The A to Z of How Things Happen at
Cambridge Primary School
ACCIDENTS & SICKNESS
Minor accidents are treated in the school medical room, but parents are contacted if the accident is of a more serious nature. From time to time children get sick and our caring office staff may contact you if there is a problem. Please ensure your child is well enough to return to school if they are experiencing illness. It is important that the school has up-to-date information of contact phone numbers.
ASSEMBLIES
Parents are very welcome to attend the assemblies. Parents are notified through the school newsletter of assembly days and times.
BANKING
Cambridge Primary provides a banking facility through the ASB and ANZ banks. Banking day is Tuesday. Bank books are placed in the designated boxed at the office on this day and returned to the children on a Friday.
BICYCLES
We strongly recommend that only Year 5 and Year 6 students ride bicycles to school. All cyclists must wear safety standard approved helmets. However, if parents wish their children to ride to school they should ensure that the child knows the rules of the road and correct procedures. If children are traveling over the high level bridge we recommend that they get off their bicycles and walk on the footpath over the bridge. Bicycles need to be in a sound, safe condition.
BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CARE
This service is run by the school and you can contact the school office for further information regarding having your child attend.
CLASS ORGANISATION
The school is organised into four Syndicates, Batten, Blake, Hillary and Rutherford. Some classes are composite. Senior Teachers in each area help the Principal with the school organization and the placement of children in the most appropriate class for the child's needs.
CLOTHING
School Uniform is now compulsory. Please click here for further information. We have a school sun hat available for purchase through the school office.
CULTURAL GROUPS
From time to time we run a Kapahaka Group and need parents and Whanau to support this especially if they have some expertise.
CURRICULUM
Our teachers provide exciting teaching and learning experiences in all of the essential learning areas of the National Curriculum: Science, Mathematics, English, Technology, Social Studies, Health and Physical Education, Arts, and Learning Languages. They are also committed to their responsibility to cater for special abilities and run the appropriate programmes.
CYBERSAFETY
When your child enrolls at Cambridge Primary School they will be required to complete a Cybersafety Use Agreement Form. When this form is completed your child is then entitled to use computers at school. The school does the best to enhance learning through the safe use of ICT.
DENTAL TREATMENT
A Dental Therapist is based at Cambridge Primary School. If you have any concerns regarding treatment, please phone Alison Wallis, (07) 827 6501.
DONATIONS
We ask each family to pay a school amenities donation annually to enhance the learning opportunities the school is able to provide. At the commencement of the school year you will receive an advice asking for the amount that the Board of Trustees deem fair as an annual contribution. We urge you to pay this, which we can assure you will be put to good use to buy those valuable extras for the benefit of all students. During the course of the school year new families enrolling will be asked to pay for a proportion of the annual donation.
EDUCATION OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM (EOTC)
Team and class trips and camps play a very important part in the school programme. Consent forms are always included when you are notified of an out of school activity. It is important that these are signed and returned to the school. There will often be a charge for these activities.
Parents are always needed to help with trips, camps or sporting activities. Please be generous with your time if at all possible. We certainly appreciate it. It is not possible to have pre-schoolers on trips.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
The school practices emergency procedures; in particular fire and earthquake drill regularly, so that in the unlikely event of a fire or earthquake the children and staff know what to do. We would encourage families to work out similar emergency procedures for the whole family when at home.
Our post evacuation procedures include a link with the Local District Council's Civil Defence Co-ordinator.
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE STUDENTS
Being a multi-cultural school enriches us. Normally there is a small number who are ESOL students. We get funding from the Ministry of Education to teach these children English. We choose to employ a Teacher Aide to help these students. The Teacher Aide is responsible to the teacher in charge of SENCO and the Principal.
ENROLMENT OF PUPILS
On enrolment the school needs to sight a birth certificate or other official documentation showing the name and age of the child. Visits to the school for New Entrants to become familiar with the school surroundings are arranged through the Principal and New Entrant Class Teachers. It is helpful if you can produce an Immunisation Certificate for school to hold on file also. When we enroll students directly from overseas we need to sight their passports or other documentation showing that they are legally in New Zealand.
FITNESS
Children's physical fitness and well-being is very important in the learning process. Each team or syndicate runs a regular fitness programme for the children. Please enhance this fun programme by regularly playing sport, walking or running around outside as a family.
GREEN AND GOLD
Green and gold are our school colours. The colours have a purposeful meaning for our school. The green relates to being user friendly, an environmental focus, along with the importance of the school trees. The gold colour is for high achieving with high goals. These colours also now tie in with the towns motto: Town of Trees and Champions.
HALL
Our school is fortunate to have on site a Hall in which we hold assemblies, outside school classes and other whole school activities. The hall can be hired out to the community for a small cost.
HEALTH NURSE
Our Public Health Nurse is employed by Health Waikato and visits the school on a fairly regular basis. If you wish to access her services please feel free to do so through the Principal or school office.
Hearing and Vision testing is carried out regularly and parents are advised if there is a problem.
HEALTH SYLLABUS
Board of Trustees is required to consult the school community on the Health Syllabus at least once every 2 years. Cambridge Primary School will consult in a variety of ways. These will be advertised through the newsletter.
HOMEWORK
We think that homework is important; not just for its own sake but also as a means for parents and children to share with each other what is happening at school. Teachers will advise parents of what is expected at each level. In the Junior classes the children will bring home a reading book or poem each night. Homework should never become a cause for arguments in the home. The school also recognizes the busy lives of families. Please see your child's teacher if a change to normal homework is required at certain times of the year,
Homework is useful when school related activities are consolidated and enriched with the support and encouragement of parents.
