Absences
Please contact the office before school to advise us of any absences with an explanation.  We request that this is done each day of a child's absence. you are welcome to leave a message on the answer phone.  If a child has an appointment or special event coming up, please send a note to the classroom teacher.

Activity Fee
This fee has been set at $15.00 per student per term.  It generally covers of the costs of any school trips and events held during the year, for example swimming, performances, bus transport to sport events. As a result we rarely ask for extra money during the year.

Annual School Fixtures
Each year we are involved in the following activities.  Some involve our linking with other schools as part of the Hinds Cluster (Hinds, Longbeach, Lowcliffe and The Christian School)

• Term 1        Swimming Sports
• Term 2        Cross Country, Music Festival
• Term 3        Kiwi Sports, sport options 
• Term 4        Athletic Sports, Pet Day,  Agricultural Projects, School Concert and Prizegiving

Arrival/Afterschool times for Students
Due to supervision requirements and teacher preparation time we request that children don't arrive at school prior to 8.30am and that they are collected from school before 3.15pm.

Assemblies
These are held once a fortnight (even weeks) on Wednesday from 2.30pm to 2.55pm.  Parents and extended family are welcome along.  Assemblies are coordinated by students and focus on achievement and recent classroom activities.  Assembly dates and the class coordinating details will be sent home as part of our calendar in the newsletter; please check to confirm dates.

Buses

Our bus transport is administered by MCSTS. You can contact them on 3072420
Most of our students are transported to and from school by bus.  Families will be given a bus route map and a timetable with pick up and drop off times.  These times are approximate and can be obviously affected by road conditions and other variables.
If a child is not on the bus:

• In the morning - Please ring the family before your pick up
• In the afternoon - Please ring the school office

Also please contact the office in regard to any other bus arrangements.  Ms Boyce, our Principal is the Bus Controller. Please contact her in the first instance for bus issues. 


Electronic Devices
No electronic devices such as CD players, Ipods, MP3 players, radios, gameboys, PSPs etc are to be brought to school.

Enrolment
For enrolment information please contact the office.  Children are entitled to start school when they turn five.  To help the transition to school we encourage parents/caregivers to bring children along for some school visits prior to starting.  If the child is not a new entrant we also welcome visits by your family and the student to have a look around the school.
Enrolment forms can be completed before a student starts.  This speeds up the process on the day of enrolment.  Parents of five year old New Entrants are required to bring their child's Immunisation Certificate and Birth Certificate when they start school.

Extra Learning
Our Board generously funds hours staff to work in this area. Most of our fundraising efforts are spent in this area.  This may involve working within the class or withdrawing students individually or in small groups.  Coverage is provided for extension and remedial work.  If you have any questions regarding this please contact our office.

House Groups
These are a form of "house system".  We have three native bird groups; Takahe, Pukeko and Kakapo that are led by a Student member.  House groups take part in various activities over the course of the year.  A child's house group may change each year due to numbers and roll changes.

Lunch
We promote healthy lunches.  Students will need to bring a packed lunch each day.  In Terms 2 & 3 students are able to bring food for heating in a pie warmer.  It will need to be covered in foil and clearly named.  We request that lunches and playtime snacks don't contain high sugar content food as this has a negative effect on concentration and learning.
Students are welcome to bring sippa bottles for water to school as plenty of water is essential for health.  "Fizzy" drinks and high sugar drinks are not to be brought to school.  Students are expected to stay seated for ten minutes and are then released when the duty teacher is satisfied they have eaten a reasonable lunch.

Music Tuition
Parents are able to access the itinerant music tutors at school and at the Intermediate.  Lessons are available for violin, cello, clarinet, singing, saxophone, flute, brass, drums, keyboard and guitar.  Information for these lessons are circulated at the beginning of the year.  The lessons are held on site and at the Intermediate.  Contact the office or the Intermediate office on 308 9563.

