"School rules are kept to a minimum and are based on common sense, safety, fairness and consistency. Our aim is to provide an environment where pupils learn to respect opinions, property and people, while building on the foundations of self-discipline"

ABSENCE
If your child is sick or unable to attend school, parents / caregivers must contact the school before 9.00am. For your child’s safety, unexplained absences are investigated.
Teachers keep a daily Attendance Register. These are checked regularly. If there are concerns about absences from school, the Principal will contact families. The Manawatu Truancy Service is used by the school

ARRIVING LATE - LEAVING EARLY
Students who arrive late to school must check in at the school Office before going to their classroom. Please notify the Office or your child’s teacher if your child needs to leave school early for an appointment. Children can be collected from the school Office. We ask that parents/caregivers not go directly to the classrooms or into the cloak bays looking for children or to deliver lunches or other items.

ASSEMBLY
The whole school has assembly in the school Hall on alternate Friday afternoons at 2.20pm, unless notified otherwise in the school newsletter (no assemblies during swimming season in Term 1). The Student Council runs each assembly, and the programme will include the presentation of class items, sports reports, student awards and singing. All parents/caregivers are welcome to attend.

BIKES
A number of students bike to school each day. We have the following rules:
• Students must be aged 7 or older and fully aware of road rules.
• Helmets must be worn.
• Bikes are parked in the bike shed – it is recommended that they are locked during the day.
• Bikes must not be ridden in the school grounds – students must walk their bikes to the school gates and across the Monteith Street crossing.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Board of Trustees has the role of School Governance, with its core focus being raising student achievement and improving the learning outcomes for all students. At Halcombe School, up to five elected parent representatives, plus any co-opted trustees, join the Principal and a staff representative to form the Board. Elections are held every three years. Co-option can occur between elections. We are always keen to hear from parents & caregivers that are keen to be involved on the Board! Please visit our Board of Trustees webpage.

BULLYING
Halcombe School has a “zero tolerance” approach to bullying. Bullying of any kind - verbal or physical - will not be tolerated. Students are encouraged to report incidents of bullying, no matter how minor they may seem, to their teacher, the duty teacher, or the Principal.

Our Principal regularly visits each class and talks to them about bullying - clarifying what bullying actually is, how to avoid being a victim, and what to do if they feel they are being bullied, or see bullying. Children have all been given strategies about what to do to help stop bullying. We talk about how NOT to make themselves victims and what ‘being assertive’ means. We strive to foster a safe classroom environment where children are confident to speak up if they are being annoyed or bothered by others.

We also explain that it is never all right to hit or kick other children. We were very concerned to hear that several children had been told by parents that “If someone does something you don’t like, just punch them!” Physical retaliation is not the answer. This is no way to solve disagreements and certainly not behaviour that would be tolerated at our school. Children know what to do if someone does something they don’t like.

BUSES
Over 80 children use the school bus service each day. Many more use the buses on a casual basis to visit friends, attend sports practices etc. Managing the buses is a major task for the school, and we need the co-operation of families to ensure that our students travel safely and the buses are on schedule.
To catch the afternoon buses, children line up outside Rooms 5 and 6 in designated bus lines. Staff are on duty to supervise. Senior students act as bus monitors. All buses must leave school promptly (usually by 3.05pm). For safety reasons, children are often allocated a permanent seat on the bus. Drivers and bus monitors will report any misbehaviour to the Principal. Children are not allowed to eat, drink or use cell-phones on the bus.
PLEASE notify the Office if your child is not on the bus in the afternoon or there is a change to their usual arrangements. You MUST send a note to school or phone the Office. It is not sufficient for children to tell us at 3 o’clock that they are not on the bus or their plans have changed. The bus monitors do a great job but are sometimes searching for children after 3 o’clock, only to find that they have already been collected! The buses are on a very tight schedule, so we would appreciate your support with this.
Please ring the school or send along a note if you wish your child to use any of the buses as a ‘casual’.
In 2012, a ‘casual’ trip to Feilding costs 60 cents. This may change – you will be notified.

Link to our School Bus Run webpage »

BUSES FOR FEILDING STUDENTS
Morning run:
• Stanway/Feilding bus leaves Feilding at 8.30am each morning.
The pick-up is adjacent 1A North Street. The bus DOES NOT wait.
Afternoon run:
• The Stanway/Feilding bus travels via Stanway & Makino Roads and arrives in Feilding at 3.30pm approx. Rural students, casuals and all Feilding students will use this bus.
• The afternoon drop-off is adjacent 48 North Street (near Northend Playcentre).

There is a charge for using the Feilding bus. Regular users must purchase a 10-trip ticket in advance
(currently $6.00 each in 2012) from the Office. No credit is available.