INTERVIEWS/REPORTING
In Term One, arrangements are made for Parent/Teacher Interviews so that you can discuss your child's particular needs with their teacher. This is a valuable contact with the school. A second interview is held early in Term 3. All written school reports are sent home twice per year. Individual student portfolios are sent home twice a year. Syndicates twice a year, will hold meetings informing parents of the upcoming programmes, expectations, target and goals. It is not a formal interview time however all teachers are present.
Parent/Teacher relationships are all important for the progress of children.
If you would like to see the class teacher outside those formal interview times please phone for an appointment. Our doors are always open.
KEA CROSSING & ROAD SAFETY
This is patrolled by children with teacher supervision between 8.40am – 8.55am, and 2.55pm – 3.10pm daily. Children are urged to go straight home after school. Any arrangements to go to friends houses after school must be made with friends and parents the night before. Parents are urged to use the pedestrian crossing and reinforce our road safety procedures especially when collecting their children after school.
KELLY SPORTS
The school runs a Kelly Sports Physical Education Programme. It is based on skills development. Each class has a 30 minutes time slot on a Monday.
LIBRARY
Our computerized School Library is an important learning center at Cambridge Primary School. Your support as caregivers/parents would be appreciated to ensure the care of our library books and returning of our library books.
LOST PROPERTY
Lost property is situated outside Room 7 and is available for parents to view during the school day.
On the final day of each term the lost property is displayed. Unclaimed items are given to charity. Please encourage your children to look for their lost property promptly. We make every effort to return clothing to owners, but this is very difficult if clothing is not named. Please name all your child's clothing.
LUNCHES
Please provide a healthy lunch and a drink for your child. We discourage foods and drinks with high sugar, food colouring and preservative content as many children react to these and become hyperactive. This in turn can impact on your child's learning and that of others.
MONEY SENT TO SCHOOL
If money is required for anything at school, a note will be sent home detailing the amount required and explaining the purpose of the expense. All monies brought to school should be in a sealed envelope with the child's name, room number, amount and what it is for written clearly on the outside. The envelope should be handed to the classroom teacher.
NEWSLETTER
We send home a newsletter fortnightly on a Thursday to let you know what is happening in school. It would be great if you could read these through with your child. If you do not receive your newsletter – check those schoolbags first! Spare copies are available from the school office. Alternatively, we are able to email the newsletter to you once we have your email address or it is also available on the school website.
PARENT CONCERNS
Please let the school know as soon as possible if you have any concerns. Do not let things fester. Keep the communication lines open. Make contact with teachers, senior staff or the Principal and hopefully we can work out any problems together.
PARKING
Unless in an emergency, parents are asked not to enter the school grounds in vehicles during the school day 7.45am – 4.30pm. For the safety of our children, they are also asked not to use the staff parking area to drop off or collect children from. There is designated 5 minute drop off and pickup parks on Duke Street.
Parking is a real problem on a wet day. Please remember not to park on the grassed corner area at the front of the school. We encourage parents to use the parking area by the Prince Albert.
PERSONAL PROPERTY
The Board of Trustees and Staff accept no responsibility in the case of loss or damage to valuables or articles brought to school. While all reasonable care is taken and efforts made to find property lost, the responsibility rests with the owner. We ask children to keep small toys. play things and cell phones at home – many are alike, they are difficult to name, can be easily lost and may be a distraction to others.
PHOTOGRAPHS
Class photographs are taken once a year, usually during the middle of the year. There is no obligation to buy. Cultural/sports photographs are also taken at a later date.
PRODUCTIONS
These are held biennially, and a dance evening the alternate year.
READING RECOVERY
When children turn six, their reading is tested, and if teachers feel that children would benefit from one-to-one instruction they are recommended for a support Reading Programme. Parents will always be kept informed about their child's progress.
Please do not hesitate to ask questions if you do not understand the process.
SPECIAL NEEDS/ABILITIES
Our school recognises that there are children who require special assistance to meet their educational and social needs. This includes children with special abilities. We have a Special Needs Co-ordinator. (SENCO) and we are committed to providing assistance within the resources and time available to it.
SPORTS
We encourage all children to become involved in one or many sports. Children have equipment from the gear shed available at break times. Sporting skills are taught in all codes by teachers through a very balanced Physical Education programme. Saturday sports are strengths of the school in Rugby and Netball with parents keen to train and coach. Hockey and miniball is played during the week. In these codes the teams play under the banner of Cambridge Primary School in our colours of green and gold. Soccer and cricket are played in the local club competition. During summer we offer miniball and rippa rugby.
Our Physical Education programme embraces swimming, cross-country and athletics. Inter-School competition across many sporting codes is part of the planned School Sports Association's annual programme. We also employ a Sports Coordinator who organizes our winter and summer sports teams.
If you, as parents have special skills in coaching and managing teams please do not be shy to become involved. Tell us of your talents!
STAFF
Cambridge Primary School employs only the best staff. At the end of each year parents are advised as to the placement of their children for the New Year. If you have any questions about staff please make an appointment to see the Principal.
STATIONERY
At the beginning of each year or when your child enrolls, he/she can purchase a stationery pack at school.
SUNHATS
The school requires that during the summer months, all children and staff wear sunhats for outdoor activities, at intervals and lunchtimes. Summer months are defined as the period commencing Term 4 through to Easter or the end of Term 1 of the New Year.
SWIMMING
Swimming is an important part of our Physical Programme. We use the Cambridge Town Pools for our swimming programme. All children are expected to take part in the swimming programme. Please send a note or call the school if for any reason your child is unable to go swimming on a particular day. It is a good idea to send togs and towels in a named bag.
WALKING SCHOOL BUS
Our school has a Walking School Bus. This operates in the mornings only. We do encourage students, parents/caregivers to walk to school and be part of our well organized Walking School Bus. This is a wonderful time to promote safe walking, physical fitness and good health. Please see the school office if you are interested.