________________________________________________________
18 Rochester Street, Palmerston North.
Tel (06) 3581735, Fax (06) 3581737, Cell 027 455 2339
admin@awapuni-primary.school.nz
STATEMENT FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Welcome to
This booklet will provide information and
answers to many of your questions.
Please keep it in a safe place for future reference.
I am hoping to meet you and your family at some of
the school functions and events we have throughout the school year.
Stephen Soutar
Principal
School Staff 2010
Stephen Soutar Principal
Pamela Steele Deputy Principal
Mainstream
Classes
Year 1 Room 9 Lola Zander
Year 2-3 Room 8 Anaseini
Pomelile
Year 3-4 Room 3 Tina
Stirling
Year 5-6 Room 1 Pamela
Steele
Te Puawaitanga
Bilingual Class
Year 4-6 Room 2 Raina
Te Ture
Support Staff
Office Manager Teresa Wills
Caretaker Mr Sneddon
Cleaner Margaret Takarangi
Reading
Recovery teacher Rosemary Asplin
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Patsy Vercoe Chairperson
Kirsty Falwasser Trustee
Abhinesh Prasad Trustee
Judy Aitken Trustee
Lola Zander Staff trustee
Stephen Soutar Principal
GENERAL INFORMATION
Absences:
If your child is sick or unable to attend school
for all or part of the day, please phone the school office by 9:00 a.m. so that
your child’s absence can be accounted for.
This is most important to alleviate any concerns about your child’s
whereabouts. If no communication has
been received from the parents then the office manager will contact you by
telephone or text.
If you are unable to contact the school by phone
please send a note with another child, or text the school cell phone 0274 55
2339.
If an absence is planned for a special reason, a
note or telephone call to the school in advance is appreciated.
In cases of prolonged absence, prior warning can
enable work to be set or the dates of special class events changed.
Assemblies:
Fortnightly (2:30 p.m. to 2:55 p.m.) a school
assembly is held in the school hall.
This provides an opportunity to develop the corporate life of the school
and to share class and individual achievements.
Different classes host assembly each fortnight. We would love to see you at these assemblies.
Attendance:
Children are strongly encouraged to arrive at
school on time. Lateness or irregular
attendance jeopardises a child’s learning opportunities. Children should not arrive at school before
8:30 a.m. and children are encouraged to leave school immediately after the
2:55 p.m. bell.
Behaviour Management:
We expect all children to be safe and happy at
school. We have some simple expectations
that we insist all students to adhere to.
Please refer to Appendix 1 for full details.
Board of Trustees:
Board of Trustees monthly meetings are held
at school usually at 6:00pm. These
meetings are open to the public. If you
have something you’d like to discuss then you should contact the chairperson to
have your matter added to the agenda.
The school newsletter notifies parents when each meeting will be held.
Book Club:
Twice a term, notices are sent home for the
Scholastic Book Clubs. Parents are under
no obligation to buy books. Any
purchases count towards free books for the school library. Parents are asked to return the completed
slip with the money by the due date.
Choir:
This is held weekly on Tuesday afternoons for ˝ an
hour. The children learn singing
techniques including breath control and voice production as well as learning
songs. Every second year the choir
performs at the Regent in the Kids for Kids concert. The choir also performs to the community and
rest homes. All children are welcome to join.
Class Programmes:
Our teaching and learning programmes are
designed to cater and fully extend all students academically, socially, and
across a broad range of endeavours.
This
year the teaching staff are participating in training for numeracy and
literacy.
- We want our
students to display exceptional behaviour
- We want all our
students to achieve personal excellence
- We want our
students to become self-motivated learners
- We want parents to
feel an integral part of the school and be involved in the education of
students
- We want our
students to develop personal strengths across a wide range of activities
- We want our
students to develop pride in their achievements
- We want our
students to take ownership of their learning
- And most of all…
…
we
want our students to be happy!
Class
Trips:
From time to time classes will undertake
trips and visits to places of educational interest. They are usually closely related to the class
programmes and as such are very valuable.
Parental help on class trips is needed and always welcome.
Class
Times:
School
begins:
Interval:
Class:
Lunch: 12:30 -
1:15 p.m.
Class: 1:15 -
2:55 p.m.
Complaints:
From
time to time misunderstandings between the school and parents happen. Our hope is that we will treat each other
with courtesy and respect.
In
the first instance see the teacher concerned to resolve the problem.
