ABSENTEES
It is our responsibility to be on the alert for truancy and to ensure we have systems set up to minimise the likelihood of it happening undetected. Consistent with this belief the following policy is to be followed :
1. Children are required to bring a written note from home upon return to school following a period of absence.These notes should be retained on file in the classroom until the end of the school year. All notes should be dated.
2. A telephone message, text or email, from a parent to the office is an acceptable alternative. The office will update the Register when such a message has been received.
3. When children are absent, with no communication from home, the Attendance Officer, Team Leaders & Associate Principals will carry out the appropriate home response.
4. Children arriving at school after 9:15 a.m must check in at the office and will have their attendance updated by the Attendance Officer.
5. For all other details regarding record keeping for attendance, please see the Assembly Attendance Instruction Booklet.
ACCESS TO PUPILS
All visitors must report to the the Office when first entering school grounds. No-one outside the staff has the right to approach children or teachers without first ensuring the above has been complied with.
It is vital that teachers on duty are alert. Should strangers be seen in the playground then an approach with an offer of 'help' should be made. Under no circumstances are children to be allowed to leave the grounds without proper pernission from home or authority from the Office (See Leave)
ACCIDENTS
No matter how careful we are, accidents will occur at school. We must act always in the best interests of the child. All accidents (other than minor cuts or scratches) must be :
1. Handled fully by the first teacher informed (i.e. not necessarily the
duty teacher).
2. Reported to the Teachers with Sickbay responsibility and then to the Principal or an Associate Principal where necessary.
3. The teacher who first handles a case remains in charge of the welfare of the child until clearly relieved of this responsibility.
4. Informing the duty teacher or the Principal does not in itself transfer the responsibility for the immediate care of the child. This statement saves clarifying the situation with every accident and should prevent a child from being left unattended.
5. Reports on other than minor accidents are required and teachers and pupils may be asked for statements to go with these reports. Forms for this purpose are kept in the accident file in the office.
6. The criteria for the completion of an "Accident Report Form" will be when the accident is sufficiently serious to warrant contact with the parent or a doctor. The teacher first informed has responsibility for completing the "Accident Report Form and seeing that it is lodged in the file. The principal will report these accidents to the BOT.
ASSESSMENT:
1. Within the first two months of the school year or at the completion of a New Entrant’s first whole month at school, ‘baseline’ data will be gathered. This will include a range of formal and informal tests designed to establish individual learning needs. Formal assessment will include the School Entry Assessment Package for Y1’s and the NESB assessment booklet for students of all ages
2. During this period individual ‘Profile Folders’ will be set up for new students, digital class checklists and other digital provisions will be updated.
3. Standardised and formal test data from a range of curriculum areas will be collated, as will more informal assessment tasks and tasks specific to the National Curriculum Guidelines in order to produce data that will point to individual needs as well as being able to be aggregated to indicate school wide or group specific needs.
4. A record will be maintained, listing pupils who have been identified as requiring individual programming and assistance. Strategies and actions applied to individual cases will be recorded in the minutes of the Special Needs Committee meetings.
5. This ongoing record and its associated committee meetings will form the basis of applications for ORRS, Behaviour Intervention, inclusion in the Communication Strand, or inclusion in: ESOL programme, SEG programme, Reading Recovery, Reading Support, GATE etc.
6. An informal meeting with parents will take place during February. This occasion can be used to form relationships and carry out some simple goal setting.
7. More formal reporting will be carried out during term two and at the end of the year. (See ‘Reporting to Parents’ policy) On the mid-year occasion a summary of work to date in conjunction with formal interviews will be carried out.
8. Standardised and formal testing will be conducted again during October, in selected areas to determine both individual and school wide progress.
9. On going monitoring of student progress against National Norms and the NZC will take place throughout the year.
10. Make sure you keep objective data to add to external assessment for choosing the academic awards for the end of year prize-giving. This would include test and assignment results. Data also needs to be kept for Year 6’s & Y8's in the area of Sporting Achievement and any other significant award areas.
ATTENDANCE
1.Children are expected to be in attendance daily by 8.50am. Y7 & 8 children are expected to be ready for their area assembly at 8:30 a.m. each school day.
2.Teachers will monitor attendance daily and report to Team Leaders, the Attendance Officer and Associate Principals to deal with issues of concern.
3. Parents are expected to notify the school no later than the day following an absence of the reason for such absence
4.Where notification is not forthcoming a formal request will be issued by the class teacher.
5. If communication is not achieved the Attendance Committee will follow up as appropriate. This may involve a home visit from our Student Care & Management Teacher. It may also include follow up from the ACES organisation and the NZ Police.
