A to Z information directory

Absences

According to New Zealand law, all children enrolled at school must attend unless they are sick. If your child is sick, please phone the school office before 8:55 a.m. Please also let us know if your child will be arriving later than 9:00 am. A system is in place to follow up on any child who is not present for roll call if parents have not phoned the office.

If you need to collect your child before 3 pm (eg for a medical appointment), please call into the school office and fill in the Early Leaving book.

Family holidays during school time

Parents and caregivers are asked to seek approval from the Principal for any absences arising from family holidays taken outside normal school holidays. You will be asked to provide some activities for your child to carry out during such an absence.

After School Care

A professional after school care programme is provided at Ridgway School by Pridelands. Care is offered five days a week between 3-6 pm. Pridelands also run holiday programmes that children can attend full or part time.

For more information on Pridelands, visit their website www.pridelands.org.nz or contact director Moses Ariama on 0220 807 036.

Enrolment packs and fees schedules are available at the school office.

Arriving at school and collection after school

We prefer children to arrive between 8:25 and 8:45 a.m. We ask parents not to drop children at school earlier than 8:25 a.m. as the playground is not supervised before then. Please ensure your child arrives at school by 8:50 a.m. at the latest.

At the end of the day, all children in the A area (new entrants, year 1 and 2) must be collected by a parent, caregiver or older sibling.

Children are encouraged to go home in groups, not alone.

Assemblies and sharing time

Whole school assemblies are held three times each term, on Fridays at 1:45 pm. Look for details in the weekly newsletter. This is a great opportunity to see first-hand what children have been doing at school and to meet up with other parents in the school community. After assemblies, parents are invited to attend afternoon tea upstairs in the staffroom.

The Junior School has a Sharing Time from 2:30 pm in the A area on three Friday afternoons each term. Look for details in the weekly newsletter.

All parents and caregivers are welcome to attend assemblies and sharing time. Preschoolers are also welcome, but we ask that if they are noisy or unsettled you please take them out of assembly for a break as our students need to be able to concentrate.

Behaviour expectations: the 3Rs

At Ridgway School we are:

• Respectful
• Responsible
• Reliable

This means we choose to:

• Do as we are told – quickly
• Speak politely
• Be kind to others
• Get on with our work
• Look after all property.

Behaviour management

All staff aim to create a positive environment. The focus is on ‘catching children when they’re good’. Praise is given for appropriate behaviour. We have a detailed Making Positive Choices Plan for behaviour management, to ensure that a consistent approach is applied across the school. Parents are notified of any concerns regarding their child’s behaviour. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions or concerns.

Board of Trustees

See the Board area of this website.

Bus services

Ridgway School is very well served by public transport - buses stop directly outside the school.

• The #7 bus route is from the CBD to Kingston, along The Ridgway.
• The #21 bus route links Ridgway, Vogeltown and Berhampore.
• The #29 route runs between the Ridgway and Island Bay.

For maps, fares and timetables, see the MetLink website http://www.metlink.org.nz/network-map/

Cellphones

Cellphones must be treated as valuable items (like money) and given to the class teacher to be put into the Class Bag for safekeeping during the day. They will be returned to your child at the end of the day. Children found with cellphones between the hours of 8:50 am and 3 pm will have them confiscated. A confiscated cellphone will not be returned to the child; parents will be asked to come and collect it.

Charter

The School Charter incorporates our school Mission Statement, and sets out a framework within which all school activities are conducted. It provides a benchmark against which we can measure our progress and performance. The Charter is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains relevant to the needs of our community.

We encourage all parents to familiarise themselves with our Charter. [link to PDF]

Clothing

Ridgway School does not have a uniform. We encourage children to wear sensible and sturdy clothing and shoes appropriate for the time of year. Please remember to name all items.

We do have a school polo shirt, which we encourage children to wear while representing the school. Ask at the school office if you would like to buy a polo shirt. We would appreciate donations of polo shirts once your children have outgrown them or left school, for general use.

Please note the following rules relating to appearance also:

• No baseball caps to be worn at school; we require children to wear wide-brimmed sunhats in Terms 1 and 4.
• No hats to be worn inside.
• No stick-on tattoos, and no writing with felt pens or biros on any part of the body.
• No dangling earrings at school; sleepers or studs only. This is for safety reasons. Avoid also wearing heavy chains around the neck; these are inappropriate for school wear.
• No make-up to be worn at school. This includes bright nail polish.

Communication

Routes of communication between home and school are as follows: (please note that in the last year, the school has moved towards the use of email where possible to save on resources and so that notices cannot go astray)

The weekly newsletter contains up-to-date and important information about school activities. It is emailed out on Monday afternoons. For people who prefer to receive a printed copy, please contact the school office.

