RAUMATI BEACH SCHOOL PROSPECTUS P.O. Box 2055 RAUMATI BEACH INDEX From the Principal 3 Board of Trustees 4 School Vision 5 Key Competencies 6 School Organisation & Expectations 7 Concerns, Queries, Complaints 9 Dress Code 10 School Rules 11 General Information 12 Emergencies 17 Homework 18 Admin Support 21 Assessment 23 Useful Information 26 2 FROM THE PRINCIPAL Welcome to Raumati Beach School! The Raumati Beach “Prospectus” is your guide to our school. Hopefully you will find it a valuable reference resource for you. While we can’t answer all questions, we hope that it will provide you with as much information about our school as possible. Strategic Direction At Raumati Beach School we have worked hard to develop a vision of learning which will prepare our students for their life in the 21st Century. Using the competencies from Tātaiako of Ako, Wänanga, Whanaungatanga, Tangata Whenuatanga, Manaakitanga, the Board of Trustees, Community, Staff and Students have developed goals which; • Aspire to excellence in teaching and learning • Develop staff excellence • Promote active student involvement • Promote community participation • Promote effective and accountable governance and management We want to develop in our students a unique sense of identity, of purpose, and of pride in what they share and stand for. A community of learners, who enjoy being together, working together, and achieving success together. At RBS we want learners who are positive, supportive, enthusiastic, focused, and goal-oriented. We are continuing to develop a school culture which recognises and encourages the rights, roles, and responsibilities of all community members. Where success is achieved, recognised, shared, and celebrated by all members of this community. We are developing a “culture of excellence”, where excellence is aspired to, expected, encouraged, modeled, and recognised. What Characterises “A Community of Learners”? As a “community of learners”, everybody in the community is a learner, the concepts of Ako & Wänanga ! Teachers and students alike wanting to learn. ! A commonly-held expectation that all students and staff will strive to do their best, will participate enthusiastically, and will achieve well – a “culture of excellence”. ! A culture which emphasises high expectations, high standards and high achievement - "opting out" is not an option! ! A community where teachers are constantly searching for better strategies to increase teaching effectiveness and learning programmes, through personal professional development and the use of a broad range of educational strategies. From 2014, there will be increasing emphasis on refining and developing or Raumati Beach School Curriculum to ensure that it has the concept of “Powerful Learning,” at the core of what we do. Partnership As a school we actively strive to promote an atmosphere where parents and teachers interact positively and constructively as true partners, for the ultimate benefit of our students. Where teachers and parents work together as a “team” for the benefit of the students, excellent outcomes are possible. Mike Farrelly PRINCIPAL 3 SECTION A : ESSENTIAL INFORMATION Board Of Trustees Raumati Beach School is extremely fortunate in having had consistently supportive and dedicated Boards of Trustees over the years, a vital factor in its ongoing success. The Board meets regularly, usually the second and second to last week of the school term. Members of the school community and general public are welcome to attend. The Board of Trustees plays a major role in the governance of the school, and has responsibility for policy development, financial oversight, strategic planning, to name but a few. Board members are elected to represent the parent community and consultation through newsletters, questionnaires and parent meetings assist them in this task. A major Board responsibility each year is the reviewing and updating of the Charter. Copies of the School Charter, which incorporate the Annual Plan and current Achievement Targets, are available from the School Office on request. The updated school charter can also be viewed online at www.raumatibeach.school.nz A full list of Board members will be found on the insert sheet in the centre of this Handbook. An updated sheet is distributed each year. The Learning journey for the students of Raumati Beach School Wharemauku – House made of flax A drop of water (kopata wai) flows from the Maungakotukutuku Valley over the land through the township of Paraparaumu along the Wharemauku Stream. As it moves along the stream it gathers knowledge and grows on its journey to the sea (Te Moana). Te Moana – The Sea The drop of water (kopata wai) leaves the shelter of the Wharemauku Stream and now becomes part of the sea. It is pushed and pulled towards Kapiti Island in the distance and is continuing to gather knowledge on its journey to the Island. Kapiti – Join As the (kopata wai) drop of water moves towards Kapiti Island it is pulled into the sky by the sun (ra) and taken to the peak of the island where it is dropped. From the peak of the island (Tuteremoana) the water drop (kopata wai) is able to look out across the Tasman Sea and imagine the wonders of the world and learns that its journey into the world is just beginning and that it will continue to grow and gather knowledge and it ventures into the world beyond the Kapiti Coast. 4 SCHOOL VISION Raumati Beach School Vision We are part of a journey that encoura ges Curiosity Involvement Resilience Communication Respect We are responsible for ourselves, others, and our place. VISION DISPOSITIONS Our vision identifies the dispositions we want our students to be like as confident, connected, actively involved learners for life by encouraging: Curiosity Involvement Resilience Communication Respect THE NEW ZEALAND CURRICULUM KEY COMPETENCIES: The New Zealand Curriculum identifies five key competencies. People use these competencies “To live, learn, work, and contribute as active members of their communities.” The New Zealand Curriculum Ministry of Education (2007) The New Zealand Curriculum Identifies Five Key Competencies: Thinking Using language, symbols, and texts Managing self Relating to others Participating and contributing 5 ALIGNING OUR VISION TO THE NEW ZEALAND CURRICULUM KEY COMPETENCIES We are ensuring our students develop the New Zealand Curriculum key competencies through the integration of these in our school vision as the values we want our students to have. We see the following values as crucial in preparing our students for their future. We believe that learning is a life long journey. For our students to become confident, connected, actively involved, lifelong learners they will demonstrate the following dispositions. Curiosity Involvement Resilience Communication Respect Our Raumati Beach School Vision integrates the key competencies in the following way: Curiosity - Thinking Involvement - Participating and contributing Resilience - Managing Self Communication - Using language, symbols and text, Thinking Respect - Relating to others CLARIFYING THE MEANING FOR STUDENTS We have clarified the meanings of our values identified in our school vision to ensure our students develop a clear understanding of them. We want our values to be understood and easy to remember to ensure they are used in their everyday lives, both at school and in the wider community. Curiosity Wonder, investigate, discover Involvement Belong, be focused, be active Resilience Reflect, refresh, retry Communication Think, send, receive Respect Care, share, be fair For a more detailed explanation of our curriculum please visit our website. 6 Parents Can Expect . ! That all teachers will have New Zealand Registration. ! A safe and attractive school environment. ! Regular communication with the school. (See “Reporting to Parents”) ! That staff will strive to provide the very best learning environment and programmes for all students. ! That staff who have a concern will approach parents in a positive manner, and will respond positively when approached by parents with concerns. ! That staff will uphold and exhibit the very highest professional standards at all times. ! Positive, supportive, and encouraging to all students. ! That learning experiences will be appropriate and challenging. ! That their teachers will have high expectations for them. ! That their teachers will be interested in them as people. ! That they will experience opportunities for success in school activities. The School, As An Organisation, Has Expectations Too..... ! That the primary focus of teachers and students alike will be on learning. ! That students will continually strive to achieve to the best of their ability, and seek assistance when they encounter difficulty. ! That students will enhance the school “culture” through behaviour which is positive, supportive, and encouraging to all other students. ! That students will behave sensibly, and practise self- discipline through abiding by the school rules and policies. ! That students will be polite and well-mannered towards all other members of our “school family”. ! That parents will support the rules and policies of the school. ! That parents who have a concern or complaint will approach the staff in a positive manner, and will respond positively when approached by staff with concerns. That parents will feel welcome to take advantage of opportunities for involvement in school activities. ! That parents will encourage self-discipline, independence, and a “focus on learning” in their children.