GRANVILLE STATE SCHOOL PREP HANDBOOK 2020

GRANVILLE STATE SCHOOL
   PREP HANDBOOK
         2020

  Parents of a child who is of compulsory school age must:
         Ensure their child is enrolled in a school
         Ensure that the child attends the school on every school day
          unless the parent has a reasonable excuse

WELCOME
As parents & carers, you are your child’s first and lifelong teacher. You have the most important role in shaping
your child’s intellectual, emotional, social and physical development.
The learning experiences you have provided for your child so far have been crucial for your child’s development
and will impact on his or her success at school. The time, support and encouragement you give your child from
now and into the future will assist them to be happy and successful individuals.
Education takes place at all times and in all places. It does not only occur during school hours. It is very
important that school and home work closely together to ensure that our children have the very best, well-
rounded learning experiences possible.
Communication with your child’s teacher is vital. In Prep, we are usually available for a quick discussion either
before or after school. However, if you need a more in-depth discussion without interruptions, please make an
appointment.

ADMINISTRATION STAFF

Leon McKay                                   Therese Dixon                                Brooke Andrews
Principal                                    Deputy Principal                             Literacy Coach

  Melissa Kay                                  Karen Cordie
  Business Manager                             Administration
                                               Officer

UNIFORM POLICY
The Granville State School community expects students to be in school uniform. The purpose of students being
in uniform is that it:
     Allows ready identification of our students on school grounds, during safety drills and during sporting
         events and excursions.
     Alerts staff to people who may not belong on our school grounds.
     Eliminates the pressure of buying name brands and following the latest trends which minimises any
         visible economic or social differences between students
     Promotes a sense of common purpose, belonging and consistency and promotes school pride.
     Reflects the expectations of the Department of Education and Training’s Occupation Health & Safety &
         Anti-Discrimination Legislation and Sun Safe strategy.
    
Granville State School requires all students to come to school with a clean and tidy appearance:
     Uniform to be freshly laundered
     Hair to be pulled back from face. Hair below shoulder length to be tied back.
     Hair colour to be natural tones. (i.e. unnatural colours such as pink, blue, green, purple are not
      permitted)
     Hair styles are to be neat and tidy – no decorative shaved styles
     Make-up is not to be worn by students
     Nail polish – only clear nail polish is permitted
     Jewellery – one small pendant on a thin chain, small sleepers or studs, small bracelet, medical alert
      bracelets and necklaces are permitted

GRANVILLE STATE SCHOOL UNIFORM

      Gold polo shirt with school logo.
      Shorts - plain black– mid thigh
      Skirt/skort-plain black
      Dress – gold A line checked
      Pants – plain black track pants or black slacks/trousers.
      Jumper – black and/or gold jumper or zip up jacket. Black, yellow or white skivvy is acceptable under
       school shirt. Hoodies are not acceptable.
     Shoes – lace up or velcro shoes must be worn at all times (the entire foot must be covered). Thongs
       and sandals are not acceptable.
     Socks – white ankle/sports socks.
     Hats – black surf style, wide brimmed hat. Beanies are not acceptable.
    Suppliers of Uniforms
     B & H Designs, Lowes Menswear, Sauers Uniforms, Workers Wardrobe.

WHAT DO CHILDREN LEARN IN PREP?
In Prep teachers use the Foundation Level of the Australian Curriculum to guide children’s learning. The
Australian Curriculum is designed to teach students what it takes to be confident and creative individuals and
become active and informed citizens. The curriculum at Granville State School consists of eight key learning
areas (information taken from the Australian Curriculum website www.acara.edu.au)
English
In the first year of school, students view, listen to and enjoy texts that entertain and inform, such as picture
books and rhymes. They begin to learn to read and create texts.
Typically, students will:
         Communicate with others in familiar situations
         Read stories with one or more sentences, pictures and familiar vocabulary
         Recognise rhyming words, syllables and sounds
         Recognise letters and the most common sounds the letters make
         Listen to, read and view picture books, stories, poetry, information books, films and performances
         Write some words
         Recognise some words and develop skills in ‘sounding out’ words
         Create their own texts such as giving information orally or in writing and pictures.
Mathematics
Students develop a sense of number, order, sequence, pattern and position in relation to familiar settings.
Typically, students will:
         Connect numbers, their names and quantities up to 20
         Count numbers in sequences up to 20, continue patterns and compare lengths of objects
         Use materials to model problems, sort objects and discuss answers
         Group and sort shapes and objects
         Connect events with days of the week
         Develop an understanding of location words, such as above, outside, left.
Science
Through exploration and observation, students learn how science works. They explore their world to find
answers to questions.
Typically, students will:
         Explore the needs of living things
         Investigate the properties of everyday materials
         Explore changes in our world, for example, the weather
         Explore how things move.