6. If attendance problems continue, we will involve our local Truancy Service [ACES] and finally GSE, MOE & NZ Police. Referral of this kind will have arisen from discussion at our Special Needs Committee
BELL TIMES
8.30 School Bag Bell
Y7/8 Assembly
8.50 All Inside
10:50 School News
11:00 Morning Interval
11.25 Middle Block begins
12:50 School News
1:00 Lunch Eating
1:10 Activities & Play
1.55 1st Bell
2:00 Classes Begin
3.00 Home-time
3:15 Grounds Cleared unless there is after school sport or training.
CARETAKER AND CLEANERS
The Board of Trustees has responsibility for the caretaker and cleaners, although this authority is delegated to the Associate Principal for day-to-day running.
Teachers should be considerate and assist cleaning staff by ensuring rooms are left in a tidy state at the end of the day.
Teachers should, at the end of each day, see that :
-all windows are SECURELY closed.
-the external door is locked
-no paper, books, pencils, etc., are left on the floor.
-all chairs are put up off the floor on to desks.
The caretaker will attend to minor maintenance. This should be co-ordinated through the Associate Principals.
CLOAKROOMS/Bags/Shoes etc
Teachers need to ensure that bags and shoes etc are kept in an orderly manner that helps to keep these personal items safe. All belongings should be up off the floor on the pegs or hooks.
COMMUNICATION
In a large school it is essential to maintain communication channels so that all are informed of events throughout the school. The following are used regularly :
1.Morning tea notices: -All teaching staff are to be in the staffroom at 11:15 for notices. The BOT pays for Morning Tea Supervisors so this can happen
2.Daily News: -News can be entered into the News Script in the Creative Space or given directly to the TV News Crew. News runs each day at 10.50 am. immediately after the signal and again at 12:50 pm. Teachers must ensure that TV’s are switched on ready and children are quiet and facing TV. Please follow up the News with personal reinforcement. It is important for staff to watch P.E.N.N. with their students.
3. Staff Meetings: -These are held on Tuesday afternoons no later than 15 mins after school closes. Attendance is mandatory.
4.Team Meetings: -Individual teams can decide when these are held, they are held weekly unless Associate Principals & Principal deem them to be unnecessary. The default day if no other day is chosen, is Tuesday.
COMPLAINTS
Generally enquiries concerning pupils come from parents through the Principal who endeavours to have parents see them as matters of concern rather than as complaints. Often concerns can be cleared up simply with a little discussion. However, it is not always necessary for all matters concerning parents to be referred through the Principal. In fact, many matters are better handled on an informal basis by teachers. Whenever a matter is significant, or if a parent continues to question a teacher's statement, the matter must be referred to the Associate Principals or Principal. Parents are not permitted to complain, nor to abuse a teacher, in front of pupils. We are protected legally from such actions.
COMPUTERS & INDIVIDUAL LEARNING DEVICES
The school is fully networked and was one of the first in Auckland to be so. The computers are to be seen as an educational tool and a tool for work and life, not a subject in themselves. Teachers will use computers as one of their main tools for planning, work production and storage and reproduction of children’s records.
Children are to be rostered onto the multimedia computers during class time and wherever possible should be engaged in work related to the subject on the class timetable.
High end operations will be taught to staff and children by the Creative Space teachers and then wherever possible, practised back in class.
Every workstation is internet enabled and therefore all require teacher supervision and surveillance. Screens must face into the room. Computers should be left switched off if untrained relievers are taking classes.
You may not allow your family members, or friends to use our computers, our internet connection or have access to our network without permission from the Principal.
All teacher laptops must be stored in a locked cupboard when teachers leave the classroom.
Individual learner devices must all be enrolled with their respective MDM and be managed at site level.
Individual learner devices should be locked in charging cabinets when not in use and left locked up at Interval, Lunchtime and after school.
CONFISCATION
Any items confiscated by teachers should be returned to pupils the same day for them to take home. We have no authority to withhold personal possessions.
Should a teacher consider the confiscated item too dangerous to be returned then the Principal will notify the parents and ask them to collect it from the office.
DISCIPLINE, the PT ENGLAND WAY & STUDENT CARE & MANAGEMENT
We do not detain children after school . Pupils may if required be detained during the lunch recess for "Rethink". The Associate Principals are in charge of all PE Way time out and manage the PE Way book. All Time Outs or Rethink must be clearly listed in the book and specific reasons stated. The PE Way book is now online. We do not give Time Outs for unsatisfactory work, only for behaviour, and not for issues that should have been settled in the classroom.
