Prospectus A-Z
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Dear Parents and Caregivers
Kia ora and welcome to Sumner School. We hope that you and your family have a long and happy stay with us. The following prospectus outlines some of the important information you will need to know when your child starts school. As our mission statement (excellence and effort in a caring environment) suggests, our aim is to provide a happy and secure learning environment for your child and to develop a sense of pride, success, and high self-esteem. The partnership between home and school is crucial in achieving this and we welcome your full involvement in our wonderful school. I look forward to meeting you sometime in the near future. Kind regards Stuart Cameron Principal Accidents Although every reasonable precaution is exercised, accidents do happen. Minor ones receive first-aid treatment from the teacher on duty. In all cases of head injury, suspected bone injury, bad cuts, etc. the parent is notified immediately for the necessary medical attention to be sought. All accidents at the school are investigated, recorded and if serious enough, reported to the Board of Trustees. Children are not sent home unless their parents have been informed, and must be accompanied before leaving the school. If your child does arrive home during lunch time or school time, and you have not had any communication from us, please contact the school immediately. In order to keep our Emergency File up to date, please notify the school of any change of alternative contact, (for when a parent is not at home) and change of doctor. After School Play Children should report home after school before going to a friend's house to play, or, where arrangements have been made by the parents concerned. Attendance Children are expected to regularly attend school. Caregivers are obliged by law to ensure their children maintain regular attendance. Last year we implemented the electronic attendance register system (eAR). This is something that all schools in NZ are expected to be using in the near future. Each morning and afternoon teachers complete their class register. If a student is absent from school for any reason, the teacher must enter a code. These absences fall under two main categories ‘ explained’ and ‘unexplained’. It is the responsibility of parents to contact the school to explain why their child is absent. Phone 326 6546 before 9.00am to explain the child’s whereabouts or send a note via the class teacher. If an explanation is not received the office staff will attempt to contact parents to seek an explanation. These follow-ups do have a significant impact on our admin time so we really appreciate all parents ensuring that they have contacted the school if their child is going to be away. Please note that according to the Ministry of Education criteria, any absences due to travelling on family holidays during term time are treated as unjustified absences. These absences need to be put in writing or email admin@sumner.school.nz Board of Trustees Click on the following links:
Charter of Commitment The staff and students of this school agree to and will uphold the following principles: We will act in a safe and healthy way at all times
We will respect the rights and needs of others at all times and treat others the way we would like them to treat us.
We will treat all property, both personal and of the school withrespect and care
We will respect the environment
We will stay within the boundaries
We will follow the instructions of all staff members Concerns All complaints must be referred to the class teacher concerned, then on to the appropriate team leader. If not resolved, then contact the principal who will take any necessary action. Parents are most welcome to discuss any concern they have about their child's progress with the class teacher firstly, then the team leader by appointment. Parents and teachers have the same goal - the best possible education for the children. However, differences in approach and in ways of attaining these goals could lead to misunderstanding and misinterpretation. Regular and congenial discussions between parents and teachers are extremely valuable. For further details on concerns or complaints please click here. Collecting Pupils from School Parents are asked to park their cars at the library entrance on Hardwicke Street when collecting children after school. This makes the Colenso Street entrance safer for pedestrians, cyclists and buses. At no time park on the yellow lines! Cyber Safety Please read the parent letter regarding Cyber Safety in this enrolment pack. The use of the Internet is considered an important aspect of teaching and learning at Sumner School. If you do not wish your child to have access to the Internet while at school please fill out the request slip for this and return it to the Office or your child’s teacher as soon as possible. Cycling to School Parents are urged to ensure that children are not only proficient cyclists but that they also have an adequate understanding of basic road rules before allowing them to ride to school. Children below Year 4 are not encouraged to cycle to school for this reason. It is compulsory for all children to wear an approved type helmet when cycling to and from school. It is recommended that all bicycles left at school be locked as we cannot be responsible for stolen cycles. Dental Clinic/Therapist The dental clinic is operated by Canterbury Health Board. Most children have been enrolled at the Dental Clinic before coming to school. If this is not the case it is important that parents enrol their child for dental treatment. Call Centre 0800 846 983 Enrolment Children are entitled to start school on their fifth birthday. All enrolment formalities are handled at the office. Please bring a copy of their birth certificate or a passport to verify their date of birth as well as documents to prove you are residing within the school zone. For more information on enrolment please click here. Pre Entry School Visits Children who have enrolled as New Entrants at Sumner School are invited to visit the New Entrant class during the month prior to their fifth birthday, on Thursday mornings 9.00 - 11.00am with their parents and meet with the New Entrant teacher. These visits are an important way of introducing children to the school and class environment. We look forward to meeting you and your child. External Competitions The school participates in a wide range of academic competitions –
