School Information 

Absences:

When children are absent parents are expected to contact the School using either the answer phone system or email (office@stjohnsmairangibay.school.nz), including their child's name, room number and a message.  Please notify the school in writing of absences other than sickness.  These should come to the Principal either directly, or through the Classroom Teacher.

In general, appointments should be made out of school hours.  However, it is sometimes necessary for parents to take children from School during the day.  A written note should be given to the class teacher whenever children are to leave the School grounds during school time.

Children leaving the school during normal school hours must be signed out in the Absentee Book at the School Office.  This is the responsibility of the parent and is in addition to the parent advising the Classroom Teacher either in writing or verbally that their child has to take time out of school.

It is the responsibility of parents, if the child returns to school on the same day, to call in to the Office with the child and register that he/she has been returned to the School.  A slip confirming that they have been registered back in will be given to the child to give to their Class Teacher.

 

Accidents or Sickness at School:

While every care is taken accidents do happen from time to time.  Minor injuries are treated at School in the Medical Room.  Where the injury is of a more serious nature parents are immediately informed.  For this reason it is vital that parents ensure that the school has their current phone number.  They are also asked if possible, to provide the name of someone else who can be contacted if they are unavailable.  This information is sought at the time of enrolment and regularly updated. 

The School has very limited sick bay facilities so we ask parents, who are advised by phone that their child is ill, to collect them immediately.  In cases of emergency the School will get a child to medical attention if no caregiver can be contacted.   

Parents are asked to inform the school of known medical problems such as asthma, allergies or epilepsy so that appropriate support can be given.

The School requires written confirmation before it will administer any prescribed medication to the children.  Parents must complete a permission form which can be obtained from the school office.  Pupils who have prescribed medication to be taken at School are to give it into the care of the office.  Medicines are not to be kept in bags or desks.  

 

Assembly:

A full School Assembly is held each Friday morning, and is a valued event in the community life of the School.  The assembly brings all children and teachers together for prayers, notices, congratulations for pupil achievement, results of House Group competitions, performances by pupils, presentations and occasionally visiting speakers.  Merit certificates are specially printed School Awards and are presented at each weekly assembly for excellence of work or school spirit.

 

Buddy System:

The School operates a class buddy system where younger children are buddied up with older children.  Each term buddy classes organise a special Mass for their classes and meet for socialisation and interclass assistance.

The buddy classes are:	Room 1 and Room 8
	Room 2 and Room 12
	Room 3 and Room 9
	Room 4 and Room 7
	Rooms 5 and Room 11
	Room 6 and Room 10 and Room 13

 

Bus Information:

There are several bus routes available before and after school.  The routes cover from Takapuna to Albany.  After school, children line up in bus lines and are put on the bus by the duty teachers.

Click here for route information.

 

Code of Behaviour:

As a pupil of St John's School I will : 

Treat others with fairness and respect.  
    Show kindness, good manners and courtesy to others.  
    Be helpful. 
    Obey the school rules.
    Show pride in my school and in all that I do.

Above all,  
    I will follow Jesus,
    be the best person I can be 
    and treat others as I would want them to treat me.

 

Finance and School Fees (as at January 2012):

School Fees are $293 per child per term ($1,172.00 per annum).  

These fees are made up of:

Attendance Dues	Attendance dues are  $95.00 per child per term and although paid to the School they are forwarded directly to the Auckland Catholic Education Diocesan Fund.  Attendance dues are fixed by the Proprietors and the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference and are used to service loans for capital works at Catholic schools throughout the country.
Special Character Donation	A levy of $10 per child per term is charged by the Auckland Catholic Education Office to fund expenses for advisers in Religious Education.
Parent Contribution Donation	This contribution, $148.00  per child per term,  provides funds, additional to Government Grants, for the running of the School.  It is reviewed annually.
School Development Donation	$40.00 per child (applying to the first two children in each family).  Money from this fee provides funds to allow for our school development programme.  It is reviewed annually.

Payment of Accounts:  Accounts are sent out through the School Office at the beginning of each term.  These can be paid by cash, cheque or automatic payment. To set up an automatic payment, please contact the office.

Tax Deductions:  The Special Character Donation, the Parent Contribution Donations and the School Development Donation, and any other donations to the school are paid on a voluntary basis and therefore are tax deductible ($792 per annum).

