Student absences
All children must be present in their classroom for roll marking at 8:45am. Teachers will mark the roll and close it. Any child not in the classroom will be marked as absent.
Children who arrive after the roll has closed will be required to go to the office to collect a late slip for presentation to their teacher.
Office staff will check and clear the absence line before 8:45am and a daily unexplained absence report will be run.
An SMS message will be sent to parents advising of their child’s absence and requesting an explanation.
How you can help us to keep
your child safe
Phone
the student absence line before 8:45am to inform of any/all occasions when your
child will be away from school. This is
a 24 hour recorded service, you can call it anytime. The student absence line number is 3900 5870; we suggest you store this number in your
phone. Alternatively you can email
absence details to admin@normanparkss.eq.edu.au or enter via the QSchools App.
If
you receive an SMS message, please reply to the text with the reason for the
absence or if you believe your child should be at school contact the school office immediately by phoning 3900 5888.
Sun safe policy
At Norman Park State School we believe that children should be protected from the sun. We enact this by ensuring sun protective clothing and school sun safe hats are worn when children are working or playing in direct or filtered sunlight. Children must wear protective swim shirts while attending Swimming lessons. Students are encouraged to apply sunscreen (SPF 30+ to 50+) before coming to school each day. Sunscreen is available in classrooms for reapplying throughout the day.
Teachers and parents provide good role models for the children at our school. Teachers are required to wear sunsafe hats while on playground duty. Children are encouraged to play in shaded areas such as the under covered areas and under shade trees. Other areas such as the Prep playground and the Senior Fort have protective shade shelters constructed over the playing area. Children are still required to wear sun-safe hats in these areas of filtered sunlight.During the hottest part of the day, physical activities such as Physical Education Lessons are mostly undertaken in covered games areas.
Sun smart activities held at our school may include
- using shade covers for sports days, etc.
- conducting educational programs on Sun Safety
- providing sunscreen for students.
- planning activities to minimise time spent in the sun
- conducting Physical Education lessons in the Covered Play Areas and shaded areas during peak sun exposure times
- ensuring parents are informed of the policy when enrolling their child.
- wearing school uniforms that are Sun Smart compliant
- wearing Sun Smart clothing on free dress days
- encouraging students to re-hydrate.
What parents can do
Parents and care-providers can participate in Sun Safety by:
- being a positive role model
- providing children with appropriate broad-brimmed hats, clothing, and 30+ or higher broad spectrum sunscreen
- reminding children about drinking water as they can dehydrate easily during hot weather
- purchasing and equipping children with appropriate swim shirts for swimming lessons
- supporting the school’s sun smart policy.
Appropriate uniforms
The Norman Park State School uniform has been designed to provide protection from harmful UV radiation as well as to be cool during hot weather. A collar and sleeves on the shirts offer protection to the neck, upper arms and shoulders. Shorts should preferably reach just above the knees.
Sunsafe hats
The Norman Park State School has a broad brimmed hat as part of the uniform. Sun Smart hats provide shade. The brim needs to be 7cm to protect the head and face. At Norman Park State School, children must wear sunsafe hats to play or else they sit out of play in a shaded area. These must also be worn when student attend excursions and camps.
Sunscreens
Sunscreens should be at least SPF 30+ broad spectrum. They should be applied at home before school and reapplied as necessary.
Health & safety policies
Emergency procedures
Unfortunately, accidents and emergencies do occur. In the case of minor accidents or sickness at school, we contact the parent and seek further instructions.
If an accident is serious, an ambulance is called immediately and parents are advised accordingly. In either case, it is imperative that an up to date record of emergency telephone numbers are stored at school.
Please ensure that the office always has the correct contact numbers for you and your designated emergency contacts. Notify the office if you change your address, telephone numbers or place of employment. Similarly, notify the office of any changes in contact details for your emergency contacts.
Activity risks & insurance
Please note that the Department of Education and Training does not have personal accident insurance cover for students. If your child is injured as a result of an accident or incident while participating in an activity, all costs associated with the injury, including medical costs are the responsibility of the parent/carer. Some incidental medical costs may be covered by Medicare. If you have private health insurance, some costs may also be covered by your provider. Any other costs must be covered by parents/carers. It is up to all parents/carers to decide what types and what level of private insurance they wish to arrange to cover their child.
Illness procedures
Sick Bay is situated outside the office. Teacher aides and administrative staff assist children who attend the Sick Bay.
Parents are contacted if a child presents during the day and it is determined the condition is of an ongoing and serious nature and cannot be managed at school satisfactorily. If this occurs, parents are expected to collect their child or make other arrangements.
Evacuation/lock down drills
Drills are conducted at the school at regular intervals to ensure the quick and safe evacuation from all buildings or the effective lock down of the school during a real emergency. All persons in the school are expected to follow the drill. Each classroom and work area in the school has both an Evacuation Plan and Procedure Document to assist people to follow correct procedures.
Medication procedures
Please find below an excerpt from the Education, Policy and Procedures Register – HLS-PR-009:
School staff can assist a student with medication under the carer provisions of the Health (Drugs and Poisons) Regulation (1996) provided that a written request is received from the student's parent/caregiver and that the medication includes an original pharmacy label detailing the name of the person authorised to take the medication, dosage, time to be taken and medical practitioner's name. Staff must follow the directions on the original label attached to the medication container.
Office staff at Norman Park State School will only administer medication to students if the Request to Administer Medication form is completed by the parent and/or medical practitioner and the medication is labelled according to policy. Medication Forms are available upon request from the school office or on the school website.
Ventolin
Asthma sprays such as non-prescribed Ventolin does not fall within the above requirements. Students may bring asthma sprays and spacers to school and use them when the need arises. An initial letter from the parents advising of their need to use asthma sprays must be supplied to the school. Students are responsible for their own asthma sprays and spacers. Prep or Year 1 students who require assistance to take Ventolin will need to provide a parent/doctor letter that advises their teacher of the need for Ventolin, where it is kept and how often it needs to be administered.
Infectious diseases
A list of infectious diseases and the necessary action is listed below. Whenever in doubt please contact the school.
| Conjunctivitis |
Exclude until discharge from eyes has ceased |
|---|
| Mumps |
Exclude for 9 days after onset of swelling |
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| Rubella |
Exclude until fully recovered or for at least 4 days after the onset of rash |
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| Measles |
Exclude for at least 4 days after onset of rash |
|---|
| Impetigo (School Sores) |
Exclude until appropriate treatment has commenced. Sores on exposed surfaces must be covered with a waterproof dressing |
|---|
| Ringworms / Scabies / Pediculosis (Lice) / Trochoma |
Exclude until the day after appropriate treatment has commenced |
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| Diptheria |
Exclude according to public health unit requirements |
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| Viral Hepatitis |
Re-admit on receipt of a medical certificate of recovery |
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| Whooping Cough |
Excude the child for 5 days after starting antiobiotic treatment |
|---|
Head lice
The incidence of head lice in Queensland schools has at times reached epidemic proportions. Cross infection is easy in schools where large numbers of children mix freely.
Head lice can be contained if parents and schools co-operate together. Therefore the school will immediately alert the parent of a child who is suspected of having head lice. We will then alert parents of other students in the same class. Parents should then seek the assistance of their local chemist for advice on effective treatment. The incidences of outbreaks are minimised if all parents are vigilant and take required action promptly.
It is no disgrace or embarrassment to contract head lice, however it is unwise to neglect treatment.