TCAS Procedures

Homework is an important part of a students education. It helps to develop independent work skills. At each stage of a students development it takes on different purposes

Junior School

Practising reading skills and gaining reading mileage and text familiarity.
Practising numeracy and literacy skills.
Help keep parents informed and involved about their child’s learning.
Helps develop independent work habits.
It should be around 20 to 40 minutes per night depending on their age.

Middle School

Will be more project based and generally will be based around their current inquiry.
Some time for practising basic facts, spelling may also be expected.
Help keep parents informed and involved about their child’s learning.
Helps develop independent work habits.
It should be around 30 minutes to an hour per night and will relate directly to their inquiry.

Senior School

Homework for this group will be based around their NCEA papers.
Students should expect most subjects to give them homework.
Help keep parents informed and involved about their child’s learning.
To allow for revision of the days lessons and prepare for assessments.
Helps develop independent work habits.
It should be expected that this would be around 2 hours per night.

Gifted and Talented and Special Needs

TBA - see QMS

Reporting to parents

Reporting to parents is an important component of the Self review cycle.

The Catlins Area School will report using formal reports, portfolios and interviews

Formal reporting will be at least twice per year. Interviews will follow soon after.

Reports will:

Be concise in constructive language and free from jargon
Identify areas of strength and next learning steps
Report on progress against National standards for Years 1 to 8
Report on NCEA standards achieved for Years 11 to 13
Report on both academic progress and social and character development

Assessment

For years 1 to 6 see Junior Assessment Matrix

For years 7 to 10 see Middle School Matrix

For years 11 to 13 see QMS document

General Principles

All planned teaching should be connected to some form of assessment.
Assessment should primarily be formative to determine next teaching steps and summative to report on progress made.
Assessment needs to be a mixed bag with multiple modes of assessment used to ensure that all learners have equal opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge.
Assessment needs to be recorded appropriately and becomes part of the learners record.
Results from assessment must be shared with the learner, next learning steps should be shared after assessment
Results from assessment should be shared with parents in appropriate timeframes.
Results from assessment should be shared with Senior Management and BOT as required.

Communication

A copy of all written communication needs to be fowarded to the principal and changes made as directed before distribution

Professional Development

Professional development is an important part of being a professional teacher at Catlins Area school. The school will identify some areas for Professional development through it’s strategic plan. All staff as part of their appraisal will identify areas in their practise that they would like professional development.

Staff professional development will be at the direction of the Principal
`All staff professional development will be tied to their professional goals as stated in their appraisal document or school goals.
Where possible Professional development opportunities will be sought in house
All professional development opportunities will need to be fed back to the school, where appropriate to develop other staff.

Appraisal

See Appraisal Manual

All staff will be required to complete an annual appraisal cycle
Appraisal information will become part of each staff members file
Any issues that arise from the Appraisal process that point to issues of competency will be dealt with as outlined in Area Schools Contract.
All Appraisals should outline teachers professional goals as well as school wide goals.
All Appraisals should refer to the teachers performance against the standards outlined the Teachers Registration Council.
Appraisals are consultive and should be co-constructed with both parties contributing.
Beginning teachers appraisal’s will form the basis of their induction programme.
Appropriate resources will be given for achieving Appraisal goals.
At least two observations need to be performed per year using the observation tool.
Disputes about appraisal will be handled in the first instance by the principal in accordance with the Area Schools Contract

Appointments

The Appointment of a Principal or Deputy Principal will be made by the Board of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees may co-opted anyone that they feel will help them make a decision.
The appointments team should be no less than three people
All other staff appointments are made at the discretion of the principal but will involve input from the Senior Management team. Other staff or BOT members may be asked to be part of the process as directed by the Principal.
All Appointments must be confirmed in writing and attached to a job description and appropriate contract.
All Appointments must be ratified by the BOT.
All details in regards to Appointments are confidential
Anyone who upon appointment is found to have furnished misleading information as part of the Appointments process may be instantly dismissed.
All appointments will require Police Vetting. No records of Police Vets will be kept.
All Appointments must be shown to be fair and stand up to scrutiny.

