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INFORMATION HANDBOOK
2021
2
Contents
Item Page Item Page
School essentials 3 Homework 10
Attendance 4 House system 11
Academic competitions and programs 5 Kimberley Schools Project 11
After-school care 5 KSP Kindilink (0-3 Program) 11
Allergies 5 Library 11
Assemblies 5 Lost property 12
Bicycles and scooters 5 Medical conditions and medication 12
Birthdays 6 Mobile phones & electronic devices 12
Book club 6 No dogs 13
Bullying 6 Parent helpers 13
Buses 7 Parents & Citizens Association 13
Business plan 7 Personal item lists (booklists) 13
Canteen 7 Physical Education and sport 13
Communicable diseases 8 Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) 14
Communication 8 Reporting to parents 13
Concerns 9 School Board 14
Contributions and charges 9 School gates 14
Custody of children 9 School uniform and dress code 14
Cyclone procedures 9 Student leadership 14
Dental care 10 Teacher - parent contact 16
Enrolments 10 One last thing! 17
Excursions 10 School map 19
Hat policy 10
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School Essentials
SCHOOL CONTACT INFORMATION
ADDRESS: 100 Tanami Drive, Bilingurr, WA, 6725
EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]
WEB ADDRESS: broomenorthps.wa.edu.au
TELEPHONE NUMBER: 08 9195 3000
SCHOOL SMS ATTENDANCE: 0437 908 183
OFFICE HOURS: 7:30am to 3:00pm
PRINCIPAL: Ms Tracey Nicklen (Acting)
DEPUTY PRINCIPALS: Mrs Riki Burton (K-2); Ms Anne Harris-Walker (3-6)
MANAGER CORPORATE SERVICES: Ms Cheryl Parkinson-Varga
SCHOOL OFFICER: Ms Angela Roberts, Mrs Belinda McKenzie
TERM DATES FOR STUDENTS 2021
All term dates for the current year and future years are available on the Department of
Education website: www.det.wa.edu.au/education/termdates/
Term 1 Monday, 1 February – Thursday, 1 April
Term 2 Tuesday, 20 April – Friday, 2 July
Term 3 Tuesday, 20 July – Friday, 24 September
Term 4 Monday, 11 October – Thursday, 16 December
2021 SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT DAYS
Thursday, 28 January Friday, 29 January Monday, 19 April
Friday, 4 June Monday, 19 July Friday, 17 December
students do not attend on these days
SCHOOL HOURS
Classes open: 7:45am
School starts: 8:00am
Recess: 10:10am to 10:40am
Lunch: 12:40pm to 1:10pm
End of day: 2:10pm
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The A to Z of Broome North PS
Attendance
The School Education Act 1999 requires children of compulsory school
age to attend school (applies to all students from Pre-primary). When a
child is unable to attend, legislation requires that parents/caregivers
forward written notification providing a reasonable cause for the absence
of their child. Please note that a telephone message beforehand is
encouraged if the absence is anticipated.
The school uses an SMS messaging service which, on every school day
at approximately 10am, will automatically send a text message to a parent
or care giver if a child is marked absent without explanation. Parents are
expected to respond to these messages. When an explanation is not provided to the Principal within three
days of the original day’s absence, the class teacher may send a letter requesting an explanation.
The Department of Education classifies any student below 90% as an attendance risk. The school will work
with families who fall below this percentage on an individual case management basis. Supports may include
individual attendance contracts and home liaison visits by the class teacher, Aboriginal and Islander
Education Officer (AIEO) or deputy principal.
Family holidays during school terms are not encouraged. School holiday periods provide a considerable
amount of time for families to enjoy holidays. Absence during school terms disrupts children’s learning and
their social development with friends. A written note, providing starting dates and reasons for the holiday, is
to be forwarded to the Principal to consider.
It is important to note that no child may leave the school grounds during the school day without the knowledge
and permission of the school Administration. Parents or carers collecting children prior to the end of the school
day are required to complete a Leave Pass obtained from the front office.
Classroom doors open at 7:45am every morning. We recommend that parents/guardians do not send their
children to school before this time. If students do arrive at school before 7:45am they are to go straight to the
school library where a member of staff will be on duty. Children are not permitted to use equipment or play
on playgrounds during this time for safety reasons.
Punctuality – Every minute counts!
