Transition information for parents of children who are starting school.

Transition information for parents of
  children who are starting school.

Website: www.raumatisouth.school.nz

Office email: office@raumatisouth.school.nz

Address: 54A Matai Road
          Raumati South

Phone Number: 04 299 4579

Raumati South School nestles into its natural environment. Students and
staff are passionate about what makes us unique. Our playgrounds,
fields, swimming pool, school garden, native planting areas and “the
farm” encourage children to be creative, playful and resilient. Our school
vision “Using our heart, head and hands to grow courageous learners”
drives everything we do. It is central to our teaching and learning, and
our interactions with each other.

Ngā Tipuranga is the Junior syndicate consisting of New Entrant and
Year 1 and 2 classes.

Pre-school Visits

Pre-school visits occur every even week, on Wednesdays, in the school
term from 9 - 10 a.m. Visits will start approximately 10 weeks before
beginning school. There will be opportunities for kōrero and coffee in the
staffroom for parents during this time

We liaise with Raumati South Kindergarten to organise and facilitate
visits to the school. On alternative weeks we visit Raumati South
Kindergarten.

If you would like a tour of the school, make an appointment through the
school office. If additional school visits are required please email Deb
Neal on neald@raumatisouth.school.nz to organise appropriate times.

Enrolment Process

Enrolments are now online. Go to the Raumati South School website
(www.raumatisouth.school.nz), Click on ‘Enrolments’ and then click on
the link for the enrolment form. Complete the application and we will be
in touch with you.

Out of zone applications for 2022 can be completed online by Friday 29th
October 2021. You will be advised of the outcome in early November.
Please check the zoning map on the school website, under enrolments if
you are unsure if you are in or out of zone.

REAL

At Raumati South School we follow four values.

These are:

Respect / Aroha atu
Empathy / Ngākau aroha
Attitude / Ngākau pai
Life Long Learner / Ākonga mō āke tonu

Our school uses the principles of Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L)
and restorative practice.

School Hours

8:55 a.m.              First Bell

9:00 – 11:00 a.m.      First learning session, with a large snack at
                       10:00a.m.

11:00 – 11:25 a.m.     Playtime

11:25 – 11:35 a.m.     Feed and Read

11:35 – 1:00 p.m.      Second learning session

1:00 – 1:40 p.m.       Lunch play

1:40 – 1:55 p.m.       Community Kai Time on the farm

1:55 – 3:00 p.m.       Third learning session

Absences: Please phone 04 299 4579 and leave a message on the
absence line.

Late to school: Please go to the school office to sign in, before heading
to class.

For more information about Raumati South School, please see the
RSS Information Book on the school website.

Parent Information Evenings

These are held in Term 1 and Term 3 for parents of students who will
be, or may be attending Raumati South School. This will be a chance to
find out about what we do at Raumati South School as well as an
opportunity to ask questions. Dates will be advertised through the
kindergartens and early childhood centres as well as on our school
website.

Coffee with the Principal

The principal holds a morning tea every term. This is an opportunity to
come and meet our principal and to have an informal chat. Dates are
advertised on HERO and the school Facebook page.

How to help your child be prepared for school:

    Dressing and undressing self for swimming and toileting.
    Being able to put on and take off shoes by themselves. Provide
     shoes without laces until your child can tie laces
     independently. We have shoe free classrooms.
    Being able to toilet independently. Parents are called if there are
     any faecal accidents as due to health and safety protocols staff
     and teachers are not able to clean up the child.
    Blowing own nose.
    Being able to open and close school bags, lunch boxes and drink
     bottles independently.
    Recognise and write their own name, with a capital letter and lower
     case letters.
    Recognise and count numbers to 10.

Please ensure all clothing and belongings are named. This includes
brimmed sunhats which are compulsory to wear in Terms 1 and 4.
Your child will need a change of clothes in their bag in case of toileting
accidents or messy play.

Stationery

The stationery list can be found on the Raumati South School website.
Click ‘More’, ‘Stationery 2021’ and then ‘2021 New Entrants’. The list

can also be picked up from the office or from the class teacher. The
items can be purchased from local stationery and bookshops.

Communication

The junior syndicate uses the ‘Seesaw’ app to share what your child is
doing during their daily activities. Invitations are sent home once your
child starts school.

School information and reporting information is shared on the ‘Hero’ app.
Information on this app is sent home when your child starts school.

The Raumati South School Facebook page has the Principal’s weekly
video update and is another forum for notices.

Learning Through Play

Ngā Tipuranga have incorporated learning through play throughout the
syndicate. This is where the children have the opportunity to learn
through the many opportunities that play can provide. Learning through
play provides a smooth transition for our new entrants coming from early
childhood settings. It helps promote happy and engaged students who
can then learn and succeed.

Play is important to healthy childhood development. It has the following
benefits:

     Opportunities for social interaction
     Encourages curiosity and problem solving
     Active participation and collaboration
     Oral language skills
     Opportunities for risk-taking
     Self-management
     Development of fine and gross motor skills
     Enhances a sense of belonging
     Enjoyment of the environment, tasks and peers

As children play they cover many aspects of the New Zealand
Curriculum – literacy, numeracy, science, social science, technology,
PE, Health and Art. The Key Competencies of managing self,
contributing and participating, thinking, relating to others and using

language, symbols and texts are an essential part of the classroom and
play based learning focus.

What Learning Through Play Looks Like:

Literacy and numeracy are fundamental aspects of our junior
programme. Opportunities to use literacy and numeracy skills occur
naturally through play but we also have daily explicit teaching time.
During play the teacher may be teaching individuals or small groups
(literacy and numeracy) or will be acting as a facilitator to support the
skills or focus that the students are exploring.

Children choose their own play activities, using materials and resources
that are in or outside the classroom. Many activities expand into more
in-depth learning.

There are opportunities in the week for mat time and class lessons
including Phonological Awareness, Art and Physical Education.

You are welcome to come and visit and see Learning Through Play in
action and we value your feedback.

Settling in

In order to meet your child’s needs, please ensure the classroom
teacher has all relevant information regarding special needs, anxieties,
medication, or concerns at home.

Please be aware that it is teaching and learning time between the hours
of 8:55 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Make an appointment with your child’s
teacher if you have any concerns or questions.

If you have any questions that have not been answered in this booklet,
please call the school office and they will put you in contact with the
appropriate person.

Ngā Tipuranga Teachers