The two Associate Principals oversee the discipline in each half of the school. If teachers are being challenged by children in their classrooms, or elsewhere, they should try a variety of strategies themselves first. Secondly, they should consult with Team Leaders, who may make suggestions or become involved themselves. If necessary the concerns should be shared with the A.P.s, the RTLB’s and finally the Principal. We would like parents involved in an informal way early in the proceedings and we want all our staff to feel free to convene parent interviews or to visit homes often. When doing so, please inform your immediate superior what you are doing and why, and get some advice before you carry on.
This school has excellent procedures for dealing with difficult children and teachers must not struggle on alone if they are having difficulty. We share our children. Please avoid getting locked into a procedural approach which can weaken your options and box you in. Also avoid threats, you do not have to propose any consequence until you have had time to stop, think and take advice. The strength of our approach is that it is a chain of people who will each propose or use a variety of strategies, rather than the approach being a system. Our most challenging children should be referred to the Special Needs Committee through Team Leaders. These children will end up with case managers and possibly significant others.
You may not use placement of a child in the corridor or any other form of isolation as a consequence at any time. Children who are sent out of the room, must be sent with someone, to someone, with information explaining what happened.
Please document and date all serious incidents.
DUTIES
All teachers must consider the general welfare and discipline of pupils their personal responsibility and be prepared to help out whenever they see a situation requiring attention, whether on duty or not. e.g. "Everyone is on duty before 9am".
Teachers are rostered on playground duty. The Associate Principal has responsibility for this roster. Should a teacher be unable to carry out his/her rostered duty he/she should arrange to "swap" with someone else. The A.P. must be informed.
Teachers must remain on duty for the whole period allocated, visiting all parts of the grounds frequently. Duties cannot be carried out effectively unless the teacher is continually on the move. Teachers do not come off duty until the next duty teacher takes over.
On wet days a different duty structure operates. When a 'wet' lunch hour is announced prior to 1.00 then teachers work in pairs supervising for half the lunch period each with 1.30pm being the change-over time. (The A.P. will draw up the list of paired teachers).
Should the children be called into class part way through the lunch break because the weather deteriorates, then a bell will be rung and all teachers are on duty with their own classes. The paired situation however can exist if teachers arrange it with their partners.
If pupils have to stay inside at morning interval then paired duty supervision is necessary. Lunch hours are not shortened on wet days.
Each teacher has access to email via our G'Suite domain. There is no charge to staff for this service. Please remember that all mail is traceable and ensure that your friends and yourself send and receive only professionally acceptable mail and attachments. If you don’t know what an attachment is, trash it without opening it. The School Management, whilst respecting your privacy, reserves the right to review your use of our mail service, our extranet, G'Suite content and the school website
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
FIRE & EGRESS
This will be signalled by the CONTINUOUS ringing of the external bell & sirens.
Staff are to accompany the class or group of children they have at that time to the assembly area on the hard-court on the north side of the school where children will line up in their classes. They will be immediately checked by the class teacher against the class register.
Children should be trained to move in an ORDERLY and QUIET way to the assembly area on the field.
Checks to be carried out :
(a)Teachers are responsible for checking resource areas in their own rooms to see that all children are evacuated.
(b)At the assembly area, roll checks must be made by each teacher from the Assembly Fire Print-Out
(c)Each teacher should report to the Principal that all children in attendance that day are present on the assembly area.
(d)Checks of the following areas to be made by these staff members:
(i)Junior toilet & resource areas - A.P.2
(ii)Senior toilet &resource areas - A.P.1
(iii)Library and Resource Rooms - Resource Manager
(iv)Administration areas & Staffroom - Secretary
(v)Hall & Foyer area A.P.2
(e)Secretary to be at entrance to meet relief appliance.
(f)Only if conditions permit should attempts be made to extinguish a fire.
(g)Teachers should know how to take the fire extinguishers off the wall and see that this is possible - if not report to the Principal. (NB - regular checks made also by Argus.)
Practise should also be given at moving rapidly under desks should the need arise in the event of an earthquake or a lock-down.
(h)Dental Nurse will deliver children under her care to assembly area.
(i)Teachers of withdrawal groups will deliver children under their care to assembly area.
EOTC
Our school will:
1. Use E.O.T.C. to enhance learning in all curriculum areas.
2. Begin by using the school environment and community. When using the park and areas in the immediate vicinity of the school, Senior Staff and School Office must be notified, but no other formal application need be lodged. Staff are expected to determine what would be reasonable in this respect and to ensure that all further steps are taken with activities further afield or of higher risk
3. a) Follow Ministry of Education regulations and guidelines on safety, supervision, risk management, leadership and legal requirements.
b) Use the forms provided and apply to Principal through Senior Staff for Class Visits and apply to BOT through Senior Staff and Principal for Camps or Overnight experience.
