Upper Yarra Secondary College

 

Policies and Procedures:

 

 

 

 

Bell Times 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 Day Timetable

 

The College runs on a ten day (or two week) timetable. Students will need to remember which week of the ten day timetable is operating.  The week (A or B) is printed in the student bulletin each day.  Students will need to make sure they copy BOTH weeks of their timetable into their student planner.

 

Homework Policy

 

The development of good study habits is an important aspect of every child’s education. As a general rule, students should be completing the following amount of homework:

 

 

The amount of homework will vary from class to class, but students almost always have homework, whether it is work to complete from that day or an ongoing project.

 

There are two ways of doing homework:

• to the best of a students ability within the time available, or

• just enough to “scrape through.”  Such work does not reflect a student’s best effort.  We ask parents to join with staff in assisting their children to aim higher than this bare minimum.

 

Students should also be encouraged to read for at least thirty minutes each night, eg just before lights out.

 

 

College Diary

 

All students are required to purchase a college diary each year. The purposes of the diary are:

• to provide a ready reference to the college’s policies, eg rules and procedures

• to provide parents with  tear-out Absence Notification forms and Out of Uniform Advice Slips

• to assist students to develop good time management skills and to ensure they meet deadlines for work submission

• to enable parent to monitor the amount of homework given to their children

 

We ask parents to regularly check and sign their children’s diaries to help ensure they are used as intended.

 

 

Additional Help

 

The college does provide additional assistance for students by arranging for them to receive individual help through our Integration Program.

 

 

Accidents and Injuries

 

If a student feels unwell, they are referred to the staff member in charge of sickbay.  If the illness is serious, parents are requested to take the student home.  In the case of accidents or injuries, we will attempt to obtain parental consent prior to seeking medical treatment.  Medication will not be given to students simply on their request.

 

 

 

Buses

 

The Department of Education provides free transport for students who live further than 4.8 km from the college provided they are attending their neighbourhood school.

 

Correct behaviour by students is essential to ensure safety.  College rules apply to students waiting for, travelling on and alighting from a school bus.  Suspension from bus travel may result from serious misbehaviour.

 

Students are allotted to specific buses.  A request for a permanent change must be received from the parent in writing. A bus pass will be issued on a written request from the parent for a one-day change.

 

 

Houses

 

All students in the college are allocated to a house, which forms the basis for swimming and athletic sporting competitions. The four houses are:

 

 

 

Absences

 

Punctuality and regular attendance are essential to a child’s success at school.

 

If a student's absence is not reported to the school, the parents will receive an automatic SMS (around 11:00 am) advising them that their child is not at school.

 

 

If a student will be absent for a longer period of time, parents should notify the level co-ordinator and arrangements can be made to send work home.

 

Multiple unexplained absences are followed up by the college with parents as a safeguard against truancy and to maximise students learning time.

 

Lost Property

 

Lost belongings are given to the teacher in charge of lost property.  Parents should assist by ensuring that all property (clothing and equipment) is clearly labelled with the student’s name.

 

 

Student Participation

 

Students may become involved in the college’s decision-making processes by:

1.   Action Groups -

     Students are elected at each year level to represent their home groups. Their role is to listen to student requests, suggestions or complaints and raise these for discussion at meetings with level coordinators.  After solutions or actions are decided, students report back to their home group.

 

2.   Student Representative Council (S.R.C.) -

     Each action group selects members to represent them on the SRC, which discusses matters affecting students at all, levels in the college.  The SRC meets regularly and sets out short and long term goals.

 

3.   School Council -

     Members from the SRC attend School Council meetings.  This is an extremely important role and carries the even greater responsibility of representing all students as well as involvement in decisions affecting the whole college.

 

 

Parent Participation

 

Student outcomes are best promoted by parents, students and teachers assuming a shared responsibility for our children’s education.

 

We seek to involve parents in the college by:

 

1.   School Council -

     The School Council is responsible, within overall Department of Education policy guidelines, for the education policies of the college. This responsibility covers all aspects of policy eg, college facilities, employment of ancillary staff, finances, uniform and discipline policy.

     Half the positions on Council are reserved for parents of current students.

 

 2.  Reporting and Assessment Policy -

     This policy is designed to ensure parents are kept informed of their children’s   progress at college.

 

3.   Parent Information Sessions -

     These seek to inform parents about college programs.

 

4.   Individual Consultation -

     There is a standing invitation for parents to make an appointment with staff to discuss issues of concern.

 

5.   Parent Surveys -

     These seek to obtain parent opinion and are a valuable basis for policy development.

 

6.   Newsletter -

     We produce a weekly newsletter for all parents and students to keep them informed of college activities and to recognise the achievements of our students. Dates for report distribution, parent/teacher interviews and curriculum days are published in the newsletter. Parents are asked to encourage students to be reliable in bringing the newsletter home each Monday.

 

 

SCHOOL FACILITIES:

 

Specialist Rooms

 

Science and Technology Centre:

We have modern Science and Technology Centre.  This means that our students have access to the very best facilities available in Science and Technology.  The curriculum is designed to maximise the use of the facilities.

