Absences
The Education Act requires that the Board of Trustees takes all
reasonable steps to ensure that children attend school whenever
it is open, unless they are sick or absent for some other valid
reason. A phone call to the school office on the day of sickness
(tel 477 2121) or a written explanation for absence, signed by
the parents/caregivers or use the Absence Facility on School-links.
Accidents
or sickness at school
The school has very limited sick bay facilities so we ask
parents who are advised by phone that their child is ill to collect
them immediately. In cases of emergency the school will get a child
to medical attention, either GP or hospital, if no caregiver can
be contacted. Medication can only be given on receipt of a letter
from a parent as per the school policy.
Damage to school property
If pupils cause damage to school property due to carelessness, disregard
of school rules or wilful damage it is school policy that parents
be advised and restitution sought. We seek parent cooperation in
making pupils responsible for their actions.
Finances
Like most schools, Murrays Bay Intermediate depends on the school
donation to support learning programmes. The school donation levels
for individual pupils and for families with more than one child
at school are set by the Board each year. The donation is tax deductible
and includes an amount for technology materials. Pupils are required
to purchase material for articles made in textiles.
Payment of the donation on enrolment or acceptance in writing confirms
the child's place. If a family is experiencing financial hardship
they should contact the Principal in confidence as the school can
generally assist. Our policy is that no child shall be disadvantaged
due to inability to pay.
Discipline
The school requires high standards of behaviour from pupils. The
school guiding rule is "that children speak and act in ways they
would be happy for their parents to know about". Parents will be
advised of behaviour causing concern. It is essential that parents
and school work closely together to ensure responsible behaviour.
Fundraising
The school benefits greatly from business partnerships. We receive
support from Telecom telephone sponsorship as well as donations
and discount credits from local businesses.
Homework
The school policy is that pupils have homework on four nights a
week. The tasks should take about thirty minutes for Year 7 and
up to forty-five minutes for Year 8. Homework may be a set exercise
for that day or part of a larger, ongoing study, eg - science badge
assignment. It is important that children of this age develop time
management and good study habits in preparation for college. If
your child claims not to have homework on a regular basis, please
contact the Dean. Homework tasks are recorded in the planner diary.
Parents should view and sign this each night.
Lunchroom
The school runs a lunchroom that operates a daily lunch
order scheme. This supplies pupils with a range of substantial lunch
options and snacks. The menu varies from time to time. A list of
available products and prices will be issued at the beginning of
the year. Changes to the menu will be indicated by notice or newsletter.
Mrs Cherie Gibson our Lunchroom Manager. We depend on volunteer
help to keep the lunchroom functioning. Volunteers for this task
are requested at the beginning of each year. Helpers need to be
at the school from approximately 9.30 am until 11.00 am, or 11.30
am until 1.30 pm on their rostered day.
Mufti
days
Once a term students have the opportunity to come to school out
of uniform. Usually these days are arranged by the School Council
and a small fee is collected for the privilege of wearing mufti.
Monies collected are for charitable causes and School Council projects.
Newsletter
Parents are kept informed of what is happening at the school by
means of a fortnightly newsletter. Your child should bring the newsletter
home on alternate Thursdays. If copies are not received make enquiries,
first of your child and secondly of the school. Special event notices
are sent separately. Newsletters are
also published on the the website.
Reporting
to parents
The school has a policy of reporting to parents regularly
on their child's learning progress. Parent/teacher/pupil conferences
are scheduled in Term One and at mid year. Parents are welcome to
seek additional interviews with teachers at any time. Two written
reports are issued each year, one at mid year and one at the end
of year. Children also keep work samples, assessment tasks, self
evaluation and goal setting exercises. These are sent home at least
three times during the year so you can discuss your child's progress,
evaluations and goals.
Stationery
and equipment
It is essential that children have the books and the writing equipment
they need to do their studies. For the first few days of the school
year pupils will need to bring from home a pad or incomplete exercise
book from the previous year. They also need a ball pen, a pencil,
a ruler and a rubber. Stationery is sold at school.
Your child will bring home a sheet of required items on the first
day. Parents are asked to pay for stationery promptly so pupils
can commence work in their books as soon as possible. Additional
Stationery can be bought from the School Office
all year round.
Classes
Because
of the size of our school, we work in Mini Schools. These are Kawau,
Motutapu, Tiritiri and Rangitoto. Each Mini School comprises seven
or eight classes and are a mixture of both year levels. Mini School
leaders take responsibility for the planning and general co-ordination
of the classes within their Mini School.
Click
here to view the Staff List.
Transport
The school's catchment area is served by the North Star
buses which deliver pupils to the school and collect them from school
in the afternoon. Arrangements for travelling by the most appropriate
bus are made during the first day at school. The school takes responsibility
for each pupil's behaviour while travelling on a school bus and
maintains the right to withdraw the privilege if necessary. Bus
routes are available from the Stagecoach Bus Company or the School
Office.
Many
children are driven to school. For safety reasons parents must observe
the parking restrictions in front of the school. There is no parking
allowed on the yellow lined area at any time, even to allow passengers
to alight or to pick them up. Stopping in these areas inhibits the
movement of bus traffic and causes danger to pupils. The bus bay
is reserved for buses only in the afternoon 2.30 - 3.30 pm. In the
morning the eastern end may be used to drop children off at school.
Children
are permitted to ride to school on bikes if they have parent consent
to do so and as long as they are responsible road users.
Download Bus Timetable
Extra-Mural
Activities
There are a number of Extra Mural Activities that take place on
the school premises.
Read More ...
Homestay Families are needed
to host international students.
Families,
whose first language is English, are needed to host short term and
long term international students. Families who have welcomed these
children into their home, often become very attached to their homestay
daughter/sister and are reluctant to say good bye at the end of
the stay. The sharing of culture is often why a host family is keen
to have an international student in their family.
These
students are intermediate aged children and are living in New Zealand
without their parents. The school takes full responsibility for
these students and is there to support the host and their family.
The school has a person available 24/7 to help in case of emergency.
Students are brought by their relatives or agents to New Zealand
and ask the school to introduce a warm friendly family as a homestay.
The
agent, who pays the homestay directly, will often be involved with
caring for the student, taking them out for a dinner or a day sometimes.
The child attends the school as a normal kiwi student. Murrays Bay
Intermediate School hosts international students to help pay towards
providing our school with excellent facilities, sports equipment,
computer equipment and teacher helpers in classrooms. All homestays
are carefully selected and monitored to ensure that appropriate
standards are maintained.
If
you are interested in hosting students short term or long term please
email your enquiry to Kathy
McLauchlan and she will be delighted to contact you and answer
some of your questions.
(Short
term stays – 3 weeks to 1 term or Long term stays –
1 term up to a year)
Download
Homestay Booklet
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