A-Z PARENT INFORMATION

Whole school assemblies are held each fortnight; Friday mornings 9:00am – 9:40am (approx.) and are usually held in the COLA. Each class hosts one assembly per year, providing an opportunity for students to share achievements and develop a culture of school belonging.

A roster is developed at the beginning of each year.

Year 6 & 7 students participate in a one day Aquatics program at West Lakes each year.

Students are invited to bank with the Commonwealth Bank. Application forms are available from Student Services.

Bank day is Monday. Money/bank books are collected in classrooms and sent to Student Services.

Our library staff coordinate the Scholastic Book Club. This club provides inexpensive, high quality literature. Book Club order forms are distributed to students and are to be returned with the correct money in a sealed envelope to the payment window if students wish to place an order.

Books will be distributed approximately three weeks after orders are sent.

Camps for students in Years 4 – 7 are held in alternate years.

Golden Grove Primary School Canteen has been established to benefit our students:

• by making it possible for all students to buy nutritious and dentally approved food at reasonable prices
• by providing a learning experience for students to make wise choices of food for maximum  health and fitness, thus complementing the school curriculum emphasis

Lunch and recess orders can all be placed via our Qkr app.

A canteen price list can be found on our website under Quick Links.

Volunteers are always welcome and appreciated. Enquires to Jackie Rowe, Canteen Manager on 8289 3137.

The Australian Curriculum is fully implemented at Golden Grove Primary School. We plan, implement, assess and report in curriculum areas of English, Mathematics, Science, Design & Technology, PE & Health, The Arts, Japanese and Science.

Diversity and depth is added to the curriculum by the provision of lessons in specific areas by specialist teachers. Students participate in lessons taught by these teachers in Physical Education, Design & Technology, Performing Arts, Japanese and Science.

In the Early Years, we believe that play is an important part of the learning process. Junior Primary students spend significant time in play-based activities as they learn predominantly through doing and experiencing. We would be happy to talk with you about your child being an active participant in his or her own learning.

Students are able to receive general dental care at the GPPlus Super Clinic Modbury, Level 1, 77 Smart Road, Modbury, phone 74258700.

Please contact the clinic directly to make appointments.

At times, teachers may request families provide certain items for use in the class. These may include an art shirt to protect their clothing, a box of tissues, liquid soap etc. Notes will be sent home to children if these items are required.

Department for Education regulations state that children born on or before April 30^th may enrol at school from the beginning of the year before they turn 5 years of age. 

Students with birthdays that fall on May 1^st or after will commence the following year.

Familiarisation of the school will occur throughout the year for children attending Golden Grove Kindergarten, with some formal transitions visits later in the year.

Excursions and cultural activities are an integral part of the school’s educational program. You will receive notification well in advance of these activities. Fees must be paid and consent forms returned before a child can participate. Children not attending class excursions are still required to attend school where learning activities and supervision will be provided.

The Governing Council works with the Principal to assist with setting and monitoring the broad direction of the school.

The Governing Council is elected annually at the school’s Annual General meeting. The Council meets twice per term and is the main parent decision making body. The 2021 Governing Council Chairperson is Mr. Wade Wilson.

We also have a number of sub committees that assist this process.

They include: Fundraising, Finance, Uniform, Canteen and OSHC Advisory.         

If you are interested in joining one of these committees, please let a member of our staff know.

We have an open door policy at Golden Grove Primary School and encourage you to speak to your child’s class teacher if you have any concerns. You may need to arrange a mutually suitable time in which to meet with the teacher.

If you still have concerns after your meeting with the class teacher or teacher concerned, please make an appointment to see a member of the leadership team. Our Grievance Procedures and Anti Bullying Policy can be found on our website.

We have adopted the Cancer Council recommendations whereby from September 1st to April 30th, all students wear a school coloured sun safe hat when they are outside.  Hats are available for purchase from the Uniform Shop.

Emergency Contacts/Sickness/Accidents

We keep Emergency Contact information for each child on file in the school. It is important that this information be kept up to date in regard to changes in address, telephone numbers, place of employment, medical problems and so on. Please inform our office of any changes via email to dl.1848.info@schools.sa.edu.au.