 

Our college is extremely well provided with a range of specialist teaching spaces:

·      A large number of computer pods and laptop trolleys located throughout the school

·      Two home economic rooms

·      One textile/craft room and two art rooms

·      One pottery and jewellery room, a dark room for photography and a media room

·      Two woodwork rooms

·      Two metalwork / engineering rooms and an electronics room

·      Two graphics rooms

·      A well-equipped, modern Science and Technology centre

·      A VCE centre with a student common room and private study facility

·      A theatre for dramatic and musical performances

·      One music teaching area and smaller rooms used for individual tuition

·      One full sized gym and another indoor games area

 

 

Research Centre

 

The research centre includes, in its excellent facility, a wide range of print and audio-visual resources plus a number of computers, allowing research using access to the internet and the Education Channel.]

 

 

UYSC Art Gallery

 

Our gallery provides a setting for the exhibition of creative work. It is registered as a public gallery for college and community use.  The gallery brings to the college and the involvement of community artists and provides a focal point for the exhibition of primary and post primary student work.

 

 

Outdoor  Recreation Areas

 

·      A Year 7 Recreation Area with shade-sails, fitness equipment and all-weather playing space

·      A Year 8 and 9 Recreation Area with shade-sails and space for passive recreation

·      A VCE Recreation Area with shade-sails and space for passive recreation

·      A huge sealed play area comprising four basketball courts and marked for a variety of outdoor activities

·      Multiple tennis court area

·      The “Julie Wiggerink” fitness track surrounds the perimeter of the school grounds

·      Two sporting field areas

·      An additional outside, hard court, basketball court

 

 

Gymnasium

 

The gymnasium includes a full sized basketball / volleyball / badminton stadium, carpeted indoor activity space and weight training area.  It is complemented by a modern catering facility, which serves as the College’s canteen.

 

 

Canteen

 

The canteen is open for students each day at recess, lunchtime and after school.

 

 

Maintenance Program

 

We believe that it is important that our students have pleasant and attractive surroundings to attend school in and that they learn to care for them.  Air Conditioning is provided in many of the classrooms.

 

 

UNIFORM POLICY

 

UYSC School Council, with the overwhelming support of the college community, is authorised by the Director of School Education to require students to wear a prescribed uniform.

 

Council believes school uniform gives students identity and self-respect, enhances the wider community’s perceptions of our college and is a cost saving way of clothing our students while at school.  It guarantees that safe, modest and appropriate clothing is worn and also assists teaching staff in identifying unwelcome visitors.  The uniform has been designed to allow some flexibility of dress, with comfort and warmth being given high priority.

 

While the college expects that students attend in full uniform every day, we understand that, on occasion, this may not be possible.  In such situations, we ask that parents:

1. Provide their child with a note explaining the uniform variation and requesting a uniform pass and

2. Attire them in clothes which closely approximate uniform.

 

In cases of emergency, the college may be able to lend an item of uniform for the day.

 

On the occasional out-of-uniform day, students are required to dress with discretion.

 

 

GIRLS

 

 

BOYS

 

 

Students may wear black runners

 

All uniform items must be free of logos (other than that of the college) and of coloured stripes, stitching and designs

 

Uniform Supplies

 

Official college uniform is supplied by Fairmark through the Uniform Shop at the College.

The Uniform Shop is open every Monday and Thursday at lunchtime and other designated times, notification of which occurs in the College Newsletter.

 

 

 

Happy, well cared for students are successful students.  It is our college’s aim to assist all our students to achieve their potential and enjoy their time at the college.  Staff are willing to give extra help outside class time provided the student is using class time conscientiously.

 

Students with special learning difficulties are assisted by personal tuition from our integration teachers and aides.

 

Students with personal problems are able to make an appointment to talk to their level co-ordinator or student welfare co-ordinator.

 

 

Student Welfare Co-ordinators

 

At UYSC we have a strong commitment to the welfare of our students.  A Student Services Department has been created to co-ordinate a wide range of external agencies engaged to provide counselling support extending across career information, course selection at tertiary level, employment matters and welfare support.  The College conducts a well established chaplaincy program.  We are privileged to have the services of a school nurse for two and a half days a week.  The College also operates a student mentoring program.

 

 

Chaplain

 

The student and family welfare dimension of UYSC is significantly extended by the appointment of a Chaplain to the college.  Our Chaplain has considerable experience with families, adults and teenagers.  She is a caring person of great experience and many skills.  Her role within the college includes team-teaching, counselling and family support.  We urge parents to assist us in funding the Chaplaincy position by making the specific voluntary contribution included on the Voluntary Contributions list.

 

 

Home group Teachers

 

Home group is conducted for the first 10 minutes of each school day.  One of the functions is to perform an administrative role, such as, reading of daily bulletins, notification of daily activities, marking of attendance rolls, follow up of student absences.  Home group teachers offer a regular point of contact for students and parents.  They provide support for students and assistance with college processes and procedures.

 

 

Payment of College Contributions, Camps and Excursions

 

No child should be embarrassed through an inability to pay for any college activity.  Arrangements can always be made through the Bursar to suit the ability of the parent to pay.  Such arrangements are always treated in strict confidence.  Early discussion of these matters often assists in ensuring that students do fully participate in all curricular activities.

 

 

After School Work Program

 

To assist students who wish to raise funds for an education expense, the college has an After School Work Program.  Students may arrange with the Assistant Principals to undertake after school work to earn credits to offset the cost of school charges, camps and activities.