WE OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR CHILD TO DEVELOP:

PRIMARY INFORMATION

Children learn by doing and through a variety of experiences

Children have the opportunity to begin school when they have turned 5.

We allow continuous intake into the vertically grouped  Junior Primary classes throughout terms 1, 2 and 3 with a final intake on the first day of term 4.  New reception students do not attend school on Wednesdays for the first ten weeks.

Your child will spend a minimum 10 terms and maximum 13 terms at school in Junior Primary before he/she goes on to year 3.

We feel that self-discipline develops when children are faced with determining priorities.

We believe that homework helps in indicating to the child that learning is part of a life-long process.  But most importantly we believe that homework is a means for children to share learning experiences with their parents.

Junior Primary Requirements:  Oral work, mainly reading to parents nightly.

Middle & Upper Primary:  At the discretion of the class teacher - this may include written work and oral reading.

20-30 minutes per night is the most time we would expect students to spend on homework, and teachers may choose to set homework for between 2 and 4 nights per week. Teachers will inform you of their specific requirements at the beginning of each year.

The Education Department Policy ‘Educating for the 21st Century’ states:

The Education Department of South Australia has a charter to provide education based on the following premise.

All young people in South Australia have the right to gain, through the public schooling system, a broad and balanced education that prepares them for the effective participation in society.

Putting this charter into practice requires a commitment on the part of each Education Department school and service to provide and maintain high quality schools which support the development of every student.  It requires all those who work within the education system to do the following things.

Encourage students to become independent learners who can analyse, pose questions and persist in seeking answers.
Foster a spirit of enterprise in students and help them to approach change and unforseen circumstances in a positive and constructive way.

Develop in students the desire and capacity to learn effectively and to go on learning beyond school.

Develop schools and classrooms which are consistent with and demonstrate a set of moral and ethical values incorporating fairness, respect for self and others, honesty, cooperation and collaboration.

Involve the community

Value communication and develop a partnership with parents.

Communicate and participate with the local and wider community.

Work in partnership with business, industry, trade unions and the wider community to prepare students for life beyond school.

We strive to achieve these aims at our school.

Yorketown Area School is a school for students of the Southern Yorke Peninsula area.

We believe that the school, home and community are jointly responsible for developing a student’s awareness of his or her personal role in society.

We believe that each student should be encouraged to reach his or her potential in academic, cultural, intellectual, moral, physical and social areas.

We believe that each student should strive for the highest possible  achievement which is in keeping with his or her ability.

We believe that the school, community and home environment should assist, all students to learn and understand their world through a wide range of experiences in order that they may understand and appreciate the diversity of cultures, customs, traditions and ethics.

We believe that we should provide a caring, sharing, learning environment that is vibrant, energetic, relevant and student orientated.

The staff of Yorketown Area School agrees that commitment to these beliefs should assist each student to lead a fulfilling life. It is on the basis of these beliefs that the goals of the various faculties, committees and organisations of Yorketown Area School are set and applied .

We feel that self discipline develops when students are faced with determining priorities.

We believe that homework helps in indicating to the student that learning is part of a life-long process.  But most importantly we believe that homework can be a means for students to share learning experiences with their parents.   Year 8-10 students may be expected to do a minimum of three subjects per night each of twenty minutes in length.  This applies for Monday through to Thursday (no homework at the weekends).   Parents should note however that some homework, if students are working on assignments, may stretch over a number of homework periods.  Homework should be recorded in the students’ diary.  Year 11 and 12 students will be set homework as required.

PARENTS RESPONSIBILITIES

Please BEWARE of children on the roads, especially between 8.30 and 9.00am and between 3.00 and 3.30pm, if you are near the school.

Please take care not to park in the area marked for children to cross the road, in the bus zone or in the driveways.

Please instruct your child on how to cross roads safely.  

If your child rides a bike to school, please ensure that the bike is road worthy and that your child knows the road rules.

Please send any money to school in a secure manner.  We do not take responsibility for the loss of money or any other valuables.

