Darfield Primary School

For Parents

ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL
When your child is absent from school, it is very important that you inform the school by 9am on the first morning of their absence that he/she is going to be away. This is very important as it quickly lets us know where your child is and that your child is safe. For safety reasons a phone call on each subsequent day your child is absent would be appreciated.
It is also helpful to let the school or class teacher know if you are picking your child up early for some reason.

ASSEMBLIES
School assemblies are held on alternate Tuesday afternoons at 2.30pm. School notices, merit awards, lost property and presentations of children’s work, form the programme for assemblies.
Both the Senior and Junior classes also hold their own regular assemblies.

BICYCLES
Children may cycle to school, however it is recommended by the Police Traffic Branch that parents of children under 9 years of age, think carefully before allowing their children to cycle to school.
No bicycles are to be ridden in the school grounds during school hours, and all cyclists must wear helmets.
As a safety measure cyclists are required to walk their bikes from the railway crossing on McMillan Street to the school and vice versa.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
A Board of Trustees of five elected Parent Representatives, and an elected Staff Representative and the Principal, is chosen every three years. Up to four others may be co-opted for varying periods as the Board requires.

The Board is responsible for the school’s management as set out in the School Trustees Act 1989. From October 1st 1989, the Trustees assumed the following important responsibilities:

1. The task of overseeing the preparation and maintenance of the School Charter.
2. The establishment of School Policy.
3. Approving and monitoring the School Finances and overseeing the  maintenance of school buildings and grounds.
4. To make staff appointments.
5. To report regularly on the School’s achievements.

The Board meetings are open to the public, and are held on a Tuesday, twice a term . Minutes of the Board meetings are available for parents to read, just look in the folder in the school foyer.

CARE OF SCHOOL PROPERTY
Where children take school property home such as library or reading books, we ask that every care is taken to maintain this equipment in good condition. Should an item be lost or damaged, parents may be asked to meet the cost of the replacement.

New entrants are encouraged to purchase a book bag when they start school, and we would appreciate children continuing to use these as library bags in the Senior School.

CHANGES TO ROUTINE
The school must be told if a child has your permission to vary the path he or she takes to or from school - to go home with another person or child - to go on or not to go on the school bus, or to go from the school grounds at lunch time. Please assist us to help ensure the safety of your child.

CHILDREN LEAVING SCHOOL
Please do not take your child away from the school for any reason during school hours without ensuring that the class teacher is informed.

DISCIPLINE
As a general rule, teachers are encouraged to emphasize the positive in children’s behaviour, thus building self worth.
On occasions, such techniques as time-out, or withdrawal of privilege may be used to discipline individual children. In all cases the child should be made aware of why his/her behaviour is unacceptable before the punishment is given.
The use of corporal punishment in N.Z. schools ceased in 1989. In its place a school wide ‘Steps” Behaviour Management Plan has been implemented. The ‘Steps” Plan is used as a disciplinary tool in the playground in particular.
On occasions the support of a Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour is sought to provide guidance to both staff and parents.

DENTAL TREATMENT
Parents are invited to enrol children at the School Dental Clinic from the age of two and a half years. Children’s teeth are checked regularly and parents are advised if a first filling is needed, or should any other problems arise. The Dental Clinic always has an open door and parents are more than welcome to visit at any time.
The School Dental Service is continually changing to keep up with modern techniques. Parents will be kept informed of any changes that will affect their children. A recent policy change means that children will be seen by need, rather than twice a year as in the past.

ENROLMENT ZONE
Our school has an enrolment zone in place. All families living inside the zone have an automatic right to attend Darfield Primary School. Families living outside the zone and who wish to attend Darfield Primary School must apply for an ‘out of zone’ place.  Vacancies for ‘out of zone’ places are advertised in the local paper. If applications exceed vacancies, a ballot will take place. Please contact the Office for a map of Darfield Primary School Enrolment Zone and for any enquiries regarding the scheme.

FAMILY FEES DONATION
Every year the Board of Trustees sets a voluntary contribution, levied on each family in the school. This fee, which each family is expected to pay, is used to provide extra equipment and materials which we cannot provide with the Ministry of Education’s bulk grants.

An invoice will be issued about the beginning of April each year. Upon receipt of the fees donation, a receipt will be issued and may be used for tax purposes.

FOOTWEAR
Children are not allowed to leave the school grounds in bare feet for safety reasons. Children require footwear suitable for physical education at the school every day. We also encourage children to have indoor and outdoor footwear during the winter months if possible.

