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ABSENCES
If your child will be absent, please ring the school between 8.00 am and 9.00 am. We try to contact parents/caregivers of children who are absent without notification, in order to check that all children are safe
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ACCESS TO CHILDREN
If you need to visit your child/ren at school, for any reason, please check in at the office first. This means that we can keep track of who is on the school property. If you want someone else to see your child/ren, or to take them from school, please contact us to arrange this. For your child/ren's safety, we will not allow them to be seen by, or to go with, anyone other than their parents/caregivers and other approved people.
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APPOINTMENTS WITH TEACHERS
Teachers are happy to discuss your child/ren's progress or other matters at any time during the year. Please contact the office to arrange a suitable appointment. If you have a problem or a major concern please contact the Principal first.
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ASSEMBLIES
Wednesday 2.30pm-3.00pm. Parents are most welcome to attend. At this assembly classes display good work, and the winners of the Star and Shining Star Awards are announced.
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BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT
Hokowhitu School children are generally very well behaved. We have developed a programme to enhance this, and to make our school " A Great Place for Kids!" Details about this are available here.
When necessary however, we run a "Lunch Club" at lunchtime every day, where children who break school rules are required to reflect on their behaviour. A record is kept of the names, and behaviour, of children who attend the lunch club. If a child has to attend lunch club for the 3rd time in a term, then the child will be asked to write a letter to be posted home. If the problems with behaviour continue, then parents will be requested to come to a meeting with teachers, and the child, to discuss the child's behaviour. At the end of every term, every child is given a "clean slate", while a celebration activity is organised for those children who have followed school rules and who have not been sent to the lunch club.
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BICYCLES
It is recommended that only children over the age of 9 years are able to ride bicycles to school (younger children do not have the necessary experience and road sense to safely ride bikes on the road). All bicycles must be roadworthy and be ridden sensibly. Children must, by law, wear a suitable, approved bicycle helmet. Parents of children who do not wear helmets correctly, or who are found to be riding recklessly, will be contacted, so that they are aware of these issues. Persistent offenders will be asked not to ride bicycles to school. Please provide a lock so your child's bike does not get stolen.
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BOOK CLUB
Regularly children are issued with order forms from the Ashton Scholastic Book Club. This is an inexpensive way to buy books and other written resources for your child/ren. It takes about three weeks for the books to arrive. School newsletters will keep you informed about due dates, and any other important information.
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CARS AND PARKING
If you are transporting your child/ren by car, please drop off, and collect your child/ren, away from the school gate. Please do not park in the driveways, on the pedestrian crossing, or on the yellow no parking lines. The proprietors of the Albert Street Dairy also request that you do not park in front of their shop.
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CLOTHING
As from the start of the 2008 school year, our school uniform is compulsory for all children. This uniform can be purchased from Academy Apparel, 306 Broadway Avenue, phone 06 354 0979. Please ensure that all items of clothing are clearly named.
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COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS POLICY
We hope you don't often need to complain about something that has happened at school. If, however, you find yourself needing to complain, the Board of Trustees has a Complaints and Concerns Policy which sets out the procedures to be followed. The first person to contact is the teacher concerned. If this is not successful or if this is not appropriate, contact the principal. Again if this is not successful, or not appropriate, contact the Board of Trustees. Wherever possible, the problem should be discussed with school staff before contacting the Board of Trustees.
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COMPOSITE CLASSES
Apart from the New Entrant and Year 1 rooms, classes at Hokowhitu contain two class levels. This does not detract from academic performance and enhances many social and working activities.
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CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS
Please ensure that the school knows where to contact you - home and work - if we need to do so urgently. From time to time we have a problem (usually illness or injury) where we need to contact parents urgently but are unable to make contact. An emergency back up number, of a friend or relative, is also necessary in cases where we are unable to contact parents.
If you change your phone number and address please advise us, so we can update our records.
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DENTAL CLINIC
Telephone number is (06) 358 0953 .
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DONATION
Unfortunately government funding, especially in higher decile schools such as Hokowhitu School, does not adequately cover all the operational costs, and therefore some parent financial support is essential for the school to function effectively. A donation is requested each year. At present this is $30 per term per child or $120 per year (discounted to $100 per year if the donation is paid in full by 31st March), with a maximum of $200 per family. Where a family has a Community Services Card, the rate is $100 per child per year, discounted to $80 if paid by 31st March. School donations are tax deductible. We really appreciate your financial support.
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EDUCATIONAL TRIPS
From time to time classes organise educational trips out of the school grounds. Parents will be notified beforehand, and permission sought, for all trips except where children are being taken on short walks to nearby places.
