Primary Years
Welcome
Welcome to Geelong Grammar School, a vibrant and pioneering school that provides exceptional learning opportunities built on real-world experiences and genuine human connections. Established in 1855, we continue to advance our heritage through innovation that champions a well-rounded, modern education for young people.
ONE SCHOOL, SEAMLESS PATHWAYS
Our School provides seamless and integrated pathways through the early learning, primary and secondary experiences for students from ELC to Year 12 across four specialist campuses.
Our Toorak Campus, located in the inner suburbs of Melbourne, is designed specially to provide an exceptional environment for students in their primary years from ELC to Year 6. Joining our Toorak Campus ensures a seamless pathway through the early learning, primary and secondary years, and goes a long way to developing friends for life.
From our Head of Campus
WELCOME TO TOORAK CAMPUS
Toorak Campus is a vibrant, inclusive and dynamic environment offering an exceptional learning experience from early learning through to Year 6. It is a very special place, made more special by the diverse community that are the heart of the Toorak Campus and who contribute their passion and talents to enrich our student’s experience.
Our staff, students and parents share in a commitment to creating a place of belonging, built on trust, forgiveness, compassion, hope and acting with integrity. We value our partnership with parents and recognise that our students flourish when they are nurtured, supported and challenged to learn through experience.
We provide a great foundation by designing a balanced approach to explicit and explorative learning, allowing our students to develop strong literacy and numeracy skills,
and to be able to apply them across the curriculum to make meaning and sense of their world. Creative, Adventure and Positive Education are embedded in our programmes and every day experiences, ensuring that our students have broad and enriching learning experiences. Our campus is known for its innovative and rigorous approach and for its exceptional facilities. Our students are our strength and we are fortunate for the contribution that they each make to the rich tapestry of life at Toorak campus.
I look forward to welcoming you to our School.
Nicole Ginnane Head of Toorak Campus
Our Philosophy
Our purpose centres on the pursuit of shaping a better world. For us, this means enabling wisdom within ourselves and others, so that each of us can make a positive difference in the world around us.
As a School, we have earned a reputation for pioneering and progressive choices in education. Such choices are founded upon balanced and holistic education for our young people; optimising our students’ academic agency and efficacy is aligned with appreciating how essential it is to support each learner athletically, creatively, emotionally, intellectually, morally, socially and spiritually. Ultimately, we want to energise the gifts within every child so that they are engaged in the world in a personalised and meaningful way, purposeful in their own pathway and confident in their capabilities.
Purpose
WE HAVE THREE STRATEGIC EDUCATIONAL PILLARS.
These pillars underpin our approach to an Exceptional Education. It is our vision that all students, at every campus, will experience learning across these pillars in a significant way.
Adventure Education
Experiential learning through and with nature
Adventure Education builds on the lessons of the School’s transformational Timbertop programme, which helps our students develop confidence and competence in practical ways, promoting independence, self-reliance and resilience.
Positive
Positive Education brings together the science of positive psychology with contemporary teaching to encourage individuals, schools and communities to flourish. Positive Education focuses on specific skills that assist students to strengthen their relationships, build positive emotions, enhance personal resilience, promote mindfulness and encourage a healthy lifestyle.
Creative Education
Cultivating the skills of communication, collaboration, critical thinking, problem posing and problem solving
Creative Education teaches the skills and attitudes to be creative in any context. Creative Education prioritises educators as facilitators, coaches and collaborators in the classroom and moves away from the silos of knowledge-based, exam-based, standardised learning to an education that recognises the common skills which lie
Nurturing the Whole Child
Our Toorak Campus reflects our holistic student-centred philosophy, where individualised support and exceptional opportunities allow every child to grow in confidence and explore their unique talents and interests. We want our students to enjoy positive learning experiences that engage and challenge in ways that extend beyond core academics, ensuring they are well prepared for future learning.
LEARNING FRAMEWORK
Toorak Campus was the first school in Victoria to introduce the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) at all year levels. We believe in the powerful and experiential ways the programme connects our students to the vibrant world of learning, supporting them to deeply investigate their world, encouraging critical and creative thinking and promoting active citizenship with global perspectives. The PYP provides the learning framework that guides us in delivering the Australian curriculum to our students. In the Early Learning Centre, we are also influenced by the Reggio Emilia Approach combined with the PYP.
Through the PYP, the subject areas of maths, language, science, social studies, information technology, the arts, physical education and library are integrated into ‘transdisciplinary themes’, helping students make connections between the subjects, thereby facilitating more effective learning.
OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCOVER
Our specialist programme brings rich learning opportunities and includes Drama and Dance, Music, Visual Art, Language (Chinese), Library, Physical Education, and a vibrant list of co-curricular activities. Students can participate in a range of co-curricular experiences at all year levels, provided by teaching staff as well as private providers. These change with the seasons and can include Tennis, Junior Engineers Club, Chess Club, Golf, Green Team, Soccer, Running Club, Swimming and Snowsports.
Primary Years Programme (PYP)
Designed for students aged 3 to 12, the PYP provides the knowledge, concepts, skills, personal attributes and the capacity to take action, all of which younger students need to equip them for successful lives, both now and in the future.
The PYP provides an ideal foundation for children to become successful, lifelong learners by developing their:
- social and emotional well-being
- independence, as they take responsibility for their own learning
- international mindedness
- understanding of the world and their ability to function effectively within it
- attitudes and dispositions for learning
- ability to take mindful, appropriate and sustainable student-initiated action
- language skills; all students study an additional language from at least 7 years of age.
THE IB LEARNER PROFILE
The attributes of the learner profile represent a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that encompass intellectual, personal, emotional and social growth. The development and demonstration of these attributes are foundational to learners becoming internationally minded, active and caring community members who respect themselves, others and the world around them. The learner profile and ethos behind it applies to all of us, for we are all continually learning. Parents are encouraged to attend curriculum information evenings to learn more about the PYP.
SIX TRANSDISCIPLINARY THEMES
Learning in the PYP is underpinned by six transdisciplinary themes that are explored through relevant, challenging and engaging units, using knowledge, skills and concepts derived from six subject areas. Each of the themes are selected for their global significance and relevance to the real world.
Who we are
An inquiry into the nature
An inquiry into the natural world and its laws; the interaction between the natural world (physical and biological) and human societies; how humans use their understanding of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on society and on the environment.
How
Young learners explore the commonalities of human experience by investigating these themes through a programme of inquiry. The six transdisciplinary themes are:
inplace and time
An inquiry into orientation in place and time; personal histories; homes and journeys; explorations and migrations of humankind; the relationships between and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations from local and global perspectives.
An inquiry into the interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities; the structure and function of organisations; societal decision making; economic activities and their impact on humankind and the environment.
How we organise
Where we are ourselves
An inquiry into the ways in which we discover and express ideas, feelings, nature, culture, beliefs and values; the ways in which we reflect on, extend and enjoy our creativity; our appreciation of the aesthetic.
An inquiry into the rights and responsibilities in the struggle to share finite resources with other people and with other living things; communities and the relationships within and between them; access to equal opportunities; peace and conflict resolution.
Curriculum and co-curricular
Curriculum and co-curricular experiences at our Toorak Campus support all learners to be challenged and engaged through their ELC-Year 6 journey. The knowledge, skills, and conceptual understandings outlined in the Australian Curriculum are brought to life through globally relevant units of work that encourage learners to transfer their knowledge to new and novel contexts. Co-curricular experiences develop the whole learner, exposing them to experiences and ideas that have a long-lasting impact on each learner's self-image, confidence and capacity to excel in a complex world.
ENGLISH
MATHEMATICS
Language is our major means of thinking and communicating. It is fundamental to engaging with the world; it underpins and permeates the whole curriculum. The development of fundamental language skills entails not only learning language, but also learning about language and through language. We nurture an appreciation of the richness of language, including a love of literature.
Mathematics is an integral part of daily life and all students endeavour to develop mathematical thinking skills in order to understand relevant concepts and strengthen their ability to transfer these into practical situations at home, school and in daily life. We want students to become confident users of the language of mathematics and look upon mathematics as a way of thinking, analysing and solving problems. Mathematical understanding of numbers, measurement, data handling, space and shape, and pattern and function are developed through exploration and activities that are physical and realistic.
Science is embedded within the PYP units of inquiry and develops the students’ curiosity for the natural world and its phenomena. It builds the students’ skills and confidence to inquire into the world’s behaviour whilst learning about important scientific principles.
SCIENCE
SOCIAL STUDIES
LANGUAGE
Through investigation, students are involved in processes where theories are tested and opinions or hypotheses are challenged. This develops their critical and analytical thinking, whilst also nurturing their open-mindedness and sense of wonder.
Through Social Studies, students learn about people in relation to their past, their present, their future, their environment and their society. Social Studies encourages curiosity and develops an understanding of a rapidly changing world. They develop the skills and knowledge needed to actively participate in their classroom, their school, their community and the world, to understand themselves in relation to their communities.
