Safety
To ensure student safety, the following procedures have been developed:
On arrival at school children should make their way to the lineup area for their class Children move to classes on the bell.
Class rolls are taken at the beginning of each day and a list of children absent is sent to the office. It is important that children are in attendance at the beginning of the school day.
If your child is late for school, please take them to the administration building first so that we can update records.
If your child is absent for the day, please ring the front office on 6142 0900
If children are absent without explanation, administration staff will contact parents as via an SMS message
School Governance
The School Board helps to foster productive relationships between the parents/carers and the school. It also assists in the development of school policies, the allocation of funds and the development of school curriculum. Board members require no previous experience; all that is required is an interest in the educational process and the well being of the children, parents/carers and staff of the school. The School Board is constituted under the ACT Schools Authority Ordinance, which gives legal functions and power to the Board. The School Board is elected annually and comprises:
- The Principal of the school (as Executive Officer)
- Three parent/carer representatives (one of whom is elected Chairperson)
- Two teacher representatives
- A Directorate nominee
- Pre-school member
- Two student members
SLC
The Namadgi Student Leadership Council (6-10) and Kids Council (K-5) gives students a voice in the decision making processes within the school.
Special Needs
This committee is formed by the Deputy Principals, Special Needs Executive Teacher, Counsellor, Learning Assistance and other teachers as appropriate. Throughout the year each child’s learning and/or social and emotional development is monitored and programs developed and evaluated for children identified as requiring support.
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden
Our school has been running and building the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program for the last four years. This program enables the students to grow vegetables and fruits from seeds to harvesting and bring them into the kitchen to cook. The children learn about composting, preparing garden beds, testing soil, what plants to grow when; how to correctly use garden and kitchen tools; and many skills that will help them through out their life.
Food, glorious food!
Food is essential to all of us. The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation’s approach emphasises engagement through pleasurable sensory experiences. Cooking and gardening heighten and help refine our sensory experiences and as well give context to the development of our capacities to think and talk about our understanding of physical and imaginary worlds.
From little things big things grow
We care about the things we love and for many of us it is why we care for The Earth. Our children need the space and time to enjoy the natural world. Stephanie Alexander has been owner and chef of our finest restaurants. Her concerns about our society’s abuse of food, and the sensory harm it is inflicting on children and families, saw her create what has become the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation. The curriculum materials provided assist to integrate literacy, maths, science and art. The website is designed to upload and document activities and recipes which can then be shared with other participating schools.
How are attitudes to food formed?
Global food markets and corporate retailing dominate food production and consumption. Working together, aiming for success, hands-on effort and the pleasures they bring, actively engage students in an attitude where they are able to critically think about how most of our food is produced. Growing, cooking and eating food means we can meet the diverse learning needs of our students and provide a curriculum, of significance and rigour. Rich, tangible connections can be made to all areas of the curriculum: chemistry, biology, geography, and literacy, maths, health and the arts.
Web links
https://www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au/
http://www.stephaniealexander.com.au/
http://www.fedup.com.au/ For information about the effects of food on behaviour, health and learning in both children and adults, and support for families.
Namadgi School is also an A Fresh Tastes School and ACT Smart School https://goodhabitsforlife.act.gov.au/fresh-tastes/
http://www.actsmart.act.gov.au/home
Student Management
Our policy is based upon our respect for the child as an individual and is designed to enable children to learn to solve their own problems. The Building Quality Relationships Policy and Guidelines provides the underlying philosophy of Choice Theory whereby children learn they are able to make choices, that there are consequences flowing from all choices and that in addition to their rights, they also have responsibilities to others. Children choosing behaviour which infringes upon the rights of others will be given assistance by staff (often in consultation with parents) to develop more effective behaviour.
Student Support
We value open communication with families to ensure the needs of each student are met. Support is available through:
- School Psychologists
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Officer
- Pastoral Care Co-ordinator
- Youth Support Worker
- School Health Nurse
- Differentiated curriculum in the classroom
- English and other languages or dialects (EALD) program
- Access and referral to other student services and agencies, eg Therapy ACT
- Enrichment activities and opportunities
- Learning Support Assistants (LSAs)
- Individual Learning Plans (ILPs)
- Personalised Learning Plans (PLPs)
- Case Management Team