PARENT HANDBOOK

Lessons are 100 minutes in length. Some 100 minute sessions are delivered in two 50 minutes lessons.
Each alternative Monday (Week one of the timetable) students have Assembly Period 1 and Pastoral Care Meeting Period 2.

Each year group has a Leader of Learning who is responsible for the welfare of students.  In 2019 they are:

• Leader of Learning Wellbeing: Mrs Sue Cooper
• Leader of Learning Wellbeing Year 7: Mr Jarryd Leaves 
• Leader of Learning Wellbeing Year 8: Ms Alicia Harwood
• Leader of Learning Wellbeing Year 9: Mr Kharl Carlos
• Leader of Learning Wellbeing Year 10: Mrs Andrea Utoikamanu 
• Leader of Learning Wellbeing Year 11: Mr David Frankham
• Leader of Learning Wellbeing Year 12: Miss Emily Pett

All students within the school are placed into one of four Houses. Each House has two House Patrons who endeavour to work in building the house spirit of the College.  The Houses are:

• Bennelong: Named after the first Australian-born person to receive a school education
• Chang: Named after Victor Chang, the pioneering heart surgeon
• Frances: Named after Frances Siedleska, founder of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth
• Gould: Named after Shane Gould, an outstanding swimmer

Every day these four House names challenge us to be proud of our Australian heritage; to strive for academic excellence; to continue our faith journey; and to always aim for our personal best.

Our College motto of Faith in Christ expressed through "Doing More and Going Beyond" and with our strong culture of Social Justice each House supports a Charity. House Captains and Student Leaders are encouraged to learn the works of these charities and develop an awareness throughout the school community.

The House Charities are:

• Bennelong: Santa Teresa Mission - Northern Territory
• Chang: Medicins Sans Frontiers Australia
• Frances: Youth Off The Streets
• Gould: Caritas

Ms Kerrie Castle is our School Counsellor and she is available on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on the Junior Campus and on Monday and Thursday on the Senior Campus.

The work of the school counsellor in CSPD is to enhance student learning outcomes by reducing or eliminating barriers to learning caused by a variety of factors including disability, social and emotional difficulties or family discord.  

School counsellors in CSPD schools work in ways that are consistent with the ethos and mission of the Catholic Church. 

As part of the mission of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Parramatta, the K-12 Wellbeing Counsellor is accountable for supporting the System Strategic Intent of improving learning outcomes for all students by focusing on student wellbeing and promoting a professional and rewarding working life for teachers.

The K-12 Wellbeing Counsellor is accountable for promoting a culture of wellbeing that optimises learning outcomes for students:

• Collaborating with schools and other professionals to promote school wide mental health and wellbeing initiatives
• Engaging families to support their child and to strengthen home-school partnerships
• Providing individual and group counselling services to students
• Liaising with external agencies and professionals to enhance student support
• Supporting leaders and staff to respond effectively to student welfare
• Collaborating with key stakeholders to design personalised plans for students
• Undertaking development and review processes that promote professional growth.

The uniform shop’s online ordering system, QKR by Mastercard, is no longer available. Instead, Oz Fashions has introduced a more user-friendly website accessible via the web.

You can access the new uniform shop at standrewscollege.uniforms4u.com.au.

If you have any enquiries about navigating the site, please feel free to reach out to elle@ozfashions.com.au as your initial point of contact.

We are confident that this update will provide you with a seamless and pleasant experience, and we value any feedback to further enhance your online journey.

Twice a term, our Parent Forum meets for about an hour to discuss issues and topics of interest within our school. There are two parts to our meetings:

• The first part has an Educational Focus, where a topic is selected by parents to be discussed at the next meeting. Topics in the past have included: The St Andrews College Pastoral Care Program, sports & activities and ICDL for Years 7 and 8.
  
  
• The second part of the meeting includes general business, where parents can discuss issues that they are concerned about.

Each Thursday afternoon, students in Years 7-10 participate in Sports & Activities.  It allows students the opportunity to get some exercise, to have fun, and to experience different challenges.  St Andrews College offers students a large range of sports, such as aerobics, dance, fitness games, gridiron, martial arts, oz tag, soccer, swimming, tennis, ten pin bowling, ultimate frisbee and volleyball.  Some sports are held at school, while others are located at outside venues.  When students travel to an outside venue, they will always return to school and be dismissed from school.

