COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS 

We regard schooling as a tripartite deal - parent/caregiver, student and teacher working together and supporting one another in a shared endeavour. The key to the success of this relationship is communication.

Our open door policy means that parents/caregivers are free at any time to make an appointment to see the teacher at a mutually convenient time. Good professional practice entails teachers getting to know their clients well and through their actions, concern, commitment and professional ability, engendering the confidence of the people they work with and for. 

There is a host of situations where informal communication can take place such as sport days, gatherings, camps, etc and we encourage you to chat with teachers then. Obviously specific issues about your child will need to be done at another time. 

The more structured communication programme is detailed under the Reporting to Parents section. 

The regular School Newsletter is an important part of the school wide communication process and we encourage all parents/caregivers to read this religiously, as it contains a huge array of information. It is sent home the last Wednesday of every month.

 

COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS 

From time to time in a people orientated activity such as schooling, there will be concerns.  When these occur it is important that the parties involved work together to obtain a solution that is mutually acceptable and best for all concerned.  We must always seek a win-win result.

 Following are procedures for resolving concerns:

 Parents/Caregivers 

Parents/Caregivers with genuine concerns or complaints can only go to/or be referred to the Principal if the problem has not been solved between the two parties first. This means a parent must go to the teacher concerned first, then the relevant DP or AP if there is still no success. Only then should the Principal be involved. He will make every attempt to resolve the situation.   At times a verbal concern will become a written concern.  This is desirable in that it provides an opportunity to formulate a full and detailed response.  In the unlikely event of the Principal being unable to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution to a concern he will take the matter to the Board for their consideration.

 

It can be quite upsetting for a teacher to have a complaint laid against them but be assured this school handles such matters in a sensitive and supportive manner for everyone involved. We strive to uphold everyone’s rights, and ask that you do the same and do not discuss your complaint with other parents/caregivers as this is not fair to the staff member concerned.

 

If you have a complaint against the Principal, and this has not been resolved after approaching him, you are entitled to make contact with the Chairperson of the Board, who then follows set policy procedures.

 

 ENROLMENT AND WITHDRAWAL

 Parents wishing to enrol their children during the year do so via the school reception, who then advises the DP: Pastoral Care or the DP: Guidance and Support, who then place the children after making contact with their previous school first. It is important that any books that the children have from previous schools are brought with them. 

 

Students start school on the Monday of the following week once enrolment is complete. This ensures that the teacher will be available to greet the new student and meet the parents in the morning. We do not take enrolments on the spot with children starting immediately as we want to ensure all enrolments are done so effectively, with as easy a transition as possible.

 

Parents of children who are leaving are asked to notify the school office a few days beforehand.  When they leave children are to take all books and stationery belonging to them, and to return any outstanding school property such as school library books etc to the appropriate personnel in the school.

 

 ENROLMENT PROCEDURES

·             Parents of new students complete their enrolment at reception. A school tour with a School Councillor will also be arranged at this time if requested. 

·             Parents will need to bring with them, a copy of the child’s latest report or equivalent, birth certificate and in the case of an international student – a copy of the ESOL enrolment form, passport and visa. 

·             Evidence (two examples) of their permanent place of residency is required. This needs to be a power, phone or gas bill, rates demand or home ownership/rent proof. Bank statements are not sufficient. 

·             All international students and their guardians must meet with the Principal prior to enrolment.  For ‘short term’ students at the school, their period of intended study should also be ascertained at this meeting.  

·            Once the information listed above has been seen and verified, the information pertaining to learning and teaching will be sent by the office staff to the class teacher.

 ·          Other enrolment information will be sent to the class teacher before Monday to let them know that the new student is arriving.

·             All students will start at Manurewa Intermediate School on the Monday following their completed enrolment being accepted.  

·          Before their arrival, a provisional placement will be done by the Deputy Principal: Pastoral Care or the Deputy Principal: Guidance and Support and the new teacher advised.  They will also notify all other staff who teach that class, and ensure that the class is made aware of the new student.  If furniture is required, the teacher should contact the Property Manager as soon as possible, prior to the arrival of the new student.

 On the first Monday, the Deputy Principal: Pastoral Care or the Deputy Principal: Guidance and Support and the new class teacher will meet the child and introduce the new student to the Principal. It is important a buddy is appointed to manage this process for the student.  In the case of International Students, this buddy should be able to speak the new student’s language if possible. 

