Students' Handbook

N-Z

Reports

At the end of the Semesters (Terms 2 and 4), a School Report is issued. Our reporting system was developed through consultation with parents, students and staff and is a profile of student progress and achievement. The Semester report includes a list of your extra-curricular activities and attendance. Senior reporting times may vary as courses dictate.

Road Safety

Please observe the 'No Parking', 'No Standing' and 'Bus Zone' signs outside the school in Centennial Avenue. As well as being illegal, parking here obscures motorists' view of students crossing.

Students walking to Chatswood Station should use the pedestrian crossing near the Primary School in Centennial Avenue, and the overhead walkway over the Pacific Highway.

Pulling into and stopping on any of the school, or local residents' driveways can be dangerous and an inconvenience to others. During the school day the School's carparks are fully utilised for staff parking.

Runners

Each day during Term, a Year 7 student is selected on a roster system to be 'Runner'. This involves being based in the Administration Office for the whole day. There you will be given a variety of jobs to assist the Principal, the Deputies and the Administration staff. The benefits to you are: you get to know these staff members (and they get to know you!); you learn your way around the school; you learn how things get done at school; how the Rolls are prepared, what is involved in newsletter/mail distribution, etc. Runners are selected alphabetically.

Rights and Responsibilities

Chatswood High School's list of 'Rights and Responsibilities' was developed by students for other students to use. They are based on the principles of:

treating others in the way you would like them to treat you
respect for others as individuals
for each individual right, there is a corresponding responsibility

Click here to see the 'Rights and Responsibilities' list.

Sound Systems & Electronic games

These items are considered unnecessary for successful learning at school. The school cannot guarantee the security of such items and will not be responsible for their loss.

Student Meetings

Each day you meet in a vertical age group at Roll Call. At these meetings, the Roll is marked, the events of the day are announced and there is an opportunity to discuss any relevant issues.

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Roll Call is extended so that you and the teacher can read for 15 minutes. This time, called 'READ', is to encourage all students to read on a regular basis.

Several times a term, the roll groups meet for an extended welfare session. This allows for longer discussion of events and policies and allows you to have an input into school policies.

Year meetings are held as the need arises to discuss matters relating to the students' Year and for presentation of awards.

School assemblies may be formal or informal. Formal assemblies frequently involve community members as guests and speakers. Cultural events and sporting achievements are also featured at formal assemblies.

Sport meetings are held before carnivals to inform you of activities available to you and to encourage participation.

Year 7 and Year 8 will have a welfare period once a fortnight. In this period students will look at issues such as bullying, transition to High School and leadership.

SRC (Student Representative Council)

Chatswood High School has had an active SRC for many years. Many past Presidents, Secretaries and representatives have progressed to leadership roles in the community.

Aims

The aims of the SRC are:

to involve students with staff in the decision-making process
to provide students with a democratic voice as members of the school community
to provide opportunities for leadership skills to be developed
to encourage students to become aware of different points of view and so become more tolerant and cooperative members of society
to develop in students a sense of responsibility, pride and loyalty towards the school
to foster student welfare through the interaction of all school members

Membership

The SRC consists of elected representatives from each school Year group: Years 8 to Year 11, 6 students from each year, and 12 students from Year 12. These numbers can be varied at the discretion of the Principal

Roles and Responsibilities

The roles and responsibilities of the SRC members are as follows:

attend meetings regularly
to represent the views of others at the SRC meetings
to report to Year meetings and staff meetings as necessary
to represent the school at important occasions
to carry out duties that have been assigned in relation to the operation of the SRC

Students out of class

Students are not dismissed from class until the end of each period. It is school policy that no "early marks" are given.

If a student is out of class for any reason he or she should be in possession of a note issued by the class teacher. This note should clearly show the reason, date, time of issue and teacher's name. Requests by students to go to the toilet during lesson times are discouraged.

Where a teacher detains a student after a lesson for some urgent reason, the student must be given a late note to allow them to enter their next class.

If late students do not have a note, then the teacher should note the time of arrival, and organise some community service or lesson catch-up time. If this lateness becomes habitual, the student should be referred to the Head Teacher for appropriate action.

Sun Safety

Students are encouraged to wear the school cap (plain blue or with CHS crest). No other colours or decorations are to be on the cap. The cap is to be worn with the peak to the front to protect the face from the sun. Girls may wear the CHS wide brimmed panama hat. Block-out is available from the P.E. Faculty.

