CORE SCHOOL RULES
So that students are all quite clear about what is acceptable and what is
not, a set of six core rules has been determined.
1.
Do as asked first time
2.
Use good manners
3.
Treat others nicely
4.
Keep our hands and feet to ourselves
5.
Respect our own and others property
6.
Do our best
These rules can be expanded into more specific rules for the classroom
in consultation with children.
These rules are expanded into more specific rules for the classroom in
consultation with students.
Each class operates a Behaviour Management programme within the classroom
which supports the Cool Choice action plan.
We are also a “Cool
School” and have trained pupils as Peer Mediators to encourage children
to make the right choice and solve differences without conflict.
BELL TIMES
Our
Bell
times are another ‘Point of Difference’ for Eltham School.
Children are not to be at school before
8.30am
Children allowed into school grounds and rooms 8.30am
Morning school begins
8.55am
Morning Interval 10.40am – 11.20am
Lunch Interval 1.00pm
– 1.40pm
School finishes
3.00pm
Bus bell
3.30pm
The purpose is to give a better staggered food/energy intake and it is
believed children learn better as a result. The slightly longer morning
enables more effective teaching at prime learning times and the slightly
shorter afternoon suits children who have difficulty concentrating in
the afternoon. The shorter lunch break suits a number of our children
who have difficulty coping with a full hour of free choice.
Bicycles
The Eltham School Board of Trustees Policy on Safe Cycling states:
Ø
“No students under the age of 10 will be permitted to ride a
bicycle to or from
Eltham
Primary
School”.
Ø
“Should any child under the age to 10 ride a bicycle to
school the bicycle will be impounded and the Parent/Caregiver will be
notified and requested to collect same.”
Ø
“It is the Parent/Caregiver’s responsibility to ensure that
their child’s bicycle is up to safety requirements as stated by the
Police”.
Cycle stands are provided in the school grounds for storage of bicycles
during normal school hours. All bicycles should be locked. We cannot
take responsibility for loss or damage.
BOOKS IN HOMES
We are part of this very positive programme for the first time in 2005.
During the year every child will receive through school at least 5 books
which are theirs to take home and keep. This is only one aspect of this
programme to foster a love of books and reading.
BUS PUPILS
The bus bringing children to
Eltham
School, stops outside the School Dairy on High Street at approximately
8.25am. (Bus children may order their lunches at that time). All
children are to cross at the crossing opposite the school gates.
After school a bell is rung at
3.30pm,
once children have signed out of the bus book, they are then escorted to
their bus by the Teacher on Duty. The bus leaves from opposite the
school gates at approximately 3.35pm.
If bus pupils are to be collected after school any day, it is the
responsibility of that parent to ensure their child is signed out of the
bus book.
CHARTER/Strategic Plan
Copies of the School Charter and Strategic Plan under which we operate
are available from the school office. These documents outline our
school’s legal requirements and local goals.
Collecting Children from School
Children are collected after school by parents driving motor
vehicles. No vehicles are allowed in the school grounds to
collect children except in case of emergency or disability.
When collecting children parents are requested to observe normal
courteous road behaviour and park safety.
Do not park over
the entrance ways to the school or where the road patroller’s vision is
obscured. If your children are required to cross the road to your
vehicle, the crossing must
be used. Bicycle/Pedestrian traffic using the vehicle entrance by
the Dental Clinic is prohibited. Please do not do u-turns
outside the school and we expect all parents to be good role models and
use the crossing.
Crossing Patrols
Because both High Street and Conway Road carry a considerable volume of
traffic, each has a school crossing patrol supervised by a teacher
operating at the following times;
8.30 until
8.55am
3.00 until
3.15pm
CULTURAL
ACTIVITIES
As part of our programmes to cater for the Gifted & Talented we aim to
offer a variety of cultural activities that are fun, challenging and
competitive. Our Chess Club is an example of this. If you have a
passion for an activity that might captivate a small group of children
please contact school.
Dental Clinic
All children are usually seen by the Dental Nurse once a year while
attending Primary School. Because of Area Health Board policy changes,
our clinic may open and close without warning. If our clinic is closed
and you have concerns regarding your children’s teeth, please direct
them to Stratford Clinic on 765 6132.
Electives
Each year we run a programme of Cultural and Winter/Summer Sports
Electives in the Senior Syndicate. The range of activities will depend
on the amount of support we receive from a combination of community
people and parents. Winter sports electives are generally run in Term
3, summer electives in Term 4, Cultural electives are scheduled for Term
2 and cover a wide range of craft activities. Some activities have a
small cost, most do not.