 

Health Services:

A Health Nurse is available to visit the School.  She provides specialist assistance to the School regarding the health of the children.  She is also available to parents and may be contacted through the School.   

At various times the hearing and vision of the children is checked by specialist technicians.  

The School Dental Nurse caters for our children annually through the Murrays Bay Primary School Clinic.  Should anyone be in need of her services out of these times she can be contacted through the School.

 

Homework:

Pupils at all stages are encouraged to devote a regular period of time to homework.  During this time they may develop their interests or reinforce ideas and understandings previously met in class.

The general rule is that homework will be an extension of class work reinforcing or deepening concepts of class study.

The over-riding principle is, as always, that quality is more important than quantity and that doing homework is a good way to develop study habits.

Click here to view the homework policy.

 

House Team System:

The School is divided into four House Teams for the purpose of sports and other activities.  The teams are Blue, Gold, Green and Red.  The children are placed in a house on enrolment.  All members of the same family are placed in the same house.  

The House Captains and Vice Captains are elected by the school children every two terms from the Year 6 children.

The House Teams operate to strengthen a sense of unity and cohesion within the School, to add purpose to sporting and other school activities, and to provide an incentive and reward system for behaviour management and recognition of effort, achievement and school spirit.

All children earn housepoints which are collated weekly and the results announced at assembly.  A running total is kept to find the winning House each term, and for the year.

 

 

 

Lost Property:

It is important that all children's belongings, especially clothing is labelled clearly with the child's name.  If any property is misplaced, the lost property is located in the medical room.  Children are encouraged to check here if they are missing any property.  Parents are also welcome to check regularly for lost items.

 

Lunch Room:

At present there are no facilities for lunch orders at the school.

 

Masses:

The school comes together for Mass to celebrate the feast of St. Joseph, as the school was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph, St. John, the patron saint of the school, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary and also at the end of the year for the Leavers Mass.  In addition to this, each term buddy classes come together to organise and participate in their own Masses.  These are held on Wednesday mornings at 9:15am in the church.  All parents are invited to attend, and dates are published in the school newsletters.

 

Monogram:

The St John's School monogram is in the shape of a shield divided into three coloured segments on which are traced the signs.
	The first segment is pale blue depicting sea and sky with the rock symbolising the church, surmounted by the cross - faith, the relationship of course being the Catholic School overlooking Mairangi Bay and the sea to Rangitoto Island. The centre segment is the sacrificial colour - red, and symbolises John's revelation:  "Behold the lamb of God, the lamb that was slain".  The raised foot - the opening of the Book of Revelations. The dark right segment represents the night sky with the four stars of the Southern Cross - our flag.
MOTTO    :    PREPARE THE WAY   Following in the footsteps of St John the Baptist, patron of our School, this motto was adopted as being appropriate because it describes the nature of teaching and its effect on the lives of the children in our care.

 

Newsletters:

School newsletters come home every Tuesday with the oldest child in the family.  They contain a wealth of information about past, present and future events at the school.  They include a congratulations section recognising children's achievement and a section for community notices.

Click here for the latest school newsletters.

 

Parent Enquiries:

If you have concerns about your children's progress or you seek clarification about something that has happened at School, please follow the following guidelines.

Firstly, approach your child's class teacher.   As the frontline professional worker he/she is in the best position to answer concerns or enquiries.

If after meeting with the teacher there is further concern seek an appointment with Mrs Triggell if your child is in the Junior Team, Mrs Harris if your child is in the Middle Team or Mrs Fitzgibbon if your child is in the Senior Team.

If the matter is still not resolved or clarified after a reasonable amount of time, you should meet with the Principal

 

Pick up and Delivery of Children:

In the main, children are being picked up from or delivered to school at either the Church carpark, the School carpark or the School front entrance in Penzance Road. 

