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Our Lady's Assumption School

Pre-Primary

SCHOOL MOTTO “Truth Gives Freedom”

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SCHOOL INFORMATION SCHOOL ADDRESS: Our Lady’s Assumption School 43 Chester Avenue

Dianella WA 6059

POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 531

Dianella WA 6059

SCHOOL PHONE: 9471 3000

SCHOOL FAX: 9276 9298

EMAIL ADDRESS: admin@ola.wa.edu.au

WEB ADDRESS: web.ola.wa.edu.au

TYPE OF SCHOOL: PARISH SCHOOL

SCHOOL MOTTO: “Truth Gives Freedom”

ENROLMENT: Double Stream School for Boys and Girls Pre-Kindergarten to Year 6

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Contents

Page Number

School Information 2 Contents 3

School Vision Statement and Values 4

School Goals 5

Pre-Primary 6

What to bring to Pre-Primary 7

Important Information about Pre-Primary 8

Parental Involvement 11

Philosophy of Early Childhood Education 12

Belonging, Being and Becoming 13

Play and Active Exploration Policy 15 Health Policy 16

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Vision Statement Our Lady’s Assumption School Community seeks to foster a living faith,

based on truth, where the potential and dignity of the individual is respected and nurtured in an environment of trust.

Values

Respect – We show respect when we treat ourselves and others with fairness and dignity, and care for our world.

Compassion – We show others we care by reaching out to those in need and sharing what we have.

Excellence – We strive to do everything to the best of our ability.

Honesty – We are honest when we are just in our thoughts, words and actions.

Courage – We show courage when we stand up for our beliefs, take risks and persevere.

Cooperation – We show our spirit of cooperation when we help each other and work towards common goals.

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Goals In order to reflect the life and love of Christ for His people Our Lady’s Assumption School strives to:

To foster faith formation through word and example. To provide an atmosphere which promotes dignity and respect for all.

To provide a supportive environment which encourages each child to develop as a

confident, independent learner.

To nurture the spiritual, social, physical, intellectual and emotional needs of the child.

To promote appreciation of, and respect for, all creation. To encourage each member of the school community to approach life with confidence and

optimism.

Catholic Education

Living the Vision Goals

We in Catholic Education seek to create environments that enhance learning, nurture young people and empower them to live the Catholic faith in the spirit of Jesus Christ by:

Building Communities centred on prayer, stillness and reflection.

Developing a hunger for the learning adventure.

Challenging each other to seek truth and justice for all, especially the most vulnerable. (2017)

Capturing the joy in the mystery of the created Universe.

Embracing the diversity of the Earth and all its people

Walking together in a spirit of reconciliation and forgiveness.

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PRE-PRIMARY

Welcome to Pre-Primary at Our Lady’s Assumption Primary School. We look forward to

meeting you and your child in the coming year. We trust it will be an enjoyable and exciting experience for your child.

The Early Years Framework is a national early learning framework for children from birth to 5 years. The Early Years Learning Framework ensures your child receives a quality education program in their early childhood setting. This is a vital time for them to learn

and develop.

The Framework‘s vision is for all children to experience play-based learning that is

engaging and builds success for life. It is a guide for early childhood educators who work with children from birth to five years. The Framework will be used in partnership with families, children’s first and most influential educators, to develop learning programs

responsive to children’s ideas, interests, strengths and abilities, and recognise that children learn through their play. The Early Years Learning Framework describes childhood as a time of belonging, being and becoming. Play based learning and developing

relationships are crucial in these early years.

Pre-Primary is a very special year for your child. In our Catholic School, our program aims

to create an environment that:

Develops a sense of wonder about God. Provides rich experiences that are stimulating, multi-sensory, creative and challenging.

Allows children to be children.

Fosters in each child an enthusiasm and joy for learning. Makes children feel comfortable and valued, in a supportive and encouraging

environment.

Staff

PPG PPM

Teacher: Mrs Maree Noonan Teacher: Mrs Ella Galipo

Education Assistant: Mrs Fran Pastorelli Education Assistant: Miss Janelle Glorie Education Assistant: Afroditi Bolzonella Education Assistant: Mrs Julie Coupar

Our times are as follows:

PPG and PPM

Time: 8.40am-3.05pm Doors open at 8:30am everyday.

