Are a vital part of our school. We require a very active Parent Support Group and hui ā whānau forum which seeks to engage in meaningful consultation and collaboration with the parent-community. Parents and whānau are involved in many ways including fundraising, and assisting on school trips and camps.
School commences - 9.00am
Morning Interval - 10.30am to 10.50am
Lunch time - 12.50pm to 1.35pm
School finishes - 2.30pm
Children are required to be at school no earlier than 8.30am and must vacate school grounds before 4.00pm, unless arrangements have been made with the office or principal.
Ministry of Education regulations state that no child shall be absent from school without sufficient reason.
A written note signed by the parent, guardian or caregiver, stating reasons for a child's absence, shall be sent to the school either before the child/ren are to be absent or upon the return of the child/ren to the school. Courtesy contact with the office is appreciated and a note still required.
Class Attendance Registers are marked at 9.00a.m. and 1.35p.m. daily. The Office Secretary will collect absences from the classroom teachers after roll call then check against parent notifications before following up unexplained absences.
Office Phone: 07-876 7335 Office Email: office@tahaaroa.school.nz
Teachers are only too happy to discuss a pupils progress or any other aspect of school life throughout the duration of the child's time here, and we will encourage parents to come up to the school preferably during interval times if it is just for a casual chat on a matter.
However, for an extensive progress report, or for a matter that is of a more serious nature, it will be necessary for a parent, guardian or caregiver to make an appointment with the teacher concerned.
Please do not hesitate to ring the school to ensure that a suitable time can be arranged.
Our bible tutors are Mr. David Emmett and Mrs. Lois Emmett whom travel once a fortnight on a Tuesday morning to give our children bible instruction. Time is from 10.00am to 10.30am.
For this purpose all children are encouraged to participate, although this is an option. For parents who do not wish for their children to attend these classes, a signed note is required if your child is to be withdrawn.
Please note: If your child is withdrawn, then the parent, guardian or caregiver is responsible to come up to the school and supervise your child/ren during bible class, for the half hour duration of these classes.
Children riding to school on bicycles are required to know and adhere to the road safety rules. They must wear an approved safety helmet when riding bicycles on the road. Bicycles must not be ridden without staff permission outside the school grounds between arrival and departure from school. Bicycles must be left in the designated cycle area.
Te Kura o Tahaaroa are currently involved with a Ministry of Education programme –PB4L [Positive Behaviour for Learning-Stage 1]. This invitation is not solely for the benefit of the school but rather for our whole school community. Parents, Caregivers, Guardians, Whanau, other community work spaces and committees to be all on the same page. The school does not condone ‘Bullying’ in anyway shape or form.
We must be vigilant at making our children strong, resilient, and proud about who they are.
Whilst in school the children are required to do cleaning duties 5-10 minutes before the end of each school day. There is an established weekly roster with each child delegated to do specific duties which changes every week.
Duties include: washing & drying dishes, emptying rubbish bins, tidying up of specific rooms ie. blue room, Ole Girl, multimedia, work areas, sports gear put away, picking up rubbish around school...etc, etc….toilets are excluded from their duties.
A full time cleaner is employed to clean the school on a daily basis that is responsible for the overall cleaning of the school which entails a wider scope of cleaning practices.
The lawns are currently mowed by Haswell contractors.
Children are expected to be dressed in clean tidy suitable clothing and shoes each day.
It is essential that all clothing and items be named including hats, towels, lunch boxes etc….
Lost property - is kept in the staffroom foyer for children and parents to check through. Now and then teachers may go through with the children to identify any un-named items. Unclaimed items are disposed of or given to a welfare organisation at the end of each term.
There is a procedure for parents/guardians or caregivers to follow if you have a complaint. If you have any concern or complaint, your first step will be to discuss the matter with the classroom teacher then/alternatively to discuss the matter with the principal. If you are not satisfied with the results of your discussions you may address your complaint in writing to the Board of Trustees.
The school has a complaints policy you can view at the school office.
Once a year, a qualified dental technician comes to the village. A mobile unit is equipped to tend to our children's dental hygiene. Basic dental procedures may include, polishing, fillings etc... Children requiring specialist attention are then referred onto the appropriate agencies.
Should anyone be in need of this service for your child/ren outside of these times, and then contact can be made to
Otorohanga Primary School on (07) 873 7334
Should any child suffer an accident whilst in school, they will be treated accordingly. If the incident involves cuts, grazes, bleeding noses etc...Staff will attend to the child and it will be recorded in the incident/ first aid book. If the incident is of a more serious nature and it is felt that a doctor, nurse or first aider is required then the parent, guardian or caregiver will be notified immediately and it will be recorded in an Accident Reporting form.
If a child should take ill during the day, then the parent, guardian or caregiver will be contacted to have their child returned home.
Please advise staff if your child needs to take any form of medication during the school day eg. For asthma, bee stings etc... We must have written consent to administer.
Please note that teachers or staff is not permitted to administer asprin, disprin, panadol, paracetamol or any other analgesics to children unless notified by the parent, guardian, or caregiver.
In the event of your child contracting an infectious disease, they will not be permitted to attend school until they have fully recovered. You may be asked to update records held in the school office regarding health and emergency contact numbers.
Footwear is not worn in class. No outdoor footwear will be permitted to be worn inside any classroom.
During the winter months children are encouraged to bring suitable footwear to wear indoors, eg. Slippers, socks.
