A-Z Karaka School

ABSENCES FROM SCHOOL

When children are absent from school an explanation is required as part of our obligations to ensure children attend school whenever they are able to do so. We therefore ask that the parent/caregiver contact the school by 9.00 am or a note be sent to the classroom teacher via a sibling. The school has an answer phone and you may leave a message regarding the child's/children's absence. If we have an unexplained absence we will contact the parent/guardian to ensure student safety.

Where a child is quite ill, it is usually advisable to have a break from the pressures of school work. Teachers are willing to provide relevant homework where children will be absent for a reasonable period of time or if a real need exists, particularly when they are convalescing after an illness. Requests for such work should allow sufficient time for teachers to prepare something appropriate.

Parents should note that the school has only one Office Administrator and at times will be dealing with any number of situations including sick children in the First Aid Room. While every endeavour is made to answer the telephone promptly there will be times when this will be answered by the answer phone or another staff member.

It is suggested that if you wish to leave a message about a child's absence, you may leave a message on the answer phone (option number 1). Or use our 'Absentees' facility on our website. Parents are welcome to speak with a teacher; however, because of teaching duties this may only be possible during breaks or non-contact times.
A message can be left for the teacher to telephone you.

BEHAVIOUR

At Karaka we make no excuse for insisting on good manners, respect for peers, parents and staff, good behaviour and a positive work ethic. The staff have a total commitment to providing a safe and secure classroom and playground environment, and there is a zero tolerance on inappropriate behaviour. With children in the school coming from a wide range of backgrounds and having a wide range of personalities, attitudes and behaviour expectations at home, it is inevitable that from time to time the behaviour of some will be of concern at school and at home. The following suggestions may, therefore be of interest to parents.

If you are concerned about your child's behaviour at school or about something that has happened to your child, please contact the school. If the matter involves other children it is worthwhile to speak to the school prior to making any effort to speak to other parents as it may well be that there are other factors or perspectives involved. It is also possible that the matter has already been dealt with. If a question about a child's behaviour arises and your child is not concerned, we would suggest, with respect, you do not get involved as it is so easy for unnecessary complications and distortions of truth to arise. In some instances children have been quite severely punished at home when the full facts have not been known.

We contact parents over matters of behaviour when in our professional opinion, the matter is serious or where we feel it is important to co-ordinate the school and home approach to behaviour management. We have a number of agencies on call to assist us in situations where children are having social, medical, behavioural or academic problems outside the usual range. These include the Resource Teachers of Learning & Behaviour, Speech Therapist, Public Health Nurse and SES. These people in turn are able to call on other agencies.Please remember we are always willing to discuss matters regarding children and behaviour or academic progress. We may not be able to solve all problems, but together we can do much to make things easier and to help put matters into perspective.

CHILDREN'S PROGRESS AND SCHOOL REPORTS

Teachers formally report to parents on children's progress on two occasions throughout the year. At present these are as follows:

Term II (June) Mid year written reports and interviews
Term IV (Dec) End of year written reports (optional interviews)

Any concerns about children's academic or social progress at other times can be addressed with the class teacher. If the matter is likely to take more than a few minutes it would be appreciated if an appointment through the office, stating briefly the nature of the matter you wish to discuss with the teacher. If the matter still can not be resolved, then an appointment with the senior staff and/or Principal can be made, and if necessary referred to a wide range of specialised agencies.

COLLECTION FROM SCHOOL OTHER THAN 2.45 PM

It is sometimes necessary for parents to collect children from school at various times throughout the day to keep doctors and dentist appointments, or to attend to other important family matters. As we do not want unsupervised and solitary children waiting outside, the school asks that the following procedures be followed to ensure children's safety.

Requests should be in the form of a note to the class teacher stating time of departure and probable return.

All children must be signed out from the school office.

Parents should collect children from the classroom unless this is specifically arranged to the contrary.

If children have not been picked up by parents after school by the time the duty teacher has finished seeing the last bus off at approximately 2.55pm, they will be required to wait at the office reception area.

Children should not cross the road at any time when being picked up or delivered unless escorted by a parent. Cars should not be left in the bus bay at any time.

COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS

There are times, when as a parent, you feel that the interests of your child may not have been looked after in a way that you would like. Often by talking with the teacher involved, these situations can be dealt with in a friendly and possible way. However, should a parent feel that a matter is more serious, the concerns can be expressed and discussed with a Team Leader, Deputy Principal or Principal.

