At Calderwood, we value academic mastery and the pursuit of excellence in all we do, but we believe that education is about so much more than academic achievement and worldly measures of success. A rounded education acknowledges the inherent creativity, incalculable value, and eternal potential of each student. Calderwood Christian School aspires to see each child reach their potential and transform the world into which they graduate.

"We are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do..." (Eph 2:10)

We believe that the formation of a young person must be undertaken within the context of our service to Jesus Christ, based on the Word of God and lived out in community. It is for this reason that CCS partners with parents to provide an authentic Christian community within which to grow and learn. Students grow in character, develop godly virtues, and refine their gifts and passions, through age-appropriate learning activities and being encouraged by faithful Christian men and women.

My prayer is that our partnership will result in the raising up of young men and women of godly character and of influence.

The school uses SEQTA as its learning management system. SEQTA Engage is the parent portal which allows access to various resources such as reports. When your first child commences at Calderwood you will be sent an email with details of how to set up your SEQTA account. If you need login details at any time in the future you should contact Reception.

Further technical assistance for SEQTA Engage can be found here.

Two academic reports are produced each year:

1. Semester 1 Academic Report - end of Term 2 (start of Term 2 for Year 11 and 12 students)
2. Semester 2 Yearly Academic Report - end of Term 4 (start of Term 4 for Year 11; end of Term 3 for Year 12 students)

Reports are available via SEQTA Engage.

The school organises formal Parent-Teacher interviews biannually. Appointments are made through an online booking system. You will be notified by email when bookings open and given instructions on how to book. Parent-Teacher interview dates are on the website calendar. Parents or teachers may request an interview when required throughout the year.

The Calderwood News is produced digitally twice a term and emailed to families.

The Junior School News and Notices are communicated to Junior School parents in Weeks 1 and 5 of each term, and include information regarding student homework requirements. They are also emailed to families.

The school has a presence on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. We encourage our families to keep up with us on these platforms too.

Our website is a wealth of information regarding the school. Here you can access school policies, Association information, our events calendar, uniform requirements and other helpful information about school life.

The school operates a digital database consisting of data relevant to families in our community. For each family, we store data on parents’ names and occupations; children’s names and ages; family home address, telephone numbers, including work and mobile phone numbers and email addresses; emergency contact details; Medicare and immunisation status.

Information generated from the database is used by the administrative and teaching staff:

• to contact you in emergencies if necessary
• to make sure that all families are sent information from the school as needed, and
• to assist in determining what resources are needed in the school.

The school respects the privacy of individuals and families and places a high priority on integrity in its handling of information provided to the school. It seeks to protect the rights of all people who provide information to the school, in accordance with relevant legislation. The school’s Privacy Policy is available here.

Please notify the school via Consent2Go as soon as any of your database information changes, especially in the case of change of home address, email address, daytime contact number or emergency contact numbers.

Reception details

Phone: 4230 3700

Email: admin@calderwood.nsw.edu.au

Hours: 8.30am-4pm, Monday to Friday.

The cost of excursions is covered by the annual school fees. The only exception to this may be activities that are optional, such as Combined Independent Schools (CIS) sporting activities, gifted/talented camps, and (in the Secondary School) service trips and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Notification and permission slips are sent electronically via Consent2Go, our digital platform that manages incursions, excursions, overnight camps and sporting events. It is a secure platform for recording and managing parent contact details, student medical information and school activities.

At times, the assistance of parents is requested and appreciated on excursions. Please check your child's digital permission note for requests of assistance and invitations for participation.

Following is a guide to the daily amount of homework, study and assignments expected of students:

It is important that school holidays be available for students to rest from the busy schedule of the school term, to spend greater time with family and to enjoy non-school activities that will encourage them to reflect upon God’s goodness and grace. Holiday homework will therefore not be set for students from Years 7-9.

As a part of the preparation of students for external examinations it is generally considered appropriate that school holiday homework be set for students in Years 10, 11 and 12.

Students will be assigned a lock that must be returned at the end of the Agreement. Loss of the lock will incur a $20 charge for replacement. It is the student's responsibility to ensure they lock their locker after every use.

Principals must ensure the safety of all students and staff on the school site. As such, lockers can be searched by a relevant member of staff if they have reasonable grounds to suspect a student is in possession of:

• illegal drugs
• stolen property
• illegal or inappropriate material
• electronic devices which may contain images or material that is illegal or offensive or inappropriate in nature.

