Health and Safety

Behaviour Management

Students are encouraged to demonstrate care, thought and consideration for people, property and the physical environment.  We hope that by giving them guidance, trust, responsibility and a framework for acceptable behaviour they will develop independence and self-discipline.  The onus for responsible behaviour is on the students themselves and we give them a clear outline of the behaviour expectations to be observed, and the consequences of non-compliance.

Classroom behaviour expectations

• Follow instructions
• Maintain a quiet working atmosphere (no individual voice should be heard)
• Allow others to work undisturbed at all times (keep feet, hands and objects to yourselves)
• Be prepared before classes begin and ready to work when the bell rings
• Address peers and teachers appropriately at all times (no teasing, name calling, swearing etc)
• Always raise your hand and wait to be asked to speak.

 

Playground behaviour expectations

• Sit down during morning tea/lunch eating times until dismissed by a staff member
• Do not eat or drink in the playground unless seated and under supervision of a staff member
• Stay out of the school buildings unless it is a school-designated ‘wet day’ (the toilet blocks and library are exempted from this rule but behaviour in these areas must be appropriate)
• Remain in the playground at all times unless you have a teacher’s permission to leave the grounds (includes climbing over the fence to retrieve equipment, climbing on the roof etc)
• Use appropriate social behaviour (this does not include bullying, teasing, name calling, swearing, bad language, interference with property and games of others, fighting etc)
• Use equipment appropriately (not causing damage or injury to you, others or the equipment).

 

Consequences

• If a student fails to meet a behaviour expectation, the behaviour will be managed, initially, by the classroom teacher/playground duty teacher in a manner appropriate to the situation
• Positive reinforcement and the encouragement of self-discipline will be a natural part of the classroom/playground behaviour management programme.

Bullying

Bullying in any form is unacceptable at Jean Batten School and any complaints about bullying behaviour are treated very seriously by the school’s staff.  School policy requires that teachers:

• Listen to any issues or complaints that students or parents raise
• Acknowledge the issue and take complaints seriously
• Gather all the facts from relevant sources and avoid making assumptions
• Inform the teacher of the children involved in the bullying incident
• Regularly remind children that bullying is not acceptable
• Handle bullying in a consistent manner.

 

Some resolution strategies that are used by staff used include:

• Conducting a restorative chat
• Giving some strategies to the victim
• Contacting parents involved (as necessary)
• Talking with discretion at syndicate team assemblies/meetings
• Agreeing to a form of retribution (eg. writing a letter, doing something for the victim, apology).

For persistent acts of bullying, the Associate Principal:

• Informs parents/caregivers and manages the issue
• Ensures that the Principal is kept informed and/or involved

Bicycles

Students are only permitted to cycle to and from school with permission from the Associate Principal.

Emergencies

Regular emergency drills are held so that students and staff know what to do in a real emergency.

 

In the event of an emergency (eg. earthquake, fire) students remain at school, in the care of staff, until collected by their parent/caregiver.  Students will not be released to anybody other than their parent/caregiver unless a signed request from the parent/caregiver is produced.

In an emergency lockdown situation, usually declared by the police, parents/caregivers:

• Will be notified as soon as it is practicable to do so
• Are requested not to come to the school as students will not be released during lockdown
• Must not call the school as this may tie up emergency phone lines that must remain open
• Should not expect their child to call them as lockdown requires silence to reduce the risk of an intruder being alerted to the presence of students and staff in classrooms
• Will receive information about the time and place to pick up children if staying at school beyond the regular time is necessary

Please notify the school office immediately if you change your address, phone number, work address/phone number or emergency contact number.  It is vital that we are able to contact you immediately, should the need arise, and our records need to be up-to-date, for your child’s sake.

Health

Illness at school

Designated staff members administer First Aid and manage the sick bay. Students who require professional medical help will be taken to the nearest doctor by a staff member if parents/caregivers cannot be located.  Please ensure that the school has an emergency contact number.

 

Students with medication at school must leave it at the office. Please keep us fully informed if your child is on any form of medication.  Students with asthma should keep an inhaler in the sick bay.

 

Parents/caregivers must take responsibility for illness or infection affecting their families.  Students with open sores, infected wounds and weeping ears must not be left for the school to deal with.

Health specialists

• The Public Health Nurse visits the school regularly and sees students with medical problems referred either by parents/caregivers or teachers.  Where there is need for further attention the nurse will contact parents/caregivers and advise them what should be done.
• All five-year-olds have their vision and hearing tested.  Parents/caregivers and teachers may refer students with suspected vision or hearing problems.  It is important to have concerns about hearing and vision addressed as a child’s language development can be delayed if problems are neglected.
• A Speech-Language Therapist tests students with speech and language problems.
• The Mana Kidz clinic is on site and its function is to screen students for sore throats and skin infections that might lead to rheumatic fever.

 

Common diseases

Period of exclusion from school:

From time to time cases of head lice are reported. When this occurs a note is sent home to all students from the room where the case was reported. Parents/caregivers can sign their children up to the ‘Nit Busters’ programme (sponsored by KidsCan) that operates in the school.

 

Professional medical advice should be sought in all these matters (head lice excepted) where information is unavailable from the school or the Public Health Nurse.

Dental clinic

There is no permanent dental clinic at the school but a mobile clinic visits the school each year to provide treatment for students.  Dental therapists visit the school to screen students and arrange treatment at dental clinics. Parents seeking urgent dental treatment for their child should contact the school to find out which clinic to contact. Children may be enrolled at the dental clinic from birth.  Dental therapists are happy to discuss oral health even before the child’s teeth are visible.

Sun Sense

Our health programmes regularly refer to the need for sun sense and the students are frequently reminded to wear hats, shirts and sun-block creams when playing outdoors.  The limited shade at the school, and the long sunlight hours we enjoy, make sun sense precautions at school particularly necessary. Please ensure that your children come to school with adequate protection from the sun. 

Traffic Safety

Many students are driven to and from school by their parents/caregivers. When dropping off/collecting students, drivers must observe normal courteous road behaviour and park safely.  Students who need to cross the road to their vehicle must use the pedestrian crossing and obey the instructions of the road patrol monitors

 

The parking area at the front of the school is for staff use and delivery of goods only.  No vehicles are allowed in the staff car parking area to drop off/collect students except in cases of emergency or disability. The hall parking area (Massey Road entrance) may be used for this purpose.

 

Imrie Avenue, outside the school, is a NO PARKING zone between 2.30-3.30pm. Parents/caregivers must strictly observe this so pedestrians can get a clear view, and can be seen, as they cross the road.

 

Parents/caregivers are asked to use the driveway loop (following the directional arrows) when dropping off/collecting their children. Students can also be dropped off/collected on the roadside and walk on the footpaths to and from school.

Road sense

Students should know how to behave on the way to and from school, how to cross the road and which side of the road to walk on.  Other important safety rules are:

• Look both ways before crossing the road
• Keep to the right of the road if there are no footpaths
• Walk smartly across the road
• Do not loiter on the way home from school
• Do not visit friends without permission
• Do not go anywhere with strangers.

Road patrols

Teacher-supervised, Year 6 students operate the crossing on Imrie Avenue (outside the school entrance) from 3.00-3.10pm daily.  Parents/caregivers are asked to:

• Use the pedestrian crossing
• Keep clear of the school entrance
• Observe the no parking areas near the crossing
• Not call children from across the road.

Social Workers in Schools

The Social Workers in Schools service (SWiS) is available to all children and their families/whanau in the school. SWIS will work with the school to contribute to positive health, education and social outcomes for children. SWIS is a free service to primary/intermediate-aged the children and their families/whanau within the school.