This directory is designed to answer many of your questions. Please scroll through each letter to find the topics you are searching for
- A -
Absences
If your child will not be at school for any reason, please inform the school office, if possible before 9.00am. Please state the child's name, room and if possible the nature and length of the absence
Office staff check on any unexplained absences from school by telephone to make sure your children are safe.
Please send a note if your child is absent for more than two days.
Accidents/ illnesses
Duty teachers and office staff attend to minor matters. You will be contacted if your child becomes ill at school or if an accident requires ongoing attention. In such cases, it is advisable that children are collected and taken home. In an emergency, an ambulance and parents will be called immediately.
Please ensure we are informed of any chronic conditions or allergies and that we have up to date emergency contact numbers.
If your child requires medicine at school, this needs to be discussed with office staff and any medicines kept in the office.
Activity fee $60
All students are required to pay for their extra-curricula activities such as trips and shows. This annual fees saves parents the need to constantly finding small change prior to each event. This fee can also be paid term by term.
After school care
Devonport SKIDS runs an after school care programme from the school hall. Please contact Lisa Walker of 021-819-474 or mail devonport@skids.co.nz for further information. Also check for before school and holiday programmes that may be run in future.
Assemblies
THURSDAYS 2.30pm The children join together for singing, to celebrate successes in the classroom and on the sports fields, to reinforce good social behaviour and promote the arts in the school. Parents/ caregivers are welcome to join us.
Attendance
Punctuality matters. Please ensure your children arrive at school in time to start lessons at 8.55am. For your child's safety, children should not be at school before 8.30am or after 3.30pm unless supervision arrangements have been made with the principal or they are attending the on site after school care facility.
- B -
Behaviour
Our school has a no tolerance policy for bullying and teaches children to develop self-discipline through an emphasis on positive behaviour and a reflection on choices made. We also help children learn to work through their problems with programmes such as Cool Schools, Peer mediation, Keeping Ourselves Safe and Kia Kaha.
If problems occur, we find a joint approach between home and school is the most effective way to help children learn more appropriate behaviour. As a result, we will contact you if there are any major problems. We also encourage children and/ or parents to report any concerns.
Bicycles/ Scooters
Children may ride their bicycles or scooters to school with parental permission and must bring a latter from home before commencing cycling to school. It is the parent's responsibility to ensure their child has a safe bicycle, wears a helmet and knows and practises road safety rules.
The school stores bikes in cycle racks and insists that all cyclists, and those on scooters, walk their bicycle/ scooter inside the school grounds. Inappropriate behaviour or unsafe bicycles will lead to a withdrawal of the right to ride to school for a specified time.
- C -
Car Parking
Parents who drop off and collect their children by car are asked not to use the staff car park for this purpose at any time as it is extremely hazardous for children to walk through this area. Parking is limited near the school and we suggest you park on Kerr Street or St Aubyn Street. The disability park is for card holders only.
Community Involvement
The school benefits from a strong PTA, which you are welcome to join. The PTA assists with substantial fund raising activities and provides an important link between home and school.
Parents are also welcome to be involved in the school through reading mileage programmes and support for class activities, sports and trips. Please let your class teacher know if you have any special talents to share with us or if you would like to help in classrooms, the library, the gardens or on the sports field.
Computer Literacy
Children have access to computers in their classrooms and in a learning pod where there is also an Internet facility. The computers are used as one learning tool within the normal class programme and all Internet access is supervised.
Contact
Please ensure the office has up to date phone and address details in case we need to contact you. Children are not permitted to use the school phones unless it is an emergency. If your child needs to bring a cellphone to school, it must be handed in to the office for safe keeping during the day.
Curriculum
Devonport Primary School delivers a well balanced and stimulating programme of learning. We expect all children to achieve at a high level and assess progress on a regular basis. All programmes are based on the New Zealand Curriculum framework.
This framework identifies seven essentials learning area: Maths, Language, Technology, Social Studies, Health and Physical Well-being and The Arts.
