Frequently Asked Questions

Castlemaine North Primary School (CNPS) Frequently Asked Questions 

After School Care

Is there after school care at CNPS?

No, but we have partnered with Campbells Creek PS for before and after school care, with a bus service included.

Please contact OSHC Adventures - admin@oshcadventures.com.au - to book your child in.

Finding your way around CNPS  

I’m not sure where my child’s classroom is. Is there a map?

Please see map below, which shows class buildings.  

BLACKWOOD: Reception, Principal Office, Performing Arts and Visual Arts, Indonesian.

SILVER BANKSIA: Grade 5/6 classrooms, Library, Assembly area.

GOLDEN WATTLE: Grade 1/2 classrooms

IRONBARK: Grade 3/4 classrooms

MANNA GUM: Prep classrooms

My child has lost their jumper or lunch container, where is the lost property?

Lost property can be found outside the staff room. Please check this area regularly for items that may have been left behind. Any un-named items left in lost property at the end of each term are donated to the second-hand uniform shop or donated to a local Op-Shop.

Does my child need to bring their own stationery items?

The school covers all stationery items for students through the Voluntary Contributions from parents. Students do not need to bring stationery from home. For more detailed information on the family contributions to school equipment and learning programs, see our Parent Payments policy on the CNPS website.

What are the other costs for school?

As well as the voluntary contributions from parents, we offer a camp each year for students in Grades 2-6 (prices vary each year), and other excursions/incursions (usually between $5 and $15 per event).

Students also need wear CNPS uniform - you can purchase this as new from our supplier in town, Beleza, or from our second-hand shop at school.

There are a lot of acronyms, what are some of the common ones I need to know?

·         BQT – Big Question Time (Inquiry Learning)

·         RRRR – Resilience, Rights & Respectful Relationships (simply known as Respectful Relationships) - Wellbeing class program.

·         NAPLAN – National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy

·         STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Maths

·         ES – Education Support Staff (also called teacher aides)

·         SRC – Student Representative Council

·         CSEF – Camps, Sports and Excursion Fund

·         AIP – Annual Implementation Plan

·         DE – Department of Education and Training

Does the school have a policy on screens and social media? 

Yes we do.  For more information, please visit the Digital Learning Policy on the website.

Uniforms

What uniform is required and is there any flexibility in what they wear?

The uniform includes:

·         CNPS uniform hat

·         CNPS shirts/jumpers

·         Navy skirt/shorts/pants

·         Blue and White check dress

·         Black school shoes or runners preferred

Please find additional information on the website - CNPS Uniform Policy.  New uniforms are available to purchase from Beleza Uniform Shop - Barker St, Castlemaine.

What type of shoes should students wear to school?

Most days, students go outside for active games, as well as weekly P.E. sessions.  A sturdy and comfortable shoe, such as traditional “school shoes” or good quality runners are recommended. Boots, sandals, flat “skate” shoes/Converse or similar are not recommended as they don’t provide adequate support for students’ feet and are not ideal for active games.

Are there second hand uniforms that I can buy?

Yes! We have parent volunteers to open the second-hand uniform shop once or twice a week (this varies each year – keep an eye on the newsletter for current times, or on the door of the uniform "shop". Second-hand uniforms are sold very cheaply – from $2 to $5 for most items.

We also accept donations of pre-loved uniforms from exiting/Grade 6 students, or when students have outgrown their uniform. These can be left in the labelled box outside the Principal's Office.

Special School Days

When are the pupil free days?

These days can vary, depending on the planning needs of teachers in any given term or year. These days are used to engage in professional learning, planning or report writing. There are 4 pupil free days each year, usually one every term. Dates for these will vary and the school will provide as much notice as possible to parents via newsletter and the calendar on the Sentral Parent Portal. One of the pupil-free days is the Monday before Melbourne Cup holiday, which is a report writing day for teachers.

What are some of the special days at school that we need to prepare for?

We have some regular days you can prepare for:

·    Book Week Parade – late September - dress up as a book character.

·    Easter Hat Parade – last week of Term 1 - Make an Easter Hat at home

·    Pasar Sekolah Utara – Indonesian Marketplace Day – varies each year

·    Interhouse Sports - come dressed in house colours - Swimming Sports (Grade 3-6), Cross Country and Athletics - varies each year (students dress in House colours).  More information to be provided before the events.