Medication Management Policy

DECD First Aid and Medication Management Policies require schools to store or supply medication to students only if the following important conditions are met:

• All medications to be administered at school must be accompanied by a Medication Authority form and a Health Care Plan for each medical condition. Forms are available from the school or Health Care professionals.
• All medications require a separate Medication Authority form. (Only one medication per authority)
• All Health Care Plans and Medication Authorities are current for 12 months only and are reviewed annually. (Although every effort is made to contact parents if medications/plans are due to be updated, this is the parents’ responsibility.)
• All medications to be administered at school must be in the original medication bottle or container and clearly labelled. Labelling must include the name of the student, dosage and time to be administered.
• The first dose of new medication should not be administered at school. The student should be supervised by an adult family member or a health professional when the first dose is administered in case of allergic reactions.
• Medication to be administered at school must not have passed the expiry date (under no circumstances will expired medication be administered). If a child presents with an emergency and the medication or plan is out of date, an ambulance will be called.

All of the above conditions are required to be met for any and all medications.  This includes but is not limited to:

• Prescription medications such as Antibiotics, EpiPens, Asthma medication etc.
• ‘Over the counter’ medications such as analgesics (panadol, herron etc), anti-inflammatory medication (ibuprofen, nurofen etc), as well as vitamins, supplements, topical creams/lotions etc.

Please note:  Except for diagnosed conditions that require regular medication (asthma, allergies etc), most medical conditions/complaints will not require the administration of medication during school hours.  For example, medication that is required to be taken 3 times per day can be taken before school, after school and at bedtime. 

For short term medical conditions (cold/flu, virus/bacterial infections etc.) we ask parents to give careful thought as to whether or not their child requires medication to be taken at school, and if they are unwell enough to require medication, consider if they are in fact well enough to be at school at all.  If it is decided that it is in the best interest of the child that medication is required then Medication Authorities and any relevant care plans must accompany the medication to school.

This above information also applies for all camps and excursions.

Homework is set for all students with the content varying depending on the year level of the child.

Year 6 & 7 students will usually have up to 45 minutes, 4 times each week and Years 3, 4 & 5 students 30 minutes, 4 times each week.

Students in JP classes will be expected to participate in various home reading activities and other activities as set by the class teachers.

If the temperature is 36 degrees or over at recess or lunchtime, students will remain indoors. Students will remain at school until normal dismissal time as all learning areas are air conditioned.

In the event of wet/inclement weather, students will also remain indoors.

Using the Library

The library is open from 8.30am until 3.30pm every day (when library staff are present) for borrowing and returning books. Students can exchange books daily during these times. 

Students have a regular weekly ‘Browse and Borrow’ time in the library with the Teacher Librarian and class teachers to enable them to select ‘just right books’.

Junior Primary students may borrow up to 2 library books at a time.  Year 3-6 students may borrow 3 books or more as needed. 

Books are on loan for two weeks.  If books become overdue a reminder note will be sent home fortnightly. Please see library staff if you think a book has been returned so that a search can be done. Lost or damaged books will incur a replacement fee.

Books can be returned daily to the classroom library box or directly to the library before or after school.

Guided Inquiry/Research Skills

The Teacher Librarian and class teachers work together to plan and teach information

literacy/research skills on topics within the class curriculum.  We also provide opportunities for students to use a range of information technologies including the internet to locate, organise, create, and communicate information. Plagiarism and the ethical use of the internet and other resources is a focus.

Premier’s Reading Challenge

Golden Grove Primary School participates very successfully in the PRC. Each year the Premier of South Australia rewards all children who read 12 books. Rewards start with a certificate and then progress through Bronze, Silver and Gold medals, followed by Champion, Legends and Hall of Fame medals.

The Premier’s Reading Challenge is part of our school literacy program. Books shared / read aloud by parents and teachers can be included. Each class teacher manages the program in their class according to the needs of students at their year level.  Some books in our library have coloured stickers to show that they are on the PRC list.  To find out more go to the PRC website https://premiersreadingchallenge.sa.edu.au/

Parents and the Library

We value the role that parents play in helping children to become independent information users with a love of reading.

You are welcome in the library with your child before or after school, to read together, help them select books and borrow.

