Accidents / Injuries / Illnesses
In all cases every effort is made to contact parents immediately. In an emergency it may be?necessary to contact the family doctor or local medical centre. It is essential parents keep the school up to date with personal, work and emergency contact phone numbers. School is not?a place for sick children and parents are requested to keep ailing children at home rather?than spreading the infection.

After School Care
Club?Meadowbank operates out of the school hall providing -before school (7.30 - 8.30am),?after school? (3.00 - 6.00pm),?and school holiday care programmes. Being on-site this provides parents with a higher degree of security assurance.???????????????????????????????????

There are two levels of care - Y1/2? Y3-6.

For enquiries Ph 520-3739 extn 248 or 021 2767069. Jo Turner is the Programme Manager.

Assemblies
One of the many highlights of our school's organisation are the many opportunities given students to gain confidence in front of an audience. This includes the class assembly presentation of Friday afternoons. All classes have two presentation assemblies per year.? Parents are welcome to attend and become involved with our assemblies.

Attendance / Absentees
Research shows that children who attend school regularly are more likely to be successful and make positive progress at school. They are also more likely to develop a habit of work and attendance which will carry on into their later working life.

If children are absent for any reason, parents are asked to phone the school office by 8.50am.?
If your child is absent and we receive no notification, the school will ring you for verification
before 9.30 am.
If you wish to collect your child at any time during the day, please send a note to their teacher?prior or alternatively check at the office first.

Bicycles
We allow students from Year 5 to ride bikes to school. A formal instruction programme for Years 5 & 6 classes relating to bike and road safety is lead by the Police. The law requires all children to wear a NZSS approved helmet. It is recommended that they have?a suitable locking device.?We have a policy of all care but no responsibility in relation to the security of bikes.

Book Club
Pamphlets are sent home several times per year. It is optional to order books.
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Car Parks
The school car parks are woefully inadequate and can't fully cater for all staff cars.?For safety?reasons, parents and visitors are asked to park on the road paying careful attention not to park on?the yellow lines or across our neighbours' driveways. Please do not use the carparks as a drop-off or pick-up zone.

Concerns/Complaints
Like all businesses we fail to please all of the people all of the time.?Where there is a concern or misunderstanding about the action of the school or an individual staff member we ask that you?give us the chance to deal with it before you tell the neighbourhood.

Please first approach the staff member concerned.?If you still feel we have not dealt with the matter satisfactorily contact a member of the Management team (Principal or Deputies).?If there is still no satisfaction contact the Board.

Damage to School Property
When students cause damage to or loss of school property or resources through deliberate or?thoughtless action, they will be charged according to the costs of repairs or replacement.

Dental Care
We have a clinic which is manned for approximately half the school year.?Services are shared with
several other local schools. Our Dental Therapist is Rosemary Moloney.
The contact phone number throughout the year is Phone: 524-8199.

Education Outside the Classroom? (EOTC)
The Board of Trustees actively supports staff policy of providing for out of class learning activities.?
Trips take place regularly during the year and parents are often required to assist with transport and / or supervision.?Charges are made for?school camps and waterwise but for all other ventures, the?costs are built into our activity fees.?
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Parents will receive at least a week's notification of planned activities.?ALL Teachers taking EOTC activities have a current First Aid qualification.
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Homework
A regular homework habit instils self-discipline and reinforces the skills and knowledge learned at?school.? It enables parents to share in their child's learning at school. The amount of work set?varies according to class level. For Years 1 - 2 the?focus is on reading but for Years 3 - 6 we consider 20 - 30 minutes a night is ample. Here the focus is upon spelling, basic facts/tables knowledge, reading and news/current events.

Teachers will issue guidelines for their class subject in their initial letter at the beginning of each?term. All students maintain a homework book.

Library
Our well stocked Library?is used extensively for both class lessons and recreational reading.?All students are encouraged to borrow books for pleasure and research. Our excellent computer?systems enable students to access both library books and learning resource material from anywhere within the school.

If books are lost or damaged parents are expected to contribute to their repair or replacement.
We ask that all students use their Library book bag.

We?employ one Librarian - Fiona Evans.

Lost Property
It is essential that ALL clothing including shoes and hats are well labelled which enables us to return items to their rightful owner.
The Lost Property stores are located as follows -
Seniors - Foyer in the two storey block
Juniors?- by Sick Bay

It is regularly displayed for students to claim.?Parents are welcome to inspect it for missing items.
Unclaimed unfirom?items are placed in the second hand uniform shop at the end of each term.? Non-uniform items are given to Women's Refuge.

