Information for Parents

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A Commitment by Families & Schools

CSBB Parent Charter

Catholic Schools Broken Bay (CSBB) mission is to support parents* as the first and foremost
educators of their children, and the role they play in their child’s faith formation, learning and
wellbeing.

This Charter outlines the principles and responsibilities of all members of the CSBB Community.

Access the Parent Charter below or click here.

School Hours at OLHC Epping

Parent Morning Drop Off at OLHC Epping

Children may enter the school via Oxford Street or Cambridge Street gates.

Supervision is provided from 8.15am each morning on the basketball court. Upon arrival, students go straight to the basketball court and place their bags in the allocated class areas. Students should not go to their classrooms during this time. Please go to the Office if you need any assistance.

Should a student arrive after the bell at 8.45am, parents are to sign their child in at the Compass Kiosk in the Office and the paper slip is then taken to the teacher by the student.

OXFORD STREET SCHOOL ENTRY

CAMBRIDGE STREET SCHOOL ENTRY

Student Drop Off via 6 Cambridge Street Parking

If driving, you may access the carpark at 6 Cambridge Street.

You have two options:

1.  Pull up at the car drop-off/pick-up area and your child may exit the car here and and walk up the stairs to the playground area.  PLEASE NOTE: Students are only to get out on the left-hand side of the vehicle are are NOT to walk behind the car to get bags out of the boot. If you have items in your boot, please park and walk your children as instructed below.
2. Park in the carpark and the parent walks their child up to the school entrance on P1 or to the playground. At no time are students permitted to walk through the carpark unaccompanied by an adult. Car spots 32-40 on P2 have easy access to the school entrance via stairs.

Please note that free parking is available for 30mins in the morning, then again in the afternoon.  If you stay longer you will be required to pay at the gate or at the parking machine located at the entry to the school.

Please attempt to park rear to curb.

If you are required to extend your stay in the carpark for a school related issue, please visit the Office for license plate verification before leaving the carpark.

Some limited street parking spaces are available around the school. Please observe traffic regulations when parking your car. Police and Parking Inspectors patrol the area regularly.

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Afternoon Dismissal

Children who walk home will exit the school grounds through the Cambridge Street or Oxford Street gates.

Children who are being collected by their parents/carers from the playground are to meet on the space outside the Office. Parents are asked to wait on the red paved area at the bottom of the stairs. Parents may also organise to meet their child at the Oxford or Cambridge Street gates.

Car Parking

If you have parked in the carpark for afternoon pickup, please park on lower level P3 and use the Parish lift or Parish stairs. Catch the Parish lift to LG (Lower Ground/OSHC level).  Walk out and through the Parish doors and enter the school grounds through the gate at the back of the church, near the OSHC (open from 2.50pm).

• Please note that free parking for afternoon pick up is available for 30 minutes.  If you stay longer you will be required to pay at the gate or the school parking machine located on the P1 entry to the school.
• Children not collected by 3.15pm will return to the School Office to wait for their parents to collect them. Parents are asked to phone the Office if you are running late.
• If you are collecting your child from school before 3pm you will need to go to the School Office to collect your child and sign them out at the Kiosk. If you are aware in advance that your child will leave early, you are asked to email or phone the Office.

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Drive Through

Drive Through commences at 3pm

Each family will receive two yellow signs (one for each car) with your child’s last name. Please clearly display this sign on your left-hand sun visor.  A rubber band at each end is usually the best way to secure the sign to your visor.

PROCEDURE

• Children sit in the glass Drive Through pick up area under Teacher supervision
• Parents pull up on the red line in a queue
• Parents are to remain in their car at all times
• Parents make sure their yellow sign is showing on the left hand side of their car, preferably on the sun visor
• The supervising teacher uses a microphone to call each child’s last name
• Two teachers will stand along the pedestrian path marked in white and supervise the students as they go to their car
• Students are only to get into their car from the left hand side
• No items are to be placed in the boot
• Parents are to remind their child to put on seat belt before driving off

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Communication

At Our Lady Help of Christians, we welcome and promote strong communication links with parents, the parish and the Catholic Schools Broken Bay Diocese. We invite parents to contact the school if they wish to discuss their child’s needs at any time. Please get in touch with your class teacher in the first instance by phoning 9868 3322 or emailing olhc@dbb.catholic.edu.au. Our Senior Administrator Melissa will forward messages to class teachers. Interviews with the Principal can be arranged upon request or by appointment through the school office.

