Addresses and Phone Numbers

IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE HAVE YOUR CORRECT ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER. IF YOU MOVE TO ANOTHER ADDRESS, OR CHANGE YOUR PHONE NUMBER, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

Assemblies

We have a full school assembly at 1.40pm in the hall, every second Friday. Please refer to the school newsletter for further information on school assemblies.

Class and Team assemblies are also held regularly.

Details are published in school Newsletters for special assemblies.

Parents, caregivers and friends of the school are welcome to attend any assembly, but if it is raining it would be wise to phone the school to check if assembly has been cancelled.

Attendance

Children are expected to attend school whenever it is open, unless they are sick or have some other good reason to be away. As a matter of courtesy, and in the interests of safety, parents are asked to let us know the reason for any absence. A note is preferred but a phone call to the office will be quite satisfactory.

Classroom teachers are encouraged to make contact with the family of students who are late or absent from school for 5 days or more.

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees usually meets on the last Wednesday of each month unless it is a school holiday. Such meetings are public meetings and interested parents, caregivers and members of the public are welcome to attend. Meeting dates are advertised in the school newsletter.

Community Involvement

Parents, caregivers and friends of the school are welcome to become actively involved in the life of the school. There are many ways they can help including repairing library books, making classroom equipment, helping teachers in the classroom and assisting with class trips or outings. Such involvement has benefits for all concerned; children, teachers and the helpers themselves. If you would like to help out in any way, see your child's teacher or leave your name at the office.

Complaints or Concerns

If there is any matter you are unhappy about the first option is to negotiate a time to speak with the class teacher. If you need to clarify your concerns further, you can then speak to an Associate Principal. If further discussion is required, then you have the right to speak to the Principal, who may then direct you to the Board of Trustees Chairperson if required.

Cultural Groups

Children are given the opportunity to participate in one of the following Cultural Groups every second year. The Otahuhu Schools' Cluster Cultural Festival usually takes place at the Otahuhu Recreation Centre at the end of Term 1.

Maori
Asian
Cook Island
European
Fijian
Indian
Samoan
Tongan

Otahuhu Children’s Community Dental Clinic

The Otahuhu Children's Community Dental Clinic is based at Otahuhu Primary School. If your child brings home a notice to say they require fillings or extractions please fill in the form if needed and send back to the dental clinic.

The entrance to the dental clinic is via Great South Road, directly off the roundabout opposite Prince's Street, at the bottom of the Otahuhu shopping centre.

The Otahuhu Children's Community Dental Clinic contact number is 276 6633.

Enrolment Procedures

No children can be enrolled until they turn five. When you wish to enrol your child, come to the school office on the morning you wish your child to start. When you enrol your child at school, you will need to bring:

i) A copy of the birth certificate.

ii) And/or your passport, or written proof of Permanent Residency.

iii) A copy of the immunisation certificate.

The school does not enrol Foreign Fee paying students.

Enrolment Scheme

The school does not have an enrolment scheme.

Food and Nutrition

At Otahuhu Primary School we promote a healthy lifestyle to our community: students, staff and families, as part of our commitment to a safe school environment.

Educating students about nutrition and encouraging healthy eating patterns contributes to their personal success and well being and to a healthier community for all of us.

We deliver clear and consistent messages about nutrition by ensuring that any food provided by/through school follows national food and nutrition guidelines.

Health

We always do our best to protect your child's health but we expect parents to help by following these few simple rules:

i) Make sure children are sent to school clean.

ii) Make sure children have had a good night's sleep.

iii) Do not send children if they are sick.

iv) Children with infectious diseases must be kept at home and have a note from a doctor, or nurse, before they return to school.

v) Check your child's/ren's head/s regularly for lice and treat them when necessary.

vi) Keep us informed about major health problems.

vii) If children are required to take medicine at school, written permission from parents, signed off by the principal/associate principal on a form available at the office, will be required before prescription medication will be administered.

viii) No non-prescription medications such as panadol, will be administered by staff.

If a child has an accident, or becomes ill at school, they will be attended to in the school sick bay. If necessary, they will be taken to the Otahuhu White Cross Accident and Medical Clinic, Station Road (next to the school) for treatment and parents will be informed, if possible. Our facilities are limited, and we do not have a school nurse, so please help us by making sure the school is advised of:-

- changes of address

- changes of phone number

- names and phone numbers of emergency contacts

Lost Property

Clothes cost parents a lot of money and all clothing should be named. Unclaimed clothing is held in our lost property bin for two weeks, then donated to charity. You are welcome to call at the school at any time to check the contents of the lost property bin. This bin is outside the sickbay area.

Lost property displays are organised when there is a school assembly. Dates for displays will be notified in the Newsletter.

Lunches

The schoolis part of the Government's 'Free lunch for all' programme.

All students receive a healthy, free lunch each day.

All dietary requirements e.g. food allergies, vegetarian and halal options are catered for.

Newsletters

School Newsletters are usually sent home every second Wednesday. We try to keep you informed about what is happening at school and hope you will take the time to read them.

