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MOUNT ST THOMAS PUBLIC SCHOOL

Reviewed July 2002

EXCURSION POLICY STATEMENT

RATIONALE:

The students at Mount St Thomas school are living in an ever-changing society where they need not only to be prepared for their future, but also to know how to function effectively and efficiently in their daily living. Experiences beyond the classroom in the wider community settings, contribute to the children’s social growth and development as well as reinforcing and supplementing the curriculum offerings of the school. For some children, such experiential learning situations, organised and implemented by the school, are the most significant opportunities they have for integrated learning of living skills. It is through excursions that children can see the school and community as an integrated whole and to explore society in a positive way, learning from it and becoming a fully participating, socially acceptable individual.

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OUTCOMES:

Through participation in school excursions the children will display by their knowledge, behaviour and understanding:

• a heightened awareness of the outside community and the school’s integrated role in it;

• greater insight of curriculum areas supplemented by set excursions;

• socially acceptable behaviour;

• an extension of life skills and

• a widening of personal experiences from which to draw on in all K.L.A. areas.

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GUIDELINES:

Guidelines on excursions at Mount St Thomas adhere to those set out in the revised policy of the Department of School Education. These are outlined in Sections 1-1 [General Requirements] and 1.2 [Specific Requirements] and cover such areas as:

• approval

• consent

• excursion justification [educational value]

• definition 

• financial hardship

• organisation
• travel arrangements
• teacher responsibility
• non-excursion attenders
• duration 

• excursion information and parental consent forms 

• for some excursions where the cost is $10 or above, the following may need to be included

Regrettably, as the charges for transport and excursion costs are predetermined and payment in advance is often required, refunds for late withdrawal will not be possible. On rare occasions, partial refunds would only be considered where possible and when special circumstances exist. Should you have any difficulty funding this amount of money within the time, please contact the Principal.

IMPLEMENTATION:

1. Organisation and co-operative planning by teachers concerned [e.g. costing, travel arrangements].

2. Discussion with Principal of arrangements, educational value, parental assistance, cost and travel .

3. Discussion with other staff to eliminate date clashes with other proposed school activities.

4. After Principal’s approval, note of excursion intent, date and cost sent home for parental approval. Parental assistance asked for at this stage if required. Bookings of venues and transport.

5. Permission note sent to appropriate classes and parent helpers notified.

6. Collection of monies through office.

7. Organisation of non-attenders with appropriate educational activities and alternative playground duty supervision, if necessary.

8. Canteen to be informed.

9. Final confirmation of bookings for venue and transport.

10. List of attenders with contact telephone numbers sent to the office and a copy taken on excursion.

11. First Aid Kit and other essentials [buckets, spare clothes, etc.] organised by attending teachers.

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