General Information

GENERAL A-Z INFORMATION

Absence
New Zealand law requires children from the age of 6 to be present at school except in special circumstances such as illness etc.

Parents must notify the school office via telephone or in person if their child is absent stating the reason and length of leave by 9.00am each day. You may wish to notify your Teacher as well. 

The school office has a 24 hour Absence line.  If a child is absent and the school has not been notified we will contact the parent/caregiver to confirm the child is safe.  If the primary parent/caregiver cannot be contacted then we will contact the other parent/caregiver and then secondary contacts thereafter.

If your child will not be attending school for an extended period of time due to holiday or other reasons, you must inform the school office in writing, addressing the letter to The Principal. 

Access to Children
Please notify the Principal if you have a special custody arrangement or if there are any changes to this.

Accidents at School
Parents will be advised of any injury to children where staff consider the injury sufficiently serious. Parents must provide the school with emergency contact numbers and update these accordingly if your circumstances change.

After School Care
A private contractor offers after school care from 3.00pm until 6.00pm.  An information brochure is available at the school office and on the school website.

Appointments (external)

Parents are encouraged to make appointments for your children outside school hours, to avoid disruption to their school learning programme.  If however you can't avoid this, school policy requires parents to pick up and drop off their child from the school office. You will need to sign your child out and upon return sign your child in.

Assemblies
Whole school assemblies are held on Friday at 2pm with the aim of children being able to present aspects of their programme. Parents are welcome to attend. Class assembly dates are published in the school newsletter.

Awards
Effort awards are given at assemblies. Parents are encouraged to support this positive reinforcement by praising student effort and displaying awards won.

Banking
The ANZ Bank has established a school banking programme whereby students can deposit their money before school on Tuesdays in the Library.  See the school office for more information

Bell Times

School commences at 8.45am daily and concludes at 2.45pm.
8.45 - 10.25am         Morning school session
10.25 - 10.55am       Morning Interval
11.00 - 12.25pm       Mid-morning school session
12.25 - 1.15pm         Lunch Break  (students are dismissed once they eaten enough lunch)
1.15 - 2.45pm            Afternoon school session

Please don’t ask teachers to release students before the last bell rings. This creates an unnecessary stressful situation for both teachers and students at a very important and busy time of the day by breaking classroom routines. Children must be collected from their lines in front of the hall at 2.45pm. No children are allowed to meet their parents in the car park. Please co-operate with us by setting the right example to keep our students safe at all times. 

There is no teacher supervision before 8.15am and after 3.15pm.  All children who have not been collected by 3.15pm will be sent to Matakids after school care in the old hall, for their own safety. Please note there will be a charge levied for this supervision. 

Board of Trustees

All of New Zealand's state schools have a board of trustees (BOT). The BOT is the Crown entity responsible for the governance and the control of the management of the school, and are accountable for the school’s performance.  Standing for the BOT is a great way to get involved in your child’s education. Training and support are available to make carrying out this responsibility easier.  Minutes of these meetings are displayed on the Parents' Notice board outside Room 2.  For a more detailed account of the Board of Trustees role, please view information on the school website.

Camps and Class Trips (Education out the Classroom EOTC)
Consent and information forms will be sent out prior to trips and written parent permission must be given before children are taken out of school.  Preschoolers are not permitted on any school trips.    

Annual school camps are:

Year 4 Camp:           Term 1                        At Matakana School            Overnight

Year 5 Camp:           Term 1                        At Mangawhai                      2 Days

Year 6 Camp:           Term 1                        At Tawharanui                      3 Days

Composite Classes

All Schools are staffed to agreed standards based on the total number of pupils within the school regardless of the numbers of pupils at each year level. This means that the Principal is required to take management decisions to organize classes to make best use of available staff resources and space.   As a result some composite classes may need to be established.  The New Zealand Curriculum indicates that pupils should proceed through learning experiences tailored to fit their personal level of attainment. This means that pupils in all classes will follow programmes constructed to help them progress at their own level. Cross grouping for specific subjects is part of this and applies to all pupils regardless of whether or not they are in a composite or single year class.

All decisions taken, regarding classes, are done so with the utmost care. Modern teaching theory is based on the sound principle of teaching by "stages, not ages". Students are able to work to their own developmental level, rather than being restricted to single year level expectations, which might otherwise restrict their progress.

Contact Information
Please immediately inform the school office if your, or your secondary contact details change.    Email to office@matakana.school.nz. 

