Absences and Sickness

INFORMATION ON ABSENCE AND SICKNESS OF CHILDREN FOR PARENTS

Student Absences - advise the school office

Please report all student absences to Hamilton North School by phoning (07) 849 3029 or emailing attendance@hamnorth.school.nz. Notifications should be made by 9:00am each day where possible. 

Students arriving late, or leaving early

Please note that access to classrooms and all areas of the school is not allowed during class tuition hours (9:00am–2:30pm).
All late arrivals and early pickups must go through the front office before entering any other part of the school.

See: Policy 10: Health & Safety and Policy 22: Access During School Tuition Hours.

SESTA Transport - changes to daily schedule

Please contact your child’s transport provider by 7:15am each day if your child does not require pickup on any given day.
Please note that it is not a driver’s responsibility to inform the school if your child is unwell, or pass on any other messages. Parents/caregivers must notify the school directly.

Transport Provider Contacts:

• Go Bus (Hamilton City): 07 846 1975 or 021 314 442

• Go Bus (Huntly, Ngaruawahia): 07 828 7037 or 027 877 5463

• Cross Country Rentals: 0800 467 3782 or 027 556 0994

SESTA Roles & Responsibility of the Caregiver 

The following information provided is what may be reasonably expected from caregivers, when a new transport application has been approved and SESTA transport commences.

Caregivers are:

a) Responsible for advising school when personal contact details change, i.e. changes to a phone number. School will then formalise a change of information request to the Ministry of Education.

b) To assist student/s in understanding safety rules and encourage them to abide by them during their transport journey each day;

c) Expected to work with the transport provider and driver to ensure safe and appropriate student handovers;

d) To recognise their responsibility for the actions of their children; 

e) To ensure that the student has been toileted, and is ready to be collected from the front entrance of their home at the agreed time;

f) To ensure that the student has finished eating their breakfast prior to travelling;

g) Responsible for ensuring that the vehicle collection/drop-off points have clear access;

h) Responsible for informing the driver, and school if there have been any changes or events that may impact on student behaviour;

i) Where specific safety equipment is required (e.g., carrot car seats, harnesses, and/or buckle guards), an Occupational Therapist from Hamilton North School will work with families to ensure the correct equipment and consents are in place, including supporting applications for Ministry funding where appropriate.  Parents/caregivers are responsible for providing an approved, appropriately fitted booster seat if one is required. 

j) Responsible for assisting students, where required, in and out of the vehicle and fastening the seat belt and any other personal positioning devices.

k) Responsible for being home to meet the student or SESTA vehicle both AM and PM.