Information Handbook

Information About Karabar High School and Distance Education Centre

Our Mission

Karabar High School and Distance Education Centre provides quality teaching and learning experiences to prepare students for the future as life long learners and members of the community. We do this in an enjoyable, safe and supportive environment within a positive and friendly social setting.

Mission Statement

Quality Education: Quality Future

Our Vision

Karabar High School and Distance Education Centre is the school of choice for our community.

This is achieved through:

quality teaching and learning;
excellent educational achievements;
mutual respect and care;
a climate of participation;
a strong student leadership; and
active participation and leadership in the community.

It is respected and valued by the community who share a sense of pride, ownership and belonging.

Our School Plan has identified and developed actions for the following critical success factors:

improving student engagement in learning;
improving staff skills and expertise;
improving community involvement in the school;
improving the school's learning and physical environment; and
having the best possible technology available to enhance teaching and learning.

Our important values, beliefs and skills are developed in the areas of learning and potential; personal skills; community values; and respect and caring.

Students leaving our school will be:

socially capable and healthy;
skilled in key areas;
effective communicators;
happy, well adjusted and confident; and
equipped and motivated for lifelong learning.

The School Motto

Karabar High School and Distance Education Centre's motto, Life is for Living, aims to encourage students to make the most of their talent, their time and their opportunities and so enjoy a full and satisfying life.

The School Badge

Karabar's badge (as illustrated above) has a central figure leaping upward, stylised into the letter 'K' for Karabar, and symbolising joy and vitality.

Administration Office

The Administration Office is open from 8.30 am until 3.30 pm. If you wish to make an appointment with any member of staff, please contact the school on 6298 4333 and to arrange the appointment.

Phone contact with staff is available between 8.30 am and 3.45 pm. An answering machine will record messages outside this time which will be passed on to staff on the next school day.

Aboriginal Education Assistant

The school has an Aboriginal Education Assistant (AEA). All matters relating to Aboriginal students and Aboriginal education should be referred to the AEA. The AEA liaises between the school and Aboriginal community, assists Aboriginal students in class, runs regular meetings of Aboriginal students and advises on all matters relating to Aboriginal perspectives in the curriculum of the school.

Assessment

All students are assessed at regular intervals to gather information about their academic progress. Assessments can take many forms such as tests, role-plays, portfolios, assignments and projects, depending on faculty policies. Records are kept and reports written.

In the case of Year 12 school assessment is part of the requirements for the Higher School Certificate. A separate Assessment Document is reviewed and updated according to Higher School Certificate requirements for the current year. It is distributed to students each year and parents are asked to read the document.

Regular reviews of study are completed for Years 10, 11 and 12, so that students and parents can be informed early when problems are discovered and support can be given.

Attendance

General Attendance: Parents and caregivers need to be aware that a roll is marked every lesson and students who are absent, without an acceptable reason, are recorded as truanting. Full day absences and part day absences affect a student's chance of completing a course satisfactorily and may lead to a student not getting a School Certificate, Higher School Certificate or Year 11 Preliminary Certificate.

All student absences require a note from parents explaining the reason for absence. It is important that the date of absence and the reason for absence is given; e.g. sick, family holiday etc. An absentee booklet is provided to all families to assist in providing explanations for student absences.

Please notify the rolls office if your child will be away for an extended period of time, e.g. overseas or serious illness.

Appointments During School Hours: Avoid dental and medical appointments during school hours. Where unavoidable, the student is to bring a note to their Mentor or Rolls Office between 8.30 am and 8.45 am This way the student avoids being marked as absent from class as he/she is recorded as partially absent with leave. Under no circumstances should any student leave the school premises without permission.

Late To School: Parents and caregivers should co-operate in encouraging their child to be in Junior Mentor/roll call (Years 7 - 10) by 8.45 a.m. Students arriving during roll call (i.e. 8.45 am to 9.00 am) should report to their roll call room.

Students arriving after 8.45 am should report to the Administration Office to be marked present and receive a late slip for class. Follow up of persistent latecomers occurs. A note from parents must accompany the student arriving late.

Canteen

The canteen is open before school, at recess and at lunchtime. No lunch passes are issued to students.

A canteen menu is contained in the Canteen section of our website.

Careers

Careers Education is an integral part of the curriculum at Karabar High School and Distance Education Centre. It is taught on a class basis as needed and is integrated into Personal Development courses in all junior years. Work experience is a part of Careers Education. Carefully targeted careers advice accompanies subject selection by students each year.

