Practicalities

AN OUTLINE OF THE SCHOOL TIMETABLE

9.00 We start with a meeting of everybody involved in the school. It’s a time to say hello and a time when we’ll remind each other in different ways of the importance of the community to which we belong, and that “the whole is greater than the individual parts.”

The person taking the meeting will run through the day’s programme, and give people the opportunity to talk about subjects that are on their minds. But as well, using fables, stories, biographies, poems and current events, the person chairing the meeting, whether it be an adult or a student, may invite us, explicitly or implicitly, to consider values and aspirations.

9.25 We move into classes, which may be in horizontal groupings or vertical groupings, depending upon the day and the subject. Broadly speaking, classes cover the humanities, maths and the sciences, art and music, and sport and fitness. As well, students will frequently engage with the outside world, typically, by going off-campus, by talking with guests who come to the school, or by heading bush.

10.55 – 11.25 Recess: depending on their age and mood and interests students might spend Recess playing in the creek or feeding the chooks or having a game of tennis or chopping firewood. They might have a snack and talk to their friends or play chasey or sit alone and read a book. They might engage in a game of chess. They might talk to a couple of adults about the concept of light years or last night’s episode of My Kitchen Rules. They might climb a tree or just lie back in the grass.

11.25 – 1.15 Classes continue.

1.15 to 2.15 Lunch: we ask students not to bring lunch to school. We provide a selection of fresh food, which on most days will include soup or a hot meal.

2.15-3.10 Classes continue.

3.10-3.30 Adults and students work together to maintain the physical environment of the school, including cleaning of the buildings and grounds.

3:30 School ends for the day.

PRACTICALITIES:

1. There is no school uniform but there is a clothing policy. We expect students to wear sensible outdoors clothing, of a type that can get dirty or torn. Students will be notified of trips off campus where more stylish clothing may be needed. Students can keep a change of clothes at school as a backup.

T-shirts that carry advertisements or slogans, particularly references to Kurt Cobain or grandmothers going to Bali and bringing back nothing but a lousy T-shirt, are not appropriate. Clothing featuring words that are anagrams of swear words or could be mistaken for swear words are not appropriate.

2. All camps, excursions and activities will be covered by the school fees, which are to be paid in advance each term. Students will not be permitted to re-enrol each term while fees are in arrears. Parents experiencing difficulties with cash flow should contact the school in plenty of time to discuss the problem.

3. Camps and excursions are for everyone, and are an essential part of the school program. Parents enrolling children in the school implicitly acknowledge this, and implicitly accept that they will support the camp and excursion program. Parents who do not support camps and excursions should not choose this school for their children.

4. Mobile phones may not be used by students while on the school property. At this stage there is almost no mobile phone coverage on the Tye Estate anyway. Urgent messages to students can be sent via the school office.

6. Food should not to be brought to school, as we provide morning tea and lunch. Lollies, chewing gum and soft drinks are not to be brought to school at any time. We cater for allergies and special diets.