For Parents

We currently welcome students from outside our Kaikōura Suburban School Zone to enrol and join our ‘Fyffe Force learners’! We are a small rural school with an excellent student to teacher ratio, and have a well established student inquiry based programme – L4L (“Learning for Life”). Please make contact with our school office during school hours for further information /process of out of zone applications. admin@kaikourasuburban.school.nz Ph (03) 3195064

Kaikōura Suburban is the dynamic school that provides a rich learning environment to develop children with vision, a good work ethic and skills to further their achievements.

Our school is a Year 1 – 6 community based school in a picturesque rural environment where you’ll find up to 100 self managing, reflective and enthusiastic learners having fun.

Our School Vision….

Fyffe Force Learners commit to climb the mountain of learning for life.

Values

Our VALUES which originate from our vision and the New Zealand Curriculum Key Competencies (Managing Self, Relating to Others, Participating and Contributing, Thinking and Using Language, Symbols and Text) are as follows:

Fun – every student needs to experience fun in everything they do to nurture and maximise their learning,

Organisation – every student needs to be organised with their thinking, setting goals, reflecting on their learning and having the necessary tools for day-to-day learning.

Respect – every student needs to respect their own learning, their peers learning and show respect for their property and environment.

Communication – every student needs to be able to communicate in many ways using a variety of tools.

Excellence – every students has the right to excel in all areas of the curriculum.

These values link to the acronym Fyffe FORCE learners.

Learning for Life, L4L (Inquiry learning).

We choose to teach our Kaikōura Suburban School curriculum, that originates from the New Zealand Curriculum, through L4L.

Our L4L journey starts with a 5 week programme immersing and exciting our learners with many different activities linking to the L4L unit.

The following 5 weeks learning is created from the children’s ‘wonderings’ (the questions and the learning they would like to pursue to enhance their knowledge and learning).

For example, one of our L4L was based on ‘Physical activity in the Kaikōura district.’ The immersion involved whole school bike trip, surfing, boogie boarding, kayaking, orienteering and tramping. The activities that we believe are important for our students to be immersed in.

From this the children decided to hold a Go Kart derby. The children were then asked to choose from a selection of activities: construction, sales, marketing and inventing.

Each 10 week L4L unit is recognised with a learning celebration. This is an evening celebration where the venue changes depending on the theme of the celebration. See event calendar and school newsletters for further information.

What we offer your child…

We believe it is our core responsibility to encourage students to achieve to their highest potential – academically and socially.
As well as offering a strong literacy and numeracy programme we focus on Te Reo Maori, Health & Physical Activity, Social Sciences, Science, the Arts, Dance & Drama and environmental education.
We encourage creativity, curiosity and diversity across the curriculum.
We have a strong outdoor education curriculum – sports coaching, school camps and outings.
1:3 ratio of Apple Mac computers to learner, high speed wireless internet network. We encourage and support children to use their own device.
A school van to make access to the community a whole lot easier.
We have a zero tolerance to bullying. It is every child’s right to learn in a safe environment.
We have a strong partnership with the community.
An enthusiastic and dedicated Home & School committee.

General Information…

Unique features of Kaikōura Suburban School

We are fortunate to be in one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand – five kilometres northwest of Kaikōura, at the foot of majestic Mt Fyffe.

We celebrate and are very proud to recognise 8 different cultural groups, Maori, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Swedish, Latin American, Greek and one of New Zealand’s official languages (sign).

Timetable

The school day starts at 9.00am. Morning interval is at 10.30am, lunch at 12.30pm until 1.25pm. School finishes at 2.55pm.

Healthy living

The children are encouraged to make healthy eating choices – ‘Five Plus a Day’.

We encourage ‘nude’ lunch boxes. This is where we encourage our students to bring along lunch boxes that contains no packaging.

In the winter months (Term 2 and 3) we operate a Healthy Heater, where children can bring suitable items wrapped in tinfoil to be heated for their lunches.

Daily fitness delivered every day.

We have a swimming pool which is used regularly during the summer. Keys are available to school families.

School features

The school buildings include four classrooms, a library and an administration building.

We have our own swimming pool, tennis court, mountain bike track with pump track, adventure playground and a large playing field.

How we show you our learning

School assemblies take place each Monday during the term with a learning celebration at the end of a L4L unit. Check the events calendar any special assembly dates. Parents are encouraged to attend assemblies as a means of viewing their child/rens learning. School assemblies are Monday morning at 9am.