·           In the case of ESOL students, they will be tested where appropriate.  The Deputy Principal: Guidance and Support will also assess them on the ESOL MOE tests.  Results for these tests will be distributed to all teachers of that class. 

·          During this whole process, immediate pastoral or guidance concerns should be addressed to the Deputy Principal: Guidance and Support or Deputy Principal: Pastoral Care. Any academic concerns should be addressed to the Associate Principal: Learning and Teaching

  

ENROLMENT APPROVAL 

When you enrol your child parents/caregivers sign to give permission for their child to use the internet and to be involved in food preparation if necessary. Following is more detailed information to explain this.

 

FOOD PREPARATON INVOLVEMENT

 

Classes are often involved in the preparation and making of food as part of classroom programmes. They learn many things when doing this, e.g. reading recipes, health and hygiene, measurement, cooperative skills and taking turns, technology, writing predictions, making scientific observations, discussion about cultural differences and similarities etc.

 

For your child to take part in this they must have your permission and we must be notified of any concerns you may have.

 

STUDENT INTERNET USAGE

 

At Manurewa Intermediate School we are using the technology of the Internet and email as a tool to aid children’s learning. We are aware that on the World Wide Web there are inappropriate materials that can be accessed by anyone.

 

At our school the students will only use the internet with teacher guidance and supervision. However the school cannot take responsibility for students who choose to abuse their use of the internet.

 

For your child to make use of the internet, the following information MUST be understood and agreed to by parents/caregivers:

 

Please complete the “Cybersafety Use Agreement for Students” which is with the enrolment form. 

 

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT 

The school strongly encourages use of parent/caregiver volunteers in the classroom:

 ¨     Making equipment

¨     Providing 1:1 tuition

¨     Assisting with group supervision on trips, sports events etc

¨     Taking sports teams 

Parents/caregivers need to be reminded that often they are not the most appropriate person to assist their own child and whatever they see or hear in the course of their assistance is confidential. Teachers need to provide clear guidelines for parent helpers. If your child’s teacher does not appear to be encouraging your support please feel free to speak to the Principal who will be able to ensure your services are – be it in your child’s class or another area of the school. We want and encourage any involvement and help.

  

REPORTING TO PARENTS 

Frequent communications on student progress is vital to ensure that home and school are working together in the schooling process.

 

Frequent informal discussions are bound to occur in the general day to day contact between parent/caregiver and individual classroom teacher, but the more formal reporting procedure is as follows:

TERM ONE

Week One: Informal “Meet the Teacher, Family Picnic and Fun Night”

Week Four: Student Involved Conferences (with Teacher, Parents, Student) and written report

TERM THREE

Week Four: Student Involved Conferences (with Teacher, Parents, Student) and written report. 

TERM FOUR:

Week Nine: End of Year Report sent home. 

Other interviews and contacts are arranged throughout the year as appropriate and necessary.

 

STUDENT PROFILES 

All students have an ongoing file, which is called their “Record of Learning”. This is a progressive document (clearfile) with work samples, tests and evaluations from each curriculum area, used to show student progress. This profile may form a part of the “Student Involved Conferences”. 

There is no set format for these profiles and some subject areas use them differently to others. 

Students also have an ongoing drop-down file holding administrative records and the like, kept in the Teachers Work Room. 

 

DISCOVERY PROGRAMMES 

Part of the success of Manurewa Intermediate School over the past three years in terms of behaviour and attitude has been the wide range of ‘other programmes’ on offer which have a positive effect on student presence and engagement.  These cover Options, Recreation, ECAs etc. Most staff are involved in these and are able to offer a programme related to their interests and strengths. Options are a wider curriculum based programme. 

The Recreation programme is solely sports and outdoor pursuits. More information is available from management staff who are responsible for these programmes.

 

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES 

We want to provide our students with as many different experiences as possible. Therefore all staff are expected to provide extracurricular activities for children either as a lunchtime club, or after school activity or weekend sport. The Deputy Principal: Operations coordinates these activities and children are encouraged to participate.

