Kia ora koutou.
 
Welcome back to the new school year. We hope everyone had a refreshing summer break. The term has started off really well, our students have settled into their new classrooms and are forming new friendships. Our swimming programme has begun for the Juniors and Senior swimming starts next week. Please refer to classroom newsletters that are coming home this week about when swimming is happening for your child. Construction on the new senior playground structure begins this week, it is being built next to the existing playground - it's very exciting for the students to have something new to enjoy in their break times.

Tomorrow is Waitangi Day, we hope you enjoy the day with your family in your own special way. Please remember that the school is closed this Friday- enjoy the long weekend!
 
Today we held a mihi whakatau to welcome our new students, teachers and any new families into our school. Our new staff are Mrs Sarah O'Connor-Townshend (Rm 8), Ms Tonja Storey (Rm 15), Whaea Kelly (Rm 16). We have an additional Yr 7/8 class this year due to our senior numbers - Miss Fairweather has joined the senior team and is teaching this class in Rm 7. We have quite a few release teachers spread across the school, providing the teachers with their classroom release time. We have Mrs Mahutonga and Mrs Grainger along with Mr Follas and Mrs Bruce, Mrs Bell and Mrs Jones. We are very fortunate to have a group of experienced and past staff supporting our students. Each teacher receives at least 5 days a term release, some will have more depending on their responsibilities.

Please note we have a district wide Teacher Only Day planned for Tuesday the 18th of March as part of the Governments change in Mathematics Curriculum. We will be hosting all of the other primary schools here for a day of professional development.
 
Sun Smart is important at this time of the year for everyone. We encourage the Slip, Slop, Slap message when playing outside. With a lot more students riding bikes to school each morning we just want to remind them that they need to wear a cycle helmet. Our road patrol team is out each morning and afternoon, they are there to assist students across the pedestrian crossings ensuring their safety.
 
We would like to remind all students that cellphones have to be handed into the school office and collected at the end of school each day.
 
Please help your child follow the 'footprint' pathway if you are walking in with them. The driveway access is only for students with bikes and scooters to use.
 
The Otorohanga South School Board of Trustees invites applications from parents who live outside of our enrolment zone and wish to enrol their New Entrant (5 yr old) sons and daughters at our school for Terms 1 - 4 of 2025 and Term 1 - 2026. Details of our enrolment scheme and pre-enrolment application forms are available from the school office or on our website. Thanks to the parents who have already notified us last year.
 
Please note as part of this process we appreciate all existing in-zone families of the school to let us know if they are planning on enrolling their child to help determine how many spaces we have for out-of-zone placements. The exact number of places available will depend on the number of students who live within the school’s home zone. 
 
Ngā mihi, 
Scott Lincoln 
Principal 

2025 TERM DATES

Term 1 - Mon - 3rd Feb - Thurs 11th April

Term 2 - Mon 28th April - Fri 27th June

Term 3 - Mon 14th July - Fri 19th Sept

Term 4 - Mon 6th Oct - Wed 17th Dec

February
Thurs 6th - Waitangi Day
Fri 7th - School Closed

March
Wed 5th - Lower & Upper Junior Swimming
Fri 7th - OSS Senior Swimming
Wed 12th - COPS Inter-School Swimming
Fri 14th - Gala - Half Day  - School Closes at 12:30pm
Tues 18th - School closed - Teacher Only Day - Mathematics Curriculum refresh.

 

Scott Lincoln                           -            Principal                 

Cheryl Hickford                       -           Deputy Principal                  

Angela Nield                           -           AP/Senior Team Leader        R1                   Y7/8
Christie Millin                         -            Assistant Principal 
                                                 -            Junior Team Leader  

Carmen Harnett                      -           Teacher                                   R2                   Y7/8

Andy Bruce                              -           Teacher                                  R3                   Y7/8 
Liv Fairweather                      -            Teacher                                  R7                   Y7/8  

Ayla Goddard                          -           Middle Team Leader            R4                   Y5/6

Lauren Ormsby                       -           Teacher                                   R5                   Y5/6

