Totara North School
A Place to Stand A Place to Grow
Information for Those Enrolling at Totara North SchoolTotara North School is a three teacher school which caters for children from New Entrants to Year 6 - Standard 4. The Board of Trustees is responsible for the running costs of the school: many costs are supplemented with locally raised funds e.g. school cleaning, and proceeds from the special fundraising events run by the school.
Hours
School starts at 8.50 a.m. and finishes at 2.45 p.m. Lunch is 12:30-1:10 p.m. The school is serviced by three bus routes and a teacher is on site to supervise the children from when the buses arrive at about 8.15 a.m. The last children leave school to walk to the bus at 3:35 p.m. After this there may not be a teacher in the grounds. Parents are therefore responsible for their own children after this time and if they are unable to pick up the children or the children do not go home on the bus, other arrangements for them should be made. When children are absent from school or when special arrangements have been made for them either during the day of after school, a note or a phone call to the school is required. (Any change in transport arrangements.)
STAFF MEMBERS
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Board meetings are held monthly - (dates and times will be advertised in the newsletter) and parents/caregivers are most welcome to attend. Copies of the minutes are available on request and parents/caregivers are also welcome to have something put on the agenda if they would like to discuss a particular item at the meeting.
For further information, the school Charter and policies are available for viewing at the school.
Enrolment Procedure
Parents are asked to please go to the school office when enrolling a new student. The Education Act requires parents/caregivers enrolling a new 5 year old student to produce suitable evidence of the child’s date of birth, e.g. birth certificate or passport. You may also pre-enrol your 4 year olds. The information on the enrollment form is collated for enrolment, school business and emergency procedures.
An immunization certificate must be presented at the school office on enrolment of five year old pupils. This certificate is required by the Health Regulations 1995 Act and will be returned to you upon receiving the relevant information.
School Hours
The daily bell times are as follows:
Fundraising
School cleaning is currently done by the parents/caregivers of school children of which this involves parents cleaning the school toilets. This needs to be done every day to comply with health regulations. On Wednesdays & Fridays we employ school cleaners to clean the school. The rosters are rotated during the course of each school term.
The monies raised for the school from the cleaning roster covers your child stationary costs whilst at our school.
We also from time to time fundraise as a school community to raise money for specific projects around the school. We would appreciate your support at these times.
Occasionally during the year, parents are asked to participate in a working bee of which you will be notified via our school newsletter. We appreciate any help at these times.
Change of Address, Telephone or Cellphone Numbers & Medical Conditions
It is vital for the school to have up-to-date records of your home address, phone number, cellphone numbers, work phone numbers etc so you can be contacted in the case of sickness, accident, or buses departing from school earlier due to roads flooding. In the case of buses departing earlier from school, if you are not able to be contacted, then your child will be kept at school for you to collect.
When it is raining heavily for a 2nd consecutive day or more, please contact the school and inform us if you are not going to be home, therefore alternative arrangements can be made in the case of buses departing earlier.
Cheques
Any cheques sent along to school for payment of items are to be written to “Totara North Primary School” unless stated otherwise in the newsletter.
Buses
There is a bus that travels to and from Kaeo each day. This bus arrives at our school at approximately 8.45a.m. and departs in the afternoons at 2.45p.m. There are buses also transporting to the Kahoe/Otangaroa areas. These arrive at our school at approximately 8.15a.m. and depart in the afternoon at 3.40p.m.
Please note: If there are to be any changes to your child’s travel arrangements, you must notify the school no later than 2p.m. A note sent to school, or a phone call is sufficient. Children are not permitted to travel on a different bus unless we get the parental permission. Without this the child will be sent home on their normal bus.
School Trips
As outings are considered part of the school programme, all children are expected to participate. Costs for such excursions are covered by the school with some exceptions where the family may be asked for a small contribution. Sometimes it is more economical to ask parents/caregivers to provide cars. In such cases the Board of Trustees has a policy that all children must wear seatbelts, the car must meet all legal requirements and the driver must have a full current drivers licence.
Lunches
Lunches can be ordered in the morning at school on all school days except Wednesdays - a list of what is available and a price list will be given to your child/ren with additional copies available at the office if needed. Please note certain items are available on certain days and we require children to pay for their lunches at the time of ordering them. We request that 2 minute packet noodles are not sent along to school. Instead we have cup noodles available to purchase from the canteen if you wish.
Please note: No sweets or fizzy drinks are permitted in lunchboxes at school.
