Communication

Introduction and Context

Arndell Anglican College understands that open, clear and effective communication is vital to providing a mutually supportive environment for students to flourish and meet their full potential.  Open communication between staff, parents and students can create positive and trusting relationships and can assist with the shared responsibility of student learning.

In order to achieve this, Arndell Anglican College provides a communication policy to outline the ways in which we will facilitate communication as well as the expectations, rights and responsibilities of staff, parents and students. 

We recommend that you make yourself familiar with the full policy, via the link above, parts of which have been included below.

Parent Portal and College App

Parents will need to set up access to the Parent Portal and College App, as these platforms are required for granting permissions, verifying absences, accessing reports and for other information from time to time.

Details on how to access your Parent Portal login will be emailed to parents of new students around the time of our annual orientation events.  Once you have logged into the Parent Portal you will be able to use the same credentials to set up and access the College App which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store.

Newsletters

The College publishes a fortnightly newsletter, The Advocate.  This publication is subscriber only and we encourage all families to subscribe by visiting the College website to subscribe using your email address.

Seesaw

Seesaw is an online classroom facility that teachers and students user to record and share what is happening in the classroom.  Seesaw gives students a place to document their learning journey, be creative and learn how to use technology.  Parents will be able to view photos, videos, voice recordings, drawings, text, PDFs and links relevant to your child.  Parents are notified when there are new Seesaw posts relevant to their own child, and all data is safe is and secure.

Your child’s teacher will post a weekly communication outlining learning experiences, special events and weekly programs related to the curriculum.  It is compulsory to have your child’s Seesaw account active and signed in on the Seesaw App.  For day to day communication we encourage you to utilise this tool to contact your child’s teacher[PF1] . 

For more information about Seesaw please visit https://web.seesaw.me/parents.

General College Communication with Parents

General college communication with parents will be facilitated through various platforms including verbal and non-verbal, structured and other means. A full overview of these platforms is outlined under Means of Communication.

Mutual courteous and respectful behaviour

Arndell Anglican College staff endeavour to be courteous and respectful with our students, parents and wider community and as such in return expect the same courteous and respectful communication from students and parents.

Parents are expected to abide by their obligations as set out in the Anglican Schools Corporation – Conditions of Enrolment at all times and in particular whilst communicating with College staff. Should a parent communicate with the College or a member of staff of the College in a manner, or using language, which is rude, aggressive or threatening, the College may in its absolute discretion:

• Cease all communication with that parent other than by providing reports of the student’s progress; or

• Refuse permission for the parent to enter College grounds and attend College activities and events; or

• Both of the above; or

• Terminate the enrolment of the parent’s student/s.

Extract from Application to Enrol:

Parents’ Obligations

The Parents:

Are to accept and abide by the requirements and directions of the School Council and Principal relating to the student or students generally and not interfere in any way with the conduct, management and administration of the School.

Are to communicate with students, parents, visitors and staff members in a courteous manner, and follow the communication guidelines laid down by the School

Early Collection

In the event that a child/ren needs to be collected prior to the end of day please email reception@arndell.nsw.edu.au or call the College Reception on 4572 3633 advising the time they are to be collected.  To facilitate the effective transfer of students to Reception for sign-out the College requires a minimum of 30 minutes notice prior to the collection time.  Parents are not to contact students directly.  Where a parent/carer contacts with less than 30 minutes notice the College will make all efforts but cannot guarantee the transfer of a student to Reception to meet the required collection time.

Illness Occurring During the Day

In the event that a student becomes unwell throughout the day they are to present to the College Clinic for support.  Only following assessment and review will a call be made to any parent/guardian to collect their child/ren.  Students should not make direct contact with parents for this reason.

Access to Staff Areas and Classrooms across the College

Whilst Arndell Anglican College understands that, as an open campus, parents do have access to, in particular, the Junior School classrooms and staff we ask that you respect those busy times in the morning and afternoon.  Teachers at these times are preparing for the day or preparing students to leave.  If you need to speak with a staff member for a length of time it would be appreciated if you could make an appropriate appointment.

