RULES AND REGULATIONS AND GENERAL INFORMATION
RULES AND REGULATIONS AND GENERAL INFORMATION (updated January 2015)
School Bags & Clothing
- Please discourage your child from wearing costly jewellery or clothing that could be mislaid or lost.
- Parents are requested to see that their child is dressed practically. Children are encouraged to be independent and it must be easy for them to remove and put on their clothing. Layer dressing is a sensible option in winter.
- Please don’t send your children to school in their ‘good’ clothes – this inhibits their enjoyment of messy play and although they have painting shirts, these do not guarantee that clothes stay clean.
- Children dressed in character clothing e.g. batman suit. Whilst the school allows it as it is a phase that all children, especially boys go through, please be aware however that we do not allow the child to wear the matching suit cape and mask for safety reasons. We also find that when the child wears the cape and mask they take on the character role and become rough.
- Please always pack an extra pair of clothes in the school bag for emergencies. Also remember to always pack a light jersey or tracksuit top in case of change of weather.
- All clothes and shoes must be marked to avoid losses and mix-ups. Whilst we try to make sure that missing items of clothing are recovered, the school cannot be held responsible for any losses.
- Every child must bring a school bag or suitcase to school daily so that they pack their belongings away safely.
- Please check your child's clothing daily and ensure that all articles belong to him/her.
- Please return any foreign article you may find and we will return it to the rightful owner. Remember to mark everything with a permanent marker (including mid-morning snack box containers and water bottles).
Nappies
- Parents must supply all the necessary spare disposable nappies, wipes, creams and plastic bags.
- Children being potty trained - children must bring at least 5 pairs of panties/underpants daily, and three changes of clothing.
- Soiled clothes will be rinsed and returned home in a plastic bag.
Toys At School
Bringing toys to school often results in tears, especially if they get broken. If possible, please leave toys at home BUT… if it is an issue for your child, rather bring a happy child with a toy than an unhappy child without it. Teachers will place it back into the school bag once the child has forgotten about it.
Communication Policy And Personal Details:
- If you need to get hold of the teachers during school teaching hours – please phone the school land line number and/or School Secretary, Paula. We will pass the message onto the Teacher. Please do not use any of the cellular social media’s to communicate with your class teacher for e.g. ‘whatsapp, sms and BBM, etc. This is against our school policy.
- Our policy is ‘Open Door’ – please talk to us if something is worrying you. We are all on the same side i.e. that of the children and their happiness and wellbeing, so please don’t think you are being neurotic or silly – you simply care.
- Communication books: Your teacher will also use this form of communication to keep you updated. Teachers will not be writing daily in the books (as it’s time consuming) but Parents will certainly get feedback or reminders to keep you updated. Parents are also encouraged to communicate with their teachers this way, as it’s not always possible to chat in the mornings during drop-off times.
- Should your child have a disturbed night or an upset on any given day, please inform one of the staff members, so that we are able to deal with the situation in as sensitive a manner as possible.
- Should there be difficulties at home that could affect the child emotionally or otherwise, it is important that you share this information with the class teacher as she needs to know how to address any changes in the child's behaviour.
- Should a parent or legal guardian change their address, work telephone number, home phone number or both, we request that you inform us immediately. Failure to do this could have serious consequences in the event of a sudden illness or accident. We urge all parents/guardians to be responsible and involved.
- Ensure that you are receiving emails from us. Please let the school know if you are not receiving any notifications and emails.
Sickness and Medicine Policy:
- The school reserves the right to decide whether a child may or may not attend for health reasons. According to City Health regulations, a sick child cannot remain at the school and has to be isolated at home.
- The school must be notified of any infectious illnesses that your child has contracted, immediately you become aware of it and is confirmed by your GP.
- Class Parents will be notified via email if a child has contracted an infectious disease, but email will not mention the name of the child. In the email, we will attach information pertaining to the infectious disease, listing symptoms and precautions and treatment thereof.
Medicines
- All medicines must be written up in the Medicine Information Sheet daily and personally handed to a class teacher or class assistant. All medicines are locked away in a cabinet in the kitchen or fridge if it needs to be refrigerated. We will not accept medicines and medicinal instructions from any child. No medicines will be administered unless written up on the Medicine Information Sheet.
- The medicine must be clearly marked with the child's name and dosage. Please send a spoon along from home to reduce the risk of infection.
