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Attendance
Children are not to arrive at school before 8.30am unless they are involved in an extracurricular
group such as the homework centre.
Late students must report to the office to have their name
recorded and be issued with a late pass.
If your child is going to be absent please ring the school on
843-7783 (if not in attendance, leave a message) before 8.30am
giving the following details:
- Who is ringing in.
- Childs name and room number.
- Why the child is absent.
Absences that are not explained are immediately followed up by Truancy Officers.
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Behaviour
Henry Hill School provides a warm secure and safe environment for the children. The following behaviour is unacceptable:
- Rude and abusive language
- Bullying, threats, and/or stand-over tactics
- Damaging or stealing property
- Disrupting classes and/or defiance
- Refusal to comply with instructions.
We will always seek the support of Parents/Whanau/Caregivers in dealing with any children whose behaviour is unacceptable.
We have four years of data that show that our parents and
children feel we have an exceptionally safe school environment. If
pupils are allowed to be themselves in a disciplined, relaxed
environment they will grow and have fun. A number of strategies are
used to maintain our happy school environment.
ERO reports have affirmed our exceptional standard of behaviour.
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Clothing and Valuables
All clothing should be clearly named to assist in returning lost property. Lost property will be held in the school Gym for one term. Regular displays of lost property are made and if unclaimed it will be donated to a charitable organisation.
Expensive items such as toys and radios etc. should be left at
home as the school can not be responsible for any damage or loss of
these items.
Students are not encouraged to have money at school, except for
stationery requirements and activities. When money is needed
for activities it should be bought in a named envelope.
Parents of children who have larger sums of money can expect to be
contacted.
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Complaints
Henry Hill School has developed a Complaints Policy to ensure that complaints are handled correctly. The objectives of the policy
are:
- To allow for complaints against Teachers, Principal, staff and
the school be procedurally fair.
- To establish a procedure that protects the Teacher, Principal, Staff and School from unfair complaints.
- To establish a procedure where valid complaints are investigated objectively.
Copies of the Complaints Policy are available from the School Office.
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Release Form
Our school uses a range of learning technologies to enhance student learning. From time to time we publish material on our school intranet
and the internet for educational purposes.
Our aim is to promote and share learning, to communicate general information within our school and beyond to our school community. The
material may include examples of student work and the inclusuion of student appearances on our web site.
Student appearances may include scanned, digital or video records or representations of students taking part in school or class events.
You will be asked to sign a release form for ongoing use of student work and appearances which gives the school the right to select any appropriate
student work or appearances to publish online. You have the right to withdraw your permission at any stage and the material will be removed.
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Dental Clinic
Students from this school use the Henry Hill School Dental Clinic. For short periods of time during the year the Dental Nurse is based at other local school. At this time you can contact the school office or ring the clinic for an answer machine message.
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Emergency Procedures
It is our policy that in the event of a major flood, fire or earthquake, pupils will remain in the care of staff until released into the custody of an adult family member.
A contact telephone number is essential in the event of an
emergency. This is particularly important where
parents/caregivers are working and may not be available at home.
Please inform the School Office when there is a change of contact
names or numbers.
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Homework
The main purposes for home work are:
- To give students a chance to review and practise what they have learned.
- To prepare students for the next day's lesson.
- To provide opportunities to learn to use resources such as libraries, the Internet, reference books and community facilities.
- To allow for more in-depth exploration of topics than is possible during class time.
- To help students develop time management, study and organisational skills.
- To prepare for assessments and examinations.
The effectiveness of different types of homework varies according to the student's age and ability level. Younger students can
benefit when homework focuses on developing study habits and organisational skills.
The following are guidelines for how long students should spend on homework each night.
- Year 1 to 3: No more than 20 minutes.
- Year 4 to 6: 20 to 40 minutes.
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Homework Centre
The homework centre is open between 7.30am and 8.50am each morning. The centre provides extension work for students using computers
running the Success Maker programme.
Notices for enrolment are sent home at the beginning of each school
year. Students can be withdrawn at anytime from the centre,
however the teacher must be advised first. There is no charge
for this programme. Any new enrolments during the year may get
an enrolment form from the office. Back to the Top
Illness/Accidents at School
Please inform us of any medical condition affecting your child.
Conditions such as allergies, asthma, epilepsy, hearing loss, or special medication should
also be noted.
First aid will be provided in case of an accident. In the
case of serious injury, assistance will be sought through St
John Ambulance or the local medical centre.
Parents/caregivers are contacted as soon as possible.
Personal medication, suitably labelled may be held in the school
office (e.g. allergy tablets, inhaler etc).
For safety reasons schools cannot provide students with panadol,
aspirin, or other medication.
A signed request must be made to the office should you wish
medication from home to e administered. Requests must be
signed by a Parent/Caregiver and dated. All care will be
taken, however the school accepts no liability. Advice from
medical practitioners indicates that the administering of
antibiotics can be effectively managed through doses outside of
school hours.
The school is not equipped or staffed to look after sick
children. Students who are sick should not be sent to school.
If your child becomes sick during the day you will be asked to
collect them from school.