Lunch at School Children are supervised at lunch-time and must be seated for the first 10 minutes to eat their lunch. Children may buy their lunch on a Friday. Lunches are provided by Pure Sushi. Order forms are available from the school office. We encourage all children to take their lunch rubbish home with them. This keeps litter on the school grounds to a minimum and also helps parents monitor their child(ren)’s eating habits. Lost Property Lost property is an on going problem. Please name all articles of clothing, footwear and swimwear. Lost property is available for inspection inside the Office each weekday. MASH This is "My After School Headquarters" programme operating from the school hall before and after school each week. Times:7.30am to 8.30am and 2.00pm to 5.30pm. Holiday programmes are available. For more information go to www.mashkids.co.nz or phone 0800 420520 Music We place considerable emphasis on music. At all levels music is taught by classroom teachers as part of the curriculum and this includes playing a variety of tuned and un-tuned percussion, recorders and ukuleles. From Year 5 students have the opportunity to take part in our instrumental programme in which lessons are offered by specialist tutors during class time and lunchtime. These lessons are offered on violin, flute, guitar, clarinets, saxophone, brass and drums. There are also a number of co-curriculum music groups that Years 5-8 students can belong to including choir, Bays Cluster Orchestra, and rock band. To find out more about the choir click here. Newsletters To keep parents informed about school activities, meetings and other functions, newsletters will be electronically sent home on every second Friday. Other notices usually go home on that day as well. Our newsletter is sponsored by local business people. A paper copy of the newsletter is also available at the office. Click here to view our latest newsletters. PMP The Year 0 & 1 children participate in the Perceptual Motor Programme in Terms 2& 3. This is a movement / language based programme which helps children withmotor co-ordination, thinking skills, social skills and coping better in the classroom. PTA Click here to join or find out about our PTA. Reporting to Parents Learning Conferences are held in the first couple of weeks of the year and again at the end of Term 2. Parents of New Entrant children have a separate meeting with their teacher after six weeks at school. The purpose of these conferences is to discuss progress and achievement and we encourage the children to take part in the process. We also report children’s progress through individual written reports mid-year and at the end of year. All parents are welcome to talk with their child’s teacher or the Principal at any time during the year; however we ask that you phone to make an appointment. Do not hesitate to make contact if you have any queries or worries. To read more about assessment and reporting click here. Reading Recovery The Reading Recovery Programme is an effective early intervention programme designed to assist children with literacy difficulties. These young children have daily individual teaching (which is in addition to the classroom programme) which brings them to average levels of achievement for their classes within a very short time. Children will be assessed at the end of their first year at school and parents will be fully informed if their child enters the programme. School Donation and Activity Contributions Requests for contributions towards the school donation and curriculum associated activities are forwarded to parents/caregivers at the beginning of each term. The school donation is $175.00 per year ($47.75 each term). Please be aware that this is a donation and therefore parents are not obligated to pay. School donations however, are an important component in the school’s fundraising and without them we would not be able to provide the same level of learning support and high standard of teaching programmes. Parents/Caregivers will receive notification of upcoming trips or activities; your contribution towards these costs would be appreciated within the term the trip or activity occurs. For large expense items e.g. swimming lessons, camps, skiing etc, payments are to be made in advance of the trip. The school is happy to accept regular part payments throughout the year, and offers internet banking facilities, EFTPOS, cheque or cash. We encourage parents to utilise internet banking and EFTPOS so there is minimal cash kept on the school premises. Office staff would be really grateful if these two forms of payments could be used if at all possible as it has a huge impact on the amount of paper work that needs to be done. If you must send cash or cheques to school there is the drop off box at reception for you to leave your payments in. Please ensure the envelope is clearly marked with your child’s name and room number and is not sent to the classroom. For those who wish to make internet payments, the school account number can be found on the bottom of your child’s statement. If you request a receipt it will be posted home. School Pool and Swimming Club The school has the use of a heated pool that is operated in conjunction with the Sumner Swimming Club over the summer. Keys are available for purchase from the Swimming Club committee. Key holders may use the pool outside school hours(except during club training times). Adult key holders are required to do some supervision during public hours. School Structure Click here to see the names of staff that work at Sumner and their positions. School Terms Click here for the term dates. School Times 8:30am A bell is rung to allow pupils to enter the classrooms. Children should not enter before this time as no staff supervision is arranged before then. 9:00am: Classes commence 10:40-11:00am: Morning interval 11:00-12:30pm: Classes |