Tegan Davies                          -           Teacher                                   R6                   Y5/6  
Liv Fairweather                      -            Teacher                                  R7                   Y7/8

Kerry-Anne Lardelli               -            Upper Junior Team Leader  R14                 Y3/4

Tonja Storey                            -           Teacher                                   R15                 Y3/4

Kelly Williams                        -           Teacher                                  R16                  Y3/4   
Sarah O'Connor Townshend -           Teacher                                  R8                    Y1/2
Alyssa King                             -           Teacher                                  R9                     Y2

Abby Murphy                          -           Teacher                                  R10                   Y1

Adelle Morris                          -           Teacher                                  R11                   Y1

Faith Miller                              -           Teacher                                  R13

Donna Russell                        -           Technicraft Teacher              Food & Fabric

Matt Roets                              -           Technicraft Teacher              Hard Materials

Barbara Jones                         -           Release Teacher

Karen Bruce                            -           Release Teacher
Karen Bell                               -           Release Teacher
Anna McKey                           -           Release Teacher
Dave Follas                             -           Release Teacher

Sandra Rattray                       -            Librarian/Enrolments Officer 

Jody van der Hoek                  -           Office Manager

 

Mainstream Teacher Aides:

Tanya Edwards, Andrea Grainer, Holly Cornelius, Kim Shailer, Sue Schlager

 

Room 13 Teacher Aides:

Christine Mitchell, Angie McPhee 

 

Caretaker

Adrin Norozi-Iranzad

  

Cleaner                                    

Tahereh Norozi Iranzad 

 

Regular attendance and effective teaching are the biggest contributors to improving achievement outcomes. 

Please advise the school as early as possible of any absence or lateness.  A telephone call, note, email or text (0279110819) is expected.  We will contact you to ascertain where your child is or the reason for their absence if we have not been informed shortly after school begins. This info is required to be logged in to our electronic register system.

If your child is sick, please keep them home until they are well. 

Establish that you are living within our Enrolment Zone.  See our website for Maps and Vacancy details or our Enrolment Officer. 

A copy of birth certificate, confirmation of address, and the sighting of the child’s immunisation certificate is required for all enrolments.

When enrolment is confirmed and on their first day, ensure they have: -

 *  Exercise books, paper & writing utensils.

 *  Lunch.

Moving to another school

As a courtesy, please advise the teachers or office staff if you are moving to another district and school in plenty of time.  We can then make sure all your children’s exercise books are returned to you.  It also gives us a chance to check that all library books borrowed in your children’s names are returned to the library.

Zero Tolerance for Bullying 

All children have the right to live and learn in an environment where they feel valued and safe.  They are able to learn most effectively in an atmosphere free of verbal harassment and physical violence.  Schools are places where bullying can flourish and we need strategies in place that will result in threatened children feeling safe, and the bullying behaviour of the offenders being modified.

Bullying usually has three common features:

» it is deliberate, hurtful behaviour

» it is repeated often over a period of time

» it is difficult for those being bullied to defend themselves

There are three main types of bullying:

» physical; e.g. hitting, kicking, taking belongings

» verbal; e.g. name-calling, insulting, sexist, racist, homophobic remarks

» indirect; e.g. spreading nasty stories, excluding from groups

We want parents to be confident that the school staff do treat this issue seriously and are doing something about it, and they can in turn do their part, to support us in our efforts to minimise bullying in our school.   Please contact your child’s classroom teacher as soon as you are aware of any problem your child is having.

Rooms 1 – 7 - Every 2nd Thursday at 1:30pm.
Rooms 8 - 16 - Every 2nd Friday at 11am.
Whole school assembly termly in the Hall with the end of term assembly being a ‘Pen Assembly’ where life long learning is celebrated by 2 students from each room receiving a Life Long Learner award.  We celebrate a range of student achievements taking place both in and out of the school.

Teachers encourage appropriate behaviour of pupils on their way to school or returning from school to their homes.