·    Ride to school Day - October or March

Other special days are decided by the Student Representative Council, e.g. Crazy Hair Day, Winter Warm up, Neurodiversity Day. You will be notified of these days in the School Newsletter.

How do you celebrate birthdays at CNPS? (Can you bring a cake?)

At CNPS, we are happy for students to bring cupcakes/cake to share with the class if their birthday falls on a school day. We ask parents to refrain from providing ice cream, lollies or chocolate. If your child has dietary requirements (for example, gluten-free), you may like to provide a few pieces of cake/slice that they are able to eat, and we can store them in the freezer at school.

Communication

What’s the best way to meet my child’s teacher at the beginning of the year?

-  Introduce yourself to their teacher at the end of the day at pick up

-  Send an email (teachers will email all parents early in the term, so you will have their email addresses).

-  Make a time for the "Meet the Teacher" day in Term 1 - usually before the first day of school.

For more information, you can also visit the Communication Policy on our website.

I think something might be out of date on the website, who do I give this feedback to?

Please fill in a feedback form on the website, or directly email the Principal or the school – castlemaine.north.ps@education.vic.gov.au

I have a concern, a question, or feedback related to school; who do I go to?

You may contact the Principal directly in person, on the phone, or via email.  For more information, please see the Complaints and Feedback Policy on the website.

I’d like to find out how my child is doing but the report is still weeks away, how do I do that?

Please email your child’s teacher and ask to set up a meeting with them.

We offer a progress report meeting in Term 2 each year in the lead-up to mid-year reports - dates to be confirmed closer to the time.

For more information, you can also view the Communication Policy on the website.

If I want to contact my child’s teacher what is the best way (Do I just hang around at the end of the day)?

This depends on the preference of your child’s teacher, please ask them what they would prefer.

For more information, you can also view the Communication Policy on the website.

Inclusion

My child has special requirements, dietary requirements, or special needs, how inclusive is camp?

We are committed to ensuring all students can participate in school life, including camps. A note is sent home prior to camp, asking parents to notify the school of any dietary requirements for camp. Other special needs may have already been communicated to the class teacher; if they haven’t, please take the opportunity to do so (e.g., pull-ups for Grade 1 sleepover). The class teacher will work with parents to make sure the camp experience is accessible and inclusive. 

How do I meet other parents? 

The most common ways to meet other parents are at drop off and pick up, through participation in the "FunRaisers" group, participation in the School Council, volunteering in the classroom, and coming along to school events such as the School Picnic, Morning tea on the first day of school, Working Bees and many others.  Please join the class contact WhatsApp groups for more opportunities for connection.

How does CNPS address menstrual health?

In Grade 5 and 6, students have a Preparation for Puberty program which includes menstrual health. This is run by Castlemaine Health, also known as Dhelkaya.

Student Progress

When are parent-teacher interviews?

There are two opportunities per year for parent-teacher interviews, an academic progress meeting in Term 2 and a student-led conference in Term 3.  There is also an optional meeting in Term 1 between teachers and parents - "Meet the Teacher" - usually before the first day of the school year.

Extra Curricular Activities

Are there other opportunities outside the classroom for my child?

Yes, there are many opportunities including:

• Inter-school sports teams or intra-school games

• Instrumental music lessons

• various 'club' activities at lunchtimes such as Choir, Lego Club and Chess Club.

• nominating for the Student Representative Council (SRC) - Grades 3-6

Helping out around the school – formally and informally

Parents can be formally involved via School Council (elections are held early in the school year), or by joining our "Fun Raisers" (formerly Parents and Carers Association) - where parents join together to socialise, raise money and generally engage in school life!

How do I join the Fun Raisers group?

Information will be shared with parents via newsletter and email at the start of each year, inviting parents to come along to our first meetings.  The Fun Raisers provide regular updates of their activities in the newsletters, and you are welcome to join at any time during the year.

I’d like to volunteer, what can I do?

There are many things you can do at CNPS. Keep an eye in the newsletter or for an email from your child’s teacher, for volunteer opportunities, some of which include:

• Food Garden

• Working bees

• Watering roster

• Reading - Junior classrooms

• Camp/Excursion supervision

• Becoming a Class Contact

What are Class Contacts and what do they do?

Class Contacts are people who have volunteered to lead a class WhatsApp group with a goal to:

• improve communication throughout the school community

• increase participation of volunteers in events such as Working Bees, Food Garden, excursions and fundraisers

• create connections between parents

Class Contact WhatsApp groups do not:

• replace our wonderful school newsletter, emails and Sentral notifications, so please keep reading them!