Children can purchase bus tickets or pay for casual rides at the school Office before 8.55am and at lunchtimes.

CALF AND LAMB DAY ~ “PET DAY”
Every year, Halcombe School holds a “Pet Day” in conjunction with the Manawatu Oroua Boys and Girls Agricultural Club. Pet Day is very much a whole school community day. Pet Day includes calf, lamb and kid (goat) competitions, dogs and other pets. Horses may be entered in the pet section, but may not be ridden at school.
Children who do not bring pets are involved in fun classroom activities– sand saucers, veggie creations, miniature gardens etc.
Classrooms are open for parents/caregivers to visit at the end of the morning.
Pet Day is held early in Term 4. Information and entry forms will be available in Term 3.
RD1 have produced a great little guide to raising a lamb or calf for Pet Day read more »

CAMPS
The two senior classes take part in extended Outdoor Education Camps, usually in Term 4. Full information on each camp, including cost, will be sent home during Terms 2 & 3. Students are encouraged to participate in fundraising activities for these camps. Meetings for families are held prior to each camp. From time to time, children in other classes may also have the opportunity to have an overnight camp. Full details would be made available at that time.

CAR PARKS
Parking is provided in the Hall car park. Space is limited - please take care when entering and leaving the car-park, especially during the afternoons. Do not “double park”. When collecting children from school, we ask that parents/caregivers leave their cars and accompany children from the playground. Children must use the footpath – they must not cross the car-park.
Additional parking is available at the front of the school on Monteith Street (please keep clear of bus parks). When collecting children from school, we ask that parents/caregivers leave their cars and accompany children from the school gate. Everyone (children and adults) MUST use the patrolled road crossing.

CELLPHONES AT SCHOOL
Students must not use cellphones at school or on the buses, for calls or for texting. If a student needs to have a phone at school, they must bring a note from a parent and gain permission from the Principal. Phones must be handed in to the Office for the day. Phones found at school without permission will be confiscated.

CHARGES AND FEES
We make a small compulsory charge to all families. School charges help us to provide a full range of resources and activities, including classrooms essentials, such as tissues, and the weekly newsletter. Regular fundraising helps us to keep these charges to a minimum. We may also collect fees for Technology for Year 7 & 8 students.
Charges are collected in Term 1 or at Enrolment. An invoice will be sent. The latest schedule of fees and charges is available at the Office. School Charges & Fees 2012

CHARTER AND SCHOOL POLICIES
The Charter is an important document that outlines the direction for Halcombe School. It is developed by the Board of Trustees in consultation with our school community and is regularly reviewed. Policies on all aspects of school management are also developed and reviewed by the Board. The latest Charter can be viewed at our Board of Trustees webpage. Printed copies of both documents can be viewed at the Office.

CODE OF BEHAVIOUR
Our Code of Behaviour sets out our expectations for students, staff and families, as we strive to achieve our Vision and be a successful school. read more »

COMMUNITY CONSULTATION
The Board of Trustees is committed to building and maintaining a strong partnership with the whole community. From time-to-time you will have the opportunity to respond to questionnaires from the Board. Community meetings, forums and surveys are held periodically where parents / caregivers have the opportunity to share their ideas on a range of issues.

CONCERNS, COMPLAINTS or QUERIES
If there are problems at school or you are unhappy about something, please talk to your child's teacher or contact the office as soon as possible. We are always happy to help and want to put things right.
You may like to check our Concerns/Query process first: "What should I do?" read more »

CONTACT DETAILS
It is important that the information we have about your child is up-to-date. Please let us know of any changes, especially telephone contact numbers, health issues and guardianship. From time-to-time we will need to contact families if a child is unwell or we have a serious incident. It can be very difficult and time-consuming for us, and stressful for your child, if we cannot contact you quickly. We update all contact information for students at the start of each school year. Remember that the KIT Book is also available as a way to communicate with teachers.

CROSS COUNTRY
The school holds a Cross Country event for all students in Term 4. All children participate over distances appropriate for their age. An inter-school Cross Country is held at Hunterville in late October. Children are selected to represent our school in various age groups.

DISCIPLINE
At Halcombe School, we encourage children to be responsible for their own actions and to treat others as they would like to be treated. We find that attention-seeking behaviour, both in classrooms and the playground is often best dealt with by removing the child from the ‘audience’. No child has the right to stop others from learning.
We encourage an atmosphere where children feel comfortable speaking out about bullying and unacceptable behaviour. The school has a culture of extremely low tolerance to bullying and dishonesty.
Parents/caregivers will be called if behaviour is causing concern so that the home and school can work through the issues together. Recurrent disruptive, abusive or aggressive behaviour and wilful damage are very serious matters.

