Dear Parents/Caregivers

A very special welcome to our new five year olds and their families.

click to watch video here

Our New Entrant/Year 1 teaching staff are as follows;

School Stationery

Children do not require pencil cases or any additional pens/felts etc. Stationery cannot be issued until this is paid for, It is a really good idea to cover the exercise books. This helps protect them and also makes them easy to identify

Book Bags

Please check the book bag every night. Any notices will be put into the book bag and the staff appreciate these being read. This is our way of communicating important information to you.

School Buses

Please let the classroom teacher and the office staff know when New Entrant children are travelling on the bus for the first time. A buddy can be assigned to care for new bus children but it is essential that prior to starting on the bus your child knows where they live and what stop they will get off at. Familiarise them with what they need to know before they start. If your child is not catching the bus at the end of the day let the office know. Either pop into the office and take them off the bus roll or send a note or phone to notify us. Some children have a "bus tag" attached to their school bag stating the child's name, class, bus run and days they travel on the bus.

School Lunches

To assist your child at lunchtime and playtime, it is helpful to cut the end of the wrappers of bars, put food into containers easily opened by their little fingers and wrap sandwiches loosely. As an Enviro School we would like to cut down on plastic rubbish in our school and as a suggestion small reusable containers are a great way to keep food fresh, easy to open and eliminate the use of gladwrap at the same time. All children are supervised at lunchtime and playtime and we endeavour to ensure your child has eaten sufficient lunch. We encourage children to bring home the leftovers. New Entrant children need small amounts of high energy foods that they can eat quickly. Include a spoon if you are putting yoghurt into the lunch box. We strongly discourage yoghurt tubes. Little fingers cannot open these and staff usually end up "wearing' the yoghurt or it ends up on the ground.

Water bottles can be refilled at school by staff and we encourage a water bottle every day. School lunches are available on Mondays and Fridays at a cost of $5.00. Place orders (correct money) into an envelope with the name, class and pack required and send to the classroom. The lunch orders are all from Subway, and have a sub, cookie and strawberry yoghurt on Mondays and sliced apples on Fridays. Details of subway packs are available on our website - General Information - Lunches. A BBQ sausage and bread is available as an option on Wednesdays for $2.50 - this is a fundraiser for the Year 6 Stewart Island Camp. Please send along the correct change in an envelope with your child's name and room number written on it.

Daily Routines

Your classroom teacher will have sent home a class letter outlining the routines of the class. It is important your child is at school prior to the 8.55am bell to ensure all the morning routines are completed and everyone is ready to start the day when the bell rings. It is part of belonging for your child to carry his/her own backpack, hang it up and unpack the book bag. As parents, you are not "helping" if you carry out these tasks for your child. We also know it is not usually the child's fault if he/she is late.

Spare Clothes

Accidents happen from time to time and to anyone. The office has a limited quantity of undies for changing. it is a good idea to pack spare underwear and clothing in the bottom of the backpack for those "just in case" moments. If your child has spares in their bag tell them so the staff can make sure they change into their own clothes. If your child comes home in borrowed clothes please launder and return as soon as possible as these clothes can be in high demand!

Car Parking

When leaving home please remember car parking can be tricky. You need to allow time to park and bring your child into school. Please use the school crossing at all times if you park in front of school.

Lost Property

Please name all clothing clearly, especially during swimming and ice skating lessons. A lost property box is located outside the office but if you have named the clothes lost possessions can be returned to the owner. Please write your child's name with a capital letter at the beginning and then the rest in lower case letters.

Parent Help

You are welcome in the classrooms at any time and your help can be invaluable. Chat to the classroom teacher to arrange a suitable time, to ensure your time is used efficiently. As a rule, it is best to give your child at least a month to settle into the school environment before you offer to help. Some children find it difficult to "share" Mum or Dad with others in the classroom when they first start school. By giving them this time to become part of the class most children are then very proud to have Mum or Dad come along to help. We are also grateful to receive ice cream containers and jars to use in the wet areas.

PMP

The Perceptual Motor Programme is a movement based programme and concentrates on the development of perception and language through a series of planned activities. Mrs Nicky Fisher co-ordinates these lessons. If you are able to help please let the classroom teacher know. It is vital to have parent helpers to assist with this programme.

Please ensure that your child has appropriate clothing, and it is better for girls to wear leggings or pants as skirts are not that practical. As every child is required to take off and put on their own shoes and socks, this is something you can help your child learn. Buy shoes without laces if you need to buy newv ones or teach your child to tie shoe laces.

School Assembly

A Friday whole school assembly at 2.25pm is held in the school hall, and everyone is welcome. Children are presented with special certificates. As a staff, we know how proud you are of your children and we endeavour to notify you if your child is receiving an award...don't forget your camera!

Each week a class performs on stage. The children are always excited about this and you will probably be aware of the coming event weeks in advance. This is a "not to be missed" occasion and once again, don't forget the camera.

Wet/Cold Weather

If your child wears gumboots to school could you also send a pair of shoes for inside wear. Don't forget our playground is very cold some days so always send a warm jacket.

Enviro Schools

Just a reminder about our role as an Enviro School. We are discouraging the use of gladwrap in lunch boxes.

PTA

The Parent Teacher Association plays an important role in our school and are always looking for more support. You could either join the committee who meet monthly or join in on specific projects. For contact details please come to the office.

Worries or Concerns

If you have any concerns at all please feel free to come and have a chat to your child's teacher or discuss these with Julie Walker - Junior Team Leader. We are here to make school a positive, successful and happy experience.

To set your mind at ease, children are usually "perfect" at school and can turn "perfectly horrible" when they get home. This is normal and it doesn't last forever. Just imagine how hard it is for your little five year old to concentrate, sit still, follow instructions and make new friends, as well as many other tasks during the school day.

It's a good idea to have food ready for after school and time for them to "chill out" before you expect homeworkb tasks to be completed.

It is only human nature to compare your child with other siblings, children in the class or children you iknow, but please keep this quote in mind..."All children learn BUT not in the same way and on the same day"