Lunch Scheme
We currently have no formal lunch scheme. However, each fortnight the?PTA runs a?very successful Sausage Sizzle. We always welcome parent help and it is a great way for new?parents to meet others. If you can help please contact the school office.?? Every alternate Friday?a local?caterer provides a lunch option?for students.? Order forms are sent home on the Wednesday, with orders and money returned to school on Thursday and lunches are delivered to school on Friday? -? lunch orders consists of a selection of either;?sushi (chicken or vegetarian), filled rolls, biscuit, juice, cake.

Medication
No oral medication will be given by staff without prior written consent from parents.
If your child requires medication this must be handed to the office for safe-keeping and will be?administered as instructed.?Containers must be clearly labelled with name, dosage etc.?No?medication should be kept in school bags or desks.

Money
Apart from sausage sizzles and the buying of stationery, there is little reason for students to have money.?The school accepts no responsibility for money lost by students.

Newsletter
A comprehensive newsletter is distributed fortnightly on Thursdays by way of the eldest child?in each family. It is also available via email or our school's web page. It is a forum to recognise?and celebrate success as well as to inform you about school events / happenings.? If you are not receiving your Newsletter please contact the school office.?

Photographs
Throughout the year professional photographers come to Meadowbank for class (February), individual and family (August) photographs.?Further information is issued nearer the time.

Prohibited
For obvious reasons toy guns, cameras, knives, computer games, walkman and other expensive toys are prohibited.? We also have a NO rule to gum and sweets.

Pupil/Family Records
To keep our records up to date, parents are asked to advise the School Office of any changes to?
- address?-?home - work, emergency phone numbers.
-?custody / access issues?
-?medical conditions etc.

Reporting to Parents /Caregivers
Frequent communication on student progress is vital to ensure home and school are working together in the education process.?Besides the frequent informal discussions which are bound to occur in general day to day contact between parents and teacher, the more formal reporting process include -
Term 1

• Week 1?-?Letter from Principal to all families.?Letter from Class Teachers???
• Week 3?-?Meet Teacher Evening.
• Week?9?-?Parent Teacher Interview.

Term 2??

• Week 1?-?Letter from Class Teacher (s)
• Week 10?-?Mid Year Reports

Term 3??

• Week 1?-?Letter from Class Teacher (s)
• Week 3 - Mid Year Parent-Teacher Interviews

Term 4??

• Week 1?-?Letter from Class Teacher (s)
• Week 9?-?End of Year Report.

Resource Contribution
Over the past year parents have sourced computers, paper, cardboard, furniture, sports equipment, trees etc. which have proved extremely valuable to class room programmes and the school in general. If you are able to access items others may consider junk please let us know.?It is our policy to publicly acknowledge all donations.

Road Crossing
Year 6 students act as road wardens at crossings on Waiatarua and Kelvin Roads. Parents are rostered to assist in the mornings 8.30 - 8.50am.?If you are available please contact the school office or the Assistant Principal.?We ask that parents cross with the patrols to set an example to younger pupils.?Parents should avoid parking on the yellow lines as this restricts the visibility of our patrols.

School Rules

We have 5 simple school rules. At Meadowbank School we ...???1.? Respect other people and their belongings.?2.? Have good manners.??3.? Take care of our school.? 4.? Are responsible for our own belongings.??5.? Play in safe places.

Walking School Bus
There are a number of walking school buses which offer pupils a safe supervised walk to Meadowbank School.? The buses are endorsed by the school and run by parent volunteers.? Parents are rostered to walk with the children to school, picking up children at stops along the designated routes.? Benefits include reducing traffic congestion outside the school, healthy more active children a chance for children and parents to get to know others in their local community.? For the Meadowbank Millepede walking school bus (which covers the Meadowbank Road side of the school) please click here to download the Enrolment Form and full information or call Fiona de Gruchy? Phone:? 528 0315.? For further information on other buses please contact the school office.

Telephone
As Telecom charges schools at commercial rates, the school phone is available to students for emergency calls only. This does not include "I left my homework / lunch / sports gear at home. can I ring mum." Permission from a staff member must be sought prior to use.?Emergency calls to parents cell phones will be charged to parents.

We do not permit children to have cell phones in class. Children are asked to hand any cell phones in at the office on arrival at school, and to collect them (and to check for any messages) at home time.