GENERAL INFORMATION

REPORTING TO PARENTS

It is the duty of the school to report to the parents on their children’s progress 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:

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

Sample Books are a major way of communicating to parents the progress of their children. These books will be sent home at the end of terms one and three with interviews being offered towards the end of Term 2.

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.

St Joseph’s School has a Safety in the School Procedure. This includes school and classroom rules, a code of behaviour and responsibility and a system of discipline routines for classroom and playground misbehaviours.

These are published at the beginning of each year in the newsletter, 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 every second 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.

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 in the classroom.

BUS TRAVEL:

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. 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.

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.

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.

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

Our school has a policy on the use of cell phones. Students are permitted to bring their cell phone 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.