EQUIPMENT LOAN/HIRE
1. Items that are being used by Staff, BOT, or other nominated people for school or charitable use, will be loaned
2. Items that are being used for private use only, and by people outside the school organisation, will be hired.
3. When equipment is hired we will fix a bond to ensure that items are returned in good repair. Amount of bond will depend on the value of the object loaned. Bond will be paid to office and receipted.
4. If items go out on a week day, we would expect them back the following morning, unless special arrangements had been made.
If items go out on a Friday aft. we would expect them back, Monday morning. Arrangements for weekend loan to be made by Friday latest.
5. For items of hardware, furniture and outdoor equipment, people should see the Property Manager, who will use his/her discretion.
6. For A.V. gear and other internal school resources, people should see the Principal or A.P’s who will use their discretion.
7. A Google Doc Record will be kept for all loans of school equipment.
GAFE, Assembly, ReportWriter, Access-IT
These software package hold all the school curriculum plans and all academic records. Make sure children do not watch your hands as you enter the password. Remember to quit from the programme after use, don’t just click in the corner and close the window. Unless you quit, children can still access the programme. (See Teacher Planning)
Make sure you are thoughtful as you set your Learning Outcomes and Goals for Priority Learners in the Planning Process, as this will greatly aid your summative assessment at the end of the year.
FEES & EXCURSIONS
1. We do not charge any school fees, but we ask parents to contribute to extracurricula activities. Parents will be informed at the beginning of each term, how much the school and class trips will cost. We will also inform parents approximately how much it will cost for the whole year. These trips and activities are part of our children’s essential learning, but the Government does not pay for them. Parents have always paid for these things, but often the school did not give enough warning.
Parents will receive plenty of warning of what they will have to pay and what the money is for. We will invite everybody to pay. If families have difficulties paying they can discuss this with the teacher or principal.. We would not expect children to be missing out unless there was a very serious reason why they could not join in!
2. In the first term when Device deposits and uniforms are being paid for, we will be especially careful to keep costs down and remember that the senior children will attend Pt England Camp. The BOT is now funding the cost of the swimming programme
In the 4th term we will also be careful to keep costs down except for our ‘away camp’ which will be largely paid for by fundraising prior to the event.
3. Camps aside, trips, excursions, and learning experiences can be held to the maximum value of $15/term
the first term Pt England camp should be kept to a maximum of $70.
The school picnic should be free of cost.
The total Activity Payment for the year should be no more than $60 per child
This does not include Senior School Camps or Student 1:1 Devices
FURNITURE
The Caretaker is responsible for maintaining classroom furniture in good condition. If teachers require additional furniture, or repairs to existing furniture, the matter should be discussed with the Associate Principals and the Caretaker.
Teachers are responsible for seeing that pupils treat furniture with care. Definitely no drawing, scratching, or marking of any kind on furniture surfaces.Tables will need to be covered for art activities..
EDUCATION GAZETTE
A master file is kept in the office. Copies marked 'STAFFROOM' are not to be removed from the staffroom. Other unmarked copies are circulated within the staffroom and can be moved and must be returned after use. The Gazette is also available online.
GLASS
There should be no glass bottles or containers brought to school by children.
GROUNDS
Teachers are responsible for seeing that the area immediately around their classroom is kept clean and tidy. Each room is also allocated a specific area within the school. Teachers should send pupils regularly to check their particular area. This can be done at 2.45pm or immediately after lunch if weather permits.
HEALTH NURSE
Teachers need to be alert to children who may have particular health problems. Often a home visit by the Health Nurse, or treatment at school can quickly overcome a problem. Should you wish the nurse to see a child, or to discuss a child's health problem with you, enter the child's details in the "Book a Nurse" link at the bottom of the school website. The Nurse will then send for the child and the teacher will receive an update email about what has happened as a result.
HEALTH PROMOTING SCHOOL
Our school is a Health Promoting School and has a Gold Award from the National Heart Foundation and from Travelwise.
Our Healthy Food Policy and the ‘The Pt England Way 2009’, describe the kinds of food we and the children should be eating at school.
Our Parent Body has decided unanimously that if children bring seriously unhealthy food to school, e.g. fizzy drink, large packets of chips, that we are to confiscate the food, supply the child with a healthy lunch, give the food back at 3:00 p.m. and advise the parents that this has happened. We will also do this with large-ish sums of ‘lunch money’. The parent will need to be informed before the child leaves for home if at all possible. Please support this initiative by having healthy food and drink at school yourself.
HOMEWORK -LEARNING @ HOME
The purpose of learning at home is to extend the hours of opportunity for learning, to foster and develop the child's natural interest in the studies undertaken at school, and to provide the opportunity for parents to show interest in their child's learning. Work at home should not create stressful situations at home. There are enough pressures on home life these days without the school creating more. The work must be relevant, needs based and enhance learning.
