ABSENCES

It is a legal requirement for schools to keep a roll and enter data accurately. For safety reasons, if your child is away from school we need to be notified by phone or note. The school number is 868 4838 please leave a message if your call is not answered, the phone is regularly checked. The school is required to keep a record of attendance and we may need to follow up on unexplained absences through the Thames Truancy Service if we are unable to ascertain the reason for continued or unexplained absences.

BEHAVIOUR

A high standard of behaviour is expected at all times. 

The school rules are simple;

1:  BE KIND - Don’t hurt anyone by what you say or do.  Don’t punch, kick, hit, swear, name call or hurt people’s feelings

 2: BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME DOING THE RIGHT THING ­ - Play in the correct areas. Don’t leave the school without permission. 

3: RESPECT PROPERTY - Look after school property and other people’s property.  Put rubbish in the bins and take home lunch wrappers and uneaten food.

CONTACTING THE SCHOOL

Parents/Caregivers are very welcome visitors to the school.  There is always a cup of tea available in the staffroom.  You can either phone or email if you are not able to call in in person.  If you need to discuss a specific matter it would be advisable to make an appointment at a time to suit you and the staff.

CYCLING TO SCHOOL

Children 10 years or older are allowed to cycle to school.  They must wear helmets and walk their bikes into school when they reach the gate.  An uncovered cycle rack is provided for storing bikes during the day.  Bikes are not permitted to be ridden around during the school day.  The school endeavours to ‘keep an eye’ on the bikes but the final responsibility for the security of these rests with the family. 

COMMUNITY USE OF THE GROUNDS AND FACILITIES 

Our grounds are open families to use outside of school hours. Our grounds are strictly NON-SMOKING and NON-ALCOHOL and we request that no bottles or cans are brought on to the property.   Motorised vehicles are not permitted on the grounds at any time unless on school business. Dogs are also not permitted on the school grounds.  Anyone using the grounds out of school hours does so at their own risk and we ask that the grounds are treated with respect.  Please note the signs displayed around the school and leave only your footsteps behind. Those who do not follow these rules may be asked to leave the grounds.

CHILDHOOD ILLNESSES AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Please keep children away from school if they have a bad cough or cold, diarrhea or vomiting, or feverish.

Some children may not be fully immunised so please notify us if any of these that occur with members of your family so we can notify other school families. Also please check your children’s hair for nits regularly and treat if required.  The lice love clean hair and it is not a reflection on hygiene.

New Zealand is currently at risk of a measles outbreak. This is due to low immunisation rates. Please check that your child has been immunised and if they have not consider having them receive measles immunisation. 

The local Medical Officer of Health can look at the register to see what vaccinations a child has and may contact parents to offer support with immunising their child.

DENTAL THERAPISTS

The Dental Therapists are supplied with up-dated contact lists of the parents and then they contact you directly to make appointment times for screening and completing any necessary work on your children’s teeth.  Please let the school know when you will be taking your child/ren to these appointments so we can amend the roll accordingly. The Dental Therapists will let you know where they are parked when booking upcoming visits.  For urgent dental work you need to contact the Thames Dental Centre in town.

ELECTRONIC GAMES, PHONES, AND TOYS

These items are not permitted at school unless by prior arrangements with the Principal. Toys, phones and devices can easily be broken, lost, or be the source of arguments so we ask that these are left at home.  We also ask parents to be vigilant and completely aware of their children’s activities on any social media sites, including games where comments can be left.

ENROLMENT

Prospective students can be enrolled prior to their fifth birthday but can only legally attend school once they do finally turn five.  It is best to contact the school a few weeks before hand to familiarize yourself, and your child, with the staff and school, and get uniform items sorted.  Prospective new entrants are encouraged to attend morning and afternoon sessions, at a time to suit both the class teacher and parent.  This will allow them to spend time in their classroom and meet their classmates. Please note that during pre-School visits, children remain the responsibility of their parents, not the school. On enrolment day bring the following documents and information along to school with your completed forms.

Ø Full Birth Certificate

Ø Child’s full name

Ø Pre-school Immunization record                                                  

Ø Parent(s) / Caregiver(s) name(s)

Ø Occupation

Ø Residential & Mailing address

Ø Telephone number

Ø Alternative Emergency Contact name & ph no.

Ø Name of family Doctor

Ø Information on any serious illnesses, allergies or other health

       concerns your child may be prone to or have suffered

Ø Medication if required.

For new entrants it is a good idea to bring an extra set of clothes along for the first little while in case of unexpected mishaps.  Every care will be taken to ensure that your child’s introduction to school will be as smooth and pleasurable as possible.

FIRST AID

First aid is administered, where appropriate.  In the event of serious injury, every endeavor is made to contact a parent, but if this is not possible, we may need to call an ambulance for your child.  In all cases of sickness or injury, the safety, comfort and well-being of the child will be top priority.  We ensure that at all times at least one member of staff onsite has an up to date first aid certificate.

REPORTING TO PARENTS

Parents receive a written report on the progress of their child/ren twice each year – once around the middle of the year and again at the end of the year. Parents are welcomed to discuss their child's report and their next steps.  Being a small school we are fortunate to know most of the parents and have the opportunity to speak to them should problems arise between designated reporting times.

SCHOOL ATTIRE/ UNIFORMS

Wearing the school uniform is expected as part of being a Tapu School pupil.  Information on how to obtain your uniform can be obtained from the Office Manager.  All clothing should be named. The only jewelry permitted is a watch or sleeper/s or stud/s earrings. This is for safety reasons. Cultural necklaces are permitted but are the responsibility of the owner. 

SMOKE AND ALCOHOL FREE                 
In accordance with Government legislation, Tapu School as with all public venues, is a smoke and alcohol free environment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This covers the buildings and grounds.

STATIONERY

A stationery list will be issued on or prior to enrolment and at the end of the school year in with your child/rens reports.  We do not sell stationery at school and request that parents try to obtain necessary items as soon as possible at the beginning of each year.  We work hard to keep the requirements as minimal as possible as we understand this can be an expensive time of the year for a lot of families these days.  We are happy for books to be carried over from one year to the next to use up any empty pages. 

SUN HATS & SUNSCREEN:

The wearing of the Tapu School hat is compulsory during Terms 1 & 4.  This is a hat approved by the Cancer Society. Those children who don't have a school sun hat must remain on the deck under the shade.  School hats are to be left at school so they are available every day. Hats can be purchased from the school office. The School Sun Smart Policy is promoted and supported by the Cancer Society of New Zealand.  Parents are encouraged to apply Sunscreen to their children before coming to school during the hotter months and may choose to provide additional sunscreen for the child to apply during the school day. 

SWIMMING:

The school pool usually operates from November through to the end of March.  The teachers will not take the class swimming if the weather becomes too cold – just like you, we don’t want the students to become sick.  Swimming is part of the summer PE curriculum so pupils are expected to come prepared for swimming each day during this time.  If a student is not to take part, a note is required by us advising us of this and the reason for it.

TRANSPORTING STUDENTS
Students sometimes require transportation in private motor vehicles when we go on school trips. In line with school policies, all private motor vehicles transporting children must have a current WOF/COF and registration, and the driver must hold a current NZ full license. Children are only permitted to sit in seats with over the shoulder sash belts - full seat belts.  They are not permitted to sit in seats with lap belts only.  Students are required to sit in the back seats of cars and only the oldest students can sit in the front if these are already taken. This is for everyone’s safety so please don’t feel uncomfortable if you are asked any questions around this.  All Children under the age of 7 are required to use a car seat or booster seat.