SCHOOL INFORMATION

Attendance is compulsory every day the school is open. If your child is absent, please phone the school’s answer phone at any time and leave a message or text us. All absences are checked and your message saves a lot of time. A note of explanation from parents/ caregivers or a Doctors note is required when the child returns to school. The school is required to monitor attendance and punctuality.

If your child is away for three days in a row without the school being informed and we haven’t been able to contact you, I am then obligated to inform the Attendance Advisor (previously called the Truancy Officer). This information gets collated nationally and she will act upon it. It is vital that you ring or text the school if your child is to be away for the day.

You can call us on 9398356 (and leave a message) or text 0277551221. 

Lateness is also an area monitored. School starts at 8.50am.

A bicycle rack is provided for bikes brought to school. It is essential that a safety lock is used. School Policy follows the law that requires cyclists to wear a safety helmet approved by the NZ Standards Association and that their bike is safe to ride.

The Board has a responsibility for the school on behalf of the Ministry of Education. The board represents the views of parents. Meetings are held each term. Parents are welcome to attend.

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 Oranga Tamariki (Previously Child, Youth and Family). The policy (as are all school policies) is available to read at the school office.

To provide children with learning experiences, teachers plan trips and visits out of the school from time to time. 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. We always need parent support to ensure we meet Health & Safety guidelines. To keep everybody safe we will require some parents to attend every trip but you will be notified in advance.

8.50am—Start

10.40am—Morning Tea

12.40pm—Lunch

3.00pm—End of day

Children MUST NOT leave the grounds during the day without express permission from the Principal or Deputy Principal. If you bring your child to school late or take them out for an appointment, you must go to the office to sign the child in/out from school.

Make it suitable for the weather. We ask that you NAME all clothing and shoes. Please apply sunblock in the summer, school sun hats must be worn during terms 1 and 4.

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

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the upkeep of the grounds and buildings. 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.

Close liaison is kept with all the Kindergartens and Kohanga Reo in Wainuiomata.

Sight, Speech, Hearing—New Entrants are tested. You will be contacted if there are any problems or concerns. If you are worried about your child's speech, you can 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 will be taken by an adult at school.

Headlice—Please check your child’s hair regularly and  let the school know if your child has headlice. Regular brushing limits problems and hair tied up for children with long hair also helps. If there is headlice in your child's classroom a notice will go home to let you know.

All items of clothing left in the grounds will be kept for a term only. Parents are welcome to check the lost property at any time. At the end of each term, all unclaimed items are given to charity.

A newsletter goes home and is put online every second Friday. It records items of interest in the school and community, it also tells you of future events. It celebrates children's successes. Please make sure you read it. You may also receive information in term overviews and whanau class newsletters.

The school promotes a healthy eating, playtime snacks should be fresh + dried fruits, raw veges, crackers and water . If your child brings inappropriate food or drink it will be taken off them and returned at the end of the day.

Like all schools in Wainuiomata we are part of the Free lunch initiative, Lunch will be supplies to all children. Please ensure you fill out the Food allergy and dietary requirement form.

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

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

• · Help in the classroom (contact class teacher)

• · Help with the library (contact school office)

• · Help in our gardens (contact class teacher)

The school has trained road patrollers on the Frederick Street crossing. Teachers and parent volunteers supervise these patrols. 

Parents are urged to support the school safety practices by not parking on the yellow lines and role modelling the use of the pedestrian crossings.

The school has trained road patrollers on the Frederick Street crossing. Teachers and parent volunteers supervise these patrols. 

Parents are urged to support the school safety practices by not parking on the yellow lines and role modelling the use of the pedestrian crossings.

Our pedestrian gate and vehicle gate have safety swimming pool  latches and they remain closed during school times. 

This is to ensure that all children remain safely onsite.

On Mondays and Fridays children may bring skateboards, skates, roller blades and scooters to school. They are only to be used on the big concrete asphalt area in front of the hall.

The school has a “No Smoking” policy and in the interests of Health & Safety, we ask you to refrain from smoking in any of the school buildings or school grounds.

Swimming is part of the school curriculum and only children with a medical condition will be excused from swimming. A letter of explanation will be required in these cases. All classes receive free instruction  at the local Wainuiomata Pools.

Pukeatua School promotes U.V. protection. 

Children are required to wear a sun hat during terms 1and 4 any time they are outside. The school will hold some supplies of sunscreen for children who need it. We ask parents to sunblock students before they come to school and to  ensure students wear clothing that covers them and helps protect them from sunburn.

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 teachers permission. 

If your child needs to bring a cell phone this must be given to the office staff to look after during the day. Headphones and musical devices are to be handed into the office each day.

To ensure the children’s safety, vehicles should not be driven into the school grounds to drop off or collect children at any time. We also ask parents to observe road rules and park in proper spaces on the street. The school gate is to be kept closed at all times.