Handbook Information 2009

ABSENCE

Please ring the school office before 9am if your daughter is going to be absent and send a note to the class teacher on her return giving the reason for her absence.  If your daughter arrives at school late, or leaves early, she MUST report to Mrs McEntyre at the school office who will fill in the Daily Absence book.

AFTERSCHOOL CARE

This is available every week day in the Art Room from 3.15 - 5.15p.m.  Your daughter may attend on a day to day, or weekly basis.  One hour costs $4, two hours, $6.  If you are interested, please contact Noeleen Wilson, phone 2177858.

ACCOUNTS

Accounts for school fees are sent out at the beginning of each term and are required for payment within two weeks of receipt of the invoice.  These are to be paid to School Support Southland, Box 390, Invercargill.  An automatic payment option is available.

BELL TIMES

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND BOARD OF PROPRIETORS

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the running of the educational side of the school.  The Board of Proprietors is primarily concerned with property, the Special Character and Gilmour House.  The boards work well together.  Elections for these boards are held every 3 years.  The boards meet monthly and their meetings are advertised in the school newsletter.

BOOK CLUB

Pupils may order books from Scholastic New Zealand Book Club once a term.  All cheques are to be made payable to St John's Girls' School.

CAMP VENUES AND DATES

Year 6, 7 and 8 attend a camp during the year.
Year 6 - an adventure camp at Camp Columba in term 3, approximate cost $220.
Year 7 - a cultural camp in Dunedin in term 1, approximate cost $200.
Year 8 - a ski camp at Coronet Peak in term 3, approximate cost $280.
Pupils from Years 5 up have the opportunity to go skiing annually.

CAROL SERVICE

This is held every December at St Paul's Church.  It alternates between being in the afternoon and the evening.  This year it is on the afternoon of 11 December at 1.30pm.  All girls are involved.

CELLPHONES

These are NOT permitted at school.  If girls need to use one after school they must bring their cell phone to the office before school and collect it after school.  It is a good idea to have it named.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

In line with the school's policy of a Christian based education, all pupils receive a weekly 40 minute lesson in religious instruction.

CYCLES AT SCHOOL

All cyclists must wear helmets and are to enter through the Avenal Street entrance.  Girls are to walk their bikes in the school grounds.

DANCE

Pupils have dance as part of the school programme.  All girls are expected to wear P.E. tops and correct lycra bike shorts available from the school.  Dance tapes for exam work are issued to all girls.

DENTAL THERAPIST

Pupils visit the Dental Therapist at Waihopai School.  Juniors walk there with a senior pupil.  Please inform us if your child will not be attending this clinic.

EASTER SERVICE

An Easter Service is held as part of our school tradition.  This is held on the last afternoon before the Easter Break.  It will be at St Paul's Church at 1.30pm on Thursday 9 April.

ENTRANCES

Entrances are from Avenal Street and Dee Street. We encourage the use of Avenal Street as the traffic flow along Dee Street is heavy, especially in the mornings.  For safety reasons, please do not:

• Use the driveway off Dee Street except when dropping off or picking up boarders or picking up a sick child.

• Use the Avenal St car park to drop girls off. This creates safety issues as it is only one lane.

• Pull up on the yellow lines at either entrance to drop girls off or to collect them.

FRIENDS OF ST JOHN'S

This is the 'Old Girls' organisation formed by ex teachers, parents, girls and school 'friends'. When each girl starts at school she pays $50.00 to the 'Friends' which gives her a life time membership.  If you do not wish to continue this membership when your daughter
leaves St John's please inform the office.  The "Friends" purchase items for the school that we would other wise not have, eg the
covered chairs on the stage.

GILMOUR HOUSE

This is the boarding house which is the old brick building in the middle of the school grounds.  There are 10 full time boarders and 2 house mistresses this year.

HAIR

Hair must be kept neat and tidy at all times.  Shoulder length hair or longer is to be tied back with blue hair ties, clasps and/or ribbons. (Bottle green is an option with the winter uniform).  Dyed hair is not permissible.  The school sells blue head bands as they are difficult to find in the shops.

HEALTH NURSE

The Public Health nurse, Mrs Sanderson visits the school regularly.  All 5 year olds are seen by her.  Year 5 - 8 girls can access Mrs Sanderson through the "Concern's Box" in the foyer for a variety of health/personal issues including relationship problems.  This is a confidential referral system.  Pupils who need hearing and eye tests are seen by a Vision / Hearing tester who comes during the year.

HOMEWORK

All pupils will have homework.  What is expected from each class is set out clearly at the beginning of the year.  If you have any queries contact the class teacher.

HOUSES

Pupils are placed in houses run by a house captain.  These are Alabaster, Enderby, Lester and Marchant. All are names of past principals.  House badges are available for purchase at the school office for $5.00.  The only other badges to be worn with the uniform are speech, dance and stripes.  These must be their most recently attained.

INJURIES

In the case of an accident, staff will render First Aid.  If the accident is thought to be serious, parents will be advised immediately and the child will be taken to Accident and Emergency at Southland Hospital where the parents will meet them.  We prefer to err on the side of caution.