If your child is involved in an incident after school please let us know. In most cases the school has no jurisdiction over incidents taking place outside of school hours. We will endeavour to provide support and advice where we can. It is a good idea to notify the Police of any harassment, threats or dangerous driving that you observe or are aware of. They have the powers to follow up these incidents that take place outside of school hours.

We prefer children not to arrive at school before 8:30am as teachers are busy preparing for the day, and supervision starts at 8:30am.

8:30am Children allowed into corridor & foyers.

9 am Children move quickly to classrooms.

10:40am Morning interval.

11:00am Interval ends.

12:30pm Lunch.

12:45pm Children dismissed by duty teacher and/or Councillors.

1:20pm 2 short bells to signal sports gear return and toileting.

1:25pm Lunch interval ends.

2:55pm School closes and all bus children assemble.

Wet Day Supervision:

Signal for wet day supervision - 3 rings on bell at beginning of morning interval and lunch time.  Children will remain inside under supervision.  Should weather clear - after 12:45pm - duty teacher will ring 1 long bell and children may go out, and normal playground supervision will take over.  If it is necessary to bring children in after 12:45pm through wet weather, duty teacher will ring 3 bells and wet weather supervision will take over immediately.

An all-in-one Scholastic Book Club brochure that includes all reading levels will go home once a term. The books are usually good value for money.  The School does not receive a commission but does have access to a few buying specials or free issues. Please place your orders through the Scholastic website mybookclub.scholastic.co.nz or at the school office by the due date.

The role of the Board of Trustees is to govern the school.  It is their responsibility to be a good employer.  It involves a successful blend of professional expertise, community involvement, and co-operation.  The whole focus is on the needs of children and their learning.

The Board of Trustees at Ōtorohanga South are committed to the above and work in close harmony with all staff of the school.

The regular meetings of the Board are on the 3rd Tuesday of every month except in January.  All parents are most welcome to attend.  Parents wishing to discuss an issue should have it in writing to the office one week prior to the Board meeting.

Members of the Board of Trustees are:

Chairperson:  David Brown 

Elected Members:  Lauren King, Ben Connolly, Narita Fletcher, Cara-Lee Hetet

Staff Rep:  Christie Millin

Buses are organised through School Transport, MOE and operated by Go Bus.   Safety precautions are taken by a staff member each afternoon.  Responsible monitors are on each bus and they report any problems or misbehaviour to the teacher responsible.  Any concerns please view the policy and talk to the teacher in charge.

Speed limit is walking pace.  Quick drop off zone (1 minute limit) is on western side of carpark between school entrance and shelter.  Use parking area if waiting more than 30 seconds or wanting to visit.  Be aware of the pedestrian crossing near the entrance of the carpark and at the bus shelter (under school sign).  Please do not park around the edge where the no parking line is displayed nor use the staff/service vehicle entrance into the school grounds.

Our school has well defined Fire and Earthquake procedures.  Our staff are primarily responsible for the safety of your children - all other duties are secondary.  Should a major emergency occur, school will hold the children until, either it is safe to release them, or parents collect them.

Please feel free to view our emergency procedures.

Generally each year children move from room to room.  Sometimes your child will have the same teacher for 2 years, sometimes your child will get a new teacher.  Class composition is generally based on the number of children at school - divided by the number of teachers.  When organising classes for the year we try to ensure flexibility and that all teachers have an even number of children in their class.  This means that classes are composite.  Students are taught, especially in literacy and numeracy, at the level they are currently at.

We recommend that you teach your children to ride safely and that you ride with them until you are sure they:

Children under 8 should not ride bikes to school.  Cycle safety helmets must be worn at all times.  Cycles should be maintained in good order and checked regularly.  We do not permit borrowing and lending of cycles during school hours.

The Dental Therapist undertakes most of the dental health care offered to children from Year 1 to Year 8 and operates from a mobile clinic for defined periods here. Some children are referred to a Dentist.   For all emergencies etc please contact the Dental Therapist on 0800 825 583.

(This is practised once per term)

Signal:  Continuous ring of the bell.  If power is off, a series of whistle blasts.