See "School Rules" and "Guidelines for Clothing & Hair" (below).

END OF YEAR CELEBRATIONS
The Junior Christmas Party and Senior Prizegiving are held in the Hall during the final weeks of the school year in December. Students attend with their families.
The Junior Christmas Party, for Rooms 7, 1 and 3, is usually an afternoon function and celebrates the efforts and achievements of all our junior children. The children often present items, and Father Christmas visits.
The Senior Prizegiving, for Rooms 4, 5 and 6, is an important occasion as we farewell our Year 8 students and recognise the efforts and achievements of all senior students. It is a formal evening function. Full details for both events are given in the school newsletter.

“ENROL”
Halcombe School uses ENROL, the on-line student enrolment register of all students enrolled in New Zealand schools. You are able to request copies of the information that we hold about your child. Please contact the Office for details.

ENROLMENT
Please visit our Enrolment webpage for full details on enrolling students at our school.

FANCY DRESS
The Dance Evening (Fancy Dress), for children in Year 0 – 6 (usually Rooms 1 – 4), is traditionally held in Term 3 (every second year). This is a fun event for children and families and is the culmination of our Dance Programme. The children are encouraged to dress up in smart clothes or costumes. Full details are given in class and school newsletters.

FEILDING BUS
Morning run:
• Stanway/Feilding bus leaves Feilding at 8.30am each morning.
The pick-up is adjacent 1A North Street. The bus DOES NOT wait.
Afternoon run:
• The Stanway/Feilding bus travels via Stanway & Makino Roads and arrives in Feilding at 3.30pm approx. Rural students, casuals and all Feilding students will use this bus.
• The afternoon drop-off is adjacent 48 North Street (near Northend Playcentre).

There is a charge for using the Feilding bus. Regular users must purchase a 10-trip ticket in advance
(currently $6.00 each) from the Office. No credit is available.

Children can purchase bus tickets or pay for casual rides at the school Office before 8.55am and at lunchtimes.

GUIDELINES FOR CLOTHING AND HAIR
While Halcombe School encourages individuality, we do believe that some styles of clothing and accessories are unsuitable and inappropriate for school. We ask for parents/caregivers co-operation in this matter.
• Long hair must be tied back with simple hair clips and ties. Hair should be worn in a natural style and colour. Multi-coloured hair is not appropriate. No “rat’s tails”.
• Hair should not be hanging in front of eyes (parents/caregivers should ask if unsure).
• Hair cuts should be neat and presentable but not extreme. No hair products.
• Shoes should have flat soles, for example sports shoes, sneakers or sandals. Heeled shoes are unsafe for school-wear.
• Gumboots are not suitable for sport.
• Jackets are to be worn outside, not in classrooms.
• Halter neck tops, ‘boob tubes’, tops with shoe-string straps, and singlets (for boys) are not appropriate. T shirts with short sleeves are best.
• Underwear should not be visible.
• Shorts and jeans should stay up without having to be held.
• Logos or captions on clothing should be appropriate for school.
Extremes of fashion are not appropriate. If in doubt, parents/caregivers should ask the Principal.

HALCOMBE PLAYCENTRE
The school fosters a close relationship with Halcombe Playcentre (77 Willoughby Street, Halcombe). Playcentre is a family-based co-operative Early Childhood Education Service. Families play an important role in coordinating the sessions and running the Centre. All children from 0 – 6 are welcome to attend. Session times are Mondays and Wednesdays from 9.00am until 12.00pm. Please phone Playcentre (328 8693) during session times for more information.

HEAD LICE
Head lice are a recurring problem in all schools and we appreciate families doing their best to control outbreaks of head lice. We will check children’s hair if we suspect head lice are present – we request consent at Enrolment for this to be done.
In the case of persistent infestation, a child with headlice may be asked to stay home until the lice are treated. Included at the back of this folder is information on headlice with tips on how you can deal with this problem at home. The school has two “Robicombs” available for families to use to treat head lice. See also our Head Lice webpage

HEALTH
Please keep us informed of any heath issues that may affect your child at school or impact on their ability to learn. We update student health records and contact details at the start of each school year.

HELPING AT HOME
Please visit our Helping at Home webpage for tips on supporting your child's learning outside of school. See also "Homework" (below).

HOME GARDENS
Children have the opportunity to participate in a home garden competition during the spring/summer terms. Full details are given in the school newsletter.