Students do not choose their sport.  Instead, a rotation system is offered that allows everyone the chance to try all the different sports.  Each rotation lasts for five weeks.  Sports and Activities is an important part of each student's education and we expect all students to participate.  We ask that appointments and other such activities are not to be made during this time.  If you have any questions about sport, please talk with the Leader of Learning Sport.

At 2:30pm, students who walk home or are picked up may leave.  We ask that students go straight home - not via Quakers Court or St Andrew's Primary.  Students who catch buses must remain at school until their normal buses arrive.

Representative Sport is available throughout the year for sports such as Baseball, Basketball, Cricket, Netball, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Soccer, Softball, Touch Football, and Volleyball.  There are always tryouts before the team is chosen, students are asked to make sure they listen for the announcements.

St Andrews College holds three Sporting Carnivals. They are: Swimming Carnival; Athletics Carnival and Cross Country Carnival.

Carnival dates vary from year to year, however mostly are held in Term 1 and early Term 2. Sports Carnivals are an excellent opportunity for students to get involved and to try for their Personal Best. It is also a great time for House rivalry.

Arrange a time to speak with your child’s Leader of Learning.

Write a note addressed to your child’s Learning Advisor, stating the time they will need to leave school, and the reason. You will need to go to the office to pick up your child from school.

Contact the office staff, indicating the type of medication, dosage, and times to be taken. It is important that the school is aware of any medication your child needs to take during school hours. All medication is to be kept at the office. If your child suffers from a life-threatening illness or any illness of concern, please speak with our First Aid Officers, Mrs Margaret McDonald (Junior Campus) and Mrs Juliette Devlin (Senior Campus) before your child starts school.

Write a note addressed to your child’s Learning Advisor, stating the time of arrival at school, and the reason.

You do get homework - sometimes from every subject. But it’s easy to do if you work out a study timetable for home. A study timetable means you can finish your homework/assignments, and have time for fun too.

Here is an example of a study timetable.

Tip. Get your parents to help you work out a study timetable

There are many opportunities for students to be involved in extra activities at school. These include:

• debating
• representative sport
• public speaking
• the Instrumental Tuition Program

Tip: Listen to the announcements at school. These activities are great fun!

Always check your diary, and only bring to school what equipment you need for that day. Learning Advisors and and classroom teachers may be able to store certain items in their rooms for you, but you are only able to access these when it’s Learning Group time or during that particular class. Most students at Holy Family Campus don’t have lockers.

Tell someone! There are many people who can help you - and remember, it doesn’t just have to be a school problem. Some people you could talk to:

• Peer Support Leader
• Learning Advisor
• Leader of Learning
• Counsellor
• Parents

Tip: A problem never seems quite as bad when you share it with someone.

Give your learning advisor a note in the morning, explaining why you need to leave early. They will sign this note, and then give it back to you. When it is time for you to leave, go to the office with your I.D. card and your signed note. You will receive a Student Attendance (Leave early) Slip to take with you. This must be returned to school the following day. You must wait at the office for your parents to arrive.

Go to the office. A replacement key costs $10.

Tip: Look after your locker key! Put it on a key ring, and attach it to your wallet/pencil case.

Our lockers are located in the Performing Arts Block. You will be given your key once your application has been approved by the College Principal. You can only go to your lockers before school (8:30 - 8:40) and after school (3:05 - 3:15). Lockers are there for you to store books and equipment. You should try to keep them neat & tidy, so you can find what you need. Always check your diary so you are prepared for the next day.

When you arrive at school, go to the office with your I.D. card. You must have a note from your parents explaining why you’re late. You will be given a late-slip which you must give to your teacher. Then go to class.

At the office. The best time to go is before school (8.30am) or during Learning Group.

Tell your parents to pick you up (and to drop you off) at the Harvey Park Car Park (Benalla Crescent). Quakers Road is a very busy place with cars and buses, so it is much safer to use Harvey Park and Benalla Crescent.