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EMERGENCIES
Once per term, fire and earthquake safety procedures are taught, and evacuation drills are held. In the event of an emergency the prime concern is the safety of the children. Should an emergency occur, children will therefore be kept at school until it is safe to release them or parents collect them.
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ENROLMENT AND WITHDRAWAL OF PUPILS
Parents wishing to enrol their children are asked to either make an appointment or bring their child to school before 8.45 am so enrolments can be completed before classes commence.
If you are withdrawing your child/ren, please notify us so that we can prepare suitable records for their next school. Official records will be sent when requested by the new school. Please check that all Hokowhitu School materials such as library books and readers are returned, and that the children take all their bits and pieces.
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FIRST AID
Most staff members have current First Aid Certificates and can treat minor injuries. If staff are concerned that an injury requires a doctor's examination, then parents will be contacted, and arrangements made. If the parents can not be contacted, then the school will take responsibility for ensuring the child receives appropriate medical attention.
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HEAD LICE (NITS)
These pesky creatures are a regular problem, especially in warmer weather. In spite of our best efforts, outbreaks will occur. It is essential that all parents regularly check their child/ren's hair and thoroughly treat any lice - suitable shampoos are available from chemists. Please advise us if you discover lice in your child/ren's hair so that we can advise other families to check their children. A fact sheet from the Public Health Nurse will be sent home at these times. We must all be careful - head lice aren't fussy about clean or dirty hair (in fact they apparently prefer cleaner hair) and it only takes one untreated case to cause a further outbreak. Teachers do not have the right to inspect children's hair, although we can refer suspected cases to the Public Health Nurse.
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HEALTH
Please inform us of any problems concerning the health of your child, so that we may best care for your child. If your child has a long term disability please ensure we have accurate information - all medical information is confidential. If your child needs to have medicines close by, e.g. asthmatics, bee sting allergies etc., it is very wise to leave some of the medication, carefully labelled, with the school so that we can treat problems as they arise.
The Public Health Nurse, Angela Joblin, is available to assist with health and social needs, and to help with the school's Health Education programme. A Hearing & Vision tester from MidCentral Health visits the school twice a year to carry out routine testing of New Entrants, and children whose vision and/or hearing is causing concern. Parents will be advised by newsletter when the tester is coming. Please contact us at that time if you are concerned about your child/ren's vision and/or hearing.
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HOMEWORK
Each child, over the year, will be given homework to be completed at home. Junior children usually bring home books to be read to parents, while older children have a variety of tasks, including learning of tables and spelling, reading, and activities related to work being studied at school. However it is not intended that any homework be too long or too hard. After a day at school children need time to relax, and read, watch TV news and documentary programmes, play and follow their own interests.
Your children will appreciate, and respond to, any support that you give them. If you have any concerns or queries about any homework, please contact us.
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JEWELLERY
For a number of reasons we do not permit children to wear jewellery at school, except for a watch, and studs if your child has pierced ears. For safety reasons children wearing studs need to be very careful during sporting activities. We will take no responsibility for any jewellery worn to school, so this is brought at the child's own risk.
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LATENESS
We often find children coming late to school. This is very inconvenient for the class teacher and other children, so please try to have your child/ren at school by 8.40 a.m. each day. Thanks.
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LEAVING THE SCHOOL GROUNDS
Children are not permitted to leave the school grounds at any time during school hours, unless permission has been given. If your child needs to leave e.g. to go home for lunch, please contact us by phone or note to let us know. This will mean that we know where every child is.
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LIBRARY
The school has a well stocked library, with a good range of fiction and non fiction books in a comfortable environment. Children are able to borrow books for one week. As books are expensive to replace, parents are asked to encourage their child/ren to take very good care of books. Accounts will be sent home where children have lost or damaged books.
The library has been computerised and all issues and returns of books are handled by computer. The computer also enables children to carry out searches for books on selected topics.
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LOST PROPERTY
This accumulates at an enormous rate. stored in the bay between Room 11 and the hall. From time to time lost property is displayed in the hall and advertised through our newsletter, and you are most welcome to come in and check for your child/ren's clothes. All items that children bring to school should be CLEARLY NAMED so that it may be returned to the owner. At the end of each term stockpiles of unclaimed clothing are passed on to a charity.
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LUNCH ORDERS
Lunches may be ordered from the Albert Street Dairy, using order forms which are available in each classroom.
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NEWSLETTERS
These are sent home with the eldest child in the family every Friday. Newsletters will be posted on this website, as it is developed.
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OPEN SCHOOL
We welcome parents into our school as partners in their child's education.
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PARENT HELPERS
Our school depends on help from parents in many different ways, such as sport days, school camps, school trips, in-class assistance, library maintenance, book repairs, working bees etc. Without this help we could not run such a successful school. In addition children really respond well to their parents taking an interest in their school and their work, and parents gain a better insight into the school and their child's work and progress. Please let us know if you can help in any way.