Staff Leave

Staff will be granted leave they are entitled under their collective contract.
All other leave less than 10 days will be granted at the discretion of the principal. In making this decision, previous leave taken, length of service, impact on life of the school and reason for the leave will be considered before leave is granted.
Discretionary leave may be granted with or without pay
All requests for leave must be on the provided form and lodged at least one week before leave is required.
Appropriate work must be left for the reliever.
When leave is required in the longer term, the decision to grant leave will be made by the BOT. Requests must be made to the BOT at least three months before leave is required.

Disclosure and reporting abuse

refer to Reporting Abuse Document

Code of Conduct for staff

Boards are required as part of their “good employer” obligations (S77A (3)) to:

“ensure that all employees maintain proper standards of integrity, conduct, and concern for:

(a) The public interest; and

(b) The well-being of students attending the institution.”

At present a Code of Conduct does not exist at this school. That does not prohibit the Board from acting in a disciplinary manner should the actions of staff place at risk students well being, the well being of the school as an institution.

Harassment Procedure

See Harassment procedure

Finances

All budget holders need to be accountable for their budgets, Order books must be kept up to date and receipts kept and presented to the office.
For any capital purchases over $200, permission from the Principal must be sought.
For any capital purchases over $5000, permission from the Principal and BOT must be sought.
All budget holders must keep within their budget. Any purchases over their budget must be approved by the Principal first.
When purchasing IT equipment including camera’s and the like the budget holder must consult with the Principal to try and keep compatibility and servicing issues to a minimum.

Community use of facilities

Local organisations shall be encouraged to use the school as a meeting place and make use of school facilities, however this should not be used in competition to community funded facilities.

Prior arrangements for use of facilities must be made through the following school office.
Use of school resources and equipment outside the school grounds will be limited.
Community activities should not interfere with day to day running of school.
The hirer of equipment and facilities should ensure due care and responsibility are taken and will be held responsible for damage occurring.
The administration areas and staffroom are not available for hire.
The hirer of facilities must ensure that areas used by them are secured and locked when they finish.

Staff and community use of School equipment

The school has, in its’ assets, a wide range of equipment which for a variety of legitimate reasons may need to be used by staff members away from the school site.

Equipment on loan is expected to be used by staff for their Personal Development or school related activities.
An equipment loan form is to be completed. The form should be signed by the teacher borrowing the equipment and the Teacher in Charge or the Principal.
Equipment Loan Form
Equipment should be off the school site for only a brief period.

Pastoral Care

See Pastoral Care and Behaviour Management Plan

Fees and Donations

School donations are voluntary but necessary to ensure we can still offer the high standard of programmes we run in the school.

School donations are set by the Board of Trustees
Fees are set generally on a userpays basis around a single activity or event.
Where the school has made an activity compulsory as it is an essential part of its’ curriculum, it is obligated to underwrite the fees for the event.
Where the activity is voluntary there will be a break even point which must be reached in order for the activity to proceed. All fees for voluntary events must be collected beforehand. Students who do not pay will not be able to take part in the activity. Where financial hardship is an issue the school will work with the family to try and find a way to get around financial obstacles
All activities must be approved by the Principal before they are allowed to go ahead.

Alcohol and Drugs at school

To encourage students to have a responsible attitude towards the use of alcohol and drugs and teach clear understanding of social and legal consequences of the misuse of drugs and alcohol.

To ensure that alcohol or drugs are not associated with any school related activity.
Alcohol is not to be consumed by staff or parents when supervising or taking responsibility for school pupils.
The consumption of alcohol within the school premises is forbidden except of special staff occasions at the Principal’s discretion.
Drug and alcohol education programmes for students will be put in place and the school will encourage parental interest and involvement.
School community social functions may serve alcohol. This will be at the discretion of the Board of Trustees.

