Handbook

Located in the beautiful Blue Mountains, Our Lady of the Nativity Primary is a Catholic co-educational primary school where we strive to fulfil our vision to glorify God in all aspects of life and learning. We place great emphasis on establishing a partnership between home and school.

Our Lady of the Nativity is a school with a rich Catholic heritage and a strong Catholic culture. The school was founded by the local parish and the Sisters of the Good Samaritan in 1929, to serve the needs of the local Catholic Community. The religious focus of the school was on faith instruction.

The school had strong links with the parish and the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, and the Sisters of St Joseph, who have continued, in part, to the present day. Our school motto and badge have Samaritan images and many of the children are from parish families.

Our school is characterised by quality learning and teaching, education in faith and values education. There is a strong sense of community at the school, which is focused on building positive relationships.

Our Lady of the Nativity Primary continues to develop as an exciting centre for quality learning.

Our Lady of the Nativity is part of a welcoming and vibrant Catholic community. Our vision is to glorify God in all aspects of life and learning.

Our mission is to work in partnership to:

• provide for the learning and development needs of each child
• provide a supportive, safe and nurturing environment
• encourage lifelong learning
• recognise the worth of each individual
• celebrate together in faith

Our core values are:

• Respect
• Compassion
• Justice
• Integrity

School begins at 8:50am each morning, it is ideal for children to be at school a short time before school commences. Playground supervision is provided from 8:20am each morning.

New Students

• Report to the school office to be escorted to new class.

Arrivals

• Supervision of children will start at 8:20am. One teacher will be on duty in front of the infants classroom. There is no supervision before 8:20am.
• Children who arrive prior to 8:20am are to sit on the seats outside the infants classroom and stay there until supervision commences at 8:20am.
• Upon arrival, children place their bag in the designated place and move immediately to the infants playground, where there is supervision.
• All children arriving after 8:50am need a late note from the office.

Dismissal

• At 3:00pm children catching the bus will be taken to the bus lines by a teacher. Walkers and bike riders to follow.
• Walkers and bike riders needing to cross the highway will do so at the traffic lights.
• Bike riders will exit the school via the bottom gate and proceed on foot to the top of Somers Street.
• Children being collected by parents are to wait on the seats under the awning outside the Infants block.

Guidelines

• It is advised that children under the age of 10 should not ride to school (source: RTA)
• A bicycle contract must be signed by the student and a parent(s)/carer(s) before a child may ride their bike to school
• A helmet must be worn and secured at all times
• The child’s bike may be kept at school and parents asked to collect the bike, if the contract is not adhered to
• Children will be dismissed by the teacher on Hazelbrook bus lines
• Children riding down the Great Western Highway towards Hazelbrook must walk their bike across the highway at the lights adjacent to the school. Hazelbrook Bus duty teachers will supervise.

Bike Permission

The following conditions must be met before permission to ride a bike to school is given:

• students must be 10 year+
• wear a Helmet
• know traffic signals
• read cycle booklet
• walk bike through school grounds
• contract signed and returned to school

Bicycle contracts and Cycle Booklets are available to all students who would like to ride to school.

Children travelling by bus will be supervised by two teachers. These teachers will wait with the children at the COLA (covered outdoor learning area) and walk them to the bus stop when the bus is due to arrive.

A high standard of conduct is encouraged and expected when students proceed to the bus, as well as during travel.

To be eligible for a free school Opal card offered by Transport NSW, pupils must be:

1. In Infants - attending Kindergarten to Year 2 classes, irrespective of distance from home to school
2. Primary pupils who reside more than 1.6 kilometres radius from the school or 2.3 kilometres walking distance, unless the route is considered dangerous, such as having to cross a busy street or highway.

Parents need to complete the application online at transportnsw.info/school-students.

The school then  endorses the application online at Transport for NSW. Once approved, the school Opal card will be sent to the address provided on the application.

If your child loses his/her Opal Card, an online application must be made direct Transport for NSW. A fee may be charged for each replacement.