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The A to Z of Broome North PS
Academic Competition and Programs
Throughout the year Broome North PS students
compete in a variety of academic events, including
Interschool Mathematics, the Spelling Bee and
Poetry Slam.
The Broome cluster of public schools runs a PEAC
(Primary Extension and Challenge) program for
selected Year 5 and 6 students. Students complete
academic testing in Term 3 of Year 4 to determine
inclusion in the program.
After School Care
The following options are available for parents
looking to access after-school care in Broome, with
providers picking kids up from school and taking
them to their site:
Mulberry Tree: 9192 7444
Jalygurr: 9193 5510
Kimberley Kids: 9193 5033
BOSSCA: 9192 5280
Allergies
Broome North PS is an Allergy Aware School. We
acknowledge that due to food processing practices
it is impractical to eliminate nuts or nut products
entirely from an environment where there is food.
Therefore, we have opted to be a ‘Nut Aware’
which means:
Please do not send nuts or nut products to
school for your child’s recess or lunch.
No nut products to be included in food on
special days i.e. birthday cakes, or in any
cooking activities at school or on school
camps.
Staff will supervise students eating at
recess and lunch time.
Students will be encouraged NOT to share
food.
Staff have participated in training for
understanding and dealing with
Anaphylaxis.
All staff are made aware of specific
students via their Medical Plans including
photographs, emergency response
planning and medication advice.
Please alert the school to any allergies that your
child/children may have on enrolment so we can
implement the appropriate plan to support them.
Assemblies
School assemblies are hosted by one of our
classes or year groups three times a term, on
Friday mornings commencing at 8:15am. Merit
awards are presented to selected students, and
families are notified 2 days prior that their child will
be receiving one. We love having all of our parents
and community members at school to see our
students perform and celebrate their successes.
In addition to the class assemblies, special
assemblies are held each year for ANZAC Day
(end of Term 1), NAIDOC Week (end of Term 2)
Book Week (mid-Term 3), and Year 6 Graduation
(end of Term 4).
Bicycles and Scooters
It is essential that children have a good
understanding of road safety from a young age.
Parents are requested to remind children of
appropriate road safety behaviour whilst travelling
to and from school.
All students riding bicycles or scooters to school
are required to consider the safety of themselves
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The A to Z of Broome North PS
and others. For this purpose, the following rules
apply to cyclists:
All riders MUST wear a helmet. Failure to
do so will result in a warning and the
student will be asked not to ride their bike.
All riders must walk their bikes and
scooters on school premises.
Bicycles and scooters are to be housed in the
racks provided, before school, and not used during
the school day. All riders are encouraged to bring
a lock for their bicycles and scooters to ensure their
security. The school does not take responsibility
for lost or stolen bicycles and scooters.
Birthdays
You are welcome to send a cake to school with
your child on their birthday. Small cupcakes are
preferable and much easier to share with
classmates than a double sponge that needs
surgical equipment to divide it into 26 pieces!
Please do not send food that contains peanuts. We
appreciate your cooperation in being aware of
these products and avoiding them being present at
school.
Book Club
Scholastic book club order forms go home twice a
term. Selections are to be made using the order
form, and returned to school only on the “due by”
date, with the correct money or cheque. (Cheques
are to be made payable to Scholastic). Alterntively,
orders can be done online through Bookclub Loop.
Books usually take 2-3 weeks to arrive. Our school
librarian coordinates this program.
Bullying
In line with both our Positive Behaviour School
program and community expectations, bullying is
not tolerated at our school. Children are
encouraged, in all instances to be good citizens
who are compassionate, caring and respectful and
to report all acts of bullying so that action can be
taken. To provide clarity around our school’s
actions on various events, it is important that
parents are aware of what Broome North PS
considers bullying is and is not, so that we can work
together with our children and community to
promote a positive learning environment for each
and every child.
We recognise the following guidelines and hope
that you support and discuss them with your
children:
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The A to Z of Broome North PS
Buses
The school is serviced by three bus routes:
The green bus services Cable Beach and Sunset
Rise. A book of 10 tickets costs $7.00 ($1.40 per
ride). Maps and timetables are available from the
Broome Explorer Bus website. Contact Melissa on
9193 6585 for more information.
An orange bus services each of the following
communities:
12 Mile (contact Brent on 0428 366 042)
Coconut Wells (contact Rod on 0419 018
800).
There is no charge for travel on these routes, but
parents must register with the Public Transport
Authority prior to student travel.