Action:  

See Emergency Procedure Booklet.

If the school needs to be evacuated written notice will be given and displayed in the staffroom windows.

We try to release all children at 2:55 p.m. daily.  

All children must leave the playground by 3:15 p.m. and go home - they may return later provided their behaviour is acceptable and they have parental approval.

No staff oversight or responsibility is provided for children returning to play.

Home Reading

All children are encouraged to read regularly at home.  We like families to set aside a special reading time.  Each classroom has its own home reading programme.  Junior school children have home reading every night.

Homework programmes take place usually on a weekly basis and may involve a challenge task, plus parental help.  Research or project tasks may be set and usually involve work over several days.  Our aim is to have this extra work meaningful and achievable. We endeavour to provide students with opportunities to practice skills as opposed to learning new concepts as homework activities.  With co-operation from home, children should view homework as a challenge.  As a guideline, homework for Y1 – Y3 should be no more than 10 minutes, Y4 – Y6 20 minutes, Y7 – Y8 no more than 30 minutes per night. For our full guidelines please contact our office.

Learning is a process which involves Parents, Teachers, Home/School & Community.  We like to involve parents where possible.  Please feel free to make suggestions.  If you have feedback for us please discuss them with us.  Without the support and help of parents in so many practical and financial ways, our school would be far less effective and attractive.  Please keep up your positive support.

New parents - welcome to our school.  To get the most for your children become positively involved with your school.

Communication between the class and teacher can be through a notebook or homework book. Feel free to discuss any issues with your child’s teacher before or after school, preferably by appointment.

Students require a signed internet licence to be able to access the internet at school. A contract and Internet use procedure is provided for reading and signing by both parents and the student. Teachers retain these licences throughout the year. Students are able to use computers outside of school hours and during break times only when they have teacher supervision. 

Should children be taking medicine which could affect their behaviour or school work please contact the teacher or office staff.  If children have asthma inhalers, or similar, they should be brought to school and be available for use.  All parents need to sign a disclaimer if you require staff to administer medicine.  Should children be allergic to bee/wasp stings etc. please advise the teacher and office and provide the necessary medication.

Accidents at school - depending upon the circumstances or situation we:

Sometimes children need to bring money to school for such reasons as school trips, photos etc.  This should be taken to the office.  It should not be left around or put in desks.  Please encourage children to be “SAFETY WISE” with money.  Extra money should not be brought to school.  

There are, at times, a number of musical instrument and singing options for students during and outside of school hours. Please refer to weekly newsletters or ring the office for further information.

Newsletters get sent out via email. It is also posted to our Facebook page and uploaded to the school website. Please contact the office if you would like to put something in the newsletter.  

(ORRS)  Children with high learning needs and who are on ORRS Funding may select Room 13 as an alternative to mainstream education.  Children who attend Room 13 will be integrated into mainstream classrooms according to their Individual Education Plan.

Should you require to collect your children early please write a note to the teacher or, if unanticipated, contact school by phone as soon as possible to lessen disruption to staff & students.

Should there be legal non-access restrictions regarding your children, please advise school in writing; unless there is a non-access order both parents have equal rights.

Picking up children for Special Appointments:- Please call/email the office or teacher to arrange for the student to be collected.  For safety reasons children will not wait at the gate to be picked up by parents unless prior arrangement is made.

Our popular Gala event, held in March is the only fundraiser we run. Parent support is vital for its success. We appreciate your help in the lead up and on the day of this event. More details are published in the school newsletter closer to the time.

          permission from a staff member.

The school is responsible for playground supervision from:

 8:30 - 9:00 a.m.

 10:40 - 11:00 a.m.

 12:30 - 1:25 p.m.

 2:55 - 3:20 p.m. (car park supervision) or until the departure of the last bus.

During intervals 2 teachers will be on duty.  Their duties include:

          always be asked to leave.

A police officer may interview a child at school if:

A Social Worker may interview a child under section 17 of the Children, Young Person and Families Act 1989 without having to notify parents or caregivers as part of a care and protection investigation. We take all reasonable steps to ensure the comfort and safety of students in all investigatory matters.