Where
concerns continue then the Principal should be advised and the Principal will
endeavour to resolve it.
Finally
if there is no resolution parents have the right to notify the Board of
Trustees in writing of their concerns.
Dental
Therapist:
Our
Dental Therapist, Carol Anderson, divides her time between Awapuni and West End
Schools. If your child requires dental
treatment outside of our visit please contact the dental therapist, Phone No:
358 2503
Duffy Books
We
are a Duffy Books in Homes school.
Children get to choose a variety of books three times a year. We have role model and young leader
assemblies. Awards are given out for
‘caught being a good mother, father and grandparent’. We also receive the Duffy Mainfreight Award
for Excellence in Attitude for a Year six pupil.
Enrolment:
Students
can enrol at Awapuni as regular students, bi-lingual students level 2 (50%+ of curriculum taught in Māori) or
Foreign Fee paying students.
All enrolment forms are available at the school office.
You will need to bring:
·
Birth certificate or proof
of date of birth
·
Passport for children born
outside of
·
Immunisation record from
birth to five, available from your doctor.
This record is a health department requirement.
Bilingual Education
Parents and Caregivers wishing to enrol their children in Bilingual Education
need to apply in writing and applications will be processed according to our
enrolment policy and criteria.
Emergency
Procedures:
Earthquake
and Fire emergency evacuation procedures are practised each term. The test of the effectiveness of these emergency
procedures might be to check that your child knows what to do in case of one of
these emergencies.
First
Aid:
Staff
are trained in first aid. Children will
receive care for cuts and grazes etc.
If you
would like children to receive any other medicine please contact the teacher
concerned and send in a note with details.
Fundpro:(The Fundraising/Promotion Committee)
Fundpro
organises most of the school fundraising and promotions. Their fundraising provides resources and
support for both mainstream and bilingual classes. They have provided much
needed support in such areas as:
·
Purchasing Computer and ICT resources
·
Sound equipment
·
Classroom equipment
·
Playground resources
·
Library resources
·
General support for classroom learning and
teaching programmes.
They meet once
a term and are always looking for support especially at Gala time and for
selling raffles. From time to time they
will contact families for specific help.
Fundpro meetings and activities are highlighted in the newsletter.
Home
Readers:
All
children are expected and encouraged to read at least each Monday to
Thursday. Junior students will receive a
reader each night. Senior students will
also receive a variety of reading material such as library books, journals,
newspaper etc…
Homework:
In
the junior school the homework the students will receive will be based around
improving their literacy skills so most of the homework will be reading or
alphabet knowledge.
Senior
students will receive homework on Mondays and it is marked on Fridays. This will consist of a combination of
reading, research, mathematics, spelling and some work based on the current
theme.
Internet:
The
school has an Acceptable User Procedure and children are expected to adhere to
these rules.
Kapa haka:
This is held weekly on Mondays from
Library
Books:
All
classes get to visit the school library at least once a week. The junior students may issue one book per
visit. Senior students may issue two
books. Please help your child to look
after this book. If it is lost you may
be billed for the book and your child may not be issued another for the year.
Lost
Property:
All
“lost” clothing is collected up at the end of each day and placed in a trolley
located in the foyer of the school hall.
It is a great help to have clothing named.
Lunches:
Fizzy drinks are
not allowed at school. Lunches can be
ordered before school at the office. A
menu is available (see website). Lunch
orders and money must be placed in a named envelope in the box provided at the
front office. Students cannot leave the
school to buy lunch. Every second Friday
we will have a school fundraising BBQ.
Music Programmes:
Apart
from the classroom music programme the school offers half hour keyboard lessons
to some senior students on Tuesday and Thursdays
Mobile
Library:
The
Palmerston North Mobile Library visits the school three times a term on a
Thursday usually in the morning. Children
who have a library card may access books from the bus.
Newsletter:
A newsletter is
sent home fortnightly on a Wednesday with the eldest or only child attending
school. It covers all matters relating
to school that you need to know. The
newsletters inform parents of any special functions, celebrate great things
happening at school, give information and occasionally request assistance or
information. The latest newsletter is usually on line within a day or two on the
school web site:
Each term
teachers send out a classroom newsletter outlining their programme and
priorities for the term.