HOMEWORK - HOME LEARNING
"Homework" is a topic that can cause much tension in families. At Halcombe School, we have given this issue much consideration and have produced our own philosophy on homework - which we prefer to call "home learning". The current programme for home learning is:

YEAR 1 – 4 STUDENTS
• Apart from reading, basic maths facts and a little spelling, no homework will be ‘set’.
• Please read to your child and/or listen to them read each night.
• Play games with your children which involve counting and maths ideas, such as ‘Ludo’ and cards,
• Talk about numbers in everyday life, for example on number plates and phone numbers.
• Involve your children in activities which involve measuring and have problems to solve.

5 – 8 STUDENTS
• Children should be reading every night for at least 20 minutes. They should also be learning spelling and basic facts.
• Home learning may be a continuation of what is done in class. If children need to catch up on work, they will be able to do it at home if they wish.
• You can help your child by NOT mentioning homework! By this age, children need to accept responsibility for completing any homework they choose to do. They shouldn’t need to be reminded (or nagged!) at school or at home. If you are nagging them now, you’ll still be nagging them when they’re 17.
• Take an interest in what your children are doing, but without threat or punishment. If children choose not to complete their homework, that will be their decision. There is no ‘penalty’ for not completing homework. Children will not be ‘kept in’ at lunchtime to complete homework.
• The culture and children’s intrinsic motivation to learn and achieve in our senior classes, means that by far the majority of children are happy to complete some homework each night without any fuss.
• Home learning will consolidate, enrich and extend the class programme. It should not be a big chore. The challenge should be minimal, not so much that you have to get help from your rocket scientist uncle!
• On occasions, children will have the opportunity to spend part of their interval or lunchtime in class working if they wish. We appreciate that many children have a variety of after-school commitments.
• It is important that children develop good time management skills before they go to High School, but no longer than 45 minutes a night should be spent on home learning.
• If you would like ideas about home learning, please contact your child’s class teacher.

HOURS
The school is open in the mornings after the arrival of the first bus at approximately 8.15am.
Please ensure your children are at school by 8.50am, so they can be unpacked and ready to start learning at 9.00am.
8.55am First bell
9.00am School commences
10.30am – 10.50am Interval
12.30pm – 1.25pm Lunch
1.30pm – 3.00pm Afternoon Programme

OFFICE HOURS
The School Office is open from 8.30am until 3.15pm Monday – Friday, during term. The School Secretary, Mrs Kirsten Otter, will be happy to assist you.

HOUSES
A ‘House’ system operates throughout the school for inter-house sport and other competitions held at various times. When your child enrols they will be placed in one of four houses: Kauri, Matai (formerly Kowhai), Rimu, or Totara. Two student ‘House Captains’ lead each House. If you are a former pupil, please let us know, as we follow family traditions when placing your children in a House.

ILLNESS, ACCIDENTS & EMERGENCIES
Despite all our good intentions, children do occasionally become ill or hurt themselves at school. We have a well-equipped sick-bay and a staff member has designated responsibility for this area. All staff have experience and training in first aid. Unless injuries or health concerns are minor, we will consult with families and may send children home. If we cannot contact you directly, we will use your “emergency contacts”. In emergencies, we may contact your GP for further advice or call an ambulance – families give permission at Enrolment for emergency medical care to be sought on their behalf.
Please keep your contact details up-to-date and let us know if you have any concerns about your child’s health. We update student health records and contact details at the start of each school year.

See also “Medication at School”.

INTERNET USE & SAFETY
At Enrolment, families must complete the Cybersafety Use Agreement for each student before that child can use any ICT equipment or have access to the internet. The Agreement outlines the school’s policy and rules for the acceptable use of the internet and all areas of ICT at school.

We will request permission at Enrolment for the school to publish a child’s image and/or school work online.

It is important that parents/caregivers understand these issues – please read the relevant policies carefully (in your Information Book). If you have any questions, please ask. Please also see “Publication of Student Images and School Work” (below).

KIT BOOK
The KIT Book is a "keep in touch" diary that is issued to all students. It will contain important class notices and provides a chance for families and teachers to communicate daily about students and their learning. Students should be bringing their KIT Books home every day!

KEEPING IN TOUCH
It is important that the information we have about your child is up-to-date. Please let us know of any changes, especially telephone contact numbers, health issues and guardianship. From time-to-time we will need to contact families if a child is unwell or we have a serious incident. It can be very difficult and time-consuming for us, and stressful for your child, if we cannot contact you quickly. We update all contact information for students at the start of each school year. Remember that the KIT Book is also available to communicate with teachers.

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Senior students will have many opportunities to develop leadership and public speaking skills.
For example:
• House Captains
• Bus Monitors
• School Librarians
• Junior Room Supervision
• Sports Team Captains
• Welcoming and thanking visitors to the school
• Speaking at Special Events, for example ANZAC Day Service

LIBRARY
Our school has a very well-resourced library. All children are able to borrow books and each class has at least one library session per week.

