A-Z of General Information
ABSENCES
By law no children should be absent from school without an appropriate reason.
Please phone the school between 8.00am and 9.00am on each morning your child is absent. Teachers record the names of absentees after 9.00 a.m. and, if your child is unaccounted for, parents will be contacted by phone. If you know your child will be absent in advance please provide a written note to your child's teacher.
Extended absences
If children are going to be away for an extended period of time we require written notification, including the date of return to school. Schools can lose funding if they do not have evidence that children absent from school for an extended period will be coming back.
ACCIDENTS AND SICKNESS
If a child has an accident or becomes ill we try to contact parents as soon as possible. It we are unable to contact you, it may be necessary to contact the emergency person on the enrolment form and ask for their assistance. Children are not sent home unless their parents have been informed and must be accompanied by an adult. Please contact the school if emergency contact details change.
BEHAVIOUR CODE
Our behaviour management system has a strong emphasis on “restorative practices”. The focus in restorative practice is on “working with” rather than “dealing to” children.
Restorative practices help the wrongdoer to understand the impact of their behaviour on victims. Wrongdoers are held genuinely accountable and are required to face up to what they have done and to repair the harm not just to the victim but to everyone else affected.
Restorative processes can range from a brief discussion between two students with the teacher over a classroom incident, to group meetings with peers led by the teacher, to whole class meetings and right up to “community conferences” with children, parents, teachers, victims and wrongdoers led by a neutral adult. There is a set process to follow when working with wrongdoers/victims.
Teachers use a variety of other behaviour management strategies in tandem with restorative practices to ensure that all children can learn in a safe and orderly environment.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Board of Trustees meet monthly. Meeting dates and times are publicised through school newsletters. Parents are welcome to attend these meetings.
Board of Trustees members are:
- Don Hazlett - Chairperson
- Chris Clark - Parent representative
- Mary Wallace - Parent representative
- Grant McCulloch - Parent representative
- Nick Flight - Parent representative
- Robin Harris - Principal
- Sue Buckenham - Staff representative
A copy of the School's Charter, copies of School Policies and copies of Minutes of Board of Trustees meetings are available at the school foyer.
CLOTHING / BELONGINGS
Please make sure your child's clothing is clearly named. The lost property "box" is located behind the library area. Clothing not claimed at the end of each term is given to a charitable organisation.
Students are discouraged from bringing valuable items to school. This includes cell phones. The school takes no responsibility for these items.
CONCERNS
What do I do if I have a concern?
If the matter involves the classroom programme or a staff member write a note or phone the person concerned at school with a view to making a time to discuss the concern. The staff member concerned may not be able to talk to you when you approach them so it is best to make a time when you are both free.
Indicate before the discussion what the concern is about.
Talk with the relevant staff member about the issue and be prepared to listen to their point of view.
Provide feedback to the teacher as to whether your questions are answered/or concern is addressed.
What if I do this but the problem is not solved?
Approach the senior teacher responsible for that area of the school.
If you do not know any of these people or feel they may not be able to help, make a time to see the Principal. Write down the details of your concern and the steps you have taken to address the situation.
Alternatively approach a parent trustee who will refer the concern to the Principal.
If all avenues have been unsuccessfully explored then approach the Board Chairperson. Complaints to the Board must be in writing.
Handy Hints
- Approach a teacher with your concern when they are not teaching or just about to teach.
- Problems should not be discussed in front of children - either at school or at home.
- We ask that staff show respect for you and ask that you show respect for them.
- The first person you should see regarding your concern is the person closest to the problem.
- There are usually two sides to a story.
- If you have concerns regarding a child you must approach the school not the child.
- We will only know of your concern if you tell us.
The school encourages open communication and prefers that you come to talk through a problem rather than discuss it in the community. It is our job to be fair and to listen to your concerns, but this involves your support as well. We hope that these guidelines have been of some use so you feel confident to approach us.
DENTAL CLINIC
The dental therapist, Janet Beale, and dental assistant, Gillian Stewart. Are based at Arrowtown School - phone 442 1769. The clinic is open every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8am to 4.30pm. You are able to leave a message at other times.