Parent
and Caregivers:
We
warmly welcome parents and caregivers involving themselves in the wide range of
activities as follows:
·
Parent help in classrooms
·
Coaching sport teams
·
School camps
·
Helping to return resources
·
Lunchtime activities
·
Fundraising
·
Supporting fundraising
·
School trips
·
And other ideas you may have
The school
views the relationship between teachers and parents as crucial and you will be
warmly welcomed in all classrooms.
Parents are welcome to attend morning tea in the staff room when they
are in the school.
Preschool
Visits
Preschool students are encouraged to visit
prior to enrolment on their 5th birthday. Caregivers do not have to stay during the
visit. These visits are arranged around
other commitments your preschooler may have e.g. play centre, kindergarten,
swimming lessons. We recommend at least
3 or 4 visits over as many weeks before starting school. Preschool visits can be arranged through the
junior teacher in Room 3.
Pre School
Education:
There are a
number of centres in our immediate area.
Awapuni Kindergarten is situated on
the school boundary.
·
Telephone 3576380.
West End Kindergarten is situated
less than one kilometre away.
·
Telephone 358 2405.
Te Reo Tupua O Awapuni Kohanga Reo is situated on
the school boundary.
·
Telephone 3566775.
Public Health
Nurse
We have a
Health Nurse available so if your child has a health problem, free consultation
is available. Telephone 3550747 or
contact our office.
Reporting to Parents & Caregivers:
Each year we have two sets of interviews and dates are published
in the school newsletter. Parents and
caregivers are welcome to make arrangements for an interview with a child’s
class teacher at any time of the year.
A written report is provided at the end of the year.
We
endeavour to give you an indication of the level your child is working at, how
well they are achieving and the effort they contribute to their studies.
School Camp
Each year, the
year 5 & 6 students go on camp for up to 4 nights. We aim to keep the cost as low as possible.
The cost is usually subsidised by grants and fundraising. Only those who pay or make a payment
arrangement are allowed to attend.
Please contact the school if you are experiencing financial difficulties
so arrangements can be made for your child not to miss out.
School
Donation & Activity Fees:
We
have a family donation of $30 per year to help contribute towards our school
costs. We also have an activity fee of
$20 per family to pay for the publication of this booklet and school magazines. The school donation is tax deductible.
School
Photos:
These
are taken in term three. A newsletter
will advise of the date.
School
Open Door Policy for Parents and Caregivers:
The
school runs an open door policy and all parents and caregivers will be made to
feel welcome. The Principal is always
willing to discuss matters relating to students and the school, however, to
avoid disappointment it is wise to ring to organise an appointment as he may
have other commitments.
Sending
Money to School:
It
is sometimes necessary to send money to school to pay for extra items such as
book clubs, class camps, school trips etc.
Please send this in an envelope clearly marked with the child’s (or
family) name, and details of what the money is for. If at all possible please send the correct change.
Smoking:
We
are a smoke free school. There is no
smoking permitted on the school grounds.
Special
Programmes:
Special
programmes are provided at Awapuni School for pupils who require support and/or
enrichment in addition to classroom programmes.
One
such programme is English as a Second Language.
The school
provides assistance for children who do not have English as their first
language and need extra tuition.
Sports
Events:
Term
1 School
swimming sports
Touch rugby
Inter-school
triathlon (Year 5/6 students)
Term
2 Cross country (all students)
Inter
school cross country (Year 5/6 students)
Winter Tournament (Year 5/6
students)
Netball
Basketball
Term
3 Basketball
Term
4 Athletics
(all Students)
Touch rugby
Sports
Teams:
We
encourage children to join sports teams.
Last year we fielded a netball , basketball and touch teams. There are other sports such as soccer, tee
ball , triathlons and 5km runs, on offer and we are happy to enter teams if we
have the numbers and coaches willing to take the teams.
Stationery:
Parents
are required to cover the cost of stationery for their children. At Awapuni School there is one annual cost of
$20 per pupil and teachers will supply as required.
Student
Responsibility for Personal Equipment:
Teachers
cannot take responsibility for personal items and treasures students may bring
to school. Our advice is if your child
wants to bring something special to school then arrange with your child to have
the object at school for a limited time.
Summer
Swimming:
During the swimming season all children
are expected to bring togs daily so that they can participate in the swimming
programme. Parents need to send a note
if children are not able to swim for health reasons.
Sun
Safe:
It
is important for children to wear hats during terms one and four. Please ensure your child has a hat.
The
school provides sun screen during the summer months.