GROUNDS
Children are encouraged to take pride in their school grounds. Sometimes working bees are held to attend to grounds maintenance, and to support our caretaker. The mowing of the field is contracted out.

HEALTH
The law makes attendance at school compulsory from the age of six, except when your child is ill.
If your child is sick, keep him/her at home but please write a note or contact the school to indicate you are fully aware of the absence and reason for it.

Accidents happen even in the best of regulated institution and we no doubt have our share of them. We have teachers on playground duty at all playtimes, but they cannot be everywhere at once. If a child has an accident, we look at the seriousness of it, and either deal with it at school, or if we are worried, we try to contact the parents or contact number, and the doctor if necessary.

If a child becomes ill our immediate action is to call you or the contact number.
Our sick bay can cater for one patient only at any time, so we endeavour to see that the child gets home as soon as possible.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT VISITS:  VISION AND HEARING
Members of the Health Department visit the school to test the vision and hearing of  all five year old new entrants and they also make follow-up checks on children not passing initially. Should parents have particular concerns about their child’s sight or hearing at other times, they should see their G.P.

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE
The Public Health Nurse visits Darfield Primary every month and can be contacted regarding health concerns at (03) 307-8378 or (027) 224-1609.
The Public Health Nurse also runs a regular clinic at Darfield High School.
The Public Health Nurse is prepared to run health lessons in the classroom when
requested by staff.

HELPING CHILDREN AT HOME
Every encouragement is given to parents to HELP children at home. Special help should be given only after discussion and guidance from the teacher.
Parents are asked not to undertake ANY teaching at home please, without discussion with the teacher first.
Your aim should be to assist, guide, provide support and security, and not to apply undue pressure and expectation.
HOMEWORK

The policy of the school is not to set homework just for the sake of the exercise. However as a general rule, children should be trained to set aside some time each week to do some home assignments. Homework in senior classes will generally encompass such things as finishing or practising a skill on work taught at school, learning tables, recreational reading, using reference materials to find the answers to questions, and sometimes project work. In junior classes homework will often be to share a set book, and to read library books to children as time permits.
Parents are encouraged to show interest in the homework children are doing, and to assist wherever they can.
There is also much to be gained from parents sharing in their children’s homework.

IMMUNISATION CERTIFICATE
From the beginning of 2000 schools must keep a register of whether children are immunised or not. This means that parents need to bring their child’s immunisation certificate when they enrol their child at school. The certificate is on the back of your child’s “Well Child” Health Book.

The register means that schools will know which children have had all their immunisations if there is an outbreak of disease in the community. If that happens the Medical Officer of Health may require all children who are not immunised to stay at home.

If you do not have a certificate your doctor or nurse can give you another one.
A new immunisation schedule was implemented from 1 February 2001. The major change is that the Measles–Mumps–Rubella and oral polio vaccines will be given at age 4 – 5 years.

LIBRARY
The school has a good library and we are constantly adding to our book stocks.
Please encourage your child to take care of their library books and to return them promptly.
All classes visit the library at least once a week.

LOST PROPERTY
Please name clothing, pencils, pens etc, these can then be easily returned. This is essential now that we have a school uniform.
Lost property is collected up each day. If anything is missing please let us know as soon
as possible.
Lost property is often held up at assembly for the children to claim. By naming clothing children have a good possibility of getting any lost items back. It is difficult for us to return clothing to its rightful owner if it is NOT named.

LUNCHES
During Terms 2 & 3 on Tuesdays and Thursdays children are able to bring lunches to school to be heated. Lunches must be well wrapped in foil and labelled in felt pen with the child’s name and room number.
Noodles and soup will have hot water added, Please label all containers well with name and room number.
Lunches can be collected from the hall kitchen window at 12.30pm.
On Wednesdays all year round lunches can be ordered from Espress Yourself Café. Orders should be placed by Tuesday for delivery on Wednesday at morning tea time. Please see the Office for more information and order forms.

MONEY
When money is requested for school activities, please send it along in an envelope with your child’s name and room number on it, and hand it in at our office.
Unless for lunches, stationery, or requested for an activity, we would prefer that
children do not bring money to school.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS
Please let the school know of any medical conditions or allergies – bee stings (perhaps medication should be kept at school) – hayfever, food allergies, asthma etc.
Also if your child is on medication for any reason, please let us know as this may
affect behaviour or bring on tiredness.