EDUCATION SERVICES
The school uses the following services as necessary - Special Education, Speech Language Therapists, Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour (RTLBs), Resource Teachers of Literacy, Teachers of the Hearing Impaired and Visually Impaired, Police Education Officers etc.
You will be informed beforehand should the school wish to access these services.
ENROLMENTS
Enrolment packs are available from the school office.
At enrolment time you need to bring the following documents;
- a completed enrolment form
- a NZ birth certificate (available from Births, Deaths and Marriages on 0800 22 52 52) or passport
or proof of residency or student visa (if not a New Zealand citizen)
or Australian passport (NZ has a reciprocal agreement with Australia) - proof of residence (e.g. a rates bill, etc.) to confirm that the child is "in zone"
- immunisation certificate completed and signed by the doctor or practice nurse
- a completed dental and health consent form
ENROLMENT SCHEME
The school has an enrolment scheme in place. All students who live within the home zone are automatically entitled to enrol at the school.
Applications for out of zone places for the following year are advertised in October each year if there are places available. For more information about the enrolment zone please check on the school website or contact Margaret at the school office.
HOURS OF SCHOOL
- 8:30 - Please ensure that your child does NOT arrive at school before 8.30 a.m.
- 8:55 - Warning bell. Children need to be in the classrooms ready for a 9.00 a.m. start.
- 9:00 - School commences
- 10:30 - 10:50 - Morning interval
- 12:30 - 1:30 - Lunch break
- 3:00 - End of school day
- 3:10 - Clearing bell rings. The school is not responsible for students after this time.
New entrant children stay the full day at school from when they start.
JUNIOR ASSEMBLIES
Parents are welcome to attend junior assemblies (for Year 1-2 classes) held fortnightly on Friday mornings in the hall at 9 a.m.Children are presented with a certificate at their first assembly.
LIBRARY
Students are encouraged to withdraw books from the school library for reading at home. Each class has a weekly library period and the library is open at lunchtimes. Books are issued for two weeks; Y1-4 children can take out 2 books, Yr 5-6 can take out 3 books and Yr 7-8 can take out 4 books.
These books are expensive. Please assist your child in taking good care of them as families are liable for replacement costs for books that are lost or damaged. Students with overdue books are issued with an overdue reminder.
LUNCHES
The PTA organizes the sale of a 'sausage in bun' lunch each Wednesday as a fundraiser to subsidise school camps. To order send $2,50 to school in an envelope with your child's name and whether they want sauce or no sauce on the sausage. Term orders can also be placed by way of filling out the form that is distributed at the end of each term.
MEDICATION AT SCHOOL
If your child needs to take medication at school, please complete an authorization form (available at the office). Medication is given by the office staff and any medication given will be recorded in the school medication register.
No oral medication (e.g. paracetamol, or hayfever tablets) is administered without parent permission; office staff will phone parents to get permission.
MEET THE TEACHER EVENINGS
Meet the Teacher Evening is held early in the first term. This is a great opportunity to make contact with teachers early in the year and find out about the classroom programmes and routines.
MESSAGES
Important messages from home may be passed to children via the school office.
NEWSLETTERS
Newsletters are published fortnightly (on Thursdays) and are emailed to the email addresses we have for each family. Paper copies (black and white) can be collected from the office. If you wish for your child to take a paper copy home, please speak to Margaret in the office to arrange this. There is a section in the newsletter for community notices; these need to be emailed to the office by 12 p.m. on the day prior to publication.
PARENT HELP
We are pleased to have parents and caregivers along to school as helpers. WE NEED YOU ... so please contact us if you can help. Help with school field trips, skating and skiing programmes, sports activities and assisting with any special classroom activities is appreciated.
PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION
The Parent Teacher Association is a very active and supportive group. The PTA meets monthly and meeting times are publicised through school newsletters.
PRIVACY ACT
All information relating to students and their families is confidential. From time to time parents request information such as addresses and phone numbers. Under the Privacy Act this information cannot be given out.