In the past such activities have been:

Various clubs (Chess, Cross Stitch, Cooking, Art, Sewing and Crafts, Christian, Computers, Drawing, Nature Force, Homestudy), Sports (Indoor Soccer, Volleyball, Aerobics, Table Tennis, Touch Rugby, Kiwikick, Netball, Basketball, Hockey), Environmental Projects (gardening, horticulture, etc) and Cultural activities (Hip Hop, Mau Rakau, Karaoke, Drama, Dance etc), other Languages (Greek, Spanish, Maori etc).

 

FITNESS 

During the year all students are involved in fitness programmes on a daily basis as part of Health and Physical Education. Children may only be exempt from this programme if they have a note from parent/doctor. Likewise, all children complete the School Cross Country unless they provide a specific note from parent/doctor. 

All students wear their school shorts/trackpants and polo shirt at Fitness times, but girls who wear the school skirt as their uniform must change into plain black shorts for fitness/sports etc. No jerseys, jackets or any other unnecessary clothing items are permitted.

 

 GIFTED & TALENTED (G & T) & GUIDANCE & SUPPORT( G & S) UNITS

G & T and G & S are exciting areas for teachers to focus on.  When a strong developmental, interactive programme operates, there is considerable opportunity for extension, challenge and quality learning for the able student and recovery work for the less able. 

Here at Manurewa Intermediate School we offer recovery and extension programmes, in an ongoing way within classroom programmes by appropriate grouping, as well as some in class or withdrawal support. There is a myriad of support for these areas targeting all children in specific groups in support programmes (through the Guidance and Support Unit) and specifically for Gifted and Talented students we have one Enrichment class, two Maori and two Pasifika focus classes;  Sports Academy; Band; Choir and Cultural Performance groups.

 

SUPPORT PROGRAMMES 

 Rainbow Reading 

Manurewa Mentors

Literacy Support Programme 

       Year 8: RA 9 – 11 years 

Numeracy Support Programme 

 ESOL Programme 

Kids to Kids 

Rocket Reading 

Life Skills and Hauora  

Life Skills covers: Goal Setting and Reflections, Financial Literacy, Economics, Careers, Politics and Civics, Education for Sustainability, Decision Making and Civil Defence.

 

 

SCHOOL ORGANISATION 

 

Intermediate schools are facing new challenges in providing for the learning needs of their students but we aim to give all our students a strong background in all eight learning areas whilst developing the five key competencies as specified in the revised New Zealand National Curriculum. This is achieved through the Core Curriculum Programme as well as the Discovery and other programmes on offer. Neither is more or less important that the other, with these other programmes offering unique learning experiences for our students.

 

The eight learning areas are: 

¨     English

¨     The Arts (Dance & Drama, Music and Visual Art)

¨     Health and Physical Education (Physical Education, EOTC, Health)

¨     Learning Languages (Te Reo Maori, and other languages)

¨     Mathematics and Statistics

¨     Science

¨     Social Sciences (which includes Geography and History)

¨     Technology (Materials & ICT) 

The five key competencies are: 

¨     Thinking – using creative, critical and reflective processes to make sense and question information, experiences and ideas

¨     Using language, symbols and texts – working with and making meaning of the codes in which knowledge is expressed

 Managing Self – self motivation, a ‘can do’ attitude; the ability to establish personal goals, make plans, set high standards for self. Knowing about  who you are, where you come from and you fit in.

¨     Relating to others – interacting effectively with a diverse range of people in a variety of contexts.

¨     Participating and contributing – participating actively in local, national and global communities. 

Nurturing young lives is an immense responsibility that we share with you, the parents/caregivers and your child’s wider whanau and we take this very seriously. Ensuring that the children in our care are confident, connected, actively involved lifelong learners who are well prepared to engage with life as contributing citizens of the 21st century, able to communicate and negotiate, to think critically and to live life with dignity, care and compassion, is not only our responsibility, but also our delight. We believe all young people in NZ schools have the right to gain, through a state school system a broad, balanced education that prepares them for effective participation in society.  

The specialisation model we introduced in 2010 means our students have to immediately come to terms with the key competencies in a very real and meaningful way: such as managing self, thinking and relating to others to better and more effectively prepare them for secondary school. This is a big call for our new Year 7 students, but we believe this transition between the full home room at primary schools to full specialisation at secondary school will make that transition easier and more effective. 