Dance

An extra curricular activity list is available at the school office and on the school website.

Dentistry
The school is visited by a mobile dental clinic.  A complete dental service is available.  All dental queries to 09 839 0534.

Donation Information
Government funding does not meet all the expenses associated with the running of this school. We rely on an annual donation to subsidise expenditure on such extras as sports equipment, books, teaching aids (projectors, computer software etc) along with other items that benefit the students and their learning.  An invoice will be issued early in the year or when your child starts.  The donation is tax deductible and a receipt will be issued. Donations are set at $120 per child and $200 for 2 or more children. 

 

Drama

An extra curricular activity list is available at the school office and on the school website.

Emergencies
Earthquake/fire drills etc. The school practices evacuation procedures at least once per term and a report is provided to the Board of Trustees.

 

Event Calendar

Term 1 

Meet the Teachers day
School Camps Year 4 – 6
School and inter school Swimming Sports

Sailing “Have a Go”
Omaha Classic Run/Walk fundraiser

School Tabloid Sports (Y0-3)

Reporting to Parents:  Parent Interviews and Goal Setting

Term 2

ICAS Examinations
Inter school Winter Sports:  Rippa, Soccer, Netball
World Vision:  20/40 hour famine fundraiser
PTA School Disco

Reporting to Parents:  Pupil Progress Presentations PPP’s and Mid Year Reports

 

Term 3
Taste of Magic Evening (Welcome to new parents)

Inter school winter sports:  Hockey
School, Inter school and Elite Cross Country
Auction Evening fundraiser

NZ Cancer Society:  Daffodil Day fundraiser

ICAS examinations
School Photos
Mahurangi College Open Day/Evening
Mahurangi College Enrolment
Year 5 & 6 School Speech Competition

Reporting to Parents:  Classroom Open Day

Term 4
Gala fundraiser
School, Inter school and Elite Athletics

ICAS assembly
Sailing “Have A Go”
Mahurangi College Orientation Day

New Zealand Surf Life Saving:  Jandal Day fundraiser

Matakana Village “Christmas in the Village” Kapa Haka/Choir performances

Year 6 End of Year trip

House Spirit assembly
Graduation Leavers Assembly
School Prize Giving

 Reporting to Parents:  End of Year Reports

 

Fundraising

Matakana School is classified by the Government as a decile 9 school (the scale is 1-10 – so we are high on the scale). What this actually means is that the Government has identified that Matakana School is situated in an area where average incomes and house prices are high – they therefore presume that the community is able to contribute significant funds to the school. The Government therefore gives us much less targeted funding for educational achievement (TFEA) than schools from lower socio economic areas.   For more detailed information of why we actively fundraise, please see the school website.

Our Major fundraisers are Term 1 - Omaha Classic Run/Walk, Term 2 – Auction/Comedy Evening, Term 4 - Gala day.

Health
All teachers and staff undergo regular first aid training and have completed a course of instruction in CPR and First Aid for the school environment.  The Office Manager is responsible for the Recovery Room in the school. In the case of an accident or illness the parents/caregivers will be contacted and appropriate arrangements will be made for the child's care, until the parent/caregiver arrives to take the sick child home. 

Please note it is the parent’s responsibility to update us on any changes in medical conditions.

Hearing and Vision testing for new entrants is carried out each term by a team from Waitemata Health.  Parents are notified after their child has been checked.  For any other health concerns including speech please contact your child’s teacher, SENCO or Public Health Nurse on 422 2700.

Homework
Each classroom teacher will provide information with regard to homework expectations at Parent Information sessions held at the beginning of Term 1. Whilst the detail/content varies from room to room, homework will be given on a regular basis to support classroom programmes. Parents are urged to provide time and a suitable situation for children to complete reading and/or written work and to maintain regular contact with the class teacher to ensure standards are acceptable.

House System

Inspiring school spirit.  There are four Houses at Matakana School Blue/Kingfisher, Green/Kiwi, Orange/Tui, White/Weka.  Your child will be assigned a House Colour upon enrolment and awarded a welcome certificate at assembly.  Siblings are in the same house.  Points are awarded for school spirit, participation and achievements in other house activities. 

Immunisation

We will notify parents via newsletter of information that is passed to us from the Ministry of any serious infectious diseases.  We will also, as a school, notify if we have an outbreak of infectious diseases. 