MEDICAL OFFICER
Will see children referred via the Public Health Professionals for any medical, social, or emotional problems if needed. The Medical Officer has access to specialised
medical services.
Sometimes a family may need to seek the advice of a trained counsellor or psychologist. The school may be able to refer you to the appropriate agency—please ask if you wish.

NEW ENTRANT PRE-VISITS
An orientation session may be taken with the parents/caregivers and the child/children.
This may include an explanation of procedures and routines, and a tour through the classrooms and playground so that they are aware of what is available for children entering Darfield Primary School.
Children may visit the New Entrants classrooms and take part in the programme, for about four visits before their 5th birthday, by mutual arrangement.
Before each child starts school their parent(s) will be asked to fill in an enrolment form at our Office. Parents enrolling children should also bring the child’s birth certificate and immunisation certificate with them.

NEWSLETTER
A newsletter is compiled through the week, published on Thursdays and given to the oldest or only child in the family to take home. The newsletter can also be emailed to you. Please contact the Office if you would like to be added to the email tree. Please ask your child for the newsletter on Thursday, and encourage him or her to deliver it responsibly. The newsletter is a valuable means of keeping our families informed of school happenings.

OUTDOOR EDUCATION
While the wider aspect of outdoor education covers all activities outside the classroom, overnight camps are to be encouraged as follows;

Yrs 3, 4   –  Overnight camp in a hall or school room handy to Darfield.
Yrs 5, 6   –  Three day camp at a fully equipped and catered campsite e.g. Woodend Beach (odd years)  Living Springs (even years)

REPORTING TO PARENTS
Reporting to parents is undertaken at least twice a year. Written reports are sent home at the end of the year with formal interviews will be held during the year. An informal interview is offered during February/March, based on the idea that the parents and teachers can help each other build a wider picture of their child. During the intervening time interviews can be arranged by appointment with the teacher, and held preferably after school.

PARENT-TEACHER’S ASSOCIATION
A committee is elected annually, and thereafter meets on the third Monday of each month. In addition, the association through it’s elected committee, arranges open meetings in association with the school principal and staff, at which invited speakers may speak on an education theme, and parents may be kept informed of new programmes and trends in education.

The Darfield Primary P.T.A. Committee also raises funds to buy extra equipment for the school. Parents are encouraged to take an active part in activities.

PARENT VISITS AND HELPERS
The school has an open door policy to all parents. Equally, if helpers are required, the school will approach parents and use it’s discretion on whose help it wishes to use. If parents wish to discuss a child’s progress, a suitable appointment should be
arranged to meet the teacher AFTER SCHOOL please.

PHONE MESSAGES
Except in an emergency, all phone calls should be made if possible
between 8.30 am and 3.15 pm please. You can leave a message if the phone lines are busy and even though this is checked regularly, please be aware we may not receive an important message before your child leaves school.

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION
This programme is organised by an authorised coordinator using voluntary instructors, many of whom are local clergy. It is held weekly on a Tuesday morning from 9.00am until 9.30am. The Board of Trustees approves the syllabus and the instructors at the beginning of each school year.

Parents who do not want their children to participate for personal reasons should write a note to the Principal asking for an exemption from attendance at these classes.

SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORT
Bus transport to and from school is provided as a right to all children UNDER 10 years of age who live as least 3.2 km from their NEAREST school, and to children 10 years of age and older who live at least 4.8 km from their nearest school.

As from 1995 the Malvern School’s Transport Association has organised and run the bus services to Darfield Primary School. New families to the school should consult with the Principal at the time of enrolling their children, should they want to make use of the bus services.
Currently it is possible for ineligible pupils to travel to and from school by the bus, subject to there being seats available. The Malvern School’s Transport Association also reserves the right to charge ineligible pupils a fee to use the buses, should this prove necessary. Parents of ineligible pupils should understand that in the case of the bus becoming overloaded, then their children would be the first to have their permission to use the bus withdrawn.
In some cases the use of the bus may not be justified, and in this case a conveyance allowance may be paid by the association, so that parents might be recompensed for transporting their own children to school or to the end of a bus route. This allowance only applies to pupils who are eligible for school bus transport.

At school each day the Principal or his representative, records the names of all children travelling HOME by bus. This is for the children’s safety. The school MUST be kept informed of any significant changes in the use of the buses by any family for the same reason.
PLEASE NOTE that NON bus children may only use the school bus upon providing a note from their parents which is given to the office at least 24 hours before the requested travel. This is then passed to the Bus Controller at Darfield High School.
A note is required for EACH bus use. Use of the bus by such children is completely at the discretion of the School Principal and/or the Bus Controller of Darfield High School, and will depend upon such factors as bus loading, pupil safety and operational requirements.