To ensure your safety and the comfort of other passengers…

Students will:

• behave safely at all times
• respect the needs and comfort of other passengers
• respect bus property by not marking or damaging it
• always follow instructions about safety on the bus
• tap on and tap off using their School Opal Card
• present their school Opal Card to the Driver, if and when requested

Students will not:

• distract the driver, except in an emergency
• smoke, eat or drink on the bus
• allow any part of their body to protrude from the bus
• fight, spit, use offensive language, or place their feet on seats
• throw any article inside, or out of, the bus
• alter, deface, misuse, or fraudulently obtain an Opal Card
• give, lend or transfer their Opal Card to another student

We have a very congested situation in Somers Street, and in consideration of the safety of our children and the residents of this street and surrounding areas, the following guidelines have been implemented:

A DROP-OFF and PICK-UP procedure has been implemented in Somers Street, between the hours of 8:20-8:50am and from 3pm onwards. A school representative will direct your child to and from your car. You should stay in your car as far as possible.

NO DRIVER is to attempt to turn in school driveways. All drivers should turn at the end of Somers Street and proceed to park on the school side of Somers Street (the western side of the street).

NO DRIVER is to park on the eastern side of Somers Street (opposite side of the school) for the full length of the school boundary (before the administration driveway).

NO DRIVER is to park at the front of the Church or between the Church and the Presbytery (grassed area). 

Parking is available in the Convent grounds (Santa Maria Centre), entering from the gravel driveway at Somers Street. 

If you are parking in the convent grounds (large grassed area) please travel ONE WAY entering in front of the Presbytery and exiting at the driveway in front of the Church.

In line with our school policy, NO child is to leave the school grounds unaccompanied. Parents are to collect their children from the area, which will be known to the students as Parent Pick Up. This area is on the benches adjacent to the Infants classroom. No children will be allowed to go to a car by themselves. The safety of your child and all children is critical and a short walk is good exercise and, at worst, a minor inconvenience.

All students who are being collected by parents will be on the Parent’s Pick Up Line. This includes parents who park in Somers Street or in the Convent grounds. Please come to the Infants’ playground to collect your child.

Please ensure that preschool children are well supervised and do not enter areas such as garden beds.

Children will meet with a teacher. The children will cross the road only with the teacher on duty, a parent or carer.

Absences
If your child is absent for any reason, could you please send a note with your child when he/she returns to school. Note proformas are supplied in the back of this handbook. The school requires prior notice in writing for extended leave and prior permission from the Principal is required. Holidaying during school term is not encouraged. It is a legislative requirement that schools account for each child’s attendance or absence for the whole time school is open.

Partial Absences
Please come to the office and fill out a Partial Absence form if your child is late for school or if you need to take them from class during school time. Lateness is any time after the 8.50am morning bell. It is a legislative requirement that schools account for each child’s attendance or absence, for the whole time school is open.

In the event of a serious accident at the school, the following procedure will be followed:

• the school will ring for an ambulance
• the parent/guardian will be contacted and informed as to the nature of the accident and injury, as soon as possible
• the school will, in all cases, take the necessary steps to ensure the wellbeing of the child.

Our major forms of reporting are the parent interviews and written reports in Term 2, and the end-of-year written report in Term 4.

Children are encouraged to save regularly, through a Dollarmite children's account offered by the Commonwealth Bank. The Commonwealth Bank offers dollar incentives to the school for every Dollarmite bank deposit made through the school. You will be notified about banking procedures at the beginning of the school year. Our banking day is Tuesday.

My School Lunch Box

We have engaged the services of an independent operator known as My School Lunch Box, to provide student lunches on Monday and Thursday. This is an easily accessible online service for ordering school lunches. Parents simply browse the menu on the website and select the food and drinks required. They then enter the name of the school, the child’s name and class, and the day the lunch is required. Payment can be made via credit card or Paypal (no need for children to carry cash to school). The lunches are then delivered to school fresh, on the day requested.

Visit myschoollunchbox.com.au to see the full menu on offer.

Children will learn best when...

