Pembroke School Newsletter
Week 1, Term 2
Nau mai, haere mai, Welcome back for Term 2
PEMBROKE ANZAC SERVICE, 2PM TUESDAY 30 APRIL, PEMBROKE HALL
Please join us for our annual Pembroke School ANZAC service where we take time to remember the servicemen of our Pembroke Community and the sacrifice that they are their families made for our country.
ENSURING OUR SCHOOL IS A POSITIVE SAFE SPACE THAT UPHOLDS OUR ASPIRE VALUES
OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS POLICY
The Pembroke School Board have reviewed our Community Expecations Policy and would like to ensure that it is something that our whanau and community are familiar with.
It is important to the School Board and staff that our community act in a way that is respectful of our students and staff. If you witness any incidents that breach our Community Expectations Policy or your child expresses concerns to you that breach the expectations please contact the school principal or Associate Principal, Vincent Sharp as soon as practicable and they will pass this on to the School Board to follow our school processes in responding to the incident.
It is good at the start of the school term to also remind parents what our school process is for dealing with concerns relating to your child.
If it is small concern and you are in the right frame of mind to discuss this briefly and respectfully with the classroom teacher please feel free to pop into the classroom for a quick chat with the teacher, always being mindful that in the mornings they are meeting with students and preparing for the school day. After school teachers sometimes have meetings or professional development to attend.
If the concern you have requires time to discuss please contact Carol in the school office to book a time with the teacher or principal. admin@pembrokestratford.school.nz or 765 7944
Any conversations with staff should always be respectful and align with our Community Expectations Policy.
Community Conduct Expectations Policy
Pembroke School is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for students, staff, and visitors.
Our Code of Conduct serves as a reminder to all parents, caregivers, and school visitors that their conduct must support everyone’s emotional and physical wellbeing, and not harm it in any way.
The Code of Conduct applies:
- to all conduct, speech, and action, and includes emails, texts, phone calls, social media, or other communication
- while on school grounds or at another venue where students and/or staff are assembled for school purposes (such as a camp or sports match).
Standards of conduct
Pembroke School expects parents, caregivers, and visitors to:
- treat everyone with respect
- work together in partnership with staff for the benefit of students
- respect and adhere to our school values
- set a good example for students at all times
- follow school procedures to handle any complaints
- adhere to school policies and procedures (such as those listed below), and any legal requirements.
Examples of unsuitable conduct include:
- threats, bullying, harassment
- profanity/offensive language
- insulting, abusing, or intimidating behaviour
- racism or discrimination (e.g. based on ethnicity, religion)
- physical aggression
- deception/fraud
- damaging school property
- smoking, vaping, possessing, or using alcohol/drugs/other harmful substances on school premises or at another venue where students and/or staff are assembled for school purposes (except possession or use of alcohol in accordance with school policy)
- placing unreasonable and excessive expectations on staff time or resources
- pursuing a complaint or campaign, or making defamatory, offensive, or derogatory comments, regarding the school, its board, or any staff or students on social media or other public forums
- wearing gang insignia on the school grounds. (This is not allowed under the Prohibition of Gang Insignia legislation, and anyone wearing it will be asked to leave.)
Dealing with breaches of the Code of Conduct
How Pembroke School deals with breaches of our Code of Conduct depends on the nature of the incident and its seriousness, and the process any witness or victim of the behaviour feels most comfortable with. Examples include:
- documenting each instance of behaviour, including the date, time, place, who was present, what was said (verbatim if possible), how any witness or victim felt and/or responded
- holding a meeting with the relevant person, the principal, and/or board chair (or their delegate) or appropriate staff member to discuss the problem and possible resolution
- issuing a warning letter that outlines the problem and required resolution, and reminds them of the possible outcomes of repeated conduct
- arranging a meeting, which may include restorative practices, as an alternative or in addition to the processes above.
Outcomes of breaching the Code of Conduct
If a parent, caregiver, or visitor acts or speaks in a way that contravenes the Code of Conduct, possible outcomes may include:
- The school (principal, board member, or staff member) may ask a person to leave the school premises by revoking their permission to be on the school grounds, then asking them to leave under section 3 of the Trespass Act 1980.