School Bus Regulations state that children must
obey the following rules for bus travel:
Do not change seats.
No food or drink consumed on the bus.
Do not cause any disturbances or interfere
with other children.
No form of vandalism will be tolerated.
You must obey the instructions of your bus
driver.
After alighting from the bus, children must
stand back until the bus has moved away.
Do not cross the road until the road is clear.
Student who arrive on buses are supervised in the
Library each morning until 7:45am. Students then
wait for the afternoon buses in our new bus shelter
at the yalmban (south) end of the school.
Business Plan
The school’s business plan will be updated for the
next three year planning cycle: 2021-23. The plan
is developed in association with the School Board
and staff, and sets a clear, strategic direction for
the school over the next three years. The plan
outlines what we will do and what you will see as
we work to continuously improve. The plan has
student engagement and achievement at its core
and an emphasis on quality teaching practice.
The plan will include 4 focus areas:
Success for all students
High quality teaching and learning
Culture and care
Strong sustainable community partnerships
A copy of our business plan can be found on our
website. Alternatively, drop into the office to pick
up a hard copy.
Canteen
The school canteen currently operates on
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. All ordering is
done online at www.QuickCliq.com.au. The
canteen is always looking for parent volunteers, so
if you are available to help out please leave a
message for our friendly P&C President, Bel
McKenzie, via the school office.
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The A to Z of Broome North PS
Communicable diseases
The Communicable Disease Guidelines provided
by the Western Australian Health Department state
that the following common ailments require
exclusion from school:
Disease: Length of exclusion:
Chicken Pox At least 5 days after
vesicles (rash) appear
and until vesicles have
formed crusts.
Conjunctivitis Until discharge from
eyes have ceased.
Hand, Foot and
Mouth Disease
Until vesicles have
formed crusts that are
dry.
Head Lice Until lice and eggs (nits)
are killed and hair is
clean.
Impetigo (School
Sores)
For 24 hours after
antibiotic treatment has
commenced. Lesions on
exposed skin surfaces
should be covered with a
waterproof dressing.
Influenza Until symptoms are
resolved.
Mumps For 9 days after the
onset of salivary gland
swelling.
Ringworm Until persons have
received anti-fungal
treatment for 24 hours.
Rubella (German
Measles)
For 4 days after onset of
rash.
Scabies Until the day after
treatment has
commenced.
Parents will be asked to collect their children if they
are suspected of having an infectious disease and
to seek medical advice.
Communication
Quality communication at all levels is a key
component of our operations. We acknowledge the
role of parents as partners and welcome your
involvement and communication. We aim to
communicate effectively with our diverse
community, and therefore we use a range of
strategies and mediums to suit the different needs
and preferences of parents and caregivers.
Please ensure that your phone number and email
address are provided to the school and are always
up to date. It is also important to make sure emails
from the school do not appear in your spam folders.
What’s on this Week
What’s on this Week is published each Monday
morning and lets parents know key events and
messages for the upcoming week. It is published
on the school Facebook page, Class Dojo and the
Ngan-Gayi Gurryirr Information Board near the
staffoom.
Facebook Page
The school Facebook page is used to share
positive news stories from around the school. Be
sure to give it a
Like/Follow so
you can stay up-
to-date.
Class Dojo
Class and year level messages are
shared with parents via Class Dojo,
which can be downloaded from your
device’s app store. See your child’s
teacher to get the code which will give you access
to their class.
Paper Notes
Includes excursion permission slips, event
reminders, fundraising and class/year level notes
and newsletters. To make things easier for
parents, paper notes go home only on Tuesdays
and Fridays, so be sure to check your child’s
school bag on these days.
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The A to Z of Broome North PS
Newsletter – The Broome North Post
The Broome North Post, our school’s formal
newsletter, goes home twice per term.
From time to time it’s appropriate for parents and
carers to be contacted directly via email, for
example, for consultation with parents or for
matters relating to the School Board as well as
school reports. Please ensure your preferred email
address is provided to the school.
Concerns
If you feel you have cause for concern about any
aspect of the school’s activities, please let the
teacher, Deputy or Principal know about it. If other
parents talk to you about anything to do with the
school that they are not happy about, tell them to
come in and let us know. No problem can be
solved if we don’t know of its existence. Early
knowledge of concerns can often resolve problems
quickly.
Contributions and Charges
In line with Department of Education policy, each
year the School Board endorses a contributions
and charges schedule.
