Pahiatua School

Useful Information

Newsletters
A newsletter is sent home each Monday with the eldest child at school or the member of your family you designate. If you do not receive a newsletter, firstly ask your child; then  check their bag; then telephone the school  for a spare copy. Any items to be included in the newsletter should be sent to the office the previous Friday. We welcome news of our students' achievements outside of school.

School Assemblies
These are held on Friday afternoon in the last half hour.  Parents are welcome to attend. 
Apart from providing information they are also a time for pupils to share work and for the school to acknowledge the  achievements of our pupils.  We endeavour  to feature a different classroom  each  week and this will be advertised in the newsletter on Monday.

Buses
Some children travel to and from school by bus.

Children who are under 10 years of age, and live more than 3.2 kms away from school, and children who are 10 or over and live more than 4.8 kms away from the school, are eligible for a bus ride.  If your child is not travelling home on the bus please notify the school on the Absence Phone Number 376 8719 or put absent on the bus roll outside the school office.

Bus routes are determined by the Ministry and not all areas are serviced.

Children travelling on the bus are required to behave themselves appropriately.

Technology Centre
All our Year 7 and 8 children have one day Technology training every ten days.  The children attend Tararua  College for Technology.

The fee for Technology is set at $60 but the Board of Trustees pay $30 of this.  Pupils are required to pay their share-$30 by the end of Term One. Accounts are sent  out early in Term One.

Parents at School
Parents are very welcome at the school.  Please come along to the many activities that we have throughout the year.  Providing transport, working with children in small groups, listening to children read and helping with sports programmes and a number of other activities.

We do appreciate the help and support that parents and friends of the school give us.

School Fees
The Board have a set Activity Fee which is currently  $15 per term or $60 a year,  reduced to $50 if paid by the end of Term One.  This can be paid in installments by direct debit.  Please contact the office for details.

Reporting to Parents
This year there will be two formal reporting opportunities.   Goal setting interviews in February and oral reports in June.  Children will receive their Learning Log three times during the year June, August and November.  This accumulated record of progress is sent home early the following year to be kept by pupils.

Teachers are always willing to talk to parents at any time and if you have any concerns or questions please contact the office and arrange a meeting.

Homework
This is a very important part of any school programme. The children are given homework on a regular basis and parents can check with class teachers as to the particular requirements for that room.  Homework is designed to include some revision as well as new learning in the form of research.  If you do not have the reference materials necessary or your child does not understand any aspects it is essential they check with the teacher before the day it is due to be handed in.  Homework not only assists with learning but also develops independence, responsibility and time management.

Junior children are expected to do reading every night.  Please spend time reading with your child and also encourage them to be organised in getting books to and from school.

School Sport
Sport plays its part in the balanced development of the child. Children are encouraged to play Saturday sport, but the school has no direct input, or responsibility for this.

Scholastic Book Club
Twice a term book club order forms are given to the children.  There is no pressure to buy these books.  They are, however, selected for appeal and literary value, and are competitively priced. On occasions other offers are made to parents through the school and we will draw your attention to these but they are for your information only and the option to purchase is up to you. Please place any orders in a clearly labelled envelope and hand into the office.

School Dress
Generally we require children to dress in a neat, tidy and appropriate manner for school activities.  Nose studs, rings are not to be worn.
 

Most classes have daily fitness and again appropriate clothing is expected to be worn for those activities.

Please ensure all clothing is named.

Money at School
When children bring money to school for school activities, fundraising, photocopying, stationery etc , it is important that the money is in a sealed envelope, and written on the outside the following information: Name, Room No, Amount and what the money is for.  It is especially important for junior children to observe this.  All money should be handed into the office before school.

Other money should not be brought to school by children.

Lost Property
The lost property is in the drawers below the display board area near the office.  Parents and children are encouraged to check for lost property.

All clothing should be clearly named to minimise loss, especially during the summer when children are apt to take clothing off while playing.

We make every effort to return all clothing to the owners and display the lost property in the last week of term.

Unnamed clothing which remains unclaimed is disposed of  early in the following term.

Banking
ANZ facilities are available at school with money being collected on Wednesdays.

The banking box is situated outside the school office.

Vehicles Outside the School Grounds
Entry of vehicles to the school grounds is restricted to authorised vehicles only.

Vehicles are not permitted to enter the grounds for purpose of delivering or collecting children before or after school, as this practice  creates a definite hazard to the children entering or leaving the school grounds at these times.

It is preferred that parents park on Albert Street.

Cycling to School
Any child cycling to school must wear a correct fitting helmet. School policy states no child under nine years is permitted to ride a bike to school.

A cycle rack is provided and all bikes should be walked across the school grounds and secured in this rack.