CHINESE
Additional language learning is a fundamental part of our curriculum and forms part of the overall language programme. The Chinese curriculum is constructed with two main intentions: to develop a love of an additional language through understanding and developing the skills needed to decode and interpret language, and to build cultural understandings associated with the study of the Chinese culture and lifestyle. At our Toorak Campus, students learn Chinese from Prep to Year 6.
THE ARTS
The Arts are a fundamental means of expression and communication in all societies. Drama, Music and Visual Arts are offered to all students as part of the curriculum. Students learn ways of experiencing, developing, presenting and understanding ideas, emotions, values and cultural beliefs. They learn to take risks, be imaginative and develop self-confidence. To celebrate growth in the Arts, students participate throughout the year in drama productions, music performances, and exhibitions of their work.
Individual Tuition Programme
Individual music tuition is offered to Toorak Campus students. Specialist tutors lead these lessons and the service is a convenient, optional extra for parents to choose. Lessons usually run for 30 minutes per week and typically during the school day. Instrument hire is available for some of the instruments.
Through Physical Education, students work to increase their knowledge and skills and to develop positive beliefs, attitudes and values about physical activity. Students are provided with opportunities to learn and practise skills and behaviours that support a healthy and active lifestyle.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
SPORT
Students in Year 3 and Year 4 participate in weekly Sport sessions that involve applying their physical education skills in game situations. Year 5 and 6 students compete in the APS competition throughout the year. All students participate in annual sporting events such as swimming lessons, House sport events, and the Whole School Athletics Day.
The Library provides a warm and welcoming environment and fosters the love and use of literature for a variety of purposes.
LIBRARY
RELIGIOUS AND VALUES EDUCATION
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
Students develop information skills, strategies and an appreciation of language and literature that will assist them to become informed decision makers and lifelong learners. Therefore, our Library programme is a central component of the PYP. Information Literacy sessions enable students to develop research skills, which enables them to question critically and evaluate relevant material for Units of Inquiry. Students are also supported to develop an awareness of cyber-safety.
The Library enhances learning throughout the year by providing students with access to an extensive, contemporary literature collection, ‘Browse and Borrow’ sessions and experiences with visiting authors.
Christian values and concepts such as love, honesty, friendship and sharing are incorporated into all aspects of our daily life. These are also explored through discussions relevant to real-life experiences and children are encouraged to articulate their thoughts and feelings, and to respect others. Students attend regular services at St John’s Anglican Church, Toorak including the annual Easter service and Carol service.
Our technology-rich world now demands that we adapt, collaborate and work with a variety of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Students at Toorak Campus learn about technology as well as learn through technology and have access to devices such as iPads and notebooks. Promoting responsible and ethical digital citizenship is a fundamental part of the students’ learning.
Student leadership
Leadership experiences start in the ELC. Students across all year levels are provided with opportunities to assume roles of responsibility.
Opportunities to develop leadership can include: speaking in assembly, roles and responsibilities in the classroom, the Buddy Programme and in sport, music, drama and other daily activities. Our Year 6 students have formal leadership roles across a range of portfolios. Through this, students begin to develop a deeper understanding of GGS’s core values of courage, compassion and curiosity, and develop confidence in their ability to manage challenges and contribute within the School community.
ACTION AND SERVICE
Action is a key element within the PYP. It is the core of student agency and is integral to the PYP learning process and to the programme’s overarching outcome of international mindedness. By taking individual and collective action, our students come to understand the responsibilities associated with being internationally minded and to appreciate the benefits of working with and serving others for a shared purpose. When students see tangible actions that they can choose to take to make a difference, they see themselves as competent, capable and active agents of change.
Culture and environment
NURTURING BELONGING AND INCLUSIVITY
At GGS, we champion a strong culture of community, inclusivity and belonging.
We are committed to nurturing an equitable and inclusive society, and wholeheartedly embrace the diversity and myriad of learning opportunities that every child and every family brings with their unique identity, life experience and background.
BUDDY PROGRAMME
The Buddy programme is a wonderful opportunity for children of different ages to come together and learn from each other, meeting, connecting and engaging in a range of shared activities. By incorporating buddies into our school, we help to facilitate a happy and connected student community.
CONNECTION TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND INDIGENOUS CULTURE
We place immense emphasis on supporting children to become environmentally responsible and develop a connection to their natural world. We also acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional owners and custodians of these lands and recognise our responsibility in educating our children about Australia’s cultural heritage and Indigenous perspective.