The Principal, Head of Secondary School or delegate(s) may seize any illegal or unauthorised items in lockers or any other belonging that may pose a potential threat to staff or students. Police will be informed of any illegal or dangerous items found in lockers.

The CCS Mobile Phone and Smart Wearable Policy identifies the importance of schooling and significant impact digital devices can have on young people and their learning.

In Secondary School, we acknowledge the importance of students having mobile phones before and after school for the purposes of contact with parents, with employers, or for safety. Students will continue to be allowed to bring their phones to school and use them before and after school if necessary. Students must not have their mobile phone on their person (in their pockets) or in with their equipment between the hours of 8.10am and 4pm. Any mobile phones brought to school must be turned off and remain in the student's locker for the duration of the day.

Should a student require the use of a phone during the school day, they are expected to request the use of a phone at Student Services.

Should they need to make a call between the end of the school day and 4pm, students will be expected to seek permission from a teacher before doing so and will respectfully follow teacher instructions regarding when and where they make the call.

Initially, class teachers provide adjustments and as much personal assistance as they are able. To further assist students with difficulties, Learning Enrichment Assistants and Learning Enrichment Teachers provide both ‘in class’ and ‘small group’ remedial assistance.

Communication between parents and school staff is critical if the needs of these children are to be met. If teachers identify a child who is experiencing difficulty in their academic learning, parents are invited to an interview. These discussions seek to develop effective home and school-based strategies, which may be used to assist the child.

Students in Prep and Junior School require parental permission to access counselling and assessment services. Parents are required to contact their child's class teacher should they wish to make a referral on behalf of their child.

Students in Secondary School can refer themselves to the counsellor.

Staff are also able to refer students for school counselling services, however, they must seek permission from a parent to do so.

Our school counselling service is voluntary, therefore no student can be mandated to see the school counsellor or psychologist. Likewise, a student can withdraw consent for services at any time during treatment.

Should you wish to find out more about the school counselling service, please make direct contact with your child's teacher or relevant Coordinator (K-2 or 3-6)

Concerns or allegations about bullying behaviour must be brought to the attention of the class teacher, Coordinator or Head of Junior School as soon as possible. Reports of bullying may be made in writing, by phone or in person. The privacy of any individual reporting matters of bullying will be maintained by the School. Investigations into allegations of bullying will be conducted by the School. Parents are asked not to intervene in the process, or contact parents whose children are alleged to be involved. Staff will make every effort to resolve situations as quickly as possible.

The following definitions for bullying and harrassment can be found in our Anti-Bullying Policy.

Bullying: an ongoing misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or psychological harm. It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power over one or more persons. Bullying can happen in person or online, and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert). Bullying of any form or for any reason can have long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders. Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.

Cyber-bullying: causing hurt via information and communication technologies, such as the Internet, social media, and through the use of mobile phones and other devices.

Harassment: ongoing verbal or physical attacks on another person.

Cyber-bullying most often occurs outside school. Concerns regarding the inappropriate use of digital technologies and social media platforms will be investigated where the behaviour threatens the wellbeing of another CCS student or has the potential to compromise relationships within our community. In some instances, it is not within the School's jurisdiction or means to investigate. In these circumstances the School will encourage parents to make direct contact with the police.

If your child experiences bullying on a bus to or from school, we encourage you to report it to the Head of Junior School and to the bus company. The context within which these matters might arise vary markedly. In some cases, the School will investigate. In other instances, the School will request parents to make direct contact with the bus company or the police, or both.

Bullying prevention starts in early childhood through the helpful guidance of parents and teachers. In partnership with you, we can assist students to develop a wide range of skills to prevent bullying and build a culture of kindness. Our students understand the ultimate act of kindness is found through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you. (Eph 4:32)

Each year Calderwood students participate in the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA), Australia’s key initiative against bullying and violence.

Parents and caregivers are requested not to send food to school that contains nuts (especially peanuts). This includes peanut butter, Nutella, all nuts and food containing peanut oil, as well as foods containing nuts. This is especially important in the Junior School, where young children are less able to manage their allergy. Whilst we cannot claim to be a nut-free environment, we do wish to minimise the threat to our more vulnerable community members.

A management plan for these conditions must be provided to Student Services before the student commences at school and updated each year. These forms can be obtained from Student Services if required.

