Attendance:
Attendance is compulsory each day the school is open.
If your child is absent, please telephone the school ansaphone at any time and leave a message. All absences are checked and your message saves a lot of time. A note of explanation from parents/caregivers is required when the child returns to school.

Bicycles:
A bicycle rack is provided for bikes brought to school. It is recommended that a security chain is used. School policy follows the law that requires cyclists to wear a safety helmet approved by the N.Z. Standards Association.

Boards of Trustees:
The Board has responsibility for the school on behalf of the Ministry of Education. It represents the views of parents. Board meetings are held once a month, generally the second Monday of the month, at 7:00pm in the staffroom. Parents are welcome to attend.

Care & Protection:
The school has the care and protection of children for a substantial amount of the day. The school has a policy of reporting cases where a child is suspected of being abused.
We follow interagency protocols developed by the education agencies and the Child, Young Person & their Families agency. The policy (as are all school policies) is available to inspect at the school office.

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Class Trips:
To provide children with learning experiences, teachers plan visits outside the school from time to time. A charge, generally subsidised by the school, is made to cover the costs of such trips.
Permission for short trips within the valley is sought on enrolment. A permission note must be signed before your child can be transported on trips out of the valley.

Class Times:
8:50am - Classes start
8:50am - 10:40am
11:10am - 12:40pm
1:30pm - 3:00pm.

Children MUST NOT leave the grounds during the day without express permission from the principal or deputy principal.

Clothing:
Make it suitable for the weather. NAME all clothing and shoes.

Complaints:
If you have a problem or a school related complaint, please discuss it first with your child’s classroom teacher. If it cannot be resolved, please discuss it with the principal. As a school, we believe in “putting it right”, wherever possible.

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Damage of School:
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the upkeep of the
Property: grounds and buildings. Damage must be made good by the board. Parents will be informed of any intentional damage done to buildings, grounds and equipment by pupils and payment of the cost of the repairs will be invoiced.

Dental Clinic:
A Dental Nurse is at the school for part of the year. She treats children from pre-school to Year 8. The Dental clinic phone: 564 8338.

Donations:
$40.00 per child - $10.00 per term
$60.00 per family - $15.00 per term

Early Childhood Centres:
Close liaison is kept with the Glendale and Pencarrow Kindergartens, and Te Kohanga Reo o Pukeatua.

Health:
Sight, Speech, Hearing – New Entrants are tested. You will be contacted if there are problems. Worried about your child’s speech? Phone the school for contact with the Speech Therapist.

Accidents – If hospital treatment is needed parents/caregivers are contacted to take the child to hospital OR if you are not available, the child is taken by an adult.

Headlice – Please check your child’s hair regularly and let the school know if your child has headlice.

Instructions are available from the school or your Chemist. We also have a Robicomb available for use at the school.

Any child can catch them!

Lost Property:
All items of clothing left in the grounds are placed outside the caretaker's room. Parents are welcome to check the lost property at any time. At the end of each term, all unclaimed items are given to charity.

Lunches:
The school promotes a “Healthy Lunches” scheme. Lunches can be ordered through the school. Children need healthy lunches every day. This can include sandwiches, fresh and dried fruit, raw vegetables, crackers and fruit juice. Please avoid sugar and canned soft drinks. No glass bottles please.

Lunch time: 12.40pm - 1.30pm


Please see the sheet headed “School Lunches” in this information pack for details. If possible please provide the exact amount for the lunch as often it is not possible to give change. We recommend that “juicees” are not sold to junior students.

Money:
Money for school trips or events should be brought to school in a sealed envelope with the child’s name and amount on the outside and paid to the classroom teacher.

Parent Helpers:
Parents/Caregivers are always welcome to assist with a range of tasks at school. Each year we welcome parents:

a) help in the classroom (contact class teacher)
b) help with the library (contact school office)
c) help with fundraising group (contact Brenda O’Brien - phone 564 4831).

Road Patrols:
The school has trained road patrols on the Frederick Street and Nelson Crescent pedestrian crossings. Teachers and parent volunteers supervise these patrols. Parents are urged to support the school safety practices, by not parking on the yellow lines and by encouraging the use of the pedestrian crossings.

School Hours:
Children are allowed into classrooms when the bell has sounded at 8:30am. Any children arriving at school before 8:30am cannot be expected to be supervised.

Skateboards/Skates:
Children may bring skateboards, skates, roller blades and scooters to school on Tuesdays only. For safety reasons they are not to be used up or down the driveway. Also for safety reasons we have a wheels only area in the main courtyard on Tuesdays and we ask that skates, rollerblades or skateboards are not lent or borrowed.

Smoking Policy:
The school has a “No Smoking” policy and in the interests of health and safety, we ask you to refrain from smoking in any of the school buildings and in the grounds.

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Stationery:
Most stationery needs can be purchased from the school office between 8:30am and 8:55am.

Swimming Pool:
The school has a heated indoor swimming pool which is used in terms 1 and 4 for aquatic lessons. Only children with a medical condition will be excused from swimming. A letter of explanation will be required in these cases. Wearing swimming caps is strongly encouraged.

Te Whanau:
4 classes from Y0 to Y8 where learning is conducted in Te Reo Maori.

The trained teaching staff are assisted by Kaiarahi i te Reo who are fluent speakers of Maori.

If you are interested in your child learning in total immersion Maori, please contact the Principal, Colin Tarr.

Use of School Grounds:
We encourage parents and children to use the grounds out of school hours, but parents should be aware that they are responsible for their children’s actions and behaviour. Permission is required for organised clubs or groups to use the school’s facilities. This can be obtained from the Board of Trustees. Please notify the school, a BOT member or police if any damage to property is observed.

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U.V. Protection:
Pukeatua School promotes U.V. protection. Parents are requested to ensure that they put a suitable hat and sunscreen in their child’s bag during the summer months. Children will be encouraged to wear hats outside whenever possible. The school will hold some supplies of sunscreen for children who need it.

Vehicles:
To ensure the children’s safety vehicles should not be brought into the school grounds to set down or pick up children at any time.

Valuables & Money:
Money and valuables should not be brought to school. The school cannot take responsibility for any damage or loss caused if money or valuables are brought to school without the teacher’s permission.

Weekly Newsletter:
A newsletter is handed to the youngest student every Friday. It records items of interest in the school and community, and tells you of future events. It also advises you of any Board of Trustees information. Please make sure you read it.

You will also receive information on class timetables, term overviews and whanau and class newsletters.

Download our Information Booklet here.