Aim: To encourage staff and students to make informed and responsible decisions about skin protection in a supportive school environment.

Guidelines

1. Clothing: staff and students are encouraged to wear suitable hats, UV protective sunglasses, and cover up wherever possible, when involved in outdoor activities.

2. Sport and Physical Education: wherever possible, sports uniforms should be sun-protective in style. Students are encouraged to wear rash vests or teeshirts during outdoor aquatic programmes. Whenever possible, consideration should be given to scheduling outdoor lessons and sports events outside of the peak UV radiation times of 11am to 4pm during Terms 1 and 4.

3. Sunscreen: SPF+30 broad spectrum water-resistant sunscreen is made available for outdoor Physical Education lessons and other outdoor school activities, and at the school office. Staff and students are encouraged to apply sunscreen regularly and correctly before going outdoors.

4. Camps and outdoor trips: sun protective hats, eyewear, clothing and sunscreen are required for all school camps and outdoor trips, including for snow sports, and these items are listed on consent forms and gear lists.

5. Shade: students and staff are encouraged to use shade, and long periods of exposure to the sun is discouraged. The school continues to work towards maintaining adequate shade within the school grounds, particularly in areas where students congregate, including the use of temporary shade structures when needed. Appropriate indoor areas may be made available during peak UV radiation times if outdoor shade is deemed inadequate. The provision of additional shade areas will be considered with any future planning of development to school grounds.

6. Curriculum: sun protection and skin cancer awareness are incorporated into all relevant parts of the school curriculum.

7. Promotion of the School’s Sunsmart policy: sun protection during the summer months is promoted at school assemblies, relevant meetings, whole school activities and through the school newsletter. In Terms 1 and 4, the forecast UV index is displayed at school, daily.