Staff Areas are not areas where parents have access.  This applies across the College.

Communication Process

Arndell Anglican College have implemented a two-stream care framework – Pastoral and Academic Care.

If at any time a parent or guardian is unsure as to whom to direct your enquiry or concern to, please contact College reception in the first instance.

Arndell Anglican College staff are provided with an email facility that allows communication between staff, with students and with parents.  Please note that staff may, from time to time contact students for assessment or mentoring purposes and parents outside the normal school day via email.  However, staff are not expected to respond to email communication on weekends, school holidays or after 4:30pm on school days unless this has been staff initiated.

Staff will acknowledge your enquiry, email, or call by the end of the next working day following receipt of your enquiry.

In the Junior School the Seesaw platform is often used as a means of communication between parents and staff instead of email, the same expectations for email communication translate to Seesaw communications.

Arndell Anglican College will seek to arrange a mutually convenient time for staff and parents to meet to discuss enquires and concerns.  When seeking to arrange a meeting parents should make a formal appointment for either a telephone or face-to-face meeting.  Face-to-face meetings will be facilitated and conducted in the College Main Administration building or in the classroom where appropriate.

Parents and guardians are requested to be mindful that due to the complexity of timetabling we will, wherever possible, seek to arrange relevant meetings within three working days of receiving a request.  Where possible parents / guardians are requested to provide two or three alternate meeting times so that we may facilitate this process as seamlessly as possible.

Pastoral Care Communication Process

Pastoral care enquiries should be addressed to the Class Teacher (for Junior School students) or Homeroom Tutor (for Secondary School students) by email or if unsure phone through College Reception on 02 4572 3633.

Parents should attempt to refer all school-related matters back to the College and must not approach other students or contact another student’s parents directly about such issues. The College seeks to work together to create a solution and provides this guideline as an approach to minimise exacerbating an issue which may hinder a resolution.

In the event that a parent or guardian wishes to extend any pastoral enquiry or concern, please refer to the below diagram. 

Depending upon the nature of the pastoral care concern a member of the College’s counselling services team and/or the Director of Wellbeing & Community Service may also be involved in addressing and resolving the concern.

Academic Care Communication Process

General curriculum enquiries should be addressed to the Class Teacher (for Junior School students) or Subject Teacher (for Secondary School students). The means of this communication can be via email or via phone through College Reception on 02 4572 3633.

In the event that a parent or guardian wishes to extend any academic enquiry or concern, please refer to the below diagram.

Depending upon the nature of the academic care concern the Head of School, a member of the College’s counselling services team, the Head of Inclusive Education and/or the Director of Wellbeing & Community Service may also be involved in addressing and resolving the concern.

Enquiries and Complaints

Where a parent or guardian is dissatisfied with the conduct or outcome of their communications with College staff, they are asked to lodge a complaint. Please refer to the College’s Complaints Handling Policy.

Means of Communication

Arndell Anglican College utilises the following means of communication in order to ensure ongoing effective communication with the College Community;

Please Note: Staff do not give out personal email addresses, engage with students via any form of Social Media or give out personal phone numbers.

Newsletters

• ‘The Advocate’ - fortnightly whole College newsletter

• ‘Sports Scene’ – our weekly sporting and associated activities newsletter

Media Platforms

• Arndell App (available for both Apple and Android devices)

• Weekly Digest of student activities (Secondary School only)

• Seesaw (Junior School only)

• Email – including information pertaining to the whole College, a year group, subject/class group or the student

• Social media channels - including Facebook.com/Arndell Anglican College and Instagram/Arndell Official

• Regular updates via the College website

• SMS

College supplied information / events

• College Calendar

• Parent / Teacher Interviews

• Notes, event forms and other written communication

• Letters by post – in the event that email is not possible or is deemed not appropriate

• School reports – end of semester written report for all students

• Assemblies and special presentations

• Parent information booklets and evenings

• ‘Focus’ – the annual College yearbook

Other Policies

The following policies / documents may apply in relation to this policy:

• Complaints Handling Policy