School Guidelines & Expectations

Absence

Parents are required to give written or telephoned explanation of any absence from school. Parents occasionally ask to have children away from school for one reason or another. Whilst teachers are not legally entitled to authorise this there are times when these situations are necessary and parents are trusted to use their discretion.

Accident or illness at school

Minor ailments will be treated at school. If it is more serious, we will ring you and have you collect the child to take to the Doctor or Hospital. Therefore, it is important, when you enrol your child, to let us know your private telephone number, and also an emergency number, for us to ring if you are away.

Please notify school if children have medicine to take at school, or if children develop health problems that may occasionally require the giving of a particular form of treatment.
It is important we are kept up to date with changes.

Banking

Children may open an A.N.Z. or B.N.Z. Savings Account and bank through the school from the age of five years.
School banking day is Wednesday.

Parents are asked to fill out the deposit slip, enclose the money, book and slip in the envelope and return to school on Wednesday morning.

Bus

Two bus runs operate from the school. One bus completes both runs.

It is appreciated if you notify the driver, Mr. Little, telephone 689-9857, should your child/children not be using the bus on a certain day or if the pick up/drop off point is different to usual.

If Mr. Little cannot be contacted please contact the household that precedes you on the run.

BUS EXPECTATIONS

  • Pupils should wear the high visibility vest that is provided by the school.
  • Pupils should not be allowed to board or alight from moving buses.
  • Pupils should not be permitted to interfere with the driver’s vision or control of the bus.
  • On leaving the bus, pupils should wait on the side of the road until the vehicle has moved off, so that they may have a clear view of the road before crossing.
  • Pupils must not leave the bus between their homes and their school, and vice versa without parental permission given to the Bus Controller or driver.
  • While awaiting the arrival of buses after school, pupils must wait in an orderly manner inside the school gates.
  • Children must sit in their designated seats at all times on the bus and behave in an orderly manner while travelling.
  • Responsibility or disciplining pupils rests with the Bus Controller.
  • No food to be eaten on bus.

BUS RULES MISDEMEANOURS

  • If a misdemeanour is minor the driver will warn the pupil and notify the Bus Controller of the incident. The Bus Controller to use discretion for further action.
  • If misbehaviour still persists the Bus Controller is to notify parents and discuss the problem and rectify.
  • If misbehaviour still persists the Principal is to take disciplinary action.

Parents please discuss these expectations with your children.

Clothing

School uniform is optional, however we ask that Waituna Creek School Sports Tops are worn by all students when on school trips.

We encourage children to be appropriately dressed at school as physical activity and art are incorporated daily into our teaching.

Sports Polo Shirts: Supplies of Waituna Creek polo shirts are held at school with a purchase price from $17:70 (depending on size).

Sun-Hats: Waituna Creek sun-hats are to be worn in term 1 and 4, or earlier dependent weather. These can be purchased at the school office for $11:00.

Labelling clothing does help avoid loss and we encourage parents to do so as it makes returning clothing to the correct owners much easier.

Lost Property: The lost property box/basket is situated in the Junior cloak bay or outside on the verandah. Parents are asked to check here regularly for missing clothing.

Lunches

Children sit and eat for 15 – 20 minutes before they can run off and play, otherwise younger children ‘forget’ to eat their lunches.

Children may have their lunch heated in the pie warmer during terms 2/3. Items of food must be wrapped in tin foil and labeled clearly with felt pen.

Subway is available every second Tuesday. Order forms are sent home at the start of each term.

Medical

The Public Health Nurse, Kate Balfour, visits the school approximately once a month. She can be contacted on : (03) 684-1510 or (027) 208-7086 if you require advice or guidance on health matters.

The Health Department conducts regular Vision & Hearing Testing. You will be contacted if your child has any problems with hearing or vision.

Dental treatment

The Mobile Dental Unit visits the school every year. Children will be seen either on a 6 monthly or annual basis. The Dental Nurse will contact parents.

Emergency closure of the school

In the event of extraordinary conditions such as flooding, snow, high winds etc, necessitating the closure of the school you will be notified by telephone.

The Principal and the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees will make the decision jointly.

Homework

Homework occurs as the need arises and will mainly involve completing unfinished work or reinforcing previous work. Any homework the child does not understand and which causes frustration should be left.

Children throughout the school are to be encouraged to read at home and will be supplied with a home reader or library books most nights. The emphasis on home reading is ENJOYMENT.

Parents need to be careful to praise their child for their successes, rather than be critical of their failures.

Library

We are fortunate to have a computerized school library well stocked with books. Children are free to borrow up to four books at a time. Books may be taken home. If books are not returned a replacement fee of $15 a book will occur.

Stationery

We run a stationery account for your child/children at school. These are either Monthly or Lump Sum accounts.

  1. Monthly Accounts: Sent out to you monthly (or as necessary).
  2. Lump Sum: $10:00 per child deposited in your child/children’s stationery account. Stationery used is debited to their account. Parents are contacted when another Lump Sum is required.

You will be asked to state your preference when enrolling your child/children at school.

Scholastic book club

The children have the opportunity to purchase Scholastic Book Club books every term at very reasonable prices.
Leaflets will be sent home with your child with due back dates printed on them.

Your child returns the order form and payment to school before the due date in a named, sealed envelope.

Please pay by cheque made out to Scholastic N.Z.

There is no obligation to purchase these books.

Telephone calls to school

As all staff at Waituna Creek School are teaching positions the best time to contact staff is before 8:55 a.m., during morning break (10:30 – 11:00), during the lunch hour (12:30 – 1:20), or after 3:00 p.m. Otherwise an answer machine is available for you to leave a message and will be checked at breaks throughout the day.

Telephone grapevine

The school has a telephone grapevine. We use this for contacting all Parents on such occasions as cancellation of sports, bus breakdowns, school closures etc.

Religious instruction

Following a Board of Trustees Policy the children have Religious Instruction on Thursday mornings from 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. While it is not compulsory, the children thoroughly enjoy these sessions.

If you wish your children to be withdrawn from Religious Instruction, please contact the Principal.

Reporting to parents

Parents are invited to discuss their child’s progress at any time throughout the school year, and this is particularly desirable if problems begin to appear.

Formal Parent Teacher Interviews are held during Terms 2 and 4 or when deemed necessary. A written report is sent home at the end of Term 2 and 4.

Swimming lessons

We hold two blocks of two weeks of swimming lessons. The first block is in term 1 and then in term 4. We travel into Waimate via parent cars or on the school bus.

Combined sports

Waituna Creek School joins with other rural schools for the Swimming Sports, Cross Country and Run, Jump, Throw.
All children participate in these events. Following these events we combine with the town schools for District Sports for the above events and a Gymnastic Festival. Children have to reach a certain standard and be a certain age to participate in the District Sports.

The Swimming Sports are held at the Norman Kirk Pool, Waimate, Run, Jump, Throw at Waimate High School Sports Field, and the Cross Country races are held at Knottingley Park, Waimate.