(a) Homework should be worth doing and written work should be properly checked and discussed so that pupils do learn something and parents can see the teacher takes it seriously.
(b)Pupils should have the opportunity to do homework in which they are interested and see the point and purpose.
(c)Responsibility for sound motivation of pupils' interests is the teacher's.
Our task is to assist in the development of desirable attitudes and patterns of behaviour in connection with out of school activities while the child is at school. Skills developed and information learned will be of little value if it is at the expense of attitudes and patterns of behaviour.
The policy on homework for children in the Y4-8 area at this school is :
1.There will always be learning led by the Class Site that children can get on with.
2.This work can be viewed by parents via the Parent Portal and must be followed up by teachers to be of value
3.Parents are encouraged to use email and comments in docs as a direct link with the class teacher and write to the teacher briefly if they have a query or
concern.Teachers may then reply in the same way or phone a parent. This helps keep communication channels open to avoid misunderstanding.
4.Teachers are responsible for reviewing the home learning presented by each child and giving meaningful, obvious feedback. It is important to parents to see that teachers take home learning seriously.
5.Home learning should not have an onerous time requirement
6. Children in junior classes will receive home reading.
NSURANCE
There is no School insurance to cover loss of money, valuables or personal property. ChromeBooks are separately insured and are covered under the parent contract as long as they have been put away and cared for properly.
Children and teachers should never leave money in the rooms during the day or overnight. Teachers should ensure they have adequate personal insurance to cover belongings kept at school.
ChromeBooks, iPads and and Laptops need to be locked away during breaks.
INTERNET
The internet can be accessed from every work station and from learner's devices. This is to be used as an educational tool. Use it to find things for children or for your work. We not interested in surfing! children must use the internet for learning and this means teacher approved activity. Although the school is fire walled from pornography, unexpected things can happen. If this does happen to you, try to quit and if that fails turn the computer off. Make sure children have a clear idea of what they are looking for and help them to refine their search techniques. Only down load what you need and remember to quit at the end.
LEAVE FROM SCHOOL
1.Pupils are not permitted to leave the school grounds after arrival in the morning without a signed note from home and/or authority from Principal, or Associate Principals.
2.Pupils seeking leave should take their note to the A.P’s or Principal, have it signed and returned to the teacher.
3.All pupils who leave school during the day must use the "Sign Out" book kept at the office. The only exception to this is for pupils travelling with a recognised school group which has previously had parent consent.
4.Pupils who are ill during the day and need to go home must report to the office. They are not to leave school unless contact has been made with a parent. The sign out book is still to be used.
LOST PROPERTY
1.Parents are regularly advised to name all clothing and personal property. This property will be rightfully restored to its owner if it is found at school.
2.Unnamed property will be placed in the white cupboard in the foyer next to the server room . This should be the place to search when children first report lost clothing. The Caretaker is in charge of lost property and will place all articles found lying in the school grounds after 3.30pm into the lost property cupboard.
3.At the end of each term unclaimed property is disposed of after all attempts to locate owners have failed.
LUNCH
All children go to lunch at 1:00 pm. Some classes eat in their rooms. No children should be walking around with their food.
The bell at 1:10 pm indicates that the class teacher may dismiss the children in groups if their area is tidy. Pupils are to remain seated during the lunch eating time and are not to leave until dismissed by the class teacher.
Mail is normally sorted by lunchtime each day. The Secretary opens any mail addressed to the Principal or to the school. Mail addressed personally will be placed in teachers' pigeon holes in the staffroom.
MOVEMENT OF CHILDREN
Children moving around the school should walk quietly under the direct supervision of their teacher. It is important that those outside rooms do not disturb other classes
NEWSLETTERS
1.A full school newsletter is sent home abut once a week, sometimes more frequently. Teachers should ensure these are distributed and learners
realise the importance of getting them safely home to their parents. It is wise to have the children name their newsletter. Newsletters will also be shared online via the School App and FaceBook
2.Teachers who wish items to be included must notify the Principal a day in advance to ensure the item can be included. Teachers will be notified of this in the weekly Principals Memo
3.Communication between class teachers and parents is vital. Often misunderstandings arise when parents have not fully understood a verbal message taken home by their children. Keeping parents informed and making requests is often best done through a class or Team "notice to parents". However it is important that these reflect the values we are trying to develop in children. They need to be neat and they must read well. A copy of the notice must be approved by the A.P’s or Principal. A copy is also to be given to the Secretary for filing.
4.Any communication using the School Letterhead must be approved by the Principal or the AP's.
OFFICE
1.School commences at 8.50 am. The office staff commence at 8.00am.
2.All financial matters, and requests from the office, should be dealt with by 9.30am.
