STUDENT LIFE

School commences at 8:50am each day and concludes at 3:25pm. There is a morning Muster, recess and a lunch break followed by House activities time. The School’s timetable operates a five-day Monday to Friday cycle.

The School must be notified of student absence by phoning the Senior School Academic Secretary on 5338 0940 or email absences@bgs.vic.edu.au , if a student is absent from school due to illness or other legitimate cause. If a student plans to be absent during the course of the school day, the School Academic Secretary must be advised. A “sign out” book is available to record destinations, time etc. NB: Extended absence from school requires consultation with and written agreement from the Heads of School.

UV rises to skin damaging levels in Victoria, which means we need to ensure we are protected against the sun particularly in Terms 1 and 4. This means wearing clothing that covers exposed skin, SPF30 (or higher) sunscreen, a broad-brimmed hat, seeking shade and wearing sunglasses. As part of Ballarat Grammar’s Sun Protection Policy, the School will:

• support studen ts and staff to use a combination of sun protection measures,

• develop and impl ement policy and procedures promoting sunsafe practices in consultation with students, staff and parents,

• incorporate sun-s afe practices as part of the curriculum,

• encourage stud ents and support them to take a lead in developing sun protection initiatives at school or in the local community,

• encourage staff to develop cultural competencies to facilitate engagement of families, students and staff from diverse cultural backgrounds,

• work with staff and local health professionals, services and other organisations to increase their capacity to deliver and promote sun protection initiatives.

The Bulletin (Senior School newsletter) can be accessed every second Wednesday via NEXUS.

The Boomalacka is a magazine aimed to keep past and future students and families in touch with school life. Distributed to all future, current and past students, it is usually printed twice a year. It takes its name from an old school chant.

The Ballarat Grammarian is the School magazine published annually to provide current students and families with a record of the year.

Students are deemed to be responsible for their own property. Each student is urged to mark clearly all possessions which are used at the School. If any item of clothing or equipment is lost, it can be returned easily if the article is named. Those items found which are un-named, find their way into the lost property boxes in both Senior and Junior Schools. The Level Co-ordinators are responsible for the lost property at senior level and teachers help with the lost property receptacles at junior level. Unnamed lost property can be claimed from the Senior School Academic Secretary.

The School requires notification of any change of mail or email addresses or phone number immediately such an event occurs. The School register has to be current at all times; out of date information can lead to delays in emergencies. Please contact the Admissions Office with any changes either in writing, by email or by telephone.

Shops in Howitt Street and Stockland Wendouree are out of bounds to all students below Year 12 during school hours.

The School Chaplain (a qualified and experienced counsellor) and the School Psychologists are responsible, with House staff, for student counselling.

The Chaplain’s pastoral concern has to do with every aspect of human living, not just the religious/spiritual. Any crisis which may occur during the day is dealt with immediately. Our School Psychologists and Meredith Rayner attend the School at regular times and appointments can be made through the Academic Secretary, Heads of House and Director of Care.