School Procedures

Wet Days
There will be no change to the timetable on wet days

Absence from School
If your child is absent from school, please inform the school office before 9am on the morning of the absence. When a child returns to school after an absence he/she should bring a written explanation from his/her parents or guardian.

Appointments
You are asked, when possible, to avoid making appointments for students during school hours.

Contacting the School
The office staff hours are 8:30am to 3:00pm. If you wish to contact any of the teaching staff, this is best done before school between 12:30 and 1:00pm, after school, or you may leave a message at the office.

Visits to School
Parents who wish to contact students during school hours must do so through the Office. This avoids students and teachers, learning and teaching in classrooms from being interrupted.

Visitors Book
All visitors including parents, must sign the ‘Visitors Book’ located on the front counter in the School Office.
Student Signing In Book
Students that are being picked up from school, before 2.45pm, must be recorded in the ‘Student Signing Book’, by the adult that is taking them from school eg: an unwell student, appointments etc.  If the child is returned to school on the same day that they have been signed out, the adult returning the student to school must record the time that they arrived.  The ‘Student Signing Book’ is located on the lower bench in the School Office.

Use of Telephone
The School telephones are not for the use of students except in special circumstances, permission being given by the teacher or office staff.

Concerns
If parents or caregivers have any concerns or issues these should be addressed in the first instance to the person that it concerns, or the classroom teacher. If following discussions the issue is unresolved, the next point of contact is the senior Teacher followed by the Deputy Principal, then Principal. If your concern is not addressed, then you are invited to write to The Board of Trustees Chairperson seven days prior to a board meeting.

Banking
Banking day is Tuesday with the Credit Union Hamilton. Bank books should be posted in the box provided at the school office by 9.00a.m on the Tuesday morning. The books are collected by a bank staff member and returned the next day.
Leaving School Grounds
No student is permitted to leave the school playground without permission. Parents need to contact the school office if their child is going home for lunch.
Driveway
The driveway with the tree grove is for pedestrian and cyclist traffic. Cyclists are to walk bikes down this driveway.
Swimming
Each class has swimming lessons at Water World Te Rapa throughout the year. Trained instructors take these lessons.
Lost Property
Unclaimed articles of clothing can be found in the lost property box outside the school library. Please ensure all clothing is named for easier identification.
School Mass
A Mass is celebrated for the whole school in the church at least once a Term. Each class has a class Mass once a Term. The school and parish combine for a Sunday Mass twice a year. As the dates vary, notification will be by newsletter. Parents/Caregivers are most welcome and encouraged to attend all school and class Masses.
Cell Phones and Electronic Devices
The use of cell phones and electronic devices brought from home is banned on school grounds.  Any student seen with, or caught using a cell phone will have it confiscated and the following consequences will be actioned: 1st Confiscation –  Parents rung to collect cell phone/device.
2nd Confiscation – Cell phone/device held for 2 weeks.  Parents
Are rung to collect the phone.
3rd Confiscation -  The cell phone/device is held until the end of
term.  Parents are rung to collect the phone.
The school accepts no responsibility for the loss or damage of cell phones and electronic devices.
Car Pick up and Drop Offs
When picking students up from school please follow these procedures:
·       After school each day, the Church carpark is patrolled by two senior students and a staff member between 2.45 and 3pm.
All school students are instructed by teachers that they must cross only when the patrollers extend the signs to stop traffic and call (Carpark open, cross now).
We ask that all parents help reinforce this safe practice by reminding their children and also most importantly by modelling what is expected.
Please note that you can enter through the first and second car park driveways and exit only through the third driveway ( nearest the hall.)
·       Car owners are requested to please find a car park rather than stopping in flow of traffic or under   the  porch.
·       Please ensure all students are picked up by 3pm at the latest.
·       If dropping off or picking up students in the school driveway outside the administration, do so by finding a carpark.  Please do not stop the flow in the traffic.  There is no right turn (please take note of the traffic sign) from this drive between 8.15-8.45am and 2.45-3pm.  This is to stop cars turning directing into our school crossing.
If you have any other family members or friends pick up your child/ren please inform them of the above procedures.  Keeping your children safe at all times is our paramount concern.
Assemblies
School assemblies are held at 1.25 p.m. on some Monday afternoons in the Church.  Parents are invited to these assemblies.   Occasionally these assemblies are cancelled with no notice given, due to bad weather, or other important events.
Newsletter
An informative newsletter is sent home with students every second Thursday.  (Where possible, any other notices will be sent home at the same time).  Please check that you receive it and read it carefully. This can be also accessed on the website.
Parent Contribution
This is the only money that comes directly to our school funds and is used to subsidise school expenditure in photocopying, art supplies and classroom incidentals.
We ask for $70.00 for the first child in a family or $100.00 per family.  This is a tax deductible donation.
(This does not include activities such as Theatre Shows and Education Visits).
Reports on Student’s Progress
Parents are invited to make appointments and talk over their child’s progress with the class teacher at any time. Students are not endowed with equal ability in all subjects on the curriculum. All have strengths and weaknesses in varying degrees and need guidance and encouragement from parents and teachers if they are to avoid the frustrations that follow from unfair comparisons in subject areas where they have not the ability to excel. Obviously there should be co-operation and communication between parents and teachers. Informal talks are in February. Formal reporting to parents are March and June (interviews) and December (written reports).

Homework
Homework connected with the daily task is set each night. Years 4 — 6 students should spend up to 20 minutes on homework and Years 7 — 8, 45 minutes. Students may not always have written homework that will take the allotted time to complete but they have tables revision, spelling revision and reading that they can do. Parents are not expected to correct homework but they are asked to see that it is well presented and that a definite time is set for their child to fulfil homework requirements.

Manual Technology
Year 7 and 8 Students attend Manual Technology classes at Peachgrove Intermediate. The Ministry of Education provides transport. The students will have stationery and homework requirements for Manual Technology. There are also homework requirements for Manual Technology. Your support of these programes is valued. at the end of each cycle a report is provided to your child.

In the footsteps of Jesus, and based on Catholic teachings, St Columba’s Catholic School will provide a holistic education for all students.