Please send an explanatory note to school whenever your child is absent or late.

Fortnightly newsletters are sent home with your eldest child.  We encourage you to read them WITH your child.  Please return any tear-off slips promptly.

Children are not permitted to leave the school grounds during school time unless they have the written permission of the parents or unless their parents call for them personally.

The Principal may give permission for children to leave the grounds under special circumstances.

Lunch passes are issued to students who go home for lunch each day.  Students will need  a diary note from parents, countersigned by their homegroup teacher, before being issues with their lunch passes.

Lost articles are kept at the front office.  Your child’s name written on ALL articles brought to school will help minimise the number or articles lost.

Please organise a regular, safe place to meet your child after school.

Please ensure that your drive 25kms per hour when passing the school.

SCHOOL SERVICES

Books

Encyclopaedia

Cassettes

Games

Videos

CD’s

Magazines

3 week loan

Overnight loan only

3 week loan

For use within the school

3 day loan

3 week loan

3 week loan

Public access to computers / Internet 

The Community Library is open to the public during school terms from 8.45am - 5.00pm.  It is also open 6.30 - 8.30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays and until 6.00pm on Fridays.  The Library is open during school holidays.

Everyone is encouraged to use the Library at any of these times.  Entry and exit from the Library is restricted to the two doors nearest the desk.

Please encourage your child to be responsible for her/his own library books.  A library bag is a useful device for protecting books.

Our school canteen is open at recess time and at lunch time until 1.25pm.   The canteen relies on voluntary help, and parents are encouraged to register their services each year.

Profits from the canteen are returned to the school as part of our fund raising efforts.

Lunch bags and price lists are available from the canteen.

School banking is available through the school every Tuesday.  Please ask for an application form from the front office.

Government assistance through the Education Department is available for families experiencing financial difficulties.   Details are available from the front office.  Approvals are only valid for twelve months.

Education Department personnel are available to assist children with special need.

C&YHS / CAMHS and FAYS

Speech Pathologist

Educational Psychologist (Guidance Officer)

Special Education Support Teachers

Camps, sleep-ins and excursions are an important part of our learning programme.

They are organised by class teachers, assisted by parents.

This organisation gives Upper Primary children the opportunity to be part of sports teams representing SYP.

Teams compete in Country Carnivals in Adelaide.  Sports include Netball, Softball, Cricket, Tennis, Football, Athletics, Basketball, Hockey and Cross Country.

Children may attend vacation Learn to Swim Campaign instruction during January at Pt. Turton, Stansbury or Edithburgh.  Details are published in the Country Times.

A term time swimming programme will operate in term 1 and/or term 4.

PARENTS INVOLVEMENT

·         The Library

·         The Canteen

·         School Council

·         Parents and Friends

·         School Council Sub-committees

·         Classroom programmes

·         Excursions and camps

·         School administration – eg book covering etc

·         Learning assistance programmes

·         Developing school grounds

·         Developing playground equipment

·         Helping supervise groups of children

·         Attending meetings

·         Maintaining school facilities

·         Being a resource person

·         Participating in learning activities

·         Taking an active interest in your child’s learning

·         Coaching children etc

Parent/Teacher Information Meetings

Open Nights

Newsletters

Parent/Teacher Interviews

Through children's diaries (Yrs R-7)

Special School Events

Informal visits to the school

Letters to and from home

Telephone calls

Progress Reports

Managing school finances

Overseeing school facilities

Representing the needs of the whole school to the community

Informing others about educational issues

If you are not a Governing Council member, you can still be involved by:

Becoming a co-opted member of Governing  Council

Fundraising Committee

Curriculum Committee

Participating at working bees

Attending meetings, especially the Annual General Meetings

Attending fundraising or social functions

Becoming involved in the Parents and Friends

Welcoming new parents to the school

 Exploring and discussing educational issues 

Organising fundraising and social events

Supporting school proposals and activities

Assisting with buying new materials and equipment