General Administration

Absences

Parents are requested to telephone every day a child is absent. Notes in advance are required for prearranged appointments or holidays. This information is recorded in the Absence Book in the office and checked off when the absence notebook is received from the classrooms each morning. Telephone calls will be made to parents of any child with an unknown absence. This enables us to monitor the whereabouts of pupils (for their own safety) at all times. If there is a real concern the police will be notified.

Access of Parents / Guardians to Children During School Hours

Parents visiting the School during the school day must first go to the school office to let the secretary / Principal know. No child may be taken out of the school by a parent, guardian or friend of the family unless permission has been given by the Principal, secretary or classroom teacher.

Bus Transport

Two free bus routes operate:

* From school to Herald Island and return

* From school to the Village via Totara/ Waimarie Roads and return.

Each term we alternate buses in the afternoon to avoid the same pupils staying until 3.20pm. All bus pupils must fill in a Bus Code of Conduct and follow the rules to avoid losing their rights to use the bus service.

Bicycles

Only Yr4 – Yr6 pupils may ride their bicycles to school. All cyclists must wear a helmet. A note from parents must be sent at the beginning of the year giving permission for their child / children to ride to and from school.

EOTC

Children attend an outdoor education camp or activities associated with outdoor education each year from Years 5 - 8.

Car Parking

Car parking for parents is available on the Green. Parents are requested to try not to bring cars into the school grounds at anytime except for emergencies. It is a School Rule that children do not walk through the car park. We therefore request parents to support this rule and walk their children through the designated walkway. This is a safety issue.

Cell Phones

Pupils are not encouraged to bring cell phones o school. If for some reason they do, the following rules apply;

• Cell phones are to be switched off during the school day (including interval and lunch time) unless prior teacher approval has been given
• Students are not to make calls for other students
• Students are not to borrow cell phones
• Phones are not to be used maliciously
• The school takes no responsibility for damage to or loss of cell phones
• Students are not to use their cell phone to contact caregivers in the event of illness. This must be done through the School Office.

Complaints and Concerns

From time to time there could be a need to express your concern or complaint. Please follow these guidelines:

• Concern about a pupil’s performance in the classroom - address the concern in writing, first to the class teacher and then if necessary, to the Team Leader

• Concern about a staff member - to be placed in writing to the Principal

• Concern about pupil behaviour – see the Team Leader

 • Concern about the Principal – address with the principal or in writing to the BoT chairperson

 • Concern about the day to day running of the school (buses, safety issues, organisational procedures) – see the Principal

There is a set policy which has guidelines to follow for procedures and responses

Cyber Safety

On enrolment parents and students are asked to read through and sign the Whenuapai School Cyber Safety Agreement. Publishing student pictures and work on websites promotes learning, collaboration and provides an opportunity to share the achievements of students. Images and products of our students may be included on the website without identifying captions or full names. Fromm 2009 parents/ guardians must indicate the written consent on enrolment of their child for Whenuapai School to publish their child's photo or school work. Please not that under no circumstances will student photos or work be identified with first and last name on a Whenuapai School website.

Dental Treatment

Whenuapai School does not have a Dental Clinic. Pupils will have an initial dental examination on site in a Mobile Dental Bus and, if children require treatment, parents will be notified and appropriate arrangements made to visit the Dental Therapist at Marina View School.  For treatment, parental consent is required and obtained when children enrol.

First Aid Room

The First Aid Room is located next to the Office. In the event of serious accidents, or illness causing concern, parents are contacted. Please ensure the school is given your home, work and emergency phone contact numbers and that these are kept up to date. The School takes initiative in taking children to the Accident and Emergency Clinic when parents can be contacted or there is a delay in their arrival.

Homework

Teachers value the effort parents put into sharing aspects of the classroom programme at home. The involvement helps develop a positive working relationship between home and school. Homework is set weekly and is related to the school and class programme. At times we realise that family and sporting commitments may take precedence over homework. These experiences are also important to your child's development and are to be encouraged. We would appreciate parent communication on these occassions so we can assist the pupil in managing their time to accommodate their schedules.