Our educators work closely with our Indigenous liaison officer to provide meaningful learning in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, traditions, histories and experiences. This can encompass all subject areas through a combination of classroom learning, projects, incursions, excursions and co-curricular activities.
Toorak Campus Facilities
Geelong Grammar School’s Toorak Campus has been designed specifically to support young people as they grow, featuring superb facilities and exceptional learning opportunities. The moment you set foot on our stunning campus, you’ll begin to understand why Toorak Campus truly stands apart.
The Toorak Wellbeing Centre (TWC) caters for the whole community with a focus on wellbeing activities and healthy living. It includes:
- An indoor heated 25-metre pool and beginner’s pool;
- The Muir Family Nutrition Centre featuring state of the art kitchen, learning and eating area where children learn practical food preparation skills as well as nutrition and history of food; and
- Light filled studio rooms to facilitate drama, dance, yoga and meditation.
The Glamorgan Centre is a prominent fixture in the campus layout and houses the science, physical education, art, music, drama and dance learning spaces. It includes:
- A spacious Science laboratory designed for Primary aged learning and experimentation;
- Sound proof rooms for music, dance and drama;
- Isabel McComas Hall and gymnasium where productions and assemblies take place as well as indoor physical education classes and after school training and co-curricular clubs;
- Purpose built Art Studio which has been designed to foster the development of creative ideas as well as providing students with opportunities to develop artworks using a variety of mediums.
The Children’s Garden is a wonderful space where students are involved in the growing and harvesting of fresh produce and facilitates our Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Programme.
The well-resourced Coulter Library holds an extensive catalogue of publications, both in hard copy and electronic versions, and have specifically been chosen for Geelong Grammar School students. It is also open to our parents.
Students enjoy a range of play and sporting spaces including the
Adventure Playground, tennis and netball courts, undercover play space, the Baillieu Field and a thoughtfully designed dry creek bed and bamboo forest creative play space for Prep and Year 1 students.
The physical environments of the Sutherland Centre, Glamorgan Centre, Coulter Library and the Toorak Wellbeing Centre have been specifically designed and constructed to promote both independent learning and collaboration amongst learners. Our spaces are light, comfortable, welcoming and flexible to support the needs of the students as they develop.
Daily schedule
Each class has a set timetable for specialist and generalist lessons. Timetables are shared with parents at the start of each term.
A typical daily schedule: 8.30am Classes commence 10.00am Brain break 10.30 – 11.00am Recess
1.00 – 2.00pm Lunch
Students eat lunch in their classrooms until 1.10pm.
3.15pm Classes dismissed
Attendance procedures
ABSENCE
If your child will be absent from school due to illness or unforeseen circumstances, please telephone Toorak Reception before 8.30am on +61 3 9829 1444 and leave a message on the Absentee option.
For planned short absences, parents should email their child’s class teacher and copy in the Toorak office email address: Toorakcampus@ggs. vic.edu.au. Requests for longer periods of absence, for example holidays, should be emailed to the Head of Toorak Campus: headoftoorakcampus@ggs.vic.edu. au with details of the reason and proposed dates of non-attendance.
LATE ARRIVALS AND EARLY DEPARTURES
Students should arrive at school in time for roll call between 8.15am –8.30am. Students arriving after 8.30am should report to Toorak Reception to collect a late slip. Parents wishing to collect their child prior to 3.15pm must come to Reception to collect an early departure slip prior to collecting their child from the classroom.
OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS CARE PROGRAMME (OSHC)
An Outside School Hours Care programme is available for mornings and afternoons. Information regarding OSHC programme is available on Hive.
PARKING
Parking is very closely monitored in Stonnington Council. Please be aware of all parking signs and bus zones. A crossing supervisor is stationed at the Jackson Street crossing each morning and afternoon.
Collaboration with parents
Parents are the most important people in a child’s life, and we believe it is fundamentally important to work in partnership to optimise your child’s growth and development. All members of our GGS staff are committed to working together with families to ensure that every student is cared for, supported and encouraged so that they can benefit from every aspect of school life.
TYPES OF PARENT COMMUNICATION
In-person / day to day communication
Our educators welcome the opportunity to hear from parents and are the first point of contact should you have any concerns or would like to update them with relevant information. They are always contactable via email, or if you would like to discuss a matter in detail, please make an appointment to do so. You are welcome to make an appointment with our Head of Campus at any time during the year to discuss your child’s progress or any concerns.