Whilst making a caring educational environment where all students will develop an enthusiasm for learning, we are also able to offer our students a myriad of other special programme activities and options, coupled with the emphasis on academics, extension and recovery work.

Your child will be in a small class of approximately 25 students (mixed Year 7 and 8) and will rotate around teachers specialising in the core curriculum subjects. They will interact with others from throughout the school when they are involved in the Discovery programmes. This involves Options; Cultural groups and a modular recreation programme of sports and outdoor pursuits. Any interested students can also be involved in the after school or lunchtime ECAs (Extra Curricular Activities).  The school will be incredibly busy and exciting.   

The purpose of the Discovery Programmes, especially Options, is to give all students a ‘taste’ of a subject.  Students will then be in a better position to make informed decisions when selecting subjects for secondary school.  It is also important to note that these subjects tend not to be offered at other schools at this level.  Our students are fortunate to have these opportunities and student needs will be totally addressed in this system - extension and recovery needs.

Our aim is to use the very best of primary teaching ie teaching the individual holistically using an inquiry approach, with the very best of the secondary specialist curriculum teaching approach of expert knowledge of and passion for the curriculum, for the benefits of students.

 

In Summary

 

 

 

 

“A student at Manurewa Intermediate School will receive a broad, balanced and ‘academic priority’ education setting them up for secondary, tertiary or a trade education, the world beyond, and the 21st century!”

  

SCHOOL PROGRAMMES 

Throughout the year all students will be involved in a wide variety of programmes, both compulsory and choice based. These involve the Core Curriculum, Discovery Programmes and Other Programmes.

 

1. CORE CURRICULUM

 

(A) These are the compulsory learning areas all students do every week all year:

 

·                 English – 5 periods

·                 Maths – 4 periods

·                 Science – 2 periods

·                 Physical Education – 1 period

·                 Hauora (Mou Magic, Values, Social Skills, Sexuality and Relationship Education, Puberty, Healthy

                  Lifestyle Choices, Self Esteem/Confidence and Road/Water Safety) – 1.5 periods  

·                 Life Skills (Financial Literacy, Economics, Politics and Civics, Careers, Reflections, Goal Setting,

                  Education for Sustainability) – 1 period

 

(B) These are the compulsory learning areas all students do in modules 2 & 4; and 6 & 8 each year in a rotation system ie. each subject for half a year:

 

·                 Music – 1 period every week, for two modules

·                 Performing Arts – 1 period every week, for two modules

·                 Social Sciences (including History and Geography) – 1 period every week, for two modules

·                 Languages – 1 period every week, for two modules

 

(C) These are the compulsory learning areas all students do in either module 2, 4, 6 and 8 each year in a rotation system ie. each subject for approx one term each:

 

·                 X-PLO Tech (Exploring Technology: covering Hard Materials {wood, metal, plastics, bone}) – 2

             periods every week , for one module

·                 Home Economics – 2 periods every week, for one module

·                 Art – 2 periods every week, for one module

·                 ICT – 2 periods every week, for one module

 

(D) These are the compulsory additional programmes all students do every week:

 

·                 Cultural Groups – 1 period every week, every term (for those in performing groups; other students in alternative

                  cultural programme)

·                 Friday's Foundation Frenzy

                  (Communication Literacy Programme – 1 period every week, in module 2 and 6

·                 Mental Mathematics Programme – 1 period every week, in module 4 and 8)

·                 Recreation – 1 period every week, terms 1 and 4

·                 Options – 1 period every week, terms 2 and 3

·                 Singing - 0.75 of a period every week, every term

  

MODULE OVERVIEW 

There are 10 modules during the year. These are:

 

MODULE

TERM

WEEKS

DESCRIPTION

1

1

1

BEGINNING YEAR / INTRODUCTION

2

1

2

2-4,  6-9

1

PROGRAMMES

3

1

5

SURVIVAL CAMP

4

2

2-9

PROGRAMMES

 

 

5

2

10

CULTURAL FOCUS FESTIVAL

6

 

3

1-8

PROGRAMMES

(Olympic Games: 27th July – 12th August)

 

 

7

3

9-10

ARTS FESTIVAL - ART EXHIBITION/TRASH FOR FASHION/PERFORMING ARTS

8

 

3

11

PROGRAMMES

4

1-3; 5-8; 9 (Mon – Wed)

9

4

4

(Wed – Fri)

OUTDOOR EDUCATION WEEK

10

4

9

 

POROPOROAKI / REVIEW

 

 

Text Box: NOTES

  

·       All Core Curriculum, Discovery and Other Programmes operate during Modules 2, 4, 6 and 8 ie 32 weeks of the 39 week school year and each sub construct topic of the overarching construct (Challenge and Empowerment) operates during each module 2, 4, 6 and 8 ie. Module 2 – Personal; Module 4 – Cultural; Module 6 – Technological/Global and Module 8 – Future. These basically reflect each term 1, 2, 3 and 4.

