General Information about our School
The Staff of Papakaio School aim to give your child the very best possible education, with as much individual attention as possible. We are keen to work with the home in promoting the all round development of each pupil. We believe that education is a partnership relying on children, their families and quality teachers. We value regular discussions with Parents/Carers and are open to new ideas.
Classroom programmes reflect our school’s emphasis in Literacy and Numeracy. Other curriculum areas are planned for and implemented within our Integrated Curriculum and Inquiry Learning Units. This way of teaching places emphasis on real-life experiences and topical issues. We encourage students to look deeply at issues. We constantly strive to run programmes that promote high levels of student engagement and real-time, real-life learning such as PREP, (Primary Enterprise Programme), Inquiry and school camps.
The school also provides Learning Support Programmes, Reading Recovery, Literacy Support for older pupils, as well as a Preschool Programme for children younger than five. We place an emphasis on thinking skills and developing habits of mind that will enable children to become good citizens and life-long learners.
We recognise the importance of encouraging children to be active and promote fitness through our daily programme and sporting activities as well as fostering the arts with regular performances, access to clubs such as guitar, gymnastics, choir and drama. Currently the school has active involvement in a wide range of summer and winter sports.
This booklet will attempt to answer some of the questions parents ask when enrolling their children.
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Room 4 - Yr 5 & 6 |
Room 5 - Yr 7 & 8 |
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Kellie Waller Room 1 - NE & Yr 1 |
Wendy Halvorsen Room 2 - Yr 1 & 2 |
Chris Allen Room 3 - Yr 3 & 4 |
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8:30 am |
Children may enter school grounds. Supervision available |
Mrs Rose Scott (School Secretary) School Office Open 8:30–12:30 |
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8:45 am |
Buses arrive |
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9:00 am |
School Begins |
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11.00 – 11.20am |
Morning Break |
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12:30 – 1:15pm |
Lunch |
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3:00 – 3:15 |
Bus Check and Departures |
The Home & School Committee is an active group of volunteers, mostly parents, who organise a number of school activities, e.g. skating trips, fish and chip lunches, and fundraising ventures e.g. fortnightly BBQ, calf scheme, as well as helping with Working Bees around the school grounds. Their dedication is reflected in the great job they do and the huge financial contribution they make to the curriculum activities and resources in our school.
Leaving School Grounds
Children are not permitted to leave school grounds, unless a note is provided by a Parent/Carer.
Children are encouraged to go directly home after school unless they have permission to do something else. A note or a phone call is needed to let us know where the child is required to be if plans change. Please remind your child regularly against loitering on the way home or visiting friends without permission.
We appreciate a note or telephone message from parents/carers before 9am
on the day the child is to be absent. If we do not receive contact from parents/carers
and the child is not at school we will ring you to confirm where your child is.
You may also text your absence notice to 027575705
If your child has an accident or is ill at school, parents/carer will be notified so that the child can be collected. If parents/carers are unavailable the EMERGENCY CONTACT PERSON (a person outside your immediate family) will be notified. Where no one can be contacted, the school will take all reasonable care of the child at the school medical room and contact a doctor if necessary.
There are two buses which service our school. The Blue Bus runs west to Georgetown and the Yellow Bus which runs east to Pukeuri and surrounding areas. Children must follow the bus rules, a copy of these are found at the back of this booklet. Also found at the back is the procedure for a bus breakdown or school closure. Please read both carefully. Any concerns regarding the bus run should be communicated to the principal.
Parent/Teacher Interviews and Reporting to Parents
Each child has a ‘Snapshot’, which aims to provide information about his or her progress and achievement throughout the year. This record is sent home in week 12, 24 and 36 of the year for you to read through with your child and write a comment about their progress. This record forms the basis of the schools Annual Reporting programme.
A brief report in the ‘Snapshot’ is given regarding your child’s progress in Reading, Writing and Mathematics. This also states what the next steps are for your child to continue their progress and gives an indication of your child’s attitude and work habits. We report against National Standards at week 24 and in the end of year report.
At the end of the year a summarised account of your child’s progress and achievements will be completed. If you require more than one copy please contact your child's teacher.
Parent/Teacher interviews are advertised in the weekly school newsletter in early term 2 for all families, but teachers are available at any stage of the year for an interview to discuss your child’s progress. For such meetings it is helpful to arrange a time out of school hours when the teacher can have the necessary information available, and give you his/her undivided attention.
► All children sit in the shady courtyard and are supervised and encouraged to eat their lunch. They are allowed to go to play once the duty teacher has seen their lunchboxes. On wet or extremely cold days children eat their lunches in the classroom under the supervision of their teacher.
► They are encouraged to eat all that you have given them or take home the uneaten part so that you are aware of the situation.
► No sweets, eg: chocolate, lolly-pops, are to be brought to school.
► Children are encouraged to have an extra piece of fruit to eat at school, as often they are hungry after the bus ride to school.
► Each class has a ‘Fruit Break” at 10am which is a piece of fruit eaten while continuing to work. Fruit needs to be cut up in the junior rooms.
All lunch wrapping, containers etc are returned home in your child's lunchbox, so that you can monitor what has been eaten.
A BBQ lunch is available to all children fortnightly on Fridays, as part of School fundraising. Sausages, meat patties and ice-block are available. Orders (with money) in an envelope with the child’s name and room number are required on Thursday prior to BBQ day. Families are rostered on to help with this BBQ. A roster is sent out at the beginning of the year. More information and contact person for the BBQ is at the back of this booklet.
Hot
Eaties
During Terms 2 and 3 children can bring ‘Hot Eaties’-These are lunches eg pies,
that are wrapped in foil or in a container that can go in the oven to be
heated at school. Please make sure that all food is defrosted.
