Handbook

At Chisholm, we pride ourselves on being a safe, honest and respectful learning community. Our aim is to live and share our faith, welcome all members into our school community and work together to create the best future possible for our students. 

We are committed to providing each student with a learning environment that is collaborative, inclusive, challenging and fun. 

Chisholm is an innovative school which seeks to live out the Gospel values each and every day.

Our school constantly works towards promoting lifelong learning, while improving the learning outcomes for all students. 

We value working in partnership with parents in nurturing  and supporting student growth, physically, emotionally, spiritually and academically.

Our staff are committed to implementing best teaching and learning practice, and to safeguard the well being of all students.

Our motto ‘Faith, Family and Future’ and Caroline Chisholm’s pioneering spirit calls all of us to action.

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter or call if you have any questions.

Michael Mifsud
Principal

Dear Parents,

As representatives of the Student Leadership Team, we would like to welcome you and your family to our school. At Chisholm, we are safe, honest, respectful learners.

Our school motto is Faith, Family, Future. As a Catholic School, we look for ways to share our faith in Jesus. We know that with this faith, and with the support of our families, we can create a bright future for everyone. We try to follow in the footsteps of Caroline Chisholm who shared her faith with courage.

We also learn all of the subjects that other schools offer. There are high expectations at our school about how to treat others and how to accept responsibility for our own learning and behaviour. We are also expected to take pride in our school environment and in the wearing of our uniform.

At Chisholm, your child will have many wonderful opportunities to make friends and mix with different people. The teachers are very encouraging of us and acknowledge our achievements.

Chisholm has all the elements of an excellent school. We think you have made a good choice enrolling your child at our school.

Yours sincerely,

Archie, Ava, Zara, Jacqueline, Zac and Ryan.
(Student Leadership Team 2023)

Daily canteen facilities are available at the school.  

The canteen is open for online orders using MunchMonitor.

To set up MunchMonitor, follow the steps in the Canteen Munch Monitor flyer.

• SMS text notifications are sent from the school to parents at 9.45am each day for students who are absent from school. Please respond to this notification via the parent portal with an explanation of the absence.

• Unexplained absences are noted in the class roll.

• If your child is going to be away for planned leave e.g. a family holiday, for a period of five (5) days or more, an Application for Extended Leave Form is required to be completed.  These forms are available from the school office or the website. Once these forms have been completed and returned, you will be notified whether an approval for leave has been granted. 

• If you need to collect your child before the end of classes for important matters such as medical appointments, please call personally at the office for your child.
  
  
• If you need to change the usual home-time procedures, please notify your child's teacher in writing.
  
  
• If an emergency arises which affects your plans to pick up your child, a message can be phoned through to the school office.

If your family changes any details (e.g. address, living arrangements, phone numbers, email etc.) please advise the school in writing as soon as possible. Family contact information can be updated via the Compass Parent Portal.

If you are moving out of the area and need to send your child to another school, please let the Principal know in writing, as soon as possible to allow time for the relevant records to be completed.

At Chisholm, the reporting process is an integral and valuable part of our school and home partnership. Across the school year there are both formal and informal opportunities for parent, teacher and student communication. These can include parent teacher information meetings and personalised planning meetings as well as meetings arranged by either the teacher(s) or parent/carer. The home room teacher is always available to parents any time through the year, if you wish to book an appointment to discuss your child’s needs. 

As part of the overall reporting process, Chisholm will facilitate Student Led Conferences. The aim of the conferences are for students to communicate and share their learning journey with their parents in a way that develops ownership and responsibility for their own learning. The conferences look and sound different to the more traditional parent teacher meetings as the students will be leading their parents through their own learning. Students will share their current learning goals, share evidence of their learning and identify some areas for improvement with their parents.

At the beginning of each year, parent-teacher information meetings are held to inform parents about grade routines and procedures as well as planned learning activities.

A written report is sent to home at the end of Term 2 and Term 4.

Website

The Chisholm Catholic Primary website is a valuable source of information for our current parent community. Families can access the parent handbook, relevant school policies, school notes, forms and upcoming events.

Social Media

Keep up-to-date with all that is happening through our social media sources. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see learning in action.

