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Runners: Did you know?
Along with other schools, Lyneham High has a long history of having student “runners”.
Runners are an important part of the school’s operational fabric: taking “pink” notes around the school and performing other ad-hoc tasks. If you ring and ask for your child to be sent a message or released from class early, you will often hear our front office staff say, “No worries, I’ll send the runner out.”
Most year 8 students are asked to be a runner once during the year.
While most students enjoy the opportunity to help the school out, we know that it’s not for everyone. We do not choose a student if:
- there are known conflicting academic/schooling reasons (eg a test or excursion),
- there are wellbeing or similar concerns that have been expressed to us,
- a parent/carer has advised that they do not wish for their child to participate.
If you do not wish your child to participate, please advise their home group teacher (refer to the Teaching staff contact list, which is always available from the Contact Us page of the school’s website). Your child can also express this directly to the home group teacher.
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Bicycle and Scooter Security
Bicycle and scooter theft is a reality in society, and Lyneham High is unfortunately not exempt from being targeted.
Our school mitigates this by keeping the bike compound locked through the day (generally from about 9:30am to about 2:30pm) and having a teacher on duty at the bike compound at the end of the day (from about 3:05-3:20pm). The compound is left unlocked overnight. Students should not leave bicycles and scooters overnight or during weekends.
Additionally, we urge students to keep their bikes locked with a good quality lock and encourage parents to regularly check with their children that they are using their locks. Periodic reminders about bike security are also given to students through daily notices.
Our staff carry out ad-hoc visual checks of the compound and are always dismayed to see up to 30% of bikes not being locked at all. Some of these bikes even have a chain/lock still wrapped around the handlebars or seat-post (therefore totally unsecure!). Many other bikes are seen to be secured with very cheap/flimsy locks that are easier to pry open. Of course, addressing these measures will not guarantee that a bike won’t be stolen, but they’ll make it considerably more difficult.
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Student Injury - Insurance and Ambulance Transport
The ACT Education Directorate does not provide any insurance cover for injury, disease or illness to students resulting from school activities or school-organised excursions. Claims for compensation are met where there is a legal liability to do so. Liability is not automatic and depends on the circumstances in which any injury, disease or illness was sustained.
As there is no automatic insurance cover for personal injury if your child is injured at school or during a school organised activity/excursion you should therefore consider whether taking out personal insurance cover for your child is warranted.
This insurance might cover contingencies including medical/hospital expenses, ambulance transport outside the ACT, and cancellation of transport/accommodation or loss of/damage to luggage.
The ACT Ambulance Service provides free ambulance transport for students who are injured or suddenly become ill at school or during an approved school organised activity within the ACT.
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Liability for the Loss, Damage or Theft of Students’ Personal Property at School
Parents and students are advised that Lyneham High School staff will take all reasonable steps to keep personal property safe. However, Lyneham High School does not provide insurance cover to automatically compensate for the loss, damage or theft of bicycles or any other personal property, nor will they be legally liable for their loss.
Parents and students are advised:
- to avoid bringing valuable property to school,
- to take steps to insure all valuable items for loss, theft or damage,
- to use a good quality chain or bar lock to secure bicycles when left at school,
- that valuable items are brought to school at the personal risk of the owner and that schools decline any responsibility for the damage, loss or theft of students’ personal property, and
- to report any suspicious activity to school staff.
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Safety and Respect in our community
Lyneham High is a big school and for everyone's safety it is important to have some clearly outlined expectations around dropping off and picking up students at school.
We ask parents and carers to:
• Observe the 40km/h speed restriction during the period from 8:00am to 4:00pm.
• Not drive into the driveways and carparks to use them as drop off or pick up points. This causes unnecessary congestion and can be very dangerous for the students and adults as they arrive at, or depart from, school.
• Where possible drop off students further along Goodwin Street or even in one of the surrounding streets and have students safely walk the short distance to school.
• Take care at the pedestrian crossings, particularly looking out for cyclists.
• Not stop or park in locations that are dangerous or that impede the flow of traffic (e.g. on the school crossing, on footpaths, or in the driveway of our neighbours across the road).
• Not perform u-turns from the drop off zones along the front of the school.
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Help with the cost of schooling and everyday essentials
All ACT public schools can help families meet the costs of schooling or everyday essentials – such as personal hygiene products including sanitary hygiene items, school uniform items, book packs and stationery, school excursions, camps, transport and enrichment activities.
Part of public education’s important objective is making access to education more equitable for all students, regardless of personal circumstances. If you are experiencing a situation that affects your ability to meet the costs of schooling or everyday essentials for your child, we encourage you to talk to us. Families who are looking for help with the costs of schooling can:
- talk to the school principal or other staff member about their situation
- have a relative, caseworker, friend or advocate make contact on your behalf
- contact the Education Directorate ETDStudentWellbeing@act.gov.au.
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School Calendar
Did you know the school’s calendar of events (excursions and the like) are maintained as a Google Calendar which is accessible from the front page of the school’s website (see below)? Events are maintained weekly.
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