Humanities and Social Sciences
By experimenting, practising and playing in familiar situations, students use their natural curiosity to make
sense of their world, and to develop history and geography knowledge and skills about people and places.
Typically, students will:
       Explore their personal world, including personal and family histories
       Investigate places they and their families live in and belong to
       Find out about other places through stories told in books, or by family members and other people, and
        how people feel about places
       Explore why places are special and how students and other people can care for places.
Health and Physical Education (HPE)
Students learn through active play, and practise fundamental movement skills. They learn about how their body
is growing and changing, about their strengths, how to be healthy, safe and active, and about respectful
relationships with others.
Typically, students will:
       Use their strengths to help others
       Name trusted people in their community who can help them stay safe and healthy
       Describe emotions of people who are happy, sad, excited, tired, angry, scared or confused
       Group foods into ‘eat always’ and ‘eat sometimes’
       Move in different speeds and directions, be aware of others and follow rules
       Play games from different cultures
       Move in time with a partner when music is played.
The Arts
Students share their experiences and understanding of themselves through exploring the arts and artworks.
Typically, students will:
       Use role play and act out familiar events or stories
       Explore sounds when listening, singing and making music
       Respond to and create a variety of artworks by drawing and painting.
Technologies
Through exploration, design and problems solving, students learn how technologies work.
Typically, students will:
       Design and create solutions to challenges through guided play and by safely using materials and
        equipment
An integral part of the Prep curriculum is the development of early literacy and numeracy skills and
understandings as foundations for further learning. Along with these subjects, learning in a classroom and
belonging to a school community are a key focus of the Prep year.

HOW DO CHILDREN LEARN IN PREP?
A range of teaching approaches are considered when teaching the Australian Curriculum in the early years.
These may involve:
        -   Inquiry learning                     - Event-based approach
        -   Project approach                     - Explicit instruction
        -   Play-based learning                  - Direct teaching
Monitoring and Assessment
Student knowledge and understanding is assessed formally and informally throughout the year using a range of
assessment techniques. These assessments allow teachers to plan for future learning, understand a student’s
learning and development, and record learning against curriculum outcomes.
Reporting
Report cards are provided at the end of each semester that outline student achievement and progress for each
learning area. Throughout the year, we also offer opportunities for parent-teacher interviews however, meetings
can be scheduled at other times upon request.

SCHOOL ROUTINES
School Hours:
Students need to be at school NO LATER THAN 8:35am
8:40am-11:00am           First Learning Session (students will have fruit/vege break in class at approx.10:00am)
11:00am –11:50am         FIRST BREAK (Lunch)
11:50am-1:30pm           Second Learning Session
1:30pm-1:50pm            SECOND BREAK (Afternoon tea)
1:50pm-3:00pm            Third Learning Session
Office hours:
8am-3:30pm Monday – Friday during School Terms

Absences:
Please advise the school of absences by contacting the office, by phone on 41209888 or in person. If your
child is going to be away for an extended period of time please see their teacher so that work can be arranged
for them to complete in their absence.
Arrival:
Please ensure that your child is at school no later than 8:35am as classes go in at 8:40. A late start is
disruptive for the child and takes away from important learning time. Prep classes open at 8:40 so that children
can bring in their homework, tuckshop and play quietly. If children are late to school, they must first go to the
office to collect a ‘late slip’ prior to going to their classroom.
Departures:
Children are dismissed from the classroom at 3:00pm and asked to meet their parents/carers. We expect that
Prep children are always collected from the classroom. If you need to collect your child before 3:00pm you
must sign them out at the office.
Communication:
There are various means of communication used by the school to provide information to the parents, carers and
community. The school newsletter is sent out electronically to parent/carer email address each week on a
Friday. Please ensure that your email address is up to date to ensure to receive the newsletter. Information is
sometimes sent out via SMS; again, it is important that mobile numbers details are current so that you receive
this information. The electronic sign on Dau Drive is used to communicate information as is the Granville State
School Facebook page. At times, letters will be sent home with your child regarding other events or information
about the school. Please check your child’s home folder to ensure you receive these forms of communication.
Medication:
If your child requires medication during school hours, a medical form must be completed at the office. Teachers
cannot administer medication and a student must never be given medication to administer to themselves.
Lunch:

Children sit to eat their lunch in designated areas. Prep students will be shown where to sit and are supervised
at all times during eating time. We encourage parents to pack a number of nutritious items that can be easily
unwrapped or unpacked and eaten by the child. A piece of fruit or some vegetables suitable for Fruit & Vege
break are also required each day. This may include carrot sticks or fruit that can be easily consumed in a five
minute period.
Tuckshop
Tuckshop operates on Tuesday and Friday of the school week. The menu is available on our school website.
Copies are also available in the office. The tuckshop menu explains how the ordering system operates.
Money:
Apart from tuckshop money, all other money sent to school should be placed in a sealed envelope or zip locked
bag, clearly marked with your child’s name, class and the purpose and handed to a teacher as soon as
possible. Payments can also be handed directly to the office or deposited in mailing slot at the top of the stairs
in A Block Administration.
Lost Property:
Please name all items clearly with first and last name so they can be returned promptly if misplaced.
Permanent pens or whiteout on dark items such a hats and shoes is effective. Lost items are placed under A
Block near the caged area.