If you need to convey an urgent message, please contact Toorak Reception on +61 3 9829 1444 and they can relay a message to the appropriate staff member or your child.
Parent intranet
Hive is the main communication portal for parents, and it is also used as a learning platform by the School. Parents can access statement of fees, the School calendar and other important information. Parents are provided their own username and password and are encouraged to visit Hive regularly. Assistance with login details or access issues can be directed to GGS IT Support.
Email: support@ggs.vic.edu.au
Glamorgan Association
Friends of Toorak (Ga FoT)
Our parent support group, GA FoT, helps drive connection in our community. The committee meets on a regular basis during the school year, supporting our campus in a variety of ways, through social events, special events and fundraising. Annual events organised by GA FoT, include a welcome party at the beginning of the school year and many other social events for both adults and children. These events provide wonderful opportunities for our community to come together in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, and for parents to meet other parents and staff.
Details for GA FoT, events and activities are published in the Toorak Campus Newsletter.
Newsletter
The Toorak Campus Newsletter is distributed to families via Hive. The newsletter contains news of school and class activities, details of future events and other important upcoming dates. Please ensure you take the time to scan the fortnightly newsletter as it may contain important details to be aware of.
Head of Campus Morning Tea
Throughout the year the Head of Toorak Campus will host morning tea for parents. This is an opportunity to hear about events happening at Toorak Campus and across the School.
Student Wellbeing & Learning Conversations
Student learning conversations (previously known as parent teacher interviews) are conducted twice a year and provide an opportunity to discuss your child’s social, emotional and academic progress with their teachers. This is a valuable time to formally connect and share information, as well as set learning goals for the next semester.
Student Reports
At the end of Semester 1 and Semester 2 comprehensive written reports are prepared for each student. Parents receive an email from the School advising that reports are available to view online via Hive.
Continuous Reporting
As well as semesterised reporting, parents are also given regular snapshots of student learning during the semester through our continouos reporting framework. Across all areas of learning, parents are notified of assessed submissions of student work through our Hive platform. These submissions paint a running picture of student understanding and growth whilst teacher feedback and student reflections articulate next steps in learning.
Social media channels
Geelong Grammar School news for all campuses is regularly posted on the School’s social media channels:
Instagram: @geelonggrammar
Facebook: @GeelongGrammarSchool
Health and safety
Accidents
If your child becomes ill or has an accident at school, every endeavour will be made to contact you as soon as possible, if deemed necessary. First aid given for any accidents will be written up on the appropriate forms, and parents will receive written notification of any treatment their child has received.
Allergies, anaphylaxis and asthma
Students with known allergies for whom an Epipen or Epipen Jr has been prescribed MUST provide two Epipens and any other prescribed medication to the School, labelled with the student’s name and class. Each student’s Epipen will be stored in the First Aid Office and the student’s classroom. The Toorak Nurse records the expiry date of Epipens and alerts parents one month prior to the expiry date to allow adequate time for a replacement pen to be prescribed. An action plan must be completed annually by the student’s medical practitioner, as specified on the ASCIA website www.allergy.org.au. Parents are required to meet with the Toorak Nurse at the beginning of each year to review the student’s GGS anaphylaxis management plan. Parents should alert the School if an anaphylaxis episode occurs out of school hours or there are changes to their child’s action plan.
For students with medically diagnosed severe allergies for whom no adrenaline auto injector has been prescribed, an ASCIA Action Plan for Allergic Reactions must be completed annually by the student’s medical practitioner as specified on the ASCIA website www.allergy.org. au. This needs to be provided to the Toorak Nurse along with the recommended medication. Parents
are required to meet with the Toorak Nurse at the beginning of each year to review the student’s GGS allergy management plan. Parents should alert the School if there are changes to their child’s action plan.
In line with The Asthma Foundation Victoria Guidelines for Schools and Early Learning Centres, Toorak Campus has adopted single person use spacers. Spacers should always be used when administering reliever ‘puffer’ medication as they deliver medication more efficiently and are an essential part of the asthma first aid procedure that Victorian schools and preschools are instructed to follow.
Parents/carers are responsible for ensuring their child’s medication and spacer (or compatible face mask if under 5 years of age) is always available to staff. A school asthma action plan must be completed annually by the student’s medical practitioner, as specified on the Asthma Foundation Victoria website www.asthma.org.au
Parents are requested to refrain from including foods known to contain allergens in all snacks and lunches brought to school. If unsure, please consult with your child’s class teacher or the Head of Campus.