- Never leave medicine in your child's bag. It is your responsibility as parent/guardian to take the medicine out of your child's bag, and to hand it to class teacher or class assistant. You, too, must please collect the medicine at the end of each day, unless it is medication for a chronic condition or for emergency use.
- You must please provide a medical certificate when your child returns to school after having contracted any contagious illness.
Gates and Doors
- All security gates and doors must be closed behind you for the safety of all the children
- Please use the specific entrance doors to your classrooms and not through the Barbets Class. This is to prevent congestion in the mornings and during pick-up time inside the Barbets Class and not to disrupt the Barbets Class as they are last to finish at 12h30pm. Please use the little green gate midway up the ramp to enter into the senior’s playground and use the classroom sliding doors to enter and exit your classrooms.
- Please note that there are no toilet doors in any of the children's bathrooms. This ensures that the adults can monitor the children at all times. During scheduled toilet times for the children over 2 years, 6 months of age, the girls go first, and then the boys. The children under 30 months of age have integrated toilet times. During unscheduled visits to the toilet the children are taken by an adult. Children are encouraged to wait in the passage outside the bathroom if there is a child of the opposite gender, already present in the bathroom. This is overseen by the adult on duty.
Children are encouraged to develop a positive and appropriate sense of self and to also be sensitive regarding the personal dignity of other children.
Lifts
- The staff must be advised as to who will be fetching your child from the school every day. On no account will children be allowed to go home with anyone other than the specified person/s on the “Authorisation to fetch a child form’.
- If you wish to participate in a lift club it is your sole responsibility and will not be arranged or co-ordinated by the School.
- If a child is going to go to the home of another child straight from school, the school must be notified in writing by the parent/s/guardian/s.
- The school does have an afternoon shuttle service. Please enquire at the office should you be interested in this option.
Birthdays
- Birthdays are celebrated as close to the actual day as possible.
- A date needs to be set in advance. Please book the birthday ring with your class Teacher.
- Usually mom and/or dad come to school with a birthday cake or cupcakes and candles to join in the special birthday ring. And don’t forget your camera!
- Party packs are not allowed at school. Please keep these for birthday party celebrations. We enforce this rule as there are children with food and colourant allergies and also some families opt for their children not to be introduced to sweets and chocolates at a young age.
Birthday Books
During the month of your child’s birthday, parents are kindly requested to purchase a book for our library. This ensures our library is replenished with new books. A certificate will be glued inside the cover of the book with your child’s name and birthday.
Library books and Library Bags
Library day is every Friday. Please return the library book in the library bag every Friday. Please help your children to look after the book as our books are precious to us. If you misplace the book or if it gets badly damaged, please replace it with another age appropriate book. We will not be able to issue children with a new book until the previous one is returned or replaced. The children love selecting their book to take home and they get very upset if they are now allowed to renew their book. If after the third reminder from your class teacher, the library book or bag is not returned, a replacement book fee of R100 and/or replacement library bag fee of R50 will be invoiced to your account.
Food and Drink
The children are required to bring a mid-morning snack to school. Please ensure that a healthy snack is packed and refrain from packing sweets or crisps. Water is provided at school. If your child uses a cup with a spout/teat/straw, please supply one to be kept at school.
In line with Sandton Health Department regulations, any lunches containing meat products need to be refrigerated. If your child’s lunch contains meat products, please put their lunch box in the fridge when you unpack their bag in the morning.
We are a ‘nut-free’ school as we do have a few children at the school who are highly allergic to nuts. Please do not send anything in lunchbox which contains nuts, including peanut butter.
Assessments
Mid year progress reports and end of year progress reports are issued. Parent and teacher consultation days are held in Term 1 and Term 2.
The latest research has shown that early intervention significantly reduces the need for later therapies. If any therapies are suggested for your child, please take this recommendation seriously and arrange for it to take place. Early intervention is the best intervention. Many problems can be sorted out if dealt with early enough and the teachers are qualified enough to see when there might be a potential problem. Teachers and parents must work together in the best interests of the child.
Outreach Programme
Each year, we select a charity to support. Any donations of clothes, toys, stationery, toiletries, linen, tinned food, etc. are greatly appreciated.
Extra-Mural activities
- The following activities are offered by outside groups and are given by qualified individuals: Ballet, Yoga Stars, Catrobatkidz, Junior Lab, Little Kickers, Golf. The cost of the lessons is at the discretion of the individual or group and is not the responsibility of the school. Please note that children may participate at the parent/s/guardian/s discretion. We merely offer the safe venue in which they take place.