Newsletter
Every fortnight a newsletter is sent home with the oldest child.  This contains current news and information about school and community events.  If you'd like to advertise something or share some news contact our school office. the lastest newsletter is also available on this web site and can be emailed to school families in pdf format.

Parent Support Group
This is our equivalent of the PTA or Home and School that many schools have.  They have informal meetings and are involved with the organisation of several school events and fundraisers.  All parents/caregivers are welcome to attend any of the
groups' meetings.  Meetings will be notified in the school newsletter. Mrs. Rachel Arnold is currently the chairperson.

Reporting to Parents/Caregivers
The key objective behind this process is that it is "honest and informative" in regard to your child's progress and development.

Week 6 - Mid March
Conference with parents/caregivers/child setting goals and objectives.

End of Term 2/Beginning of Term 3
Student progress report sent home noting progress and development since March.  Follow up interviews arranged.

Mid Term 4
Written cumulative report sent home.  Interview if necessary.

At the end of each term student work books will be sent home as an ongoing record of the classroom programme.  Class events and school "celebrations of learning" will also be part of our reporting process.
Parents are welcome to make an appointment to discuss their child's progress at any time during the year.

School Hours
9.00am - 10.15am Maths, 10.30am - 11.30am Reading, 11.45am - 12.45pm Writing/ICT, 1.30pm - 3.00pm Topic/PE/Arts

Stationery
We do not stock items required for the classroom.  You may choose to buy items at local retailers.  If a child requires something specific supplied by school,  a request for payment will be sent home.  At the end of each year a stationery list is sent home for the following year. These are aslo available at local book shops.

Student Leadership
Each year students are chosen to be members of the leadership team.  They help with various activities and events through the year with staff co-ordinating.  We look to these students as appropriate role models and leaders for our students.  They will be involved in leadership training as opportunities arise.

Sun Protection
We aim to be a Sun Smart school.  Students have to wear school regulation sunhats.  "No hat, no play".  We also have available high factor sunscreen for each classroom to use.  Around our school we have shade areas for students to use at high risk UV times.

Swimming Pool
Over the "summer" terms we aim to swim each day if weather conditions permit.  Students will need to bring their togs, towel and goggles in a clearly named bag.
Over the summer months the pool is available to the community for use out of school hours.  A pool key is available for hire over the summer at a cost of $50.  Rules for usage and supervision are included as part of the key hire form.

Uniform
Our Board of Trustees has ratified the following school uniform requirements for students.  The uniform is compulsory and is able to be purchased from Postie Plus.
Boys
Royal blue polo (short or long sleeve)
Royal blue polar fleece
Grey shorts (summer) or black Cargo pants(winter)
Black shoes
Royal blue sun hat

Girls
Royal blue polo (short or long sleeve)
Royal blue polar fleece
Skort (summer)
Kilt, black Cargo pants or Black Bootleg pants (winter)
White socks with skort

Navy or black socks/stockings with kilt
Black shoes
Sun hat

Sports Uniform
For all:  Royal blue polo with black shorts, white socks and trainers

Uniform availability
Postie Plus - Our school is involved in the Schooltex Loyalty Programme where 10% of any Schooltex purchase is returned to us.        

Tots to Teens in the Ashburton Arcade for girls kilts and skorts.

In addition, Lowcliffe School has a supply of this material which is also available to our families to purchase.  Their material is 80% wool/20% polyester, which they have found very hard wearing (other sources can be 100% wool).  Lowcliffe School (303 7143) and ask who to contact to place an order.

Second hand clothing
Available from school for a donation.

Skirt/dress patterns
There are some available for loan.  

Values
At Wakanui we have three core values; Respect, Responsibility and Resilience known as the "three Rs".  Each classroom displays a poster outlining what we mean by the values and what they look like at our school.

Visitors
For all our visitors, whether expected or nor, we ask that you check in at our office first.  If this is unattended please head over to the Room 2 classroom teacher.  This is for safety and security reasons.