Head lice
Outbreaks of head lice happen from time to time. If lice are found, parents will be contacted and asked to treat the condition. We recommend tying long hair back and checking regularly for lice to help minimise the risk of lice entering or spreading in the School.
Illness
If your child is unwell, it is recommended that they remain at home to ensure they can rest and recover quickly, and to help minimise the spread of infection.
Our School has a legal responsibility to help manage infectious diseases and support the prevention and control of disease transmission. As part of this, we are required to follow Department of Education and Early Childhood Development regulations regarding periods of exclusion/ absence from school following a case of a child having contracted an infectious illness. A list of common infectious illnesses and their exclusion periods is available from the Victorian Health Department website: www.health.vic.gov.au/ infectious-diseases/ disease-information-and-advice. If your child contracts an infectious illness/disease, please inform our Head of Campus. All parents will be notified of any occurrence of an infectious disease or head lice within the school.
Immunisation status
By law, all parents/guardians planning to enrol their child at a primary school must provide an Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), even if it shows that the child has not received any vaccinations.
We will keep a copy of the Immunisation History Statement so that, if there is a disease outbreak, unvaccinated children can be quickly identified and excluded from school until the risk of infection has passed.
Medical conditions
There may be some aspects of your child’s health that should be discussed with the Head of Campus or classroom teacher. Diagnosed disorders or illness, the taking of medication, allergies, behavioural/ medical concerns or recurring problems need to be discussed and documented. This information is kept confidential and it is invaluable to ensure the appropriate care for your child.
Medication
Should a child require medication during the day, we require written consent by a parent or guardian via the Medication Form, which is available from the First Aid Office or Toorak Reception and must be completed each day medication is required. The medication must be in the original packaging with the original prescription label, dosage and instructions. Medication must be handed to a staff member; under no circumstances is any type of medication to be left in a child’s bag
Sun safety
Toorak Campus has a number of strategies in place to ensure that your child’s skin is protected from sun damage whilst at school. Children are required to wear the school hat for outside play in Terms 1 and 4. The hat is required for sport as well as for recess and lunchtime play. Children without a hat will have to remain in shaded areas. Positive role modelling is provided by teachers who also wear hats when outside for activities or playground duty. Sunscreen is provided in all classrooms for children’s use; however, it is advisable to apply sunscreen routinely in the morning before your child arrives at school.
Washing hands
Whilst it may not be possible to prevent the spread of all infections, we aim to create a hygienic environment to minimise the spread of diseases and infections in our school. Children are encouraged to wash their hands at appropriate times throughout the day. We ask all parents to support us in helping children to develop appropriate personal hygiene habits that will become embedded as they grow and develop. We also encourage children to cough and sneeze into their elbow and keep their hands away from their mouths, other body parts and other children unless necessary.
Essential information
A–Z
Assembly
Assemblies take place weekly. They provide the opportunity for the whole school to meet, and for staff and students to share their learning and important news, present people with awards or congratulations for various achievements, celebrate special days, and hear performances from other students. Once a semester, using a variety of performance techniques, each class presents their learning from one Unit of Inquiry to their parents and classes in the form of a learning journey assembly.
Birthdays
We value the opportunity to connect with children and their families, which can include celebrating a child’s birthday. Our birthday rituals focus on making the child feel valued and an important part of our School community, which we believe helps to foster self-esteem, companionship and kindness. For health and safety reasons, we do not include food or special treats as part of the celebration. If for any reason you do not want your child’s birthday recognised in class, please let us know.
Buses
Please refer to the School Transport tile on Hive for GGS Bus information.
Calendar
Term dates can be found on the GGS website. The community calendar of events is available via Hive. Families are also made aware of upcoming events relating to Toorak Campus through the Toorak Campus Newsletter via Hive.
Camp
Camps provide an opportunity for students to develop independence, strengthen connections and try new things.
Our camp programme commences with a Year 2 sleepover at school. Our Year 3 students experience a two-night adventure camp. In Year 4 and Year 5 students attend a three night adventure based camp. Our Year 6 students travel to Canberra where they visit significant sites and learn about the Australian Government. In Year 6 students will also visit the Corio campus for an overnight camp and opportunity to experience adventure in the local community.
Campus entry
The main gate is in Douglas Street, this gate is monitored by Reception during school hours. Jackson Street gate - locked between 9.00am and 3.00pm. Wallace Street gate to Early Learning Centre - locked between 9.00am - 3.00pm. Wallace Street gate to Prep - locked between 9.00am and 3.00pm. All gates are open at drop off and pick up.
