The School Council is not a forum for complaints. It is a forum for suggestions which may assist in setting the strategic direction of the school.  The Principal then implements long-term plans and manages the school  with special focus on student learning outcomes.

P&C Meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, commencing at 7.00pm in the staffroom located in the administration building.  During each meeting the Principal and subcommittee members present reports detailing happenings in the school.  All parents and interested community members are welcome to attend.

The School Council will use this document when considering the strategic planning for the school in its Annual Operational Plans and associated budgets each year.

A commitment from each and every member of the school community will be required in order for us to successfully achieve our goals. A spirit of cooperation and unity of purpose will lead to achievement of individual student learning outcomes.

As we move towards achieving our goals we may need to make some adjustments, but the spirit of the agreement will remain.

We have much to learn as we take these first steps towards school based management.  This Partnership Agreement will help us by providing the focus.

Excellence in education for all.

Glenvale State School strives to develop responsible, self disciplined independent, interdependent and thinking students by providing a caring, supportive environment for effective learning and teaching. 

This is achieved by …

 ·  fostering excellence in learning and teaching

·    adopting respected curriculum

·    promoting socially just practices

·    providing productive partnerships

·    implementing responsible school management

·    facilitating responsible and helpful strategic management

Our goal is to provide ...

 ·  quality curriculum programs for all students

·    effective teaching

·    improved learning outcomes for all students

·    a skilled, confident and responsible workforce

·    confidence in public education

·    usage of technology to enhance teaching, learning and management

·    a safe, supportive and productive learning environment

Defence School Transition Aide

We have had the DSTA program at Glenvale State School for several years. The DSTA provides support to children of Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and their families, particularly during their transition into and out of a school posting.

The DSTA enhances the relationship between the school and its Defence Community by providing a link between families and the school.

The DSTA for Glenvale State School is Tania Kruger. Tania can be contacted through the school office.

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 A full copy of the Behaviour Support procedure is available at the office.

The term “support” is used for this schools “Behaviour Management Plan” as these procedures will allow us to support the children and guide them towards being responsible, as well as detailing support for teachers and parents.

It should be clear to all that they must respect the rights of the whole school community and work towards becoming a valued member of that community.  In doing so, they will meet their own needs as well as those of the group.

Children should feel safe at school and know there is support for them to overcome their problems, but ultimately it is the child who must accept ownership and solve problems.

Rules

Some behaviours will not be tolerated in this school and may mean instantaneous progression to Levels 5 and 6. A detention room procedure is also used if considered appropriate.

Level 1

           Gold

Level 2

            Silver

Level 3

            Bronze

            All students enter at this level

Level 4

            At Risk of Losing Bronze

Level 5

    Throwing stones/sticks etc with deliberate intent to cause harm

    Serious kicking/fighting with deliberate intent to cause harm

    Loss of Bronze & Privilege

Level 6

     Severe violence towards other children

     Violence towards staff

Level 7

Suspension

Children entering Year 1 must turn five years of age by the last day of December of the previous year. This will change in 2006 due to new government initiatives.

A medical register is maintained in the school.  Parents who wish the school to administer long-term medication to their children must have instructions written out by a doctor as well as a permission note from the parent/caregiver. All medication is to be held at the office in a medical container.  The medicine container needs to indicate specific times at which medication is to be administered, as well as quantities. It should also be the original container from the pharmacist. 

Staff cannot give non-prescription medication eg. Panadol

 A record of all medicines, doctor/pharmacists instructions and parents permission note will be kept in the medical register.

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We try to keep a balance between interschool and school sport.  We offer a variety of interschool sports.  Years 1-4 do not take part in interschool competition except in athletics.

Each class has approximately one hour of physical education per week.  A physical education specialist spends four days per week at Glenvale and works with all classes.  The physical education lessons are aimed at teaching motor coordination skills in Years 1-3, and games skills in years 4-7.

A school swimming program operates in various terms.

1. Rationale 

The value of school camps to the development of the child is widely supported and recognised.  The children develop many skills over a short period of time. Camps contribute to the understanding and depth of knowledge as culminating or extension activities for Units of work involving Physical Education, Values Education and Human Relationships concepts such as friendships, social skills and leadership. However, we need a policy set down so that the expense of school camps does not become burdensome to parents.

 2. Purposes

(a)School camps should have social and educational purposes extending knowledge of school and classroom experiences.

(b) The children should have the opportunity to experience new activities. 

(c) School camps should help develop a more cooperative "team spirit" for the classes.

3.  Guidelines

 School camps may be arranged away from the school as per the following:

Homework 

 1.     All class teachers may set homework

3.     Homework may be all learning work, all written work or a combination of the two.  Homework is to be meaningful and set to fulfill a particular purpose

During the course of your children's school years, you may have cause to make a complaint about an issue with your child's education. Education Queensland is committed to ensuring that all complaints are dealt with in a fair and equitable manner.  There are processes and support structures in place to enable parents/carers and students to work through any issues they may have with Education Queensland provisions.