• they feel confident because of previous experiences of success
• they are expected to learn
• their natural curiosity is aroused
• they are active and involved - discovering, solving problems, explaining what they are doing
• they feel safe
• they feel challenged
• they are mature enough to master the task
• the task is interesting and makes sense
• they have the opportunity to observe and imitate others
• they have plenty of chance to practise

Sometimes, when children become ill at school or have accidents, the parents are not always at home. So that the child can have the company of someone they know or go home where they can be cared for individually, we ask for the telephone number of a relative, neighbour or friend who would be willing to care for the child in an emergency, if the need arose. Please keep the numbers updated regularly.

From time to time, your child will be given the opportunity to attend excursions. Separate notices will be forwarded by the school, seeking your permission and outlining the nature of the excursion. Your permission is needed for the child to attend.

It is a great help to us if permission notes are returned to the school at least one week before the excursion. Please contact the Principal if the cost of the excursion is a concern to you.

If you would like an interview with your child’s teacher, please write a note to the child's teacher, requesting an appointment. As the teacher is responsible for her/his class between the hours of 8:50am and 3:00pm, it would be appreciated if the teachers are not interrupted during these hours.

The Library is open three days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday) during which times all students attend lessons, as well as being encouraged to become enthusiastic, careful borrowers.

Library bags are required for each student in order to protect books in transit between home and school. All students return books on library days. Books lost or damaged by students must be paid for or replaced.

The Parent Resource collection, which covers many areas of interest for parents, such as Child Development, is located in the Library.

Tips for talking with your child’s teacher

Your class teacher is your first person to contact. Are you clear about what you want? Be specific.

Before:

• contact your teacher regarding the purpose of your enquiry by:
  • note
  • letter
  • phone
  • email
• arrange a convenient time for each of you<
• plan what you want to say (notes will help)
• try to go without the children
• be on time.

During:

• state calmly what’s on your mind
• ask questions
• listen with an open mind
• share decisions about action to be take
• make a follow-up plan

A specialist music teacher is employed at OLN to present regular music lessons.

Music at OLN provides a rich, diverse and contemporary musical experience. Our classroom music allows children to create and explore sound using our extensive store of percussion and tuned instruments. During music lessons, the students engage in music appreciation, movement, singing, and playing. Each lesson gives opportunities to learn and understand music notation and improvisation, with an emphasis on creating our own original pieces for pleasure and performance, and well as playing known tunes. We also have two student groups from Years 2-6 who participate in the Ukulele Club and the OLN school choir.

Our school newsletter is uploaded to the school website each fortnight, on Mondays after 4.00pm, giving details of activities at the school.

Copies of the parent fortnightly Newsletter is archived here on the school website, for your convenience. If parents are unable to access the digital online version, they can request a hard copy from the school office.

All Catholic schools in the Parramatta Diocese are smoke free zones. This includes any interior or exterior part of the school premises.

Up-to-date information, sharing of news and events and other important information, can be found by accessing the school website at www.olnlawson.catholic.edu.au or visiting the school Facebook page.

A link to the school Facebook page is located on the homepage of the school website. Please note that a personal Facebook account is NOT required to view posts and information shared on the school Facebook site.

Parents will be notified if a child becomes sick at school or meets with an accident. We may need to ask you to collect your child, as sick children cannot be properly cared for at school. It is imperative that we have current contact details at all times (if mobile phone or home numbers change, please advise the Office as soon as possible). It is the policy of the school to contact parents for all head injuries.

The Parramatta Diocese Catholic Primary Schools Sports Council (PDCPSSC) website from time to time will contain team manager’s reports and all results from swimming, tennis, basketball, league, soccer, netball, hockey, touch football, and cross country events. This can be found online at www.primarysportparra.catholic.edu.au.

Media exposure at any of these events may result in your child’s name, school details and/or photograph being recorded in reports/results to be placed on the website. This information also applies to the OLN website.

If you have concerns about this happening, please contact the Principal, who will address your concerns.