Student attendance will be recorded electronically at 8:45am and if your child is not in the Pre-Primary room they will be marked as absent. You will then receive a message stating that your child is absent from school. This will come in the form of an ‘sms’ via your

mobile stating that your child is an ‘unexplained absence’ from school. If you have dropped your child off to school after 8.45am there is no need to call the office to check this. Teachers will update the electronic roll during the course of the day. Please collect

your children promptly. Remaining students will be taken to the office at 3.15pm.

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Absences Pre-Primary is now a compulsory year of schooling. An absentee notice is legally required when your child is absent from school for 2 hours or more. They can be hand written or

emails and must contain the date(s) and the reason for absence. Please send the note in promptly. If your family is having holidays during school term please complete a Leave of Absence permission slip which needs to be signed by the classroom teacher, and is then

forwarded to the office.

Accompanying your child As with Kindergarten, your child must be accompanied to school and collected from school by a parent or guardian. Older siblings

are not permitted to collect children from Pre-Primary. The child may leave the classroom accompanied by an adult (other than by the parent or guardian of the child) if the parent has given written

permission by letter or by writing in the communication book that is kept by the door. This is a school policy requirement and ensures the safety of all children.

If you arrive at school before 8.30am, it is the school policy that students wait outside the administration building. This applies to Pre-Primary students and accompanying parents.

What to bring to Pre-Primary

A LARGE SIZED backpack, which can hold a lunchbox, drink bottle, change of clothes and your child’s work. We recommend the OLA backpack as it has lots of room.

A COMPLETE change of clothes. This is necessary the full year round. Please make sure the clothes are appropriate for the weather. Spare clothes need not be uniform as they are just for emergencies.

A hat, which has a wide brim, or a cap with a neck protection flap. The school’s policy is ‘No Hat- No Play’ and we support this.

A water bottle – WATER ONLY

Remember to apply sunscreen before school.

PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL THE ABOVE ITEMS ARE CLEARLY MARKED WITH YOUR

CHILD’S NAME. It is also helpful to add a bright, recognisable key ring to your child’s

school bag so they can easily locate it.

If students go home with spare clothes from OLA, please return outerwear once washed.

However, please replace underwear with a newly purchased pair for health and hygiene reasons.

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What to wear to Pre-Primary Pre-Primary students are to wear the School Sports uniform. The specific list of items is available on the school website.

Please ensure children are wearing shoes that they can independently take off and put on. SHOES WITH VELCRO STRAPS are recommended.

Having manageable shoes will increase your child’s independence and confidence.

Important information about Pre-Primary

Lunch Children need to bring their own morning tea and lunch in a lunch box.

The canteen is open on Monday and Thursday. Lunch may be ordered before school directly from the canteen (by the parent) or online. Please don’t send money with your child. Older siblings are NOT

permitted to purchase food from the canteen for their siblings. In Pre-Primary we promote a healthy, nutritious approach to food, so we ask that all food brought in by your child is HEALTHY. Make sure the food you provide is reflective of the

amount your child would eat every day. Lunch boxes must be clearly labelled and will be stored in your child’s school bag until they are required. It is advisable to put icepacks

into your lunch box in warmer weather to keep your child’s food fresh and cool, especially when providing them with cold meats, yogurts etc.

Crunch ‘n Sip Children will have the opportunity to have a small snack of fruit or vegetable in the morning play period. Biscuits, cakes or other treats are not suitable for

‘crunch n sip’ time. If you wish your child to have a treat please leave it inside their lunch box for morning tea or lunch.

Home Tasks During the year, students will be required to complete some simple and fun tasks in the home. These range from:

Literacy Packs – these are pictures books you can read to your child and complete the accompanying comprehension activities. (From Term 2)

Weekly News –during the year we send home a news schedule, please note when different news items are required. (From Term 2)

Family Tasks – these cover different topics within History, Geography and Religious Education that may involve some drawing and discussion amongst family members.

Home readers and high frequency words – as children show signs of reading readiness we will send home simple readers and or high frequency words. Notes

further explaining the tasks will accompany these at the time.

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Family Roster

We welcome and encourage parents and other family members to come into Pre-Primary on roster. All parents and family members who wish to participate

will need to complete the VIOLA Workshop. Dates for these sessions will be advised.