Information Centre
The information centre is a very important education resource for the school. It encompasses our library and information technology unit which are always evolving to meet changing needs.
The school has a part-time librarian to catalogue, shelve and maintain our library, or to arrange for parents to help with these tasks. Parents are reminded to assist the safety of our collection by checking that all books bought home are returned to school.  Books come from two sources - purchased from Ministry of Education grants and purchased from fundraising.

 

Kapa Haka

Kapa Haka is available for year 4 to 6 students and is overseen by teachers.  Performances throughout the year include school assemblies, Gala day and at the Matakana Village Christmas in the Village concert.  

 

Late arrival to school

If a child is late to school, i.e. after 8.45am, the parent/caregiver must come to the school office with the child and sign the child into school.  The child will be given a “Late Sign-In” slip which they need to give to their teacher.    This is a ministry requirement so attendances can be confirmed, and is important for the safety of students. 

 

Leadership Roles

Year 6 students are offered the following leadership opportunities within the school.  Each role has its own specific responsibilities and duties and is challenging and rewarding for the student.   For more information on these roles, please see the school website.

School Leader, House Leader, Peer Mediator, Class Councilor (Y5/6), Technician, Bus Monitor, Sports Shed Monitor, Student Receptionist.

Lost Property
Please name all your children's school clothes and property, to avoid loss. Unclaimed lost property is located on the "old hall" deck (behind the swimming pool).  Every effort is made to reunite them with their owners; unclaimed articles are sent to charity at the end of each term.  We do not encourage children to bring their favourite and expensive toys to school, as the school cannot guarantee their safety and cannot take responsibility for their safe keeping.

Lunches

School lunches are available on Friday through an outside operator at school. The menu changes each term and is available to view on the school website or at the school office.  Money should be placed in a secure envelope/bag and children make their choice from the school hall at lunch time.  Year 0-1 children are escorted to the hall and assistance is provided.  Occasionally fundraiser "sausage sizzle" lunches are provided.  School newsletters advise when these occur.

Money
Money being forwarded to school should be in a named, sealed envelope which also indicates the purpose for the money and amount and be given to the classroom teacher or office.   Please do not sellotape money to the envelope or permission slip.  Payment may be made online to the following bank account:  12-3095-0159666-00.  Please clearly state name of child and reason of payment in reference areas.

Newsletter

Newsletters full of information about school activities are issued to parents/caregivers fortnightly on Friday.  One copy per family will be sent home with the youngest child, although most families have the newsletter emailed.

Parents are welcome to provide the office with items of student or community news they would like included in the newsletter; please email to newsletter@matakana.school.nz on the Monday preceding.  Please contact the school office if you would like to advertise in the school newsletter.  

 

In order to save paper and copying costs, we ask families to receive their newsletter electronically.  Please forward your email address to the school office on newsletter@matakana.school.nz.  

A copy of the newsletter is posted on the school website and the notice board located outside Room 2.

Office
The office is managed by Office Manager Paula Hedges (office@matakana.school.nz) and is staffed between 8.15am and 3.15pm daily. If the office is unattended please leave a message on the answer phone. 

Parent Help
The school encourages parents to contribute to school programmes when appropriate. Parents may be asked to assist as tutors in Reading, Mathematics or Language, or to act as resource people in a variety of curriculum areas. Anyone interested in participating in the parent help programme is invited to contact the classroom teacher. All classroom helpers must sign the Matakana School Privacy Declaration document.   All parents must report and sign in at the school office where they will be issued with a visitor’s badge.

PTA

 

Unlike some other schools, the PTA at Matakana School is not a major fundraising machine. Some of the events organised do raise minor funds but these are reinvested to fund other PTA initiatives. Nor does our PTA have a conditional membership: if you are a parent of a child at Matakana then you are already considered a member of our PTA. The Matakana School PTA is rather a Parent/Caregiver Support Group, whose aim is to initiate and run events and activities that otherwise wouldn’t occur at the school.  These are not must-haves but they are invaluable in helping to create a little bit of magic and engendering a sense of pride and belonging in the children. They also present all the school families with an opportunity to muck in and get involved in the school community at whatever level they are able.   For more information, see the school website or email pta@matakana.school.nz. 

Reading Recovery
A diagnostic reading survey is conducted at age 6 by the Deputy Principal for all children at school and parents are invited to discuss their child’s result. For those who have not made satisfactory progress in reading (for whatever reason), a special ‘Reading Recovery’ programme is employed to ensure that their reading skills are developed to the stage where they can work confidently with their age group.