·       Modules 2, 4, 6 and 8 are divided into eight week cycles for the following subjects:

       X-PLO Tech, Home Economics, Art and ICT. Every class does one module per  

       year in each of the four areas

·       Modules 2 & 4 and 6 & 8 are divided into sixteen week cycles for Social Sciences and Language {ie half the school do Languages in Modules 2 and 4 whilst the other half do Social Sciences; then in Modules 6 and 8 they swap over}; and Music and Performing Arts: (Dance & Drama) {ie half the school do Performing Arts in Modules 2 and 4 whilst the other half do Music; then in Modules 6 and 8 they swap over}.

 

2. DISCOVERY PROGRAMMES

 

(A)   Options:

This programme operates every Thursday afternoon in terms 2 & 3 where students are able to choose two additional subjects (one in term 2, another one in term 3) that are of interest to them – with the purpose being they are tasters of subjects they have previously not had much exposure to eg. a range of other languages, drama, dance, computers, bone carving, cooking, horticulture, economics, digital photography, physics, furniture making, bicycle maintenance, electronics, nature force, and a range of others.

 

(B)   Recreation:

This programme operates every Thursday afternoon in terms 1 & 4 and involves a mixture of inter-house sports and outdoor pursuits.

Inter-house Sport - rotation in house groups around a wide variety of games and sports in a round robin competition, where students are placed.

 

Outdoor Pursuits – various EOTC activities outside of the school environment:

Term 1 – Survival Camp

Term 4 – Class Camp/Outdoor Activities

 

(C)   Culture Groups:

This programme operates one period a week throughout the year, with students choosing which specific cultural groups to participate in. For those not in a performing cultural group an alternative cultural programme operates.

 

3. OTHER PROGRAMMES

 

(A)   Fitness:

This programme operates Monday – Thursday, 10.40-11.00am where all students participate in a rotation of fitness activities in their House groups.

 

The rotation involves all teachers with their house groups at one fitness activity each day, with staff and students rotating around the four activities during the week. The activities are: circuits, skipping, run and aerobics.

 

(B)   S.S.R (Sustained Silent Reading)

This programme operates every day, immediately after lunch from 1.45-2.05pm and involves all staff and students in sustained silent reading right across the school. Students are encouraged to read high interest fiction or nonfiction and to self monitor their range of genre.

 

(C)   Singing Assembly:

This programme operates every Friday afternoon throughout the year, with the whole school involved in school wide singing, run in a roster system by House Teachers.

 

(D)   Inter-Class Lunchtime Sport Competition:

This programme operates every lunch time on a Tuesday and Thursday. The sports played vary according to the season, and are played as class groups within a round robin competition organisation.

 

(E)   ECAs (Extra-Curricular Activities):

These programmes, offered by teachers, operate during lunchtime on any set day and involve activities students choose to be involved in. They are hobby type activities and run for a term at a time.

 

The school wide activities of choir, band, Nature Force, cultural groups and interclass sports have defined days in the lunch breaks of when they are on and take priority over students being involved in an ECA. If students are not involved in any of these activities on the set days then they can opt into an ECA of their choice.