Periodic notices sent out from time to time include calendars for the term ahead, advance notice of events and updates from the Fundraising group and the Board of Trustees/Commissioner.

The noticeboard just to the left by the main entrance to the school is also used to display information from the staff and Board.

Class phone lists are compiled during Term 1 of each year, containing the names and phone numbers of children in your child/ren’s class. If you do not want your phone number distributed please let the Office Manager know when you enrol your child.

A telephone tree exists for the primary purpose of emergency preparedness. It may be used from time to time to contact parents about special events such as the Gala.

Meetings for parents are held from time to time throughout the year, usually combined with an informal social gathering. Parents are invited to special evenings during the year to find out about specific teaching programmes. They are an excellent opportunity to meet staff, Board members and of course, other parents.

Dental treatment

The mobile dental clinic visits the school once a year. The Dental Therapist is always available to answer any questions you may have. Contact the school office for information on the mobile clinic.

EOTC (education outside the classroom)

The Wellington region is very rich in learning opportunities and resources, and we take full advantage of these, with visits to Te Papa, the art gallery, plays and concerts offered from time to time. We also bring in outside visitors to enrich teaching programmes. Parents’ consent is sought at the start of the year for all EOTC trips. Parent help with travel and supervision on these trips is often needed.

Emergency preparedness

We are very well-prepared for emergencies. Staff are trained in dealing with a wide range of emergencies, and there is a school policy specifically dealing with emergency situations. We practice a full Emergency Evacuation following an earthquake drill annually. This event is well publicised in advance through the school newsletter.

Emergency contact information

When enrolling your child it is essential that you provide alternative contact numbers which may be needed in the event of an emergency. It is essential to tell the school about any special health needs your child/ren may have, such as allergies or medication requirements.

If you have any change in your circumstances, it is vital that you inform the school office about any changes to your address, work and home phone numbers, emergency contact numbers, care or custody arrangements and changes to your child’s health status.

Enrichment programmes

These vary from year to year depending on the availability of tuition. In 2010, the following options were offered:

• Guitar lessons (after school) for all ages
• Piano and violin lessons during school hours
• A French class held after school.

Enrolment

To enrol your child at Ridgway School, please contact the School Office to arrange a time to come in and fill in the necessary forms. These include a copy of your child’s birth certificate and immunisation certificate.

We encourage children approaching school age (at around 4 years 10 months) to come to our weekly pre-entry sessions with their parent or caregiver. These sessions are very beneficial in helping children become familiar with the school and its routines, and for parents to get to know the school, staff and other parents.

Please note that the parent or caregiver must stay with the child during these visits.

Healthy eating

The school promotes healthy eating habits. Lollies, chewing gum and fizzy drinks are not allowed at school.

Lunchtimes

At the beginning of lunch time, children must sit down to eat their lunch (this is a health and safety requirement). Teaching staff supervise children to ensure that children do not skip this meal. When they have finished eating, children may go to play when the 12:40 bell goes.

Special lunches

Special lunches are available from time to time. These include sausage sizzles and pizza sales to raise funds for various activities. These will be advertised in the school newsletter.

Homework

Our philosophy on homework

Homework is not compulsory at Ridgway School.

Homework is a useful way of involving parents more closely in their children’s education. It is given to encourage children to consolidate newly-acquired skills and help them develop good study skills. It also extends their learning beyond the classroom.

During their primary school years, children are often introduced to many extracurricular activities such as Cubs, Brownies, sports, music lessons and so on. Participation in these activities is an important part of their education. Family trips and visits are also very important. We encourage parents to strike a balance between developing a habit of regular homework for their children and leaving sufficient time for children to follow other personal pursuits.

Teachers will monitor and provide feedback for homework that is handed in. They will not spend time chasing up children who do not complete homework. Teachers keep a record of homework that is done/not done.

For the junior school (A area)

Children are given reading to take home, and parents are encouraged to read to and with them.

For the middle and senior school (B and C areas)

Children are given a variety of homework each two weeks such as spelling, writing or maths.

Injury or illness

There is a first aid/medical room opposite the main entrance. In minor cases, first aid will be given at school. In more serious cases the Accident and Emergency department at Wellington Hospital will be used and parents contacted immediately.

In the event of children becoming ill at school, children will not be taken or sent home unless the parent or caregiver has been contacted first.

Please ensure that your Emergency Contact Details held by the School office are up to date.

Late arrivals

If you bring your child to school after 9:00 a.m., please call in to the school office to let office staff know that you have arrived BEFORE going to class. This is very important, as your child’s name will have been entered on the Absence sheet and will need to removed by office staff before they start phoning parents to determine the whereabouts of their child.

See: Absences

Leaving the school grounds

No child is permitted to leave the school grounds during the school day unless this has been arranged between the school and a parent, caregiver or teacher, or are participating in an approved EOTC activity.