When making a complaint, it is in the best interest of complaint resolution to ensure that you:

*  provide complete and factual information in a timely manner

*  deliver your complaint in a non-threatening and non-abusive manner and

*  not make frivolous or vexatious complaints or include deliberately false or misleading information.

You should be aware that if you are making a complaint about a staff member, that except where prohibited by law the staff member will be told of the complaint and offered the right of reply.  You also have the right to have a support person participate throughout the process.

If your complaint relates to suspected official misconduct or criminal activity then you should make your complaint directly to the Crime and Misconduct Commission (www.cmc.qld.gov.au/) or the Queensland Police Service (www.police.qld.gov.au/).

The following 5-step procedure- may assist parents/carers, and school staff to reach an outcome that is in the best interests of the student.

1. Discuss your complaint with the class teacher

If your complaint is with your child's teacher or relates to an issue concerning your child's experience at school, make an appointment with that teacher as soon as possible through the school administration.  Share the information you have about the problem with the teacher.  Give the teacher an opportunity to tell you all he/she knows about the incident or problem.  Together, both parent/carer and teacher should then take steps to resolve the problem at this level.

The teacher will make a record of the complaint and report your meeting and any outcomes to the school principal.

2. Discuss your complaint with the principal or ask the principal to assist by participating in informal conflict resolution.

Where the teacher has been approached as above but the issue remains unresolved make an appointment with the school principal to discuss the issue further.

Alternatively, you and the teacher may agree to ask the principal to act as a mediator in informal conflict resolution in an attempt to resolve the problem.

If your complaint is related to the school more generally including issues of school policy or its compliance or non-compliance you should raise your complaint directly with the principal or his/her delegate.  For example, the principal may refer your complaint to a deputy principal or registrar.  The staff member will make a record of your complaint and work with you to resolve the issue.

Complaints to the principal may be lodged in person, by telephone, writing or via electronic format through the “Schools Directory” at www.education.qld.gov.au/schools/directory - select relevant school, then click on the email link.

3. Contact district office

If you have discussed the issue with the principal and still feel that your complaint has not been addressed, you have the right to contact the Executive Director (Schools) who is the supervisor of the principal and oversees activities of schools in that particular education district of Queensland.

Complaints may be lodged by telephone or in writing.  Complaints should be specific in detail, and outline the steps taken to date to resolve the issue.  Remember to date the letter, give your full name and address and sign it.  The district office will make a record of your complaint.

Anonymous complaints will only be acted upon if enough information is provided to allow for follow up with the principal.

Addresses and telephone numbers of district offices are listed under the heading Education Queensland in the White Pages of your local telephone directory and are also available through the 'Schools directory' at www.education.qld.gov.au/schools/directory

When you contact the district office you will be advised that your name and the nature of your issue will be reported back to the principal of your school.  Staff at the district office will assist in seeking resolution to the issue.

4. Complaint still not resolved

If, as a parent/carer you feel that your issue has not been resolved through the district office process, you have a further right to make a complaint to the central office of Education Queensland.

Parents/carers may choose to progress their complaint in writing to the Deputy Director-General Education Queensland.  The Office of Education Queensland will seek to assist with the resolution of your complaint through referral:

to the Executive Director (Schools) for further action or

to another departmental unit for appropriate action.

The Office of Education Queensland can be contacted at:

Education Queensland, PO Box 15033, CITY EAST, Qld 4002   Tel (07) 3237 0618 or fax (07) 3221 4953.

5. Independent review

If, as a complainant you feel that your issue has not been resolved through these formal processes the Queensland Ombudsman provides an avenue for an

independent review of the Department's decision. The Ombudsman may be contacted at: Office of the Ombudsman, GPO Box 3314, Brisbane, Qld 4001

Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.qld.gov.au  Tel (07) 3005 7000 or Toll Free 1800 068 908 or fax (07) 3005 7067

Children who are absent from school, either through sickness or because of family matters, are required to present a note written and signed by a parent to the teacher on his/her return to school.  The note should explain the reason for the absence.  Parents should make every endeavour to ensure that their children attend school regularly.  A phone call to explain absence is also acceptable but not preferable.  Parents will be contacted concerning unexplained absences of 5 days or more continuous.
 

A book and equipment list is compiled for each year level.  This includes Religious Education materials, a ream of paper for school

 stock, text books and general requirements.  Individuals have the opportunity of ordering their requirements through the school for 

the beginning of the year.

Banking is carried out at the school each Wednesday morning.