Compass Parent Portal

At Chisholm Catholic Primary School we are committed to maintaining strong links between home and school.  To help us communicate with parents we use a program called Compass.

The Compass Parent Portal is an integrated, online portal that you use to access up-to-date and meaningful information about our school and your child's progress. Compass includes many different features, including the ability to:

• Monitor your child's attendance, and enter an explanation for absence or lateness
• Communicate with your child's teachers
• Update your family contact information
• View your child's timetable and the school calendar

To log into Compass you require your unique family username and password, these details are provided to each family upon enrolment.

You can use the Compass App on your phone, or access the Compass website via your tablet, iPad or home computer.  You can access this link from the front page (right hand side) of this website.  Here you will see the Compass logo—click on the logo and you will be taken to the login page for Compass.

Upon first login, you will be required to change your password and confirm your email address and mobile phone number.  These details may be used by the school for SMS and email communication throughout the year. At any stage, if you have lost your details or forgotten your password, you can phone the school office and you will be reissued with a temporary password to access your account.

Communication with Parents and Carers

All electronic communication to parents & carers is via the email address registered with the school. Please regularly check your junk mail for any missed communication. If you find you are not receiving emails please contact the school office with an alternate email address.

Some children attending school need medication to control illnesses. Parents should supply specific written permission (forms are available from the website or the school office) for the distribution of medication.

Medical Form 1: Notification and request by Parent/Guardian for the administration of medication during school hours
Medical Form 2: Medical Advice to School to be completed by the prescribing doctor verifying medical condition and treatment 

In addition, the school may request Parent / Guardian permission for a doctor to release medical information to the administration of Chisholm Catholic Primary School.

Prescription medicine should be in a prescription container which gives the name of the child, the dosage and time the medication is to be given and the name of the prescribing doctor.

Please note:

• Children who are sick should not come to school.
• Children are not allowed to keep medication whilst at school, it must be handed in to the office and will be put under lock and key.
• It would be best if essential medication be given at home before or after your child comes to school.
• Medical Action Plans are required for all students who take regular medication at school.

The school office operates on weekdays between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm (Monday to Friday).

This is our catholic school.
Let peace dwell here.
Let the rooms be full of contentment..
Let love abide here.
Love of one another,
Love of everyone,
Love of God
And love of life itself.
Let us remember that as many hands
build a house,
So many hearts make a school.

Amen

Chisholm space for us to grow,
There's room for all our dreams to breathe,
Great gifts we give, great gifts receive,
The Chisholm spirit starts to breathe,

Chorus:
Like faith in God and in each other,
Family we all belong,
Future hope that builds tomorrow,
Joyful is our living song

Stories past we gladly learn,
So stories new we'll bring to birth.
And heroes too we will become,
The Chisholm spirit now begun as …

As Jesus' heart had room for all,
Our school has space for every need.
Respect for all, our hunger feeds,
The Chisholm spirit gently leads to …

Chisholm where our hearts are safe,
Like God's own heart invites us in,
We'll learn delight in God's good gifts,
The Chisholm spirit lives within our …

Written by Fr Kevin Bates with the Year 6 Graduating class of 1999

School-based pastoral care refers to the total care of the student. It is based upon a belief in the dignity of every person.

In a Catholic school, it is expressed through:

• the development of quality relationships
• the provision of satisfying learning experiences
• the establishment of an effective care network
• the provision of experiences and structures that provide for the integrated spiritual and human growth of students.

(From Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Parramatta - The Pastoral Care of Students in Catholic schools, November 1988.)

At Chisholm Catholic Primary School, the Pastoral Care and Student Welfare Policy promotes the ongoing development of Safe, Honest, Respectful Learners.

The Pastoral Care/Student Welfare Policy focuses on developing a community culture of:

• mutual respect
• ongoing positive support
• community inclusiveness and belonging
• engagement in learning
• forgiveness
• Anti bullying

Our Pastoral Care and Student Welfare Policy is based upon principles which lead to Positive Behaviour Support for Learning.

Positive Behaviour Support for Learning (PBS4L) is a broad range of whole school, group and individualised strategies for achieving significant social and learning outcomes, while minimising problem behaviours. It is positive, proactive and focuses upon developing solutions and success for all in the learning environment.