Teacher
Aide Time:
This
time is allocated to help individual children adjust to the classroom situation
or to assist with specific programmes.
Visitors:
When
possible teachers like to invite people who have personal experience, or
expertise which can enhance the learning of a theme or unit being studied.
Website:
The school has its own web
site www.awapuni-primary.school.nz The site is regularly updated and includes
news, photographs and work submitted by the different classes. Families are asked to sign a form giving
permission for their child's photo to be used on the web site. You have the right to refuse to have your
child's photograph and name published and you can ask for their work or
photograph to be removed. This will be
done within a reasonable time frame.
APPENDIX 1
Awapuni School
Behaviour Management Programme.
|
School Expectations 1.
Walk the… 2.
Take care of others 3.
Always use good manners 4.
Look after the school and respect other people’s property 5.
Keep using the virtues to guide your behaviour |
Procedures for dealing
with: Serious Inappropriate Behaviour
Serious inappropriate
behaviour was determined as violence/physical assault (i.e.: deliberately intending to
hurt someone physically or emotionally),
bullying, verbal abuse, vandalism, inappropriate behaviour, leaving the school
grounds without permission and theft.
- immediate
assistance from senior staff, staff or principal (walkie-talkie or phone
call)
- restraint
may be applied if safety is an issue
- teachers
to fill in detention reporting slip and hand to secretary.
Senior
Management will administer the following consequences: For any incident Senior
Management will carry out the first 6 consequences.
- The child will ring
home to tell the parent of their behaviour
- A letter will be
sent home by the school and pupil.
The teacher may determine that the child is not capable of writing
the letter. In this case the
school letter will suffice.
- A note will also be
sent home to the victim’s family to notify them that the incident has
been dealt with.
- A verbal apology
will be given by the perpetrator to the victim in front of the class.
- Meet with
parents. This will be a judgement
call by the teacher dealing with the incident
- Off the
playground. This will be for a
minimum of two days. One day will
be spent doing rubbish duty and the other writing virtues, an apology
letter or the sequential booklet.
- Prior to
returning to normal school life children can be confined to the quad
area for three days. The names of
these children will be put in the daily notices and whiteboard so the
staff know who they are dealing with
Consequence #7 will only
happen after the child has served the above consequences #1-6 at least 3 times.
- In school
suspension, three days at least.
This must be negotiated with the principal after at least three
incidents. The venue will be the
photocopying room.
·
Work provided by class teacher or as negotiated
with supervising teacher
·
Lunchtimes and playtimes also taken separately under
supervision.
Consequence #8 will happen after the child has had
one in school suspension.
- Loss of
privileges. A list of examples of
privileges are:
- Not
attending a school trip unless the parent is able to attend to manage
the child’s behaviour. For each
incident the appropriate loss of privilege will be discussed with the
appropriate team.
- Stand down and suspension procedures.
·
For serious incidents involving ongoing serious
non compliance and incidents where student and staff safety is at serious risk
as per Ministry of Education guidelines and procedures.
·
These procedures can only be initiated by the
Principal.
Students
‘running away’ from class and school.
·
If you can safely restrain a
child from leaving the school grounds then do so. If this put you in danger or anyone else then
observe where the child is going and send for the principal.
·
The Principal or senior staff
must be informed if a student leaves the school grounds.
·
Parents and caregivers need to be
informed as soon as possible.
·
Safety of students is essential
and students may need to be uplifted, followed home or if necessary Truancy or
Police involved.
·
The consequences for this will begin from bullet
point #5
Procedures for Dealing
with: Minor Inappropriate Behaviour
Minor Inappropriate Behaviour was deemed
anything not serious. This may be in
class or out of class.
Preventative Measures
·
An apology
·
Time out from the playground under the
shelter. This is a short term process of
15 minutes
·
Time out in another class
·
Walk with the duty teacher
·
Name on whiteboard, by hand bell, indicating to
the duty teacher which child is confined to the quad area by the hall
·
1, 2, 3 Magic
·
Stay in
class in own time to finish work
·
Pick up rubbish
·
Tidy up
See home page for
lunch menu
Lunches can be ordered
Tuesdays-Friday from the menu, before school, at the office by 9am
Lunch orders and money must
be placed in a named envelope in the box provided at the front office.
Orders are delivered to
school by 12.30 and children collect them from the shade area in the quad.
If there is a problem
children must talk to the adult delivering the orders or the duty teacher
immediately so that the problem can be sorted out.