Voluntary contributions in curriculum areas are an
important part of assisting the school to provide
essential value adding resources and services for
your children. The amount for all children in 2021
is $60. We thank our families in advance for
making this important payment.
In addition, a charges schedule exists to show the
maximum amount families can be asked to pay in
a school year for extra-curricular activities (eg:
excursions, camps) and student acquisitions (eg:
school photos, graduation shirts).
Payments for contributions and charges can be
made by cash, cheque or direct deposit:
Account name Broome North Primary School
BSB 066 505
Account no. 1048 7722
Note: Please use the student’s surname and year
level as a reference.
Custody of Children
If there are formal arrangements in place that
relate to the custody and access of your children,
particularly in relation to any Court Orders or other
formal directions that may be in place, please
provide the necessary information and copies of
documents to the principal at time of enrolment. If
in the future there are any changes to the
arrangements/orders on file, please advise the
principal.
Cyclone Procedures
The following procedures are adhered to in the
event of a cyclone:
If a blue alert is called, school will open as normal.
If a yellow alert is called before school, students
do not come to school.
If a yellow alert is called before lunch, students are
sent home.
If a yellow alert is called after lunch, students are
kept at school until closing time. Parents may pick
up students early if they choose, but must sign their
children out.
If a red alert is called, the school will be closed.
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The A to Z of Broome North PS
Dental Care
The school hosts a Dental Therapy Clinic onsite.
The centre provides free general dental care to all
eligible school children who have completed a
School Dental Service enrolment form. To find out
more, please call 9195 3022.
Enrolments
The School Education Act 1999 guarantees a
place for every child in Pre-primary to Year 6 in
their local school. Kindergarten is an optional year
of education for students and enrolments are
taken in the chronological order in which they are
processed up to the point of available capacity.
Priority is given to students living in our local
intake area.
A birth certificate or extract of birth or passport
must accompany the Application of Enrolment.
Students will be placed in the year of study
corresponding to their age group.
Parents of students with special needs or
significant medical conditions are asked to contact
the school to discuss their child’s enrolment to
ensure that the most appropriate program is in
place to meet their needs.
Students who were born overseas must hold the
appropriate visa before applying at the school. For
overseas students who wish to attend school in
Australia using an entry visa, it is necessary that
the office sight the passport and visa of the parent
(primary visa holder) and student at the time of
enrolment.
The school must sight a copy of the student’s
Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)
statement, recent to within two months, at the time
of enrolment. You can obtain this by either logging
into your MyGov account or by visiting the
Department of Human Services (Centrelink).
Broome North PS is a local intake area school,
which means the school is required to accept all
students who have evidence of a residential
address in our local intake area. Please visit
bit.ly/BroomeSchoolsMap to view our local intake
area.
Excursions
Educational and sporting excursions are arranged
for classes throughout the year. Written
information is sent to parents prior to excursions,
and parents must provide their written consent in
order for their child to attend. It is desirable that all
class members participate in planned excursions
which are part of the teaching program. To find out
more, please contact your child’s classroom
teacher.
Hat Policy
The school has a policy that children are to wear
a wide-brimmed hat when doing physical
education and when outside at play all year round.
Broome North PS hats can be bought from Totally
Workwear in Broome. Please ensure your child’s
name is marked on their hat, or alternatively ask
us to use our white paint pen marker to label your
child’s hat for you.
Homework
Homework for primary school children should be
minimal, so a balance of play, rest and exercise
can be achieved. In the early years, homework
should largely be informal and non-compulsory.
As children move towards the upper primary years
they should progressively be exposed to more
structured homework requirements in order to
facilitate a smooth transition to secondary school
through the development of good study habits.
Homework should always be seen as a vehicle to
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The A to Z of Broome North PS
enhance student learning outcomes and foster
positive school/home partnerships.
At Broome North PS we encourage parents to
read regularly with students, encourage them to
write lists / keep a journal / draw, answer their
questions, encourage opportunities to become
part of clubs, afterschool sport, swimming
lessons, visit different places and play outside.
House System
All students belong to one of four houses:
Yilany (Mangrove Jacks)
Birndany (Stingrays)
Gurlibil (Green Turtles)
Wanggaja (Mud Crabs, new in 2021!)
