Junior School Handbook 2019 Table of Contents
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JUNIOR SCHOOL HANDBOOK 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome to Clonard College - Principal – Damian McKew 2 Clonard College –A Kildare Education Ministries Catholic School in the Brigidine tradition 3 College Governance and Stewardship 4 College Leadership 5 Beginning Secondary School: Induction and Transition Program 6 Pastoral Care and Student Wellbeing 8 General Information for Students and Parents 11 Beyond the Classroom 16 Student House Structure and Leadership 18 Overview of Secondary School 19 Curriculum at Year 7 20 Assessment and Reporting 21 Homework and Study Guidelines 22 Student Computing Device Program 23 Student Expectations and Procedures 24 Developing Personal Responsibility – Flow Chart 27 Restorative Practices – Managing Student Conflict at School 28 Camps, Excursions and Incursions 29 College Uniform 30 Communication and Contact Information 31 Bus Travel 33 College Maps and Facilities 37 Please note that in the ease of this document’s publication, the use of the word ‘parent’ is inclusive of a student’s carers and/or guardians. Page 1 PRINCIPAL’S WELCOME Dear Parents and Families, It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Clonard College, a Kildare Education Ministries Catholic school in the Brigidine tradition. At Clonard, we offer your daughters the environment and opportunities to achieve personal excellence in all areas of school life and beyond. We work to develop their personal strengths and talents so they can be the best they can, through a broad curriculum and co-curricular program, coupled with over sixty years of achievement in all fields from academic to music, sport and community service. We challenge our students to become independent and equip them with the skills necessary for life-long learning. We aim to give our students an empathy with others as well as the self-confidence to feel secure in their world and possess the capacity to transform it. Of utmost importance is the caring, supportive learning environment that exists at Clonard. Over the past few years, every effort has been made to develop state of the art facilities for your daughters which will assist their learning in the years to come. In welcoming your daughter to Year 7, we are very aware of the individual needs they have as they embark on their secondary school journey. The staff at the College are here to support your daughters through their journey. Please feel free to contact us should you have any concerns. We give thanks for the great opportunities that we have been blessed with at Clonard and we celebrate the unique giftedness of each and every student in our care. We thank you for entrusting the education of your daughter with us. Mr Damian McKew Principal Page 2 CLONARD COLLEGE A Kildare Education Ministries Catholic School Educating Girls in the Brigidine Tradition Clonard College was founded in 1956 and occupies a site in Herne Hill with buildings dating back to the 1850’s. The Brigidine Sisters are members of a global congregation re-founded by Bishop Daniel Delany, in Ireland, in 1807. In re-establishing the congregation, Bishop Delany linked the Brigidine Sisters to the ancient monastic order founded by Saint Brigid in the fifth century and which survived, in Ireland, until Reformation times. Saint Brigid’s first monastery was founded in Kildare, Ireland. A great traveller, at the invitation of the Bishops, Saint Brigid set up convents all over Ireland. The Brigidine Sisters came to Australia in 1883 and currently sponsor seven secondary schools in Victoria and South Australia and are also committed to work in the areas of primary education, social justice, the environment and pastoral support within parishes. At the heart of our College community is a commitment to nurturing faith. As a Kildare Education Ministries Catholic School in the Brigidine tradition, we are committed to: Wonder - Celebrating all that is good with joy and gratitude Courage – Speaking and acting with integrity Hospitality – Welcoming all Hope – Bringing a sense of purpose Compassion – Walking with and having empathy for all Justice – Making the needs of the vulnerable paramount The Brigidine motto, and therefore, Clonard’s motto is "Fortiter et Suaviter" – "Strength and Kindliness". Page 3 Governance Clonard was founded in 1956 by the Brigidine Congregation, after the sisters arrived in Australia from Ireland in 1883. In 2014, The NSW and Victorian Provinces of the Brigidine Congregation formed to become the educational and community works of Kildare Ministries. Kildare Ministries has the authority to act as a Church body (Public Juridic Person) and continues to involve lay people at all levels of governance, including Clonard College. The vision for Kildare Ministries centres on the transformative power of education and service, underpinned by sound principles or practice, and is based in a rich Catholic and spiritual tradition. Essentially, Kildare Ministries strives to offer educational and