The Hutchins School Information for Parents 2011.pdf

Work or behaviour which reflects poorly on the student receivesa carefully considered response, from a quiet word to a chat, anote in the Diary or a ‘T’. A ‘T’ stands for ‘Take Care’. Wherenecessary, a student will be referred to the Year Head whomay keep a student back to undertake extra work. In unusualcircumstances, a Saturday detention may be imposed to remind astudent of the need to get back on track.HOMEWORKHomework is part of the teaching and learning process and itsvalue is continually reinforced with the students.It significantly extends the time spent on individual subjects,involves and informs parents, makes subsequent lessons moremeaningful and useful, allows time to reflect on the work,develops the habit of working without teacher supervision andallows research which cannot easily be done in class.Middle School students are required to complete sixty to ninetyminutes of homework from Monday to Friday. If your son isregularly spending significantly less or more time than this, pleasespeak with his Mentor as it may indicate a need to gear the setwork more closely to his needs.To ensure adequate coverage of all areas of study during the week,students receive a homework timetable at the start of the year.This timetable appears near the front of the Diary, following thedaily lesson timetable.Homework is entered in the Diary at the end of each lesson, andstudents are taught to refer to their diaries before leaving school toensure they take the necessary books home. Parents are asked totake an active interest in their son's homework.Homework is usually checked in the following lesson, using avariety of means.LATENESS AND ABSENCEThe Middle School is open from 8.10 am, and students are to beat their lockers preparing for the first lessons at 8.25 am. Studentsarriving after 8.30 am go directly to the Late Book outside theMiddle School Secretary’s Office and fill in the details.If a student is going to be late or absent, parents are asked totelephone Mrs Beadle, Middle School Secretary, by 9.00 am on6221 4264.LEADERSHIPThe Middle School has a Student Council drawn from studentsof both year groups who have undertaken an intensive leadershiptraining program and who have demonstrated a commitment toworking as leaders with other students.Much of the leadership training, which is available to all MiddleSchool students, is geared towards assisting with runninglunchtime activities for Middle School students or working withthe ELC students. Students are recognised for their contributionsat three levels of leadership. Level one leaders from the MiddleSchool Leadership Team who meet weekly and run assemblies,publish newsletters, plan and manage community serviceactivities, and undertake special assignments. Students who reachLevel 2 leadership are considered for Middle School Councilmembership as the third level.The Middle School has a broad commitment to fosteringleadership and service in all students, and staff take everyopportunity to link students to useful tasks, great and small,from which they can gain experience. Mentor groups typicallyfind eight or ten roles for students each term, roles which rotateamongst students through the year.LOCKERSEach student is allocated a locker which holds books and someclothing such as his blazer. In addition, he has space for a bag ona rack near his locker. Students are expected to keep their lockerstidy and locked.Most Year 7 lockers require a key for which accounts will becharged $7.00, refundable in cash at the end of the year when thekey is returned. If the key is lost or damaged, a new one needsto be ordered for an additional $7.00 through the Year Head. TheYear Head has a master key for those occasions when a studentmisplaces or forgets his key.Year 8 lockers, some of which may be available for Year 7, requirea combination padlock which is purchased through the SchoolUniform Store. This money is to be brought on the first day ofTerm 1. At the end of the year, the lock may be kept for personaluse. Only these locks may be used, as they take a master key foremergency access.LOST PROPERTY AND BELONGINGSParents are urged to ensure that all belongings including socksand shoes are clearly named. Belongings found lying around arerestored to the owner with a reminder about taking care. Unnamedbelongings are kept in a designated room and students may ask tocheck the contents if they find they are missing something.Sometimes, unnamed belongings can find their way into similarcupboards in Junior or Senior School, and students looking fortheir belongings may have to check those two areas also. In JuniorSchool, the cupboard is kept by Mrs Priest, and in Senior School itis located outside the School House office.5 - Middle School 29