As part of the general skin-protection strategies, children attending Our Lady of the Nativity School will be required to wear school hats that protect the face, neck and ears whenever they are outside e.g. at sport, sport carnivals, outdoor excursions and activities. Children who do not have their school hats with them, will be asked to play in an area protected from the sun. This policy is in place all year round.

Listen to your child.

Do you need to talk to his or her teacher, or does your child only need to be reassured?

If there is a problem and you need to talk to a teacher, follow these 3 steps:

1. Ask to meet with your child’s teacher. Say what you want to talk about so that the teacher can be ready to talk about the problem.
2. Try to agree on what will be done to fix the problem and when it will be done.
3. Agree to talk to the teacher again to make sure things are going well.

In some cases, it may be appropriate to arrange a meeting with the school Principal or Assistant Principal.

In some cases, you may wish to contact the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta (CEDP) on (02) 9890 1522. Tell them your name and the name of your child’s school, and ask to speak to the Head of School Service for the school. If you would like someone to help you, you can ring the Catholic Education Office and ask to speak to a Parent Education Resource Officer who will tell you the name and telephone number of your School’s Parent Representative (SPR). Your SPR, or a member of the Parent’s Representative Council will help you.

Our Lady of the Nativity School, Lawson, was part of a pilot program for the management of Asthma in schools and has now developed a policy and procedure for the management of asthma attacks. Staff have been trained to recognise the symptoms of Asthma and to implement prevention strategies in sporting and Physical Education programs. Children need to carry asthma medication with them and use it at appropriate times. Asthma management records on children with asthma, are maintained by the school in consultation with parents and the child’s doctor. An emergency care program has been established at school. Please read it and raise any concerns with the Principal.

Please alert the staff if your child should not be given ventolin for medical reasons.

At the doctor’s, discuss the need for dispensing medication during school hours.

• Parents have the responsibility for the health and care of their child
• Children who are unwell or have contagious conditions should, in fairness to themselves and others, not be at school
• The wellbeing and safety of the students in our care is of prime importance
• The administering of medication is a very serious responsibility for both parents and staff
• Procedures for the administering of medication must protect the child, staff, parents, and other children
• The procedure for the administering of medication will vary depending on the child’s need for the medication.

Administering Medication

The administering of medication is a serious issue and not part of a normal school day or the duties of people who work in schools. The school may be able to assist where there is a serious concern about a child’s wellbeing and medication during school time is necessary. We have a comprehensive medication policy which is available for perusal, or for you to keep if you wish.

No child can be given medication without written permission from the parents and the agreement of the Principal. Parents of students who have been prescribed, for instance, antibiotics, will be encouraged to consult with their medical practitioner to ensure that their child’s medication is given outside of school hours. As a rule cough/cold medication cannot be administered at school.

Parents are required to contact the school to obtain a Medication Policy and discuss dispensing of medication, with the Principal, for any drug prescribed by a medical practitioner, which by its nature needs to be administered during school hours to assist the students with a health or other problem.

Parents and guardians who require school staff to be involved in the administering of medication to their child, will be asked to adhere to the following procedures:

• complete the Medical Request Form
• supply medication in measured single doses. The  must be labelled with the child’s name, the dosage to be taken, the time of the dosage and a contact telephone number
• pharmacy bubble packs will be used to facilitate this
• parents and or guardians are to personally deliver their child’s medication to the school secretary
• parents/guardians should notify the school in writing of any changes to the administering of the medication
• a new Medical Request Form will need to be filled out
• parents/guardians are responsible for the collection of any medication from the school secretary that their child no longer requires

Analgesics

Panadol, Disprin, etc. may be dispensed to students by school staff only with written parental permission. In an emergency, phone or fax permission may be sought. Phone permission is not our preference.

Students requiring regular analgesics must provide their own. It must be clearly labelled and left at the school office.

When Students are Sick at School

Children who are obviously unwell, contagious, in need of rest or medication at constant intervals cannot be cared for adequately at school and need to be at home. Parents may be requested to take their children home under these conditions.

The children, parents and teachers of our school all feel a sense of belonging.