Our teaching and administrative staff possess current first aid qualifications. In the event that a student becomes ill or is injured, the following procedure is adopted:

• minor injuries and illnesses are treated at school
• in more serious cases, the school will attempt to contact the parents or the emergency contact person, who may then arrange to take the child to their own doctor
• in emergencies, the school will contact the parents and an ambulance will be called.

It is very important that parents advise the school if their children are diagnosed with any of these illnesses. Visit the Department of Health's website for the most current information about treatment, regulations in relation to schools, and isolation procedures.

If your child has a medical condition that requires medication, or has a Health Plan for the management of a condition, please contact the office for a copy of the Medication Policy: Administration of Medication. Medications are to be handed in to Student Services for safe administration.

If students require medication during an excursion, it must be provided to the attending teacher immediately before the excursion (ie. before boarding the bus) in a labelled ziplock bag with the completed excursion 'Medication Authority Form' . The medication will not be packed by the school. This does not apply to asthma puffers and EpiPens.

Secondary students with asthma must carry their own asthma puffer to excursions. It is the responsibility of the parent and student to ensure they have it on their person at all times. If your child has an EpiPen, it will be packed by the school.

Students are encouraged to apply adequate (minimum) 30+ broad spectrum sunscreen prior to school. During the school day, students will be issues with adequate (minimum) 30+ broad spectrum sunscreen and (in some cases) assisted to apply it. Students may bring additional sunscreen to apply at recess, lunch and sport. Sunscreen is available on request from Student Services. Teachers will make sunscreen available at sporting events.

Hats are a compulsory uniform item all year round. When practicable, the use of shaded or covered areas when outdoors will be encouraged.

Further reading: Sun Safe Policy.

There are two categories of Commendation Award:

• Academic
• Character

These awards are for observed behaviours through a specific event or trend over time as observed in a specific sphere (such as in a particular class). Character awards recognise attributes such as: God first, serving others and respect. Academic awards celebrate attributes such as: responsibility, diligence and teamwork.

The welfare of all children at Calderwood is foundational to their training in Christian character and behaviour. (See Welfare Policy.) It therefore includes nurturing, building, encouraging and supporting; but also training, direction and correction.

The Calderwood Christian School Discipline Policy describes the philosophy and sequential processes followed by the school to correct or redirect students to patterns of behaviour that respect the mission, vision and values of the school.

The purpose of Calderwood Christian School is to honour and glorify God by giving each child a Christ-centred education. We acknowledge that each child is created in the image of God and is of infinite worth in his sight. In partnership with parents, the school seeks to equip young people to serve Christ in their school, in their families and eventually in their workplaces.

While children possess infinite potential because they are made in God’s image, they are also impacted by sin. Their gifts and their enthusiasm for life need to be nurtured, but so too does their capacity to recognise sin, self-regulate and repent when they make mistakes. The system of discipline at Calderwood Christian School is therefore considered to be integral to the welfare of the child, as it trains and encourages students to make better choices about their behaviour.

Discipline is part of their complete training; rather than a system of punishment. It provides consistent direction, controlled consequences of poor choices, and the application of restorative processes to right any wrongs done to another, or to property. It is an outworking of the school’s responsibility to the student and their family.

The lesson times shown here are those which normally apply to the school day. In special circumstances these times may vary.

The Alinta storefront is located at 29-35 Princes Hwy, Unanderra.

Email: shop.unanderra@alinta.com.au

Phone: 4230 3730

These are the standard operating hours for the Alinta shop. In busy times of year they may also operate extended holiday hours.

A secondhand uniform shop also operates at school. The shop is staffed by parent volunteers. Families are invited to donate current uniform items in good condition for sale through the second hand uniform shop. No goods are accepted on consignment.

Phone: 4230 3730

Opening hours are as follows:

• Uniform Policy
• Uniform Requirements

Uniforms contribute to a strong sense of belonging to a reputable and culturally rich community.

For the reasons outlined above, Calderwood students are expected to wear their uniform completely and correctly at all times, including to and from school, on public transport and in public spaces. Students are encouraged to think that “If you have your uniform on, you are representing Calderwood”.

It is the policy of the school that parents provide the approved school uniform and ensure their children wear it every day in accordance with the Dress Code.

