Myross Bush School

Information Guide

Information for parents of pre-school and primary aged children, new staff and visitors to the school.

welcome
From strong foundations we grow and stand tall together

Kia tu Pakari
Find out more at www.myrossbush.school.nz

imagine
Dear Parents,
Welcome to the Myross Bush School Family...
We are very proud of the learning we provide for our children and the caring environment where each individual has opportunities to develop a strong foundation in their academic and social life from which they can grow and stand tall. Each child is encouraged to be confident in themselves as an individual and as a member of wider society. The school has been on its current site since 1868 and has a proud tradition and heritage of providing a special environment that children can feel part of for their primary years of education. Myross Bush School has a current roll in February 2011 of 153 pupils with 8 classrooms, and a team of passionate educators who work together to make our school as happy and as rewarding as possible for all our pupils. We believe in ensuring our pupils have the fundamental skills of literacy and numeracy to provide that strong foundation for continued learning throughout life. To engage our learners and to enhance our learning programmes we look to wrap these core skills around the other essential learning areas of the curriculum. The attention to fundamental learning brought to life across the curriculum enables us to promote thinking skills and teach children how to learn in an inquiry based approach. Each childs learning pathway is unique and we work in close partnership with home to help understand and develop the whole child. We have the expectation that children will learn about themselves and how to treat others the way they would wish to be treated. We are also very pleased to be part of the schools immediate community and also the wider Invercargill and unique Southland Region. The wider community recognises our school as an educational leader that is prepared to take the initiative and be innovative while at the same time, share our passion for teaching and learning with others. We encourage an open family environment and invite you to visit us so you can see the school in action for yourself. I am happy to answer any questions you may have and to show you around. Myross Bush School is a special place.

Regards Tim Lovelock Principal

Our Vision
2

From strong foundations we grow and stand tall together Kia tu Pakari

Our school values are the foundation of our education program

Our School Values

...each individual has
opportunities to develop a strong foundation from which they can grow and stand tall

Celebrating Diversity Rereketanga We are all different and thats exciting! Integrity Ngakau Tapatahi Doing the right thing even when no one else is looking Positive Relationships Kotahitanga Getting along together Honesty Mahi Tika Having the courage to tell the truth Self Improvement Whakapai Ake Be the best you can be Caring For The Environment Te Papa Atawhai Reduce, reuse, recycle and restore, replenish

Myross Bush School Vision and Values

Through our last round of community consultation our community expressed the following beliefs in the way they wanted their children to be supported at Myross Bush School throughout their schooling. Well supported, highly skilled and enthusiastic staff is our schools most valuable resource. A good grounding in Literacy and Numeracy will give children a sound basis for future learning. Children are more able to reach their potential in a physically and emotionally safe environment. An attractive and orderly environment inspires pride and a sense of achievement. Access to quality, relevant resources and facilities enhances learning. Positive working relationships between parents, staff, Board of Trustees, Friends of the School and the wider community will be promoted. All students will be given the opportunities to gain knowledge and skills across all curriculum areas. These beliefs are supported by our vision statement and the six core values. These are centred around the picture of the Kahikatea Tree. This was selected because it is the tallest growing tree in our local Myross Bush area. It grows up to 60m tall and is also known as white pine. By using the image of the Kahikatea Tree this helped inspire the development of our vision statement which draws on the context of being strong, confident and being prepared to stand above the crowd to be the best you can be!

Children should take increasing responsibility for their learning to enable them to be life long learners. The diverse nature of individual children will be acknowledged and catered for. An acceptance that risk taking and making mistakes are part of learning. 3

Desirable experiences for pre school children

Talk to them about starting school, where they will meet new friends, play games, sing and make things. Help them to learn to put on their shoes and do them up. Give them duties to perform around home which require one or two simple directions. This will give them confidence to complete small tasks. Take them to Aunties or a friends house to stay awhile so they will accept that they cannot always be with their parents. Encourage them by admiring their work when they bring it home. Give their paintings and handiwork place of honour for a few days.