House sporting events include the swimming
carnival (Year 3-6; Term 1), cross country (Years
1-6, Term 2) and athletics carnival (Kindy to Year
6, Term 3). Students can also win points for their
house by collecting ‘Besties’ (see Positive
Behaviour Support section) and by wearing their
house shirts to school each Wednesday.
Kimberley Schools Project
Broome North PS is proud to be one of 23 schools
involved in the Kimberley Schools Project, a three-
year partnership between the Department of
Education, Catholic Education Western Australia,
the Association of Independent Schools Western
Australia and the Department of Primary
Industries and Regional Development. The
Project has four integrated components: Targeted
Teaching; Better early years education and care;
Regular attendance, and; Community
engagement. Our school’s classroom pedagogy
and instruction aligns with the KSP’s targeted
teaching module and is overseen by Associate
Professor Lorraine Hammond. To find out more
about the project, visit https://kdc.wa.gov.au/
blueprint/kimberley-schools -project/
KSP Kindlink (0-3 Program)
KSP Kindilink is a play and learn initiative for
children 0-3 years. The aim is to enhance each
child’s development and learning while building
families’ capabilities and confidence as their child’s
first educator.
The program is funded through the Kimberley
Schools Project until at least the end of 2022.
Places in the program are limited, and demand is
high! To register your interest, please call the
school on 9195 3000.
Library
Broome North PS is extremely fortunate to have
an amazingly spacious and well-equipped Library
available to students and staff. Classes visit the
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The A to Z of Broome North PS
Library once a week to borrow books; please
ensure your child brings their library bag to school
on their class’s borrowing day. Students can also
access the Library at lunchtimes on Tuesdays,
Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Lost Property
All clothing items found will be put in the lost
property box, located in the front office. Students
and parents are welcome to look there at any time
to recover lost items.
We ask for your assistance by ensuring that all
personal belongings are clearly labelled with your
child’s name to assist us in returning items
misplaced by children within the school grounds.
Medical Conditions and Medication
Please advise the office if your child suffers from
a condition that requires our attention and support.
This includes conditions such as asthma, allergies
or other medical conditions. It is important that you
provide the school with an Action Plan provided by
your family doctor if your child has a known
medical condition. A confidential record of
students with specific conditions is maintained
within our electronic records system.
It is preferable that prescription and non-
prescription medication is administered to your
child at home before and after school. However,
we acknowledge that medication may be required
to be administered whilst your child is at school. If
this is the case, you must complete the
appropriate Health Care Plan which can be
obtained from the front office.
Mobile Phones and Electronic Devices
The Western Australian State Government
announced a new Student Mobile Phones in Public
Schools policy from the start of Term 1, 2020.
The policy requires all public schools to implement
a ban on the use of mobile phones for all students
from the time they arrive at school to the end of the
school day. This extends to the use of smart
watches which need to be on flight mode during
this period.
As we already have a phone use policy that meets
these minimum requirements, there will be no
changes for our school. Our existing policy will
remain in effect.”
Students are not encouraged to bring mobile
phones or electronic devices to school. However,
where parents require that their child carries one
to and from school it must be given to a staff
member before 8am. It will be returned at the end
of each day. The use of mobile phones and
electronic devices is not permitted during school
hours. School staff will contact families whenever
necessary, and parents can contact the front
office on 9195 3000 if they need to urgently get in
touch with their children.
Neither the school nor the Department of
Education will accept any responsibility if mobile
phones or electronic devices are lost, damaged or
stolen.
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The A to Z of Broome North PS
No Dogs
To ensure the safety of all members of the Broome
North PS community we require that dogs do not
enter school grounds, with the exception of
service dogs or dogs visiting as part of educational
programs with approval by the Principal. We thank
all of our parents and community members in
advance for respecting these guidelines.
Parent Helpers
Parent/family assistance in the classroom and
with school activities is always very welcome. It
gives parents the opportunity to take an active part
in class activities and to develop an understanding
of how children learn. At the same time parent
help enables teachers to give more individual
attention to members of the class. If you wish to
assist in the classroom, please contact your
child’s teacher or watch for notes in the school
newsletter or on Class Dojo asking for assistance
with special school events.
Parents & Citizens Association (P&C)
The P&C is a great opportunity for parents,
teachers and community members to support the
learning and infrastructure of the school. Meetings
are held twice per term. A notional membership
fee of $5 is payable each year and ensures copies
of the minutes of each meeting and the right to
vote at meetings. Funds raised by the P&C
contribute to the funding of programs and facilities
within the school, which makes for a better
educational experience for our kids! To find out
more, send a message to our P&C president, Bel
McKenzie, at [email protected].