 

            (G) School Activities all students are involved in:

      Speech Competition                                          Swimming Sports

      Athletics Day                                                    Cross Country

 

            (H) Activities students may be selected for:

      APPA Choir                                                       School Choir

      Auckland Science Fair                                       School Councillors

      House Captains                                                 Technology Fair

      Zone Speech Competition                                  School Librarian

          Auckland Mathex                                              School-wide Production

      BP Technology Challenge                                   Otago Maths Challenge

      Leadership Forum                                             Nature Force Group

      Sports Academy                                                School Band

      NZAIMS Sports Week                                        Waste Management Systems

     Seedling Nursery and Garden Leaders                 Wearable Arts

     School Production

 

      Interzone Sports Teams:

      Swimming                                                         Touch

      Netball – (also Saturday teams)                          Soccer

      Gymnastics                                                       Kiwikick

      Cricket                                                              Athletics

      Orienteering                                                      Cross Country

      Softball                                                             Touch Rugby

      Hockey                                                             Rugby

      Badminton                                                        Rugby League

      Basketball                                                         Volleyball

      Wrestling                                                          Golf

 

             (I) Activities students may choose to be involved in:

       Student Council Competitions - one per term eg  Rewa’s Got Talent

       School Cultural Groups                                        Netball – (Saturday team)                                   

              ICAS Exams                                                         Extra Curricular Activities – ECAs                

                                                                                    (lunchtime and afterschool) 

 

              (J) School-Wide Break-Out Events:

 

                                                                                       TERM

 

2

3

4

ODD YEAR (2013)

United Nations Festival

SMaT Fair (Science, Maths and Technology)

Literacy Festival

 

EVEN YEAR (2012)

Cultural Focus Break-out

Arts Festival (Art Exhibition/Trash To Fashion/Performing Arts)

 

  

 

SUPPORT TEACHERS 

We are very fortunate to have much support in the school for children and staff.

 

In addition to the Specialist Teachers we have the following support:

·      Deputy Principal: Guidance and Support - coordinates and monitors all learning and guidance support across the school (includes ESOL, Learning Support/SEN, Professional Support [in consultation with Principal], ORRS and Teacher Aides) and works with small groups of individuals.

·      Deputy Principal: Pastoral Care - coordinates and monitors all behavioural support across the school (includes  Professional Support [in consultation with Principal],Teacher Aides, Guidance/Counselling etc) and works with small groups of individuals.

·      Learning Support – the equivalent of one full time teacher, including ESOL in class support.

·      School Counsellor – available to work with students/families three days per week.

·      Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour – work in our school with groups or individuals as needed.

·      Learning Assistants – four assistants to work with small groups; assisting with general day to day organisation and learning.

 

HAUORA PROGRAMME 

This is a vital part of not only our learning programmes but, as important, our school operations and ethos.  It is a wide ranging programme that simply encompasses wellbeing: emotional, spiritual, physical and behavioural. The programme works across the entire school at the same time, taken by form teachers. The purpose is to provide effective nurturing, mentoring and monitoring of our students. One of the key roles of any teacher is to get to know each child in every class they teach well enough to provide ongoing support and nurturing. For form teachers this is the most important thing to do with their own form class, to ensure children do not ‘slip though the cracks’. Our Hauora Programme encompass:

 

 

LIFE SKILLS PROGRAMME 

This is a vital part of not only our learning programmes but, as important, our school operations and ethos.  It is a wide ranging programme that simply encompasses sensible common sense skills for life. The programmes work across the entire school at the same time, taken by form teachers. Our Life Skills Programme encompasses:

 


 

 

ASSEMBLIES 

These are one of the most important aspects of the corporate life of the school.  It is a time when a large group come together to celebrate successes, share talents and to participate actively and enthusiastically in cultural activities. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to attend, and sit in the allotted whanau area. Teachers will direct parents to this area if you sit elsewhere. 

Students should be encouraged to take a leading role in these forums.  Staff are asked to ensure that the quality of items and the conduct of students is of the highest order. 

All teachers present at assemblies have an important role to play in terms of modelling behaviour, involvement and general student management by sitting with their classes. Each week the best behaved class at assembly is awarded the Assembly Shield to have in their class for the week. This class is chosen by the class teacher who won the shield at the previous assembly. In addition to this there is the presentation of Positive Play and Sustainability Awards per house, followed by the Class Environment Shield for the class that has the most inspiring room environment that week including: wall displays, tidiness and cleanliness, tidy desks, cloak-bay etc. 

Certificates (from every teacher) are presented and the duty class is responsible for the running of the assembly and for presenting an item. Certificate/award winners and their parents are told prior to assembly by classroom teachers with a letter being sent home on the Tuesday of that week, inviting parents to attend. Children receiving certificates sit on the benches at the front right of the hall and when their name is called out they stand up. They receive their certificate from the Principal after assembly. Teachers need to ensure certificates are given to the Principal by Thursday afternoon each week (see also “Awards & Certificates”). 