Please label all property and clothing as it is so much easier to find the owners.  There is a lost property area at school.

Lost property is regularly displayed at assembly or other convenient times.  We suggest you check clothing regularly as we often have some items unclaimed for many weeks (sometimes never claimed).  At the end of term unclaimed items are usually sent to the opportunity shop or other worthwhile agency.

Along with all the other schools we receive regular visits from the Public Health Nurse who keeps a general eye on children’s health.  She makes home visits as necessary.

The Public Health Nurse is responsible for arranging the usual health checks (particularly 5 year olds) - she may refer parents to their family doctor.  Health camp stays are her responsibility.  We find the Public Health Nurse an excellent link between home and school.

We endeavour to cover as many aspects of safety as possible in our education programme - please remember this is a two way programme and that children learn by your example as well as school instruction. We have a hazard register which is updated regularly. We wish to keep our school environment as safe as possible at all times. 

School camps are reviewed year by year with the staff likely to be involved and the themes being pursued - bush, beach, mountain, urban.

Our computerised school library has a very good collection of over 5,000 books which is being added to and updated as funds permit (as a general guide $1,000 fills less than one metre of shelving).

We timetable our children to use the library regularly and to care for the books they read.  They may take home one book at a time.  Each child must have a library bag to help avoid loss and maintain condition. Those students without a bag will be unable to take issued books home.  Occasionally younger members of the family will tear a page in a book - please tell us if this happens, so early repairs can be made.  An account will be sent home to cover the cost of any lost books. 

Particularly in the Junior School children take home readers or other similar material.  As with library books, we hope families will ensure books are used for reading, kept in good condition and returned to school immediately after use.  They are usually part of a group set and very valuable to school - your co-operation is appreciated.

LUNCHES
We are part of the free lunch programme. If your child has healthy food and drink everyday it’s good for their attention, behaviour and sets them up for learning. Please do not send lollies, fizzy drinks and large packets of chips etc, they will be collected and given back at the end of the day. We have a breakfast option running most mornings a week starting at 8:30am where free weetbix and milk are on offer for students.

Classes arrange outings to fit in with their teaching programme.  Parents are notified well in advance of the purpose of the visit, costs involved, supervision and transport (if any).

We welcome and encourage parent participation.  All day trips must have the approval of the Principal. All overnight camps require the ratification of the Board of Trustees. We take our job seriously in ensuring that we aim to minimize risks to provide safe learning experiences for our students.

Otorohanga South School programmes follow the National Curriculum Documents.  

Within these guidelines Otorohanga South adapts the programme to best suit your child’s needs.

If you have any enquiries, please contact your child’s teacher.

NB Health Education

Sex Education is not taught in Primary School.  Pubertal change is taught only after parent consultation (2 yearly) and children may be removed from these lessons if a parent makes a written request.

An interview in Term 1 will be held so that you can meet the teacher and discuss your child’s learning early in the school year. School reports are given to all parents at mid year (usually late June) and end of year – December.  Interviews are held in the last week of Term 2 for parents to discuss progress and achievement. You have the option at both interviews in Term 1 and 2 to have your child sit in on the interview process.  Reports contain judgements made by teachers against The National Standards.  You will also be informed of what your child can do, what their next learning steps are as well as what you can do at home to help.

Most parents are considerate and co-operative, keeping their children home when necessary - if in doubt please contact school.  If infectious diseases are involved your doctor will advise when a child is able to return to school, often once a treatment has started, spreading by contact is no longer a problem.

Headlice is a recurring problem.  Attacks occur right throughout the year.  Please check your children regularly.  Your chemist or doctor will advise on treatment.  Please inform the teacher. Please take immediate action if contacted by the school regarding a lice problem. This avoids further spreading of the lice.

Group Special Education:  Children may be referred for a wide range of reasons.  There are usually interviews with both parents and child.  A report is prepared for the school.  Usually suggested actions are listed.  Occasionally we can get special help, usually for individual children.