We like to encourage children to bring ‘healthy lunches’ to school ie, fresh fruit, vegetables, sandwiches, yoghurts. that we promote as ‘brain food’. Parents are expected to limit twisties, soft drinks etc to being a treat for special rewards/occassions and NOT EVERYDAY lunch items.
Once a week lunch orders from the local shop can be ordered either directly or a envelope with money enclosed and name and order written clearly on the outside may be submitted to the school office.
We no longer have a library as the old one was deemed to be unfit for use! We now have a beautiful new multipurpose room. We are still working on getting it set up how we want it but this room is where we will be housing our library collection. We also hold hui a kura, prizegiving and shows in here.
From time to time children need to leave the school grounds early in order to meet their respective sporting practices, sporting events, and locally organized competitions’ in town. A note to cover Who, What, Where, When, How and the period of travel required would be expected.
Parent helpers are very much in demand. If you have some spare time to spend at our school, this is very much appreciated. Now and then we request parent help through our newsletters, usually to assist with junior children’s reading or group work etc, but we also on occasion have parents coming up to volunteer for other various tasks in and around the school, eg, organising books and resources, working bee, taking the children for sports and other outdoor activities, cooking etc etc... Parent, guardian or caregiver help makes for a happy, effective school and all help and support is very much appreciated by teachers, staff and children. We will always welcome anyone who has the time to share and care for our school with anything from arts and craft, music, Kapa haka, etc... The list goes on. Even just spending the day at school bringing new learning, we salute you. Again we are grateful to one and all who offer their help and support in one way or another.
Our school community whanau are welcome to make use of these school facilities, but will incur a small charge.
If you are unsure or require assistance using the equipment please call the school office prior to ensure that someone suitable will be available to assist you.
Please ensure you sign in to our visitors book whilst your onsite using any of our equipment. Please also ensure any damages to school property you notice are reported to staff.
The school encourages children to display self-discipline whilst in school.
We have been invited and are currently involved with a Ministry funded trial- Positive Behaviour for Learning -PB4L However; we have renamed this trial to reflect our commitment to honoring our tamariki….
WHAKAMANA TAMARIKI - programme is heavily reliant on all school stakeholders assuring input of pro-active ideas. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to participate.
A Public District Health Nurse travels on a regular basis to Tahaaroa. She has a clinic in the village and frequents our school catering to the families and children as the need arises.
Phone: 021-??? ???? Sureitha Mulan
The schools present system of reporting to parents showing each child’s progress is twice a year according to a reporting schedule. These formal reports are comparative to the New Zealand Ministry of Education National Standards. Each child has been required to maintain a portfolio, containing samples of their school work covering aspects of the NZ curriculum. The school is currently reviewing this system with the view of replacing it with a 3 Way [Child, Parent, and Teacher] Conversation. There is prominence given to the child to lead the learning conversation. Portfolios are hands on and a pathway for celebrating your child’s work ethics.
Parent interviews with the teacher to discuss a child’s progress or areas of concern are still available to parents, guardians, or caregivers during the school year. You will be notified of this through the school newsletter. Please feel free at any other time to contact the teacher or principal if you have any concerns about your child’s progress.
The school sees self-discipline in children as being the ideal and the general rules of the school attempt to reflect this aim. It is hoped that children will grow with self-awareness of and for others, the Values of tolerance and respect.
To this end, the rules are be redrafted collectively with the school stakeholders, Special consideration given to student voice. School rules will be written in positive speak and will closely align themselves with the outcomes from the Whakamana Tamariki trial.
· Current School Discipline Policy available.
· Children must seek permission from a teacher to leave the school grounds.
· If parents wish for their child/ren to leave school during school hours for whatever reason then it is asked to notify the school beforehand.
The Board of Trustees is pleased to lend out school equipment to our school whanau only. We ask that all borrowed equipment be cared for and returned in the condition in which it was provided.
When collecting equipment please ensure the following is recorded.
-Equipment name/description -Name & contact number of responsible person -date of collection
-Any notable details of equipments condition -Name & signature of the person collecting
Ensure a staff member physically recieves all returned equipment.
The responsible person can be held liable for any loss and/or damage to borrowed equipment. A KOHA IS APPRECIATED.
During swimming season, children must have amswim cap and suitable swimming togs that are not permitted to be worn in class following swimming activities. Goggles are optional. Parents are asked to name all clothing, towels and equipment and to check the condition of these at the end of each swimming day.
It is advised that children with glue ear or any ear problems use ear plugs or may use blue tack to avert further problems. If your child is unable to swim then a written note must be supplied.
As part of they year 7 and 8 learning progeamme our tamariki travel out to Otorohanga South School on Perry Buses every second Wednesday to participate in technology classes, (sewing, cooking and wood work). Students travel with pupils from Kinohaku and Piripiri Schools, This is a great opportunity to build and strengthen relationships with other local children.
Children are required to sign a behavior/conduct form before they are able to attend lessons.
Parents are often asked to help with the transportation of students to and from school activities.
All vehicles providing transport must meet current warrant of fitness and registration standards. As the legalities to the level of driving license permitted to transport your children can differ when transporting other children we expect parents report to the office secretary or principal if a full class drivers licence is not held.
We cannot thank you parents enough for your time and energy! Especially at times when it always seems to be the same ones that put their hand up to help out.