For the children at Our Lady of the Nativity School, this is promoted through:

• the welcoming of children new to the school:
  • at assembly
  • in the newsletter
  • through personal introductions in each class
• recognition of children’s individual gifts and talents is given at assemblies/line ups and in class e.g. trophies, certificates and significant achievements 
• awards being given at an individual, class and school level
• children being known by name by staff, children and parents 
• peer support operating through a buddy system in the senior classes, Year 1 and Kinder.

For parents, the sense of belonging is developed through:

• the School Council and associated teams
• craft groups
• the school newsletter
• invitations to liturgies and assemblies
• volunteer groups accompanying Stage 3 students to Bodington Residential Aged Care
• social functions such as the Trivia Night
• congratulations / condolence messages in the newsletter
• personal thank you notes for assistance
• visitation to families / children who are ill at home or in hospital
• the promotion of a partnership between parent, children and teachers
• parent helpers.

For Teachers, a sense of belonging is promoted through:

• acknowledgement of achievement and effort through the Staff Newsletter, Parent Newsletter, the white board in staff room and in person
• birthday celebrations
• a support network (bereavement/illness)
• staff prayer
• social gatherings.

Everyone has the right to feel safe and happy, and we believe that our community is enhanced when we are working together towards a safe and happy environment.

• We work together through:
• the establishment of helping hand networks
• following Child Protection Guidelines
• the use of conflict resolution processes
• encouraging children to accept responsibility for their actions
• encouraging children to actively choose actions that are life giving
• the formation of class expectations through a process which involves the children
• believing that the Pastoral Care Program at our school is an essential component and expression of our mission.

Values and attitudes are vital components of all key learning areas, and although they are not specifically religious, they are congruent with the beliefs of our school and add to the overall philosophy of Our Lady of the Nativity School, and thus enhance the religious dimension to our school.

A number of our units are integrated with Religious Education and make a significant statement about the religious dimension of our school.

Our Lady of the Nativity School has its origins in the local parish. It was started to assist parents to develop in the students, an awareness of God’s love for them and to be active members of the local church. The school is still linked to the parish through support for the Parish Sacramental programs, liturgies and support from the parish for the school Fair, and school representation on the Parish Council. In addition, many of the parents in our school community are local parishioners who choose our school to assist them in the faith formation of their children.

Definition

Pastoral Care is ensuring everyone is happy and healthy; nurturing the needs and growth of each other; making learning fun and valuable; taking time to rest, relax and reflect; loving one another, and acting like Jesus. Pastoral Care is also seen in the context of ‘Health Promoting Schools’.

'Health Promoting schools are schools which display, in everything they do and say, support for and commitment to enhancing the emotional, physical and moral well-being of all members of their school community.'
(WHO – Global School Health Initiative, 1999)

Pastoral Care encompasses the following key areas:

• Quality Learning Experiences: which recognise students achieve their best when work is challenging, interesting and meaningful.
• Quality Relationships: which refer to expectations that encourage positive relationships between teacher and student, and amongst students and the wider community.
• A Quality Network of Care: which focuses on supportive learning sustained by adults who share the learning environment, including parents, caregivers, teacher aids, and others assisting students learning.

Quality experiences recognise a strong sense of relevance in the curriculum, greater personal responsibility in the students, real pride in learning, and an increased collaborative relationship between teacher and students. Restorative Practices is foundational to our Pastoral Care.

A religious dimension is evident at Our Lady of the Nativity School throughout the curriculum, in our links to the parish, the emphasis placed on pastoral care, the integration of faith-life, and the physical signs/religious symbols around the school.

The most significant aspect of the religious dimension is the structured religious education program taught throughout the school. The Religious Education program is based on the diocesan program ‘Sharing Our Story’. The program centres around the praxis model which is a faith experience/formation approach to religious education.

The status of religious education is further enhanced through the allocation of a permanent school executive position for the role of Religious Education Co-ordinator.

