INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
Useful Information for Parents & FAQs
Info for Parents
Friends of Lumsden School
Friends of the School is a parent group supporting all aspects of school life.
Formalities are kept to a minimum with sub committees often working on specific tasks. These include—Grounds, Fundraising, Education, Catering and Social. We invite families to indicate which sub group they would like to be involved in at the beginning of each year.
Board of Trustees
Monthly Board meetings are held on Tuesday evenings in week 3 and 8 each term.
Bus Routes
For all information regarding school buses please go to http://dome.easybus.nz
Our bus controller is Andrew Watson. As a courtesy we ask parents to contact the bus driver if their child is off the bus in the morning.
School Stream App
HOW TO GET THE SCHOOL STREAM APP ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE.
iPHONE / iPAD iOS
1. From your mobile device go to the App Store search for School Stream
2. Tap the FREE/GET button to the right of the School Stream listing
3. Tap the INSTALL button
4. Enter your Apple ID and password & tap OK
5. Wait for the install icon to change to OPEN
6. Tap the OPEN button
7. You will be prompted to accept push notifications and you will need to select OK
8. Start typing Lumsden School into the search then SELECT Lumsden School
ANDROID / TABLET
1. From your mobile device go to the Play Store search for School Stream
2. Tap the School Stream listing
3. Tap the INSTALL button
4. Tap the ACCEPT button
5. Wait for the app to install then tap the OPEN button
6. Start typing Lumsden School into the search then SELECT Lumsden School
7. Tap the DONE button in the top left
Absences
If your child is away from school please notify us either by:
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Visiting or phoning Sharon at the office
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Using the School Stream App
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Emailing a message to office@lumsden.school.nz
Assembly
Assembly is held in Room 2/3 every Friday at 2.30pm. The children present class items, school and sports reports, as well as singing. Everyone is most welcome to attend.
Camp Procedures
This procedure supports National Administration Guideline 1.
<h4 class="font_4">PURPOSE</h4>
To ensure the students learning is enhanced through first hand experiences.
To involve parents in EOTC to ensure all students are able to participate in the programme the school is proposing.
To ensure parents are committed to supporting the school camp.
<h4 class="font_4">GUIDELINES</h4>
Enrolment of Students Procedures
This procedure supports National Administration Guideline 6
PURPOSE
To ensure that correct procedures are followed when enrolling students, and that all relevant information concerning the enrolled student is gathered.
To inform parents /caregivers /whanau about the school and their child’s class and teacher so that the transition to Lumsden School is a positive, happy experience.
GUIDELINES
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Ethnicity -
Birth Certificate so that we can copy and attach to enrolment form -
Immunisation Certificate to be sighted and information recorded on the Immunisation Register -
For students not born in New Zealand we need to keep a copy of their passport showing their residency status and student permit -
All other sections on the enrolment form to be completed
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School Information Booklet -
Prior School Newsletters -
Internet Agreement Form -
School Transport Application -
Relevant Health Forms -
Bus Notification Forms
5. Enquiries regarding possible future enrolments will be recorded on the New Pupil Enrolment form. Anyone making an enquiry is encouraged to meet with the Principal and view the school in operation.
7. The Office Administrator will enter all relevant details into the Register of Admission and Withdrawal/Ministry of Education - ENROL.
8. The Office Administrator will enter all relevant details into Pupil Files/Student Management System.
Facebook Procedure
<h4 class="font_4">RATIONALE</h4>
Maintaining an online presence is vital for schools, not only in terms of keeping the school community up to date with what’s happening in the school, but also in terms of attracting potential enrolment. Having a school website is an essential part of this, but web users must specifically visit the school website regularly to receive the information.
By having a Facebook page, the school is feeding school information, news and notices directly into the personal news feeds of parents and the wider school community.
AIMS
The purpose of having a school Facebook page is:
- To continue to advance our school communication system with information shared via Facebook, along with the existing methods of paper notes, newsletter, Twitter, and the school website.
- To publicise school events, and increase awareness about school fundraising.
- To announce any updated information that appears on our website via Facebook.
- To highlight positive school achievements in a forum where they can be shared by the school community.
- To make school announcements (e.g. school closure due to snow).
- To use facebook as a means of reaching a wider audience.
- To have a Facebook Feed embedded on the homepage of the school website.
GUIDELINES
- Lumsden School teachers will be administrators. All other ‘posts’ have to be approved by these administrators.
- Anyone is able to comment, but administrators can delete spam.
- No sharing of any information about any student (including pictures, videos, work samples etc.) without consent from the children’s guardian. Sharing of last names will be avoided as a safety precaution.
- Consistency is key – Consistent updates will develop a user expectation that they can rely on the Facebook page for current information.
- Adminstrators may choose to use the ‘no comments’ option.
- To be reviewed after first six months, then annually.