Personal Item Lists
A personal item list (booklist) is distributed in Term
4 for the following year. Pre-ordering these items
ensures your children have everything they
require at the start of the school year. Office
National in Broome are our supplier and lists can
be found on our website.
Physical Education and Sport
The school has a specialist physical education
teacher who runs a range of programs developing
students’ fundamental movement skills and
organised sport programs. The aim of our
program is to develop skills, fitness and a positive
attitude towards a healthy, active lifestyle.
The school participates in interschool sporting
events with Broome and West Kimberley schools
throughout the year, including:
Term 1 Interschool swimming
Garnduwa basketball carnival
Term 2 Interschool cross-country
Derby football and netball carnival
Term 3 Interschool athletics
Term 4 Multisport carnival
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The A to Z of Broome North PS
Positive Behaviour Support
Broome North PS is excited to continue its Positive
Behaviour Support (PBS) journey. PBS is an
evidence based, whole school approach to
behaviour management, where school behaviour
expectations are clearly defined and taught and
positive behaviour is rewarded and celebrated. It is
a framework that will improve student academic
and behavioural outcomes and ensures that all
students have access to the most effective
behavioural practices and interventions possible.
How does PBS help students and staff?
Research shows that schools that implement the
PBS framework with fidelity and consistency have
better staff mental health and well-being, fewer
students with behavioural problems, fewer
suspensions and improved student academic
results.
If a child doesn’t know how to read, we teach
If a child doesn’t know how to spell, we teach
If a child doesn’t know how to multiply, we teach
If a child doesn’t know how to behave,
we…teach? Punish?
Shouldn’t we be able to finish the last sentence
as easily as the other 3?
Based on staff, student and parent input, our
overarching theme is Be Your Best, and our whole
school behaviour expectations are built around:
We are Respectful, We are Responsible and We
are Resilient.
As part of the PBS program, we establish clear
expectations for the behaviour we expect in all
areas of our school. We explicitly teach those
expectations to the students and reward them
frequently with positive notes and prizes for their
great behaviour.
Behaviour Matrix
Our behaviour matrix is a detailed description of
expected behaviour in each area of the school. It
is displayed in all teaching areas and is on our
website.
Teaching Expectations
Throughout the school
year, students are
taught how to behave
according to our
behaviour expectations.
Teachers will help
students learn what the expectations “look” and
“sound” like in every setting during the school day.
These lessons will be retaught and reinforced
throughout the school year, and become a regular
part of our instructional program.
“Besties”
Acknowledging and
reinforcing positive
behaviour is one of the
best ways to change
inappropriate behaviour
and encourage
expected behaviour. “Besties” are given to
students when they demonstrate positive
behaviours, along with an explanation as to which
behaviour expectation they have demonstrated.
The use of a common language is central to the
PBS process and is used by every member of the
school staff when reinforcing expected behaviours.
By earning “Besties,” students are able to work
towards individual, class, block and whole school
rewards (or incentives). They also go into the draw
for a ticket to our Besties Brunch which is drawn at
every assembly.
Get involved!
To be successful, our behaviour program needs to
be a partnership between home and school.
Please support SSPBS at Broome North Primary
school by reviewing our behaviour expectations
with your child. We invite your comments, and
ideas to make SSPBS work at our school.
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The A to Z of Broome North PS
Reporting to Parents
Written reports are distributed via email at the end
of Semesters 1 and 2 in each year. All students
will receive a formal report detailing their progress
and achievement in key learning areas,
indications of student attitude, behaviour and
effort as well as detailed comments and an
opportunity to request parent interviews. Parents
are reminded to contact class teachers throughout
the year to discuss their child’s progress.
School Board
In Independent Public Schools such as Broome
North PS, the School Board plays a key role as
the peak governance body. The Board takes part
in establishing and reviewing the school’s
objectives, priorities and general policy directions,
and evaluates the school’s performance in
achieving them.
The Board meets four to six times a year and
consists of nine members:
3 members of staff
4 parents or caregivers
1 community member
the principal
The Board functions within its Terms of Reference,
which are compliant with the School Education Act
(1999) and School Education Regulations (2000).
