Choosing the right education for your child is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. As parents/carers you have a choice and the right to offer your child the best education available.
At Fern Bay Public School we are proud to provide a nurturing, caring, stimulating learning environment. Fern Bay Public School is the locally zoned Kindergarten to Year 6 school for Fern Bay, Fullerton Cove and Seaside Fern Bay residents.
Our school has a supportive community of teachers, parents, P&C committee members and support staff who work together to focus on students, encouraging success, promoting discipline, supporting creativity and instilling compassion, Our school values are Respectful, Responsible and Inclusive.
As part of Fern Bay Public School’s Kindergarten Orientation process we have established a School Readiness Program commencing in Term 4.
Local enrolment area
Most schools have designated local enrolment areas.
The School Finder shows our local enrolment area.
Please see the link to our enrolment policy.
For more information, visit primary school enrolment. and enrol online.
The application form must be completed in English. However, a translated application to enrol may help you to fill out the form in English.House Groups
We have three house groups. These are Naatiyn (shark) - Blue, Barrang (mud crab) - Red and Billin (stingray) - Yellow.
At present house colours are worn at cross country and athletics carnivals.
Siblings will be placed in the same house group.
School Hours: 9am- 3pm
Gates open at 8.30am each morning and are supervised by a teacher on duty at this time.
There is no playground supervision prior to this time. OOSH is available for more information if before school care is required.
Students are supervised from;
8:30am-9:00am: Morning Play- Supervision
9am-11:00- Prime Learning Time
11-11:10am: Lunch - Eating Time
11:10- 11:40am- Lunch Play
11:40-1:40pm- Middle Session Learning
1:40-1.50pm- Recess - Eating Time
1:50pm-2:20pm- Recess Time
2.20pm- 3:00pm- Afternoon Session Learning
3:00pm- Home Time
3:25pm- Bus Leave
BREAKS THROUGHOUT THE DAY
Fruit break is encouraged between 10 and 11am. Please provide a piece or pre cut fresh fruit or vegetables that does not require cutting or slicing by your teacher and your child can eat independently. Fruit bars, juices or fruit flavoured items are not allowed.
All students are encouraged to bring water to drink throughout the day. It can be refilled at school if required.
There is an allocated time at the beginning of each break for supervised eating time.
Fresh food and healthy options are encouraged.
Please supply an ice brick to keep food cool especially throughout the warmer months as refrigerators are not available.
ARRIVING LATE AND PICKING UP EARLY PROCEDURES?
The gates are shut throughout the school day. They are not locked. All students arriving late or leaving early are required to come to the office with the parent/carer and complete the partial absence form.
REASONS FOR BEING ABSENT FROM SCHOOL?
Explained vs justified absences
Parents are required to explain absences within a SEVEN day period. This can be done via a note or a phone call to the front office or an email to the school. NSW Education Act requires all absences that have not been explained within SEVEN calendar days to be permanently recorded as 'unjustified'.
There are a limited number of reasons which justify an absence from school. In some circumstances, even though a reason has been provided, the absence will still be recorded as 'unjustified' because the reason does not count as a valid reason as per Department of Education policy.
What are valid reasons?
The two most common reasons for student absence are 'sick' and 'leave'.
Sick: The student's absence is due to sickness or as the result of a medical appointment.
Leave: The student's absence is due to an incident such as a serious illness of an immediate family member or attendance at a funeral and the explanation provided has been accepted by the principal.
Partial absences
Parents are expected to provide a reason for their child's lateness. If a valid reason is not provided, the absence will be recorded as 'unjustified'.
BYOD
Bring your own device to school is currently under discussion.
Canteen
FBPS P&C run the canteen on a volunteer basis. If you would like to volunteer please contact the P&C at our email address fernbayps@gmail.com or visit the P&C Facebook page.
Canteen orders and preferred method of payment is via the platform QuickCliq https://www.quickcliq.com.au/.
Bus
Hunter Valley Buses are the provider for the school run. OPAL cards for student are applied for online via https://apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/home#/
Morning Bus
* Picks up at the front bus stop in Seaside at approximately 8:10am
* then follows on to the back bus stop at Banksia Park at approximately 8:15am
Arriving at school at approximately 8:30am
Afternoon Bus
* Picks up from school at 3:25pm
* Goes into Bayway Village at about 3:28pm
* Arrives at first Seaside stop at approximately 3:30pm
* Arrives Banksia Park at approximately 3:35pm
* Last stop is Fullerton Cove Road at approximately 3:40pm
Volunteering at Fern Bay PS
Parent helpers in the classroom are dependent on the need of the classroom teacher and the programs implemented in the classroom. The canteen often requires volunteers to assist in the canteen. A form called Declaration for Volunteers must be completed before volunteering at Fern Bay PS. It is available from the office at request.
UNIFORMS
When students wear a school uniform, they feel included in our school community.
Students, teachers, parents and carers, as well as members of our local community helped develop our school uniform to make sure it:
meets the requirements of occupational health and safety, anti-discrimination and equal opportunity legislation
includes items that are affordable, comfortable and made from easy-care and easy-wear fabrics
is appropriate for the full range of school activities
is suitable for all body shapes.
Learn more about the NSW Department of Education’s School Uniform Policy.
School uniforms are available for purchase from Lowes.
https://www.lowes.com.au/schools-online/fern-bay-public-school
Lowes
Raymond Terrace Market Place
Williams St, Raymond Terrace
Phone (02) 49831921
OR ONLINE https://www.lowes.com.au/schools-online
Second Hand Uniforms
Occasionally the P&C have second hand clothes in good condition for sale. Sizes vary depending on donations. P&C nominate the prices and the days for sale. Fern Bay P&C have a Facebook page for enquiries.
Footwear
Black shoes and white socks
School Bags
All of our school bags are available through the Harlequin online shop:
All bags come with a Lifetime Warranty.
https://www.schoolbags.com.au/your-school/fern-bay-public-school.html
Library Bags
All students require a library bag. Harlequin also sell a school logo library bag, however any good quality calico/cotton bag suitable for carrying library books is sufficient. Library borrowing is once per week.
PLEASE LABEL ALL BELONGINGS
Shoes, food and drink containers, bags and especially hats and jumpers need to be labelled. In general, if you can write a name or stick a label to it than please do it.
School Fees
School fees are discussed and the fee is defined each school year. Accounts will be sent out in Term 1.
Payments
Please use the option of Parent Online Payment via the FBPS website for making all payments for school for fees, excursions etc. Eftpos is available in the office however the online payment is the preferred option.
Positive Behaviour for Learning at Fern Bay Public School
FBPS is a Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) school. PBL is a whole school program that brings together the whole-school community to contribute to developing a positive, safe and supportive learning culture. The PBL framework assists schools to improve social, emotional, behavioural and academic outcomes for students.
Each week all students are delivered a lesson addressing one of the schools 3 expectations. The lessons are based on data that is recorded throughout the year. FBPS’s 3 PBL expectations are:
RESPECT
RESPONSIBILITY
INCLUSIVENESS
Stay up to date through our official communication channel by downloading our SZapp:
https://www.schoolzine.com/szapp-installation
As well as the Fern bay Public School website:https://fernbay-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/