Lost Property

Lost property is a continuing problem in the school and we request that ALL clothing be named. Lost property is displayed in the interview room in the School Office and is frequently displayed on the courts outside the staffroom.

Parent / Teacher Communication

We are a very approachable staff and are always happy to discuss your child’s education with you. Teachers can be contacted either by email, letter or by leaving a message with the office. Teachers have many meetings and commitments before and after school so it is imperative that you make an appointment to meet with your child’s teacher in advance.

Newsletters

Our School Newsletter is published every Thursday of the School Term. Starting in 2012 newsletters will no longer be distributed in paper form (unless requested). Parents are asked to subscribe to our newsletter on the School Website and will receive the newsletter electronically each week. This publication lists events, results and comments from the Staff, Board of Trustees and community organisations. The newsletter is also available on the school website. If you have any news items for the newsletter, please email them to sarac@whenuapai.school.nz by each Tuesday.

Parent Help

Parent Help

 The School has always been very appreciative of the help and support parents have given to the class teachers through a wide range of activities including lunchroom help, coaching, parent support programmes, reading / maths tutors, library support, uniform shop, working bees, discos and fundraising. If are available to help in any way, please let the school know.

Patrols

The road crossings on Brigham Creek and Airport Roads are patrolled by school patrols with a teacher present from 8.30 - 8.50am and in the afternoons from 2.55 – 3.10pm. Please respect these children and support their endeavours. If you have questions or comments regarding the school patrols please contact the teacher in charge maryannec@whenuapai.school.nz

Public Health Nurse

A Public Health Nurse visits the School regularly. Staff or parents can refer concerns to her. On enrolment, consent will be obtained.

Pupil Duties

Middle and Senior School pupils are allocated positions of responsibility in the School. These include House Captains, Road and Patrol Monitors, Librarians, Bus Monitors, Peer Support Leaders, Cool Schools Mentors and PE Gear Monitors. Strict codes of behaviour and clear guidelines are attached to each responsibility and failure to comply will result in the loss of the job.

Rewarding Pupils

As well as stamps, stickers and praise, pupils are also rewarded by receiving a Principal's  Award Certificate. One Principals certificate is awarded to a pupil from each class at every Monday Morning Assembly, chosen by the classroom teacher to show a special achievement by a pupil. As pupils accumulate these certificates they are eligble for the following:

A1 Quality Certificates are presented once a term for one pupil per class for students who exhibit outstanding  A1 Quality behaviour, presentation or care for the environment.

School Discipline

With the cooperation and support of parents we will maintain high standards of behaviour at all times. Teachers reinforce the school rules in their classrooms, so all children are aware of them. A series of consequences and rewards go alongside the rules, so children know how they are expected to behave.

School Website

In 2009 Whenuapai School will have a brand new website constructed by our ICT Coordinator. We endeavour to keep it as up to date as possible.

School Times

School begins at 9am and finishes at 3pm. Interval is from 11.00 – 11.20am and the lunch hour runs from 12.40 – 1.40pm. Pupils arriving late must report to the school office.

Sports Days

A number of School sports days (Athletics, Swimming, Cross Country) are held throughout the year and parents will be notified of these dates and times in the weekly newsletter.

Stationery

Children can buy stationery from the Office between 8.30 – 9am only. A price list is available at the office or from class teachers.

Team Newsletters

Each team issues a Team Newsletter in the first week of each term, briefly outlining goals, objectives, events and happenings. These are given to the children and posted on the website.

Technicraft

Year 7/8 pupils receive Technicraft instruction at Te Atatu Intermediate on Friday mornings 9.00 - 11.00am. Woodcraft, Metalcraft, Food and Fabric Technology are covered over a two year period. These students need to be at school at 8.40am ready for an 8.45am bus departure.