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PARENTS CLUB/PTA
Meetings are held every month and new members are always welcome. Notice of meetings will be included in school newsletters, and a special meeting notice is sent out prior to the meeting. Contact the school office for more information.
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PEDESTRIAN CROSSING
This is supervised from 8.30am to 8.50am each morning and from 3.00pm to approximately 3.15pm each afternoon.
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POOL KEYS
These can be leased at the beginning of each swimming season to parents and community. This give access to the pool outside school hours.
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PRE-SCHOOL VISITS
Prior to beginning school an opportunity is given to 4 year olds to visit the New Entrant room three times. This normally happens in the month before starting school. Arrangements should be made with the New Entrant teachers, Principal or through the office. For more information, click here.
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RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION
Religious Instruction, which is not an official school activity, is provided for children for 30 minutes per week, by volunteers following the Churches Education Commission curriculum This is non-denominational and focuses on core values. Participation in this is optional and so parents have the right to decide whether they wish their children to be involved. We ask parents to notify us by phone or letter if they wish to withdraw their children from Religious Instruction.
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REPORTING TO PARENTS
Parents are always welcome at school to discuss children's progress and achievements. Our reporting programme is:
- A parent-teacher conference schedule is arranged in late February so that parents can discuss their children's needs with their teachers.
- Student's exercise books are sent home at the end of terms 1, 3, and 4 so parents can see what their children have been doing.
- A brief written report is sent home in mid term 2, followed by parent-teacher conferences to discuss progress.
- A comprehensive written report is provided at the end of the school year.
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SCHOOL HOURS
- School Starts:8.50 a.m.
- Morning Interval: 10.25 a.m.-10.45 a.m.
- Lunch break: 12.30 p.m.-1.30 p.m.
- School Day Ends: 3.00 p.m.
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SCHOOL UNIFORM
As from the start of the 2008 school year, our school uniform is compulsory for all children. This uniform can be purchased from Academy Apparel, 306 Broadway Avenue, phone 06 354 0979. Please ensure that all items of clothing are clearly named.
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SPORTS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Sports offered to children include netball, hockey and miniball in winter, and cricket, softball and t-ball in summer. The Hokowhitu Junior Football Club uses the adjacent park as its base and maintains close links with the school.
All children are expected to take part in our Physical Education and Fitness work as these are official parts of our school programmes, unless they bring a note, or we receive a phone call, explaining why they can not take part. Children need to have suitable clothing for this.
A range of interschool sports activities occur throughout the year (weather permitting). Details about these will come home in newsletters.
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SPORTS UNIFORM
We have sweatshirts, sports shirts, track pants, shorts and cycle pants available for purchase from the office. All children who are representing the school are expected to be wearing the sports uniform.
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STAFF CAR PARK
Parents and visitors are asked to refrain from using this area as the parking is reserved for school staff. Also, unauthorised vehicles using this car park place children at risk before and after school.
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STATIONERY LISTS
The school does not stock stationery for sale, as Palmerston North is very well supplied with stationery shops, and we can not compete with their prices. We provide children with a list of stationery requirements for their classroom, so that parents can choose which stationery outlet they wish to purchase these items from.
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SUN HAT
During Terms 1 and 4 it is compulsory for children to wear the regulation sun hat when involved in outside activities. These are available for purchase from the school office.
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TAKING CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL
If you need to take your child/ren from school during the day, please advise the teacher(s) or the office so that we know where everyone is.
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TECHNICS MUSIC ACADEMY
The Technics Music Academy holds classes for children wishing to learn the keyboard in school hours. This is an elective activity and so a fee is charged by the Academy. Information is available at the school office.
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TOYS
We prefer that children do not bring toys to school, because of the risk of theft or damage, with the result that we have a very upset child. If toys do come we will do our best to ensure that they are not stolen or damaged but we will not take any responsibility for them.
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USE OF SCHOOL GROUNDS
We are very happy to have community members use our school grounds after hours for sensible activities, provided that school rules are respected (e.g. no skateboards) and that the grounds and buildings are well looked after.
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VISION AND HEARING TESTING
MidCentral Health provide regular Hearing and Vision Testing. All New Entrants are routinely tested, as well as other children with either a previous problem, or who have been referred by their teachers. If you have a concern about your child/ren's hearing and/or vision, please advise us so that we can arrange for testing.
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VISITORS
In order to ensure the safety of children and staff, all visitors to the school are required to sign in at the school office, where they will be issued with a "Visitor" badge. Visitors should return the badge and sign out when leaving.
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