Telephone

Mobile phones should not be brought to school. If there are extenuating circumstances and they are required, then they should be switched off during lessons. Phones which ring during class time, assemblies or other inappropriate times, will be confiscated and handed to the Deputy. Students are responsible for the safekeeping of mobile phones at all times.

Timetable: How to read it

Your timetable has a Week A and a Week B.

Your first week in each Term will be Week A, your second week will be B, Week three is A and so on throughout the term. Each day has four lessons called Periods. There is a 'recess' and a 'short break' in the morning, and Lunch after Period 3.

Each period you will be in a subject class, for example English or Maths or History and so on. The initials of the teacher's name are printed below the class number on the timetable, along with the room number.

Text Books

When enrolling at Chatswood High School, a Text Book Deposit is paid: a once-only fee, which at present stands at $80. This fee covers the cost of text books for your whole time at Chatswood High School. Each year, books are to be returned to the relevant Head Teacher (sometimes via the Library), in useable condition.

Transport Passes

Train and Bus Pass application forms are available at Year 7 Orientation Day, and from the Front Office. To qualify for free bus and train travel, you must live a specified distance from the school and must travel by the most direct route. Contact the Front Office if you are uncertain if you qualify. Should your transport pass be lost or stolen, there is a levy imposed when applying for a new one.

When you turn 16 years of age, you are eligible for a Concession Card to allow you to travel at half fare. Concession Cards are valid until you turn 18 years of age.

If you are under 16 and look 'older' than your age, then a 'Proof of Age' card is a good idea as a means of identification. Applications for Concession Cards and Proof of Age Cards are available via the Front Office.

If you do not qualify for free travel because you live within a 2km radius of the school (as the crow flies), you can purchase a Student Term Ticket for bus travel (these currently cost $37 per term) or a City Rail Flexipass for cheaper travel. Once again, application forms available from the Front Office.

Uniform

The uniform committee, in consultation with staff and students, has been involved in recent years in developing a "corporate image" uniform. The aim is to encourage the wearing of uniform by providing choice to students and allowing them to retain some individuality, The following are examples of available choices.

Girls have the option of either a dress, a skirt or navy long pants worn with a white blouse.
The new short sleeve polo shirt can he worn by both girls and boys instead of the traditional white shirt/blouse.
Students can keep warm by wearing either the new school jacket, a school sloppy joe or a navy jumper.

Visitors

All visitors to the school must have a legitimate reason for being on school grounds and must report to the front office on entering the school grounds via the main entrance. Parents are always welcome. If a student needs to be contacted, this will be done by the front office.

Persons trespassing, loitering or remaining on school grounds who are not students or visitors with appropriate permission, will be asked to leave. Failure to do so will lead to the police being contacted.

"What to do if.....?"

I am late for school ...
Go straight to the Front Office to sign in late.

I need to leave early ...
Take a note to the Front Office between 8.30 and 8.45am to receive leave permission. Then return to the Front Office when leaving to receive a leave pass.

I can't wear my uniform ...
Bring a note and take it to the Deputy between 8.30 and 8.45am.

I need a bus or train pass, or I have lost my pass ...
See Mrs Richards in the Front Office.

I am sick or injured ...
Report to the Front Office and someone will take care of you.

I am lost or confused ...
See your Year Adviser, the Office staff, or make an appointment to see a Counsellor.

I don't know what class I have ...
Carry a timetable! See the Deputy or any Head Teacher.

I earn points for an Award ...
Enter the activity on the Award card. Get the card signed by the supervising teacher. Put the card in the Award box for verification and recording.

I can't find my classroom ...
Ask! Chatswood High is a friendly place, so ask a teacher or senior student.

I am being bullied ...
Tell someone immediately. Bullying is not allowed. Tell your Year Adviser, a teacher, the Deputy.

I have lost something ...
Go to Lost Property: in the second half of lunch, go to the Science Staff Room (under the Library) and ask for Mrs White.

Someone makes racist or sexist remarks ...
This is also not allowed. Tell your Year Adviser or see the Deputy or the teacher in charge of Anti-Discrimination.

I have collected six Merit Cards ...
Go to your Year Adviser and trade them for a Year Adviser Award.

I am overloaded with homework ...
Talk to your teachers or see your Year Adviser.