1.	Please instruct your children as to whether you are going to pick them up from the front gate or the Church or School Carpark.
	Children being picked up at the front gate will continue to wait there after dismissal from class until 3.05pm, when they will be required to wait on the top court.
	Children being picked up from the Church carpark will wait at the end of the top tennis court.
	Children being picked up from the School carpark will wait at the end of the back tennis court.
	Parents are expected to park their cars and collect the children from either the top court or the front entrance to the school. When using the School carpark pick up area, parents are expected not to leave their cars as it is designed for the immediate pick up and drop off of children.
	When using the Penzance Road Entrance
1.	Park on Hastings Road, St. Ives Terrace, or the bottom section of Penzance Road beyond St. Ives Terrace.
2.	Do not stop at all in the area of Penzance Road between Hastings Road and St. Ives Terrace.

 

Religious Education:

The school teaches the National Religious Education Programme which is used as the basis of our Religious Education curriculum.  The programme is divided into strands; God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, Church, Communion of Saints, Sacrament and the Liturgical Year.  These are all covered each year with the knowledge being built on year after year. 
It is taught across the school on Mondays, from 10:50-11:50, and Wednesdays, from 8:50-10:00.  Information about each strand is included in the newsletter at the beginning of each topic.  Further information on the strands can be found in the children's Activity books.
At the conclusion of each strand there is a comment box in the Activity book.  The children write what they learned and what insights they gained throughout the strand.  Parents are asked to complete the family/ whanau section of the comment box.  This is very valuable for the child, and another way to connect the learning at school to the home.  Suggestions for these can be found on pages 30-40 in the Family/ Whanau book.

 

Reporting to Parents:

The School has a policy of reporting to parents regularly on their child's learning progress.  A School information evening is held early in Term One.  Parent/Teacher conferences are held in Term One and at the beginning of Term Three.  Parents are welcome to seek additional appointments with teachers at any time.  Please phone the office or contact the teacher so a mutually suitable time can be arranged.  We appreciate prompt contact if there are concerns.

A written report is issued at the end of the year.

 

School Hours:

8:50 am	School commences
10:30 - 10:50 am	Morning interval
12:30 - 1:30 pm	Lunch break
2:50 pm	School finishes

Children should not be at School before 8:30 am except when home circumstances make it necessary for the child to be earlier, but all should be at School before 8:45 am. 

 

School Prayer:

This is our school, let peace dwell here.
Let the rooms be full of contentment.
Let love abide here.  Love of one another,
Love of mankind, Love of life itself,
And love of God.

Let us remember that as many hands build a house,
So many hearts make a school.

 

School Rules:

Children are encouraged to demonstrate in their actions care, thought and consideration for both people and their possessions, and the physical environment we have around us.  We like to think that by giving children guidance, trust, responsibility and a framework of acceptable behaviour, it will lead to independence and self discipline.  The onus of responsible behaviour is on the children themselves. 

1.	The grass banks outside Rooms 1, 2 and 3 and 4, 5 and 6 are not to be played on.
2.	Balls are not to be kicked on the main court area, on the asphalt area outside the hall and outside all classrooms.
3.	Toys and games are not to be brought to school unless permission has been given by the classroom teacher.
4.	Chewing gum is not allowed at school. Drinks must be in plastic containers.
5.	Out-of-bounds areas at the school include :
	All carparks The grass banks outside Rooms 1, 2 and 3 and 4, 5 and 6. Classrooms and cloak rooms during break time. The front gate access area to the school including the staff carpark and flagpole areas. All hedge areas. The gully area below the pool and  below Jack’s Rest. Around the Caretakers shed. The pool area, unless accompanied by a teacher.
6.	All lunchtime games stop at the gully siren.
7.	Uniform
	The full school uniform should be worn at all times. Ribbons, head bands and bobbles of the school colours are the only hair adornments permitted. These  are to be white, blue or brown or, in summer, red. Watches and plain studs are the only form of jewellery to be worn. Nail polish is not permitted. The school sports uniform is to be worn for P.E. and special sports activities. Children playing touch rugby and soccer on the field during Terms 2 and 3 must wear a change of clothes. Bare feet are not permitted around the school, however, are allowed on the bottom field for sports and games. School sunhats are to be worn during the Summer months of Terms 1 and 4. A note must be brought to class teachers if any part of the uniform is not being worn.
8.	Cellphones
	Cellphones must be handed into the office at the beginning of each day and collected at 2:50pm
9.	Bus
	·                      Follow the instructions of the bus monitor. ·                      St John’s children sit up the front of the bus. ·                      Families must sit together.
10.	After School
	All children must go home straight after school unless their parents have previously contacted the school or they are involved in a sports practice. Children catching bus 69 assemble on the court.  Other bus children assemble at the front gate. Children being picked up by parents at the front gate must wait at the gate for their parents. No children are allowed to wait for their parents at the church carpark.  Children being picked up by parents parking in the church carpark must wait on the top court for their parents. Children staying on at school after 3pm must remain on the top court and observe normal school rules.   Any children waiting at the gate after 3:05pm will be brought up to the top court by the duty teacher.
11.	Walkzones
	Walking only is permitted in these areas.  These areas are in front of all the classrooms and the end of all buildings.  "Walkzone" signs are posted in these areas.

