Rules and policies are in place to make sure your child remains safe and well at school.
Visit the NSW Department of Education’s policy library for all current operational policies.
Our school uses the department's School Community Charter to ensure all of our communication is collaborative and respectful.
Attendance and absences
Students must attend school regularly so they can achieve their educational best and increase their career and life options.
In NSW, all children from the age of 6 are legally required to attend school or be registered for home schooling through the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). All students must complete Year 10, or its equivalent and remain in school, employment or training until they turn 17.
For more information about compulsory school attendance, visit:
Student Use of Digital Devices and Online Srevices Procedures
The Department of Education Student Use of Digital Devices and Online Services policy supports NSW public school communities to manage students’ use of digital devices and online services. It promotes the learning, safety and wellbeing of students and the management of any risk of harm and distraction.
Schools are required to design their own Student Use of Digital Devices and Online Services procedures to guide student use of digital devices and online services at our school. Our school acknowledges the educational value of digital devices and online services in supporting and enhancing educational outcomes and student wellbeing.
Student Use of Digital Devices and Online Services Procedures Parent/Student Agreement
School frameworks (school rules)
As well as following the department’s operational policies, we have developed frameworks for our students in line with our school’s values and commitments.
Education jargon and acronyms.
AP – assistant principal
CAPA – creative and performing arts. For more information see creative arts.
COLA – covered outdoor learning area. Usually a covered structure in the playground which does double duty as a learning and play area.
Curriculum – the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) is responsible for the subjects taught in NSW schools, from Kindergarten to Year 12. Each school adapts the curriculum to suit their local context and the needs of their students.
DoE – NSW Department of Education
DP – deputy principal
EAL/D – English as an additional language or dialect
ERN – Enrolment registration number
ESL – programs for students with English as a second language.
Extracurricular – additional programs that do not relate directly to the content of a syllabus, for example, public speaking competitions, student newspapers, environmental clubs and so on.
FACS – Department of Family and Community Services
GATS – gifted and talented students. Gifted students are those whose potential is clearly above average in one or more of the following areas: intellectual, creative, social or physical. Talented students are markedly above average in one or more fields of human performance.
HSLO – home school liaison officers work with school communities to encourage all students to attend school regularly.
IBP – An Individual Behaviour Plan (IBP) is a collaboratively written documents which outlines a student’s current behaviours and identifies strategies to support the student.
ICT – information and communication technologies.
ILP – An Individual Learning Plan (ILP) is a collaboratively written document which outlines a student’s current level of ability and identifies special learning goals.
IWB – interactive whiteboards. An electronic whiteboard which has internet capability.
KLAs – key learning areas are outlined in the NSW Education Act 1990. KLAs incorporate syllabuses which teachers use to program their teaching and learning.
LaST – learning and support teacher. A learning and support teacher helps students with disability or additional learning and support needs.
LBOTE – language background other than English. This includes students if they or one of their parents speaks a language other than English as their first language.
Learning and support team – school staff who meet regularly and work together to further support students with additional learning needs.
Literacy – the ability to read, write and understand information across all subject areas.
Mufti day – casual dress day. Schools sometimes allow students to wear something other than their uniform on a special day. It may also be related to a fundraising opportunity.
NAPLAN – National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy. Tests are held in literacy and numeracy for all students in Australia in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.
NESA – NSW Education Standards Authority. NESA is responsible for setting the curriculum for all students in NSW – Kindergarten to Year 12. They also monitor teacher accreditation, school registration and home schooling.
Numeracy – working with numbers across all subject areas. This involves mathematical knowledge and understanding, problem-solving and literacy skills.
OC – opportunity class. Year 5 and 6 classes that operate in some primary schools for gifted and talented students. The application process includes school assessment scores and the results of the Opportunity Class Placement Test.
OOSH – out of school hours. Contact your principal for information about the availability of before and after-school care.
Outcomes – The knowledge, understanding, skills, values and attitudes students are expected to develop through study in a subject.
P&C – local P&C associations are made up of parents, carers and community members. A school’s P&C meets regularly to participate in decision-making, developing policies and management plans, as well as fundraising.
PDHPE – personal development, health and physical education.
Pedagogy – the work or art of a teacher; teaching.
PLP – Personalised Learning Plans are now called Personalised Learning Pathways. The change in name does not alter their intent or the processes involved in ensuring their effective development and implementation.
PLPs are an effective tool for increasing Aboriginal student engagement. They have the potential to support improved learning outcomes and educational aspirations when they are developed in genuine partnership with Aboriginal students, their parents or carers and teachers.
Principal – the most senior executive in a school.
PSSA – Primary Schools Sports Association. The PSSA provides opportunities for primary-age students to participate in competitive sport at state level and above.
RAM – Resource allocation model. The funding a school receives from the department – a needs-based model is used to determine the amount.
Reports – schools provide information about student learning in each subject twice a year. They include a snapshot of the student’s achievement with an A to E grade and include comments about areas of strength and suggestions for further development.
RFF – relief from face-to-face. Teachers use this time for planning, marking, reporting, attending meetings, organising educational resources and other tasks related to their work. Relief from face-to-face is timetabled and the class is taught by another teacher.
SAM – School office manager.
SAO – School administrative officer
Selective high schools – schools for academically high-achieving students. There are both fully selective and partially selective high schools – where selective English, mathematics and science classes operate. The application process includes primary school assessment scores in English and maths together with the results of the Selective High School Placement Test.
SLSO – Student learning support officer
Special needs – students with special education needs. Teachers adjust their programs and assessment of students with special education needs.
Special provisions – adjustments to assist students with additional learning and support needs, including a disability, participate in education on the same basis as students without disability. See disability provisions for more information.
SRC – Student representative council
Stages of learning – there are 6 stages of learning from Kindergarten to Year 12:
- Kindergarten is referred to as Early Stage 1
- Stage 1 = Kindergarten to Year 2
- Stage 2 = Years 3 and 4
- Stage 3 = Years 5 and 6
Syllabus – describes what students are expected to learn in a course. It includes aims, objectives, outcomes, content, assessment requirements and a glossary. Teachers use a syllabus to plan their teaching of a subject.