Clinic

The clinic is located in the Administration area. With teacher permission, students should report to the Administration Office. However, this facility is only for the immediate rendering of first aid to injuries or sudden illnesses which occur at school. If your child has an injury or wound that requires regular attention, this should be attended to by you or your doctor.

Students are allowed limited access to and time in the clinic. Wherever possible we will contact parents/carers to pick up the student so more appropriate care can be administered.

Counsellor

Our School Counsellors are available four days per week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. An appointment can be made by phoning the school on 62984333.

Distance Education Centre

Karabar High School Distance Education Centre opened in 1991. This centre caters for students in the Illawarra and South East Region of NSW who cannot attend a school for various reasons such as sickness, travelling or living overseas.

All Karabar staff work both in the classrooms at Karabar High School and in the Distance Education Centre.

Emergencies

Emergencies concerning students are notified first to the Deputy Principals or Principal and then to the parents of the student to obtain permission for emergency treatment or hospitalisation. Emergencies of a psychological and/or welfare nature should be immediately notified to the School Counsellor or Principal.

Financial Assistance

Some financial assistance is available to parents/guardians to help with the education and clothing of their children. Please contact the Principal about the Student Assistance Scheme.

Higher School Certificate

Qualifications and requirements for the Higher School Certificate (HSC) can be found in policies contained in the Assessment Certification and Examinations (ACE) Manual published by the Board of Studies which is available from the Principal. A document on the school's HSC Assessment policies and procedures is revised and published each year and is available to students and parents.

Home School Liaison Officer

The Home School Liaison Officer (HSLO) for this area works out of the Queanbeyan State Office. The telephone number is 6200 5000.

The HSLO receives referrals for students whose attendance is causing serious concern. The HSLO counsels children under the age of 15 years and plays a significant role in getting truants to return to school.

Homework

The school expects that students have a regular and systematic program of school study. The precise time which is devoted to home study would vary according to student needs, but an average expectation would involve:

Year 7 - 5 nights per week 1 hour per night

Year 8 - 5 nights per week 1½ hours per night

Year 9 - 5 nights per week 2 hours per night

Year 10 - 5 nights per week 2 hours per night

Year 11 - Whole week; minimum of 20 hours

Year 12 - Whole week; minimum of 20 hours

Homework aims to reinforce classroom learning, increase skills introduced in class, develop diligent study habits, reinforce self discipline and create awareness in the home of the school's educational climate.

Junior Mentor - Roll Call: Years 7 - 10

Small groups of students from Years 7-10 form Mentor Groups as part of the school house system. The roll is marked daily at 8.45 am during the Junior Mentor period. Other welfare activities operate at this time.

All absences from school must be covered with a signed note from parent/guardian which gives the date of absence and explanation of reason; e.g. sickness, family event etc. These notes must be given to the roll teacher on the student's first day back after an absence.

Please Note: Notes must be returned to the School within seven (7) days of the absence.

Learning Centre

A large section of the top floor of the Library is enclosed and operates as an Independent Learning Centre. It provides an opportunity to extend classroom learning under the guidance of the Learning Centre Co-ordinators.

Karabar High and Distance Education Centre believes there is a need for students to pursue learning activities independently at their own pace. The Learning Centre provides this chance. Bookings can be made by parents, teachers and students by contacting one of the Co-ordinators.

Learning Resource Centre / Library

The Learning Resource Centre / Library is open between 8.30 am and 3.00 pm. It provides opportunities for classes, small groups and individuals to research, study or to read for pleasure.

Books, magazines, DVD's, computer software and a vertical file containing newspaper articles may be accessed. Students wishing to use the Internet may use the services provided in the Learning Centre which is located on the top floor of the Library.

Marching Band

The Karabar High School Marching Band (the Namadji Redbacks) has approximately sixty student members. The Band is a high profile product of the school's extra curricular program. Band members attend practice on Wednesday of each school week from 6.30 pm - 8.30 pm and frequently perform at various community functions, interstate and overseas.

There is a Band Support Committee which is involved in raising funds to support the activities of the Band. Any queries please contact the Band Director on 6298 4333.

Multicultural Education

We offer assistance to students whose first language is not English. Our coordinator operates programs for students who enrol as International Students.

Every Friday our newsletter is distributed by email and a copy posted on our website. Paper copies are also available through our Administration Office. The newsletter reports on recent activities and achievements and outlines coming events.

It is an important link between the school and its community. It is mailed to students studying distance education.