LOST PROPERTY
The lost property box is outside the Cultural Centre. Families are asked to check this occasionally. Lost property is displayed for children to collect at least once a term. The school strongly requests that you name your child’s clothing.

LUNCHES – SCHOOL
Good nutrition maximises your child’s ability to stay alert and focussed on their learning. You are encouraged to provide simple, nutritious healthy lunches for your children - for example, sandwiches, fruit, plain biscuits and water. Please do not pack sweets or chocolate bars.
Halcombe School is a “water only” school – juice, milk drinks, canned or bottled drinks are not permitted. Children will bring only water from home to drink.
LUNCH RUBBISH – we ask that students take left-over food and all lunch rubbish HOME. This reduces the amount of rubbish that our school has to deal with, and helps students and their families to monitor the amount of food that may be wasted.
If you need to deliver lunches to school during the day, please bring them to the Office.

LUNCHES - BOUGHT
“Subway” lunches are currently available. A Subway menu is available here and at the Office.

MANNERS
We encourage children to use their manners. Using ‘Please’, ‘Thank you’ and ‘Excuse me’ is fostered from the first days at school, and develops a climate of mutual respect and care for others. Children will address adults by their full names (e.g. “Mrs Smith”, “Miss Morris” or “Mr Jones”) not by first names.

MATHLETICS
“Mathletics” is a fantastic online tutorial programme that we encourage all students to take part in. Please visit our Mathletics webpage.

MEDICATION AT SCHOOL
Unless specifically requested by a GP or medical specialist, medication will not be administered by school staff to students at school.
• Exception is only made for students who regularly use asthma relievers or who need emergency medicines to be kept on-hand (e.g. “Epipen” for severe allergy).
• Formal request must be made to the Principal for any medication to be administered by school staff. Please contact the Office for details.
• Special arrangements will be made for students on overnight camps/trips.
• We will not administer short-term prescription medication (such as antibiotics), cough mixture, antihistamines or headache treatments (paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc.
• We will not hold supplies of medicines “just in case” they are required.
• Please DO NOT send cough lozenges, hay-fever tablets or other non-prescription medicines to school for students to administer themselves.

Please contact the school for further information and please let us know if you ever have any concerns about your child’s health. We update student health records and contact details at the start of each school year. See also “Illness, Accidents and Emergencies”.

NEWSLETTERS
Weekly newsletters are sent home with every Tuesday to keep you informed of events at school.
The newsletter is also available from the School Newsletter page of this website. The newsletter can also be e-mailed to you. Please contact the Office with your e-mail address. Check the KIT Book for other notices for individual classes or students.

OFFICE HOURS
The School Office is open from 8.30am until 3.15pm Monday – Friday, during term. The School Secretary, Mrs Kirsten Otter, will be happy to assist you.

PARENT-HELPING AT SCHOOL
There are often opportunities for parents/caregivers to assist in the classroom or to help with special projects such as ‘art days’, sports practices or a school production. If you are available to act as a parent-help, whether on a regular basis or for a short period only, please talk with your child’s teacher or contact the Office. Your assistance will be greatly appreciated! Please note that it may not always be suitable for preschoolers to accompany you while you are “parent-helping”.

PASTORAL CARE
The staff at Halcombe School are responsible for the social and emotional well-being and safety of all our students. The school has a genuine concern for their pastoral care and our staff demonstrate this in many ways. If there are personal or confidential matters affecting your child that may impact on their learning or behaviour, we hope you will feel comfortable talking to us about it. All discussions will be treated confidentially.

PET DAY
Every year, Halcombe School holds a “Pet Day” in conjunction with the Manawatu Oroua Boys and Girls Agricultural Club. Pet Day is very much a whole school community day. Pet Day includes calf, lamb and kid (goat) competitions, dogs and other pets. Horses may be entered in the pet section, but may not be ridden at school. Children who do not bring animals are involved in fun classroom activities– sand saucers, veggie creations, miniature gardens etc. Classrooms are open for parents/caregivers to visit at the end of the morning.
Pet Day is held early in Term 4. Information and entry forms will be available in Term 3. Please visit our Pet Day webpage for more information and photos. RD1 have produced a great little guide to raising a lamb or calf for Pet Day read more »

PHOTOCOPYING AND LAMINATING
We offer colour or black & white photocopying and laminating:
Photocopying standard: 20c per copy (A4 or A3); colour: $1.50 (A4) $3.00 (A3)
Laminating A4 - 80c A3 - $1.20
Unfortunately, we cannot offer a “while-you-wait” service. Please leave copying at the Office and we will have it ready as soon as possible.

