2024 Prep Enrolment Information

Altona North Primary School; The Community with Heart. 
We believe in giving every child the opportunity to be highly successful in their academic learning, social/emotional development and to feel safe and valued. 


Here at Altona North Primary School...

We have an inclusive approach which supports all students to be their best and to improve the outcomes of learning of all students. 
Altona North Primary School caters to children in Grades PREP to SIX. 
Enrolments are now being accepted for the 2024 school year and all enquiries should be directed to the school office.

Contact Altona North Primary School on 9391 4233  or altona.north.ps@education.vic.gov.au to book a school tour and learn more about the school and the enrolment application process.

School tours are run by our Principal, Mrs Robyn Gregson, and Assistant Principal, Mrs Lee Blunt, at mutually convenient times for everyone.  


ENROLMENTS

OUR SCHOOL ZONE

Our school zone is available on findmyschool.vic.gov.au which hosts the most up-to-date information about Victorian school zones. Students residing in this zone are guaranteed a place at our school, which is determined on the basis of your permanent residential address. The Department provides guidance through the Placement Policy to ensure that students have access to their designated neighbourhood school and the freedom to choose other schools, subject to facility limitations. You can find more information and answers to frequently asked questions on the Department’s website under School zones.



Please read through the following important documents before enrolling your child at Altona North Primary School.



Enrolments are not complete without

  • Birth Certificate or Passport
  • Visa documents included if applicable
  • Immunisation Certificate from the Australian Immunisation Register
  • 100-point residential address check.

Documents produced by GPs or other immunisation providers will no longer be sufficient as a form of evidence.

Regardless of whether the child is or is not immunised, parents must provide an immunisation status certificate, from the Australian Immunisation Register to the school.

CLICK ON THESE LINKS to download: 

If your child lives in two households please also fill out the Alternative Family Form available from the Office.    


PREP STUDENT TRANSITION PROGRAM

We run a 5 week transition program to allow us to make your child’s transition into Primary School as enjoyable as possible. Every Wednesday your child would have been involved in school programs to become familiar with the school environment, teachers and other children. The five dates are designed to give your child experiences and opportunities to be involved within the school environment before they commence the 2024 school year.

We will endeavour to make the transition under the current circumstances as smooth as possible for your child. Please be sure to engage in positive conversations about school with your child, ask them what they are looking forward to and see if there are any questions they may have.

Information regarding Essential Education Supplies and uniform orders will be provided during the Parent Information Session.

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR 2024

TERM DATES FOR 2024

  • Term 1: 30 (Preps start 1st February) January to 28th March
  • Term 2: 15 April to 28 June
  • Term 3: 15 July to 20 September
  • Term 4: 7 October to 20 December


SCHOOL HOURS

All students start at 8.45am and finish at 3.15pm.

On Monday morning, we have a whole school assembly at 8.45am. Parents are most welcome to attend the assembly however are asked not to accompany their child/ren into their classroom.

 Times for the school day are:

8.45am                  School starts.

10.45am                Recess time (45 minutes). (Please pack a healthy snack)

11.30am                Line up to re-enter class.

1:15pm                  Inside Eating Bell (Please pack lunch)

1.30pm                  Lunch time (45 minutes).

2.15pm                  Line up to re-enter class.

3.15pm                  Dismissal.


Please arrange a meeting place in the school yard with your child so they know where to find you at the end of the school day. Speak with your child about not leaving the school grounds and let them know that they can go to the office if they are not sure where to meet you at the end of the day.

The school office is open from 8:30am–4:30pm Monday to Friday.

 

PREP STUDENTS

All Prep children will start their 2024 schooling on Thursday 1st February at 8:45am and finish at 3:15pm. As children are settling in, your child will attend four days each week and will not be required to attend school on the following Wednesdays 31st January, February 7th, February 14th, February 21st, and February 28th.

Literacy and Numeracy assessments will take place on these Wednesdays when Preps are not in attendance. This testing provides your child’s teacher with important information to assist in planning for your child’s learning at ANPS. Notifications of these appointments will be sent to you in the coming weeks via mail and text.

Commencing Week 6 of Term 1, Monday 4th March, your child will be attending school fulltime, five days a week.

 

START OF THE SCHOOL DAY

All children will be expected to be at school and in their classroom when the school day begins at 8.45am.

 Every day and every minute counts.

Music is played for 3 minutes at 8.45am, before the morning bell, to indicate to parents and students that it’s time to say goodbye to each other and for students to go to class.

 

YARD DUTY

Teachers supervise the playground from 8.30am until 8.45am, during all recesses, and after school from 3.15pm until 3.30pm.

Students are not permitted to ride bikes and scooters at any time on the school grounds.

The supervising teachers wear a neon vest for easier visibility.

 

ATTENDANCE

Regular attendance of students is compulsory, however we understand when a student cannot attend school due to sickness/illness or other circumstances.

If your child is going to be late or absent from school please contact the school via phone, email or using the ‘Report An Absence’ link on our website

Repeated lateness will be followed up via contact with the family. After the roll is taken and reported absences are finalised, an SMS notification will go out to parents of children who are absent at the time the roll is taken, to notify them that their child is absent without reason.


Late Arrival

Late arrival is highly discouraged.

If a child is not in class by the time the roll is marked first thing in the morning, an SMS will be sent home to the parents, as advised by The Department of Education and Training, unless the parent has notified the school by either phone or email.

Lateness disrupts the teaching and learning of the rest of the grade and the late child may also miss a vital part of their learning. It also does not enable your child for social interaction before school before their learning begins. Mornings are when a child learns best and every minute counts.

Should a late arrival be unavoidable, you must come through the office. When a child arrives after 9, they need to be seen at the front office to collect a Late Pass, however a text message will still be sent home if a parent is not present or an explanation by a parent has not been received.