community services within an inclusive and socially just context. Stewardship Council In 1996 a new governance structure was established for all Kildare Ministries Schools. This involved the development of a Stewardship Council comprising two Kildare Ministries’ representatives and seven other members from the community, who may include parents of present and past students, and friends of the school. The role of the Stewardship Council is to ensure that the school remains faithful to the Kildare Ministries Criteria, ‘For an Education that is Catholic in the Kildare Ministries sponsored Core Values’. The Stewardship Council is involved in and responsible for: the mission of the school, review of policy, long term planning, finances recurrent and capital and public relations. The function of the Stewardship Council is to approve policies but the implementation of such policies is the function of the Principal and the staff. Appointment to the Stewardship Council is made by Kildare Ministries. Page 4 COLLEGE LEADERSHIP College Principal - Mr Damian McKew – current - New Principal to be appointed for 2019. Assistant Principals: Staff - Mr Richard Jones Pastoral Care - Ms Kylie Power Learning and Teaching - Ms Jo Ryan College Organisation - Mr Dean Williams Director of Catholic Identity - Mrs Linda Kiernan Director of Student Leadership - Mrs Tania Anticev Director of Students - Ms Simone Cymbalak Business Manager - Mr Tom Harriott Junior School Year Level Coordinators Year 7 - Mrs Linda Bentley ([email protected]) Year 8 - Ms Gabrielle Blythe ([email protected]) Page 5 BEGINNING SECONDARY SCHOOL: INDUCTION AND TRANSITION PROGRAM Clonard provides a supportive and structured approach to welcoming each girl to the College. Induction Prior to commencing Year 7, girls are invited to attend an Orientation Day session. On this day, Grade 6 girls are welcomed to their Homeroom group and have the opportunity to meet their Homeroom and Pastoral Care teacher for the coming year. College student leaders support the day by providing interactive games and tours of the facilities. Girls are asked to complete a Pre-Orientation Day workbook prior to this day. This workbook will be distributed at the Year 7 Information Evening. Class groupings are carefully considered. Creating classes where a variety of abilities and talents are represented is most important. Girls are generally placed with another girl from their primary school so that there is a familiar face amongst the new group. Attending the Year 7 Information Evening is important, as together with parents and guardians, the girls hear from both staff and students about the procedures and opportunities available to them at Clonard. First Day Getting ready for the first day will be exciting. Girls will receive advice on Orientation Day about preparing their equipment and what to expect in the coming year. Families will receive further information from the Year Level Coordinator in the week prior to the girls commencing their first day. First Weeks As there is so much to adjust to in secondary school, Year 7s have a supportive Induction Program in the first two weeks of the Term. The emphasis during these early weeks is on meeting new girls and building an inclusive culture amongst the Year Level. The Induction Program will incorporate timetabled classes, along with familiarisation of the College’s Library resources, ICT sessions and fun activities to support social connections. A Welcome Evening is held within the first few weeks of Term One for parents and guardians. Page 6 Transition - Settling in… As the term progresses, the girls are introduced to new routines and supported in their personal organisation. It is important that parents make contact with the College if they believe their daughter is experiencing extreme anxiety at this time. Camp A camp is held towards the end of Term One. This is a timely opportunity to build upon the growing relationships amongst the girls, not only in their Homeroom groups but across the Year Level. If there are any concerns about attending camp, contact with the Year Level Coordinator is advisable. Most needs can be accommodated and if a girl requires support to attend camp, every effort will be made to meet these needs. Year 7 and beyond As the year progresses, the girls soon make the necessary adjustments to secondary school. For many, this transition may take the entire year, whilst for others it is almost immediate. Moving into Year 8 is an opportunity to consolidate the transition in Year 7. The focus of Year 8 is to expand friendships and establish sound study habits that build success in the senior years of schooling. Early in Term Two the students will participate in a 3 day camp. The aim of the camp is to foster and develop new and old friendships. Year 8 encourages the students to develop their decision making skills and to grow in independence. Students are given the opportunity to make decisions about their future studies. Subject selections will occur in Term Two, when students have the opportunity to select some Electives for Year 9.