Emergency Procedures
The school has a Board of Trustees approved and District Council approved
Emergency Evacuation plan. A copy of this is available in the school
policy folder in the foyer. Regular emergency evacuations are held to
train the pupils how to evacuate buildings in the event of disaster
situations. The Emergency Evacuation Plan details what will happen in
the event of a major Civil Defence Emergency. All pupils will stay on
site in the care of the school until the Emergency Welfare Controller
can assume responsibility. In the event the school buildings are
uninhabitable, pupils will be escorted under school care, to the nearest
safe building able to accommodate them (i.e. Baptist Church Hall in
York Street). Eltham School is a designated Emergency Welfare Centre
(the new title for Civil Defence) and is a gathering place in an
emergency.
FUNDRAISING
Besides the efforts of our PTA we have one regular fundraising programme
in which we hope you will participate. This is the Telecom School
Connection, where a percentage of your Toll Calls is donated to our
school. The School Office has details on this very worthwhile
programme.
HEALTH &
HYGIENE
Our Public Health Nurse (Joanne Christensen) and Taranaki Healthcare
Hearing/Vision Tester (Mrs Denise Smith) make regular visits to school.
They carry out checks on children referred by school plus some routine
checks. The purpose of the checks are to identify problems which could
be barriers to learning. Parents will be notified if a problem is
identified, so any necessary treatment can be arranged. Where possible
parents will be advised when checks are being done by these health
professionals. Please ensure your children wear clean, appropriate
clothing to school. Parents also need to regularly check all children’s
hair for head lice. If you have a major problem with this please let us
know. We can supply advice.
Healthy eating
As a school we are concerned about the poor diet and eating habits of a
significant number of students. Too many children have inadequate food
or food that is high in sugar, salt, fat or additives. Please ensure
that your children have a healthy breakfast at home and bring a healthy
lunch to school. We have a rule of no eating or drinking at school
before
9.00am
(water is the exception). Teachers will sit with and supervise their
class eating play lunch and lunch. Parents of children who have no food
or unsuitable food/drink will be contacted.
Soft
drinks and sweets are banned at Eltham
School apart from special occasions. There is a chilled water
filter machine in Block B & C and children are encouraged to have their
own water bottle.
Homework
The school favours homework being done for a variety of reasons – the
establishment of work habits and routines, maintenance of skills covered
during lessons, completion of work set at school but unfinished,
practise revision of work content and individual programmes designed to
help a specific problem. All pupils are encouraged to read regularly
and widely at home. Each class operates its own home reading programme.
Information and communication technology (ICT)
Development of Information and Communication Technology skills is an
integral part of classroom programmes. Our school has an iMac
Computer platform. We have a computer suite for class lessons and
each class has access to a set of laptops.
Eltham
School is part of a comprehensive 3 year ICT Development Contract with
the Ministry of Education which started in 2004 and we expect to see
significantly enhanced ICT outcomes for students as a result.
We were also very lucky to be part of the ‘Computers in Homes’ Programme
in 2005. 15 of our families received training and were then provided
with a computer and Internet connection for home use. This will
continue with 15 more families eligible for this scheme. If you are
interested contact the office.
IMMUNISATION RECORDS
The school is now required to sight and record information on the
Immunisation of all New Entrants (5 year olds). When you enrol your 5
year old please bring their Immunisation Certificate with you.
Kapa Haka
We have a strong Kapa Haka group who practise weekly and welcome the
involvement of all interested students.
Leaving School Grounds
Children are not allowed to leave the school grounds during the school
day without written permission. If your child is to go home for lunch
each day, please send a note explaining this to the Class Teacher at the
beginning of each term.
Library – Learning Centre
The Learning Centre is computerised with all books having a barcode to
allow their issue/receipt. We have in the library a computer through
which children can access information electronically.
The school library is our most valuable non-human resource. We encourage
children to read as widely as possible to help extend their knowledge.
Your help at home in taking an interest in your child’s reading is very
valuable in developing good reading habits and interests. Each class
has regular visits to the School Library.
Lost Property
If your child loses any clothing at school they are to ask permission of
their teacher to look through the lost property basket. To minimise the
lost property, we request that all clothing, including underwear,
socks, shoes and handkerchiefs, be named, use either name tags or a
special laundry marking pen. Please note we cannot store large
amounts of lost property indefinitely. All unclaimed clothing is
donated to a charitable organisation at the end of each term.