3.As can be imagined, it is very disruptive to the Secretary to have pupils arriving throughout the day with requests. It can seriously affect their working efficiency. Learners should only be sent to the office during the day for reasons of an urgent nature, or for treatment in the case of accident or sickness.
PARENT INVOLVEMENT
Our school receives a good deal of support from parents in the community. To help maintain this support it is vital that we keep parents well informed. They have a right to know what is going on at school. When they are aware of the school's purposes and aims, they are more likely to support its functions, and most importantly they are likely to speak supportively in the home and the community of the school.
Teachers should feel free to encourage parent involvement in their class either during school time or after school. Preparation is essential to ensure their effective participation. Adequate notice to parents of assistance wanted is essential for encouraging co-operation, i.e., adequate time and adequate information about the task. Don't forget to keep the A.P’s and Principal informed when parents are involved.
Parents can be involved in such ways as :
-helping with class trips and being told the objectives of the study so that they can assist more effectively.
-support in the library.
-helping make specific equipment for class teachers.
-helping generally in the classroom.
-etc, etc.
Parents are very supportive of the efforts put in by teachers for their children. In fact generally, the more they see of teachers at work, the more supportive they become.
PHOTOCOPIER
Our photocopiers are valuable assets purchased by the school. It can save the teacher many hours of preparation time if they are wisely used, however, they are also a costly item to purchase and repair. Running costs also can become burdensome if they are carelessly used.
1.Copying is done by the Resource Manager in the morning before 9.30.
If URGENT copying is required during the day, either the Secretary or the Senior Staff will do it.
2.Planning needs to be done in ADVANCE as it is seldom possible to supply "instant" copies. Copies will be produced in the order in which they are received.
3.Teachers need to ensure that what is being copied is of educational worth and not purely 'busy-work'.
4.Careful thought also needs to be given before any whole class set is ordered as to whether the material is at an appropriate level or not for all children. The work may be more appropriate for a group only. Class and group sets should be sent to the resource room for filing. The copier can produce excellent quality OHP transparencies.
5.Work for copying should have an appropriate instruction slip (obtainable from the office) attached to the work and placed in the pigeon holes by the photocopier.
6. We do not expect class teachers to re-fill the copier or to clear paper jams. If the copier is empty or has a paper jam, please notify the office.
RELIEVING TEACHERS
1.Teachers who are ill and not able to attend school should telephone Kent at home (see telephone number on list issued to staff), as soon as possible.
2.Teachers are to inform the office before 3pm as to whether they will be returning to school or whether the reliever will again be needed.
3.If teachers know in advance that they will not be at school, e.g.in-service course, sports days, etc, then a FULL programme of work is to be left prepared for the relieving teacher.
4.Teachers should have prominently displayed in the room a copy of the class timetable so relievers are aware of the class programme.
5.Each teacher is also expected to have available a reliever's kit which should include a class timetable, brief details regarding specific organisational matters (e.g. class changes, etc.) and a supply of material which could be used in an emergency if a programme has not been left. It should also contain brief notes on any particular pupils who for whatever reason need special attention (e.g. medical, psychological, academic, etc).
REPORTING TO PARENTS
1.Early in the first term a meeting is held at school to give teachers and parents the chance to meet. There are opportunities to discuss the year ahead. (e.g. organisation, policy, etc.)
2.In June a formal school report print out is sent home. Parents are then invited to come and discuss the progress of their child with teachers. Samples of work and pupils' books should be available for display at this time. (The intention of having more interview times is to allow goals to be set and then to meet later to see what progress has been made towards meeting them.)
3.A formal report printout is sent home again late in the school year. Parents are invited to discuss this report only where it is considered
desirable.
RECORDS
The following records are kept on each pupil :
Attendance Register: - Now kept in Assembly Database.
The attendance register is an official legal document. By law it is required to be marked twice a day. Please ensure you mark the register for the afternoon period as this is most easily forgotten and it is imperative that we are able to account for the whereabouts of our children at all times. If due to some technical fault you are unable to mark the Register over the school network, make a written hardcopy and notify the office.
Absence sheets no longer need to be filled out or sent to the office.
Our Attendance Officer views the attendance of all classes daily, and follows up issues of concern with appropriate action. If you notice a pattern of concern please communicate this to your Team Leader and to the Attendance Officer.
Student Record Folders: (Black Folders)
These will be kept in each class. They will contain:
1 Contents
2 Enrolment Information
3 Reports
4 Profile Print Outs
5 Anecdotal Notes
6 Self Portrait
7 Handwriting
8 First Steps Continuum/Written Language
9 Maths
10 Social Studies/Science/Technology
11 Health/Maori/Music
12 Special Needs Data
13 ESOL Data/SEA Tests
15 Alphabet/High Frequency Words
Enrolment Form Copy -File soon after class entry
Half Yearly Report To Parents -Make sure you file one copy after Principal has signed
The Student Profile Sheet printout -This will be printed out whenever a child’s file is requested to pass on to another school.