Celebrations
Toorak Campus takes part in many celebrations throughout the year including Easter, Grandparents/ Mothers/Fathers/Special Persons Days, Book Week and Christmas Throughout the year, we celebrate many special days focusing on individual, local, national and international events and occasions.
Church services
Choosing to be a part of GGS is to choose to live and learn in a community where Christian values of love, forgiveness, compassion, hope, inclusion, justice and diversity are central to our character and present in all that we do. Attending Chapel each term allows our young learners to become familiar with the customs of the Anglican Church, and to take part in the quiet reflection time. Our
Chaplains from the Corio campus welcome and lead us through the service each term. Parents and family are welcome to attend.
Class contact lists
Class contact lists are available on Hive. Parents may opt out of having their details shared on the intranet. Please ensure your contact details are kept up to date by advising Toorak Reception of any changes.
Classroom resources
The class resources required for students each year will be ordered by the School and managed by the class teacher. The resource items include the GGS diary and a stationery pack. These items will be charged to your School Fee account as ‘Booklist’ in Term 1 each year. For new students starting throughout the year the Booklist will be charged in the term of commencement.
Co-curricular activities
We offer a wide range of co-curricular activities for our students. Activities may be held before school, at lunch time or after school.
Activities may include; music choir, swimming, tennis, running club, winter sports training, athletics, dance, junior engineer, chess, soccer, golf and young engineer (leggo).
Communication
Our online Portal and Learning Management System (LMS), Hive is the primary communication channel between parents and the School. Additionally, staff will use a variety of strategies to communicate with you about your child and their learning via Hive, email, telephone or face to face conversations. Students also have access to a wellbeing diary which may be used as a communication tool as well.
Excursions/ incursions
Excursions and incursions play an important role in supporting learning. Toorak Campus students take part in a wide range of excursions and incursions designed to enhance their learning experiences. We value the environment, community organisations and other experts to help us to learn. In the past we have made visits to the local parks, Sovereign Hill, Werribee and Melbourne Zoo, Melbourne Museum, ACMI and the National Gallery of Victoria.
For regularly scheduled excursion outings such as sport or church, we will ask parents to sign a consent form prior to the activity commencing each semester and this will cover the duration of those identified activity events. For individual, off campus excursions or camps, we will ask parents to sign an individual consent form prior to each event. Parents and guardians are notified in advance when these excursions will be occurring.
Fee payments
For any school fee account enquiries, please contact the Accounts Department:
Tel: +61 3 5273 9200
Email: accountssupport@ggs.vic.edu.au
Food and drink
In the interest of good health and sustainability, we encourage children to eat healthy nutritious foods to support their learning and interactions. Commercial packaged foods such as chocolate/muesli bars, chips, sweet drinks, chocolate biscuits, health bars and roll ups are not recommended. For ideas on types of foods to include in your child’s lunch, please visit www.heas. health.vic.gov. au/schools/ healthy-lunchboxes
We encourage you to supply food in labelled, reusable containers along with a reusable water bottle each day. An icepack during the warmer weather will help to keep your child’s food at a safe temperature range. A separate snack container for snacks, rather than a large amount of lunch included in one container, is preferable.
Please be mindful that we are a NUT FREE school, this includes Nutella and peanut butter and some biscuits and bars.
House
Each student at Toorak Campus belong to a House. The House names and correlating colours are: Glamorgan (white), Alexander (green), Mann (yellow), McComas (blue) and Bruce (red).
Jewellery
Students are encouraged to keep their jewellery at home. Girls may wear plain studs or sleepers. Hair ribbons and ties should be the school colours and can be purchased from the Uniform Shop.
Library
Students can borrow books from the School’s well-resourced library. In order to do so, please ensure your child has their clearly labelled library bag on the day that is allocated for library borrowing.
Lost property
We strongly encourage families to name all items brought into school. We will return lost items to children where possible. Unnamed items will be placed in the lost property basket which is located next ot the First Aid Office. Parents and children are welcome to look for items at any time.
Out of Hours School Care
See Attendance section for details
Performances / special guests
From time to time, professional performers or special guests will visit the campus. Performances and visitors are designed to enhance the learning taking place within a unit of inquiry or are organised as a special event.
