Newman College offers answers to frequently asked questions about issues relating to the College.
Insurance
Q. What Student Accident Insurance cover does the College hold?
A. The College has a Student Accident Insurance Policy with Catholic Church Insurances covering all students 24 hours per day for limited lump sum benefits. Refer to the following attachments and claim form. Parents are advised to have comprehensive private health insurance in addition.
Why SchoolCare (
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SchoolCare Policy ( 75Kb)
SchoolCare Claim Form ( 199Kb)
Bus Services
Q. What are the routes and timetables for the bus service to and from Newman College?
A. The information relating to the buses that come to and depart from Newman College can be found in this document. Bus Timetable 2008 ( 68Kb) or here to see bus routes as well.
Year 7 Students
Q. Will the Year 7 students be kept separate from the older students during lunchtime breaks?
A. Year 7 students will be released from class for the lunchtime break 7 minutes earlier than older students for at least the first term. This will enable them to either get to their locker for the purpose of returning their books or to get to the Canteen to collect their lunch.
Q. How often will they have to move from classroom to classroom throughout the day?
A. Students will generally have their core subjects in the one classroom and only be expected to move throughout the college for their elective subjects.
Q. Will my Year 7 student have a locker? Where will they store their belongings otherwise?
A. Lockers will be allocated to students to store their text books and folders. They should however, be encouraged to only bring in and take home materials that they will need for that day’s lessons/evenings homework. This will help to alleviate the problem of a heavy school bag.
Q. Will my child be able participate in the NAS (Northern Associated Sports) programme as a Year 7 student and what does this involve?
A. All children are encouraged to participate in this programme. The college runs a winter and a summer programme whereby students nominate for a sport to play. Students play other schools one day each week. They will either be playing on Newman College grounds or be bussed to and from the competitors’ grounds.
In addition to the NAS programme, there are many other opportunities for involvement in co-curricular activities. Information regarding these activities can be accessed from the College website www.newman.wa.edu.au.
Q. Will there be a Year 7/8 orientation camp and will the year groups be combined?
A. The Year 7 students will have the opportunity to participate in a camp. Further details will be given about the camp when your child comes to the College for the Year 7 Orientation Day.
Q. Is their an opportunity to ‘swap’ classes should my child not cope or assimilate in the nominated classroom as a Year 7 student?
A. The general policy of the school is that students are not swapped between classes unless there are exceptional circumstances. Every effort will be made to assist students if such a situation should arise.
Q.
Will the music Special Instrumental Programme (SIP) be extended to Year 7 & 8 students or just offered to Year 8 students as has happened in the past?
A. An opportunity will be extended to Year 7 students to join the Special Instrumental Programme (SIP). Students will be selected following the completion of a musical aptitude test which will be given on the Orientation Day in November.
Q. What happens if my child feels sick during the day, how will I be notified?
A. Our sickbay is located in the main administration building. If your child is feeling sick, you will be contacted by a member of our Administration team at Student Reception. We have four beds available and as such, students will need to be collected immediately. We do not have the facilities for students to remain in the sickbay for long periods of time. If due to your work commitments, it is difficult for you to collect a child or us to contact you throughout the day, it is important we have an emergency contact for this purpose.
We also ask that if your child is sick you do not send them to school in the hope of getting better throughout the day.
Q. If my child needs help during the day, who should they approach?
A. The Administration staff on Student Reception, located in the main administration building will be able to assist your child should they be lost or requiring other assistance.
Q. I
f my child is not coping at school, what should I do?
A. You are able to make contact with the Pastoral Care Teacher or the Head of Year to discuss issues relating to your child.
Q. How can I go about contacting a teacher for class progress and will I be contacted if they are not coping at school?
A. An opportunity is given to parents for parent/teacher meetings following distribution of reports. If a teacher has concerns regarding your child’s progress, they will request an interview with you at this time. Of course if you wish to contact a teacher throughout term time, you only need contact the College on (08) 9204 9444 to arrange this.
Q. What is the process for collecting my child early or dropping them off late due to an appointment?
A. If your child is unable to attend school, or is going to be late for any reason, parents are asked to telephone the College on the designated absentee line - 9204 9445 - before 9.00am. This may also be done outside office hours by leaving a message on the absentee line mentioned above. Office staff are instructed to contact parents of students who are absent and for whom an advice of absence has not been received. This contact will be made via an SMS to parent’s mobile phones. A note is required should your child need to leave school prior to the end of the day.
Q. What happens if my child forgets his/her lunch or doesn’t bring money in for the bus ride home?
A. Unfortunately we are unable to lend money to students for this purpose. There are several blue pay phones throughout the college for students to use. Students are advised to keep a small amount of money in their locker for this purpose. Mobile phones are not permitted to be used during school hours and should be kept in lockers at all times
Q. Where do the students catch the bus from and is it safe and fully supervised by teaching staff?
A. The school bus service drops off and departs from Tuscany Way. The afternoon bus service is fully supervised by teaching staff and bus services can be accessed via the College website. The 2008 schedule is currently available.
Q. If my child is allocated to a Guild with other students that they don’t relate to, is there an opportunity for this to be changed?
A. The general policy of the school is that students do not change Guilds unless there are exceptional circumstances. Every effort will be made to assist students if such a situation should arise.
Q. Can my child take up musical lessons throughout the year and what is the procedure for this?
A. Music lessons are run throughout term time and application forms for this are available for collection at Student Reception. A copy of this form has also been included within this information package for your convenience.
Q. What is the procedure if I want to get a message to my child throughout the day?
A. Messages of an urgent nature can be passed on to your child throughout morning classes. We do ask however, that issues such as pick up and related issues be organised with your child prior to them coming to school. Unfortunately we are not always able to relay these messages due to the hectic nature of the school day.