PLAYCENTRE
The school fosters a close relationship with Halcombe Playcentre (77 Willoughby Street, Halcombe). Playcentre is a family-based co-operative Early Childhood Education Service. Families play an important role in coordinating the sessions and running the Centre. All children from 0 – 6 are welcome to attend. Session times are Mondays and Wednesdays from 9.00am until 12.00pm. Please phone Playcentre (328 8693) during session times for more information.

PRESCHOOL VISITS
Preschoolers often visit for a number of sessions before officially starting school. They can be accompanied by a parent/caregiver or attend on their own, and can begin with half days until they are comfortable with the school routines. Please visit our Enrolment webpage, and contact the school Office to discuss enrolment, to meet with our New Entrant teacher and to arrange visits.

PRIZEGIVING
The Junior Christmas Party and Senior Prizegiving are held in the Hall during the final weeks of the school year in December. Students attend with their families.
The Junior Christmas Party, for Rooms 7, 1 and 3, is usually an afternoon function and celebrates the efforts and achievements of all our junior students. The children present items and Father Christmas visits.
The Senior Prizegiving, for Rooms 4, 5 and 6, is an important occasion as we farewell our Year 8 students and recognise the efforts and achievements of all senior students. It is a formal evening function. Full details for both events are given in the school newsletter.

PRIVACY ISSUES
Information that is collected by the school about your child becomes part of their essential school records. The records are held at Halcombe School, 30 Monteith Street, Feilding. Your child’s records may be viewed on request at the school. Families give permission at Enrolment for pupil information to be forwarded to appropriate health and educational authorities, within the limitations of the Privacy Act. Details may also be forwarded to potential intermediate and secondary schools on request.
We pass on contact details for families (parent/caregiver names & phone numbers only) to our PTA to assist them with their activities. Please contact the school if you DO NOT want this information to be shared with the PTA. The school has a designated privacy officer to discuss enquiries about students’ privacy.
The school’s Privacy Officer is: Sue Simpson (Principal), Halcombe School, RD9, FEILDING 4779.

PTA
The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is very active at Halcombe School and organises a variety of activities to support our school and encourage parent participation. The PTA undertakes fundraising, provides meetings for parent education and supports school functions in a variety of ways. The PTA meets throughout the year, with meeting dates and times advertised in the weekly newsletter and on our website. Please visit our PTA webpage.

PUBLICATION OF STUDENT IMAGES AND SCHOOL WORK
ONLINE PUBLICATION
We will request permission at Enrolment for the school to publish a child’s image and/or school work online. Students may be identified only by first name and/or year group.
PRINT MEDIA PUBLICATION
From time to time the school is able to publish photos & student work in print media (newspapers, magazines etc) as a way of publicising the school and celebrating school events and achievements. Images of students may be included in photos. Students may be identified by full name and year group. We will request permission at Enrolment for the school to publish a child’s image and/or school work in print media.

PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES
Public Health nurses work with our school to provide health information for teachers and families, and to carry out routine vision and hearing tests and vaccination programmes. Individual children can be referred to the Public Health Service for assistance with health or welfare problems. Parental consent is always sought. Public Health nurses carry out routine immunisations at the school (e.g. meningococcal disease, HPV, Year 7 dTaP vaccinations). Information packs and consent forms are sent home prior to any vaccination programme. The school is required to maintain an Immunisation Register with data on all students. We collect this information at Enrolment.

ROAD PATROL
A Road Patrol system operates on the Monteith Street crossing (at the front of the school) every afternoon from 3.00pm until 3.10pm. A teacher is on duty to supervise children using this crossing. All students who are crossing Monteith Street to walk home or to meet waiting cars MUST use this crossing. We ask that adults use this crossing, too.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ~ “BIBLE IN SCHOOLS”
Halcombe School does not currently offer a ‘Bible in Schools’ religious education programme.

REPORTING TO PARENTS
“Three-way Conferences” (involving the student, parent/caregiver and teacher) are held near the end of Term 1 and again in Term 3 each year. All families attend these interviews. The conferences include children in the process where they share their learning, their achievements and goals with their parents.

A written school report is sent home at the end of the year.

If you have concerns about your children at any time please do not hesitate to contact their class teacher. Problems are usually easier to deal with if discussed earlier rather than later.