Our informative newsletter is sent home every second Thursday (unless stated otherwise) during the term. We also have a Facebook closed group which the school community are invited to join.

How to get to school

We have a school van that supports our learning in the wider community.

There is a Ministry of Education school bus service if you live locally – enquire for details.

Uniform

School uniform consists of a maroon polo shirt, blue shorts or skorts (for the girls), a maroon sunhat (Terms 1 & 4) and a blue polar fleece. In the winter long blue pants are acceptable and blue thermals under polo shirts. These can be purchased from the Rangiora Warehouse or online at www.schooltex.co.nz. A blue merino jersey is currently being introduced as part of the winter uniform. Orders for the jersey are taken at the school office.

Sunsmart School

We are a Sunsmart school. In Terms 1 & 4 wearing sun hats are compulsory. The sun hats are available from the school office. We provide a shaded area for the children to eat their lunch and play in. There is sun lotion available for the children. We are happy for the child to wear a maroon long sleeved polo shirt as part of the school uniform.

In the winter terms we encourage children to play out in the open areas as Vitamin K is important for well being.

Enrolling Requirements

As of the beginning of the 2014 school year, the Ministry of Education has insisted that the school has an enrolment zone. The zone is west of Mount Fyffe Road to the Kowhai River and north of Hawthorne Road. Please contact the school to discuss enrolment options. Future enrolments are encouraged to contact the school at an early age to aid with the planning of the future of the school.

Enrolment forms are available from the office.

Copy of child’s birth certificate or passport and immunisation certificate are required to complete the enrolment process.

There are 5-6 school visits for students turning 5. A letter will be sent outlining times and dates for school visits to those families who have pre enrolled their students. If you wish to pre enroll please contact the school.

Absences Must Be Justified

The Education Act 1989 states that every student of a registered school shall attend the school whenever it is open. The Act states that it is the responsibility of the parent to ensure that their child does attend. Section 29 states that – Every parent of a person who does not attend commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine.
An absence explained by a parent is not necessarily a justified absence. Parents do not have the right to excuse their child from school, without just cause. For example – last day of school, sports day at school, meeting someone at the airport, dirty uniform, caring for sick family member, birthday etc. A child should only be absent from school for the following reasons – sickness, family bereavement and family emergency.

Parent groups within the school

We have an enthusiastic Board of Trustees who meet monthly. Parents are welcome to attend meetings.

Home & School committee help by instigating and managing the fundraising for the school.

Emergency procedures

We have been advised by Civil Defence to remain at school during any natural disaster. Reasons for this are that the children are familiar with the environment, parents know where the children will be and children’s property will be here. In the unlikely event of an emergency all families will be contacted via text, providing the phone lines haven’t been affected. If communication is lost parents know that their child/ren will here at school.

Kaikōura Suburban School bank details

Bank account details for payment of fees, subs and donations. Please label the payment with payment details.

Bank: Westpac

Branch: Kaikōura

Account: 03 1586 0013283 00

Associated school costs

Student donations are paid annually, these currently being, 1 child $50, 2 children $90, 3 children or more $120. Student donations are reviewed each year.

During the year there maybe associated costs with events and activities your child/ren participate in which we endeavour to keep as low as possible for our whanau/families. These costs will be provided with details of the event/activity through newsletters throughout the year.

Assembly

Each Monday morning in school term, starting at 9am and lasting generally 20-30 minutes. Check Event Calendar for additional special assemblies.

Common questions and answers about Suburban School

Q. Do I need to ring if my child isn’t coming to school today?

A. Yes please, the school must know of all absent children. We have an electronic register where we need to categorise each absentee for Ministry of Education.

Q. Are school uniforms worn?

A. Yes. Rangiora Warehouse stock our school uniform. We do recommend you ring prior, or you can order online, see above.

Q. Can I visit my child during lessons.

A. Of course, just arrange a time with your child’s teacher.

Q. When do I need to enrol my child/ren?

A. It is helpful to the school to enrol your child as soon as possible to allow for staffing and classroom planning to be the best they possibly can to cater for the learning of the children.

Q. Does the school have an enrolment zone?

A. As of 2014 the school does. The zone is west of Mount Fyffe Road to the Kowhai River and north of Hawthorne Road.

Q. How do I know if there is a postponement or cancellation of a school event?

A. You will receive a text message.

Q. What do I do if my contact details change?

A. Contact the school office immediately.