REPORTING TO PARENTS
Y1-3
Interim reports at age 5 1/2, 6 1/2 and 7 1/2.
Anniversary reports after 1, 2 and 3 years.
Student conferences are held soon after each report is issued.
Y4-8
- Term 1 Student conferences (Wk 8-9). The focus is on sharing start of year assessment information and identifying personal goals for the year.
- Term 2 Written reports in the last week of the term
- Term 3 Student conferences at the start of the term.
- Term 4 Written reports at the end of the term.
Student portfolios go home at the end of Terms 2 and 3.
We encourage parents to bring their children to student conferences, particularly the older children, as it is a good chance for children, as well as parents, to receive feedback.
SAFETY
Bicycles
It is compulsory by law to wear bicycle helmets.
The school supports the Land Transport recommendation that only students 10 years and over have the road sense and judgement to be able to bike on public roads.
Children are not to ride bicycles in the school grounds and must park their bikes in the stands.
Bus safety
For the safety of our children please adhere to the following procedures when dropping off and picking up children from school buses:
- In the morning please ensure that you are waiting/parking on the same side that the bus will stop to collect your child.
- In the afternoon please ensure that there is an adult waiting to collect your child at the bus stop if the stop is not a driveway.
Parking
People must not park their cars in Chalmers Place at the beginning or end of the day. There are yellow lines along the street but there have been a number of reports of "near misses" in this area because of people parking in this area. The mixture of cars, bikes and pedestrians puts children's safety at risk.
People may drive through Chalmers Place into the school to use the 'drop off' zone prior to school. After school, to pick up children, please use the parking spaces provided (near Centennial Avenue) and not just drop off or pick up children near the bus station.
There is a car park on Cotter Ave; parents are expected to park and then walk their children into the school grounds to maximize student safety.
Road Patrol
The road crossing on Centennial Avenue is manned before school each day from 8:30 to 9:00 and after school from 3 to 3:15. An adult supervises the crossing and children assist as road wardens in the afternoon.
Staying at school
Once students arrive at school they are not permitted to leave the school grounds unless they have a note signed by a parent or guardian.
SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB
Students are able to order books from the Book Club once a term. The closing date for each order will be advertised in the school newsletter. Cheques must be made out to ‘Scholastic NZ’.
SCHOOL BANKING
Our school bank, ASB, has reintroduced school banking. Children can make deposits by placing their bank book in the ASB box in the officer foyer. Collection day is Friday.
SCHOOL BUSES
Only certain children are eligible to travel on school buses. They need to meet the Ministry of Education requirements of living a certain distance away from the school. A copy of the expected bus behaviour is included in the Bus Procedures manual (see below)
Please check your eligibility for bus transport at the school office. Registration forms are available from the office and children cannot travel on the school bus until the registration has been completed. Inform the office of your child's first day travelling on the bus.
If your child does not use the bus on certain days (e.g. they have a sports practice after school every Wednesday) it would be helpful if you informed the office of this arrangement.
From time to time an ineligible child may need to go home with a child who does catch a bus. In this instance the parent/caregiver must ring the school office (or write a note) prior to lunchtime on the given day advising us. Ineligible children will not be able to ride the bus unless the school office has been informed. At times the buses are at full capacity and will be unable to carry extra children.
The school bus controller is Mrs Sally Hoskin (teacher in Rm 13).
SCHOOL COSTS
Approximate school costs are shown below.
Start of year costs
Stationery: $15-30
Paper charge: $25
Voluntary Donation: $85 per child for the year (receipts can be used for tax reimbursement).
Accounts are sent out at the beginning of the year with payment due 20 March.
Class trips: $5-10 per trip
Visiting Performers: $3-5 per performance. We usually have one performance each term
Winter sports
Skating (Y1-3): $81 for 6 lessons, bus and gear hire
Golf (Y4-8): $23 per session non golf members, $20 per session members - usually 5 sessions
Skiing/Snowboarding (Y4-8): $90 NZSki pass and $15 per session (includes lessons, bus and gear hire) - 5 sessions
N.B. Year 4-8 students choose one option from golf, skating, skiing or snowboarding.