Volunteers are always needed to help with processing new books.

Please see our library staff if you have any questions, problems or suggestions or would like to volunteer.

As Golden Grove Primary School is a large school, it is very important that all possessions are clearly named so they may be returned promptly if lost.

There are LOST PROPERTY bins in Student Services (admin area). For reasons of space and hygiene, items are stored for 2 weeks maximum, after which time named items are returned to their owners, and unnamed items donated to charity.

Cobber Creek OSHC operates on school grounds, open between 7AM-8:45AM before school, and 3:00PM-6:00PM after school. For more information, go to cobblercreekoshc.com.au.

We aim to report to parents regularly and comprehensively to ensure you are well informed about the progress, achievements and learning needs of your child.

Our reporting processes involve:

• Parent/Teacher Acquaintance Meetings, held mid Term 1
• A Semester 1 Student Report, issued at the end of Term 2
• Parent/Teacher/Student discussions, at the end of Term 3 (by request)
• An End of Year Student Report, issued at the end of Term 4

8:30am

Yard supervision begins, children enter the yard

8:50am
Classes commence

11:00 – 11:20am
Recess play

1:00 – 1:35pm

Lunch play

3:05pm

Dismissal

Students in the school yard prior to 8:30am and after 3:05pm are asked to book in and attend OSHC (fee applicable). Students remaining at school after this time will be taken to OSHC and parents will be required to pay for that service. Students remaining at school after this time will be taken to OSHC (fee applicable).

Materials and Services Charges (School Fees)

The School Fees for 2024 are $360 (prescribed sum) per student. School Fees contribute to the ongoing costs associated with curriculum delivery and resources. Invoices are issued each year and payments are due by the end of Term 1.

School Card Scheme

School Card is available to families whose income is within the annual guidelines. Enquiries regarding eligibility for School Card are made through the school office.

Money Collection/Payments

All money payable to the school is processed through the school office.

Money can be paid via the QKR app (see information on our website) or at the payment window, which is along the front verandah near the office.

Payment window openings are:

• Monday to Friday 8:30AM- 9:00AM.

Parents who are unable to pay via the payment window during the above times are welcome to leave payment at the office in an envelope labelled with your child’s name, Home Base and payment details. Cheques should be made payable to Golden Grove Primary School. EFTPOS facilities are available for transactions larger than $10 via the payment window or by phone. We prefer ordering online using the QKR app.

The Department for Education has declared all schools Smoke Free Zones. No smoking is permitted in buildings or on school grounds.

Students in Reception to Year 5 participate in a swimming program for one week each year. This subsidised swimming program aims to promote water safety and awareness.

Please see the Dress Code Policy on our website under the Plans, Reports and Policies tab on our website.

Our Uniform Shop is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 8.30 – 9.00am. Outside of these times, orders may be placed on a form available at the office or on QKR. QKR orders are delivered to students. We prefer ordering online using the QKR app.

We believe that volunteers make a significant contribution to the school community, and consequently student learning, by giving their time and sharing their skills and expertise with others. 

The Department for Education requires that all volunteers:

1. Undertake RAN (Responding to Abuse and Neglect) training online
2. Complete an online application for Working with Children screening
3. Attend a Volunteer training session at school. Training is held twice a term and you are able to book via the office.

Once you have become an approved volunteer we will issue you with a lanyard which we ask you to wear whilst on site.  All volunteers are also asked to sign in and out of our Visitor Books which are located in the office, Resource Centre, Botany and Canteen.

Teachers provide yard supervision:

• From 8:30am on the Hard Play and Botany areas
• At recess and lunch times on Hard Play 1, Hard Play 2, GGPS Playground, Oval, JP Playspace, Nature Play, Cobbler Creek Playground
• At the front of the school and at the two school crossings between 3:10 – 3:30pm

Students enter the yard from 8:30am. Students arriving before this time are to attend Out of School Hours Care (fee applicable).

At the end of the school day, students and parents are asked to leave the school grounds immediately following dismissal as there is no yard or playground supervision and these areas are used by OSHC.

Teachers and SSOs on duty wear brightly coloured vests so they can be easily seen and identified by students.