Bank books are to be left in the classroom bank bag prior to school commencing.

Participation in Religious Instruction is voluntary, subject to parent/guardian consent and an alternative Values Education program is available.  Religious instruction is provided under a co-operative agreement and uses the ‘Connect’ Program. 

Both the religious instruction and alternative values education program are offered as thirty minute lessons and are conducted at times suitable for the class program and instructors.

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Tuckshop operates on, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  Children bring their order written on a paper bag with the money enclosed and hand it in at the tuckshop before school.  Separate bags are required for 1^st and 2^nd Break orders.

Evaluation of your child's progress will be carried out continuously during the year enabling the teacher to form a comprehensive 

picture of progress in all areas.  Report cards will be sent out twice per year - at the end of Semesters 1 and 2.  

Formal teacher/parent interviews will take place at appropriate times. Parents are encouraged to arrange a time to meet their 

class teacher if they feel the necessity to discuss their child's progress at other times.

Rationale

A common set of beliefs about what is acceptable and what is not acceptable in regards to the way students present themselves for school each day, will enable consistent, safe and equitable dress practices to be carried out.

Although this standard cannot be made mandatory across all aspects, students are to be strongly encouraged to meet the standards.

Clothing or accessories that may cause injury while undertaking specific activities cannot be allowed due to Health and Safety standards.

Purpose

• To promote pride, unity and sense of belonging to the Glenvale School community.

• To ensure that all students are dressed in clothing, jewellery and other accessories which allow for safe participation in school activities.

• To minimise the pressure on families to provide the financial resources to meet the latest fashion trends.

• To encourage the standard of dress which this school community feels is appropriate.

• To ensure quick and consistent identification of Glenvale students.

Guidelines/Procedures

If students are wearing clothing or accessories that may cause injury while undertaking specific activities, they will be asked to change clothes or in the case of jewellery, to take off the dangerous item.

Items of medical, religious or cultural significance are allowed.  Discussion with the school administration will lead to less confusion as to the significance of these items.

The standards apply for all school days unless specific permission has been granted by the school administration.

§          Earrings must be studs or sleepers only.

§          Natural hair tints are acceptable.  Other hair colouring and styles should be discussed with the Principal first.

§          Specific activities as outlined in the Education Policy and Procedure Register will necessitate the removal of watches, rings and other jewellery items, the wearing of protective equipment and other safety issues to specific sports.

§          Band and choir will require black shoes as part of the formal uniform when representing the school.

§          Students must wear the sports uniform when taking part in interschool sport.

§          Year 7 shirt may be worn as a team shirt.

§          We discourage baggy board shorts or brief bikini style togs for swimming lessons. We strongly recommend that our students involved in school swimming lessons wear swimming togs ie for girls a one piece suit and for boys  shorts or speedos.

§          Representative shirts such as West Zone, Darling Downs, Queensland, Rock Eisteddfod etc may be worn.  They are not to be worn on Interschool Sports days.

Students from Years 5 - 7 have the opportunity to learn concert band instruments (woodwind, brass and percussion). 

Each Instrumental Music student receives one 1/2 hour lesson during school time and a 1 hour band practice per week.  

Students are selected on general musical suitability.

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All money for school activities (eg. class excursions, interschool sport, swimming lessons) must be sent to the school in an envelope marked with the student’s name, class, activity and amount enclosed.  Envelopes are handed to teachers at 9.00am approx.

Please do not hand money into the office.

Due to the hill and fairly narrow roadway it is important that parents are very careful when parking or reversing out of parking bays.

a) Don’t park near the crossing

b) U-turns are illegal anywhere in front of the school.  The police have advised that 150m clear vision is needed.  This means no car or other vehicles can be in sight.  It is obvious that especially from 8.00 - 9.00am and 2.45 and 3.15pm on school days that there will be lots of traffic.

c) No cars are allowed inside the grounds without prior approval.  Staff have strict guidelines to follow before they are given permission.

d) The drop off zone operates from 7.30 – 9.00am and 3.10 – 4.00pm.  Please note that there is a 2-minute standing period only that applies to this zone.  All traffic must exit to the left.

Anyone who wishes to talk to or take children out of school must report to the office first.  This is an extremely important procedure to protect children.

All parents and other visitors must go to the office before going to classrooms.  Regular classroom helpers are exempt from this procedure when going to work in rooms. (But still must go to the office if they intend taking their child out early)

School Crossing

While crossing supervisors are on duty (7.50am–8.50am & 2.55pm-3.25pm) everyone is asked to cross at the crossing.  When adults do this they encourage safe practices for children. Thank you for your co-operation in all of these matters.  Please contact me if you have any concerns about them.  We do our best to ensure the school runs smoothly, children learn to the best of their ability and is  a happy and safe place.

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