IEP’s -Current and past for any child who has one. This includes all children with Discretionary Hours and any others with nominated learning difficulties
Work Samples -Actual assessment tasks completed by the student and other samples of work helpful for assessment. These will be decided by the Management Team. These must be dated.
Surveys/Tests -Many of these will have their scores summarised into electronic format and there is no advantage in having the test sheet in the Student Profile Folder.
-The front page of the Diagnostic Survey should be retained
-PAT sheets should be kept for the current year in a separate box and destroyed at the end of the year.
-Any test or survey where the form or page is really helpful can be kept at the discretion of the Team Leader.
School Network & Internet Published Work:
Folders of Work/Teacher Dashboard/Google Docs etc
These folders are to contain examples of digital work the child does in a normal week. This will show parents the variety and standard that their child can produce. They will be archived at the end of each year so they can be accessed in the future.
Student's Exercise Books:
These are to be used as living, working examples for teaching the students and discussing with their parents. They will be kept for the year and sent home at the end of each year.
SCHOOL HOURS
1.All teachers are to be at school by 8.30am at the latest each morning and are expected to remain at least until 3.30pm after school. These times would be considered the absolute minimum and very marginal if worked to on a regular basis. Only on exceptional occasions should teachers be seen battling through the pupils to be out the gate. Teachers are now paid on a 40 hr contract but are expected to work until the job is done. It is not possible for teachers to be adequately prepared within their rooms if time outside the normal school day is not put in.
2.Pupils are not permitted to enter classrooms in the morning until the teacher has arrived.
3."Coffee sessions" after 8:30 a.m. in the staffroom are discouraged at this time as it is important for teachers to be in their rooms, available for pupils or other teachers who may wish to discuss issues prior to the day starting.
4. Teachers can be ‘called back’ during the holidays for preparation or curriculum or professional development. Even when this does not occur there is an expectation as part of our work culture, that teachers will spend time in the holidays preparing for the coming term.
SCHOOL RULES
We respect other people at school
We do not hurt other people with our actions or words
We respect our own and other people’s property
We leave our toys and gum at home
We have permission from the office before we leave the school grounds during school time.
We stay outside the classroom and the corridors at play and lunch unless raining
We play in the right places.
SECURITY
It is imperative that doors are locked should teachers come to school outside normal school hours. It is also recommended that if teachers are working at school outside normal hours they lock themselves into the building. This avoids the possibility of someone entering one part of the building unnoticed. Please use your own alarm code at all times and do not call on others to disarm the building. Please write your name on the white board on entering and remove it when you leave. Ensure that you know which parts of the building your code enables.
SMOKING:
1. Pt England School, as far as is reasonably practicable, protects not only staff who don’t smoke or those who don’t wish to smoke, but also protects school children from the effects of tobacco smoke. By Law, our school is a Smokefree environment.
2. Smoking is not permitted in any room or corridor or in any part of the school buildings or property. No staff member or school employee will smoke whilst carrying out their paid duties.
3. Staff & parents who smoke, need to walk down the road beyond the bounds of the school premises.
4. Staff wishing to enter into a programme which will help stop smoking, may apply to the Pt England Board of Trustees for financial assistance up to $50 upon receipt of the course fees.
6. Complaints concerning the workplace smoking policy can be addressed to the BOT through the staff representative. Once the Board receives a complaint, they must address the complaint and try to resolve it. If the Board cannot resolve the complaint it should be referred in writing to the Auckland Area Health Board. Complaints or enquiries from smokers can also be addressed to the BOT and thence to the Human Rights Commission if unsatisfied.
SPECIAL NEEDS
All placings and referrals of students to special programmes for the removal of barriers to learning or for remediating health and social issues are made through the Special Needs committee. This committee meets twice a term and includes senior personnel from the school as well as care professionals from a variety of agencies. Meetings are publicised in advance and staff are to use the referral forms provided. The committee will make decisions and recommendations for the referral and placement and monitoring of children. This committee also refers to the Whanau Support Committee
STAFF MEETINGS
Full staff meetings are held each MONDAY afternoon. These meetings are held from 3.15pm to 5:00 pm (approx.) A Senior staff meeting is held each Monday morning. It is very rarely that the day is changed in consideration for teachers' personal arrangements, and it is expected that through this consistency all teachers will be able to attend all staff meetings. Inconvenience can be caused to other staff members, when even one person is unable to attend. Considerable importance is placed on full attendance.
