Absences
If your child is sick or unable to attend school, please phone the school office before 8.50am if possible, so we are aware who is away. A note is required when your child returns to school.
Activity Fee
The school has set these fees to support a varied number of school activities. The fee allows us to subsidize entertainers in the school, trips and swimming at the local aquatic centre.
Assemblies
These are held at 2:00 pm every second Friday. During these occasions individual pupils are recognised through the presentation of certificates for high-level success. Parents/Caregivers are most welcome to attend. House points are also totalled so pupils know where the competition lies. The three school teams also hold assemblies on a regular basis.
Behaviour Management
All children have a right to learn at their level without distraction or interruption. They also need to be safe and feel safe within the school environment. As a result, problems are dealt with immediately using consistent methods and the correct channels. Where possible, parents and caregivers are encouraged to be involved in any necessary resolution. From time to time we need to devise specialized programmes and involve outside agencies to meet a child’s need. To attain consistency, Apanui has a booklet called “Creating a Positive School Environment” that spells out guidelines for acceptable behaviour and behaviour modification. Parents are most welcome to view a copy of this at the school office.
Board of Trustees
The board is elected from eligible parents/caregivers every three years. The Board in turn elects the chairperson of the board. Our school is entitled to have five parent/caregiver representatives on the Board, which also includes the Principal and a staff representative. The Board is also able to co-opt parents at their discretion. The Board meets monthly on the Monday closest to the 20th. Parents are welcome to attend but are asked to inform the chairperson or principal in advance so suitable arrangements can be made.
The current Board members are:
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Peter Rodgers (Chairperson)
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Marc Butler
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Paula Chapman
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Cinnamon Hughes
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Stephen Lamb
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Brian Robinson (Principal)
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Jacqueline Wilson (Staff Representative)
Book Club (Scholastic)
Parents and pupils have the opportunity to purchase books through this club. Pamphlets are distributed every two months. A small group of parents organize this task. Offers to assist are welcomed. Please make all cheques out to Scholastic NZ and not the school.
Buses
Free buses are provided for children who live in certain areas. Those who live outside these areas may be required to pay a daily charge to the bus company. High standards of behaviour are expected from all our pupils using bus transport and inappropriate behaviour is likely to result in withdrawal of privileges. Each bus has a senior pupil as bus monitor. Please let the school know if you have a change of plan and your child is not going home on the bus. A lot of time can be spent looking for children who have not turned up for the bus roll.
The Board of Trustees encourages staff to take their class on an annual camp. Year 5/6 classes have camps to places such as Ohiwa, Blue Lakes and Okataina each year. Some junior classes have overnighters in the school grounds. Year 3/4 pupils have a local one or two night camp each year. Choir
Each year the school provides pupils in Team 2 and 3 with the opportunity to join the school choir. The choir performs at the district schools music festival, which is usually held in term 3. They also perform at school functions and at assemblies. Rehearsals are taken once a week in lunchtime and one session in school time.
Computers
There are computers in each classroom and there is a computer room with 27 networked computers. The Board of Trustees has a replacement policy for computers, which are upgraded and replaced as funds allow. All classes have access to the Internet and also email facilities. A strict code of practice is observed for pupils using the Internet to ensure only appropriate sites are visited. To access the Internet children must have their “Computer Licence”, issued to them with parental permission. Computers are also used for a variety of other educational purposes.
Cycling
Our school policy states: “All children who ride bikes to school must wear NZSS approved cycle helmets. It is recommended that only Year 5 and 6 children ride bikes to school”. The bike needs to be locked in the stand. Security is not the school’s responsibility
Dental Therapist
The therapist spends approximately six weeks a year at our school. At other times she works in a number of schools. She is available for emergencies and you can contact the school office to find out which school she is currently working in.
Dismissal from School
Children must go straight home after school unless you have sent a note to the teacher to state otherwise. The only exceptions are pupils having team practices or the like
Emergencies
In the event of an emergency e.g. earthquake, tsunami etc, children will remain at school in the care of their teachers until collected by a parent or caregiver. In a medical emergency staff will attend to a pupil if parents are unable to be contacted.