A copy of the Terms of Reference can be found on
our website. You can also find the minutes of all
meetings here. Elections to replace departing
members are generally held in Term 1 each year.
If you are interested in finding out more about the
operations of the Board, feel free to contact the
principal on 9195 3000.
School Gates
Except for the one at the front office, school gates
are locked between 8:15am and 1:45pm. If you
need to attend school between these times,
please enter via the front office.
Student Uniform and Dress Code
The school takes great pride in all students
wearing the school uniform. The uniform consists
of the Broome North PS polo shirt, black shorts
and the school wide-brimmed hat. We also have
school windcheaters available for those chilly
Barrgana (cold season) mornings. House shirts
are available for purchase and are worn on
Wednesdays and at carnival events.
All uniform items are available from Totally
Workwear at 5 Haynes Street, Broome.
Jewellery should not be worn to school, with the
exception of sleeper/stud earrings and any pieces
that are of cultural significance.
For safety reasons, students are encouraged to tie
hair back if it is shoulder length or longer.
It is customary for our Year 6 students to vote on
a special shirt that they are allowed to wear to
celebrate their last year in primary school; details
go home in Term 1.
Student Leadership
The school provides opportunities for Year 6
students to take on formal leadership roles in the
school. There are six student councillor positions
and eight house captain positions. Information
about the nomination process is given to students
in Term 4 prior to the new school year. Students
who are selected have opportunities to build their
skills with time management, organisation, public
speaking and responsibility, laying the foundation
for future leadership roles as they grow older. To
find out more, contact Anne Harris-Walker, Year 3-
6 deputy, on 9195 3000.
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The A to Z of Broome North PS
Teacher-Parent Meetings
It is hoped that parents and teachers will have
informal contact on a regular basis throughout the
school year. For the times when a longer, more
formal conversation is required it is best to
organise a meeting with the teacher.
A normal part of schooling
No child sails through his or her entire school life
without at least a few rough waters. Sometimes it’s
a classmate who’s causing problems. Sometimes
it’s an issue with how the teacher handles the
class or treats a child. Sometimes it’s a big
misunderstanding. And yes, sometimes the
problem is even with your child. No matter what
the issue, a meeting will almost certainly make
dealing with problems at school much smoother.
Start with the teacher
The first step is to contact your child’s teacher to
set up a phone call or face-to-face meeting. It is
often not possible to allocate the time and
attention that’s required in the rush just before and
just after school, when teachers, parents and
students are busily preparing and attending to the
multitude of tasks that take place.
Don’t be afraid and think positively
Many of us feel like children again when we have
to meet with the teacher or principal. While these
educators are in positions of authority, they’re also
adults just like you who are interested in your
child’s education and eager to make the situation
better. Don’t worry that raising issues with them
will “hurt” your child in the classroom. Leaving
problems unresolved can be more problematic.
In preparation for the meeting, envisage that
everything will work out for the best. A positive
attitude makes it easier for everyone to calmly
discuss the issues and find solutions.
Get the facts – from both sides
Sit down with your child and write down his or her
version of the situation. If it’s a problem with
grading or schoolwork, bring along examples that
illustrate your points. Then go through the issues
with the teacher and listen to their perspective.
Take off the rose-coloured glasses
It’s hard to hear a teacher say that your child is
having issues in class, but the situation won’t
improve unless you understand the teacher’s side
of things as well.
Be respectful
Even if the teacher is “to blame”, it’s important that
you and your child behave respectfully. Children
learn what they live and should observe you
treating others with respect at all times.
Decide on a solution together
Work with the teacher to come up with ideas of
how to resolve the situation. There should be
items for you/your child to address and items for
the teacher to address. Have the teacher make a
copy of the list for both of you, and then schedule
a follow-up appointment to see what progress has
been made.
Follow-up on your end
If a teacher has asked you to work on some issues
with your child at home, it’s important that you do
so. You certainly expect the teacher to follow-
through with what he or she has promised, so it’s
only fair that you do the same. If the problem is still
unresolved you should take it to the next level and
make an appointment to see the deputy.
Be realistic
Not every school year will be perfect, but by
dealing with situations calmly and by focusing on
the solutions – not the problems, you’ll be making
the best of the year for you and your child.
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The A to Z of Broome North PS
One Last Thing!
Parents often ask, ‘What’s the most important
thing I can do at home to help my kids at school?’
The answer? Set them up for reading success!
