Our Lady of the Sacred Heart values sun safety. Within play areas there are options for the children to be in shaded areas. Our school rules make wearing a hat compulsory at morning tea and lunchtime. We strongly recommend that hats are also worn before and after school and that sunscreen be applied at home each morning and reapplied at morning tea and lunch time.
Each Catholic community, organisation and individual collaboratively engaged in the educational ministry of the Church in the Archdiocese of Brisbane is called to:
We promote faith in Jesus Christ, teaching and learning about Jesus, the gospel and the faith of the Catholic Christian community. Learning is lifelong, life-giving and engages the whole person.
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, we challenge those we educate to live in communion with God, others and the whole of creation in prayerful, sacramental, just, peaceful, inclusive and reconciling communities.
We educate for a transformed world in communion, by nurturing the gifts and potential of each person, enacting shared leadership, and exercising a preferential option for the poor and the marginalised.
The Vision Statement for Catholic Education above underpins and guides the development and implementation of this policy.
Sun Protection Policy Statement
Queensland has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Two out of every three Queenslanders will develop some sort of skin cancer in their lifetime. Research suggests that at least two-thirds of cancerous melanomas occurring in Australia could be prevented if children were protected from the sun during their first 15 years.
Skin damage, including skin cancer, is the result of cumulative exposure to the sun. Research shows that severe sunburn contributes to skin cancer and other forms of skin damage such as sunspots, blemishes and premature ageing. Most skin damage and skin cancer is therefore preventable.
Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) levels are highest during the hours that children are at school. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Primary School realises the need to protect children's skin and educate them about Sun Smart behaviour, thus reducing the risk of skin damage and exposure to the sun.
Our school recognises that winter sun also contributes to skin damage. The implementation of the policy will therefore be conducted throughout the year. The purpose of the Sun Smart policy is to ensure that all children attending our school are protected from the harmful effects of the sun throughout the year.
We will also minimise the risk of sun damage to our students by
Responsibilities of Students
Strategies are in place to remind students to apply sunscreen before going outdoors (e.g. reminder notices, sunscreen monitors, sunscreen buddies). Sunscreen is applied in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions.
Responsibilities of Parents/Carers
Responsibilities of the School
Provide regular reminders to reapply (every 2hrs), when they are involved in outdoor activities e.g., Playtime, sports carnivals, excursions.