While it is a whole-school approach, it puts the individual at the centre and aims to enhance the relationships within the community of learners.

Positive Behaviour Support for Learning is underpinned by six key principles:

• A common purpose and approach to discipline
• A clear set of positive expectations and behaviours
• Procedures for teaching expected behaviour
• A continuum of procedures for encouraging expected behaviour
• A continuum of procedures for discouraging inappropriate behaviours
• Procedures for on-going monitoring and evaluation.

A quality Catholic education is affordable and accessible for every family!

Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) is committed to providing an affordable quality Catholic education for families. We understand the financial demands placed on household budgets and do everything we can to keep fees low.

No child who meets the enrolment criteria will be refused enrolment or disadvantaged because of a family’s financial circumstance.

School fees are generally billed in instalments during Terms 1, 2 and 3. The fee is made up of three main parts:

1. Annual Diocesan Tuition Fees
   These are set by Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese and are the same for every school.
   There are significant sibling discounts for families with more than one child at one of our schools.
   
   
2. Diocesan Building Levy
   This is set by Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese and is the same for every school.
   There is only one Diocesan building levy per family.
   
   
3. School-Based Fees
   These are determined by the school according to our needs and are billable for each child.
   These fees help cover costs of things like teaching resources, technology, excursions etc.

Go to the 'School Fees' page of our website under the 'Enrol' section for a full guide to the fees payable, discounts that are offered and how you can make payments.

Playground supervision begins at 8:15am and concludes at 3:30pm. Please note that children who arrive at school before this time will be unsupervised, and for this reason, we request most strongly that they do not come to school before 8:15am.

Children are not to be on the premises outside the stated school hours.

The children are dismissed at 3:00pm.

The children who take a bus move to the bus bay area at the front of the school. A written note requesting other arrangements must be received by the class teacher.

A 'Kiss & Ride' operates at the front of school from 3:00pm until 3:30pm. Arriving at Kiss & Ride after 3:10pm is recommended.

The Chisholm Community Group works closely with staff to ensure the best educational setting for all children.

The Chisholm Community Group values and plans for:

• encouraging parental involvement at Chisholm
• social activities which promote a co-operative spirit among parents, teachers and students
• fundraising activities (e.g. Bush Dance, Trivia Night, Discos, BBQ's)
• discussions on matters affecting students' faith and development
• opportunities which inform parents of current developments in education generally, and Catholic education in particular
• attending school liturgies and other events such as celebrating our patroness, Caroline Chisholm

The Chisholm Community Group meets twice a term on a Tuesday evening. Membership is open to all parents and carers of children attending our school.

View the Community Group Minutes

Parents are encouraged and welcomed to assist teachers in learning spaces. All parents and carers wishing to help in the learning spaces need to have attended a volunteer training session.

In addition, parents are also encouraged to attend "parent forums" throughout the year that have an educational focus, as a way of fostering parental involvement with their child's learning.

There are many other opportunities to help, such as excursions, carnivals and covering books. If you can spare some time to help us, please contact your child's teacher.

As we are committed to keeping students safe, all volunteers in schools are required to complete the building child safe communities undertaking form and child protection training module before volunteering. These checks reduce potential risk and form part of our strategy to build child safe communities.
All volunteers are required to complete the following, mandatory child protection training:

Step 1: Complete the Building Child Safe Communities - Undertaking Volunteers Form
Step 2: Complete the Online Training Module (This is required every 2 years)

The training module can be found at http://childprotection.parra.catholic.edu.au/volunteers.

This school exists as one of the ministries of St Matthew's Parish.

As a Catholic school we seek to support parents in the faith development of their children. This includes formal Religious Education lessons using the diocesan Religious Education curriculum. It also includes our informal religious education program which is best expressed through our inclusive practices and quality relationships.

For more information see "Religious Education" in the Learning section of our website.

St Matthew's Parish follows the Parramatta Diocesan policy regarding the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation and Penance.

The parish where families worship is the parish where children will receive their sacraments. In the Diocese of Parramatta, sacramental programs are parish-based and family centred. While our school supports these programs, the parish sacramental team is responsible for the preparation of the children.  Sacramental preparation takes place in the parish and involves the family of the child.