SCHOOL HOURS
The school is open in the mornings after the arrival of the first bus at approximately 8.15am.
Please ensure your children are at school by 8.50am, so they can be unpacked and ready to start learning at 9.00am.
8.55am First bell
9.00am School commences
10.30am – 10.50am Interval
12.30pm – 1.25pm Lunch
1.30pm – 3.00pm Afternoon Programme

SCHOOL RULES
School rules are kept to a minimum and are based on common sense, safety, fairness and consistency. Our aim is to provide an environment where pupils learn to respect opinions, property and people, while building on the foundations of self-discipline. The school wishes to encourage and maintain accepted social moral standards and values and provide guidelines for acceptable behaviour.
Playground rules are clearly displayed in all classrooms.
1. Out of bounds areas outdoors: carpark, behind the pine trees, behind the hall, gardens, behind the dental clinic, pool and bike sheds, and in the pool area. A flag system will be used when grass is too wet to play on.
2. Out of bounds areas indoors: PE room in the hall, staffroom, sick bay, administration area and offices, main resource rooms, toilet blocks and classrooms belonging to other classes. Students can only enter these areas with permission from staff.
3. Children will not be inside during fine weather, unless they are completing work or using a computer, in which case their name will be written on the board by the class teacher.
4. Children are not allowed out of the school grounds without permission. This includes retrieving a ball and going home for lunch.
5. Children remain seated in the designated area at playtime and lunchtime until dismissed by the duty teacher. If lunch is inside, class teachers will supervise their own classes until 12.45pm.
6. Senior students are not allowed on the adventure playground at lunchtimes.
7. Only children from Rooms 7, 1 and 3 use the sandpit.
8. No biking in the school grounds.
9. No kicking of balls on the front court area (unless prolonged bad weather limits use of fields).
10. No balls on the adventure playground.
11. No toys or games to be brought to school. No collectable cards e.g. Yũ-gio cards.
12. No cellphones.
13. No swearing or abusive language.
14. No lollies or chewing gum.
15. Water only for drinks.
16. No jewellery apart from a wristwatch and earring studs. Should any exemption be requested, for example taonga, application must be made, in writing, to the Principal.
17. No make-up.
18. Fingernails must be kept short. No nail polish.
19. Hats are not to be worn inside.
20. Clothing is kept in the cloakrooms. Shoes are lined up under verandahs or kept in cloak-bays.
21. Sunhats are to be worn in Terms 1 and 4. Hats must have an all-round brim. Logos or advertising on hats must be appropriate for school. If in doubt, please ask.

SKATEBOARDS / SKATES
These are not permitted at school during school hours.

SCHOOL VISITS
We welcome visits from prospective students and their families. We are happy to show families around the school and can arrange an interview with teachers. Please contact the school for more information or visit our Enrolment webpage.

SENIOR SOCIAL
A social for the senior students in Years 7 - 8 is usually held near the end of Term 3 and is the culmination of our Dance Programme. This is a chance for students to dress-up, show off their dance moves and have fun! (This is an event for students only - parents do not attend). Full details are given in class.

SICK BAY - DEALING WITH ILLNESS, ACCIDENTS & EMERGENCIES
Despite all our good intentions, children do occasionally become ill or hurt themselves at school. We have a well-equipped sick-bay and a staff member has designated responsibility for this area. All staff have experience and training in first aid. Unless injuries or health concerns are minor, we will consult with families and may send children home. If we cannot contact you directly, we will use your “emergency contacts”. In emergencies, we may contact your GP for further advice or call an ambulance – families give permission at Enrolment for emergency medical care to be sought on their behalf.
Please keep your contact details up-to-date and let us know if you have any concerns about your child’s health. We update student health records and contact details at the start of each school year.

See also “Medication at School”.

SMOKE FREE
ALL of the school property is "smoke free” at all times.

SPECIAL NEEDS / ABILITIES
In order to meet the learning needs of our students, we provide many programmes and opportunities for Children with Special Needs (CWSN) and Children with Special Abilities (CWSA). A designated staff member acts as SENCO (Special Education Needs Co-ordinator).
Programmes include:
• Teacher Aide group support (in and out of class)
• Teacher Aide individual support
• Tape Assisted Reading Programme (TARP)
• Maths ability cross-grouping
• Support from Resource Teachers of Literacy (RTLit)
• Support from Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour (RTLB)
• Ministry of Education’s Special Education specialist services
• Otago University Maths Problem Solving
• • Manawatu Mathex Competitions
• “International Competitions & Assessments for Schools” programme
• Community Writing Programme

SPORT
Students at all levels will take part in a wide range of sport and fitness activities as part of our comprehensive physical education programme. The programme includes athletics, swimming, cross-country, ball skills, skipping, aerobics, dance, a winter sports programme – netball, rugby, hockey, soccer - and gymnastics.

SPORT – INTER SCHOOL
Sporting exchanges (usually for children in Year 4 upward) are held regularly with other similar-sized schools in the district. Students will be given about these events in class and in the school newsletters.

SPORT – AFTER SCHOOL
Children will have the opportunity to be involved in various sports teams in after-school competition. These include Netball, ‘Flippa Ball’ (junior water polo), Touch Rugby, ‘Miniball’ (junior basketball) and Basketball. Full information is available at the beginning of each sport’s season. Students should listen for relevant class notices about sign-up meetings etc.