Reporting to Parents

The school values parents' and students' input to the setting of student learning goals, and arranges for these early in the year.  Parents are welcome to arrange appointments with Teachers, Syndicate Leaders, or the Principal to discuss their child's progress or any concerns, at any time.  

Term 1:  Parent Interviews and Goal Setting

 

Term 2:  Pupil Progress Presentations PPPs and Mid Year Reports

Term 3:  Classroom Open Day

Term 4:  End of Year Reports

 

Sports

A wide variety of sports are available for students to participate in at school and Inter school competitions enable our students to meet and compete with other students from surrounding schools.   Sports include Athletics, Cross Country, Hockey, Netball, Rippa Rugby, Soccer, Swimming, Touch Rugby, Soccer.

Year 5 and 6 students also have the opportunity to go sailing at a local beach Algies Bay with "Sailing Have a Go". 

PMP (Perceptual Movement Programme): A programme in which the Junior Syndicate run, hop, skip, climb, slide, jump, balance, throw, strike, roll, turn and have fun. This programme aims to develop the child‘s perceptions and understandings of himself/herself and his/her world through movement experiences. They do this with a variety of common and especially designed equipment. The PMP programme aims to develop children’s motor skills that are the foundation for many activities. PMP develops these skills in a fun, holistic and organized way. 

Jump Jam:   Students from Year 3 upwards enjoy an 'Kidz Aerobix' style fitness sessions. 

Stationery

A supply of stationery is kept at the school office for new entrant children enrolling during the year. All other children are given a list of stationery requirements which may be purchased anywhere, however we recommend Paper Plus in Warkworth as they prepare classroom packs for our school. When extra stationery is needed during the year, children may purchase items from the school office. A note will be sent home by the classroom teacher stating what your child requires.

Strategic Plan

For your information a copy of our current strategic plan is on the school website.

 

Support our School (easy ways)

Here are some simple ways you can help us gain free art, sporting or technology supplies.  Please ask family and friends, work colleagues and your neighbours for their help.   All documents are available from the school office.   

New World Pie for Schools - $50,000 up for grabs for local primary schools Register your and your family’s Fly Buys card and we gain a share of $50,000.  You retain your Fly Buys.

Telstra Clear -  Register Matakana School against your account and for every dollar spent our school receives reward points to use for technology equipment.

Yummy Stickers  - Look for selected fruit with a “yummy” sticker.  Each year we receive approximately $1,500 from this organisation for equipment for our sports shed.  Send completed sheets to the school office.

 Meadow Fresh  Stickers -  An annual promotion.  A $500,000 giveaway to primary/intermediate schools.   Collect yellow ‘Cool Stuff for Kids’ stickers and we gain free art and sporting supplies. 

Fuel for Schools  A sponsorship programme operated by Northfuels where users nominate our school and we receive 1 cent per 2 litres of bulk fuel that is delivered by Northfuels to the bulk fuel user.

Cash for Communities  PGG Wrightson.  Farmers purchase selected seed or fertilizer on their account we receive a share. 

Swimming
During the summer season each class is timetabled for three 30 minutes swims per week. We aim to teach children to swim, to be conscious of water safety and to be able to practice basic swimming skills. It is important that all children take full part in the swimming programme. Very often the children who need tuition most – are the ones who avoid swimming. If a pupil is not to take part in the swimming lesson, a note to this effect must be provided by parents. The Pool is solar heated. We follow the Lotto Swim Safe Programme designed for New Zealand schools.

Over the swimming season, school families can pay for a key if they wish to swim after school hours.  The key is available to purchase from the school office and as very few schools now allow the use of their pool as such, we ask that you respect and adhere to the school pool rules. 

SUPAKidz

A  SUPAkidz Club  runs  during lunchtimes on most Wednesdays.  It is a fun, activity-based Bible-based values programme, written by Scripture Union NZ.    It helps children think about life from a Christian perspective.   This programme is based on the values of the New Zealand Curriculum to complement the teaching that is happening in the school.  

It is led by experienced people from different local churches.   (SUPAkidz stands for Scripture Union Primary Adventures for kids.) 

Telephone

The school telephone can be used by children in emergencies (not for making arrangements for playing after school).  If you need to contact your child, please leave a message in the school office before 2.00pm.  