Our Core Values

Respect, Compassion, Justice and  Integrity – a focus in the curriculum and in the daily life of the school.
We base values education on the Australian Government’s Core Values for Australian Schools.

We aim to differentiate (adapt) the curriculum for all children. We undertake targeted testing for some students, and teachers work at providing for a range of ability levels in the learning programs. This range, for example, extends from children with particular gifts and talents, to students who experience significant difficulties in their learning.

Attempting to cater for the individual needs of children is an essential part of our overall program. Class programs are designed to meet the needs of the individuals within the class. We attend to the needs of the children through:

• a Special Needs Committee
• individual education plans are drawn up where appropriate
• a Special Education program is organised across the school
• outside agencies are used when children require special assistance
• curriculum differentiation for all children

This is a significant area in the expression of our mission as a school. It is how we bring the ‘sacred’ to life throughout the day. The liturgical celebration of religious events e.g. Ash Wednesday, and the celebration of secular events through liturgy e.g. ANZAC Day, both bring life and faith together. Community prayer in class, staff prayer and the prayer focus in the classrooms and foyer, all contribute to the sense of the sacred and the living of faith. Our school Newsletter acknowledges and celebrates the giftedness of our community and attempts to challenge each of us to contribute fully to our mission.

The school motto - ‘In all things may God be glorified’ also celebrates this link between daily life and the challenge of a Christian life.

This is seen as one of the central platforms of our mission. Our Core Values are Respect, Compassion, Justice and Integrity. We attempt to promote Gospel values through:

• the acceptance of cultural differences
• acceptance of people as they are
• the use of conflict resolution skills
• challenge with dignity
• being open to the beliefs and values of others
• challenge of inappropriate behaviours
• developing appropriate and just student management practices
• working with parents for the benefit of the children
• genuine concern for all members of our community
• celebration of our faith
• participation in community-based appeals e.g. Sacred Heart Day Mass, Australian Catholic Relief, St Vincent de Paul appeals, Jeans for Genes day

There are many parts to this aspect of the religious dimension in the school.

• Our name ‘Our Lady of the Nativity’ unites us with the beginnings of our Christian beliefs.
• Our motto displayed along the highway signifies the Christian challenge of our community.
• The school crest links us to the religious foundations of our school, the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, and reminds us of our rich Catholic heritage.
• The crosses/crucifixes and sacred spaces around the school go to the heart of our Christian faith and are a visible expression of our faith.

Our school has a rich Catholic heritage and that this religious dimension is expressed across the life of Our Lady of the Nativity School.

A limited amount of donated secondhand uniform items are available free of charge to families in need, from Clothing Pool.

Make up and nail polish are not to be worn to school. Due to safety issues, jewellery other than a watch, is not permitted. Our Lady of the Nativity School has a strict policy of no face or body piercings other than the earlobes, and the only acceptable earrings are studs.

A large amount of expensive clothing is lost each year. Please label clearly all clothing, bags and articles that your child brings to school. Lost property is kept for a term. Items not collected after a term are donated to the Clothing Pool.

Children are asked to bring either a painting shirt or smock to school, to protect school uniforms while doing painting or craft activities. Sometimes paint can penetrate the painting shirt. Usually cold water and plain soap is best for removing school paint. Pre-wash and stain removing products are not recommended.

Wearing the correct school uniform in a neat and tidy way shows pride in ourselves and in our school. All children at OLN are required to wear the correct uniform at all times. Skivvys, odd jumpers and trousers, incorrect shoes and hats are not acceptable. Any child who is not wearing the correct school uniform will be required to give their class teacher a note explaining the circumstances for not wearing the correct uniform on that day. All students are required to wear BLACK shoes with their school uniform and predominantly white sports shoes with their sports uniform.

School Uniform Purchases

All uniform items are available online from:

The School Locker
theschoollocker.com.au

or 

The School Locker Superstore
The Grove Homemaker Centre

2-18 Orange Grove Road

Liverpool NSW 

Mon - Wed & Fri 9.00am - 5.00pm

Thu  9am 7pm
Sat & Sun  10.00am - 4pm