1. All uniform items should be neat, clean and in good repair.
2. Boys' white shirts are to be worn tucked in, except for when they are participating in sport and physical activity.
3. Ties are to be worn during Terms 2 and 3 and for formal occasions as directed by staff. When wearing a tie, the top button is to be buttoned up. Girls wear tab ties all year round.
4. Secondary students may wear sports uniform all day on designated PE and sport days. The length of shorts must be below the middle finger of the students standing with their arms by their sides.
5. Parents should make every effort to provide the approved school uniform and ensure that their children wear it correctly and completely every day. Should any family have practical difficulties meeting this requirement, they should refer to the Head of Secondary School.
6. CCS school hats are compulsory all year round.
7. All Secondary School boys should wear a plain black belt with a plain silver buckle, with both shorts and long pants.
8. Both girls and boys may wear the black CCS softshell jacket as the sole layer against the cold in any term.
9. If additional, non-uniform layers of clothing are needed, they are to be plain white and not extend beyond the uniform or shirt sleeve i.e. extra clothing should not be visible.

Where a student is failing to comply with the uniform policy, teachers are required by the Board to:

• draw the matter to the attention of the student and/or parent
• communicate with parents using a pro-forma letter provided for the purpose
• follow up student who refuse to comply with the policy or dress code.

Any action taken will seek to show regard to the particular circumstances (eg. the age of the child concerned).

The school shoe must be sturdy, waterproof and offer full coverage of the foot. Shoes with Velcro straps are permitted for Kindergarten – Year 2 only. Below are examples of correct school shoes. If you have any questions with regard to acceptability, please check the school's uniform policy or contact the school office for further clarification.

Sports shoes must be a runner or cross-trainer, specifically designed for physical activity. They may be of any colour and can have up to 50 percent fluorescent colouring. Casual, flat soled or skater shoes are not acceptable.

In general, clothes must be of modest design and fit (ie. not see-through, tight-fitting or short). Students are required to wear hats as per the hat policy.

Shirts should not have any objectionable writing or pictures. Tops and bottoms must meet or overlap. Strapless tops, spaghetti straps or off-the-shoulder tops are not allowed.

Shorts and jeans must be worn so that underwear is not visible. Jeans and denim shorts must not have large rips in them. Pants should not be tight-fitting. Leggings can be worn under a skirt, dress or shorts. Skirts/dresses/shorts must be of a modest design and length.

Fully enclosed shoes must be worn. If there is any occasion where other styles of shoes are allowed, this will be noted on the excursion note.

All students must wear a rash shirt with their swimming costume, unless they are competing in a swimming race. Board shorts may be worn over costumes. When representing CCS in any school event, girls are required to wear a modest one-piece costume. Boys are able to wear swimming costumes of modest design.

Membership in the Association allows you to vote at meetings on topics that affect you and gives you greater insight into and involvement in the running of our School.

The Nurture magazine is a publication of Christian Education National (CEN) of which Calderwood Christian School is a member. Association members are able to receive a copy at Association meetings.

For further information about membership, visit the School website.

To apply for associate membership, click here.

The P&F seeks to provide:

All parents and friends are most welcome to attend these meetings. Meeting dates and other activities of the Calderwood P&F are available on the website event calendar.

Each year, every class also has a volunteer Parent Coordinator. Coordinators occasionally communicate committee activities to others, organise rosters and food for events, and organise social events for parents.

The committee can be contacted at pandf@calderwood.nsw.edu.au.

Parental help results in:

Parents can be involved in helping with lessons, transport for students travelling to functions and sporting events, Interest and Expert groups, reading and various other activities throughout the year.

Your child's class teacher would be pleased to hear from parents willing to volunteer some time to assist in the class.

Parents who would like to volunteer should complete this form, which includes your WWCC number. Administration staff will contact you once this is processed so that you can volunteer. Volunteers are reminded to first report to Reception to sign in.

• Calderwood Voices (Years 7-12) – A secondary vocal ensemble for students wishing to further develop their singing and performance skills. Open to all ability levels.
• Concert Band (Years 5-8) – An ensemble for beginner orchestral instrumentalists to develop their musicianship and ensemble performance skills.
• Rock Band (Years 7-9) – A contemporary ensemble featuring guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and vocals, open to students of all experience levels.
• Stage Band (Years 7-12) – A performance ensemble specialising in jazz, funk, blues and Latin styles for students seeking an additional challenge.

Students interested in joining a choir, band or ensemble should speak with their music teacher for further information.

