Communication

We believe that open communication is important to foster and maintain positive and productive relationships between residential staff, families and students.

Residential staff will communicate with parents at the beginning of the year and during term time about how their child is settling in and coping with life away from home. Parents are encouraged to contact Walker House staff at any time to discuss any issues of concern, or indeed to pass on any positive comments.

Several forms will require completion before a student begins boarding. The information they provide is used to ensure that each individual receives the best possible care at the boarding house.

They are:

Medical Consent Form

Please complete this form carefully, as the information provided will help us create the Operoo profile for each resident. This profile enables students to participate in excursions. If you have any questions or concerns, we warmly encourage you to reach out to us directly. The more we know about your child, the better we are able to care for them.

Activities Consent Form

Walker House staff regularly organise and conduct social activities for students. Students will also organise their own activities during free time. Parents are asked to indicate which activities they give permission for their child to participate in. All activities are risk assessed for safety and suitability.

Transport Consent Form

This is an important document. Walker House staff are authorised by the School to transport students in School approved vehicles to and from School approved activities and events. These events may include medical appointments and co-curricular and leisure activities throughout the week and on weekends. On occasion, staff may rely on the assistance of other parents or adults to transport students. As the parent in locus, permission to travel with others is granted by senior Walker staff. Staff will take into consideration factors such as the experience of the driver, the ability of the student to get to the event independently, and the distance and time of travel.

Driving and Travelling in Cars

Part-time boarders who have their P license can apply to drive to and from the boarding house provided they are going straight home and returning directly from home.  They must complete the Driver Agreement form which then must be accepted by the Director of Residence and Principal before this can occur. Boarders must then hand their keys in to the supervisor on duty and are then locked up in the safe.  Any special circumstances for using their car during the week must be made in writing to the Director of Residence and/or the Principal for approval.

Boarders are not permitted to travel in a car driven by a P-plater to or from the boarding house. Special consideration may be given if an application is given to the Director of Residence in writing, which then also must be accepted by the Principal.  

Boarders travelling in a car with an adult (not family) with an open driving license must have permission from their parents.  

Use of Visual Images

In recording Walker House events and activities, informing the public and promoting the School, we regularly use images of students and staff. In particular, we use images of students in:

• Focus (School newspaper) 
• Echoes (School yearbook) 
• School website
• School calendar
• The Friends’ School social media pages
• ‘Walker House' Private Facebook Page

Several of these sites and publications can potentially be accessed worldwide and permission from parents is sought to use these images.

School Insurance for Computers

The School issues each student with an Apple Macintosh Laptop or iPad. This computer is insured by the School within Tasmania. We understand that students living outside Tasmania may need to take their computers home during holiday breaks. If a student takes the laptop home during the holiday breaks, parents must pay for any repair or replacement costs. This form provides parental consent for this to happen.

We ask that you notify us of any changes to the information contained in these forms and contact the Director of Residence if you would like to discuss any aspect of these forms.