- Playball and WhambaJam (Music and Movement) are offered to all children as part of the core curriculum. Playball is included in the fees although an annual registration fee of R 120 is applicable for each child. Playball coaches assess the children and mid year and end of year reports are distributed. WhambaJam is not included in the fees and operates independently from the school. Tanya Southern (Owner and Director) of WhambaJam invoices Parents on a term fee structure. 2015 WhambaJam fees are R 430 per term x 3 terms.
Grocery list
Groceries are not included in the Stationery pack. These must be provided at the beginning of each term. These include: 1 box of tissues, 2 toilet rolls, 2 roller towels, 1 bottle of anti-bacterial liquid hand soap and 1 hardcover communication book.
Children presenting with the following conditions should not be sent to school:
- Children on antibiotics should stay at home at least 48 hours after starting the antibiotic, after which they may return as long as they do not have a fever.
- Children who run a temperature the night before should be kept at home the following day as the fever often returns later in the day.
- Vomiting and diarrhoea.
- Thick nasal mucus, a cough with phlegm or a contagious ‘barking’ cough. Please try to teach your children to put their hands in front of their mouths when coughing or sneezing.
- Nits or lice. If these occur, a clearance certificate from a doctor is necessary before your child may return to school.
- Ringworm must be treated with an anti-fungal ointment and be covered. It is highly contagious.
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye) is very contagious. The eyes must be totally clear before being sent back to school.
- Impetigo must be treated with antibiotics and covered. It is highly contagious.
- Chickenpox: Keep your child at home until all the spots have dried up and no new spots have occurred for two days. This usually takes about two weeks.
- Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease: Is highly contagious. Please consult your doctor.
Hours
Please deliver your child directly into our care i.e. don’t leave them at the gate. Please ensure that the entrance door is closed behind you. Children may be dropped off from 6h30am and fetched up until 17h30.
Aftercare
Juniors (12mths – 30mths)
Half day until 2pm (includes lunch). Aftercare begins at 14h00. There are two options. Three quarter day: until 15h30 or full day: until 17h30. A healthy lunch designed by a dietician and mid-afternoon snack is provided.
Seniors (2,6 years – 6years)
Half day until 1pm (does not include lunch). Aftercare beings at 13h00. There are two options. Three quarter day: until 15h30 (including lunch and mid-afternoon snack) or full day: until 17h30 (including lunch and mid-afternoon snack).
|
Juniors
(12mths – 30mths)
|
Seniors
(2,6mths – 6years)
|
Drop off |
From 6h30am |
From 06h30am |
Breakfast |
From 06h45am – 08h00am |
From 06h45am – 08h00am |
Fetch |
Half Day until 14.00 (includes breakfast and lunch) |
Half Day until 13h00 (includes breakfast but not lunch) |
Teaching hours: start |
8.30am |
8.15am |
Teaching hours: finish |
12.00pm |
2,6 years - 3years: 12h15
3-4 years: 12h15
4-5years: 12h30
5-6years: 12h45
|
Lunch time: |
12.00-12h30 |
All Seniors: 12h30-13h00 |
Nap time: |
12.30 – 2pm |
All Seniors: 1pm – 2pm |
Mid Afternoon snack |
15h00 |
All Seniors: 15h00 |
AFTERCARE
Please take note of your child/ren’s teaching and ending times. Half day for Juniors ends at 2pm and includes breakfast and lunch. Half day for Seniors ends at 1pm and includes breakfast but not lunch. Three quarter day for both Juniors and Seniors is until 3h30pm and full day until 5h30pm. Ad hoc aftercare can be arranged – by notifying the class teacher or Paula when you drop off your child in the morning or by contacting the school, preferably before 12pm. Please remember to daily sign out your child in the class register file.
School opens at 6h30am but our school day starts at 8h15am for 8h30am. Teachers are on duty from 7h10am. Late arrivals and early departures cause a child to miss part of the structured programme and also disrupts the smooth running of the school.
PLEASE NOTE
Children must be fetched no later than 17h30. A penalty of R3.00/every 1 minute will be charged for late comers. If you foresee that you are going to be late due to unforeseen circumstances, please contact the school on the land line. Parents must please collect children on time as per the chosen day fee schedule. A 10 minute ‘late collection’ allowance will be made, thereafter R34 per hour will be charged to your account.