DRIVING SAFETY FOR ALL

Today I wish to highlight an important aspect of safety for all; this being ‘Dropping off and Picking up your child’. Please read and note the following:

1. WALLEN STREET: There is “NO PARKING” on the school side of Wallen Street as this is a “drop off” zone only. Parking is permitted opposite the school. Parents are asked to drive as far as possible down Wallen St, adjacent to the hall building, to ensure that a bank up of cars does not occur at Ward Street. This area is strictly a “Kiss & Drop” zone. This is a ‘kiss and Drop off’ area and parents are asked NOT TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. Students should have their bags accessible to collect (not in the boot). There is a turning point at the end of Wallen Street and parents are reminded NEVER to do a U turn in Wallen Street.

2. DRIVE THRU: Cars are to enter via the staff car park and through the double gates and veer towards the hall and around to the new grassed steps where children can be dropped off or picked up. There are 3 parking bays and this is also strictly a “Kiss & Drop” zone. Parents are asked NOT TO GET OUT OF THE CAR and students should have their bags accessible to collect (not in the boot). The exit is via the double gates through the staff car park and front of the church. Please note that there is NO RIGHT HAND TURN out of the driveway during school hours.

SAFETY REMINDER FOR ALL

The staff car park is not for parent use during school hours or for pick up and drop off.
Drivers are NOT allowed to make a Right Hand Turn into Centre Rd during School hours. This is now a traffic offence and police have indicated they will patrol the area.
Parents are reminded that they are NOT to drop off or collect their child at the front entrance of the school.
U turns in Wallen St are NEVER permitted.
Those parents, who walk to school via Centre Rd, or park in Centre Rd, are asked to walk along the disabled path or the footpath adjacent to the Memorial Garden to the front entrance of the school.
If late for school, parents are asked to park in front of the church and walk with their child along the disabled walkway to the entrance of the school. A parent needs to come in and sign a late pass.
If collecting children prior to 3:30pm, the parent, or carer, will need to come to the office and sign an early departure pass.
I ask parents to inform other family members or carers who may be dropping off or picking up your child of the arrangements above.

SCHOOL SUPERVISION

Supervision begins each morning at 8:30am and ends at 3:45pm each afternoon. Please do not allow your child to be at school before/after these times. We ask that you contact Outside School Hours Care (Team Kids) about making arrangements to have your child/ren attend if necessary. While from time to time special circumstances do occur, as a justice issue to those parents who do use Before School Hours Care – any student who consistently arrives prior to 8:30am will be asked to go to Outside School Hours Care at the parents’ expense. Children who are not collected by 3:50pm will be sent to Outside School Hours Care, at the expense of the parents.

SCHOOL SECURITY POLICY

It is expected that each school have processes in place so as to ensure that all members of the school community are kept safe and secure. This is part of a school’s DUTY OF CARE.

GROUNDS SECURITY:

All school gates will be locked at 8:55am each day and unlocked at 3:20pm. Anyone entering/ leaving the school grounds during the school day must do so via the office.

SECURITY SYSTEM:

A Security system is in operation at all times to ensure that our facilities are secure at all times. Security cameras monitor all outdoor areas and public areas inside the school.

EXTREME WEATHER

February/March always promises to be the hottest months of the year. It is essential that students have plenty of water to drink and I remind parents that students are encouraged to have a named water bottle on their table at all times, which can be replenished as needed. All classrooms and other learning areas (Library, ICT and Arts Centre) have air-conditioning. During extreme weather circumstances, students have a ‘hot day’ program which means they may either have shorter periods on the playgrounds or stay indoors.

VISITORS' PASS

All parents, contractors and visiting staff will be required to wear a ‘Visitor’s Badge’ while on the premises and sign in via the iPad at the front office. All visitors only have access to the school via the school office.

WORKING WITH CHILD CHECK

Parents are reminded that under Government law, which has been raised by the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, all parents who help at the school are required to have a Working With Children Check. This involves completing a form, available online, and lodging the receipt with the school office. A database is kept of all parents with the WWCC. It is essential that parent helpers for Literacy, Numeracy, excursions, sporting events, etc. sign in at the office and collect a badge, BEFORE helping with school activities.

DOGS AT SCHOOL

St Finbar’s School has a NO DOGS on the playground policy. We do encourage parents to walk to school with their dogs if they choose. However, dogs are to remain outside the gates with their owner. The only exception to this will be when the story dogs reading program will be onsite during their sessions.