Entertainers
During the year the staff organise visits by entertainers who provide exciting learning experiences that would not normally be available to pupils. Most of these entertainers require an admission charge and these costs are met from the activity fee for those families who have paid this fee. Pupils who have not paid the activity fee are charged the admission fee, which is usually around $2
Apanui P.T.A
This group plays a vital role in bringing parents, caregivers and teachers together on many aspects regarding the growth and development of the school. It is a means through which parents can be informed about:
· School programmes, policies and changes to the curriculum
· Ways in which they can assist in raising funds for particular goals
· How they may become involved in the school life of their children
· Social functions to bring parents and teachers together in a relaxed manner
· Ways some parents may wish to involve themselves in the day-to-day running of the school.
Meetings to arrange functions and events will be notified in school newsletters. Parents will be contacted to gain support with specific activities. Please attend and become involved in the life of the school for the sake of your children.
Home Readers
In the junior classes, pupils usually take home readers to read to parents on a regular basis. These books are ones that the children are able to read without difficulty. Reading to parents is a fun and sharing activity and is a great way for parents to be involved in their child’s learning. Please ensure readers are returned promptly to allow us to have enough for redistribution.
Homework
Regular homework for pupils is an important routine to which they should become accustomed. It is usually based on class programmes and provides valuable revision and consolidation of a child’s learning. It must not be unduly difficult or more than half an hour a night of pupil’s time – Monday to Thursday.
Jewellery
Children are permitted to wear watches and ear studs. If pendants are to be worn for cultural reasons, these must be tucked inside clothing and not able to be handled. No make-up or other personal adornments are permitted. The school will not accept any responsibility for the loss of jewellery or other valuables that are brought to school. Walkmans and cell phones are not permitted. Co-operation from parents on these matters is appreciated.
Kapa Haka
The school has a senior kapa haka group which practises twice a week. It is organized and run by schoolc staff and supporting parents. The group is selected on a voluntary basis. Enthusiasm and commitment are important prerequisites. The group performs at powhiri at school and on other appropriate occasions. A junior kapa haka group has also been formed and it practises once a week in school time.
Library and Library Books
(The library will be closed for most, or all, of term 3 2009 for refurbishment)
Children are encouraged to take home Library books to share with you and also school readers at their reading level to enjoy. Care of these books should be encouraged – provision of a material bag with a drawstring would assist in prolonging the life of these books. Books lost or damaged by children will be charged for. The Library is open daily during a part of lunchtime, so pupils can quietly read or browse through books. Staff supervise these times and the issuing of books.
Lost Property
Naming of your child’s clothing and property helps in the tracing of anything lost. We have a Lost Property Room, which is open every day for parents to search. After displaying all lost property, at the end of each term, whatever remains is then disposed of. All uniform lost property that is not named will remain in the school office area. Please help us to reduce the amazing amount of clothing left behind each term.
Lunches
These may be ordered from the office between 8.20 and 8.50am daily. Pies, sausage rolls, filled rolls, doughnuts, and fruit and milk drinks are available. A list of prices is available from the school office or on the “Lunches” page of this website.
Medication
It is school policy that we do not dispense aspirin etc, to relieve pupils’ ailments. Parents are asked to contact the Principal and fill out a medication form if children are required to take prescribed medicine during the school day.
New Entrants and New Enrolments
Children and parents/caregivers are welcomed at the office. Necessary details will be taken and introductions to staff made.
· New Entrants may be enrolled before or on their fifth birthday. Please bring their birth certificate for verification and their immunization certificate.
· Parents with their child turning five are welcome to visit the class before the child’s fifth birthday to become familiar with the school, teacher, classroom and children. Just ring the school and make an appointment with the Assistant Principal.
· Children enrolling from another school should bring along the exercise books they have been using to save the expense of purchasing new ones.
When the child has been at school for approximately four to six weeks, assessment tasks will be administered and the class teacher will contact the parent/caregivers to make a time to discuss these.
Outside Agencies
From time to time the school has contact with a number of agencies. These include, Group Special Education, Public Health Nurse, Child & Young Person’s Service, Police Education Officers.
Parent Interviews
Informal interviews between teachers and parents are held early in the New Year and more formal interviews will be available in term two. Take this opportunity to discuss your child’s progress with their teacher. You are welcome to discuss your child’s progress at any time, but please arrange an appointment time with your child’s class teacher.
When your child turns six, a series of assessments, called the Six Year Net, will be administered and you will be contacted to discuss these results.
