School Policies

St Mary's Catholic School Policies

Homework Policy

Homework is an integral part of a child’s education. It helps maintain communication between school and home on the child’s academic growth and it reinforces basic skills and concepts taught in class.

Homework should be regular, relaxed and non-threatening. Children should be given homework which involves familiar concepts or skills. Parents should not be required to ‘teach’ anything to their child as part of homework set. Homework which creates stress in the child and/or parent should be discontinued and a note of explanation sent to the teacher the next day. Homework should provide a time for parents to positively reinforce and encourage their children’s efforts.

Organisation

Homework will be set for Monday to Thursday evenings only, leaving weekends free. All homework requirements are to be handed in to the classroom teacher on Friday mornings.

Homework Outline

Any student who has not completed their homework requirements and handed it in to their classroom teacher on Friday morning will be excluded from Funtastic Friday activities for that week unless a written note is provided by the parents.

Reading requirements are four nights a week for all year levels (minimum). At least two of these nights for students in Years 3 – 6 should be aloud to parents for at least 10 minutes to develop reading expression and fluency.

Students in Years Prep – 2 should read aloud every night. Parents are to sign a nightly record to indicate that their child has read to them. Students who consistently do not complete their four nights of reading may be excluded from Funtastic Friday activities to complete reading requirements.

Year Level	Expected Time Limit	Reading	Literacy	Numeracy
Prep	No more than 10 minutes	Nightly reading aloud Term 1 – parents sharing with child Term 2 – To/With/By with child	2 – 5 Sight Words/week DIPL homework sheet – completed orally with parent; working towards child completing
Year 1	No more than 15 minutes	Nightly reading aloud to parent	Sight Words/Number Words DIPL homework sheet	Number chart - counting
Year 2	No more than 20 minutes	Nightly reading aloud to parent	Sight Words/Number Words/Mathematical Terms DIPL homework sheet	Number chart - counting
Year 3	No more than 20 - 30 minutes	Nightly reading aloud to parent	DIPL homework sheet Oral Language activity (Show and Share topic)	Tables/Number Facts Revision Activities
Year 4	No more than 20 - 30 minutes	Nightly reading aloud to parent	DIPL homework sheet	Tables/Number Facts Revision Activities
Year 5	No more than 30 minutes	Nightly reading (aloud 2 nights)	DIPL homework sheet	Tables/Number Facts Revision Worksheet
Year 6	No more than 30 minutes	Nightly reading (aloud 2 nights)	DIPL homework sheet	Tables/Number Facts Revision Worksheet

CCTV

Click here to read more about our CCTV Policy.

Sun Smart

Sun Smart School Policy

Click here to read more about our Sun Smart School Policy.

Anti-Bullying Framework

To view the Anti-Bullying Framework please click the link below

Click here

Responsible Behaviour Model

Information about the Responsible Behaviour Model used at St Mary's School can be found below.

Knowing everyone is guided by the same rules and procedures assists our students in feeling connected to their school community. Our various policies have been developed to ensure our school functions effectively.

The Diocesan Education Council (DEC) assists the Bishop in formulating the Townsville Diocesan Catholic Education vision and identity. The DEC makes and monitors educational policies so that they are consistent with the Diocesan Mission Statement. The policy framework of the Diocesan Education Council provides a unifying focus for all Diocesan schools, and schools formulate additional policies to address operational aspects of school life.

Diocesan Education Council policies

Privacy Policy

We consider all personal, sensitive and health information of parents or caregivers, students and prospective employees to be private and will only use information collected and recorded to fulfil the educational mission of the Catholic Education Office of the Diocese of Townsville.

Code of Conduct for Parents

All system schools in the Townsville Diocese have adopted a Code of Conduct for Parents, and all parents/carers are asked to abide by the rights, responsibilities and ethos outlined in this document.

Student Protection

St Mary's Catholic School, Bowen is committed to ensuring a safe school environment for all students, with a focus on the critical area of student welfare. All schools in the Townsville Catholic Diocese have a comprehensive Student Protection program for all staff (teachers, school support staff and office staff) in the Diocese.

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