Special Needs:  The school also has a committee which looks at children most at risk and allocates programmes that will endeavour to improve the child’s progress.  They may include Reading Recovery/Teacher Aide/ Reading/ Numeracy/Literacy Support. Contact Cheryl Hickford for further info.

Teacher Aide:  Some children may be given extra teacher aide time after consultation with the child’s parent, and the writing of an Individual Education Plan.  Children are put on a priority list for this support.

Special Needs Classroom:  Those children with more complex special needs may enrol and attend Room 13.  

At school children are taught a variety of sport i.e. miniball, softball, cricket, rugby, netball, hockey, swimming, ripper rugby, cross country running.  

During the year the following sport events take place:

February - School & Interschool Swimming Sports

June - Interschool Netball/Soccer/Rugby/Hockey

September - School & Interschool Cross country

November – School & Interschool Athletics

All children are to take part in these school events.  All children do suitable training leading up to these events, especially cross country.  Children must have a note / Doctors Certificate if they cannot take part.  For interschool events children must wear the school sports uniform.

Students are able to bring their own clearly named sports gear to school if they wish. We would like to have this option available for students and stress that is at their own risk and they must take full responsibility for storing and caring for the equipment. Please ensure gear is named and that you as the parent are aware of equipment your child may be bringing to school. Unnamed gear will be taken by the teacher and returned to the child at the end of the day.

There is no set uniform.  We expect a reasonable standard of dress.  Cleanliness, tidiness and suitability are the major requirements.  Our playing areas can be extremely wet and muddy and it is impossible to keep all the children away from it all the time.  We expect our children to remove dirty footwear before entering classrooms. We have smart school shirts available for purchase. Make inquiries with our office staff.

Jewellery (bangles, necklaces, anklets, rings) are not considered appropriate for school.  Earrings (other than studs) are most unsuitable for school due to danger in play and should not be worn.  Studs and watches only.  All other piercings and facial make up, are deemed to be inappropriate for school time.

At the end of the year lists are posted on our website so that parents can buy the necessary stationery as soon as possible.  Parents should purchase stationery where they can get the best deals for their children and have this ready for the start of the year where possible.

All children are to wear sunhats preferably with brims in Terms 1 and 4.  Those children not wearing sunhats will be asked to play in shaded areas. It is advisable that students apply sunscreen prior to the start of the day in these terms. We have a number of excellent shade spaces under trees and sails. It is advisable that shoulders are covered to add further protection from the sun.

It is our aim to teach children to be water confident, to swim with a developing technique, to enjoy water and to survive.

Weather permitting each Year 1-6 class has equal access to the pool during the Term 1 season. Year 7/8 classes walk to the town pools at least 3 times per week during the Term 1 season. Please see that swim wear is brought to school and taken home daily.  Regular instruction is necessary for progress.  We require a note if a child is not to swim.  We encourage good swimming techniques and style and goggles and caps are a useful addition to supporting water confidence and learning in the pool.

For Year 7 & Year 8 = $60 per year.

Term 1 –Monday 3rd February to Friday 11th April

Term 2 – Monday 28th April to Friday 27th June

Term 3 – Monday 14th July to Friday 19th September

Term 4 – Monday 6th October to Wednesday 17th December

School operates a group of traffic wardens for Te Kanawa Street and Rangipare Street - school gate pedestrian crossing.  The wardens’ task is to assist children to cross the road safely in a controlled manner.  

Duty Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 8:50 a.m.

           2:55 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.  

 

At Ōtorohanga South School we have 4 KETE values. 

These are:  Kindness, Effort, Trustworthy and Engaged. 

We actively promote these values in all that we do. Teaching these values to our tamariki is a journey and we are continually looking at ways to promote positive behaviours for learning. 

Our KETE values were developed to help promote consistent language when we talk about expected behaviour across all our school settings. We also use this language when supporting our students' social, emotional and educational needs. 

We hope the start of the 2025 school year has been a great one! We are looking forward to a full on action packed  year.