To ensure that your child has all of the necessary resources to begin Kindergarten in 2026, please purchase the items listed on the equipment list below.
The Kindergarten equipment list will be updated when completed.
Embedded Files
Uniforms
The Department of Education and Southern Cross Public School supports the wearing of school uniforms by students and the upholding of high standards of dress by students and staff.
Our school uniform is expected to be worn during school hours, while travelling to and from school, and while engaged in school activities out of school hours.
Parents and carers can purchase uniforms at The School Locker, Harvey Norman Centre, 26 Boeing Avenue, Ballina.
School uniforms can also be ordered and purchased online through The School Locker by going to https://theschoollocker.com.au/ , selecting 'shop by school', searching for Southern Cross Public School, and clicking on 'Uniforms'.
Canteen
Students can order their recess and lunch from the school canteen. These orders can also be placed online at flexischools.
CANTEEN MENU 2025
CANTEEN MENU 2025
Communication
At Southern Cross Public School we encourage constructive and purposeful engagement. We appreciate parents making contact with the school and keeping us informed about their children. Our school has a culture of encouraging parent/teacher communication. The support provided to individual children and the students as a whole can be maintained at a high level in such an environment.
There are several ways that we communicate with our community. It is imperative parents and carers have access to electronic forms of communication to assist with the delivery of information, particularly information that may be the result of unforeseen circumstances and needs to be communicated quickly.
Notes: School notes will be distributed electronically via email, and will be placed on our Sentral Parent Portal and School Website. If you require any of our notes in paper form, please contact the administration office. Notes requiring signed permission from parents/carers will be placed on our Sentral Parent Portal, school website, and may also be distributed in paper form.
It is important that all parents/carers provide the school with updated email contact details and register for our Sentral Parent Portal so important information is not missed. If you require assistance with registering for the Parent Portal, please contact the administration office.
Sentral Parent Portal and App: The Sentral for Parents portal and app will keep you connected with your child’s education. You will be able to view our school calendar, receive messages and notifications from teachers, report absences, and have access to school notes. We will also use this platform for booking Parent/Teacher interviews, further information regarding this will be sent home closer to interview time.
Parents will need to register for the Parent Portal, creating an account that can be used for both the portal and the app. Parents can register via the portal or the app; the same account will be used for both. Once registered you will be able to use the access key (sent by note to each family) to link your child or children to the portal or app.
You can download the app from the app store on your device and follow the instructions.
SENTRAL Parent Portal App
Watch the video for further information.
Facebook: We regularly celebrate our students’ participation in a range of activities and broadcast information via our school Facebook page. Please like our page and elect to receive all of our notifications to ensure that you don't miss anything. Facebook is used as an alternative to a newsletter so that we can deliver information in a timely manner.
Despite regularly posting to share information and successes at our school, please be aware that we don’t always monitor comments, therefore, if you have any feedback or concerns you need to do this by contacting our office.
Click on the picture below to access our school Facebook page.
Website: The school website includes a wide range of information about the school including the Southern Cross Public School Information Handbook, School Plan Management, and Annual School Reports to communicate our school's direction and achievements. You will also find on the website specific information regarding teaching and learning and departmental policy documents.
Click on the picture below to access our school website.
Newsletter: At Southern Cross, we regularly send out a school newsletter via email to keep families informed and connected. You'll receive a link to the latest edition as it becomes available—so keep an eye on your inbox! It's a great way to stay updated on important dates, events, and classroom news.
Here is our latest Newsletter Link
Text Messaging: We also have a text messaging system that allows us to text parents and carers whenever there may be more urgent communication required.
You will also receive text messages notifying you of your child's absence from school if you haven't advised that they will be away.
Electronic Board: The electronic board, at the front of the school grounds, displays current information pertaining to events at school. It is updated with information as required. It should be checked by parents/carers when dropping students to school and picking them up from school.
Attendance: A sound education depends on good attendance and punctuality. Attendance at school is compulsory for all students aged 6-17 years. If a student is absent from school for any reason, an explanation MUST be given to the school within seven days to provide the details of the absence. This notice can be as a reply to our daily absentee text messages, via the parent portal, a phone call, letter, or by email. If informed by note, this is to be handed to the class teacher as soon as possible.
The following information is required by the school:
full name of the absent student
class and year
date/s of absence
explanation of the absence
signature of the parent/guardian
Explanations for absences will only be justified if they include:
being sick, or having an infectious disease
having an unavoidable medical appointment
being required to attend a recognised religious holiday
exceptional or urgent family circumstances
All other explanations for absences will be recorded as unjustified.
Our school is committed to supporting parents/caregivers in providing an explanation of attendance and encouraging attendance rates to be sustained at an acceptable level. We may contact you in regards to attendance for the following reasons:
daily if your child is absent or arrives late without explanation
weekly emails if no explanation for absence is supplied
after seven days, via phone, to discuss providing an explanation for absences
if your child’s attendance rate is identified as being of concern or at risk
If a parent/caregiver is aware of an absence prior to the date, they are encouraged to contact our administration office to notify. If an explanation is not received by the school within seven days of the last day of absence an unjustified absence will be recorded. All information will be kept on file. The number of absences, whole day and partial (lateness and part day), in a year is indicated on a student’s record. This cannot be altered and the school record will not be adjusted/reprinted. It is important that the school keeps an accurate record of student attendance. The Department of Education and Communities employs a Home School Liaison Officer to liaise with parents and follow up on poor attendance and unsatisfactory reasons for non-attendance.
Our school regularly publishes the Department of Education flyer of attendance for parents. It is important that you refer to this to gain more of an understanding of the Minister’s expectations on attendance and how schools and families can work together to support student learning.
Your assistance in these matters will be greatly appreciated.
Wellbeing
kagan cooperative learning structures
kagan cooperative learning structures
Cooperative Learning helps to raise the achievement of students and build positive relationships among students which are important for creating a learning community that values diversity. The structures provide experiences that develop both good learning skills and social skills to foster a sense of belonging and maximise learning.
For further information about Kagan Cooperative Learning watch the clip below.
WIN WIN DISCIPLINE
WIN WIN DISCIPLINE
Teachers use Win Win Discipline strategies to prevent disruptions to learning and to create a safe, comfortable classroom environment where the focus is on learning and growing. Students are supported to develop positive ways to meet their needs so disruptions to learning are minimised.
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