The early years
A child’s experiences and home environment
during their early years of life have a strong and
measurable effect on their literacy skills before
they reach the classroom. Many studies indicate
that children’s emergent literacy skills significantly
predict reading test scores in later years,
reinforcing the importance of home environments
on early literacy development and reading
achievement.
Engaging children in play-based literacy activities
encourages the development of phonological
awareness, vocabulary and oral language, as well
as other knowledge essential for learning to read.
For example, by playing word games, using
rhymes to explore the sound structure of the
English language, and teaching them about the
alphabet, letter-sounds and print concepts
through directed, play-based activities.
Parents can also enhance their children’s
vocabulary and oral language through informal
activities, such as providing access to books and
educational toys, reading books together, and
trips to the library or museums. One of the most
effective things parents can do is TALKING with
children, listening, and answering their questions.
Once children start school, parents should
continue to foster reading development. Here are
some strategies that can assist:
Read to them!
Reading to your children helps them develop a
love of books and reading. While bedtime is
traditionally story time, don’t limit yourself. Keep
books in your car, in your bag, by the couch, and
even by the bathtub. That way, reading can easily
be made part of the day. Also, keep books on low
shelves, on the floor, in toy boxes, or anywhere
else your children can reach them.
Of course reading to your kids is not the only thing
that will help them learn to read; high quality
phonological awareness activities and a
structured synthetic phonics program, like what
we have at Broome North PS, are the most
important things. However, children that are read
to at home almost always come to school with
more advanced reading skills than those who
don’t.
Have plenty of material
Books aren’t the only thing children can read.
Posters, maps, magazines, recipes and
newspapers are great reading material. Computer
games and apps that emphasise reading skills
may also be useful for school-age children, but try
to ensure that there’s a mix between screen-
based reading and non-screen reading.
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The A to Z of Broome North PS
Listen to them read
From the day your children begin sounding out
letters, concentrate on how they’re doing. Try to
include some ‘read aloud’ time – where they’re
reading to you – in your everyday routine. You can
offer them praise and catch any early problems
before they have time to become habits. Show
you’re excited about what they are reading and
learning.
Model good reading habits and limit screen
time
Your children need to see that reading is a lifelong
skill and a form of entertainment. Take them to the
library to choose books, and choose some for
yourself too. If you can, when reading
newspapers, magazines or online articles, discuss
what you read with your children. This shows
children that reading isn’t only schoolwork – it’s
something that’s an integral part of everyone’s life.
Also, limit the amount of time spent watching
screens, and try to model this yourself. Insisting
that electronic devices are put away at meal times,
for example, is a good way of limiting screen time.
Ensuring your children don’t have access to their
devices at night time is another wise move.
Let them choose
Within reason, allow your children to choose their
own reading material. If they choose what to read,
they’ll be more likely to actually spend time
reading. Sign your children up at the Broome
library and try to make visiting a part of your
weekly routine. Entrust your kids with choosing
their library books and looking after them whilst
they’re on loan.
Ask the teacher
Ask your child’s teacher if your child has areas in
which he or she may need extra help. Also, make
sure to let the teacher know if you’ve noticed any
reading problems at home. Working with the
teacher and school will ensure your child’s
continued reading success.
More important than ever
Just 15 minutes of reading per day can change
your child’s life. It is a skill that comes only with
practise, and, like any form of exercise, the more,
the better. When combined with the explicit, age-
appropriate reading instruction at Broome North
Primary School, home reading can take your
child’s literacy development to the next level. To
find out more about best practice in teaching
reading, or if you’ve got any questions, please
come in to school for a chat.
19
Broome North PS Map
Room Class Room Class
Marndan 1 Kindy Nimanburr 1 Year 3
Marndan 2 Kindy; 0-3 Nimanburr 2 Year 3
Marndan 3 Pre-primary Nimanburr 3 Year 4
Marndan 4 PP/Year 1 Nimanburr 4 Year 4
Marndan 5 Pre-primary Jarlangardi 1 Year 6
Linygurra 1 Year 1 Jarlangardi 2 Year 5
Linygurra 2 Year 1/2 Jarlangardi 3 Art
Linygurra 3 Year 2 Jarlangardi 4 Year 6
Linygurra 4 Year 2 Music Room Music
20
Broome North PS Map
Broome North Primary School
Tanami Drive, Broome, 6725
(08) 9195 3000
www.broomenorthps.wa.edu.au