Phys Ed
This is a very important part of our curriculum. All classes undertake regular lessons in fitness and skills. During the season, swimming is our complete programme. At other times of the year skill based programmes support the development of games. It is necessary that children are dressed appropriately so robust restrictive clothing does not interfere with exercise. Ideally, children should wear a T-shirt, shorts and appropriate footwear. If pupils are not to participate in these lessons, a note is required.
Policies
The Board reviews and updates policies on a regular basis. These policies are available for parents to view and can be collected from the office. They must remain in the administration block for obvious reasons.
Pupil Portfolios
These are compiled as an ongoing record of a child’s progress at school. Recent samples of work are included and are sent home for parents to view during the year. They form the basis for discussions together with reports.
Religious Instruction
This Christian education programme is provided for pupils in Teams 2and 3. Personnel from outside the school staff take it on Thursdays for 30 minutes. All pupils attend these lessons unless parents ask that their child/ren be excluded.
Road Safety
Year Six children, with adult supervision, operate the road patrol on the McAlister Street crossing every day. Teachers also supervise children crossing Mc Garvey Road and children who travel by bus.
PLEASE:
· Use the pedestrian crossing
· Do not call children from across the road
· Keep the bus stop clear
· Be careful of children on wet days
· Do not drive into the school grounds unless it is an emergency
· If your child travels by bus, please let the duty teacher know if other arrangements are made
· Please do not drive down the Mc Garvey Road entrance as parking and turning are very restricted
School Hours
8:20am School opens
Teachers on duty
8:50am Classes begin
10:30 – 10:55 Morning Interval
12:35 – 1:25pm Lunch
2:50 pm Classes end
3:20pm School closes
Pupils need to be at school by 8:45 at the latest and children should not arrive at school before 8:00am.
School House Groups
There are four school houses. Elliott, Freyberg, Ngarimu and Ward. The houses are named after four New Zealand soldiers who hold the Victoria Cross.
Children are placed in one of the above houses upon entry to school. A points system for sport, class work, behaviour etc, encourages a sense of pride and self esteem. Staff are also assigned to a house.
School Uniforms
School uniforms are compulsory for all children. These may be purchased from the school office between 12.15 and 12.45 and between 2.45 and 3.15pm. If these times do not suit you, please feel free to phone the office to make other arrangements.
See price list on the “Uniforms” page of this website.
Sick Bay
Pupils who require medical aid are attended to in the sick bay. If any pupil needs to see a doctor in our opinion, parents will be contacted and suitable arrangements made. If parents / caregivers cannot be contacted, the principal will take necessary action. As a matter of Board Policy, staff are encouraged to hold current first aid certificates.
Special Needs/Abilities
The Board is committed to providing as much support as possible to our special needs/abilities programmes in the school. The level of support is controlled by financial constraints. Pupils are identified by teachers during term one for extra assistance and staff run these programmes. These programmes, depending on needs, cover a variety of subjects. Sometimes outside support is provided by agencies.
Sports Days
The school takes an active part in all sporting events in the district. Pupils are encouraged to perform to their highest level and healthy competition is seen as an important part of pupil development. The school has sports days where pupils’ participation is seen as very important.
Sports Teams
The school has sports teams, which compete in local Saturday competitions. Codes include rugby, netball and hockey. It is proposed that in the future soccer teams will also play under the school’s banner.
Stationery
Stationery may be purchased at the office between 8:20am and 8:50am daily. Prices are available at the office. Apanui School provides a range of stationery including class packs.
Sun Safety
The school strongly encourages pupils to wear appropriate clothing for protection against harmful sun’s rays. Hats are expected to be worn by pupils when they are outside for any length of time during play and sports times.
Swimming
Swimming is an important part of our school‘s phys-ed programme. All pupils are taught to learn to swim through the schools programmes and to develop sensible water safety skills.
Te Reo
As part of the compulsory curriculum, Te Reo is taught. Each week time is set aside for the teaching of the language by a qualified teacher. There are also extension groups for those children who show an ability in Te Reo
Trips
Classes undertake day excursions to enhance the learning opportunities for pupils. These outings are very important for supporting classroom learning. Parents are encouraged to participate in these day activities to interesting and educational places in our area.
Values Education
Following a school wide and community survey, the school has adopted a Values Education programme. Twelve values and skills to promote positive citizenship and successful living were chosen to be highlighted at a set time throughout the year. Awards are given out at school assembly for positive citizenship and these are mentioned in the school newsletter on a regular basis. The booklet, “Creating a Positive School Environment” is available to parents from the school.
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