Transitioning into Prep
To enable a smooth and positive transition into Prep, children will participate in our Prep Orientation Programme during Term 4. Through this initiative, children will start to familiarise themselves with their new learning environment and get to know their classroom teacher. Our ELC and Prep educators collaborate closely to ensure comprehensive handover information for each child if they are coming from our ELC. The Prep Orientation Programme includes an Information Session for Parents.
Orientation for New Students (Year 1 - Year 6)
Toorak Campus welcomes new students in all year levels. New Students in Year 1 - Year 6 will be invited to engage in an orientation programme in the year leading up to commencement. This includes a Parent Information Session and the opportunity to spend a day in the new class to meet their teacher and new classmates.
Tuckshop
A range of healthy options for Morning Recess and Lunch is available from the school tuckshop. The tuckshop is available five days per week and parents can preorder online. Tuckshop and ordering details are available on Hive.
Uniform
All Prep to Year 6 students are asked to wear clearly labelled and correct uniform to School.
Days of the week
The Academic uniform is worn on days when students do not have Physical Education or After School Sport. This is confirmed at the start of the year.
Summer / winter uniform
Summer uniform is to be worn Term 1 and Term 4. Hats are compulsory in Term 1 and Term 4 with both academic and sports uniform. Winter uniform is to be worn Term 2 and Term 3.
ACADEMIC UNIFORM
Girls
- Blazer: grey with blue trim
- Jumper: grey with blue trim
- Summer: dress or grey shorts with short-sleeve blue shirt
- Summer: white socks mid-calf or short grey socks may be worn with shorts
- Winter: grey kilt or pinafore, worn with blue short-sleeve or long-sleeve shirt, or grey pants worn with blue short-sleeve or long-sleeve shirt
- Winter: long grey socks with blue stripe or black tights
- Tie: blue with grey stripe (optional)
- Shoes: black lace-up (polishable), prep may wear velcro shoes
- Hat: blue wide brimmed with GGS crest
Boys
- Blazer: grey with blue trim
- Jumper: grey with blue trim
- Shirts: blue short-sleeve or long-sleeve
- Trousers: grey poly wool
- Shorts: grey poly wool
- Socks: long grey socks with blue stripe worn with shorts or trousers, short grey socks may be worn with shorts in summer
- Tie: blue with grey stripe (optional)
- Shoes: black lace-up (polishable), prep may wear velcro shoes
- Hat: blue wide brimmed with GGS crest
SPORTS UNIFORM
Girls and Boys
- GGS sport jacket: GGS blue (optional)
- GGS track pants: black (optional)
- Microfleece GGS jumper: black
- GGS polo top
- House polo top
- Black shorts with logo
- Socks: white with blue trim
- Sneakers/Sports runners
Additional Items
- GGS backpack
- GGS sports bag (Hav-a-Sak)
- GGS pencil case: students new to the School are supplied with a large pencil case, charged to the School Account. Years 1-4 a small pencil case is optional.
- GGS library bag
- GGS drink bottle
Student presentation and grooming
We kindly ask that hair is well-groomed, clean and combed. Extremes in hairstyle, colour or length are discouraged. Make-up and nail polish is not to be worn. Hair below shoulder length should be tied back with a hair-coloured or School-coloured tie.
Black shoes should be kept clean and polished.
Our uniform is an expression of community and pride. We kindly ask students and parents to ensure they are well presented when in public.
UNIFORM SHOP
The uniform can be purchased from the GGS Uniform Shop, at Toorak Campus. The shop is located at the end of the verandah near Reception. The shop sells both the GGS academic and sports uniform, including new and pre-loved. Normal shop hours are:
Monday 8.00am - 11.00am Tuesday 1.00pm - 4.30pm Thursday 1.00pm - 4.30pm
Parents are advised to make an appointment when purchasing their child’s uniform, by telephoning + 61 3 9829 1437 or email toorakuniformshop@ggs.vic.edu.au
When shopping for a student new to the School, please allow 45 minutes to one hour to have the complete uniform fitted correctly.
Opening hours
Uniform Shop opening hours are communicated on Hive.
TERM DATES
Term dates are available via the Hive intranet and GGS website
POLICIES & PROCEDURES
School policies and procedures, including the Child Safety Policy, Code of Conduct Policy and Inclusivity Policy are available in Hive.
CONTACT INFORMATION
The Toorak Campus Reception is open between the hours of 8.00am and 4.00pm. Please do not hesitate to contact our friendly staff for any matters.
Toorak Reception: +61 3 9829 1444
E: Toorakcampus@ggs.vic.edu.au
IT Support: support@ggs.vic.edu.au