Parents who have completed the workshop in the past are not required to redo the workshop. Family members other than parents MUST have an up-to-date Working with Children Card in order to volunteer at OLA. Rosters will be displayed each term outside the

classroom. Your roster day involves assisting children with activities and most of all having a fun and enjoyable time with the children. Family roster gives you an opportunity to see what we do at Pre-Primary and also to see how the sessions are run. We ask that siblings

are not brought to the Pre-Primary when you are on roster so that you can participate fully, and not be distracted by other young ones.

Laundry Roster We have a laundry roster for washing tea towels and aprons. You will be

allocated specific weeks to do the laundry.

Expectations It is important for children to follow the Pre-Primary expectations, which will be

established at the beginning of the year. Positive reinforcement is used to guide children to the appropriate behaviour. ‘Think Time’ may be used for reflection. The child is asked ‘What happened?’ The child is asked to think about and discuss how their behaviour has

affected the other party and what choices they should have made. They are then asked to reconcile their relationship with the other party.

Toys and Jewellery Children are discouraged from bringing their own toys to Pre-Primary. Please do not let your child wear jewellery to school.

Birthdays

We love to celebrate birthdays in Pre-Primary. You are welcome to bring in cupcakes or treats to share with the class. If you have any concerns about your

child eating cake or other special treats (e.g. for allergy reasons) please advise the school, and in particular the Pre-Primary staff. If your child has a known allergy, please provide a small collection of treats so they enjoy a treat with other students.

Health

Please do not send your child to Pre-Primary if they are unwell. This is very important not only for your child but the health of all children and staff. If your child has any medical conditions or allergies (especially to food) it is essential that you advise the

school, and in particular the Pre-Primary staff at the beginning of the year. In some cases, a management plan may be requested, e.g. for children with asthma or severe allergy. Please note that it would be appreciated if food containing nuts or traces of nuts

are not brought to Pre-Primary.

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Pre-Primary Information Letters

Pre-Primary staff will email informing you of the events in Pre-Primary and advising you of other important notices. Please ensure that you let us know if

your email address changes. The school publishes a newsletter every Thursday, known

as ‘The Scholar’. This is available on the school website. General messages will be published on the boards outside the classroom. Each child has an A4 clear envelope which will be brought to school daily. This envelope will be a communication folder for notes

coming home or notes being returned to school. Please check this folder daily.

Pillows Your child’s pillow from Kindergarten will be used in Pre-Primary for rest time.

Please bring the pillow with its case on your child’s first day of Pre-Primary. Pillows will be

sent home for washing as needed.

Specialist Sessions

The Pre-Primary program includes one fifty minute session a week of; Library, Italian,

Music, Health and Physical Education. Children need their library bags on library day. Specialist days and times will follow in the PP News and will also be posted on our classroom door.

Each week your child has the opportunity to select and take home a library book. This book is to be returned the following week on your child’s library day. Another book cannot

be taken out until the previous book is returned. Please ensure correct care is given to all books on loan. Your child will need a clearly marked library bag that will be taken to and from Library.

Early Childhood Playground The adventure playground is out of bounds both before and after school to all children, including siblings. This is a school rule and we ask for parents’

cooperation in this matter.

Excursions and Incursions Educational excursions and incursions are an important part of our learning

program. Parents are advised of upcoming events via the school newsletter and by a note. Excursions and incursions in Pre-Primary may be linked to a relevant

theme or be just for the enjoyment. Please return permission notes promptly, as we are

unable to take your child on excursion without signed permission.

Religious Celebrations Pre-Primary children will participate in school Masses during Terms 2, 3 and

4. The children will be seated in the front of the church in their classes. Parents are encouraged to attend school Masses and seating is provided in designated areas. The children also celebrate class Liturgies. Parents will be

advised of these celebrations and are encouraged to attend.

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Assembly The Pre-Primary children will attend and participate in school assemblies from Term 2. These assemblies are held in the Shared Facility and are advertised on the Term planner

and in the Newsletter. Parents are welcome to attend and if your child is receiving a Merit Award, you will be informed via email or written note prior to the assembly so that you can attend. Please check your email regularly and inform staff if you are temporarily

unable to access it.

On Site Speech and Language Pathology

Should a child need further assistance with the development of speech, you can access the services of a Speech Pathologist on site if you wish. There are costs associated with this, which are arranged between you and the Speech Pathologist.