A fortnightly Newsletter informs parents of current school happenings and future dates. The newsletter is published every second Wednesday and is available via email and school Compass App as well as the school’s website. You can also visit and like our Facebook page facebook.com/OLHCEpping2121 where we share and promote to the community our fabulous OLHC students and the wonderful opportunities that we offer at OLHC.

Throughout the year, the Catholic Schools Broken Bay Diocese Parent Council organises education seminars, information evenings and workshops around current issues in education. The school also provides school-based information evenings around current practises and educational trends. These events are highlighted throughout the year in our school’s fortnightly newsletter.

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School Attendance

If your child is away from school for a whole day an absence note must be recorded in the School Compass App with details regarding the absence. This must be completed within seven days of the absence or it will permanently be recorded as an unexplained absence. If you know in advance, the absence can be recorded in the Compass App also (for whole days only).

Parents must apply for leave (for a period of longer than 10 days) by completing a form for exemption and if approved, a certificate will be forwarded.

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Code of Conduct

Students at Our Lady Help of Christians follow a School Code of Conduct:

At Our Lady Help of Christians, we create a safe and friendly school environment by:
Showing respect and care for others and ourselves by being considerate.
Ensuring the safety of others and ourselves.
Respecting the property of the school, others and ourselves.

This ‘Code of Conduct’ is displayed in each classroom and provides a foundation for class teachers to generate a Class ‘Code of Conduct’ with their students. Children are affirmed for following the “Code of Conduct”, and procedures have been established for times when children breach the code of conduct.

The classroom teacher discusses the School Code of Conduct each year with the class to determine the classroom rules. This is revisited each term and referred to constantly.
Corporal punishment is expressly prohibited at Our Lady Help of Christians (including all teachers, support staff, parents and others).

The following principles are followed in our Behaviour Management Policies in compliance with the Federal Government requirements:

The vision is underpinned by the following guiding principles representing fundamental beliefs about safe, supportive and respectful school communities. These guiding principles emphasise the importance of student safety and wellbeing as a prerequisite for effective learning in all school settings.

Australian schools:

• affirm the rights of all members of the school community to feel safe and be safe at school
• acknowledge that being safe and supported at school is essential for student wellbeing and effective learning
• accept responsibility for developing and sustaining safe and supportive learning and teaching communities that also fulfil the school’s child protection responsibilities
• encourage the active participation of all school community members in developing and maintaining a safe school community where diversity is valued
• actively support young people to develop understanding and skills to keep themselves and others safe
• commit to developing a safe school community through a whole-school and evidence-based approach

National Safe Schools Framework, January, 2011

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EPPING LOCAL BUS TRAVEL 2023

There is a local student-only bus service for those parents who would like their older child to catch the bus from OLHC Epping to their nearest bus stop.

The two services available cover the North Epping area (route No. 710) and the Dence Park area (special route No. 711). For Student Opal cards applications and information go to transportnsw.info/school-students.

Student opal cards are available for children who are:

• Kindergarten – Year 2 children, irrespective of the distance from home to school.
• Students in Years 3 to 6 who reside more than 1.6 kilometres from the school.

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Parent Involvement

Parents are encouraged to be involved in all aspects of their child’s education and the school community. This is an invaluable contribution to the school’s spirit and is much appreciated by the staff and the children. In addition, your involvement enriches your knowledge of the educational environment allowing you to assist your child’s growth and development both now and in the future.

Below is a list of ways in which you may choose to become involved:

If you are interested in any of the roles listed above, please contact the office, and we will put you in touch with the appropriate person.

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