 

Smoke-free Policy:

The 2003 amendment to the smoke-free Environments Act requires all New Zealand schools to be fully smoke-free.

Click here to view the Smoke-free Policy.

 

Sport:

St. John's offers the children the opportunity to join school netball, hockey, flippa ball and miniball teams. The senior netball competition runs during Terms 2 and 3 for Years 5 and 6, with Twilight netball in Term 4 for Years 4-6. The teams play on Wednesday afternoons at Netball North Harbour in Takapuna.

The junior netball competition also runs during Terms 2, 3 and 4 for Years 2-4. These teams play on Saturday mornings at Pinehurst School.

Miniball is offered to children from Years 3-6 and is played on Tuesday (Year 3-4) and Thursday (Year 5-6) afternoons at the Browns Bay Leisure Centre.

Hockey is offered to children from Years 3-6 and is played on Monday evenings at the Rosedale Turfs. 

Flippa ball is offered to Year 5-6 children in Terms 1 and 4.  It is played at the Millennium Institute on Sunday afternoons.

Children wishing to play cricket, rugby, soccer, league do so through the many clubs situated on the Shore.  

The school participates in various interschool events including; swimming, miniball,  rugby, cross country, athletics and soccer.

 

Stationery:

When a child arrives at school they are given a list of required stationery.  This varies slightly across the school.  We encourage this to be bought from the school office to ensure uniformity, as there are varying styles of exercise books available.  Incidental stationery supplies can be purchased from the office each morning before school. 

 

Uniform:

SUMMER:	Girls	Dress:	Blue check.  Ready-made dresses are available from the School.
		Jumper:	Kingfisher blue jumper or blue school sweatshirt.
		Shoes:	Black leather sandals either buckle or velcro with a heel height of no greater than 2.5cm.
		Ribbons:	Blue, white, red or black.
		School hat:	Blue slouch or cap style.
SUMMER:	Boys	Shorts:	Dark grey shorts (same all year).
		Shirt:	Grey monogrammed polo shirt.
		Jumper:	Kingfisher blue V-necked jumper or  blue school sweatshirt
		Shoes:	Black leather sandals either buckle or velcro with a heel height of no greater than 2.5cm.
		School hat:	Blue slouch or cap style.
WINTER:	Girls	Pinafore:	Permanently pleated skirt with plain top.  (Available from the School)
			Freight blue long sleeve polo shirt
			Kingfisher blue jumper
			Black knee-high socks and black shoes.
WINTER:	Boys	Shorts:	Dark grey shorts (same all year).
		Skivvy:	Freight blue long sleeve polo shirt
		Jumper:	Kingfisher blue jumper.
		Shoes:	Black knee-high socks and black shoes.
		All items available from the School Uniform Shop.

All items are on sale at the School on uniform sale days as notified in the School Newsletter.  A selection of second hand uniforms for both girls and boys may be available.

SPORTS UNIFORM

The School has a sports uniform comprising of a School polo shirt and dark blue shorts.  Children are expected to wear their sports uniform for P.E. throughout the year.  In winter children are able to add the school sweatshirt to their sports uniform.  Sports/Physical Education clothes are to be brought to School on Mondays and remain there until taken home for washing on Friday.  In winter children need a change of clothes if they wish to play football at lunchtime.   

NAMING OF CLOTHING

Please mark ALL clothing and shoes clearly - in summer, underwear and swimming towels/togs as well. 

The following prices are effective as at June 2010 and are subject to change without notification:

 

Click here to download an Order Form