Myross Bush School Staff

Tim Lovelock Mark Herring Jan Forde Amy Polaschek Natalie Godby Evelyn Aurik Kiri Kahukura Hamish Menlove Paula Stewart Tania Faulkner-McKenzie Heidi Wilcox Mel Lemin Carolyn MacPherson Sue Blackmore Irene Tresidder Cristy Henderson Mary Christie Peter Tetai Principal Assistant Principal, Teacher Year 5 & 6 (Rm 8) Assistant Principal, Teacher New Entrant/Year 1 (Rm 1) Teacher New Entrant/Year 1 (Rm 2) Teacher Year 1 & 2 (Rm 3) Teacher Year 1 & 2 (Rm 4) Teacher Year 3 & 4 (Rm 5) Teacher Year 3 & 4 (Rm 6) Teacher Year 5 & 6 (Rm 7) Reading Recovery/Release Teacher Rm 2 /Librarian Release Teacher Rm 8 Release Teacher Rm 1 Teacher Aide Teacher Aide Office Manager Financial Officer Cleaner Bus Driver

Select stories, picture books, radio and television programmes for them. Strike a balance between educational and interest experiences. Read regularly to them. As a family, GO, SEE, DO, DISCUSS. These experiences are vital for building on at school. Children cannot speak or write unless they have something to speak or write about. Encourage careful listening and clear speech. Provide opportunities for your child to make things. By playing, a child is building up experiences and knowledge especially useful in mathematics.

Enrolling 5 year olds

The school organises a pre-school meeting with parents enrolling their child in school in the current year and including part of the next year. It gives parents an opportunity to meet the New Entrant Teachers and ask any questions about this important transition. Staff will also suggest some activities to help develop pre-school Literacy and Numeracy knowledge. It is usual for all pre school children to visit the school for part of a morning prior to being enrolled. If you have not been contacted by the school would you please ring and make arrangements for a visit. When your child is enrolled the following are required: Enrolment form Childs birth certificate * Immunisation Certificate * *The Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health require the school to retain a copy of these documents - (we must sight the originals).

Myross Bush School Board of Trustees

Mr Rod Sinclair Mrs Sharon Donaldson Mrs Jo McLeod Mr Simon McKenzie Property Mr Barry Smith Mrs Helen Weir Mr Tim Lovelock Property Documentation & Self Review, Disciplinary Principal, Curriculum, Privacy & NAG 1 Staff Rep, Health & Safety Board of Trustees Meetings are usually held on Mondays twice a Term at 7.30pm and are advertised in the newsletter. You are most welcome to attend. The School and Board hosts a School Break-up Year 6 Farewell barbecue in December. Families and community members are encouraged to attend. Chairperson, Legal Responsibility, Disciplinary Finance Deputy Chair, Personnel, Disciplinary

School Guidelines and Procedures for Parents and Families

ASSEMBLY - School assembly is held each Friday from 2.15pm onwards in the Activity Centre. Parents are welcome to attend. ATTENDANCE - To ensure children arrive at school safely, teachers are required to enter daily absences on to the Ministry of Education ENROL programme. Parents will be contacted for any child who is absent when school commences if we have not received a note or a phone call to say they will be absent or late. The reason for the absence is to be stated. Children who are absent from school for any reason must bring a written explanation when they return. If your childs absence is planned, please notify the school prior to the absence. AVIARY AND NATIVE GARDEN - The school aviary is run by a committee of Year 5 & 6 children who care for the budgies, parrots, cockatiels and quail on a roster system under the guidance of our Office Manager. A number of babies are hatched each year with the best breeding ones kept and the rest sold or given away. The aviary is a source of great interest for both parents and children. The aviary has an outdoor flight and is set in a native garden area with childrens BBQ tables. Small fundraising activities are run by the committee to fund the seed, ongoing care of the birds and usually are able to contribute towards another area of need in the school. The aviary concept was developed,built and fundraised for in 1999 from an idea by a parent and the commitment of our Office Manager.