If a parent is present, a Late Arrival note is to be filled out and taken to class with the child.  This is an official school record of time spent at school and is kept on file.

Early dismissal

Children are not permitted to leave school ground without permission. If a child is to go home early, a parent/carer is to come to the front office and sign the child out. 


Late Pick-up

The teacher on duty will escort any students who have not been collected by 3.30pm to the school office. The office staff will then make calls to parents/carers or emergency contacts in order to confirm pick-up arrangements. If parents/carers/emergency contacts are unable to be contacted by 3.45pm, students will be placed in the Out Of School Hours program and families will be invoiced accordingly by Camp Australia.


We constantly ensure safety as a priority for all students whilst they enjoy the security of a safe and collaborative culture.


Before and After School Care - Camp Australia

Out of School Hours Care is provided at ANPS by Camp Australia. The Before School Program operates every school day from 7.00am until 8.45am, with breakfast served from 7.30am to 8.30am. After School Care is available from 3.15pm until 6.00pm daily. Bookings are essential and must be made through Camp Australia.

Camp Australia 8851 4160.

 

BREAKFAST CLUB

Altona North Primary School holds a Breakfast Club every Wednesday and Friday morning in the school hall from 8:00am-8:30am. Volunteers and staff run Breakfast Club so students can enjoy a healthy start to the school day. All student are welcome to attend.

Thank you to the Food Bank for providing our school with a wonderful supply of fresh apples and oranges to start off our school term. 


EMERGENCY INFORMATION

It is vital that Student Information details are kept current. For your child’s safety, please notify the school of any alteration to address, phone numbers, emergency contacts and medical conditions.

 

FIRST AID

If your child sustains a head/concerning injury, please be assured you will be notified via phone call. For minor injuries, majority of the time, a medical note will be sent home just to have you aware of what happened, when and how.

 
Medication

If your child suffers from an allergy, asthma or any other medical condition that requires medication, please provide the school with the current medication and an action plan. As part of our Medication Policy at Altona North Primary School we need to have current medication stored at school for your child and an action plan updated each year. Our First Aid Officer can administer medication if it is necessary for your child to take medicine at school, however we do require written permission via our Medication Authority Form. If your child does suffer from asthma or anaphylaxis, please complete an action plan for your child and return the forms and medication to the office.


School Medical Service

The schools DET nurse attends during the year to test the hearing and vision of all prep students free of charge. Parents are notified prior to the arrival of this nurse and given opportunity to communicate with her either via phone, in writing or in person.

 

UNIFORM

At Altona North Primary School uniform is compulsory, school colours are bottle green, white and black. Our uniform supplier is Noone, purchases can be made online or at their Hoppers Crossing store. Uniform orders can be organised to be delivered to school; this delivery is every Friday.

During the warmer months, ANPS hats must be worn in accordance with our SunSmart policy.

Labels and Lost Property

All school bags, uniforms and other items brought to school should be clearly labelled with your child’s name. Whilst we do have a lost property area, clearly labelled items make it much easier to be returned to its owners.



FOOD AND DRINKS

Students are requested to bring their lunch and drinks in labelled containers each day. Refillable pop-up water bottles are recommended as flasks are easily spilled and box drinks are difficult for young children to manage.

We encourage healthy eating at Altona North Primary School.

EXTREME WEATHER DAYS

During recesses or lunches that are too wet or hot for play outdoors, teachers are rostered to supervise indoors. Should it start to rain while students are already at play, an announcement is made to call students back indoors and appropriate activities are organised within classrooms. 

 

SUN EXPOSURE

From September to April there is a “No hat – no play” policy within the school.

It is necessary for your child to have a hat every day at school during the summer months. Clothing that protects the shoulders from the sun must be worn and appropriate footwear is essential. Teachers do not supply, nor apply, sunscreen to students. However, students who bring their own sunscreen are welcome to apply it prior to outdoor play.

It is recommended that faces, arms and hands (or equivalent area of skin) be exposed to the sun for two to three hours per week. Children and adults with naturally very dark skin may need three to six times this exposure amount.

 

COMMUNICATION

We ask that if you have a concern about your child that you call or email the school to make an appointment.                            

                                                                             
Parent/Guardian and Teacher Share Time

Twice yearly, all grades conduct Parent/Guardian and Teacher Share Time sessions between

2.30 -7:30pm (varying year to year) on a certain date.

These interviews should be seen as an opportunity for the sharing of information between parent and teacher, to assist your child’s learning through out the year.  Your participation is important and it also provides a time for the update of key information in regard to personal details.

Interpreters are available for languages other than English and can possibly be arranged upon request.

 
School Website: Our school website is an important source of information.

The homepage has the calendar, which is full of details about curriculum, excursions and events for students and families. You are able to access the fortnightly newsletter, link to our Facebook, report an absence request and see reminders in a click.

You are also able to read our policies, our values and access notes.

Each term the student year levels and specialists pages are updated with information about what is ahead in the term, recommended educational websites and excursion and event calendars.

https://www.altonanorthps.vic.edu.au/


Facebook: 
We also have a school Facebook page were we post reminders of events, dates and notes. It is a source of communication to our community with messages and photos to keep families in the loop of the fun we have here at ANPS.

PARENT PAYMENT 2024
 
Each year in October/November, the ANPS School Council approves the parent payment arrangements for the following school year. In this pack you will find our 2024 Parent Payment letter which outlines our voluntary financial contributions for 2024. This gives an outlook on the curriculum and extra curriculum consumables your child will endure while here at Altona North Primary School. We would appreciate families making their contributions and payments as soon as possible. Contributions and payments should be finalised by the end of February 2024.