SCHOOL CLOSURES
The Board of Trustees may close the school in an emergency, e.g. a snowfall.
In such cases Newstalk 3ZB will be used to inform parents at the earliest possible time in the morning.

SCHOOL HOURS

A school day is considered as being from 8.30am until after the grounds clear,
following the bus’s departure at approximately 3.15pm.

 8.30am – Bell to allow children into the school grounds. It is
   recommended that the children don’t arrive earlier.
 8.55am – Pre-bell to give children time to get to class.
 9.00am – School begins.
10.30am – Morning tea break.
11.40am—Bell for morning tea play.
10.50am – School recommences.
12.30pm – Lunch break.
12.50pm – Children free to play.
  1.25pm – Pre-bell to allow children time to get to toilet and class.
  1.30pm – School recommences.
  3.00pm – School finishes.
  3.10pm – Bus loading.
3.20-3.30pm – School grounds cleared of children.

PLEASE NOTE
It is school policy that all juniors stay at school until 3.00pm.
Should new entrant children suffer from fatigue it is recommended that they have a day at home to freshen up.

SCHOOL PATROL
The kea crossing of State Highway 73 is patrolled daily by Year 6 pupils, especially trained for the task at the end of Year 5. A teacher will supervise the pupils each morning.
In the afternoon all children needing to cross the main road at the kea crossing will meet the duty teacher by the staffroom, to be walked down to the crossing and assisted over the road.

SCHOOL SWIMMING
During the swimming season children are asked to bring their togs and towel in a bag to school every day.
If children are unable to swim for health reasons, a note should be sent along to the class teacher.

SCHOOL TRIPS
Where large groups of children are travelling, school policy is to use buses with
sufficient seating for all children, so that no child is required to stand.
This concerns day trips, overnight trips or camping exercises etc., which are covered in the relevant section dealing with outdoor education.
Where single class groups undertake trips, a bus may be uneconomic. Cars may be used, after consultation with the Principal. In this case every child MUST have a seat belt, and the cars used must have a current Warrant of Fitness and registration, and all drivers must have a current licence.

SCHOLASTIC BOOKS
These are sold through the school about twice a term. The children’s orders are
coordinated and sent away together. Order forms are made available to the children when we receive them. Please make cheques payable to Darfield Primary School.

SELF MANAGING SCHOOL
One of the main aims of the Today’s Schools reforms, is to
promote self management in every N.Z. School.
One of the main ways of achieving this is through the writing of a wide range of
curriculum and management policies.
Over the past few years a number of vital policies have been written, many in
consultation with the community and which are consistent with the self management concept.
Copies of these policies will at times be sent home with the weekly newsletter, and ALL are available in a file in the foyer at any time for parents to read.

SPECIALIST EDUCATION SERVICE
This service is a branch of the Ministry of Education and is located in Christchurch – phone (03) 378 7300
At times all children behave in a way that concerns their parents and teachers. Before teachers and parents make a mutual decision to approach the Specialist Ed. Service for help with a child’s behaviour, they should be certain that the child does not have some physical illness.
The High School Counsellor is often happy to deal with any queries.
The school now has access to a Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour. Her help may be sought by the child’s teacher but only after discussing their concerns with the child’s parents and the school’s Special Education Co-ordinator first.

SPEECH THERAPIST
Speech Therapists are specialist teachers who run a clinic at this school.
At a teacher’s, parent’s or doctor’s request, they take children with speech defects, needing out of class individual attention. Each class lists children with small defects and these are checked out. Parents should feel free to attend any of the sessions where their children are working with the speech therapist, but should remember that most success in this field is achieved in a one to one situation.
Please contact the class teacher or Principal for extra information or to discuss possible referrals.

STATIONERY PURCHASES
All stationery requirements are available from the school office should you wish to purchase this from school. However it is now school policy that all orders MUST be accompanied by the money. Price lists are available upon request. Our prices are competitive.

STRANGER DANGER
It is always wise for children to walk to and from school in groups. Special provision should be made for new entrant children in particular.
Children should stick to main routes when walking to and from school, and avoid loitering in areas such as trees etc.

WET DAYS
The children are supervised in their classrooms by two senior pupils where necessary and the duty teachers. Sometimes children bring board games etc. along to school to help occupy wet playtimes and lunchtimes.