CAR PARK - For safety reasons, we ask you to use the car park on the north side of the school when dropping off or collecting children. As it is difficult to see some of the smaller children when parking and reversing from the far side of the car park, all parents are to come and meet their child at the gate. Children will not then feel the need to dash to the car. Please do not park outside the front gate as this area is reserved for the bus and staff car park entrance. This also ensures the safety of your children. A disabled park is available in the staff car park. All non bus children should be picked up at the gate in the parents car park. On wet days the children are encouraged to stand in the Activity Centre. All children walking or riding home must wait in the bike shed until the bus has left, when their departure onto or across Mill Road North will be supervised. Safety Vests need to be worn. It is the policy of the Transport Department that no child under 10yrs should ride a bike without parent escort. Cycle helmets must be worn, please check that your child knows how to wear his/her helmet correctly. From time to time children become confused as to whether they are to go home on the bus or

wait to be picked up. To avoid delays while we sort out the confusion or children going to the wrong destination, please send a note or phone the school if there is to be any change from their usual travel arrangements. Safety Vest - bus children will be issued with a vest. A charge will be made if the vest is damaged. CLOTHING - Every effort is made to trace lost property. This is helped if clothing is clearly named. The box of unclaimed clothing is given to the 2nd hand shop at the end of each term and is always larger than we would like. Hand towels are unnecessary as the school provides roller towels for children. FITNESS CENTRE - A community fitness centre at the school provides cardiovascular , self esteem and confidence building activities for our pupils and families in the community. Outside the school hours of 8.30am - 3.30pm children use the centre at their own risk. Teachers are not on supervision duty outside these times.

Education Outside the Classroom - The senior school benefits from a range of ETOC opportunities throughout the year.

 The value of children of all ages reading with their parents is well acknowledged

LIBRARY - The value of children of all ages reading with their parents is well acknowledged. We are fortunate to have a library which is well stocked with upto-date fiction and resource material which children are encouraged to use. It is important that children treat library books with respect and we encourage them to use a library bag to transport their books to and from school. We have the valued assistance of parents to help in maintaining our library. Parents are welcome to visit the library after school to help children choose books.

Parents of pre-schoolers are welcome to use the library. Please contact Sue in the office for a library users card.

FRIENDS OF THE SCHOOL - This parent group was formed to support many areas of the school community. Fundraising activities are one priority due to the school being classed as a Decile 10 school (ie limited funding). Different subcommittees are formed for each activity so that the load can be shared as much as possible. GARDEN CLUB - A number of children participate in the School Garden Club. The children are responsible for the school gardens and worm farms. With some parent help they keep our school looking neat and colourful. Most plants are grown from seeds which the children cultivate. STUDENT CONFERENCES - Opportunities are provided for interviews with teachers at

If children bring individualised wrappers, the wrappers are to be left in lunch boxes and taken home. The only lunch rubbish to be put in the bins are yoghurt pottles and fruit scraps. Please supply your own spoons/ forks if necessary. MOFFETT CUP - This annual rugby and netball competition between the Southern Zone Schools is usually held in Term 3 for children who are Year 3 and older. MONEY - All money sent to school is to be in a sealed envelope, and should state the childs name, amount enclosed and what it is for, e.g. school account, clearly written on the outside. The envelope is to be posted in the office letter slot. Cheques are to be made out to: MYROSS BUSH SCHOOL BOARD of TRUSTEES Payments are able to be made by internet banking. Contact the office for details. Payment of sports team entry fees are detailed on the team entry form. Internet banking is available, please contact the office for details. NEW FAMILIES MEETINGS - Friends of the School group run one meeting a term for new families. This helps create a smooth transition into school, a chance to ask questions in an informal setting and meet other parents. Pre-schoolers are welcome. Dates of these meetings are advertised in the school newsletter. WELFARE COMMITTEE - A group of keen parents bake cakes as a thank you from the school as well as acknowledging sickness or bereavements in the community. OPEN DAYS - From time to time the school has special mornings or afternoons to which parents are invited. The events provide an opportunity for you to catch up with what is happening in education and in our school in particular. It is a valuable opportunity to see your child in action. OUT of SCHOOL CLUBS - Children have the opportunity to take part in Out of School: Museum Club, Art and Music. Further information is sent home as it arrives.