 

Teachers

During school time i.e 8.45-2.45pm teachers will be focused on teaching and learning and will not respond to emails or telephone calls.  If you have an urgent message, please contact the office and we will deliver this message to them. 

Please be patient - teachers attend meetings after 3pm and do not get the opportunity to check emails until the evening or next day.

Travel Arrangements
Please make sure your child is aware of any changes to their normal travel routine.  Some examples which parents/caregivers have done to remind their children is include a note in their child’s lunchbox or attach a tag to their bag.  If there is an unforeseen change to your child’s travel plan, please contact the school office before 2.00pm and we will get a note to your child.

TravelWise

Matakana School is a Gold TravelWise school.  TravelWise is an ongoing project with a set of practical actions that aim to improve road safety and promote sustainable school travel journeys. It is a partnership between Auckland Regional Transport Authority, Auckland Council, and Matakana School. Our school is committed to safe, active and sustainable travel to and from school.

 

The benefits include:

 

· Reduced traffic congestion at the school gates, this improves safety for all children

· Reduction of polluting car emissions in the environment

· Helping children learn road safety skills and become familiar with their community

· Improved engineering infrastructure to promote walking/cycling within the school zone

· Encouraging walking/scootering to improve children’s fitness and health

· Encouraging walking/scootering to ensure that children arrive alert and ready to learn

· Promoting the Walking School Bus

 

There are so many options for planning your child’s travel to and from Matakana School. Please feel free to contact Erris Scott in Room 5 who is the TravelWise Coordinator or the School Office for more information. 

 

TravelWise:  Kiss, Drop and Drive

If you travel to school by car, please use the ‘office’ entrance of the school. There is a 'Kiss, Drop and Drive’ point and this should be utilised for quick drop offs. Please ensure your child is seated on the left hand side of the car and exits on the path side.  If you intend to stay at the school for a longer length of time, please park on the main road.

 

You may only drop off or pick up your children in the ‘bus bay’ area outside bus times .  (ie Before 8.15am and after 9am, and after 3pm), Under no circumstances should cars park in this area. 

 

TravelWise:  Walking School Bus / Park and Walk

The Walking School Bus walks from the Black Dog Cafe with pickups from the Matakana Toilets and the corner of Riverglade Lane.  For days and times please see the school office.  Every day after school, children can join the WSB and walk with Teachers to the King George Statue and be picked up there by their parent or guardian.

 

If you travel to Matakana School by car in the mornings, please join the TravelWise Park & Walk group at the Matakana public toilets. A great way to start your day. 

 

 

Term Dates

The school terms for the 2013 year are: 

4th February until 19th April

6th May until 12th July

29th July until 27th September

14th October until 18th December

The last day of the school year is 18^th December and school will finish at 12.25pm on this day. 

Uniform

The Uniform Shop (based behind the school hall) opening hours are Wednesday 2.15 – 2.45pm and Friday 8.00 – 8.45am.

You may place an order via the school office, or email the uniform shop at uniform@matakana.school.nz.  The uniform order form is available at the school office or on our school website.  These orders are filled on a Wednesday and Friday and we will phone you when your order is ready for collection.

The compulsory uniform for Matakana School is available only through the School, and includes any or all of the following:

• Polo shirt (short sleeved) (Unisex)
• Fleece (long sleeved) (Unisex)
• Cargo shorts (Unisex)
• Skort
• Sunhat.

 

Additional uniform items (optional):

 

• Polo shirt (long sleeved) (Unisex)
• Cargo pants (long) (Unisex)
• Sports top (Unisex)
• Sports shorts (Unisex)
• Plain navy tights, socks, leggings, and long sleeved skivvies may be worn under the uniform in winter

 

Hot Weather alternative (optional) (Terms 1 and 4 only) :

 

• Uniform Dress (no long sleeved tops or leggings to be worn underneath the dress);
• Sports top (Unisex)
• Sports shorts (Unisex)

 

Footwear:

• No specific footwear is prescribed by the school.

 

Sports Uniform

• Uniform Sports top;
• Uniform Sports shorts;

 

Correct Wear

If your child will not be in the correct uniform, please send a note to your teacher explaining why.  Parents/Caregivers will be contacted by the Principal if their children are repeatedly not dressed in the correct uniform. 

 

Uniform Size and Pricing

For uniform size and pricing please refer to the school website.

Visitors to School
All visitors must report and sign in at the school office where they will be issued with a visitor’s badge. Visitors must make prior arrangements with teachers. 

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