Central Tākaka School - Guide to the Galaxy

Central Tākaka School’s Guide to the Galaxy

Office Ph: 525 9200    School Cellphone: 0275259200                           Email:sunneva@centraltakaka.school.nz

Staff 2025

Principal: Steve McLean                                                                                           BOT Chair: Ruth Guthrie

BOT Parent Reps: Aaron Bensemann & Zoe Leech BOT Teacher rep: Jodie McLean

Teachers: Room 1 – Shaun Bryant              Room 3 – Jodie McLean/Steve McLean

Teacher Aides: Rosie Polglase and Lola Flanders               Music: Joachim Mauer

Cleaner: Joanna Howard                       Caretaker: Richard Brown

Admin: Sunneva Stocker             Pool: Steve McLean                           

School Timetable

 8.15am              school grounds open                       12.45 - 1.30pm        play

 9.00 - 10.30      classes                                               1.30 - 3.00          classes

10.30 – 10.40     morning tea / story                           3.15                     bus bell rings

10.40 – 11.00     play                                                     3.25                     last bus departs

11.00 – 12.30     classes                                                3.30pm                  school grounds close

12.30 – 12.45     supervised lunch

Absences:

  • The Ministry requires us to collect attendance data twice a day. This data is stored and reported to the Ministry daily. It is important for us to note down the reason for any absences e.g. medical, overseas trip etc. 

  • All student absences must be reported daily. Please phone or txt the school by 9.15am. Please give both your name and your child’s name as well as the reason for their absence. A message saying “will not be at school today” is insufficient and will be recorded as unjustified

  • If you are planning to take your child out of school for longer than one day a note/email/text is required detailing the reason for the absence and the period of time they will be absent from school.

Day Book:

  • If you are taking any students out of school during school time PLEASE use the day book to sign them out AND back in if they return during school hours. The day book is located on right hand side of the office as you enter. It is on a pink clipboard.

  • Parents/Guardians it is your responsibility to notify the school of any changes to your child’s routine (either note/phone/txt). PLEASE do not ask your child to notify the school OR to write changes to their routine in the day book.

After School:

  • It is really important that the school is notified of any changes to your child’s “pick up” arrangements before 12.30pm. The office is not usually staffed after this time so, although whoever is on duty will endeavour to check the answerphone, we cannot guarantee it.

Buses:

  • All students travelling to and from school on the bus need to sign the Bus Code of Conduct form. Any issues arising during time spent on the bus must be raised with the Principal as soon as possible.

Facebook Group:

  • We have a closed facebook group for families only. You can search Central Tākaka School Families or use the following link:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ctsfamilies/. This is a closed group and only approved members have access to files/photos etc. If you don’t wish your child’s image to appear in this group please let me know. In the interest of good digital citizenship it is our policy that we ask students permission to post their work or photos they appear in.

Stationery:

  • Stationery is available year round from the office. We purchase our stationery at a very competitive contract rate. These savings are passed on to you.

Swimming:

  • Swimming is part of the curriculum in Terms 1 & 4 in our heated swimming pool.

Payments:

  • Family invoices will be sent out toward the end of each term. Payments can be made by cash, cheque or AP directly into the school account. Regular AP’s are a great way to lessen the burden of any large costs like class camps..

Library:

  • Every student is given a Library number which allows them to be issued with up to three books. We are extremely proud of our library. It is well maintained and provides an excellent variety of new and classic reading. Library books are purchased primarily through grants, fundraising and donations. We ask that books are returned weekly and that students are encouraged to respect the privilege of borrowing books. The junior class visits the library every Thursday afternoon. The seniors’ time varies. The library is also open Monday to Thursday lunchtimes for students to read and/or issue books.

Emergency School Closure:

  • In the event of an extraordinary event, like flooding, necessitating the closure of the school you will be notified by telephone or text. If we are unable to contact you, your child will be kept at school under the care of staff.

School Lunches:

  • Our Home and School provides lunches on most Fridays during the school term. These are always a hit with the students and a really good fundraiser. Please note, these lunches are not intended to provide all the food needs of your child to get them through the busy day. If you are able to offer a school lunch let us know.

Newsletter:

  • This is the school community newsletter it comes out twice a term. This year we have decided that we will not print hard copies anymore. If you would like to receive a hard copy, let Sunneva know and she can print you off one. It is your newsletter so please if you have anything to advertise, a cool photo OR almost anything just forward it to the office. Sunneva is always on the lookout for things to fill up gaps.

School Policies:

  • Our school policies are hosted online by School Docs. You can read any of our policies by visiting https://centraltakaka.schooldocs.co.nz/ username: central password: central. We have a three year review cycle and frequently require parent input for this. We will notify you in the newsletter when this happens. You are able to offer feedback online at any time about any of our policies.

Money:

  • From time to time students are requested to bring money to school for lunches, stationery or trips. Please can you put the money in a secure envelope or plastic bag noting your child’s name, the amount and what it is for. We have limited change stored at the office so the correct, or close to it, amount is appreciated. 

Home and School Group:

  • Home and school is a group of parents that get together to assist with fundraising and organisation of school events. Any parent can join. Let us know if you are keen, or lookout for notification of meetings in the school newsletter.

School Hui:

  • Every week both classes get together for a school hui. We celebrate students who are showing our school values that week and talk about things which are happening.

Sun Smart:

  • In Terms 1 and 4 we encourage you to apply sunscreen to your child before school. Students are required to wear sunhats for outside times during these terms.

Rubbish:

  • We are rubbish free when it comes to school lunches. Organic waste can go in our compost but all other rubbish in school lunches goes back home in lunchboxes.

Things NOT to bring to school:

  • We are trying to encourage healthy eating at this school so we are requesting that sweets and fizzy drinks are not brought to school.

Found:

  • Found property, unless valuable, is hung on the rack outside the Library. If something valuable is handed in it will be stored in the locked filing cabinet in the office.  

Labelling:

  • It is a great idea to label lunchboxes, bags and clothing with your child’s name.