SPORT - WINTER
All students in the middle and senior school take part in a winter sport programme which usually includes hockey, soccer, netball and rugby on Thursday afternoons during Terms 2 and 3. Students will experience all sports on offer during an introductory rotation, and then will select their chosen sport for winter school competition. The junior school takes part in fitness activities during this time.

We appreciate the assistance of parent/caregivers in helping with coaching. Please remind your children to bring the correct gear. Children without the correct gear may not be able to take part in sports practices.

STATIONERY
At Enrolment, and at the beginning of each school year, students are issued with a stationery list for their class. All requirements can be purchased at the Office and on special “stationery days” prior to the beginning of Term 1. We stock high-quality stationery at reasonable prices. Children can purchase additional stationery during the year from the Office. We ask that books are covered (with “Duraseal” etc). Books that are covered look better and last longer. Please make sure your child always has the correct books and equipment at school. Your child’s teacher will notify you if additional stationery is required. We will provide stationery labels.

STUDENT COUNCIL
Selected senior students form the Student Council. From time to time the Council may co-opt other students to assist with their work. The Council meets regularly and organises a number of projects, giving Council members experience in committee meetings, fundraising, running events such as discos, leadership and communicating effectively with their fellow students.
The Student Council runs the weekly assemblies and puts on a number of events through the school year. Please visit our Student Council webpage for upcoming events and news.

SUNSAFE POLICY
The school has a “no hat = no play” policy. This means that children must wear sunhats during Terms 1 and 4. The hat must have a brim, which shades the face, ears and neck. It must not have any inappropriate language, symbols, advertising or a draw string. A “legionnaire” style hat with the flaps down is fine. Hats must be named. The PTA provides each class with sunscreen to use during the summer months.

SWIMMING
During Term 1, all students take part in a daily swimming programme. They need to bring togs and towel in a waterproof bag every day. We request your support with this. Guidelines for appropriate swimwear for school are included in the Information Book. We recommend that children also wear sunscreen in the pool. If your child is unable to participate on a particular day, they must bring a note from a parent.

Junior and Senior Swimming Sports are held in late February/early March. The Junior Sports are held in the school pool and the Senior Sports at the Makino Pool in Feilding. Details are given in class and in the school newsletters.

SWIMMING POOL
The community may use the school pool outside of school hours during Term 1. Pool keys may be purchased at the start of the year. An agreement regarding Conditions of Use must be signed before keys are issued. Contact the Office for details in Term 1.

TECHNOLOGY
Teaching in technology subjects for Year 7 and 8 students is provided at the school. Technology includes a range of topics such as electronics, soft materials (sewing & textiles) food technology (cooking), hard materials (metalwork and woodwork). An annual fee is charged – an invoice will be issued. Full details of the programme will be available in class.

TOYS AND PERSONAL BELONGINGS
Children should not bring toys to school unless permission is given by the teacher (e.g. for “sharing days”). No responsibility can be accepted by the school for loss or damage to these items. Walkmans, cell-phones and hand-held games should not be brought to school. Children must not bring collectable cards or trading cards, such as rubgy cards, “Yũ-gio” cards, etc to school.

TRIPS
Children will have opportunities to take part in school trips and visits, which may necessitate travel by car and/or bus. Students are asked to contribute towards the cost of travel. Set costs for return trips are:
• Feilding $2.00
• Palmerston North $3.00
• Hunterville $3.00
We really appreciate parents/caregivers being able to provide transport for school trips and sporting events. However, we must insist that:
• ALL children and ALL adults are fitted with their own seat belt
• your vehicle has a current WOF
• your vehicle is registered
• the driver is licensed
Unfortunately we will not be able to accept offers of transport from you if your vehicle does not comply with these safety requirements.
On some trips it may not be appropriate for preschoolers to attend with families that are providing transport.
Full information and permission slips will be given out prior to each trip. We will let you know the itinerary, the cost, transport requirements and so on.

VISION AND HEARING
Routine “Vision and Hearing” testing is carried out at the school by Public Health technicians.
New Entrants, Year 3 & Year 7 students will be tested each year, with follow-ups testing for those that need it. Families give consent at enrolment for their children to be tested. Children that are already under specialist care or wear glasses will not be tested. Testing days are notified in the school newsletter.Any student that may have a hearing or vision problem can be referred for testing at other times – please speak to your classroom teacher or Office staff if you have any concerns. The Public Health Service also runs regular free vision & hearing clinics at the Clevely Health Centre in Feilding. Please phone (06) 350 4560 or 0800 153 042 for more information and to make an appointment.