10 Key Facts
- School starts at 8.55am and finishes at 3pm.
Please Note: If children are playing on school grounds after school finishes, parents are responsible for their supervision and management.
- Children usually arrive from 8.30am. (The school cannot take any responsibility for students in the school facilities before 8.30am or after 3.00pm.)
- Morning break is at 11.00am - 11.40am and lunch from 1.00pm - 1.40pm.
- Student-led Assemblies are usually held at 9.10am every second Friday - come along. Dates are in the Newsletter and on the Calendar. Similarly, please join with us at Karakia every Monday and every other Friday morning just after 9.00am.
- Worser Bay School does not have a uniform.
- No child is permitted to leave the school grounds during the school day unless this has been arranged between the school and a parent/caregiver.
- Children must not bring money, valuable or ’attractive‘ items to school.
- Terms 1 and 4, children must wear a hat that shades the face, ears and neck. We also have sunblock in every classroom.
- Wheels Day is every Wednesday.
Students are invited to bring scooters and helmets. No helmet, no scoot!
- Whetūkairangi - Star Gazer
The school was established in 1897, on a historically significant pā site. The Ngai Tara tribe called the pā Whetu-kairangi (star gazer) to convey the idea it was located on high ground, from which only the stars and sea might be seen.
A Rich and Varied School Curriculum
Click on the link to read the Worser Bay School Curriculum Document - updated 2018
Click here for our Positive Education Strategy
Click on the link to read the Charter 2021 and Strategic Plan 2021-2024
Here's our Annual Report for 2020
Absences
A phone call (04-939 7281) or email is required explaining when and why your child/ren is/are absent from school.
If children arrive after 8.55am they must come to the office, sign in and get a Late Pass to give to their base group teacher. We will ring/text parents shortly after 9.15am if we have not been notified.
If your child needs to be collected early from school for any reason, please come to the office and sign them out of school.
Rolls are taken shortly after the bell rings at 8.55am and also after lunch.
After School Care
Some of our families choose Kids Community Hub Children are collected by shuttle van just after 3pm.
Instructions for parents*
- Please read our guidelines carefully. If there are any points you would like to discuss with the school, let your child's Base Group teacher know as soon as possible.
- The Worser Bay School Acceptable Use of Technologies Agreement was developed with the students, based on the school ‘rule’, the value of respect and learning about digital citizenship and safety on the net. WBS Cybersafety Guidelines and Agreement
- The guidelines and agreement have been discussed at school in a way that is age appropriate. Please reinforce the messages and go through this information again at home.
- Please sign the agreement and return it to the school. The other information can be kept at home for your future reference.
- Starting in 2015, senior students (Years 4-6) will be able to bring a digital device to school to assist their learning. This is NOT compulsory. Students can use their own devices throughout the day for collaborative learning, web-based research and applications, including using Google Apps for Education. BYOD Agreement
*The term ‘parent’ used throughout this document also refers to legal guardians and caregivers.
Digital Portfolio - Seesaw
We use Seesaw - a digital portfolio. Seesaw gives your child creative tools to capture and reflect on their learning - in real time. Then this work is shared with you. Seesaw will give you a window into each of our classrooms and into your student’s learning process. Our students are excited to use this tool in partnership with the great things our teachers do in their classrooms.
You can download Seesaw’s Parent App for iOS, Android, or use the web to view your student’s learning artefacts. When your child adds new work, you will receive a notification to see, hear and respond to your child’s learning item. You only have access to your own child’s work and all of the content is stored securely.
Healthy EatingThe school promotes healthy eating habits. We discourage food and drink with high sugar content. Children are encouraged to have named water bottles handy in the classroom. In the junior area, an 'easy to grab out of tote tray' snack is encouraged. Lollies and soft drinks are not permitted.We are ‘rubbish free’, so require students to take their lunch rubbish home with them. Better still, lunches can be placed in compartmentalised lunch boxes without any need for plastics or paper! Sushi lunches on a Friday and Sausage Sizzle on a Tuesday can be ordered through our Online Payment link. Better still, order for the whole term and then forget about it! |
Minor bumps or scratches receive first aid treatment in the school's medical room. In more serious cases, we will contact you immediately.
Please keep the school informed of any changes of work, mobile or home phone numbers, as well as other contacts in case we are unable get hold of you. If your child requires specific medication during school hours, we prefer that they receive this type of medication from a parent, or at home. Click here for our School's Health and Safety Policy. |
In the event of your child being sick with an infectious condition, please check with the office as to when is appropriate for your child to return to school.
We have access to the regular services of:
Children's vision and hearing are professionally checked at intervals throughout their time at Worser Bay School.
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As in any environment, we have students with allergies, the most common being nuts, eggs and dairy. Allergic reactions can be so severe that they may be life threatening. Please read this Important Information regarding Allergies.
Stationery
Once again, we have teamed up with OfficeMax MySchool for ordering school stationery.
Benefits:
- Stationery lists online
- You receive competitive prices direct from the supplier.
- Save time by avoiding busy retail stores.
- Free delivery on orders over $46.
- Order early & have plenty of time to cover your books.
- Your child will start the year with the correct supplies.
- Every dollar spent with OfficeMax MySchool will earn us School Rewards.
To order online using your credit card, go to www.myschool.co.nz/worserbay.
Simply select your child's Year Group and follow the instructions on the website. You do not need to enter a student ID.
Delivery must be to your home or place of work – not to the school.
There are additional products available, that’s up to you. If your child already has a book bag and pencil case this does not require purchasing again.
Term Dates
Term Dates for 2021
Term 2 ends on Friday 9 July
Term 3 - Monday 26 July to Friday 1 October
Term 4 - Monday 18 October to Friday 17 December
Additional Days the School is closed in 2021
Teacher Only Day - Friday 3 September
Labour Weekend - Friday 22 October and Monday 25 October (Labour Day)
Voluntary Contributions
At Worser Bay School, we enjoy an active school community and depend heavily on the families and whānau who contribute to the school in many different ways.
The Ministry of Education provides all schools with a decile-based Operational Grant, which funds basic administration, teaching and property running costs of schools. As a decile 10 school, the Government considers our students come from the highest socio-economic area, so we receive a smaller operational grant per student than lower decile schools. As a school with a smaller roll, our funding base is more modest than other larger schools.
To enable us to provide a quality educational environment and additional resources to enhance the learning we strive for at Worser Bay School, we particularly rely on the Voluntary Contributions made by our families and whānau. They make up half of the fundraising we undertake each year. Follow the link for more information about Fundraising.
The Voluntary Contribution for 2021 is $325 per student. We appreciate that family incomes may be stretched and payments can continue to be made by instalments during the year. If you wish to pay in 2 instalments, these will be $162.50 to be made by the end of Term 1 (Friday 16 April) and by the end of Term 3 (Friday 01 October). If your child starts part way through the year this is calculated on a pro-rata basis. Please discuss with office staff or pay online in 2021 via our website.
Voluntary Contributions are tax deductible, if paid before 31 March 2021 you will receive your tax refund in 2021 – see Tax credit for donations - IRD. Receipts are available via Online Payments.
For further information, see Balancing the School’s Books and Drivers for the Annual Budget.