Lost property

Please make sure that all your child’s clothing and property (shoes, socks, sweatshirts, coats, lunchboxes, raincoats, school bags) is NAMED. This helps us to return lost and unclaimed property to its owner promptly. Lost property is kept in a large basket beside the main entrance to the school. Each of the A area classes also have lost property baskets. Parents are welcome to check these for lost items.

Medication

Where it is necessary for medication to be administered to your child during school hours we require written and signed permission accompanied by detailed instructions of medication, dosage and time to be given. Please complete and sign the Medical Register which is held at the office for this purpose.

Meetings with the Principal and staff

The Principal is available to talk to parents and caregivers during the school day and after school, up to 6 pm. It is best to phone to arrange an appointment.

Teachers are also happy to talk with parents and caregivers as the need arises. To ensure that the teacher you want to talk to will be available, it is advisable to phone the school first and arrange a suitable time before or after school. Alternatively write a note to your child’s teacher.

Please note that teachers are not available at these times:

• During school hours (8:50 am – 3 pm)
• Mondays 3:30 – 5:30 pm (staff meetings held during this time)
• Wednesdays 3:15 – 5 pm (team meetings held during this time).

Money, valuables and toys

Children should not bring money, valuables or toys to school. If children bring money to school for anything other than paying for special lunches, books or other costs, it must be given to the teacher for safekeeping during the day.

Newsletter

The weekly newsletter generally appears each Monday. We prefer electronic communication (to save printing costs and to ensure notices do not get lost between school and home). Please ensure that the office has your email contact details. If you prefer to receive a printed copy of the newsletter, please ask at the school office.

Office hours

The Office Manager (Raelene Sloper) is in the office from 8:30 am to 4 pm each day.

Trained telephone monitors from senior classes take calls during lunch breaks. If you want to leave an important message please ask to speak to an adult. You can ring the school’s number 939-8771 at any time and leave a message on the school’s call minder service. We clear the messages regularly at 8:30 am, during the day and between 2:30-2:50 pm every day. We attend to phone messages promptly.

Open days

From time to time, we hold Open Days for parents and interested members of the community to observe the children at work during class time. Open Days are publicised in the newsletter.

Payments

Payments to the school can be made in the following ways:

• By calling into the school office and paying by cash or EFTPOS.
• By internet banking, using our bank account number 03-0510-0741239-00. Be sure to put your child’s name and the nature of the payment on the transaction, for your records and our own. Please advise the office of your internet payment, by emailing office@ridgway.school.nz with details of your child’s name, class, amount and the item being paid.
• By sending the payment to school with your child, in an envelope clearly marked with your child’s name, class, amount and item being paid. Please ensure that your child hands this envelope to their classroom teacher.

All payments received will be processed and a receipt sent home with your child.

Please note that payments for Ashton Scholastic Book Club payments are separate to school payments and should be handed into the office to give to the organiser.

Road patrol

The two pedestrian crossings near the school are patrolled before and after school by senior students and a duty teacher or parent. The times patrolled are:

Morning: 8:30-8:55 am
Afternoon: 3:00-3:10 pm

The students are trained with the help of the Police Traffic Safety Branch. Parents are asked to cooperate with children who are on duty, and to encourage good road sense in their own children.

Parents who wish to help the school can be of great assistance by volunteering to be on duty one morning or afternoon per week, to free up teachers before and after school hours. Please contact the school office if you can join the roster.

School hours

• Start: 8:55 am (bell)
• Morning interval: 10:35-10:55 am
• Lunch: 12:30-1:30 pm (the bell rings at 1:25 pm)
• Finish: 3:00 pm

See also: arrivals, late arrivals, after school

School photos

Once a year, a professional photographer visits the school. You will get ample warning beforehand. Orders can be placed for individual, family, class and sports team photos.

School routines and safety rules

• No baseball caps to be worn at school.
• No hats to be worn inside.
• During morning interval, children are to eat their morning tea inside for five minutes before going out to play.
• At lunchtime, children are to remain sitting down while eating their lunch from 12:30-12:40 pm. This is supervised by their teacher. Children may then go to play after checking that the area/classroom is clean and tidy with no rubbish.
• We encourage healthy eating – no lollies or fizzy drink at school.
• In the event of children with peanut allergies attending Ridgway, peanut products will be banned from classes attended by these children. The school will advise if this is necessary.
• No glass bottles are to be brought to school.
• For safety reasons, ball-kicking games are allowed ONLY on the bottom field. Games where a ball is kicked must not be played around the buildings.
• Children must not leave the school grounds during the school day unless they have permission from their teacher. They MUST check out at the office before leaving, and check back in again.
• The following areas are OUT OF BOUNDS:
• The dairy is out of bounds at playtime and lunchtime.
• Behind Rooms C1 and C2, and Rooms B1, B2 and B3.
• On the bank leading down to the big field.
• On the bank where the new trees have been planted.

