move into high school. Graduands may present a range of items, a mini-synopsis of themselves and some of their work to parents, relations and guests. They are then presented with a graduation certificate, including group photograph.
Year 10 Farewell
The Year 10 Farewell takes place near the end of Term 4. The function is held in the evening and usually consists of a formal ceremony, usually followed by a less formal entertainment. Attendance at the Year 10 Farewell function is by invitation.
Student Council
The Student Council comprises of elected students from Years 6 to 10 and the elected School Captain and Vice Captain who lead the Council meetings. Students hold their status for one year but may be elected for subsequent years.
The Student Council:
- represents student interests in decisions which affect them;
- provide student input into school activities; and
- fulfils the role of school ambassadors.
Lockers
Lockers are available for rental by secondary students for $30.00 per year. While it is not compulsory, it is recommended that all secondary students hire a locker each year for their own security. While we take every effort to maintain the security of student possessions, the school cannot accept responsibility for items that are stolen from school bags at school.
School Library
Our School library provides a range of resources and services which encourage and support student literacy. Age appropriate books chosen from various award shortlists are available to students and teachers. Every effort is made to cater to the individual interests of students and to support the school’s literacy program.
We are currently upgrading our automation system and researching new technologies. Our subscription to Clickview, provides remote access to staff and students.
Scholastic Book Club is coordinated through the library. This scheme offers a number of potential benefits, e.g. motivation for reading and encouragement of personal libraries. The Book Club is non-profit making, however bonus points are allocated and used to purchase Library resources.
Contributions and Charges
The school makes every endeavour to keep contributions and charges to a minimum and consequently it is important that all contributions are paid promptly. Contributions are used to purchase a wide range of resources for use by all students including reading books, computers, sporting equipment and art and craft materials.
The contributions and charges structure is set at the end of each year by the School Board.
The Secondary Assistance Scheme is available to holders of Pensioner Concession, Health Care & Care Benefits Cards. Forms for Assistance are available from the Office and must be returned by end of term one to receive the benefit.
Parent Communication
School Star App
Gingin District High School encourages all families to register with the School Star App as this will give you access to direct messages from the school and assists the school by ensuring that all parents and staff receive key messages. From Term 4, 2022, this will be the only communication tool that Gingin District High School will be using.
News, events, notices and general messages will now be sent using the School Star app. Only staff, parents and community members can access content in this secure app for iPhone and Android. Please download here: www.mgmw.co/85l1fZP
Seesaw (for Primary School Families)
Seesaw is where your child’s learning lives. It’s where home-school communication lives. All in one place! Let’s get you connected.
Connect (for Secondary School Families)
Connect is an integrated online environment developed for staff, students and parents in public schools. To get connected, see the attached guide.
School Newsletter
The newsletter is emailed home to parents/guardians fortnightly. It is also uploaded to the School’s website. It is an important communication link between the school and the home and includes school and community issues. You are therefore encouraged to read the school newsletter each fortnight. The school accepts paid advertising for the newsletter from local businesses. We also encourage community groups to put in announcements.
Information can also be accessed by following the schools Facebook Page, Gingin DHS.
Parental and Guardian Involvement
Parental involvement at Gingin DHS not only enhances learning programs, but also gives parents the opportunity to be a part of their child’s school-based education. There are a range of areas in which parents can assist – from classroom helper to canteen assistant, as well as more formal roles in representative bodies.
Please visit the Parent and Citizens Association page http://gingin.wa.edu.au/index.php/2016/09/16/parents-and-citizens-association/ or the School Board page http://gingin.wa.edu.au/index.php/2018/05/01/school-council/ for more ways to become involved in the School Community.
Parent/Guardian assistants
Children derive great pleasure and benefit from having parents in the classroom. Parents are able to assist in hearing children read, making charts and other aids, helping children who need practice in a particular area, helping in the classroom and assisting with art/craft work. If you are able to assist in any way, please contact the school, or the teacher of your child.
Note that parents must sign in at the office when they visit the school, even as parent helpers.
Traffic Management Around The School Grounds
Gingin District High School is a Road Aware School. We take every precaution to ensure students are safe during, before and after school. Please be advised that there is to be NO PARKING on Daw Street, due to bus traffic.
Procedures In The Event of A Road Incident
In the event of a road incident the following procedures will be followed:
- Parents will be notified
- Students and families will be offered counselling
- The incident will be documented and protective factors investigated.
Use of Bikes and Other Wheeled Items (e.g. Skate Boards, Scooters etc)
- helmets are to be worn at all times to and from school
- students are expected to know understand and conform to all road rules
- wheeled items must be walked in school grounds
- items to be stored in the designated area
- no responsibility is taken for damage or theft
- helmets may be stored in classrooms
Emergency Procedures
The school has established a number of procedures in the event of emergencies occurring. Evacuation and Lock Down practices will be held at the school regularly so that students and staff are confident if an emergency occurs.
Evacuation Procedure
The signal is a loud ‘whooping’ sound repeated for approximately two minutes.
- All electrical/mechanical equipment turned off.
- Assembly Point – cricket pitch on main oval (unless there is a fire in the brook).
- All teachers/aides not taking classes go directly to the oval.
- Teachers bring their class and attendance roll to the oval.
- Movement is as shown in the map displayed in classrooms.
- Office staff telephone Fire & Rescue / Police / Ambulance.
Lock Down Procedure
A loud ‘beeping’ sound, repeated for one minute indicates a lock down procedure and all students and staff are to remain in their classrooms, ensure all students are present, and lock the door to the classroom and any wet areas in the block. If a student is missing, the front office is contacted. Doors should not be opened until the all clear is given.
NOTE: Students will not be allowed out of the class for any purpose, even if they are concerned about siblings or friends.