No Smoking Policy

The school grounds and buildings are a "no smoking zone" at all time.

All parents, caregivers and visitors to the school are asked to respect this policy.

Parking

Parking is available within the school grounds. Should there be no spaces available, there is a public car park opposite the Station Road school entrance.

Please travel at 5 km or less when within the school grounds.

The car parking spaces directly outside the Otahuhu Children's Community Dental Clinic (Great South Road school entrance) are for dental clinic patients only. Please keep this clear unless attending a dental appointment.

Positive Learning 4 Behaviour (PB4L)

PB4L is a framework for enhancing, adopting and implementing a continuum of evidence-based interventions to achieve academically and behaviourally important outcomes for all students.

There are seven essential components to the PB4L framework.

1. Principal Endorsement

2. Common Purpose and Approach to Disipline

3. Expectation System

4. Teaching System

5. Reinforcement System

6. Problem Behaviour Response System

7. PB4L Implementation System

Please refer to the PB4L Induction Book on the school server or to Jasoda Patel (Associate Principal) for an in-depth explanation.

Pre School Mornings

Children over the age of 4 and a half years and their parents are invited to visit our Junior School between 9.15 and 10.25am.

It is advisable to pre-arrange these visits with the Associate Principal in case of class/team trips, and also to allow for preparation within the classroom for extra children.

Parents are encouraged to take such opportunities to familiarise their children with school before they start.

Reading Books and Library

Children are often given reading books to take home to read to their parents. They are also allowed to borrow books from the school library. We need your help to make sure these books are returned to school in good condition.

Reporting to Parents

We hold parent-teacher conferences in February and July and send home a written report in July and December.

Apart from these arrangements parents are welcome to request an interview with either the principal or a teacher at any time to discuss their child's progress. Please contact the school for an appointment if you have any concerns.

Safety of children

We do our best to keep the children safe both at school and on their way to and from school. You can help us in the following ways:

i) Make sure that your child arrives at school between 8.30am and 8.50am each morning. During this time teachers are on duty at the pedestrian crossings.

ii) If your child is away from school please let us know, preferable before 8.45am, on the first morning your child is away.

iii) If you pick up your child from school during the school day, please sign your child out at reception/office before you go to collect them from the classroom. You will then be given a sign out notice to give to the class teacher.

iv) If you change your address or phone number, please let the school office know as soon as possible.

School Charter

The School Charter is held in the school. Ask to see it at the school office.

School Donations

There will be no school donations requested in 2020.

School Hours

School starts at 8.55am and finishes at 3.00pm.

Parents should also note the following times:

10.20am - 10.40am Morning interval

12.00pm - 12.15pm Lunch eating time

12.15pm - 12.45pm pm Lunch playtime

12.45pm - 12.50pm Oral Hygiene programme

2.00 - 2.15pm Afternoon break

We expect children to be on time for school so that they are fully prepared for their classroom programme. Children who are late to school will need to report to the school office to get a late pass before going to their classroom.

New five year olds spend the whole day at school, the same as the older children, and do not go home early.

School Terms and Holidays 2021

Term 1: 2nd February - 16th April

Term 2: 3rd May - 9th July

Term 3: 26th July - 1st October

Term 4: 18th October - 14th December

The school will be closed on the following days:

Waitangi Day (Observance Day) - Monday 8th February

Good Friday - Monday 2nd April

Easter Monday - Monday 5th April

Easter Tuesday - Tuesday 6th April

ANZAC Day (Observance Day) - Monday 26th April

Queen's Birthday - 7th June

Labour Day - 25th October

School Value Systems

The following are the core beliefs on which this school bases its day-to-day operations.

We place high value on the concept of Turangawaewae. Tūrangawaewae is one of the most well-known and powerful Māori concepts. Literally tūranga (standing place), waewae (feet), it is often translated as ‘a place to stand’. Tūrangawaewae are places where we feel especially empowered and connected. They are our foundation, our place in the world, our home.

We hold the following Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) school values as important in our school. They are our HEART values.

Honesty

Excellence

Attitude

Respect

Tolerance

Special Needs Programme

The school provides learning support for children with special learning needs. We have a range of programmes to cater for individual learning pathways.

Stationery

Student stationery is provided free in 2021.

Uniform

To start in a classroom all students are expected to be wearing the correct Otahuhu Primary School uniform. The uniform can be purchased at The Warehouse, Sylvia Park on the Mount Wellington Highway.

Summer Uniform:

* Unisex shorts - Navy

* Skort - Navy

* Short sleeve Royal Blue polo with gold trim on the collar and sleeves with OPS logo

* Bucket hat - Navy

* Plain black sandals

Winter Uniform:

* Short sleeve Royal Blue polo with gold trim on the collar and sleeves with OPS logo

* Royal Blue Polar Fleece jumper with gold OPD logo

* School trackpants - Navy

* Plain black shoes

* Plain black socks

Jewellery/Make Up:

* Studs to be worn only in the ears for safety reasons

* No necklaces, braclets, rings or anklets (Cultural necklaces are allowed)

* No make up

Hair:

* Hair to be tied back and away from the face.