We have developed a curriculum programme that emphasises Maths and Literacy as core learning areas and have added a programme of integrated learning that embraces all other learning areas over the course of the year.This programme of work is based on big picture concepts for the whole school. These programmes provide
* active, rich learning experiences for different learning needs and abilities
* opportunities for mutual support and partnership between home and school
* an emphasis on ensuring every child becomes and active, confident life long learner
Please note that some programmes and methods may be different from the way you remember when you were at school. For example, we expect children to write from their first day as authors and learn the process of creating, drafting, editing and publishing over time.
- D -
Dental Service
Our dental nurse visits occasionally to check on children's teeth. Those requiring follow up care will be attended to at the Belmont Intermediate Clinic. The nurse can be contacted on 445 2587.
Donations $300/ concessions for families
Government funding only provides the essential basics. In order to provide extra resources and programmes we need your donations. The Board of Trustees sets this each year, with a family concession. These donations are tax deductible.
- E -
Education outside the classroom
EOTC is considered an important part of the learning programme. Children will bring home notices of planned trips and we need the permission slip to be signed and returned to school prior to these outings. School policy also requires a risk assessment plan, specified ratios of adults and seat belts when children are transported by car.
Extension/ Gifted student programmes (GATE)
Devonport School offers a range of programmes across the school and our class programmes cater for all abilities. In addition,class programmes are supplemented by activities designed to extend the special abilities and interests pupils possess. These can be small group activities, individual contracts run by staff or programmes developed with local identities who have particular skills or talents to share with students. These programmes usually run for specific periods and students are selected using gifted criteria selection sheets.
- F -
Fire, volcano and earthquake drills.
Drills are held each term . All pupils and parents must keep calm and follow the instructions of the fire warden.
For fire, a continuous bell will signal teachers to evacuate children to the assembly point on the lower field. In the event of a real fire, children will be released to parents from this point once the roll has been called and the warden has given the all clear. There are evacuation notices in each room.
For earthquake or volcanic eruption emergencies children are instructed to seek shelter under tables and in doorways. A continuous bell will sound when it is considered safe for children to move to the assembly area. The collection of children will proceed as above.
Other emergency procedures are contained in school policies. Common sense must prevail at all times to ensure everyone's safety.
Food
We have a number of children at school with severe allergies to nut products. Please consider this when packing lunches. We also ask parents to refrain from bringing food to school for birthday parties and farewells. Please see our food policy for more details.
Please note that there is no tuck shop and all children need to bring their play-lunch and lunch to school. Sushi can be ordered for Wednesdays and the PTA run sausage sizzles 3-4 times a term.
Foreign Students
We are a signatory to the Code of Practice for International students and welcome enquires. Information regarding applications for student placement is available on this website or from our office. Please note that a guardianship visa and insurance for travel and health are required to complete an enrolment. Students who do no have New Zealand residency (or Australian, Cook Island or Niuean residency) are required by law to pay fees to the Board of Trustees for their education. The only other exemption is when student's parents enter New Zealand on a Work Visa. Foreign student fees are used by in part the school and the rest is recovered by the Ministry of Education.
- G -
- H -
Health and Safety
The school seeks to provide a safe environment for pupils, staff, parents and visitors. We ask that parent helpers, visitors and contractors sign the visitors book at the office on arrival. You will receive a safety pamphlet. Please report any hazards you notice while on the school site and follow evacuation instructions in the unlikely event they are issued.
Homework
In junior years, children will bring home a variety of reading materials, which have been read successfully at school. Sometimes this will appear to be easy material or books they have read before. This is NOT a sign of a problem.
PRACTICE ON EASY MATERIAL IS CRITICAL FOR SUCCESS.
Please aim to make reading together enjoyable and successful. If your child is struggling with a book, read along with them and tell the teacher. Please make sure that children return their reading books in their bags each day.
As children progress through the school they will be required to learn spelling, tables, complete class work or undertake research.
Library books will also come home for recreational reading.
House system
The school is divided into four houses - Snell, Williams, Halberg and Lovelock- so that children may find a sense of identity and opportunities for leadership. Points are awarded each week for a variety of activities including sports and social sharing.
- L -
Library
The Library is a special part of the school and children are keen to use it regularly. Each class visits at least once a week and children can also visit during lunch times. Children may bring home books but due to the high cost of books, parents will be sent a notice of overdue books and charged if these books are not returned.
Lost Property
Please ensure all clothing is named. Lost Property to held for a month and then, if unclaimed, is donated to an appropriate charity.
