From the Principal and Assistant Principal
Congratulations to Our Students!
We are incredibly proud of how well our students have adapted to the new start and finish times. It’s fantastic to see everyone arriving on time to homeroom each morning, ready to begin their day of learning. With the last bus arriving before 8:10 am, students have a few minutes to make their way to homeroom for an 8:15 am start.
When students arrive at school, they must move directly to the COLA. Students should not be in any other areas of the school.
While overall attendance has been excellent this term, students have been reminded that if they arrive late, they must sign in at the Front Office. Parents and carers will need to explain any absences via Compass, and it's important to note that these absences will appear on your child’s Semester Reports. Interestingly, many of the students who arrive late are those who live closest to the school and walk or ride their bikes. We encourage these students to leave home a little earlier to ensure they arrive on time.
Afternoon Buses
Our afternoon dismissal process has also improved. What used to take 40-45 minutes for all buses to depart now takes just 15 minutes, thanks to the new bus timetables. We have added additional staff to bus duty to assist with directing students to their buses. With 13 buses leaving in a very short time frame, it’s essential that all students follow staff instructions to ensure safety and efficiency.
Please remind your child of these important expectations:
- There is no need for students to leave class early. Teachers will not release students from classes until the bell rings at 2:40 pm.
- Students should wait on the grass of the Netball Courts until their bus is called.
- Only move to the bus bay when your bus is called over the PA, not when the transport app on their phone indicates its arrival. This helps us safely manage the flow of students, buses and traffic.
- Follow staff directions at all times. Sometimes the bus driver may need to stop boarding temporarily to move forward down the bus bay to reduce traffic congestion.
- No ball games and a hands-off policy apply at all times while waiting for buses.
Pedestrian Safety on Church Street
We would like to remind students of the importance of road safety when crossing Church Street before and after school. All students must use the Pedestrian Refuge Island located just outside the back gate of the school. While this area allows for crossing in two stages, it is not a formal pedestrian crossing, and students must give way to vehicles.
Students are encouraged to show courtesy by waving to thank drivers who stop or slow down to allow them to cross. Please also remind your child not to cross in other areas, especially between buses in the bus bay, for their own safety.
Students Driving to School
A reminder to our senior students who drive to school to please respect our neighbours’ properties by not parking in front of driveways and maintaining the required distance between the curb and your vehicle. In NSW, the rules clearly state that you cannot park on or across a driveway.
Also, please avoid parking in front of garbage bins on collection days, as this can prevent them from being emptied and causes inconvenience to the owners. Bins are collected on Monday mornings on Church Street and Macquarie Street.
Finally, we ask all students to follow road rules, drive with caution around the school, and show respect for other road users and our neighbours. Safety is our top priority, and we appreciate your cooperation in keeping our school community safe and respectful.