• mean that Class Contacts need to volunteer for everything themselves!

• need to moderate debates and discussions about parent concerns, regarding school rules or policies. Class contacts can guide parents to the appropriate CNPS channels to provide feedback and concerns, such as class teachers, principal or school council members.

Class Contacts aim to send weekly updates with some important or last-minute reminders coming during the week. They try and keep communication to a minimum, but if you find that you're being 'pinged' too much you can choose to turn your notifications off and just check in by opening WhatsApp when it suits you.

Food at School

Does the school have a canteen/school lunch? 

No, we do not. Students are required to bring their own snacks and lunch. CNPS encourages parents to minimise wrappers and other non-organic waste in lunchboxes.

We have lunch orders on Wednesdays from Lunchbox Sushi and, in the hotter months, icy poles on Friday, available for purchase for $0.50 in the lunch break.

How does Sushi Lunch work?

Please order at School Lunch Online by 5pm on Tuesdays and send your child with an empty container for their sushi on Wednesday.

What should I send with my child to eat at school?

We encourage healthy eating, and ask that parents don't send lollies or chocolate in lunchboxes. Water only for drinks, please (no cordial/juice/milk drinks). We suggest parents send a water bottle that can stay in the classroom throughout the term.

Students are asked to have a fresh fruit/vegetable snack for "munch and crunch" (usually at 10am), as well as a morning tea/recess snack (11.00) and lunch (1.30). We suggest something that is easy for students to carry outside, such as a sandwich or roll, or a whole piece of fruit. Lots of small pieces of food can be difficult to manage, however, please cater for your own child's tastes and dietary needs.  

Our school rule is that students eat in a designated space outside their classroom (weather permitting), and that lunch containers are put in a classroom basket/tub, rather than taken into the playground, where they are often lost and damaged.  We encourage "nude food"; if you can unwrap items and have minimal packaging/wrappers, that would be appreciated. We choose not to have bins outside in the playground at CNPS. 

Excursions and Camps

From time to time, payment will be required at school for incursions and excursions.  This can vary between $3 and $15. Please include your child’s name, grade and the name of the excursion/incursion in a clearly marked envelope. This can be dropped into the collections box outside the Principal's Office.

You may also pay in person at the office, using cash or card. Online payment is also an option. See school bank details on the home page of this website, and at the top of every newsletter. Please be sure to include the child's name and the name of the payment (eg - Gr 2 camp).

Camp costs vary each year; teachers send information to parents at least 6 weeks before the camp. Payment plans are available.  

For more information, you can see the Excursion and Camp policy on the website.

Safety

Do teachers apply sunscreen to kids?

No, teachers do not apply sunscreen but it is available in each classroom and teachers remind students to apply it prior to going outside.

For more information, please visit the Sun Protection Policy on the website.

What happens when my child hurts themselves at school?

Students will be taken to the First Aid room and treated as required. A treatment/note is written for student to take home for minor issues such as grazes.

For suspected sprains/dislocations/broken bones - parents are called to pick up their child as soon as possible, for a medical assessment.

For any bump to the head - parents are called to inform and/or collect child (depending on severity of injury).

For a serious injury – simultaneous phone calls to Ambulance and parents to notify of injury and action plan of care. 

For more information, see our First Aid policy on the website.

What happens on rainy days? Can the kids stay in their classrooms or are they sent outside to sit undercover (in the cold)?

Students have a Wet Day Timetable for rainy days. This includes participating in alternative indoor activities during recess and lunch.

What about extreme heat?

When the temperature is over 30 degrees, students will be encouraged to seek shade, hydrate regularly, and keep vigorous activity to a minimum.  There will also be an indoor option at lunchtime, such as the Library being open.  When the temperature is 36 degrees or above, the "extreme heat" policy is that all students will be inside for the break.

On days where the temperature is 30 degrees or above, teachers are asked to refrain from outside activities from midday onwards. Physical Education lessons are also amended accordingly.

Scholastic Book Club orders

How do I order?

Catalogues are sent out once a term – you are under no pressure to buy. Drop off payment to the collection box outside of Sam C’s office, or payment can also be completed online.

How long does it take for delivery to school?

We generally give families 2 weeks to return their orders or place an order online. It will then take 2 to 3 weeks for Book Club to be delivered to the school. We can also arrange for special occasion/surprise orders - please specify so we can accommodate this.