POLICY: SUN PROTECTION POLICY (Revised 2015)

Refer: Student Welfare – Protection From the Sun Memorandum to

Principals 90.027

RATIONALE:

Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world with 140,000 new cases and 1,000 deaths recorded annually.

Primary schools can help reduce the incidence of skin cancer by encouraging all members of the school community to take effective skin-protection measures.

OUTCOMES:

By promoting this policy amongst all members of the school community they will develop:

·  positive attitudes towards skin protection

·  lifestyle practices which will help reduce the incidence of skin cancer

·  personal responsibility for the decision-making about skin protection

·  awareness of the need for environmental measures around the school to reduce exposure to the sun.

IMPLEMENTATION:

·  Children will wear hats with brims to protect their face, neck and ears whenever outside e.g. recess, lunch, sport, carnivals, etc. This policy applies all year round.

·  Hats are considered part of our basic school uniform.

·  A “No Hat – No Play” policy will be enforced.

·  Follow the procedure from the classroom at lunchtimes and recess: HAT è SIT è EAT è PLAY

·  As decided in the PBS program, children not wearing hats will be requested to sit on the yellow seats either outside the Library or in the bushes.

·  Children will be encouraged to play, have lunch, etc. in shaded areas.

·  Where possible, outdoor activities will be scheduled outside peak UV times. Peak UV times are 10am - 2pm between April and September, and 11am - 3pm between October and March; and when planning excursions, all sun protection measures will be considered.

·  The wearing of sun-safe clothing that provides protection from the sun is encouraged. For example, shirts with collars and sleeves, and longer style dresses and shorts.

·  Use of sunscreen is encouraged and promoted and must be SPF30+ broad-spectrum water-resistant.

·  Sunscreen will be provided at outdoor events for the use of students and parents.

·  At carnivals, students will be reminded over the PA system at regular intervals throughout the day to “cover up and re-apply sunscreen.”

·  The playground has many shaded areas e.g. gazebos, bushes area, COLA, walkways and numerous shade trees around the school. Children are encouraged regularly to play in these areas.

·  Reviews of the playground will be made regularly to see if shaded areas are sufficient.

·  Staff members are requested to act as role models by practising good sun protection behaviours and must wear hats on duty and are encouraged to cover arms.

·  Teachers include sun protection principles into the PD, HEALTH & PE curriculum annually.

·  Sun protection information is regularly promoted to the school community. Families and visitors are also encouraged to use a combination of sun protection measures when visiting the school e.g. advise visitors when an event will be outside and ask them to bring a hat.

REVIEW:

The Sun Protection Policy will be reviewed in line with other school policies and resubmitted to Cancer Council NSW every three years.

EARLY LUNCH HOUR/LATE RECESS – 2007.

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RATIONALE:

At Jerrabomberra, the lunch hour is at an earlier time from 11 – 12 noon. The afternoon recess break is from 1.20 p.m. – 1.40 p.m. This avoids the hottest part of the day for children to be in the playground and supports our Sun Protection Policy.

OUTCOMES:

·  Children are not in the sun for their longest class break. This is a sun-safe practice.

·  The nutritional needs of students who “skimp” on breakfast are being met at a more appropriate time.

·  The learning environment is improved.

IMPLEMENTATION:

*The new break times are:

9 – 11 am : Lessons

11 – 12 noon : Lunch

12 – 1.20 pm : Lessons

1.20 – 1.40 pm: Recess

1.40 – 3 pm : Lessons

*These are some of the expected benefits from this arrangement:

·  higher proportion of lunches are being eaten

·  packed lunches are fresher and thus more palatable

·  less wastage of food

·  early lunch seems to meet the time of the students’ highest nutritional needs

·  reduction in consumption of low-nutrition, high-sugar snack foods at peak hunger times

·  increase in classroom concentration

·  children are more alert in the afternoon session

·  the playground is more settled.

*To avoid any confusion, these times operate summer and winter due to benefits to

the learning environment.

EVALUATION:

This practise can be reviewed at any time and changed through school and community consultation. Discussion at P&C meetings on a regular basis would be advisable.