GENERAL INFORMATION

REPORTING TO PARENTS- this is currently under review as our timetable needs to be in line with the requirements of National Standards.

It is the duty of the school to report to the parents on their children's progress and achievement, in relation to NAtional Standards, on two occasions during the year.

In reality, this happens more frequently as teachers are always willing to discuss aspects of a child's progress at any time during the year.

The reporting timetable is as follows:

Junior School:

Parents with children in the Junior School will receive a report twice a year- one when your child has their 6th, 7th, or 8th birthday- along withy the offer of an interview. Then you will recieve another report 6 months later. There will be NO End of Year report for these children.

Senior School:

Parents with children in the Senior School will receive a Mid Year report along with the offer of an interview, towards the end of term Two. You will also recieve an End of Year report which is sent out in the last week of school.

While this is the official reporting sequence, partens are urged to contact the class teacher or Principal shoukd there be any areas of concern.

At the beginning of each year, there is an opportunity for parents and students to meet with the teachers in the classroom to find out about Classroom expectations and routines.

In the middle of Term One there will also be an opportunity for parents to meet with teachers to hear how well your child has settled into the classroom.

COMMUNICATING WITH TEACHERS:

There are occasions where parents find it necessary to approach staff members for information about their children’s’ progress or to air a concern. It is helpful to phone and make an appointment to ensure the teacher is available.

The Principal is also available to parents and again it is helpful to phone in advance and make an appointment

NEWSLETTERS:

School newsletters will be sent home fortnightly on a Friday with the eldest child at the school. These include events and school happenings. Please request these from your children as they contain important information.

 A Religious Education newsletter will be sent home once a term containing the focuses for the term and important dates.

Other notices may be sent home as necessary.

DISCIPLINE:

The aim of the school is to encourage self discipline and children are encouraged at every opportunity, to develop forethought with regard to actions and possible outcomes.

We encourage the school's Virtues to be part of the Playground and classroom actions. Students are expected to be able to respond to questions regarding their behaviour and how this relates to the virtues of Honesty, Respect, Forgiveness, perseverance, compassion and justice. 

St Joseph’s School has a Safety in the School Procedure. This includes school and classroom expectations, Rights and Responsibilities and a system of discipline routines for classroom and playground misdemeanors.

The Rights and Responsibilities of Students are displayed in classrooms and are available to parents on request.

Teachers are always available to speak with parents about concerns. We encourage close communication when behaviour needs to be monitored.

CUMULATIVE RECORDS:

Each child in the school have their own assessment portfolio. These track the childs progress through Years 0 to 8 and enable all teachers to follow progress in all subject areas.

MISCELLANEOUS

SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES:

Assemblies are generally held during each term usually on a Friday at 2:15pm. These are run by the House Leaders. Assemblies always begin with a Liturgy. Certificates are awarded to recognise students achievements. Other reports and items of interest are presented. We encourage and welcome any parents and friends of the school to attend these assemblies.

Please keep a look out in the newsletter for Assembly dates. 

BOUGHT LUNCH:

Lunches are able to be purchased through the school on the first day of the week, normally a Monday. These are supplied by the Allenton Dairy.

 There is also the opportunity to purchase a ‘Subway' lunch on a Wednesday. Order and money are to be placed in an envelope and handed in before school starts. Check with class teacher for procedures.

Price lists are available at the office and are periodically printed in the newsletter.

 During terms 2 & 3, and at some other times during the year barbecued sausages may be available on a Friday. These are ordered outside Room 2 classroom.

DISCIPLINE:

The aim of the school is to encourage self discipline and children are encouraged at every opportunity, to develop forethought with regard to actions and possible outcomes.

We encourage the school's Virtues to be part of the Playground and classroom actions. Students are expected to be able to respond to questions regarding their behaviour and how this relates to the virtues of Honesty, Respect, Forgiveness, perseverance, compassion and justice. 

St Joseph’s School has a Safety in the School Procedure. This includes school and classroom expectations, Rights and Responsibilities and a system of discipline routines for classroom and playground misdemeanors.

The Rights and Responsibilities of Students are displayed in classrooms and are available to parents on request.

Teachers are always available to speak with parents about concerns. We encourage close communication when behaviour needs to be monitored.

BUS TRAVEL:

Mid Canterbury Schools Transport Service is responsible for the school bus service. Bus travel is available to students living the following distance from the school, 3.2km for a child up to 10 years of age and 4.8km for a child over 10 years.

If you do want your child to travel to and from school on the bus please notify the school office and also inform the Bus Controller, Bill Kirk on 308 9976 (after 7pm) or 308 2105 to register your child for this travel and to find out which bus stop and bus route would be appropriate. www.mcsts.co.nz will provide further information regarding bus enrolment.

Children travelling by school bus to and from school will line up inside our school grounds on Park Street. There will be a teacher on duty at all times and children will be marked off the roll. Please encourage children to inform the duty teacher if they are not traveling by bus on any particular day.  

This bus travels to Ashburton College where the children then get on their home bus.

STATIONERY:

All books, pencils etc are to be purchased by parents. A list of requirements for the following year will be sent out at the end of the previous year.This list can also be found on each Room tab at the top of this page.

SCHOLASTIC BOOKS / BOOK CLUB:

Pupils will bring brochures home at various intervals during the year. The books advertised in these brochures may be purchased, but parents are not in any way obliged to buy books.

Orders must be placed into the school office in a sealed envelope with the order form and correct money enclosed. Chequescan be made out to "Scholastic Books". There is usually a 3/4 week period between ordering and receiving of books.

PARENT HELP

Now and again we ask for parent help. This is a great support to the school. Junior classes sometimes use parent help in the classrooms, but for the rest of the school it is mostly used on sports days etc. A note is sent home asking for this help, when required.

SECONDARY SCHOOL

There is only one secondary school in Ashburton, Ashburton College. The majority of our student go to Ashburton College after completing primary school. There is a secondary school at Methven called Mt Hutt College. Mt Hutt College supply a bus daily to take students to and from Ashburton for intermediate and secondary schooling.

 We also have some student who attend secondary schools in Christchurch. There are many options there for secondary schooling and students are transported daily to these colleges.

TELEPHONES

Parents are required to provide telephone contact numbers including an emergency contact at the time of enrolment and notify the school office immediately any changes occur.

If required, students can use the school phones but as the school runs as a ‘business' the school will get charged for these calls, so we ask that this is only used in extreme cases.

CELL PHONES/ i Pods etc

Our school has a policy on the use of cell phones. Students are permitted to bring their cell phone, i pods etc to school, but are requested to hand them into the Principals Office before 8:55am and collect them at 3pm. They are not permitted to use these during school hours.

These rules also apply when students attend ACTC, cell phones are to be handed into the teacher.