Question 1

I have a question about enrolment

Accepted Answer

For any questions regarding enrolment, please send an email to ciska@bastionps.co.za

Question 2

How do you keep parents informed?

Accepted Answer

We send messages on the d6 platform, which you can download for free on your phone or computer.

For your Android phone, you can find d6 Connect on the Play Store.  If you have an Apple phone, you will find d6 Connect on the App Store, and for a Huawei phone, you will download it from the AppGallery.

For a computer, you can download d6 Connect from https://d6.co.za/downloads/d6-connect-desktop (https://d6.co.za/downloads/d6-connect-desktop) Choose the appropriate operating system - Windows of Mac - and follow the prompts.

Question 3

Traffic around Bastion is a nightmare!  Where can I pick up or drop off my child?

Accepted Answer

For any school with roughly 1 900 learners, traffic and parking will of necessity be a challenge.  Bastion has a parking area in our "drop & go" area where parents may park when they come to fetch their child, as well as street parking in Jacaranda Street and Protea Road.  You may also park in Walters and Tulip Streets, as turnstile gates have been installed there for learners' convenience.  However, parking is not permitted in the mornings in the drop & go.  You only drop your child off there and parents may not leave their vehicle.  In this way we ensure a constant flow of traffic and reduce the congestion.

We ask that you please consider the safety of our learners when you park somewhere.  If you park on a pavement, it might be convenient for you, but by forcing learners to walk in the road to get around your vehicle, you are placing them in danger.  If you park in an unauthorised spot, you obstruct the sight of both learners and drivers, which makes it unsafe for them.

Please also be considerate towards the residents in the vicinity of the school.  Even business premises are often also residential homes and residents need to be able to enter or exit their driveways at all times.

Even if the above means that your child needs to walk a little bit further, it is worth it to ensure the safety of our learners, motorists and neighbours.  Please teach your child how to use the road as a pedestrian, and set a good example.

Question 4

May I bring my child's book, task or sportswear which has been forgotten, to him?

Accepted Answer

No.
Since 2017, there has been a rule in place that only food parcels may be dropped off.  We would like to teach our learners responsibility and that their actions have consequences.

Question 5

My child forgot his lunch box.  May I drop it off at reception for him?

Accepted Answer

Yes.
We encourage our learners to be independent and teach them that their actions have consequences, and therefore we do not accept anything else at reception to be given to the learners.  However, we do realise that learners often only receive food after their sport commitments when they reach home or their aftercare, and it can be impossible for a child to be without food for a whole day and still stay focused and active in the classroom and on the sports field.  Such a learner may also be a disruption for other learners.  For this reason, we make an exception by allowing you to deliver your child's lunch box to reception if it has been forgotten.

Question 6

My child has lost something.  Where can he look for it?

Accepted Answer

Lost items which are found on the school grounds (inside or outside of the school building) are normally handed in by the secretaries.  If the item is marked, the learner is called to fetch the lost item.  For this reason, it is vital that all items are marked with your child's full name and surname, not just initials.  Please help us to find the rightful owner by marking items correctly.

Items which are not marked clearly, or if the owner does not arrive to fetch the item, are kept in the "lost & found" cupboards outside Mrs Attél van Aarde's classroom and learners may go look for their items there.

Question 7

I need to enter the schoolgrounds during school hours, but all the gates are locked.

Accepted Answer

Gates on the schoolgrounds are locked to ensure the learners' safety.  You can sign in at the gate by security (at the staff gate in Jacaranda Street) and move from there to reception (please follow the sign to "Reception"), or you can use the gate in the drop & go area after ringing the bell, and walk to reception, where you will be asked to sign in and will be issued with a visitor's sticker.

Question 8

My child is absent today.  How do I inform the school?

Accepted Answer

Please send an email to admin@bastionps.co.za (admin@bastionps.co.za)before 10:00.  Please note that the school needs to complete daily online class registers on the WCED system.  You must provide a valid reason for your child's absence.  Please refer to Bastion's Learner Attendance Policy for more details.  (See under General - Policy Documents).

Question 9

My child needs to leave school during school hours.  How do I arrange this?

Accepted Answer

Please send an email to admin@bastionps.co.za (admin@bastionps.co.za)to provide the reason, as well as to make arrangements.

No learner may leave school early without a parent or authorised adult fetching the learner from reception.  No learner may leave the school early without a written request providing a valid reason.

No learner will ever be allowed to leave the schoolgrounds during school hours without being accompanied by an authorised adult.

Question 10

What is covered by my school fees?

Accepted Answer

All school writing books and textbooks are provided for your child.  However, you will need to provide your child's stationery.

School fees include your child's scholastic instruction, normal sport or extramural activities offered by the school, and didactical classes.

School fees do NOT include school uniform, sports equipment (e.g. hockey sticks, scrum caps, etc.), sportswear, tours, excursions, music lessons, BassieBots (robotics), additional support during assessments or extra classes after school.

Question 11

I am unable to afford the school fees.  How do I apply for an exemption?

Accepted Answer

Please send an email to adeleb@bastionps.co.za (adeleb@bastionps.co.za)

Question 12

I need to drop my child off very early in the morning.  Is there a safe place on the schoolgrounds for him to wait?

Accepted Answer

We know that there are learners who are dropped off at school very early in the mornings.  While this is not an ideal situation, we acknowledge that for some parents, this is unavoidable.  If learners are dropped off between 06:00 and 07:00, learners are requested to go to the quad next to the hall, with their school bags.  This area is well lit and is a safe area for learners to wait until there is supervision on duty.

Educators are on duty from 07:00, when supervision begins.  Learners may then move to their designated areas for lining up.

Please note that if it is raining in the morning, then learners move directly to their classes and wait in the passages.

Question 13

What may my child wear for a civvie day?

Accepted Answer

Although our learners do not wear school uniform on civvie days, there are still rules of decency and practical rules for a school environment which must be followed.  Please consult the document below for further details on what is allowed and what is not.

Question 14

What achievements are posted on social media?

Accepted Answer

We post the achievements of Bastion Primary School, whether of a team or of an individual learner taking part in a school activity.

However, we are a very large school with many talented learners who excel on a wide variety of terrains.  For this reason, unfortunately we cannot post achievements in external sports or other external activities on social media.  There would simply be too many.  Please be assured, though, that we are still incredibly proud of these learners and do give them recognition in our assemblies.