Dental Caravan
We have a mobile clinic which visits our school. All children are checked and a permission form sent home if treatment is required. If at any other time of the year you are requiring attention for your child/ren, please contact the school office and you will be notified of where they are situated at the time and arrangements can be made to see the Dental Therapist.
Health
During their first year of schooling, pupils are tested by the Northland Health Vision and Hearing testers. Annual testing is carried out on any children found having problems, along with children referred by teachers. Parents/caregivers will be notified so they can be present.
Money, Valuables & Cellphones
Children should hand any valuables for safe keeping in the office until the end of the day. Large amounts of money should not be sent along with children and if this is unavoidable it should be left in the school office until the end of the day. Cellphones are not allowed at school during school hours, but if needed for use after school, we require these to be given in at the school office until the end of the day.
Absences & Withdrawals
Our school has a high expectation for school attendance as research has shown high absenteeism being one of the most detrimental factors to student achievement.
If your child is going to be absent from school, we require a phone call to advise us.
Please notify the Principal when a withdrawal is to take place. Time is needed for the return of library books and for the child to have all their books and other articles returned to them to take along to their next school.
Duffy Books in Homes Programme
In 2005 our school became eligible to participate in this programme. Each year there are events whereas the children get to take home books to keep in their homes at no cost to the families. We also hold assemblies at school on a weekly basis and often children are given certificates for “Caught Being Good”, of which they get to choose a free Duffy book to keep. We also have the Kids at Home programme where under 5 year olds receive a free book on their birthday, chosen by their older siblings enrolled at our school.
The Duffy Scheme is sponsored jointly by RPL Accountants and fundraising undertaken by the school.
Bookclub
Leaflets are distributed to pupils approximately 8 times per year for personal buying of the books offered. Orders and monies are sent back to school by the date notified at the time and the Scholastic bulk book order when returned will be distributed to those families who have ordered them. If you wish to pick up the books yourself from the school office (e.g. birthday present etc), please state this on your order form at the time or ordering.
Totara North School Website
If you are on the internet check out our website at: totaranorth.school.nz where you will find the latest newsletter to view along with photos of some previous events our school has held.
Naming of Clothes
We do ask that you name your children’s clothing where possible along with swimming togs and towels in the swimming season. The school does not accept responsibility for lost belongings and we will hold lost property for a period of 2 weeks. Then it is handed on to less fortunate people, so please if you are up at the school, check in the lost property box.
Swimming Pools
We have two swimming pools here at our school.
To help limit the spread of head lice and to help keep the pool filtration plant clean all children must wear a bathing cap when swimming in the pools. The school provides each child with one and if abused or lost you will be requested to send along money to pay for a replacement.
Sunhats
It is the policy of this school that sunhats must be worn during terms 1 and 4. These are our summer terms and students are expected to wear a suitable sunhat outside at all times. Parents/Caregivers are requested to ensure that their child brings a named sunhat to school during these two terms. Students without hats will be directed to play under shade.
The Cancer Society recommend wearing either:
Bucket hats with a deep crown and an angled brim (width at least 6cms)
Broad brimmed hats with a brim of 7.5cms.
Legionnaire hats with a flap that covers the neck and meets the sides of the front peak.
Baseball caps are not acceptable and are NOT sunsmart as they leave the ears and the neck unprotected.
WANT TO KNOW MORE: CHECK THE WEBSITE AT www.sunsmartschools.co.nz
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted in any school building or on school grounds.
Parking
A car park is available at the school to accommodate staff, parents, and other visitors to the school with an entry and exit. In order to accommodate as many vehicles as possible, angle parking on the left hand side of the car park is advised.
If children are being dropped off or collected, please park your vehicle in such a way as not to block the entrance to the car park so there will be free access in and out at all times and also access to the school house driveway to be available at all times. We also ask for the children’s safety, that during school hours, cars are not permitted to drive up onto the court area. If this is necessary e.g. heavy goods are being dropped off, or in an emergency, please ensure you approach a staff member first before opening the gate.
Newsletters
A school newsletter is put out to all families each fortnight often with a few more in-between for unexpected events coming up. Please ask your children for these as they will contain information relevant to the school community from both the school and the Board.
Communication With Parents / B.O.T.
If you have a concern or issue in the first instance:-
A copy of the complaints policy is available at the school office.
On the reverse side – the school thrives on praise where it is due – let us know if you like what is happening at school, or have any suggestions to enhance the children’s learning.
Parent Help At School
Parents/Caregivers are welcome to help at school in a variety of ways, including:
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