Communication A-Z

Compass

The Compass Parent Portal is a crucial source of communication from the school. The School Calendar, Notices, Newsletters and your child’s semester reports are accessible via the portal.

The portal can also be used by you for essential tasks such as entering an explanation about your child’s absence from school, and updating your own contact and emergency contact details.

Complaints and incident reports

Our values of Compassion, Listening and Partnership inform the way we respond to complaints. Confidentiality, procedural fairness and a timely response may be expected. Each parent or carer has the right to be heard and to expect that ongoing relationships will continue respectfully.

In the first instance, concerns or complaints should be raised with your child’s class teacher in person, by phone or by email. Further discussion can take place with the Principal. More serious matters should be raised directly with the Principal.

Email

For non-urgent matters please email info@stjglebe.catholic.edu.au. School staff will respond to your email or enquiry within three working days during school term time. School staff are not expected to read or reply to emails at night, on weekends or in school holiday periods.

Emergency contacts

It is essential that the Compass portal includes up to date contact details - address, emails, home and work phone numbers and at least one emergency contact. In the event of an emergency, if you or your emergency contact cannot be contacted, the Principal will determine whether an ambulance will be called.

Family-to-family communication

Friendly, inclusive, positive and pro-social interactions between families are an enduring characteristic of our school community.

We understand that many families will choose to engage in online and social media communication using platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp. These groups or pages are not official school sources of information and are not endorsed by the school. However, action could be taken by the school or NSW Police should inappropriate interactions occur or information be shared via these media.

The school is not able to distribute class lists or family contact details (e.g. to help distribute birthday invitations or create social media groups).

In the event of an incident or dispute relating to school, parents and carers should communicate with a teacher or the Principal. Parents and carers should not approach each other directly - the school will work proactively to help resolve issues. Under no circumstances should parents or carers approach children from other families about such matters.

Meetings

Each year the school will invite parents and carers to a ‘Meet the Teacher’ meeting during Term 1. Formal ‘Parent Teacher Interviews’ to discuss academic, social and personal growth are available twice yearly - at the end of Term 2 (compulsory) and at the end of Term 4 (optional).

Parents and carers may request a meeting with the class teacher or Principal to discuss student wellbeing or learning and teaching at any time of year. Please note that teachers are not expected to be available for ad hoc meetings at drop-off and pick-up, or during class time.

It is expected that if a meeting is requested by the school that parents and carers will make themselves available at a suitable time.

Newsletter

The school newsletter is shared via Compass, typically in Weeks 5 and 9 of each term unless advised otherwise. This is essential communication from the school and it is an expectation that all parents and carers read the newsletter.

Notes

Written communication, typically via email, is required to explain or authorise the following:

• Any absence including illness, late arrival, early departure etc. (see attendance Practicalities A-Z)

• Requests for exemption from programs such as sport etc.

• Non-completion of classwork or home learning

• Non-compliance with the dress code

• Variation to pick-up arrangements

• Permission to walk home or attend St James Park unaccompanied

Parent and Carer Advisory Group

The Parent and Carer Advisory Group (PCAG) is a crucial source of communication to and from the school. Parents and carers are invited to ask questions, share ideas, and contribute their expertise via the PCAG.

Typically, meetings will occur at least once per term and, where appropriate, on a needs basis. Meeting dates will be shared via the Compass calendar and Compass Notices.

Phone

Parents and carers are welcome to phone the school on 02 9692 0870 with questions and feedback during school office hours. Urgent matters should be communicated by phone during school office hours.

Privacy

Please refer to Sydney Catholic Schools’ Privacy Policy.

Standard Collection Notice

A Standard Collection Notice regarding use of students’ image for publication must be completed annually. Parents and carers may vary their consent in writing at any time.