Valuable items and toys (including cell phones) are best kept at home, as the school cannot take responsibility for them.
- M -
- N -
Newsletter
A newsletter sent home with your child each alternate TUESDAY. The newsletter can also be accessed from our web site.
- O -
Choir
Senior children are encouraged to participate in this group. They train for special events and play to parents and at community gatherings.
- P -
Patrols
Before School
Between 8.30 AND 8.50am, the Calliope and Victoria Road crossing is supervised by parent volunteers. A parent supervises St Aubyn Street. New volunteers are always needed. Please let us know if you can help on any morning.
After School
Children crossing Victoria Road/ Kerr Street are asked to assemble at the flagpole and walk to the crossing with the duty teacher at 3.10pm.
Physical Education/ Sport
All students are expected to take part unless prevented by ill health. This includes swimming in the summer months when the pool is open. Our sports programme includes inter school events and a range of sports teams..netball, miniball, rugby, soccer, cricket and hockey coached by parents.
Public Heath Nurse
Our nurse visits the school on request to check on children with health concerns and to check on the hearing and vision of New Entrants. Your permission will be sought prior to any examination.
- Q -
- R -
Religious Education
A Bible in Schools programme is held each Friday 8.30-9am. This programme operates independently of the school and children attend as a result of parent choice.
Parents are asked to contribute toward the cost of workbooks used in the programme. A note will come home separately about this.
The school also makes use of the Holy Trinity Church for its annual Carol Service.
Reporting to parents
In Term 1 there is an informal meet the teacher evening and also a formal conference at the end of the term.
In Term 2, a report portfolio will be issued.
Early in Term 3 there will another formal conference meeting to discuss the report portfolio and re-set goals for learning.
In Term 4 a written summary and a report portfolio will be issued.
Notification of dates will be made through the school newsletter. We also encourage parents to contact teachers if any new home/ health issues arise or if you have any ongoing concerns about their child's progress.
As it is important that class contact times are not interrupted, please make an appointment when you have matters to discuss with your child's teacher.
- S -
School facilities
The school has occupied a site on Mount Victoria since 1870 and has panoramic views of Auckland City, the Waitemata Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf. The present buildings replaced the old school in 1970 and are positioned on three levels. The school has fifteen classrooms, a library, two offices, staff room, and a first aid room. A new six-classroom block was constructed in 1994 and has replaced two temporary classrooms. The school also has a Hall for school assemblies, indoor physical education, music and withdrawal groups.
The school also has a pool, two playing fields, an Adventure playground, a sandpit and a Food Garden.
Smokefree
Please note that the school site ( including buildings) is smoke free at all times.
Staffing
The individual strengths of staff are used to the fullest and all class programmes are planned co-operatively under the direction of syndicate leaders. All teachers have special responsibilities for curriculum areas and administrative tasks.
The school also employs support staff for administration, care taking and student support duties. These staff members work under the direction of teachers.
Stationery
Your child's teacher will give you a list of requirements on enrolment. These can be purchased through the school office.
Sun Hats
During daylight saving months, all children must wear a sunhat and shoes in the playground. If children forget their hat they will spend playtime/ lunchtime in designated shade areas.
The school has a special school sunhat available for purchase through the school office.
Swimming
Swimming is our physical education programme in Term 1. All children should take part unless parents have specifically requested their withdrawal from the programme. Named togs to be sent to school in a plastic bag.
- T -
TERM DATES 2009
Term One 3rd February to 9th April
Term Two 27th April to 3rd July
Term Three 20th July to 25th September
Term Four 12th October to 17th December
TIMETABLE/ SCHOOL HOURS
8.30 -8.50 Patrols out/ Children may enter the grounds
8.55- 11.00 Classes
11.00- 11.20 Interval
11.20- 12.30 Classes
12.30- 1.30 Lunch break
1.30- 3.00 Classes
3.00 3.10 Patrols/ Playground cleared
- U -
- V -
Valuable items
Valuable items and toys are best kept at home. Their loss or a breakage causes a lot of distress.
- W -
Walking Buses
The school operates a number of "buses". You are welcome to join a bus and become a helper. Please enquire at the office for a list of routes and contact details for co-ordinators.
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- Z -