Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Overexposure to the sun during childhood and adolescent is an important contributing factor to the development of skin cancer later in life. As students are at school during times of peak ultraviolet (UV) radiation, schools can play a major role in creating a supportive environment that minimises exposure and encourages sun protective behaviours.
Our sun protection policy has been adopted to ensure that all students, staff, parents and visitors attending Christ Church Grammar School are protected from skin damage caused by UV radiation from the sun. This policy is to be implemented when the forecast average monthly UV Index in our area is 3 or above (available from www.bom.gov.au). The sun protection practices outlined in this policy will be applied to all school activities, including sports carnivals, excursions and camps. The policy has been developed in consultation with the whole school community.
Christ Church Grammar School will:
- Brief all new staff on the sun protection policy.
- Promote sun protection via newsletters, assemblies and parent and staff meetings.
- Encourage staff to wear hats for all outdoor activities, including yard duty (hats are available free of charge from the School’s Uniform Shop).
- Encourage parents and guests to wear hats when participating in and attending outdoor school activities.
- Direct and expect students in Pre-Primary – Year 6 to wear hats when outside.
- Encourage students without a hat to stay in an area that is protected from the sun.
- Direct and expect students to wear hats, caps, sun protective clothing and sunscreen for all camps, sports and excursions.
- Encourage staff and students to wear a swim top for swimming (this may not be appropriate during competitive swimming).
- Review the school dress code to include sun protective items such as shirts with collars and longer sleeves, and swim tops for swimming.
- Ensure there is adequate provision of shade within the school grounds for students and staff, by planting trees and building shade structures. Particularly in areas where students congregate e.g. lunch, canteen, outdoor lesson areas.
- Encourage staff and students to use shaded or covered areas when outside.
- Ensure that adequate shade is provided at sporting carnivals and outdoor events
- Encourage the use of SPF 50+ broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen by:
- providing sunscreen stations throughout the School.
- allowing students time to apply sunscreen prior to outdoor activities e.g. prior to school, before lunch, PE lessons, sports, excursions etc.
- Incorporate sun protection and skin cancer programs into the appropriate Key Learning Areas of the school curriculum.
- Review the sun protection policy annually.
- Ensure their child/children has a hat (compulsory for PP – Year 6) or cap in the knowledge that the Cancer Council WA recommends the following item/s which are available for purchase from the School’s Uniform Shop:
- bucket/surf hat (7.5 cm brim) or peaked school cap
- Parents/Carers have the option of purchasing a recommended Cancer Council hat in navy blue and have it embroidered at EmbroidMe located at 1/205 Stirling Highway, Claremont WA at their own expense.
- Ensure that their child/children’s clothing provides adequate protection from UV radiation. The Cancer Council WA recommends the following:
- collars and sleeves
- closely woven fabric
- natural fibre
- swim tops for swimming.
- Ensure that their child/children has access to SPF 50+ broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen before leaving for school.
- Act as positive role models by practising Sun Aware behaviour themselves and encouraging their children to do the same.
- Support the School’s sun protection policy and assist in regularly reviewing that policy as consulted by the School.
- Be aware of the School’s sun protection policy.
- Take responsibility for their health by being Sun Aware.
- Follow with Sun Aware expectations and guidelines by wearing hats, caps and clothing.
- Act as positive role models for other students by following Sun Aware behaviour.
The Head of Senior School, Head of Prep School and the Clinical Nurse Manager will review the effectiveness of this policy annually in consultation with members of the school community.