Smokefree status

Smoking is not allowed in the school buildings or grounds at any time.

Spare clothing for accidents

Accidents and spills do happen. The school has some spare clothes available, particularly for the younger children. It would be most appreciated if you could send any outgrown clothes to the school (especially underwear) to replace items in our collection.

Special education

Group Special Education Service (GSE) has specialists trained to help children with special learning needs, emotional difficulties or social problems. You can arrange assistance through the school or directly through the Ministry of Education’s Special Education services (0800 622 222). Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour (RTLBs) are specialist teachers who are available to assist with children’s learning needs. Parent consent is always obtained before RTLBs become involved.

Sports programme and sports teams

Children take part in a full health and fitness programme, learning the skills of both winter and summer sports. The school actively encourages children to take up a range of sports. We have a number of school teams playing inter-school games: netball, softball and water polo. Parental assistance is always needed. If you are interested in becoming involved, please let the office know.

Stationery pack

At the start of the school year, all students are provided with a request to purchase a stationery pack. This includes a range of exercise books, dictionary requirements, pencils, rulers etc. These packs are competitively priced and compare very favourably with shop prices. If extra stationery is needed during the year a note will be sent home informing you of what is required (e.g. boards for science fair posters).

Supervision in the school grounds

We are fortunate to have spacious and sheltered school grounds –the upper area around the school buildings, and the lower playing field. This latter is in shared ownership with the City Council and has a Council sports field. The upper level includes our new adventure playground. At morning interval and lunchtime, two staff members are rostered to patrol the grounds.

Support services available

All children in their first year at school have their vision and hearing tested by a specially trained nurse. As part of the enrolment process you will be asked to sign a consent form for these tests. Parents will be notified if any problems are identified. Good hearing and vision are critical to progress in learning, and any problems with be followed up with appropriate referrals.

A speech therapist visits the school on request to check on children with speech difficulties.

Sun protection

Sunhats

It is school policy that all children must wear a regulation wide-brimmed sunhat whilst outside during Term 1 and Term 4. These hats can be bought from the school office; several different colours are available. If you wish to provide your own hat it must meet the regulation criteria. Please note that baseball caps are not permitted.

Regulation sunhats are sold by the school office for $12.

Sunscreen

We encourage parents to provide their children with sunscreen to ensure adequate sun protection when they are outside.

Swimming tuition

All children who are learning to swim take part in our Learn to Swim programme at the Kilbirnie Aquatic Centre. The swimming programme is an intensive one involving one visit per week over 8-10 weeks during one school term.

Children who are already proficient swimmers may be exempted from this programme in which case they remain at school, supervised by a teacher.

The costs of these classes must be covered fully by parents, and cover pool entry, qualified instructors and transport to and from the pool.

Swimming is compulsory and children must take part unless they are sick. A note from the parent is required if children are to be excused from swimming tuition. On swimming days, children need to bring their swimming gear (togs, towel, goggles) to school.

Term dates

Term dates for 2012 are:

• Term 1: 1 Feb to Thurs 5 April

• Term 2:  23 April to 29 June

• Term 3: Mon 16 July to 28 Sept

• Term 4: 15 Oct to 14 Dec

Voluntary donation

Parents are asked to make a voluntary donation each year. In 2010, it was set at $170 per child per year. The funds are used for teaching resources for the school. This donation is tax-deductible. If you pay it before 31 March each year, you can claim the rebate with your tax return the same year.

How to claim your rebate

Because this payment is a donation, you are entitled to receive a rebate of 33% (however, other school fees such as the Education Opportunity and Materials Fees are not eligible for this rebate). To claim your rebate, save all your voluntary donation receipts for the tax year (1 April to 31 March) and send them to the IRD along with a completed rebate claim form (IR 526) for that year.

To obtain a copy of the rebate claim form:

1. Go to the Inland Revenue website www.ird.govt.nz;
2. Go to the Forms and Guides section (on the lower right hand side);
3. Categorise the forms by number, and locate form IR 526 which can be downloaded and printed out;
4. You can also obtain an IR 526 form by phoning 0800 257 773 and following the prompts. You will need your IRD number on hand;
5. You may also be able to claim childcare costs (such as Pridelands) using the same form. See the fact sheet IR 525 for details;
6. Send the completed form, with all receipts attached, to: Inland Revenue, PO Box 39090, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045.

You should receive your refund within 6 weeks of lodging the claim. Also, note that you can claim rebates for donations made up to five years ago – if you still have the receipts.

Zoning

Ridgway School is not zoned and we welcome enquiries from families in the Wellington region.