Staff meetings should provide opportunity for:
-inclusion of staff members in strengthening the corporate culture of the school
-critical analysis of student performance and discussion of how to improve this.
-curriculum and professional development.
-school organisation and management
-discussing the implementation of school policy and the achieving of school objectives.
Team meetings are held weekly. These are to be timetabled. Minutes of these meetings are to be kept. A copy of these minutes is to be sent to the Principal & the respective AP.
STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES
All members of staff are expected to play a part in assisting with the smooth running of the school. Teachers will be assigned to various curriculum and management responsibilities as outlined in the Organisation folder and further detailed in individual job descriptions.
STANDARDS
Please note: -All protocols for setting out of student work books can be viewed on our school website under 'Learning Pt/Written Language'
1. Teachers are to ensure that pupils maintain high standards in all their work. Near enough is not to be accepted. Children must always work with acceptable instruments, e.g. sharp pencils, straight rulers. Do not allow any drawing or working out on exercise book covers. Do insist on the correct form of setting out. Insist on carefully ruled lines. In Maths also ensure pupils work in columns and that working lines are ruled. (Maths should be recorded with pencil, not pen). During their Y5 -6 years children should experience working in pen in curriculum areas other than mathematics A school's success is often judged on visible evidence. The work children produce and pupils exercise books, rightly or wrongly, often form the basis for such judgements.
3. Teachers are to ensure that work is REGULARLY marked and that COMMENTS, particularly of positive nature, are included.
4. Senior teachers are responsible for monitoring standards within each area. Work displayed and books will also be regularly sighted by the Principal & A.P’s.
5. It is important also that the total staff has a common commitment to acceptable standards of behaviour. All teachers should give support, not only with their own pupils, but throughout the school to ensure high standards are maintained at all times
STATIONERY
This is available through the school. Bulk purchases are made in February and from then on pupils may purchase stationery at the office from 8.30am to 9am each day as required. During November each year, staff are involved in the selection of stationery items for the following year.
Stationery requirements for each level are standardised and staff are required to keep to this list.
The school has a responsibility to ensure that stationery is used properly at school. Towards the end of the year (last six weeks) pupils should use up unused books rather than be asked to purchase new ones. Stationery is now very costly. All wastage must be avoided.
TEACHER PLANNING
Planning is carried out in teams and is electronic
Weekly logs are expected to be kept up to date and to include class profile information and class timetables. Where possible the Class Site should be in a condition for a Reliever to use in the case of Teacher absence.
Other planning has been stored in Google Docs. Staff need to be familiar with Google Apps for Education, in particular Docs & Sites which are used to lead student learning and contextualise the New Zealand Curriculum. Staff then need to familiarise themselves with the subject content and add to this as they plan units . After teaching the unit evaluation will be recorded in the evaluation section and this will help provide formative assessment which is stored in the form of checklists or comments. This formative assessment will give rise to summative assessment based on student performance against the rubrics that were set in the Planning Phase of the unit.
TELEPHONES
Each room in the school is provided with a phone to be consistent with the philosophy that teachers should be treated as adults and that we need to be a part of the information age. Teachers are not expected to receive incoming calls during class time unless they are definitely work related or extremely urgent.
Phones are to be answered by children, who should be taught the protocols of answering and ringing and should practise calls to other classes, other schools and other places. The phone is to be seen as a marvellous instrument for developing oral language and social skills.
TELEVISIONS
Each room in the school has a TV. Our major focus for this is as a presentation system with the emphasis being on material that is put together in our own school. TV’s must be on and ready at the prescribed times every morning. Teachers should feel free to video classwork or use the digital camera and make the resulting work available on the network. Commercial or pre recorded videos can be used but must have a focused educational value except for such occasions as wet lunch hours when appropriate entertainment is perfectly legitimate.
TIMETABLES
Teachers are required to prepare a timetable for the class early in the school year. These will eventually be embedded Class Site, which will be shared publicly and upgraded whenever the programme is substantially changed.
Teachers should whenever possible, take subjects at the times stated on the timetable. This helps ensure that all subjects are given the appropriate time and consideration.
VALUABLES
Children are not to bring ipods, Mp3 players or other valuables to school unless specified by the teacher as an aid to learning. Should it be necessary for a pupil to have a large sum of money or other valuables in their possession for a particular reason, these should be left at the office for safe-keeping for the day. If parents insist that children have a phones as a safety device or for a specific approved purpose, the teacher must be made aware of it and it must be kept in an agreed place.
Teachers who need to keep valuables at school should make provision with the office to secure their belongings in a safe place.
School Laptops that are left in vehicles must be placed safely in the boot, where they cannot be seen.