- Unacceptable behaviour of a criminal nature may result in the police being informed. For example, under section 241 of the Education and Training Act 2020, it is a criminal offence to insult, abuse, or intimidate a staff member within the presence or hearing of any student while on school premises or in any other place where students are assembled for school purposes. Other instances of criminal offending may occur where drugs are involved, an assault has occurred, or a person persists after being trespassed off school grounds.
- In the case of behaviour amounting to harassment, a restraining order may be sought.
- In some instances, it may be appropriate to refer behaviour to a third party for resolution. For example, a Facebook comment that contravenes this policy may result in a report to Facebook. If unacceptable behaviour occurs at a sports event or sports venue, then it may be appropriate to involve the governing body of that sport, event, or venue.
School Uniform Policy
Another important policy for parents to be familiar with is our School Uniform Policy.
Our school uniform consists of:
Our school polo and polar fleece and in Term 1 and 4 our school sunhat. We will also have a school beanie available for purchase soon as an optional item. Soft shelled jackets in our school colours are also optional along with skorts and shorts. Plain black tights, shorts, skirts or pants are to be worn with our polo and fleece. As per our policy, if you require support for your child to wear our uniform please make contact with the school office so that we are able to support your child to wear our correct school uniform.
If your child has a temporary reason for not being able to wear their uniform, please provide a note or contact to your child's teacher with the explanation and anticipated time frame. Thank you.
Student Uniform Policy
Pembroke School requires our students to wear a school uniform. This policy and the associated uniform rules are a school bylaw. The board consults with the school community when updating this policy and making or amending uniform rules.
Our uniform rules outline what students can and cannot wear at school and while representing the school. These rules are made clear to students and their parents/caregivers at enrolment. We follow school processes for managing breaches of uniform rules, which may include contacting parents/caregivers and involving senior staff. If uniform breaches are due to financial hardship, our school works with parents/caregivers to find a solution.
Students may be reminded about appropriate dress expectations for the school learning environment before non-uniform days.
Students must behave appropriately while in uniform (e.g. at school, at events representing the school, and travelling to and from school).
The board may review our uniform rules when issues arise, and/or as part of the review of this Student Uniform policy. When reviewing our uniform, we consult with the school community and consider student wellbeing (including sun protection), affordability, our inclusive education policy, and the New Zealand Human Rights Commission uniform guidelines.
The school office can be contacted for further information.
Holiday Classroom Upgrades Complete!
Over the school holiday break our classroom spaces were upgraded, the yellow paint is gone, replaced with white and the wall linings have also been replaced bringing a nice modern look to all our classrooms. We have more projects on the horizon but it is great to take a moment and reflect on how far we have come in improving our school environment both inside and out. If you haven't seen the new look yet, make sure you pop in and have a look. Thank you to all the staff for your patience throughout the building work and all the additional hours that our teachers have had to put in stripping the walls, moving furniture, re setting up your rooms from top to bottom and cleaning. It is very much appreciated.
Help Needed: Waterblasting, Tree Pruning, Cosmetic Painting
If you have the time and the know how we have a couple of projects we need help with at school. Our green buildings are developing a bit of a green tinge of another kind and need a bit of a water blast. The Kowhai outside Tawa Class needs a bit of a haircut and we would love to have the poles in our courtyard painted and the handrails to our classrooms to tie us over until our school painting is due to be done. These few projects would really help to tidy the place up. If you are able to help out can you please touch base with Carol. Thank you! All help is very much appreciated.
PTA - All Welcome!
We have a really neat group of parents involved in our PTA who work hard to help raise funds and support our school. Please consider if you have time to contribute, many hands make light work and when that work is for the benefit of our children what better motivation is there. Meetings are after school on the Friday each month in Totara Room. Come along and support our school in providing great resources and opportunties for our students. Next meeting this Friday 3 May.
Keep an Eye Out for Up and Coming Events
Our regular newsletters will commense next week. Please keep an eye out for events that are coming up this term, we are looking forward to everything from touch tournments, Jones Cup, Junior Play Day, Puanga Celebrations, Our Pembroke School 131 year birthday celebration and more.