Interschool Activities
Throughout the year children are given the opportunity to be part of a wide
range of different activities.
These include a variety of sports codes and cultural activities. There are opportunities to take part in touch, indoor hockey, miniball, rugby and netball.
School teams are involved in Saturday morning games locally. Parents are kept informed of  trips, visits and activities through the newsletter.

Stationery
The school provides a stationery service to families.  Stationery packs are available for
purchase at the beginning of the school year.  These are very competitively priced and we try to keep costs to a minimum.  Additional items can be purchased from the school office during the year as required.

School Lunches
Lunches are available through the school.  As we are a Health Promoting School, food choices made available through the school lunch list will be based on Heart  Foundation  recommendations and will support and reinforce what students learn about nutrition in the classroom. A list of items available is sent out at the beginning of the year.
Additional copies can be obtained from the school office.
All lunch orders are to be written on an envelope by parents with the money enclosed.
The children then place the order in the container in the foyer outside the office, where it is recorded.

Telephone and Interviews
Interviews and telephone messages should be made through the office.   It is not practicable to call teachers to the telephone during class nor is it right that parents should delay the work of the class by seeking interviews during hours of instruction.

Purely routine matters or messages for children can in some cases be handled by the office. This request is not meant to keep teachers and parents apart. It is aimed at allowing the teachers to get on with the job in the limited time which we have available.

Use of the telephone by the children is restricted to emergency situations. Forgetfulness of items or activities does not constitute an emergency.

Enrolment
We ask that parents/caregivers always attend with their children when enrolling.
If they come from another school we will need to know their previous school and its address
so that we can request their record cards.  When enrolling a 5 year old, we will need to verify the child's age with their birth certificate.  You will also be asked other relevant details relating to any learning difficulties, medical problems, emergency contacts, phone numbers and other information for the Ministry of Education.

A Positive Learning Environment
At our school, staff work actively to ensure they are able to provide a positive caring and
effective classroom and school environment.

 

Our school rules which guide behaviour are:

We will be considerate and respectful toward others

We will play safely and will care for others

We know the areas where we can safely play

We will use good manners and present ourselves well

We know what we can safely bring to school

We will know what to do on wet days at playtime and lunchtime

We will know the rules of getting to school safely

Our school discipline policy ensures that those children who may have difficulty behaving are not allowed to stop the teacher from teaching or to stop other children from learning.

Programmes and strategies are put in place to encourage positive behaviours and parents are kept informed of any developing problems.

The basic principle of our discipline policy is that the individual is the only one  who can control their behaviour and it is up to the individual to make the appropriate choices.

Our children are recognised and valued for their positive input and are publicly recognised for their achievements whether they be social, academic or sporting.

We promote open communication between home and school and we will notify home of any concerns we may have.  We appreciate parents and caregivers contacting school when you  have concerns or are aware of situations that may be affecting your child's learning.

Medication
If it is necessary for your child to receive prescribed medication while at school, the following guidelines MUST be followed. Only prescribed medication can be given.
Medication can only be administered when accompanied by a form available from the office.
The medication container must have the child's name and the instructions written clearly by a pharmacist or medical practitioner. Any queries, please consult the school's principal or the secretary.

PLEASE NOTE:  We are not permitted to administer any form of painkiller.

Public Health Nurse

Mrs Ann McKay is our school Public Health Nurse.  She makes regular visits to school and keeps an eye on such matters as health, nutrition, illness, cleanliness and so on. She will advise on such matters as 'school sores' or head lice and can also help families by putting you in touch with other support services.

Hats-Sun Safe
It is a policy requirement that approved hats MUST be worn in the playground and during
out-door lessons and activities in the period governed by daylight saving. This is to establish healthy habits and to prevent skin cancer. The wearing of approved sunhats at school is mandatory.  We are concerned for your child's health.

Dental Therapist
Our dental therapist, Glenda Young with Dental Assistant Julie Beales operate clinics at Pahiatua

School and the surrounding district.  If there are any problems while they are away examining other schools please phone the Dental Clinic number 376 8596 which will be activated for messages.

Sickness/Accidents
If your child is unwell please keep them home.  If your child becomes unwell during the day or has an accident we will contact you or the emergency contact number you have supplied to the school. It is important to remember we are a school and do not have the expertise,
time or facilities to cope with children who become unwell.  We feel it is much better for the parent to determine if a visit to the doctor is required and hence we are more likely to err on the side of caution and contact you to take responsibility for making the decision.  Should a situation arise and parent or emergency contacts are not available we would ensure your child did receive the medical attention required.

Special Education
Enrichment Extension Programmes
The school provides assistance, through a range of agencies, for children who have special
needs or special abilities.

These agencies provide assistance in special needs with discretionary teacher aide resources, and

itinerant resource teachers.  Public health nurses, vision and hearing resources and an educational psychologist are also available on request.

Where it is considered appropriate, the school can provide additional teacher-aide hours for children with special abilities or special needs. Parents who have concerns in these areas can discuss them with the principal.

 

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