GENERAL INFORMATION
SCHOOL TIMETABLE
School Starts: 8.55am
Morning Interval: 10.35am - 10.55am
Lunchtime: 12.25pm - 1.20pm
School Finishes: 2.55pm
OFFICE HOURS
The school office is staffed from 8.15am to 3.45pm. We suggest that you try to phone during this period.
ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL
Please phone the school office by 9am to advise of absence or late arrival. We do have a checking system but it helps greatly if you contact us.
LATE ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL
Children arriving late at school must be signed in at the office upon arrival.
PICKING UP/DROPPING OFF CHILDREN
If you need to pick your child up early or drop them off late it is important that you inform the office so the class teacher and bus monitors, if applicable, can be advised. Non-bus pupils are to be collected from inside the school grounds on fine days or their classroom if it is wet. If you are picking up your child early or they arrive late during the school day you must sign them in or out at the office.
LIBRARY
Our school has a well-stocked library, which all classes have the opportunity to visit once or more a week.
The library is also open at lunch time on a daily basis.
As you will understand, books are expensive items. We ask you to assist us and ensure that children look after school library and reading books and return them promptly. Late or missing books will be followed up by the school librarian, and will incur a cost if they can not be found.
MEDICATIONS
From time to time we are asked to administer prescribed medication to children.
On the basis of advice received from the Ministry of Education and the Public Health Nurses the following procedures will apply in such situations.
If children are taking antibiotics it is acceptable for this to be administered at home before school, after school and before bed time.
In the event that medication is necessary at school for eg. Asthma, allergies or specific health conditions a Medication at School Form must be filled out at the school office and the medication supplied is to be locked in the Sick Bay cabinet.
Where such advice is not provided medication can not be administered.
BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE
A number of after school care groups pick up children from Ardmore School. The nearest one to Ardmore School is Bizzybodz before and after school care.
Their programme is run in Ardmore Hall, Burnside Road which is adjacent to the school grounds. For more information contact Jo Adamson on 533 6344/ 021 678 076 or at www.bizzybodz.co.nz
AGRICULTURAL DAY
Reflecting its rural background and setting, the school holds an annual Agricultural Day at the end of Term 3.
Full details of the day, which involves both animal sections and in-class work, are advised to parents progressively from July onwards.
ASSEMBLIES
A whole school assembly is held in the school hall on Fridays at 9.00am.
Awards based on the previous week’s work, are made to each class at this assembly.
There is also singing and, from time to time, presentations.
Teaching teams also hold assemblies, as required.
ENROLMENT SCHEME
To avoid overcrowding the school operates an enrolment scheme.
A copy of the scheme can be obtained from the school office. A description of the scheme can be found on this website.
NEW ENTRANT VISITS, 5 YEAR OLDS
Children once accepted for Ardmore School (either through being in the home area, or through “out of zone” enrolment) should have two pre-school visits.
These take place 8.55am. – 10.35am. on a Monday, and are arranged through the school office.
COMPOSITE CLASSES
For a variety of reasons many of our classes are composite ones.
Often people believe that if their child is placed in a composite class, that child will be disadvantaged. This is definitely not the case as programmes in each classroom are designed to cater for individual differences.
HOMEWORK
As a general school policy homework will be given to children regularly each week.
Homework is largely reflective of work being done at school.
As a guideline homework will comprise the following:
· Year 1-2 reading.
· Year 3-4 home reading and a written component such as spelling, maths.
· Year 5-8 all of Year 1-3 plus unit study research.
REPORTING TO PARENTS
This takes the following forms:
An initial interview in March
A written report and interview mid-year
An end of year written report in December
Parents wanting to see teachers may do so at other times.
Small matters can be dealt with by just dropping in but for more complex issues an appointment should be arranged.
DENTAL CLINIC
Children from Ardmore School can access the Dental Clinic at Papakura Normal School
Phone (09) 298 3028.
Forms to enable a child to access dental care from this source are completed at the time of enrolment.
Parents are advised by newsletter re: dental care during school holiday periods.
NEWSLETTERS
One of the main means of communicating with parents is via the school newsletter. If there is room in the newsletter, any person or group can have a notice published. Simply drop it into the school office or fax it through. Parents are notified well in advance of any trips, requests for money or general “happenings”.
Copies of the latest newsletters can be found on the Latest News page on this website.
COMPLAINTS
Though complaints are not frequent at Ardmore School it is important that parents are aware of procedures for raising concerns. It is important that any problems you have are addressed immediately to prevent issues escalating.
A copy of our Complaints’ Procedure is available from the school office.
MONEY
Children are not encouraged to have money at school except for occasional events and stationery needs.
PARENTS SUPPORT GROUP
Being a sub-committee of the Board of Trustees this group actively supports the school. Some of the main activities are: lunches on Fridays, Agricultural Day, social functions, fundraising and parent liaison.
Everybody is more than welcome to be part of this group and any help would be appreciated. Any queries should be addressed to the school office or the principal.
BUSES
Children within a Ministry of Education defined area are entitled to free, bus transport, providing they are a sufficient distance from the school.
Currently we extend free transport to all in-zone students. For out of zone parents, if you would like your child(ren) to travel to and/or from school by paid bus, please contact the office. There may be a waiting list if buses are full.
Prompt payment of bus fees is necessary to secure your child’s seat.
STATIONERY
At the beginning of the year stationery packs for each class are available for sale from the school office.
During the year ongoing items of stationery are available for purchase.
Teachers will send home a note where further items are required.
SCHOOL DONATIONS
The Board of Trustees set these each year. The current donation is:
$120.00 per child for a full year or $30 per term.
A maximum of $250.00 for a family with 3 children or more.
A discount will apply if school donations are paid for the full year by the end
of Term 1.
SCHOOL PAYMENTS
Any school payment can be made by cash, cheque, eftpos or direct internet payment.
Payment can be made via internet banking. A/c details ASB Papakura 12-3110-0065554-00 Ardmore School
UNIFORM
The school uniform supplier is under review. Further details will follow as soon as possible.
It is asked that all clothing worn to school be named. A lost property box is kept at school. Lost property is displayed regularly for the children to claim. Periodically, remaining lost property is disposed of.