PARENT INFORMATION

2007 ERO REPORT

·         Absences

If a child is absent due to illness, specialist appointment or bereavement, parents must notify the school by telephone that morning and provide an explanation in writing when the child returns to school. These are noted in the classroom attendance register as “acceptable” absences.

For absences other than those listed above, a letter is required in advance explaining the reason and length of time a student will be absent. These are noted in the classroom attendance register as “unacceptable” absences.

Where a consistent pattern of unexplained absences becomes apparent the school is required to contact the Truancy Officer.

NB: These are Ministry of Education requirements in relation to student attendance.

·         lateness

Please notify the school if your child is going to be late for a particular reason. All students who are late must report to the School Office to collect a late slip. No one may enter classrooms while prayers are taking place. Late students must wait outside their rooms until prayers are finished.

When four (4) unacceptable latenesses are reached the school will notify parents by letter. Should the pattern of unacceptable lateness continue, the school is required to contact the Truancy Officer.

In the event of an accident requiring medical attention, parents will be phoned. If they are unavailable, the emergency contacts on the child’s enrolment form will be notified. Where no one is available to be contacted, the child will be taken to the St Luke’s Accident and Emergency Clinic.

When a child becomes ill at school, their teacher sends them to the School Office. Parents are then contacted. If parents are unavailable, the emergency contacts on the child’s enrolment form will be contacted.

Should a student become seriously ill or receive a major injury an ambulance will be called. A staff member will stay with the child until parents and/or emergency caregivers arrive.

Assemblies occur fortnightly on a Friday at 2.30pm in the Parish Hall. Each room takes a turn to organise and run the assembly, as well as presenting items. Merit awards, birthday certificates and welcome certificates are given out to students during the assembly. Parents are encouraged to attend, especially when their child’s room is organising the assembly.

Assembly dates and details are advertised in the term calendar and newsletters.

The Board of Trustees governs the School. The Board has a monthly meeting on the third or fourth Wednesday of each month at 7.00pm in the school library. All are welcome to observe the Board meetings. The dates of meetings are advertised in the term calendar and newsletters.

Students may cycle and scoot to and from school. Helmets are mandatory when riding bikes. Bikes and scooters may not be ridden through the school grounds, they must be walked.

Children are the responsibility of parents when riding their bikes or scooters to and from school.

The children are taken by taxi van to Mt Roskill Clinic. Parents/caregivers are notified of these visits through the school newsletter. For any other appointments, parents/caregivers may contact the Dental Clinic directly on 620 5837.

Students are encouraged to have water bottles in class for drinking, particularly during the summer months. Only water may be consumed in class.

This group meets once a month and all fathers are welcome to attend. The dates and places of meetings are advertised in the term calendar and newsletters.

Lost property is stored on a trolley inside the staff/student entry to the Administration Building and is also displayed at the end of each term. Please have your child check this area if they have lost clothing or other personal items. Please ensure all your children’s clothing and personal items are labelled.

 School lunches may be purchased on Wednesdays (Café 419) and Fridays (sushi). Menus with prices are available at reception.

 Orders must be placed in the marked box outside the main entrance to the Administration Building before 8.55am.

It is not the school’s policy to administer any drugs without explicit instructions from a student’s parents/caregivers. No teacher may provide or administer any medication to a student. This may only be done by Administration staff.

Parents/caregivers may request a designated first aider to assume the responsibility for the administration of medication to their child. Parents/caregivers must provide the school with identified medication in a container which includes the student’s name and dosage details. The medication must be delivered to the School Office each morning, the Medication Book signed and the medication collected at 3.00pm. In situations where it is not possible for a parent to deliver the medication, a student may bring the medication to the School Office with an accompanying note:

Medication must nEVER be left in a student’s school bag and no student is permitted to self-medicate. This is a Health & Safety requirement.

For those students who require ongoing medical treatment (eg asthma), a medical plan must be set up with the student’s doctor and a copy given to the school.

Parents of children taking piano lessons from Mrs Roke during school hours must provide a letter to the Principal requesting permission and stating the day and time of the lessons. Mrs Roke may be contacted on ph: 620 4530.

School newsletters are emailed and then sent home each fortnight on a Monday with the youngest child in the family at school. Each classroom takes a turn to publish some of their work which is sent home as an insert in the newsletter.

OSCA operates Monday to Friday from 3.00pm – 6.00pm, in the Parish Hall and School Library.

Costs:
Permanent bookings			Casual bookings
3.00pm - 4.30pm	$10.50		3.00pm – 4.30pm	$15.00
3.00pm – 6.00pm	$16.50		3.00pm – 6.00pm	$21.00

For further details and/or permanent and casual bookings, please contact Mrs Natalie Hill in the School Office before 10.00am.

Parents/caregivers should raise issues of concern with their child’s classroom teacher in the first instance. If the issue needs to go further, they should then speak to the Deputy Principal, and then if still not resolved, the Principal.

Two formal Parent/Teacher interviews are held each year. The first in Term 1 and the second interview in Term 3.

At other times, if parents wish to discuss their child’s progress with his/her teacher an interview time may be arranged with the teacher through the School Office.

Student portfolios are sent home three times during the year. Parents view the assessments, complete the parent comment section, sign and return the portfolios to school. The portfolios provide information for parents about their child’s progress during the year. The current year’s portfolio is retained in the school at the end of the year and the previous year’s portfolio is then sent home.

A written report is sent home at the end of the year.

Parent/caregiver help is always welcome especially in the areas of school lunches, library work, organising and repairing books and resources, school trips, writing and reading programmes and sports coaching.

Opportunities are provided for parents to be involved in the classroom programme during the year. Individual teachers may ask parents for classroom assistance if it is required.

There is a requirement that all parents working within the school environment maintain the privacy of any information regarding staff and students which they may have access to.

These are held one day each month from 9.00am – 10.00am in the school staffroom. The dates will be advertised in the newsletters and term calendars. It is an informal get together which gives parents/caregivers and pre-schoolers a chance to mix and mingle. All are welcome.

The PTFA is the main social, support and fundraising body of the school. Everyone is welcome to attend the meetings, which are held on approximately two Wednesdays each term at 7.30pm in the school staffroom. The dates of meetings are advertised in the term calendar and newsletters.

For health reasons all children are asked to bring a t-shirt and shorts to change into for physical education and sport. It is compulsory for Year 4, 5 & 6 students to wear the school sports uniform. This can be purchased from the school uniform shop.

Mrs Sue Skilton, the Public Health Nurse, visits the school regularly. Health forms are required to be filled in by parents/caregivers when children begin school. Hearing and vision tests are undertaken regularly. Please let the school know if your child has any health problems, which may affect their personal safety and educational progress.

This programme is run for children who require special support to enhance their reading. The children are identified as they turn six through a specialised reading assessment. Ms Dale Hammond is the teacher in charge of this programme.

School trips and activities are included in the school fees. A range of activities and trips are organised during the year to support and enhance the delivery of our classroom programmes.

Parents give permission for students to attend trips outside the school by signing the “Permission for Excursions” on the Student Data Form each year. Where students travel away from the school, parents will be notified through the school newsletter or a separate letter; when the trip is occurring, the time children will leave and return to school and the mode of transport. Should a parent not wish their child to attend a particular trip they must contact the child’s teacher.