We are committed to ensuring a safe and happy environment for your child.
We support your child’s health and safety through a range of strategies including:
- the behaviour code for students, which outlines the standards of behaviour expected in all NSW public schools
- anti-racism education
- anti-bullying programs
- conflict resolution and mediation training
- peer support
- road safety education
- the Healthy School Canteen Strategy.
For more information, visit the student wellbeing section of the department’s website.
Student health
Promoting health, supporting student health care needs and reducing health risks are important to everyone at our school.
Prescribed medication
If your child is being prescribed medication that needs to be taken during the day, please inform us so that arrangements can be made for the medication to be administered. Please read the important information about prescribed medications at school.
Allergies
If your child has been diagnosed with an allergy or allergies, it is important that you tell the principal as soon as you become aware of it, or if your child's allergy changes. If your child is diagnosed at risk of an anaphylactic reaction an individual health care plan is developed that includes strategies to minimise the risk of a severe allergic reaction.
Managing complex health needs
An individual health care plan is developed for each student with complex health needs. The plan supports students with severe asthma, type 1 diabetes, epilepsy, anaphylaxis and those at risk of an emergency or requiring the administration of specific health care procedures.
Infectious diseases
There are many infectious diseases that affect children and young people. Schools and parents should contact their local health network for advice regarding infectious diseases.
Immunisation
Our school's immunisation program works in cooperation with our local health network of the NSW Department of Health who deliver the NSW adolescent school-based vaccination program to high school students.
Head lice
Head lice outbreaks sometimes occur at school. If your child has head lice please treat your child and inform us. Daily combing of dry hair with conditioner can get rid of head lice. You should continue to send your child to school. Head lice information in community languages.
Healthy eating at school
Healthy food keeps children alert and focused and gives them the nutrition they need each day. Our school canteen provides a healthy, nutritious canteen menu in line with the Fresh Tastes NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy. If your child brings their own lunch to school you can help by packing food that is interesting and nutritious. See lunch box ideas.
Breakfast club
Breakfast is an important meal of the day. it supplies the brain and body with energy to concentrate and on learning. We provide students a daily breakfast of toast and juice in the Bidwill room.
Sun safety
Our school takes sun safety seriously. Children learn about how to protect themselves from the sun's damaging UV rays, and our school implements a range of sun protection strategies. Sun sense information in community languages.
To ensure our students are protected in the playground from the sun's harmful rays we at Bidwill have a clear school message. This is"Be sun safe. Be smart."We appreciate your support . Hats can be purchased from the office on Friday mornings from 8:30am. The cost is $10.00 for a snapback cap and $5.00 for a bucket hat. Plain navy-coloured hats can also be purchased from Lowes and other retail outlets.
Ear infections
Otitis media is a common middle ear infection which may cause fever or vomiting. If undetected, a child may suffer from hearing loss and their learning could be affected. Most ear infections respond readily to treatment.
Like all NSW public schools, we promote the healthy development of students through:
- school programs and practices that protect and promote health and safety
- supporting individual students who need help with health issues
- providing first aid and temporary care of students who become unwell or who have an accident at school.
Student wellbeing
Like all NSW public schools, we provide safe learning and teaching environments to encourage healthy, happy, successful and productive students.
The department is committed to creating quality learning opportunities for children and young people. These opportunities support wellbeing through positive and respectful relationships and fostering a sense of belonging to the school and community.
The Wellbeing Framework for Schools helps schools support the cognitive, physical, social, emotional and spiritual development of students and allows them to connect, succeed and thrive throughout their education.
Aboriginal student support
We are committed to closing the achievement gap for Aboriginal students. We know that we need to learn about, nurture and value the cultural identity of our Aboriginal students in order to assist them to be successful learners.
Bidwill Public School offeres a variety of opportunities for all students to explore and learn about Aboriginal Culture. This includes
- Aboriginal Dance Groups - both senior and junior.
- Gulyangarra Yellamundie Programs Choir - singing songs in traditional Dharug language.
- Gulyangarra Yellamundie Program Poetry Group - exploring culture and developing confidence through poetry
- Boys Didgeridoo Group
There are also many opportunities to connect with other programs and agencies to explore culture and develop a strong sense of identity.
We welcome Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family members, parents and community members to our school so that we can get to know each other, learn about the local Aboriginal community and develop shared goals and plans for Aboriginal students.
Special needs support
We have a range of educational options to support students with special learning needs which require additional support.
Every student is entitled to attend a NSW public school. If our school is your local school and your first preference, we suggest you talk to our principal to discuss your son's or daughter's needs and options.
Following your discussion, their learning needs will be assessed so that decisions can be made about whether they would be best suited to learning:
- in a regular class with additional support, or
- in a special class in a regular or special school.
You will be involved in any decision about the type of support.
After enrolment we will work with you and your son or daughter to continually review their learning needs at each stage of their education.
Enrolling in school
Starting a new school is a big step for all students and their families. If you are thinking about enrolment, we can help with your son's or daughter's transition to our school. Please contact our principal to make an appointment to discuss.
You might like to use our school finder to research regular and special schools which have specialist classes. It is important to be aware that placement outside of our school will need to be done with the assistance of our regional team.
Already at school
If you have concerns about your son's or daughter's development or progress at school, or if they have special learning needs which have changed, please contact the principal, so we can best cater for your needs.
Positive Behaviour for Learning
At our school, we use Positive Behaviour for Learning – a whole-school approach for creating a positive, safe and supportive school climate where students can learn and develop. Our whole school community works together to establish expected behaviours and teach them to all students.