Lessons are available in voice, piano, guitar, bass, drums, and selected brass and woodwind instruments. Families are connected with local tutors who meet with students during school hours to provide private lessons. This program is available at an additional cost.

To express your interest in enrolling your child please complete the Music Tuition Sign-Up Form.

Kindergarten to Year 2 students are eligible for a school bus Opal card irrespective of the distance from home to school.

Primary students who live outside a 1.6km radius, or who reside more than 2.3km walking distance, by the shortest possible route, are eligible for an Opal card.

All other students must live outside a 2km radius from the school to apply for an Opal card.

Students who travel to and from school by bus must carry a valid Opal card with them whenever they are on the bus. If a student does not have a card, they must pay for each trip made. It is advisable that students carry a small amount of money in case they do not have their card on any given day. School Opal cards cannot be used for any other journey other than the journey stated on the application form. Any alteration to the trip that the card has been issued for must be paid for.

In the event that your child's Opal card is lost or destroyed, to apply for an Opal card, or for change of address details, visit TransportNSW.

Premier Illawarra bus service provides transport to and from Dapto, Haywards Bay, Albion Park and Albion Park Rail areas, and also from Kiama, Shell Cove, Shellharbour, Warilla, Mt Warrigal, Flinders and Oak Flats.

Kiama Coachlines provide bus transport to and from Jamberoo and Kiama.

Bus times and routes are available from the respective bus companies or from the TransportNSW Trip Planner.

Students are expected to be well behaved at all times and particularly so when travelling on public transport.

The following Code of Conduct has been set down by the Department of Transport and breaches of the Code may result in the withdrawal of the Opal card. To ensure their safety and the comfort of other passengers, students will:

• behave safely at all times
• respect the needs and comfort of other passengers
• Junior School students to sit at the front of the bus
• behave appropriately at all times (eg. no use of offensive language, fighting, spitting, placing feet on seats or throwing things in or from the bus)
• protect bus property and report any vandalism
• show their Opal cards or tickets to the driver on boarding and when requested
• only use the Opal card for its intended purpose
• maintain possession of the Opal card at all times
• follow the driver's instructions about safety on the bus (eg. instructions on where to sit)
• adhere to the law that bans smoking on buses
• only eat or drink (other than water) on the bus with the written permission of the bus operator
• keep arms, legs and other parts of their bodies inside the bus
• only attract the attention of the driver in the case of emergency
• remain seated at all times unless space does not allow for this

According to the Code of Conduct, unacceptable, dangerous or highly dangerous behaviour may lead to the loss of travel privileges for a set period of time, or the student may be banned from travelling on the buses.

• Students are to be dropped off no earlier than 8:10am.
• Kiss and Go 2 is in operation to drop off students

• At the end of the day, students walk to either the Kiss and Go Zone or the school bus waiting area located at the hall. A teacher is on duty until 3.45pm.
• Any child not collected by 3.45pm is taken to Student Services where they are supervised by the teacher on duty.
• Parents and carers will be called and requested to collect their child prior to 4pm.

• All students are to be dropped at Kiss and Go 2, no earlier than 8:10am.
• The teacher on duty will be in the Hall - students will be redirected by Coordinators to safely move to their classrooms if weather becomes problematic.
• Please do not use the Giraffe Skin as this area is not supervised.

• K-6 (with no older siblings) can be collected from outside Reception from 3:20pm.
• If you arrive prior to 3:20pm, please park in the car park so as not to impede access for deliveries and emergencies.
• K-6 (with older siblings) join their siblings in the Hall at 3:20pm. Students will be supervised in the Hall until your arrival is announced.

Parking on site is a privilege afforded to Calderwood students due to our large grounds and small student population. All drivers are to adhere to the signed speed limits, and park in designated parking for student drivers. Failure to adhere to the expectations of the school whilst on the school grounds will result in the student no longer being able to park at school. The next closest available parking is on Escarpment Drive.

Whilst on the road between school and home, students are expected to comply with all road rules.

On occasion students request permission to travel in a vehicle with an older sibling or a friend. As a school, we strongly discourage students from getting into another driver's vehicle unless they have sought express permission from their parents and the parents of the driver.

Whilst we take every opportunity to reiterate this position to students, it is unreasonable for us to supervise or control which students are going home with whom. We ask for your support in reminding student drivers of their responsibilities to ensure any passengers have sought permission from their parents prior to getting into the vehicle with them.