Lunches
Lunches may be ordered daily, prior to
8.55am at
the Dairy on the corner of
Conway Road
and High Street. A list of what is available and school prices for the
Dairy are published in the 1st/2nd Newsletter of
the year and it is advised that you keep this list handy for future
reference. Any price changes during the year are notified through the
school newsletter. Lunches are delivered to school at 1.00pm and are
then distributed to the children by prefects. Please remind your
children that they are to order lunches, not buy sweets.
Music Arts
Our school offers students the opportunity to be members of the school
choir, dance group, and/or tuition in violin. If interest warrants,
other instruments may also be offered.
PHOTOGRAPHS
Each year, in Term 3, photographs are taken of individuals, classes,
sports teams, and cultural groups. There is a money back guarantee if
you are not satisfied with your photos once you have viewed them. We
will notify you through our school newsletter when these will take
place. When you receive home your photograph order form – please
read instructions carefully – each year we have numerous problems
and questions that could be avoided if only the instructions were read
thoroughly. It is a huge job collating orders so your co-operation is
very much appreciated.
Prizegiving
Our final assembly each term includes presentations for achievements
during that term. Our school community is invited to attend and
celebrate the success of pupils who have achieved highly either on the
sports field or academically. We believe in challenging our pupils to
achieve their personal best, and to acknowledge this when a very high
standard is achieved.
PTA
The school has a hard working PTA that co-ordinates many fundraising and
other activities each year.
These are well organised, but must have your support. Please respond
when they ask for help. Their efforts are for your children. Monthly
sausage sizzles are held on the last Wednesday of each month, order
forms are included in the newsletter prior to that week. On-going
fundraising ventures will be advertised in the newsletters.
Queries/Concerns
Should you wish to contact the Principal, Team Leaders or Class Teacher
with a concern, please ring the Office for an appointment (764 8099).
We encourage parents to keep in regular contact so that a concern
doesn’t get to the stage of being a problem. In this way Staff can make
arrangements to take the time for an effective meeting. It is
inappropriate for a parent to discuss matters with a teacher at the
start of a school day when the teacher should be focussed on settling
their class for the day. An agreed appointment time is much more
effective. Staff will not be disturbed while they are teaching. Please
do not ring and ask for phone messages to be given to children,
except in emergencies.
Reporting to parents
At
Eltham
School we have an ‘open door’ policy and would like parents to feel
welcome to phone or come to school at any pre-arranged time to discuss a
child’s progress or any other concerns they may have. Towards the end
of the first term (late March), and mid Term Three, formal ‘School
Interviews’ will be held.
These take the form of a ten-minute interview where your child’s progress
is discussed in detail with the class teacher and agreement reached on
how home and school can work together to ensure each child’s needs are
met. Towards the end of the fourth term you will receive a ‘Written
Report’ on your child’s work for the year.
School DONATIONS
The Government through a series of Grants, meets the costs of most items
in a school – staff salaries, the power bill, gas heating for the
classrooms in the colder weather, text books, building maintenance,
cleaning supplies and telephone charges, etc – you could call them the
“housekeeping” bills. Extras such as additional books for the library,
sports equipment, visual aids, mathematics resources and teaching
resources, still need to be funded by the school community. To assist
with this funding, a fee is asked for from each family. The school fee
is set at $70.00 per year for 2006. If paid in full in Term 1 or an
automatic payment is set up this school fee is discounted to $60.00.
Please note this is not per child, only per family. An invoice is sent
home at the beginning of the year for the full amount, however you can
pay this at $17.50 per term or if you wish to pay in some other way,
please contact the School Office to make personal & confidential
arrangements PLEASE NOTE THESE FEES ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE AS A DONATION.
Each family who pays their fees receives at the end of the year a
complimentary copy of our highly respected Yearbook.
School ORGANIsATION
The school is divided into two Syndicate areas. Room’s 8, 9, 10, & 11
are the Junior Syndicate and Room’s 5, 6, 7 & 12 are Senior Syndicate.
A senior staff member leads each of the syndicate groups and they are
responsible for the development of programmes of work aimed at meeting
the broad objectives of the school. Within each group a variety of
co-operative planning and teaching techniques are used.
Service to our School
As students move up through the school we expect all of them to undertake
responsibilities as service to their school. These responsibilities
include Library, Peer Mediation, Road Patrol, Prefects & School
Captains. Service to others is an essential life skill which is often
overlooked in today’s world. Commitment is another essential life
skill. If after due consideration a student decides to take on an
additional activity or responsibility they are expected to be committed
and opting out is not an option.
