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Absences

Please contact the school if your child is going to be absent.

Please telephone the office at any time and leave a message detailing the reason for your child’s absence. Please notify the school every day they are away. If they are to be absent for any reason other than illness, please inform the school in advance, where possible, of the dates they will be away.

If you child is absent through illness for more than three days, please provide a doctor’s certificate.

Stonefields School uses an electronic attendance system to record the roll and to monitor student attendance. Based on the Ministry’s attendance guidelines children’s absence is recorded using a number of codes. For example:

P= Present

L= Late

M= Medical (This refers to students at home sick or in hospital)

J= Justified absence (This refers to unplanned absence such as a bus breakdown, accident or bereavement, and also planned absence such as representation in a national sporting event)

E= Explained but unjustified absence (This includes term time holidays, children staying at home as their brother or sister is sick)

High levels of attendance are strongly attributed to student progress and success in learning. We monitor student’s attendance closely and will be in contact with parents if their child’s attendance falls below 90%.

Further details about the codes used can be found at the Ministry of Education’s website: www.minedu.govt.nz

Accidents and Sick Students

Health Room

The Health Room is managed by the office staff. If you are collecting a child please sign your child out at the office before you take them home.

Accidents:

In the event of an accident your child will be administered basic first aid. In the case of serious accidents parents will be contacted. If it is an emergency the student will be taken to A&E, doctor or dentist.

Medication:

Please hand all named medications and signed instructions to the office. These will be stored in the Health Room and administered by office staff.

Allergies and severe medical conditions:

Medications for specific allergies/illnesses will be kept in the Health Room with details for administration. Details of students with significant life-threatening conditions are held in the form of a health plan at the school office. Parents must inform the office of any changes in their child’s health plan to ensure that correct action is taken.

Activity Fee

At Stonefields School our activity fee is $50.

This covers:

Mathletics home learning programme

Spellodrome home learning programme

$5 photocopying – 150 copies per student

Additional class trips/experiences

Assembly

Assemblies are seen as a valuable opportunity to bring the whole school community together in order to celebrate, share and to activate learning.

Assemblies will be held fortnightly on Friday mornings at 9am.

Before and After School Hours

We encourage children to start arriving from 8.30am to prepare for the days learning.

After school, children must leave the school grounds as soon as they are dismissed from their Learning Hub. Children left waiting for parents after 3.15pm must wait between the office and the hall. Parents of children who are still waiting at 3.30pm will be contacted. Please ring the office if you know you are being held up to ensure your child’s safety.

Before and After School Programme

A before and after school care programme operates in the school. It is held in the hall and is run by a private company called Kelly Club.

To contact them phone 0800 898 444 or email karen@kellysports.co.nz.

Alternatively to download a booking form, go to our website www.stonefields.school.nz.

Bicycles

We encourage children to cycle to school. Based on Police guidelines children Y6-8 (10 years) can obtain a bike licence. The police will contact the training at school in Term 1 of your child's Year 6 year.

It is your child’s responsibility to ensure that bikes are securely locked at school.

Board of Trustees

This is the governing body of the school. It is made up of the Principal, an elected Staff Representative and a number of Parent Elected Representatives.

The Board generally meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6.00pm in the Teacher Learning Space.

Meetings are public and you are welcome to attend.

Change of Address, Home or Work Phone Number

Many communications will be distributed using our electronic database. To ensure you continue to receive the necessary communication, please contact the School Office if your address, telephone number, email or emergency contact details change.

Child Safety

Please help the school to promote child safety by encouraging them:

(a) to go to and from school in groups. We encourage an informal buddy system.

(b) to have and know strategies to deal with approaches by strangers eg.

· say ‘no’

· note car numbers and colour etc

· report incidents etc

· ensure children know the arrangements for going home especially if changed from the usual

We all have a responsibility towards child safety in our community.

Communication

We have a culture of open communication at Stonefields School.

We aim to inform parents of all upcoming events and school projects through our website, email and newsletters. Where there is no contact email address, newsletters and notices can be printed by the student to take home. Please inform your child’s guardian (teacher) if you would like this to happen. Information is readily available to you and your child through e-updates, the school website and email.

Key Dates

Please log onto www.stonefields.school.nz to keep an updated record of key events and dates in the school year. Make sure that you also check your emails, messages, e-updates for any updates to the school calendar.

Concerns

As a staff we are open to discussing any particular concerns or positive feedback you have. If you have any concerns, your first port of call is your child’s guardian. If you feel your concerns have not been adequately addressed, the Principal or Associate Principals are happy to meet with you and ensure a solution is achieved. In this instance please call the office to make an appointment.

Communication Updates

Communication Updates will be sent every 3 weeks to showcase learning and keep you informed of school happenings.

An event calendar is available on the school website where the key dates are updated regularly for your information.

Contact Us

You can make contact with us in many ways:

• Phone: 527 7721
• Email: office@stonefields.school.nz

or email a staff member (first name)@stonefields.school.nz

• Street Address: 81 Tihi Street, Mt Wellington
• Through our website www.stonefields.school.nz

Court Orders Regarding Access and Custody Arrangements

Please provide all documentation to the office. We cannot deny access toa parent based on a verbal request.

Dental Clinic

Family and Friends Association (PTA)

As a parent you are encouraged to take part in our “Friends and Family’ Association. This is a group of parent volunteers who participate and support school activities and fundraising events.

This is an excellent opportunity to meet other parents and become involved in the school community.

Please contact the office if you are keen to be part of this team.

On enrolment you will complete a ‘Give Me Five’ volunteer sign up form. We greatly appreciate you volunteering five hours of your time towards ensuring that Stonefields School is a fun and stimulating place.

Fire Drill and Evacuation

The assembly area for all students and staff during a drill is the netball courts. If you are a visitor on the day of a fire drill or evacuation please make your way to the netball courts in an orderly manner and assemble with your child’s Learning Hub. Drills will be conducted each term to cover fire, natural disaster and intruder evacuation procedures. An evacuation map is displayed in all Learning Hubs and additional buildings for your reference.

Footwear

Children are encouraged to wear footwear at all times, along with plain black or white socks when wearing shoes.

Headlice

Headlice like healthy hair. This school is no different from any other in that headlice can be a problem from time to time. The spread of headlice in a classroom can be controlled and prevented by checking your child’s hair regularly (eggs take about 9 days to hatch).

If lice or eggs are found consult your chemist and notify the child’s guardian (teacher). All parents of the Learning Hub concerned will be asked to check their child’s hair.

Health and Safety

We believe that a safe, hygienic, attractive and healthy environment is essential. From time to time the school is audited for Health and Safety.

Please report any hazards to the office so appropriate interim action can be taken.

Hearing and Vision

You will have completed a form on enrolment with all the necessary details. At age 5 children have Tympanometry, audiometry and vision tested. At age 11 boys have vision and colour vision tested and all child