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PARENT INVOLVEMENT Collaborative Learning Community

“Parents, teachers and children working together to facilitate learning.” Barry Dwyer

Working Together The primary role of a Catholic school is to support parents in the faith education of their children. Parents play an integral role in the life of

the school and can contribute in many positive ways to the education of their children. When children see their parents and teachers sharing common beliefs, attitudes and goals, they feel more secure

and demonstrate a greater sense of self worth.

Parental Involvement

Parents are involved at Our Lady’s Assumption School As parent helpers in the classroom, particularly in areas such as literacy activities, art

and craft and physical education.

As volunteer helpers for various activities such as canteen, library, uniform committee, busy bees, or helpers on excursions.

As members of the school community they elect and may be elected as members of the School Board.

As parents in the school they are members of the Parents and Friends Association and may be elected to serve on the committee each year

By supporting various social functions and fund raising activities held throughout the school year.

Parents, as outlined in the Enrolment Policy, commit to an active participation in the life of the school.

The Importance of Confidentiality Any quality interaction with others in the course of day to day living requires respect for their dignity and privacy. Confidentiality, commitment, consistency trust and respect are all essential

elements in establishing and maintaining effective relationships and meaningful interactions. These principles are of particular importance for any person involved in the welfare and education

of children. It is the responsibility of any person involved with children and consequently, his or her family, to have respect for the dignity and the privacy of the child and the child’s family. Whether that involvement stems from a formalised paid position or from a less formalised and voluntary capacity, it is essential that trust and confidentiality is preserved and protected at all

times. There is a greater awareness today, generally, on the part of the community, of the ethical and

moral issues involved in dealing with information concerning others. There are several generally accepted guidelines and principles that organisations and professionals abide by or utilise. Within the Catholic Education system of Western Australia, policy guidelines on the use of confidential

and sensitive information in school were developed and endorsed by the Catholic Education Commission in 1993. All persons working with children and their families in Catholic schools in Western Australia are required to adhere to these guidelines at all times.

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PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

We believe that all children have the right to a safe and nurturing environment, where their capabilities are recognised and strengthened. Our educational philosophy is

based on The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia and the Catholic ethos.

The values that underpin the philosophy of Early Childhood Education at Our Lady's Assumption School are:

We acknowledge that the parents are the child’s first and most enduring educators.

Families are central to a child’s education, so active participation of parents and others will contribute greatly to the child’s learning and development.

Education is directed to the development of the child’s personality and abilities, of respect for his or her parents, for human rights, for the natural environment and for his or her own cultural and social identity and values and those of others.

A stimulating, secure environment maximizes the child’s early learning. The child needs to develop respect, compassion and empathy for others.

Early childhood educators model behaviours by demonstrating respect and esteem for children, parents, colleagues, families and communities, as well as openness to different ideas, perspectives and ways of encouraging expression.

Early childhood educators are respected as competent and capable teachers, with specific skills and knowledge to stimulate children’s learning and guide behaviour.

Our curriculum and pedagogy is based on the belief that:

Play-based experiences are meaningful, and through active exploration a child gains confidence, learns strategies for thinking and reasoning and develops working theories for making sense of the natural, social, physical and material worlds.

Responsive and reciprocal relationships between adults and children supports the child’s cognitive and social/emotional development.

A child learns best when he/she is engaged in tasks that are interesting, make sense, connect with and value previous experiences and add depth, meaning and joy to learning.

Quality early learning experiences provide a significant basis from which foundations of literacy, numeracy, learning, behaviours and future life opportunities can be developed.

Learning opportunities need to be tailored so that they are relevant to the individual child, acknowledge and engage with specific cultural background and respond to special or additional needs.

“Play is the highest form of research.” ~ Albert Einstein (scientist)

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PLAY AND ACTIVE EXPLORATION POLICY

EARLY YEARS LEARNING FRAMEWORK Play is one of the foundations of the Early Years Learning Framework.

RATIONALE Children learn the skills necessary to effectively participate in their world through play. Play and discovery provides children with natural opportunities to engage in concrete and meaningful activities that enhance physical, language, social and cognitive development. During play, children

increase their knowledge and understanding of self, others and the physical world around them.

BELIEFS

We as early childhood professionals at Our Lady's Assumption School believe play is the tool by which children learn. We provide play opportunities according to the children’s developmental needs, interests and learning outcomes. The skills and understanding covered during early

childhood provide children with the building blocks for future learning.