Our assemblies are every Friday at 9.50 – 11am. Classes go directly to their allotted area in the hall after period 1. For further information or assistance with assemblies see the Deputy Principal: Operations.  

HOUSE SINGING ASSEMBLIES

House Singing Assemblies are held on a weekly basis, run by House Group teachers with students sitting in their house groups.

 

AWARDS AND CERTIFICATES 

In recognition of appropriate attitude, participation, contribution, effort, improvement and achievement during the year, students will receive awards and certificates.

 

In the main these include:

 

·      Sports Certificates – participation in Zone, Special and Champion of Champions tournaments

·      Activity Certificates – participation in other activities over and above the normal school ones

·      Achievement Certificates – Noteworthy achievements in any curriculum areas

·      Assembly Certificates – each week all teachers are able to give one student a special assembly certificate. These are given out in assembly by the Principal. Students need to see these certificates as recognition of a very significant standard of work, behaviour, effort and working along the key competency/values focus. Certificate winners sit on the seats at the front of the assembly hall.

·      Positive Play, Sustainability and Classroom Environment Awards are given to a class each week.

·      Gold Card Award – the highest award at MIS for going above AND beyond what is expected. Also refer to page 17.

  

BOOK CLUB 

These pamphlets are sent home approximately once per term. These optional orders are placed with the form teachers.

 

HOMEWORK CLUB 

Homework Club is held in the library after school from Monday to Thursday. On Monday, Wednesday and Thursday it runs from 2.55-4pm. On Tuesday it runs from 2.05-4pm. It is an opportunity for students to complete homework, ask for assistance and use the internet for research. Staff supervise students.

 

HOUSES 

All students and staff are members of a House (Tawa – Blue, Kowhai – Yellow, Rimu – Red, Kauri – Green). Every class has a points chart on display so children can see how their House is doing (nobody is to interfere with these charts). There is also a school wide chart in the school office showing which House wins each week. Totals from each class will be collated before the end of week assembly and added to school wide totals from Recreation etc and the winning House is announced at that assembly. Their House flag is flown for the week and all members of that House get 20 minutes free time on the Adventure Playground during transition time. A bell will be rung at the end of this time.

Houses compete together in swimming sports, cross country, athletics, fitness and many other areas around the school. In order to gain the shield House points must be earned. The Deputy Principal: Operations coordinates this.

Points are given to children as an individual or a group and never for work ability or intellect. Everyone has just as much opportunity to gain points as everyone else. Points are given one at a time depending on what has been done to earn the point. No multiples of 2, 5, 10 etc are to be awarded. Points are also given out during break times. The points allocated in class are verbal and done immediately whereas out of class points are distributed by card which the student hands to their teacher in class to add to their class House total.

 

House points can be earned through:

 

·      General helpfulness (no, not greasing!)

·      Cleaning up and general tidiness

·      Work behaviour ie attention and diligence

·      Sharing of knowledge and property

·      Acting as a good role model

·      Independence, initiative

·      Character eg cheerfulness, sense of humour/fun

·      Following our Keys to Success

  

LIBRARY 

The Library is situated at the end of the main admin block.  The library is used extensively for lessons and recreational reading.  All students are encouraged to get books out to read for pleasure and for research. It is

an integral part of the school providing the basis for all resource-based learning and reading.

 

Classes are timetabled to visit the library on a fortnightly basis. Students are encouraged to use the library for independent study during school time. The library is open to all students during all breaks, as well as after school from 2.55 – 4pm.

All books are issued for a period of two weeks. Once a book is issued to an individual student that book becomes the responsibility of that student regardless of whether or not the book is taken home. Overdue book lists will be issued during fortnightly library times.

Students with books outstanding for longer than two weeks (four weeks from date of issue) will receive a ‘final overdue notice’. This notice will be sent home.

If a book cannot be found or is damaged parents or guardians pay for the lost book.

 

LUNCHES 

Students bring a packed lunch from home which (due to allergies and parental restrictions) should under no circumstances be shared with others. They can alternatively make a lunch order through the Tuckshop. If a child forgets their lunch we are able to provide a lunch via the Deputy Principal: Pastoral Care who will send a note home informing the parents/caregivers that a lunch was provided.