General Emergency Lockdown Procedure
STATEMENT
The Board of Trustees believes that the safety of students and staff in our school is paramount and takes every precaution to ensure the safety of all.
The Board believes that the school needs to be secured in an appropriate manner when dealing with a perceived or actual threat to the school community.
RATIONALE
The Board of Trustees is committed to providing a safe and caring environment for students and staff.
Therefore, the school has developed this procedure to respond to a perceived or actual threat to their school community.
INTRODUCTION
A lock-down of the school will be implemented anytime students need to be contained and protected inside school buildings, for example:
- A chemical spill, which could put students and staff at risk of toxic inhalation if allowed outside
- A person on the school site who could pose the risk of a hostage situation
- An unarmed intruder inside the building.
In all these cases the police would request a lock-down of the school to prevent putting students and staff in danger separating them from the risk.
The lock-down may also help to prevent confusion, and to make it easier for staff to account for all students as it is simpler to determine if a student is missing when the students are at least standing still.
When the ‘lock down’ signal is given, staff will go to their classroom doors, listening, and then looking for a sign of imminent danger. If it’s safe to do so, they will take in any students not already in a classroom, then close and lock the door and turn off the lights.
GENERAL EMERGENCY LOCKDOWN PROCEDURES
COMMUNICATIONS
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You have firsthand knowledge that there is a fire in the building, or -
You have been advised by Police or the person-in-charge to evacuate the building.
Stand-down, Suspension, Exclusion, Expulsion Process Procedure
This procedure supports National Administration Guideline 5.
Participation in compulsory schooling carries with it various rights and responsibilities as outlined below:
Participation in compulsory schooling carries with it various rights and responsibilities. These rights and responsibilities apply differently to the three key stakeholder groups involved – the students, the students’ families/whanau, and the schools. In addition to these rights and responsibilities, the other main stakeholder, the Government, has a number of requirements that it expects all parties to meet.
In New Zealand schooling is compulsory for children and young people aged from 6 to 15 years. Parents are required to ensure their children are enrolled at a registered school.
Schools are required to ensure that all enrolled students attend school.
The Education Amendment Act 1998 (No 2) gives schools the right to stand-down, suspend, exclude or expel students in the event of gross misconduct or continual disobedience.
The Education Act 1989 gives all children and young people, aged 5 to 19 years, the right to a free education.
A student’s right to attend school and be educated carries an implied responsibility to behave in ways that (i) do not disrupt teaching/learning processes, and (ii) do not pose a threat to the well being of other students.
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Stand down a student from attending school for a specified period, or -
Suspend a student from attending school, pending a decision by the Board of Trustees about the student’s continued enrolment at that school.
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Provisions are made for the student to receive lessons during the period of suspension. -
Any decision-making about the student’s future attendance at the school is made after seeking dialogue with the student’s family/whanau. -
The principles of natural justice are applied in the decision to help ensure that all rights and responsibilities are understood in the decision-making process.
4. Procedures
Attendance, Absences and Truancy Procedure
To encourage regular attendance in order to promote teaching and learning.
To ensure the safety of all students.
Religious Education Procedure
• No student is excluded because their parent is unwilling or unable to pay any costs associated with the programme.
• Non bus students not taking part in religious instruction arrive at school at 9.30 am. Supervision is available for students who travel to school by bus (in school library).
• Classes participating in this programme are deemed to be closed during the period of instruction, as required by the Act.
• All religious instruction teachers follow the programme of instruction as made available to the board and parents before the start of the year’s programme.
• All teaching avoids putting pressure on the children to adhere to particular religious beliefs or views.
• No Full-time Classroom Teachers may conduct religious instruction.
• The board is kept updated (annually) regarding programme information.
Child Motor Vehicle Passenger Restraint Procedure
Child Passenger safety is an important aspect of road safety education, which is a shared responsibility between the school and parents. This procedure guideline will support the school’s overall road safety procedure, help reduce children’s risk of injury, and support their wellbeing.
School staff, parents, caregivers and students travelling on school related trips will be guided by the following procedures:
● Child restraint if 7 or under (parents to supply)
● Booster seat if parents have requested (parents to supply)
● Three point seat belt if 148 cm or taller.
Health and Safety Procedure
Lumsden Primary School will take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of staff, students, visitors and contractors by complying with relevant health and safety legislation, standards, and codes of practice.
GUIDELINES
1. All staff having individual responsibility for health and safety.
2. All staff
● being informed of
● understanding, and
● accepting their responsibility for eliminating or minimising the potential for harm to people at their workplace, including contractors, other staff and visitors being informed of any results of our monitoring their work area.
4. Ensuring union and other employee representatives are consulted regarding health and safety management.
5. Ensuring the school has an effective method for identifying hazards. Significant hazards will then be controlled by:
● Eliminating or isolating any hazard that arises out of the school or school environment likely to cause harm to staff, students or other people.