Please keep in mind foods that are considered unsafe for reheating (eg chicken).
All food needs to be named with room number, as they are re-distributed by classroom.
School Banking is available at school through Westpac Bank. The box for depositing is in the foyer of the school office. More information is available from the school office if you are interested.
Newsletters
are sent home each Wednesday with the oldest member of your family
attending our school. Check the school bag each Wednesday. The
Newsletters are numbered so that you can keep track of them. It is a
good idea to keep a file of the newsletters for future reference. A
Community Newsletter comprising of eight issues per year is distributed
throughout the district. Items can be left at the school Office or
emailed to principal@papakaio.school.nz.
They will also be available online from this Website.
Assembly is held each Friday in the new Library/Hall at 2.40pm. All Parents,
Grandparents etc are welcome to join us. This is a chance for the children to show some
of their work they have completed. Award Certificates are handed out from each class to children who have
stood out as having done something positive, kind, exceptionally well or environmentally friendly.
At the beginning of the year students are required to purchase stationery from town suppliers. We have a well stocked stationery shop and during the year the School Office is open for purchasing between 8:30-9:00 am each morning. All stationery money should be sent to school in a named sealed envelope.
Prices and stationery lists are available from the Office.
Children generally get stationary on credit and an invoice sent out twice a year.
From time to time money is required at school. We will inform you through the
Newsletter or a note with the reason for the money and the cost.
All money sent to school is to be sent in a clearly named envelope.
Teachers do not encourage the bringing of toys or valuable items to school.
At times it is appropriate to have these things at school for a class activity.
Teachers cannot be held responsible for the safe-keeping of such items.
Throughout the year we often ask for help with various school activities, and we very much appreciate the
help that we receive. Some of these activities include, helping in the classroom, assisting with
EOTC (Education Outside the Classroom), sports, coaching, swimming instruction,
library and the use of any other skills that you may have to offer.
There are many opportunities for parents/carers to be involved in our school.
If you would like to help please talk to your child’s teacher or The Principal.
Papakaio School has a uniform which we recommend that all children wear.
Uniform Link there is more information.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT ALL ITEMS OF CLOTHING ARE NAMED.
In an effort to develop personal responsibility we do not have a lost property box
as clothing is either instantly returned to its owner or it will be where it was left.
Named items are soon returned to their owner.
Hats/Shoes
Under our Sun-Safe Policy children are required to wear sunhats that are supplied by the Home and School in Term 1 and 4. If they lose their hat they will be asked to sit in the shade during the break times until it is found or replaced. Parents are responsible for buying the replacement hat (around $15.00). During the Winter Terms 3 & 4 children are expected to have appropriate footwear on while outside the classroom and to wear socks to school.
A programme of Religious Instruction operates during the year. This programme runs for half an hour per week on a day suitable to the school programme. Parents who do not want their children to be a part of this programme are asked to let the child’s teacher or the principal know so an alternative can be organised.
As Physical Fitness is part of the Curriculum programme all of our students are required to take part unless there is a sound medical reason for their not taking part. In this case contact from the parents/carers is required. PMP (Primary Motor Programme) is run for the junior syndicate. Parent help is required for this so if you can help, please see Mrs Waller.
Swimming
During the swimming season all classes have lessons in our heated pool. All students are expected to participate and parents/carers are asked to send along a note to the class teacher if they wish their child to be excused for health reasons. Children are to bring their togs EVERYDAY while the pool is open.
Year 7 & 8 students have technology instruction at Oamaru Intermediate School. On these days children need to be at school by 8.55am at the latest to catch the Technology bus into town.
The school allows those children who live in the vicinity of the school to cycle to school.
It is compulsory for children to wear a cycle helmet. Please note that our school policy
states that children need to be nine years and over to cycle to school.
A copy of the Papakaio School Charter and Strategic Plan is available for viewing on this Website. This important document provides the basis for the educational direction and programme of work, which this school uses. Our School Curriculum Action Plan, Governance File, Board Policies and the latest ERO report are also available for your perusal.
During the time your child is at school some personal information about your child and family will need to be collected and held at the school. Only personal information necessary for administrative purposes and to assess any special educational or health and welfare needs that the school is entitled to be aware of is collected.
The information is held at Papakaio School, 15 KRD, Oamaru and is accessible only by authorised staff members and the Board of Trustees. At any time you may request access to this information and you may request correction of the information.
Papakaio School adheres to the provisions of the Privacy Act 1993.
Our
students are treated in the Mobile Dental Bus based at the school during
certain times of the year. They may be contacted through Oamaru North
School 434-7512 or
on 027 479 1732 when the bus is at school.
The Public Health Nurse, Mr Lindsay Oakes, makes
regular visits to the school and keeps in close
contact with the students needs.
For further enquiries please either email us at principal@papakaio.school.nz or ring on (03) 4317-851
BBQ Lunch Fundraiser
Year 8s offer a BBQ once every two weeks,
on a Friday, as a way of fundraising.
We rely on parent help for this to happen, and ask each family
to help with one BBQ duty per year. A roster is sent home
at the beginning of each year with the dates.
If you are unable to help on that date it is appreciated if
you can swap that date with another family.
The options are: Sausage $1.00
Meat Patty $1.50
Ice Block $1.00
Order
forms are sent home at the beginning of each term, with the dates of the
terms BBQ’s. There is a option of either placing a standing order or
placing an order each BBQ day. These forms can be found in the school’s
weekly newsletter. We appreciate orders being handed in by Thursday
mornings to avoid any child missing out on their BBQ lunch.
The Year 8’s would like to thank you
for your help in fundraising
for their Wellington Camp.
For further enquiries please either email us at principal@papakaio.school.nz ring us at 03 4317851