 

LUNCHTIME 

Lunchtime is from 1.05 – 1.45pm. The students eat their lunches inside their form class until 1.15pm. Cultural group practices, class lunch time sports, lunch time ECA clubs and sports team practices start at 1.15pm each lunch time and end at 1.40pm.

 

SCHOOL DAY AND TIMETABLE 

The School Day: Also note the enclosed sample class timetable. NOTE this is NOT your child’s timetable but just an example so you can see how their day could look. On Tuesdays school finishes early, at 2.05pm.

8.45 – 9.00

Form Time

9.00 – 9.20

Fitness: Monday – Thursday

9.20 - 11.00

Period 1 – 2

11.00 - 11.25

Morning Interval

11.25 – 1.05

Period 3 - 4

1.05 – 1.15

Lunch Eating

1.15 - 1.45

Lunch Break

1.45 – 2.05

SSR

2.05 – 2.55

Period 5

 

Tuesday early finish (2.05pm) 

Current international and national research identifies the single most important determinant of student acheivement is quality teaching. Quality teaching needs to be supported by strategic professional learning. Successful professional learning helps teachers to build knowledge, refine skills, practise new learnings, obtain feedback and receive support. 

The early finish for students every Tuesday afternoon is so that staff can participate in professional learning activities. However any student requiring supervision until 2.55pm will go to the library where supervision will be provided. This 50 minute early finish each week does not interfere with in-class learning time as our lunch breaks are only 40 minutes instead of the normal hour. 

All staff professional learning at Manurewa Intermediate is aimed at extending and increasing expertise. This will impact in the desired way on practice when individuals are able to make links between the learning and their professional beliefs, and to take an active role in identifiying and pursuing such learning. An essential belief is that the learning will provide for improved student outcomes.

  

STUDENT COUNCIL 

The purpose of a Student Council is to form a support group to represent student voice. These students will be seen as leaders of the school, to encourage and demonstrate positive behaviour and facilitate events that represent the student body. They meet every week to discuss “school wide issues” and brainstorm ideas. Being a School Councillor is an exciting opportunity for children to develop the skills of initiative and responsibility. The Deputy Principals Operations and Pastoral Care coordinate the student council.

 

Only Year 8 students can become Councillors. At the start of the year a maximum of 8 students are selected. Throughout the year at times when other Year 8 students show leadership skills and are performing well, they may be voted and selected to become a councillor. Student Councillors are always presented with their badges in school assemblies.

 

YEAR 8 GRADUATION 

Year 8 Graduation is held each year, at night, on the same day of the school’s annual prize-giving. It is held to mark the occasion of their graduation to secondary school and to celebrate and acknowledge the successes they have had throughout their time at Manurewa Intermediate School.

  

 

MONEY

Students with money for an activity, etc should hand it into their Form Teacher upon arrival at school.

Money must not be kept in the classroom or in students’ bags at any times. This is emphasised to students often! The school is not responsible for any ‘stolen’ money and will not replace any that is stolen.

 

 

STUDENT PROPERTY AT SCHOOL 

All care is taken with regard to keeping students’ property safe.  Bags are regarded as places where gear can be stored safely.

For all necessary valuables ie. optical glasses, watches etc, classes have routines devised to ensure their safety. Cell Phones are to be handed into the school office at the start of the day and collected at the end of the day. If students keep them during the day they will be confiscated.

Inappropriate property eg. cards, toys, ipods, weapons etc are not to be brought to school.

If they appear, the teacher will take them for safe keeping and return them to the owner at the end of the day, to be taken home and not brought back.

The school is not responsible for any ‘stolen’ or ‘misplaced’ property if the routines have not been followed and we will not replace anything that is stolen.

 

 SCHOOL DETENTION

School Detention is held in Room 35 after school, 3-4pm, on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; and from 2.15-3.15pm on Tuesdays. School detentions can be given when unacceptable behaviour by a student warrants it, for repeated non-compliance, when the other stages in the Stepping Up programme have been completed or for lateness. The Deputy Principal: Pastoral Care will advise parents/caregivers in advance, either by phone call or in writing with a detention notice (or if the reason is more serious via a red card), that their child has a school detention and on which day it is to be completed. Arrangements to collect the student at the end of the detention need to be made. Staff supervise students.

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

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