● Minimising the effects of hazards, if they cannot be practicably eliminated or isolated.
6. Creating and maintaining a safe working environment.
7. Having in place plans and procedures for all foreseeable emergencies that may arise in the workplace.
8. Providing appropriate orientation, training and supervision for all new and existing staff.
9. Having effective procedures for the hiring and monitoring of contractors including police vetting of employees and being accountable for their safety and for that of other visitors.
10. Visitors must sign in and out at the office to ensure school knows of their whereabouts in an emergency. Bookmark referring to Health and Safety Policy/Procedures to be kept in Visitors Book.
11. Accurate recording, reporting and investigating injuries.
12. Board of Trustees commitment to continuous improvement in health and safety.
13. Board of Trustees commitment to comply with all relevant health and safety legislation.
14. Supporting the safe and early return to work of injured employees.
15. Ongoing evaluation, review and updating of our compliance with our health and safety programme and this policy.
Police Vetting Procedure
1. The Lumsden School Board is responsible for taking reasonable measures to protect students from harm (Vulnerable Children’s Act and NAG 5).
2. All “employees” of the school are required by the Education Act to be vetted every three years:
a) All teachers employed must hold a current registration with the Teachers’ Council which will have included a Police vet
b) Non-teaching staff, including teacher aides, secretary, administration, caretaker and cleaner, are vetted every three years.
3. When appointing a new employee a satisfactory police vet needs to be obtained before an appointment is confirmed or have unsupervised access to students. Ongoing employment will be subject to a satisfactory police vet.
4. Regular school contractors such as school lawn mowers are vetted.
5. Parents, caregivers or members of the community volunteering or working with students, i.e. electives, sport coach, overnight camps will be asked to undergo a police vet, where it is likely that they could have unsupervised access to students.
6. Parents and caregivers have the right to refuse to consent to a police vet, however this may result in that person not being able to be part of some school activities.
The Principal shall be the designated person for receiving Police vet information (the “requestor”) and shall be responsible for ensuring the security and confidentiality of such information. If necessary the Board of Trustee chairperson and the school’s legal advisor may be privy to the information. Any discussion at Board level will be confidential.
● If the results of a police vet raise employment concerns then the Principal and Board Chairperson will decide if the information gained indicates that they must act.
● The Board will consider whether the information obtained should affect employment at or access to the school.
● Care will be taken to ensure a fair and reasonable process is followed if the Board is considering any action.
● If the vet does not reveal any criminal offences or concerns by the police then the vet will be destroyed or handed to the employee or contractor.
Reviewed: 13 September 2016
Dear Parents
The Vulnerable Children’s Act now imposes new responsibilities to the Board of Trustees with ensuring the safety of our children at school. To ensure we are complying with the requirements of the Vulnerable Children Act and to ensure the safety of our children the Board is requesting permission to Police Vet any person working or volunteering at Lumsden School or with Lumsden School children in any capacity e.g. parent helper, coach, overnight camps, day outings, clubs, driving children to events or any other activity where those volunteers are likely to have (or could have) unsupervised contact with students.
Police Vetting is a responsibility of the Board of Trustees and is undertaken through the New Zealand Police Licensing and Vetting Service Centre.
All information received will be confidential to the Lumsden School Board of Trustees.
Only the requestor – the Principal – will open the returned information.
Please read the attached application carefully, complete page 2 then sign and date the “consent to disclosure” on page 3, then return this to the school office with the documents required.
Please note these steps are being taken as advised as being good practice as per the Vulnerable Children’s Act 2014 with the safety of our children as the main priority.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any queries.
Andrew and Lumsden School Board of Trustees
Complaints Procedure
To ensure that complaints go through the right channels and are dealt with satisfactorily.
1. For an incident or problem concerning a child within class or playground, parents/whānau should first approach the class teacher.
2. If the matter is not resolved, then the parents/caregiver/whānau should approach the Principal.
3. For serious matters concerning abuse, cruelty or incompetence, or any ongoing issue, complaints should be put in writing and directed to the Principal.
4. Should the serious matter relate to the Principal, the complaint should be put in writing and directed to the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees.
5. In all instances of a serious nature, the Principal will keep the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees informed.
Parents/Caregivers/Whānau (Support person welcome to attend)
1. Contact the class teacher and arrange a time for an interview.
2. Make sure of your facts/concerns and have them ready.
3. Listen to the teacher, taking note of details.
4. Arrange a time for a follow up visit.
5. Contact the Principal if the matter is not resolved to your satisfaction.
6. Put complaint to Board of Trustees in writing if the matter is still ongoing.
1. Listen to complaints from parents, taking note of details.
2. Explain the situation as it happened, if this is possible, or assure parents that you will investigate the matter.
3. Make a definite time commitment.
4. Investigate the problem.
5. Put steps in place to resolve/rectify the situation.
6. Notify the parents.