Parent Teacher Evenings

There are at least two parent teacher nights, per year group, held each year. Precise dates vary but adequate notice will be given to parents.

Commonly, these evenings are scheduled for late Term 1 and early Term 3. Records of students' work and results will be available for discussion. Parents and teachers may arrange a meeting to discuss a student's progress at any time throughout the year though the supervising Head Teacher and the relevant Year Adviser/Mentor should be consulted.

Transition Program

The program provides security and friendship for Year 7 students to help them adapt successfully to high school life and to have a smooth transition to Karabar High.

At the end of Year 9, selected students are trained as group leaders by teachers who have previously attended workshop seminars covering the Transition Program.

At the beginning of Year 10, these selected group leaders are then assigned small 'family' groups of about eight Year 7 students as discussion groups, with the accent on friendship and support.

P & C

The P & C meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Year 7 parents are especially welcome. The meetings are held in the staff common room and commence at 7.30 p.m.

Reports

These are issued at the end of First Semester and the end of Second Semester. If you do not receive your child's report, please contact the relevant Year Adviser.

Student Management Policy

Our system is designed to acknowledge everyone who attempts to learn in a mature and appropriate way and to monitor and counsel those few whose behaviour is not satisfactory.

A full explanation of our Student Management Policy is contained on our website.

School Day

Our school day commences at 8.45 am. Students are permitted on the school grounds from 8.30 am, when supervision is available.

Our school day is made up of five, one-hour, periods. At times, there will more than 700 students and 100 teachers moving around the school at the same time. This will require students to:

act in a mature way;
be where you are expected to be;
be on time and prepared for lessons with correct books and materials; and
respect the rights and property of others and to treat school property as you would your own.

The school operates on a two week timetable, with different lessons each week.

School finishes at 3.00 pm every day. Supervision of bus travellers within the school grounds continues until 4 pm each day.

Senior Program: Years 11 - 12

The program allows students more flexibility in the hours they attend school. This allows students to do home study and gives them more flexibility for part-time work. Year 12 and Year 11 students sign on with their Mentors at 8.45 am.

With this new flexibility, however, comes greater responsibility for senior students.

As part of the program, students attend school to meet with their "Mentor" group where they receive intensive counselling and advice on their studies from specially trained teachers. Mentor teachers are also the main point of contact between parents and the school.

Careers for all Year 10 students intending to enrol in the senior school is a feature of the program.

Special Education

Support Teacher Learning Assistance

Students in regular classes who have difficulties with learning, especially in the area of literacy and numeracy, are given assistance. This is provided by two Support Teachers in several ways:

consulting with the staff concerning programming ideas, curriculum support and whole school policies in the area of learning;
developing and implementing programs for the student with learning difficulties, which may involve individual, small group and/or team teaching situations; and
providing teachers aides to assist with classroom resources and programs.

Support Teacher: Behaviour

Students in regular class who have difficulty with social skills are given assistance.

This may involve individual programs, small group work or team teaching with other staff in the classroom.

Support Teacher: Emotionally Disturbed

The class provides intensive education and behaviour management programs for local students whose significant needs cannot be met with school-based and supplementary resources. All students have an integration program, which provides for a stable link to the student's home school.

Sport

The sport program at Karabar High School consists of Stage Sport in Years 7-10. Sport sessions are conducted on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.

In years 7-10 students may participate in ACT High Schools sporting competitions as well as NSW Combined High School competitions. Other one day events students may participate in include; equestrian, triathlon, water polo, hockey, cycling, rowing and skiing.

Students must return a permission note to school before they are permitted to participate in certain sports and at certain venues.

Students should discuss with parents their sport choice, especially the cost and the equipment required for that sport. If students need to catch buses or have other commitments after school this should also be taken into consideration when making their choice.

Technology

There are seven computer laboratories at Karabar High School and Distance Education Centre. Students also have access to computers through the Learning Centre. Computer based courses operate from Years 7 to 12.

Uniform

School uniform should be worn to and from school at all times.Pride in your school can be indicated by neatness in dress and the wearing of the uniform clothing items. The clothing items listed below were reviewed and approved by the Students Representative Council, the School Council and the P & C. There is a design suitable to all student needs.

All school uniform items are available from Savvy School Wear.

For school excursions and representative occasions formal uniform for girls and boys is required. Blazers can be borrowed from school for these occasions. For inter school sporting events, the sport department will recommend either sports uniform or formal uniform.

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