JEWELLERY

Girls may wear a watch.  They may wear small, plain blue, silver or gold studs in pierced ears.  No ring keepers.  No nail polish.

LUNCHES

Lunch time is 12 - 1pm.  Hot food is available from the canteen.  These must be ordered before school.  A list of what is available will be sent home early in the term.  Pupils may bring food wrapped in tinfoil and clearly named to be heated.  Do not send frozen food to be
heated.  Please ensure your daughter has the correct money as we do not have change available.

LIBRARY

The Nicholson Library was named after Miss Nicholson, a former school principal.  Every class has a weekly library period for girls to borrow and return books.  The girls may borrow two books at a time for a two week period.  This can be extended if necessary.  If your
daughter loses or damages a book, you will be invoiced for the cost.

LOST PROPERTY

Uniforms must be clearly named and the school takes no responsibility for the loss of an article of clothing.  There is a lost property box in Room 6 which the girls can check.  Mrs Fox looks after this.

MERIT CERTIFICATES

At the end of the year each girl is awarded an Achievement Certificate which is a record of her involvement and achievements in school during the year.

MONEY AT SCHOOL

Pupils should not have money at school unless it is requested for a special activity.  In this case, the money should be taken directly to the teacher or the school office in an envelope with the pupil's name, room number, amount of money, and what the money is for. Money is not kept on the school premises so please ensure the correct money is sent to school.  For larger amounts cheques are safer, and preferred.

NEWSLETTERS

A newsletter will be given to your daughter every second Friday of the school term, starting in week 1.  Please keep the section with information on "Coming Events".  Please help us by reading the newsletter so you do not need to phone the office to find out when events are on.

OFFICE

The school office is situated in the Administration Block at the top of the driveway.  Any general enquiries are to be directed through the school secretary.  The office is open from 8.30am - noon, 12.30pm until 3.15pm.
Mrs McEntyre's e mail is bmcentyre@stjohnsgirls.school.nz.

PARENTS ASSOCIATION

The Parents' Association organises school activities and is another link between the parents and the school.  This is the fund raising arm of the school.  Meetings are advertised in the newsletter and new members are very welcome.  It is a good way to get to know other
parents.  This group provide lots of extras for the school such as library books and musical instruments.  They have just purchased beautiful new desks for room 4!

PARKING

There are two parks reserved for visitors in the car park off Dee Street.  These are for people helping in classrooms or going to the office for a message during school hours, not before school or at 3pm.

P.E. BAGS

All girls require a school issue physical education draw string bag.

REPORTING TO PARENTS

Portfolios of work are sent home prior to interviews in terms 2 and 3.  Goal setting interviews held in week 6 and other interviews are held at the end of Terms 2 and 3.  The girls are encouraged to attend the interview with their parents as it is their education.
Written reports are sent out in term 4.  Parents may request additional interviews at any time.
If you have a concern, contact the teacher and discuss it. It is better for this to happen earlier rather than wait.

SICKNESS

In cases of sickness, parents will be phoned to collect their child if, in the opinion of the staff the child is too ill to remain at school.

SKI TRIP

There will be a ski trip for year 5 - 7 in the third term.

SLIPPERS

These are required for the junior pupils.

STATIONERY

The school does not sell stationery.  Your daughter will receive a stationery list at the end of the year for the following year.  All the main stationery outlets will also be given one.

STRIPES

At the end of term 2 and term 4, stripes are awarded to senior pupils.

Work Stripes

• Red: to girls who have outstanding academic ability and put in maximum effort.

• Green: to girls who work to their full potential and put in maximum effort.

Sports stripes (Set criteria but a general over view is:)

• White for effort

• Gold for outstanding ability and effort and showing evidence of fairplay.

SUNHATS

Sunhats are a compulsory part of the school uniform and must be worn by all girls.  Please ensure they are named.

SWEETS

Pupils are not permitted to eat sweets at school.

SWIMMING

The juniors start swimming in Term 1 week 2.  All swimming gear must be clearly named and kept in a bag.
The senior school will have swimming in Term 3.  You will receive more information on this later in the year.

TELEPHONE

Pupils are not allowed to use the school phone unless the matter is urgent.  Please make sure that pupils know their bus arrangements or other transport arrangements before they leave for school in the morning.  Only urgent messages may be left at the school for pupils.

TERM DATES FOR 2009

UNIFORM

Girls should always leave the school grounds in the correct uniform unless they are going directly to a sports venue, in which case they may wear their PE uniform.  Boarders may wear their PE uniform to the boarding house after school.

WITHDRAWAL OF PUPIL

If your circumstances change and you have to withdraw your daughter, let Mrs Mackay know ASAP please.  You are required to give a ½ terms notice in writing for a day pupil (or pay ½ term's fees in lieu thereof) and one full terms notice in writing of withdrawal of a boarder, (or pay a term's fees in lieu thereof).

If you have any queries or concerns, please contact the relevant person early so a solution can be found.  If your concern involves your daughter's learning, your first contact will be the class teacher.  If you do not feel that the matter has been addressed, then make an appointment to see the principal.  If the matter has still not been addressed, put the issue in writing to the Board of Trustees.