Excursions Policy

Students learn in many different ways, and often, the learning in the classroom is enriched by first-hand experiences gained on an excursion/camp. They are valuable for the development of social skills and they provide access to resources, environments and expertise that may not be available in the classroom. On camps the experience of living away from home with a group of their own age provides students with a unique opportunity for the development of independence and self-care skills under teacher guidance.

Throughout the year excursions and camps will be organised as an integral part of the school’s program. It is therefore desirable that all students participate in them. There are classroom activities before and after an excursion and if the excursion is missed, much of the related classroom work is less meaningful to students. Excursions may include:

• visits within the local neighbourhood
• sporting fixtures, competitions
• field trips
• country and beach trips
• attendance at theatrical performances or cinemas
• visits to museums and places of historical significance and exhibits/exhibitions.

Full details will be provided to families before each excursion/camp, including the date and time, cost, clothing and food requirements and travel arrangements.

The greatest possible care is always taken to ensure the safety of students and the success of each excursion/camp. To ensure adequate supervision, additional staff and/or parents may be asked to accompany the children.  The teachers responsible for the excursion will require current and accurate information about each child’s special health needs. An excursion may conclude or be conducted outside regular school hours. In these instances particular attention will be given to the coordination of travel arrangements to ensure student safety is not compromised.

All school excursions/camps require prior approval by the Principal. Teachers and students will be regarded to be acting in a private capacity when participating on an excursion/camp for which appropriate approval has not been given. If you have any concerns about a particular excursion, please contact the school. Families who have difficulty paying for an excursion should discuss the matter in confidence with the Principal.

To represent the school is indeed a great achievement and privilege. The school offers various positions in our interschool sporting competitions and selection is open to students on an annual basis.

(a) Interschool Swimming and Athletics

Rossmoyne Senior High School are in A-Grade for Interschool Carnivals in Swimming and Athletics and so representing the school in these pursuits is highly rewarded and recognised. Representation in these teams is recognised in student references at the end of Year 12.

• Selection of interschool teams is via school swimming and athletics carnivals. Due to the high number of students in our school, not all students can attend so places to school carnivals are by nomination or invitation. Such invitations and nominations are supported by teacher observations or performance data collected in class.

• In some circumstances, students may seek an exemption from a school carnival but still apply to be considered for Interschool if they are:

• • Ill or Injured or;
  • Have family commitments that prevent them from attending the school carnival.

• Challenging: In an event that a student is absent at the selection carnival with legitimate reason, they may challenge for a place in the interschool team or, where recent performance data is available, may ask for that data to be considered.

(b) Lightning Carnivals (Years 7-10)

Lightning Carnivals in Year 7-10 are conducted within the South Coastal Government Schools region where we compete with schools like Willetton right down to Rockingham and Safety Bay. The emphasis of these carnivals is school representation and student socialisation.

• Must attend selection games and training
• All other selection is on performance and attitude in Physical Education and other classes.
• The number of teams entered to these carnivals is determined by the availability of coaches and the discretion of the carnival organisers.

(c) Volleyball and Other Representative Teams

Rossmoyne Senior High School is a Specialist Volleyball School and has representation in state carnivals as well as the nationals in Melbourne. (Other representative teams like football, soccer, etc. will be conducted depending on coach availability). Representation of the school at this level is highly regarded and recognised. Students selected for this program:

• must attend selection games and training;
• all other selection is on performance and attitude in Physical Education classes; and
• selection of students is at the discretion of the school coach and expert teachers.

(d) Other School Sport WA Events

School Sport WA is the governing body for school sporting events for public schools in Western Australia. The School Sport WA website can be accessed by any student and their parent.
Any student can represent the school in a School Sport WA event, however, it is not possible logistically to supply a teacher to attend. In this case, permission is obtained by the Principal and the responsibility for care of the student is taken by the parent and School Sport WA.

For this reason of Duty of Care, we cannot endorse events which are not supported by School Sport WA.

Further enquiries can be made through the Head of Department, Health and Physical Education.

We are required to have current information (emergency contacts, medical history, swimming ability etc) on your child, to be taken with staff on excursions. Please ensure that any changes are noted on the letter you sign giving your child approval to attend an excursion.

For camps/excursions that include an overnight stay, insurance policy covers students to a maximum of $10,000 for medical and ancillary expenses where Medicare or private health insurance does not cover these costs. Risk cover funding does not cover loss or damage of personal belongings, including vehicles. Any excursion that is not approved by the Principal is deemed a private excursion and will not have any insurance coverage.

You may be asked to indicate your child’s swimming ability.  Please use the continuum below:

STAGE 1: BEGINNER

1. Enter water safely
Shallow. Safe exit
2. Exhale in water
Face in
3. Open eyes under water
Identify an object
4. Submerge
Waist deep
5. Glide forward and recover
Waist deep (minimum)
6. Float or glide backward and recover
Waist deep, flotation aid acceptable

STAGE 2: WATER DISCOVERY

7. Glide forward and kick 3m
Horizontal body position. Face in
8. Glide backward, kick & recover
No set distance
9. Swim 5m freestyle
Face submerged
10. Scull/tread water
Basic hand and leg action, chest deep

STAGE 3: PRELIMINARY

11. Swim 10m freestyle
Breathing
12. Glide backward and kick 5m
Waist deep (minimum)
13. Swim 5m breaststroke leg action
On back with board
14. Demonstrate survival sculling
On back
15. Demonstrate a forward roll
Extension

STAGE 4: WATER AWARENESS

16. Swim 15m freestyle
      Regular breathing
17. Swim 10m backstroke
Catch-up acceptable
18. Swim 10m survival backstroke
  Below water arm recovery
19. Swim 5m breaststroke kick
     Extension
20. Scull head first on back
Without leg action
21. Recover an object
Chest deep
22. Swim in deep water

STAGE 5: WATER SENSE

23. Swim 25m freestyle
Proficient technique
24. Swim 15m backstroke
Proficient technique
25. Swim 15m survival backstroke
Symmetrical leg action
26. Swim 15m breaststroke
  Symmetrical leg action
27. Demonstrate a surface dive
Chest deep. Recover an object

STAGE 6 — JUNIOR

28. Swim 50m freestyle
Proficient technique
29. Swim 25m backstroke
      Proficient technique
30. Swim 25m breaststroke
      Proficient technique
31. Demonstrate a dive entry
Deep water required

STAGE 7: INTERMEDIATE

32. Scull feet first on back
    Sculling hand action
33. Demonstrate eggbeater kick
Water polo kick
34. Swim 150 metres
Proficient technique

• 25m Backstroke
• 30m Breaststroke
• 30m Freestyle
• 25m Survival Backstroke

STAGE 8: WATER WISE

35. Swim 25m sidestroke
Scissor kick required
36. Demonstrate dolphin kick
Extension
37. Swim 200 metres
Proficient technique

• 30m Backstroke
• 30m Breaststroke
• 30m Freestyle
• 25m Survival Backstroke
• 25m Sidestroke

STAGE 9 — SENIOR

38. Swim 10m butterfly
Extension
39. Demonstrate a tumble turn
Extension
40. Swim 300 metres
Proficient technique

• 30m F/style (or 25m B/fly &
• 25m F/style)
• 30m Backstroke
• 30m Breaststroke
• 30m Freestyle
• 30m Sidestroke
• 30m Survival Backstroke

41. Basic principles of EAR