Swimming: $45 for 8 lessons
Camps (Y6, 7 & 8): $150 approx.
Any money sent to school must be in a sealed envelope with the child's/children's name written on it and what the money is for. Please enclose the correct amount. It would be appreciated if the eldest child of the family be responsible for handing in the total family amounts due. All cheques are to be made out to ‘Arrowtown School' unless otherwise specified.
Payments can be made directly to the school account 12 3234 0036499 000. Please enter the child's name and what the payment is for.
Please contact the office if you would like to set up regular automatic payments to pay school accounts.
SNOW DAYS
Occasionally school needs to be closed or delayed because of weather conditions.
If it snows overnight (or the roads are unsafe), school closure, delayed starts or the cancellation of bus services will be announced through the local radio stations (More FM and Classic Hits) from around 7 a.m. onwards.
If it snows during the day, school will stay open. School buses will not run early. If it is judged unsafe for buses to run at the end of the day, children will be kept at school until they are picked up by their parents. Wait until it is safe to drive before you come to pick up your children; there is no need for you to drive in hazardous conditions. Your children will be well looked after at school. It may even be that some children need to stay here after school or even overnight in extreme conditions. The emergency management team at QLDC have said they will provide assistance with food, bedding and transport if needed in this situation.
We will use the News/Notices section of the school website to post notices regarding “snow” days.
STATIONERY
Stationery is available at school. Children will be provided with the necessary requirements and the costs will be included in student accounts. Parents who want to purchase stationery elsewhere may pick up a stationery order from the office at the start of the year. There are some items available through the school only. Please note that the school costs of stationery are very reasonable; we do not regard this as a fundraising opportunity.
STUDENT INFORMATION
Parents are required to update an emergency contact form and a medical form (if their child requires medication at school), sent home at the start of the school year.
Should your address or phone number or your emergency contact or family doctor change during the year, please inform the school office as soon as possible.
SUN HATS
Sun hats are compulsory in Terms 1 and 4. Hats must be wide brimmed. The Board of Trustees provides free sunhats to new students. These hats are also on sale at the office for $12.
TELEPHONES
Children may use the office phone for important matters only. This does not include making after school playing arrangements.
TERM DATES 2011
- Term 1 - 2 Feb to 15 April
- Term 2 - 2 May to 15 July
- Term 3 - 1 Aug to 17 Oct
- Term 4 - 25 Oct to 16 Dec
Holidays (in term time)
- 6 June - Queen's Birthday
- 24 October - Labour Day
TERM DATES 2012
- Term 1 - 7 Feb to 5 April
- Term 2 - 23 April to 29 June
- Term 3 - 16 July to 28 Sept
- Term 4 -15 Oct to 20 Dec
Holidays (in term time)
- 25 April - ANZAC day (Wednesday)
- 4 June - Queens Birthday
- 22 October - Labour Weekend
UNIFORM
The school does not have a school uniform. Please be aware that students are involved in physical education and art activities during the day and appropriate dress and footwear for school is appreciated.
Students representing the school in sports events will be provided with school sports uniforms.
VANDALISM
The policy of the Board of Trustees is to recover costs for any deliberate damage or destruction by children.
WELL CHILD SERVICE
Karina Anderson (Public Health Nurse) visits Arrowtown Primary School fortnightly on a Tuesday. Karina is available for free child and youth health services including:
- Health Advice, Assessment and Referral
- New Entrant Health Assessments
- Home Visits
- Glue Ear, Vision and Hearing Screening assessment and referral
- Health Camp referrals
- Self Referral Clinics in Intermediate/Secondary Schools
Karina is based at Arrowtown School and can be contacted directly, Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 8.30am - 5.00pm. Phone: (03) 442 0431 Cell Phone: 027 447 1462
The Hearing and Vision Technician (Mary Ineson) tests new entrant children each term and also does colour vision testing of Year 7 students at the start of the year.