PROGRAM

The Early Childhood Education Program at Our Lady's Assumption School is viewed as a learning journey and is built upon throughout the early years. Teachers use the Early Years Learning Framework to assist your child to develop the following five learning goals:

a strong sense of identity

connections with their world a strong sense of well being

confidence and involvement in their learning; and effective communication skills.

Play experiences are important for the development of: Cognition: As children are encouraged to explore and manipulate objects and materials in their environment, cognitive skills are developed and challenged. Children gain confidence as they

experience fun and success in play. This increased confidence encourages children to further explore their world and to seek out even more challenging activities. Ideas and concepts expressed by children during play increase and become more complex as their play skills increase and become more complex.

Language Development: Play is also important for the development of children's language skills. Children experiment with language during play and use words to express their thoughts and ideas. As children become more sophisticated in their play skills, their language development

becomes equally sophisticated. Children use language during play to solve problems and to communicate their needs. Social Development: During play, children are provided with opportunities for social interaction

with peers. Children learn the importance of social rules and how to get along with others through play. It is during this social interaction that children learn to express and control their emotions and to resolve conflicts with others.

Physical Development: A child's motor development becomes increasingly more advanced through the physical activity that play naturally provides. Fine motor skills are developed through the manipulation of toys and materials. Large motor skills are developed through fundamental

movement skills.

‘Play is the beginning of knowledge’ (Anon)

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Our Lady's Assumption School has a duty of care to provide a safe, healthy and supportive environment for all staff and students.

Immunisation and Medic Alert

The immunisation status of each child will be checked upon entry into Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Pre-Primary and Primary School. Medic Alert

The parent of any child with a serious medical condition requiring urgent medical attention need to contact the school administration and fill out the necessary documentation. The school principal and class teacher needs also to be

notified.

Sickness Policy

Please do not send children to school if they are unwell as this results in your child being upset

and spreads the illness and infection to other students and teachers. Parents will be contacted if their child is too sick to remain at school, or injured during the day, so please keep emergency contact details current.

Clothing and Sun Protection

It is important that children wear comfortable clothing, that allows them to be active and

participate fully in all types of activities. We encourage independence, therefore, clothing must be manageable for toileting. Children must wear sensible footwear, such as runners, sandals or enclosed shoes, that they are

able to safely climb and play in. Velcro shoes instead of laces are encouraged. No high heels, thongs or backless shoes. Hats are compulsory for outside play. There is a ‘No Hat No Play’ policy at Our Lady's Assumption School. Parents are encouraged to apply sunscreen to children before coming to school.

For safety reasons, jewellery is not allowed to be worn at school, with the exception of small stud earrings.

Toileting

In the event of a toileting accident, wet clothing will be placed in a plastic bag and into their school bag. If soiled, the child will be made as clean and comfortable as possible

and, if necessary, parents will be contacted to pick up their child. Parents are required to provide at least one change of clothing to be kept in their child’s bag (please ensure clothing is appropriate to the weather).

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Medication

All medication for high risk children is kept in separate containers in the medical room. All medication received by high risk children must be recorded. Medication will not be administered to

any child unless parents have completed authorisation forms.

Communicable Diseases

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES Parents are requested to inform the school if a child has had a communicable/infectious disease and are required to observe the exclusion from school period. Public Health Department

recommendations for most common infectious diseases are listed below. Disease Period of exclusion Chicken Pox Until scabs healed. Conjunctivitis Until discharge from eyes has ceased. Diphtheria Until medical certificate of recovery

NB Contacts excluded also. German Measles Until at least 4 days after onset of rash. Glandular Fever Until child is well. Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease Until all blisters have crusted.

Head Lice Until treatment has commenced. Hepatitis A Until medical certificate of recovery is received. Hepatitis B & C Not necessary.

Measles At least 4 days after the onset of the rash. Mumps At least 9 days after onset of symptoms. Ring Worms Until the day after treatment has commenced.

Scabies Until mites and eggs are destroyed. Whooping Cough For 2 weeks from onset of illness or for 5 days after starting

antibiotic treatment

Healthy Eating

We promote a healthy and nutritious approach to food at school. We ask that all food given to children is beneficial to their growth and development, so treats such as lollies, chocolates, chips,

etc are not allowed. Children are required to bring a labelled drink bottle, filled with water, to school everyday.

Please refer to the school website for further information on the Health Policy.