Student health and safety

We are committed to ensuring a safe and happy environment for your child.

We support your child’s health and safety through a range of strategies including:

• the behaviour code for students, which outlines the standards of behaviour expected in all NSW public schools
• anti-racism education
• anti-bullying programs
• conflict resolution and mediation training
• peer support
• road safety education
• the Healthy School Canteen Strategy.

For more information, visit the student wellbeing section of the department’s website.

Like all NSW public schools, we promote the healthy development of students through:

• school programs and practices that protect and promote health and safety
• supporting individual students who need help with health issues
• providing first aid and temporary care of students who become unwell or who have an accident at school.

Student wellbeing

Like all NSW public schools, we provide safe learning and teaching environments to encourage healthy, happy, successful and productive students.

The department is committed to creating quality learning opportunities for children and young people. These opportunities support wellbeing through positive and respectful relationships and fostering a sense of belonging to the school and community.

The Wellbeing Framework for Schools helps schools support the cognitive, physical, social, emotional and spiritual development of students and allows them to connect, succeed and thrive throughout their education.

Wellbeing team

The wellbeing team here at Ku-ring-gai High School includes all staff. For more information, please refer to our staff page.

Positive Behaviour for Learning

At our school, we use Positive Behaviour for Learning – a whole-school approach for creating a positive, safe and supportive school climate where students can learn and develop. Our whole school community works together to establish expected behaviours and teach them to all students.

Student representative council (SRC)

The school's student representative council (SRC) consists of a democratically elected group of students from Years 8 to 12. The SRC represents the school with pride and creativity and annually produces a banner statement which reflects their goals and ambitions. The school captains and prefects are the leaders of the SRC and are elected by the staff and the senior school. These school leaders have a range of areas of responsibilities including leadership, the environment, school promotion, charity fundraising and promotion of academic studies.

Students involved in the SRC gain excellent leadership qualities that provide them with essential skills in communication, organisation and collaboration.

The SRC gains outstanding experience each year from an annual leadership summit held in North Wahroonga which provides the school with a fresh, positive outlook for the year ahead.

Members of the SRC meet every morning during roll call in order to plan a variety of activities and charity events on behalf of the school.

Previous initiatives include:

• school-wide talent quest
• establishing school vegetable gardens
• 'Shave for a Cause' fundraiser
• beyond blue charity event.

Students don't have to be school captains or house captains to be considered leaders. We encourage our students to be leaders in the classroom and playground, through their support for other students, or their involvement in academic, sporting, cultural or community events and projects.

Medical information

The Department of Education has requested an update of all health care needs of students in government schools. Student medical details form (link below) has been added to the Department of Education enrolment form. This form needs to be completed for all current students.

The new form help us collect your child's important medical information, and the introduction of new systems will mean we're better able to manage the daily and emergency health needs of your child. We appreciate your support as we start collecting the information and if you have any questions please call the school. Please return the forms to the school office to ensure we have the most up-to-date information on your child's health care needs.

If your child has an allergy, please also complete the relevant ASCIA Action Plan/s below for allergies and anaphylaxis.

We appreciate your support as we start collecting the information and if you have any questions please call the school.

Please return the forms to the school office to ensure we have the most up-to-date information on your child's health care needs.

Students medical details form :

• Individual Health Care Plan (PDF 219KB)
• Anaphylaxis Epipen Action Plan (301KB)
  
• Anaphylaxis Anapen Action Plan (359KB)
• Student health plan (PDF 19KB)
• Allergic reaction plan (PDF 239KB) 
• Diabetes Plan (951KB)
• Asthma Action Plan (190KB)
• Changed student detail form (PDF 47KB)

Online safety

Safety information

The ever changing nature of the internet can pose challenges for parents who wish to keep on top of their children's technology use. While children might seem to be tech savy, they still need a parent's guiding hand to help make sure their online experience is positive and safe. The link below will take you to the eSafety Commissioner website, which has an extensive range of information on online safety.

Parent resources

Visit parent online risks education resource to help you as a parent to manage potential online risks and help

Educate your children in responsible online activity. For more information, refer to the quick guide on how popular social media sites your children may be visiting, to gain an understanding about each of the sites.

Instagram parents guide

If a student has a smartphone, they are probably on Instagram. With the camera on their phone, students can be snapping photos and instantly uploading them to their Instagram feed. What are the risks? Who can see their photos? How can your children stay safe when using Instagram? 

Instagram is blocked when using the school wireless infrastructure, however, if a student has their own smartphone with internet access they are probably on Instagram. With the camera on their phones, students can be snapping photos and instantly uploading to their Instagram feed. But what are the risks? Can your children stay safe while using Instagram? Please refer to the Instagram guide for more information.

Student sleep

How much sleep do I need?

Different people need a different amount of sleep in order to function optimally during the day. Whilst most adults need about 8 hours sleep a night, teenagers need more like 9 hours and 15 minutes sleep per night. Working out how much sleep you need will take a little time and perseverance. Record how you feel during the day based on how much sleep you had a night and a pattern will start to appear.

Getting a good sleep is important for your mind and body. Sleep lets your body rest and repair, it helps maintain a healthy immune system and sleep is needed so your body has the energy it needs during the day for activity and concentration. Sleeping well helps you to stay mentally healthy too.

Signs that perhaps you aren't getting enough sleep or enough good quality sleep include irregular sleep patterns, feeling tired and drowsy during the day, falling asleep at school or in the afternoon, trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, loud snoring, sleepwalking or night terrors and difficulties with concentration and memory.

Good quality sleep

Smelling lavender while you sleep might improve the quality of your sleep. Try a few drops of lavender oil in your washing or on your pillow, or using lavender scented soap.

Have a good sleep environment. Clear your room of clutter. Dust regularly. Have calming colours in your room. Try rearranging your room according to Feng Shui principles, whereby you can see the door from your bed, but your bed is not directly facing the door. This may mean putting your bed on an angle.

Feeling refreshed after sleep

First thing in the morning, drink a glass of water to help you wake up and rehydrate.

Do some gentle stretches or more vigorous exercise first thing in the morning as part of your morning ritual. This will also help to set your body clock. Practice deep breathing while you are still in bed to make sure your body is able to take in lots of oxygen and expel carbon dioxide.

Where to go for help or more information

If you try out the tips here and are still having trouble with falling asleep or staying asleep, try talking to your doctor to see if there is a medical or other reason.