It is required by the Education Review Office that all parents of all schools are aware of formal complaints procedures. The Board of Trustees policy on complaints is that in the first instance complaints shall be dealt with as mentioned in the previous paragraph. The policy states:

"If a problem has not been resolved following the involvement of the Principal, the complainant should address the problem to the Board of Trustees. The Board will then deal with the matter in an appropriate manner."

"Any complaint will be dealt with in a confidential manner with each party involved entitled to honest and unbiased treatment by those who are dealing with the complaint."

Click here to view school Complaints Policy and Procedures.

HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CHILDREN

Parents are asked to regularly review travel arrangements to and from school, particularly where children may need to walk on their own from any distance, and to ensure that their children know what to do if accosted by strangers at any time.

Many unnecessary problems are caused for children and staff when children are sent to school ill. While the school appreciates that an illness can develop during the day and willingly accept our obligations to care for such children, it is unsatisfactory for children to arrive at school sick, particularly when there is no one at home to come and collect them. Our sick bay although staffed by very capable administrative staff is not an ideal place for sick children to remain for any length of time. The school therefore requests that parents help to prevent the spread of infections by adhering to the following recommendations.

• Keep sick children at home until they have recovered.
• Advise us by phone if your child will be away because of illness.
• Always send a written note confirming an absence on return to school.
• Ensure we have up-to-date numbers and emergency numbers.
  
  

NEWSLETTER

A newsletter is sent home weekly on a Wednesday with the eldest child in each family and is on the website. Besides information from the school, we are happy to include items of a community nature. Such items should be sent to the school office by email admin@karaka.school.nz by Tuesday afternoon at the latest.

PARENT HELPERS

Parent helpers are often needed in a variety of areas at school and you should feel welcome to let the office or class teacher know if you are available. It should be remembered that the amount and type of help required will vary from teacher to teacher. Opportunities exist for helpers to assist with school lunches, the library, sport and the resource room.

Parent HELPERS are welcome with open arms.

PARKING AT SCHOOL

Parents are requested to use the School Car Park when delivering and collecting pupils from the school. In the interest of safety it is necessary for parents to observe the following:

The bus bay and approaches are kept clear to enable the large buses to deliver and collect pupils.

Parents must collect pupils from inside the gates after school.
Please do not park inside the main gates as it is a hazard to cars parked and delivery trucks to the school.

The bus bay area may be used to drop of and pick up providing you do not block the school buses or park. Drop off and pick up only.

Please be mindful of the fact that small children are moving in the area.

POSTPONEMENT/CANCELLATION OF ACTIVITIES

As the Auckland weather is changeable, it can be difficult to determine whether or not an activity or sporting event should continue. Once, however a decision has been made and people have been told of this, it is undesirable to then change again unless totally unforeseen circumstances arise.

We are aware that people can be inconvenienced, but are obliged to consider what is in the best interests of the children keeping in mind the number of schools involved in sports, the number of parents involved in trips, the age of the children concerned and the distance to be travelled.

Every effort is made to minimize the inconvenience and disappointment felt by everyone.

SCHOOL BUSES

A bus service from Papakura operates from Rosehill College (departing approximately 7.50 am) in the morning and returning from Karaka School to Papakura (arriving Rosehill College at 3.30 pm) via Karaka Park, Oaklands Road.

This service is not a free bus service to those children outside the Ministry bus zone; therefore those parents will be invoiced accordingly.

A bus service is operating at present from Wesley College to the school and home and also includes Whangapouri Road and Oira Road.

Application to use the bus service is included in the enrolment pack together with rules on behaviour expected of those children travelling on the bus. Karaka School has a "zero tolerance" on inappropriate behaviour. Children are expected to be well behaved on the bus and to obey all reasonable requests of the driver and bus monitors, especially where safety is involved. Misbehaviour can result in temporary or permanent removal from the bus service.

Costs for:

Papakura bus - travelling both ways $60.00 per term, per child.
Papakura bus - travelling one way $30.00 per term, per child.
Wesley bus - both ways $40.00 per term per child
Wesley bus - one way $20.00 per term per child

Any other arrangements are on application in writing to the Principal, and Invoiced accordingly. Those children using the bus that are not bus children need to approach the office and pay accordingly for the day. Prices on request at the office.

A bell is rung at 2.40 pm each day to remind teachers it is time to tidy classrooms, pack up and organise bags etc. It is also the signal for children leaving on the 2.45 pm bus that they have five minutes to get to the bus line.

All children using the bus are listed on a class by class list. These are check every morning to see what children are going home by bus. If the child is not sure, every effort is made to contact the parent to confirm they are travelling home by bus or car. Missed days are not deducted from the term price.