Providing an emergency phone number is essential.
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Kapa Haka
Henry Hill School has a thriving Kapa Haka Group. It is a very popular curriculum choice. The learning of new skills in a practical situation
has been very beneficial to the children involved. Learning opportunities include waiata, poi, rakau and haka. Some aspects that we focus
on are co-ordination, using the left and right sides of the brain, as well as hand and eye co-ordination. Concentration and focus are encouraged
both individually and in team work.
Our group is child centred and the children are encouraged to be leaders and teach the group wherever they have a strength.
Practices are integrated into the school curriculum and the
children's breaks, in preparation for festivals, powhiri and
community activities. Some of these activities
include daycare and kindy visits, entertaining folk in rest
homes and welcoming people at conferences. All children
and teachers are taught welcome songs which are performed
regularly to visitors.
All children from the whanau classes are involved as well as over
100 children from the rest of the school. Every year we are
faced with the dilemma of too many children to choose from. We
take a group of children to Tamatea Intermediate Maori Cultural
Festival and the Ngati Kahungunu Festival. Kapa Haka in
the Park has become a regular feature of our programme.
This enables us to share with our whanau all of the things we have
learnt through the year.
We believe that the children benefit and enjoy participating in
such worthwhile experiences. The commitment from the children
and teachers involved is fantastic. Quality is an expectation
that is upheld within our group.
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Library
We have established an attractive and comfortable library which is stocked with a wide range of reading material, both informative and recreational.
Computers are available for children to access the internet.
Each class has an allotted library time and students are
encouraged to use the library facilities during lunch breaks on
supervised occasions.
Our focus is to develop Information Literacy for our children
which is ICT library information skills and library skills.
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Music
Students who have an interest in music are offered lessons in ukulele, recorder and guitar. These lessons take place either
before school or during lunchtime.
Students interested in learning one of these instruments should contact the school office.
The school runs a small dance group for senior students with the main focus being on Hip Hop and Break Dancing.
Specialist tutors come in to tutor the group and perform for them. The dance group meets once a week at lunchtime.
Rose Gilmore runs the school Dance and Drama group, where senior
students can audition to take part in the areas they are passionate
about. This year the students are working towards a variety
show in the fourth term with children performing reader's theatre, a
range of dances, and solo and small group singing.
Every second year, children in years four to six are invited to
join the school choir. The main focus of the choir is to
perform at Kids for Kids with Suzanne Prentice.
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New Entrant Visits
Parents/Whanau/Caregivers and child are welcome to participate in two to three school visits prior to the child starting school.
An adult must accompany the child on these visits. Please contact the school to make arrangements.
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Open Door Policy
We encourage parent interest, input and attendance at school. We see the education of your child as a partnership between home and school.
As such we try to maintain and atmosphere where parents are encouraged to share in their child(ren's) education.
If you have a query or a problem please do not hesitate to raise it with us. Don't forget that constructive feedback is always welcome.
Although we welcome your involvement in school we ask that Parents/Caregivers check in to the office at all times before
entering the school grounds.
A special feature of our open door policy is the initiative we
take if your child has been hurt, or put down by another child.
Our first action is to notify the upset child's parents, so they
know that something is amiss. Later we advise the parents of
the action that is taken.
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OSCAR
OSCAR is a service designed to provide safe, responsible and reliable care for school children after school.
It is run by the YMCA in our school gymnasium.
The service is offered from 2.45pm to 5.30pm each afternoon on normal school days providing a child has been booked in to use the service
at least one day in advance.
For more information and an enrolment pack, contact the school office.
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Outdoor Education
It is school policy for year six students to take part in a school camp or overnight education visit each year.
The camps are planned to provide a variety of physical activities and skills and can include bush craft, tramping, overnight tenting
and aspects of science, mathematics, language and art.
The purpose of camping is to develop independence and expose students to activities which provide a challenge. Parents are encouraged to
come to school camps and assist. School camps need a teacher/parent to student ration of 1:6
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Reporting to Parents
This is done twice a year, firstly through mid year interviews and
also written reports twice a year.
We also have a "Meet the Teacher" in early Term One. This is an opportunity for you to tell the teacher a little
about your child.
Other informative Parents Evenings may be held during the year.
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School Banking
Application forms to open a school bank account at Credit Union Baywide are available from the School Office.
Banking takes place on Thursday mornings, although the banking box is
available in the office for your child to put his or her bank book into
every day of the week.
Baywide give children a pencil-case and lollipop when they open a
new account. A birth certificate is required to open a bank account.
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School Donation
The School donation is voluntary and is set by the Board of Trustees each year. The school donation provides extras not provided for in our grants
from the Ministry of Education.
We include in your child's stationery list, a nominal fee which goes
towards consumables used in the classrooms by all children e.g. crayons,
paper, glue, paint etc.
These can be paid at the school office where a receipt will be issued.
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School Grounds
We are proud of our attractive facilities and ask that our community respect the school's property and quickly
report any vandalism.
The school is fully fenced and access gates to the school grounds are locked at 5.00pm weekdays and all weekend.