PET DAY - This is usually held around the end of October. Pet Day is a day for learning more about animals as well as a community get together. Most children bring a pet and activities and speakers are organised throughout the day. There are no formal classes on this day. It is also used as a fundraising opportunity with some stalls. The day is very well supported by the local community.

Pet Day is a very popular annual event. Grandparents, friends and members of the community are most welcome to attend

six weeks and also six months for first year students early Term 1 and Term 3. If you wish to discuss your childs progress at any other time please ring the school and an interview time will be arranged. Please feel free to contact the school if you have any concerns. Children will receive portfolio samples and a report each year. LUNCHES - Children may bring food to be heated in the pie warmer. This food should be well wrapped and labelled with the childs name and room number. It will be delivered to the classroom at 12.30pm. On Thursdays in Term 2 & 3 the aviary committee will sell sausages to fundraise for the aviary. The school has a no wrapper rule in the playground to encourage children to bring their lunch in reusable containers, snap plastic bags etc.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB - Books are usually available once a term orders are collated by a parent who has volunteered to do this.. Instructions for payment will be included with the order form.

 During the season, children are able to participate in a variety of sports

SPORTS - On several occasions during the year the school participates in sporting events with the Southern Zone Rural Schools. For these events children wear a Myross Bush School polo shirt which is available for purchase from the school office. During the season, children are able to participate in a variety of activies, depending on interest. These may include: Netball Miniball Rugby Hockey Flippaball Kiwi Cricket Squash Water Polo Touch Rugby If you have experience in a particular sport that you would like to share with the school, please contact us to discuss how you can become involved in assisting, organising or coaching a school team. SUNHATS - Because of the danger of melanoma, our school has introduced a sunhat policy that ALL children wear sunhats when outdoors at interval, lunch and for sports etc between Labour Weekend and Easter Hats in the school colour and with the Myross Bush logo on the front will be issued to all new pupils to the school at a cost of $16. You may also wish to apply sunblock to your childs face and arms before they come to school.. The wearing of zinc is not encouraged.

STATIONERY - Children will be issued with a slip indicating items to be purchased from Office Max or other stationery store stocking the item required. New Entrant Packs will be held at the office for 5 year olds entering school.

TENDERS & QUOTES - If parents have a business or trade and would like to be considered for quotes for school work they are asked to contact the office during office hours. Their name will be entered on a database which we update regularly and check before contracting work out. UNIFORM - Navy tracksuit pants (non compulsory), and polo shirts (for cultural and sporting events)are available. Please contact the school office for prices, sizes and availability etc. WORKING BEES - Generally once a term working bees are held to maintain the school gardens and buildings. The school does not employ a caretaker/ gardener at this stage. Generally parents choose either to attend 1 2 working bees a year or take responsibility for certain ongoing jobs ie: spraying, cleaning spouting etc in their own time.

SWIMMING - Swimming is important because New Zealand has one of the highest number of drownings of children aged five and under among OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries. The more confident and competent our children can be in the water the better! School swimming is held during one term every year.

school map
PARENT CAR PARK FITNESS CENTRE ACTIVIT Y CENTRE
RAI S GAR ED DEN

ROOM 1 New Entrants

SAND PIT

RO OM Y1-2 3

STAFF CAR PARK

RO OM Y3-4 6

RO OM Y3-4 5

RO OM New 2 Entr ants

MILL ROAD NORTH

8

A NA IVERY & TIVE FAR DEN

RO OM Y1-2 4

STA FF ROO M

RE C EPTI ON

NETBALL/TENNIS COURTS
PRIN CIPA L

TUNNEL HOUSE WATER TANK

RO OM Y5-6 7
PUMP SHED

ROOM 8 Y5-6

Contact

Contact Details
Myross Bush Primary School, 288 Mill Road, RD2, Invercargill 9872 Ph: (03) 230 4817 Fax: (03) 230 4819 Email: principal@myrossbush.school.nz Office: office@myrossbush.school.nz

www.myrossbush.school.nz