Sickness At School
Children who become ill during school time are cared for in the Medical
Room for a short period. If your child requires further attention you
will be advised by telephone. All staff are able to administer First
Aid and attend to minor injuries. We keep a record of all injuries.
Please keep us informed if your child is on any form of medication.
Smoking Policy
As required by the Smoke Free Environments Act 2003 all of the
Eltham
School site is smoke free at all times. This means no one may smoke
while on the school property (both grounds and buildings) at any time.
This includes outside school hours, weekends and holidays.
SportS
We have a strong culture of sporting activities in our school, which is
supported by a full range of sports trophies (in all codes) to
acknowledge those who excel in the sports field. We run regular sports
afternoons on Fridays in the Senior Syndicate, in between electives and
inter-school sports. During Term 3 we participate in a series of
approximately five winter sports exchanges with other schools in
Taranaki, in Hockey,
Rugby,
Soccer and Netball. Annually we also have our school swimming sports,
athletic sports and cross country.
Newsletters
The eldest child in the family is given a newsletter to take home each
Monday. If you do not receive one, spare copies are kept by the glass
slide outside the Office. To keep yourself informed of current
happenings – please read each newsletter carefully.
Local businesses sponsor our newsletter. Please give them your support.
Parent Helpers
We welcome Parent Helpers in our classrooms for a variety of purposes.
Class teachers will ask for help but if you wish to offer your services
talk to the class teacher.
The school values using parents’ special strengths or expertise in
various fields – e.g. sports, crafts, computing, books, etc. Please let
us know your particular strengths so that we can work together.
STATIONERY
Staff encourage your children to use all the pages of an exercise book
before purchasing a new one. Your child will come home with a full
stationery list within the first week of school. These may be purchased
at school. We have the full stationery requirements your child needs,
right here at school and these are priced very competitively. Any small
profit made from sales go back into the curriculum teaching area. We
endeavour to maintain these prices throughout the year, however some
changes may be necessary towards the end of the school year. If your
child requires additional stationery through the year the class teacher
will send home a note advising you of the book and the amount of money
required for its purchase. Please have your child take the note and
money to the Office Staff before school starts the next
day. The Office Staff will issue your child with the stationery
requested.
As part of our Bookwork Standards guidelines we expect all student
exercise books to be covered.
STUDENT
SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP
Our school offers students the opportunity for social growth through
mentoring programmes, peer mediation, peer tutoring, buddies and
leadership training.
Sunsmart
We wish children to be sunsmart and encourage children to use sunscreen,
wear sun hats and cover up when out in the sun. We have a Sunsmart
Policy. Children are issued with a school hat to be worn outdoors
during daylight saving months. These hats are owned by the school and
have been donated for the benefit of our children.
Swimming
Swimming tuition is a requirement of the Physical Education Curriculum.
Swimming lessons are taken every day during the first six weeks of Term
1. Please ensure your children have their swimming gear every day. If
your child is not able to swim please send a note to the class teacher.
To avoid clothing mix-ups, please name your children’s clothing.
Technology Centre
All children in Year 7/8 receive tuition in Technology. These activities
cover a full range from food, textiles, design, mechanical and workshop
technologies. Our Technology Centre is located opposite Eltham BP
Service Station on High Street. Parents are welcome to ‘pop’ in at any
time and meet our staff and watch their children at work. Our usual
Technology time is on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. All children
are required to wear shoes. It is important to understand that the
pupils are required to pay a ‘materials’ fee for the projects they
undertake. This is in addition to the costs met by the school. The fee
for 2006 is $40.00 ($10.00 per term). All materials, books etc are
supplied as part of this fee. Pupils do not have to bring additional
materials from home.
UNIFORMS
Uniforms are not compulsory at
Eltham
School. During 2006 parents can order items from the office. Price
lists and order forms are available at the office.
Values Charter
We believe that positive and appropriate attitudes and values are crucial
to successful learning.
Eltham
Primary School, in conjunction with students, caregivers and teachers
has developed a brief Values Charter that will help us focus on how we
can all work together for the benefit of our students. A copy of this
Charter will go home to each family early in the year, along with a
sheet entitled ‘Expected Behaviour at Eltham School.
Website
Eltham
Primary School has a comprehensive Website that is updated weekly with
our weekly newsletter. It is well worth a visit.
www.eltham.orcon.net.nz
Yearbook
At the conclusion of each year we publish a School Yearbook as a
celebration of our achievements over that year. This is provided free
to all school families who have paid their school fee.