During school hours the back access gates, off James Foley Ave and Coverdale Street are locked, however keys may be made available
if your child goes home for lunch regularly.
Please contact the office to discuss this.
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School Trips
Your child will often be required to make visits outside the school to local places of interest in order to support the curriculum.
To avoid having to fill in permission slips for each individual trip, you will be asked to sign one permission slip at the beginning
of the year to cover the entire year.
The school will advise you when a trip is being made. Every school trip is carefully planned, a risk management assessment is made and
adherence to school policy on car travel, ratios of adults to students and safety near water is mandatory.
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Social Skills
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Sports
Students have a wide variety of both summer and winter sports to choose from. Children in the middle school are able to participate in Milo cricket, T-Ball and Soccer. For those children in the senior school, cricket, netball, Touch Rugby, Miniball, Hockey, Soccer and Softball are available. All sports are played after school.
We have an elite sports group called the Sports Academy. Here selected pupils do rock climbing, golf, horse riding, canoe polo, yachting, and many other sports.
We also have a reluctant sports group who work with a specialist to have their confidence increased.
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Stationery
All the children's stationery needs are available through the school and we purchase through Office Products at very competitive prices.
Stationery purchased through the school is of a higher quality than some of the cheaper varieties available at some outlets. A list of basic
requirements is given to each student at the beginning of the year.
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Sunhats
The school has "Safe in the Sun" procedures due to the hot summer weather conditions in Napier. The school has a Sun Hat policy in place
which means all children must wear a hat while outside during school hours.
Location Homes kindly donate each child a wide-brimmed hat which
they must wear in the summer terms, throughout their time at school. If your child does not have a hat they must remain in a shaded area during break times.
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Swimming
Terms one and four are the official school swimming terms, however this is dependent on the water temperature reaching 20 degrees.
During this time children are asked to have a plastic bag for holding a named towel and swimming togs.
When the programme is in progress, all children are to participate although children who are ill are excused. Teachers require a note in
this instance.
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Transport To and From School
Safety of our pupils is paramount, so we have a few simple rules that we ask children, parents and caregivers to follow.
If Walking:
Please us the crossings manned by the School Traffic Wardens in Harold Holt and James Foley Avenues. Do not cross patrolled crossings
until the School Traffic Wardens have lowered their signs and given the "Cross Quickly" command.
Use the footpaths and go around the front
of the school when coming from Harold Holt Avenue.
- Do not cross Dick Place
- Do not cross anywhere in the round-a-bout.
We ask that parents adhere to this as well.
If Biking:
Children must wheel their bikes down Dick Place. Helmets must be worn - this is a traffic regulation. It is
recommended by the Police that children under 9 years should not be biking alone.
We strongly recommend that all bikes are locked while they are at school. Stands are provided and although all care will be taken we can not
be responsible for loss or damage.
If Driving:
Parking in Dick Place is not permitted between the hours of 8.30am to 9.00am and 2.30pm and 3.30pm. This area is a clearway
during that time so traffic can flow. In accordance with the Land Transport Act 1998 if you park in this area you can be issued with a
parking notice. The fine you will incur is $60.00.
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Whanau Classes
We have three whanau classes, one in each area of the school, junior, middle and senior. Due to the limited number of places some
children are placed in other classes and we have a waiting list for interested whanau. The Middle and Senior
whanau classes also have
the digital aspect.
The kaupapa of our classes is to give the children the
opportunity to develop their identity, language and culture in a
supportive environment that recognises the importance of Whanau and
the cultures within Aotearoa whilst still maintaining an equal focus
of the children's academic progress in Mathematics, English and
Reading.
The children in our Whanau classes are taught in oral Maori
through Karakia (prayer), Mihi (greetings), Waiata (song) and Korero
(conversation) on a daily basis. They participate in cultural
activities and learn about different customs and beliefs pertaining
to Maori. They understand and follow simple instructions in
Maori. They are encouraged to converse in Maori to the
teacher, in small groups and to the class. All of the children
participate in the school Kapa Haka group. Our aim is for the
children to gain knowledge, respect and understanding of themselves,
the Maori Language and Culture by having it as an integral component
of the classroom programme.
Learning Opportunities
- Establishing relationships within the class and the
community,
- Tutoring from community sources and parents with particular
strengths.
- Exposing the children to karakia, waita, mihi, Whaikorero,
karanga and command.
- Integrating Maori language into all areas of the curriculum
where possible.
- Participating in Kapa Haka in preparation for powhiri and
festivals.
- Tuakana/Teina activities.
- Whanau class hui.
- Mihi/Whakapapa/Pepeha/Tikanga
- Days/Months/Colours/Shapes/body parts
- Instructions and commands
- Art and weaving
- Locatives (runga, raro, roto, waho, taha, matau, tahamaui,
muri, mua, Tenei, Tena, Tera.
- Basic sentence structures
- Sharing things learnt with whanau.
Feedback from our parents and community has been fantastic.
We believe that the children in our classes have gone from strength
to strength in all areas of learning and their pride and self-esteem have improved remarkably. High
expectation and consistency have been a major focus for us to encourage the children to be the best that they can.
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