Mrs Cita Adams can be contacted on (02) 4577 3073 to discuss these programs with you.

For information on Opal Cards and to apply for one, please visit www.transportnsw.info/school-students.

Infants (K-2) are eligible for a free Opal Card regardless of distance travelled. However, the Department of Education specifies that primary children (Yrs 3-6) must live outside a 1.6km radius of the school to be eligible for a bus pass.

Please explain safe bus conduct to your child and, if possible, travel to and from school with your child during the first few days of school.

Please observe road safety when dropping off and picking up your children.

In the morning and afternoon, children are to dropped or collected using the Kiss & Ride zone. Please note that parents are not permitted to drive into the school grounds.

There are clear council parking restrictions in the Kiss & Ride area that will be enforced by council rangers and police patrols. 
Please note:-The Kiss & Ride area is a NO PARKING ZONE between:
8.00am - 9.00am  &  2.30pm - 3.30pm

When using this zone, you have a 2 minute window to drop off or pick up and you need to remain with your vehicle.
Staff on duty are there to assist by supervising the children and having them ready to pick up in the afternoon.
In the event of traffic build up staff are expected to ask drivers to drive around the block so buses and traffic can keep moving.
The main traffic thins out from 3.15pm so parents might like to consider a slightly later pick up.Teacher supervision concludes at 3.30pm.

To facilitate a smooth Kiss & Ride experience, please have your family name on an A4 sign displayed on your car windscreen. This enables teachers on duty to recognise the family and announce the name to the children.

When children grow out of school clothing, parents are asked to consider donating these clothes to the school's clothing pool.

Each year, numerous unclaimed items are left at the school. Please ensure all clothing and personal property is clearly labelled so that, if lost, it can be returned to your child.

As soon as you are aware an item has been lost, please contact your child’s teacher. If the missing item is not found in the classroom we will ask you to check the lost property basket on the verandah near the staff room. If an item is lost on a bus, please contact the bus company and inquire whether the item has been handed in.

• Maroon zip jackets or sloppy joes are also worn. 
• Maroon hats are worn daily.
• Maroon caps are worn daily (available for Year 3-6 only).
• A “No hat, no play” policy applies at Chisholm.

Parents are asked to please note the following:

• Tracksuit pants are only to be worn on sports day.
• Chisholm Sport socks are to be worn which are purchased from the Uniform Shop.
• Girls stockings (winter) are to be light grey. (Socks are not to be worn over stockings).

Due to COVID19 the uniform shop will remain closed until further notice. Due to ongoing social distancing restrictions and the need to remain cashless we will continue to take online orders only.

Orders can be placed via the Qkr App.
To set up the Qkr App, follow the steps in the flyer Qkr App

Orders will be filled on Mondays and Thursdays and distributed directly to the student.

Please ensure that you are familiar with the uniform and appearance guidelines for Chisholm Primary. Students are to be neatly and cleanly dressed at all times. Shoes should be clean and well presented. Additionally, we have a number of requirements for students to follow.

Hair
Hair is to be kept neat and tidy, off the collar, of consistent natural colour, of gradual even grade and all extremes of fashion are to be avoided. Some examples of "styles" that are unacceptable include: ridges, lines undercuts and steps.

Girls hair that is longer than shoulder length is to be tied back from the face. Hair is to be off the face and out of the eyes. Ribbons, hair slides etc, if worn should be in the uniform fabric or maroon. Scrunchies are available to purchase through the Qkr App.

Wet Weather Protection
Protective wet weather clothing may be worn to and from school. It is not to be worn during school.

Jewellery & Accessories
Apart from one pair of sleepers or small plain studs and a wrist watch, jewellery is not permitted for safety reasons. A chain with a cross or religious medallion may be worn under the shirt line. No rings (birth/baptismal rings excepted), make-up or nail varnish is allowed. Nails should be kept clean and neatly trimmed.

Boys may not under any circumstances wear earrings.

Hats & Bags
Only the correct school hats may be worn - purchased through the Uniform shop. The school has a ‘no hat no play policy’.  Books are to be carried to and from school in the correct maroon school bag, purchased from the Uniform Shop.