If a child is going to be picked up then a phone call or note is requested to ensure that the bus monitors are not searching the school for children that have already been collected by car. These procedures have been put in place for the safety of the children, and because it is the school's responsibility to ensure their safety.

A full list of requirements, rules and policies regarding the bus can be included in the enrolment pack on request from the school office.

SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE

Karaka School does not have an onsite Dental Clinic, however a mobile caravan visits once a year and follow up appointments are made at a local Dental Clinic (appointment cards are sent home with the children and where appropriate, involve all children in the family at the same time).

Please contact the school office for the nearest clinic operating or phone the Dental Therapist on 2999770 for any immediate dental concerns. Dental forms are included in the enrolment pack or on request from the school office. This is a free service to children while at school up to the age of 18 years.

SCHOOL DONATIONS

Karaka School is a Decile 8 (within a higher socio-economic area), and therefore receives among the lower levels of Government funding available to state schools. Therefore the school relies on the payment of these donations by all families.

The annual school donation is: $150.00 per child.
                                             $250.00 per family of 2 children

A discount of $25.00 is applied if paid prior to the end of Term 1.

Photocopying donation per year: $ 20.00 per child.

SCHOOL HOURS

Karaka School office is open from 8.15 am - 3.00 pm.
Morning Tea is from 10.10am to 10.30am
Lunch is from 12.00 to 1.00 pm daily - No alteration for wet days.

Classes start at 8.45 am and finish at 2.45 pm
(This is to enable the bus network to meet the demands of the schools in the area, and to enable the children who are travelling some distance to get home at a reasonable time.) Children should not arrive at school before 8.00 am as we are not always able to ensure appropriate supervision before that time.

SCHOOL SWIMMING POOL

Keys are available for a fee from the school to enable school families to use the school pool during December, January and February. For a limited period outside these months the pool is warmed by solar heating and therefore only used during school hours because of the need to cover it at other times. Notification of pick-up and return of keys is via the school newsletter.

For health reasons we ask parents to ensure that while children are swimming in the school pool that any cuts / abrasions / sores are fully covered. During school hours the teachers may stand a child down from swimming should it be deemed necessary. The teacher's decision is final.

SCHOOL UNIFORM / SPORTS UNIFORM

It is compulsory for all children attending Karaka School to wear school uniform.
The sports uniform will be worn whenever representing the school and at all school sports days.

The PTA runs the uniform shop. This is open usually on a Monday morning between 8.30 am and 9.15 am. Any other time by appointment only, or you can fill in a uniform order form and leave at the office with payment to be processed during the week.

Clothing and Footwear

The School stresses the importance of naming clothing and personal effects.
It is always a concern to see a growing pile of unnamed property accumulate at the school lost property. Lost property boxes can be found in the wooden box at the rear of the hall.
Footwear-For summer this will be either black or navy sandals with a back strap - black or navy crocs are acceptable. For winter this will be either black or navy shoes (sneakers acceptable if one colour) with navy socks. Therefore jandals, roller shoes and platform-soled shoes are not acceptable.

Hat Policy

A safe sun policy operates in the school. During Terms 1 and 4 children are required to wear a suitable hat that gives protection to the face, ears and neck. A legionaries or wide brimmed hat is most suitable. Monogrammed and plain blue hats are available from the uniform shop. At present this is operated by the PTA on a Wednesday morning or by appointment. Order forms can be obtained from the office or on receipt of an enrolment pack. Those children who do not have suitable headwear are required to stay in the shaded areas around the school. This is enforced to protect children from the intense heat of the sun and reduce the number of children presenting at the sickbay with sun-stroke and related problems.

SPORTS INVOLVING OTHER SCHOOLS

Because many rural schools are relatively small, children are given the opportunity throughout the year to be involved in sports activities with other schools. The degree of involvement varies from sport to sport and according to the age of the children.

Group Sports Days involve a number of full and contributing primary schools in the East Counties area. At year 7 & 8 levels, top performing sports people can go on to represent East Counties at the Counties Zone and Auckland Champion of Champions tournaments. Opportunities also exist for our students to trial for East Counties teams (e.g. rugby, cricket, soccer, hockey, cross country, athletics, netball etc). to compete against Intermediate Schools from the area.

Karaka School encourages children to participate in the school netball team, hockey team and rugby teams. We also participate in several minor sports with whole school involvement in Gymnastics. School Sports Uniforms are available and are to be worn when representing the school.

In the weekly school newsletter there are clubs within the area advertising their services and enrolment details. Some of the local activities within the school environment are:

Karaka Tennis Club, Karaka Rugby Club, Karaka Cricket Club, Karaka Netball Club