Medicines and administration of medicines

School staff will not administer prescription medication at school unless there is written permission from the parents and it is agreed to by the Principal.

No non-prescription drugs are to be sent to school.
School staff will administer prescription medication on a volunteer basis only.

PROCEDURE

1. If children are sick at school, parents will be contacted to take children home.

2. Asthma medication may be self-administered for students whose parents have notified the school of their condition.

3. The first dose must not be given by school staff, but may be administered by a medical professional.

4. The medication must be kept in a locked place in the school Sickbay, in a childproof container.

5. If children are on prescription medication and are well enough to be at school, parents need to give written or verbal permission and state correct dosage, to the school office requesting school staff to administer medications and giving permission for them to do this.

6. Long-term use of medication will require a parent completing the Long Term Administration of Medication at School form and this to be updated annually. The administration of this medication is documented on their individual register.

7. Any staff administering medication will keep a record of the child or staff’s name, the drug administered, the date, dosage, time and staff signature, in the Medical Drug Register.

8. In general, nonprescription drugs will not be administered to children at school. The only exception is Padadol/Disprin/Nurofen, which will be personally administered by the school’s specified medical staff who will carefully monitor individual usage. Parental permission to administer Panadol/Disprin/Nurofen for minor pain is sought on enrolment (from 1998).

Representing the school at events

All children are given the opportunity to represent their school in a Sports team, Cultural group or other competition at local provincial and national level. All relevant EOTC procedures must be followed before a trip is approved

1. All pupils are informed of team/group practices prior to selecting of team representatives

2 .Coaches are responsible for oversight of lunchtime and after school practices.

3. Pupils selected for school representative teams have paid any outstanding debts to school or have made arrangements to do so. But any student who wishes to participate in sport should not be disadvantaged through financial hardship.

4. Coach or teacher checks with class teacher whether a child is at risk to take out of school.

5. All team/group lists are posted on staffroom noticeboard one week prior to trip.

6. Letters of permission to parents are signed and returned at least 2 days prior to trip.

7. Transport is arranged by teacher or coach with adequate funding arranged prior to trip.

8. All students leaving school are dressed in appropriate uniform. No alcohol or cigarette slogans.

9. The teacher or coach is responsible for issuing and returning of uniform items.

10. Teacher or coach is responsible for any equipment taken or used.

11. All students have the opportunity to represent CAS regardless of academic effort.

12. Any student on any trip who misbehaves may be returned to the school at the parents expense and will jeopardise their future involvement in trips outside of the school.

Discipline

See Behaviour Management and Pastoral Care plan

EOTC

EOTC encompasses wilderness experiences, city orientation, cultural exploration and all other learning beyond the classroom.
EOTC is an extension of curriculum-based learning.
Students learn by enjoying experiences appropriate to their needs, age and environment.
All learners should be given opportunities to safely explore the world outside the classroom.
Social, emotional and physical development, and learning in curriculum areas are enhanced by relevant, enjoyable and structured experiences beyond the classroom.

EOTC programmes in this school will be designed to:

Enhance learning, through a variety of well-designed, first-hand experiences.
Increase learners’ knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the school area, local district, and other places, including some unfamiliar places.
Develop learners’ skills in observation, recording, reporting and organization.
Help learners’ develop self-confidence, self esteem, and a sense of adventure.
Develop learners’ knowledge and skills in outdoor pursuits or other curriculum areas.
Assist learners in their social development by placing them with others in unfamiliar situations.
Help learners develop an attitude of responsibility towards their own safety and that of others, their environment, and in the care and use of equipment.

GUIDELINES

Forms for the smooth running of EOTC and other information can be found in the EOTC Manual

Our School will:

Operate a sequential programme of activities throughout the whole school, offering students a wide variety of increasingly challenging experiences.
Use EOTC to enhance the learning in curriculum areas as appropriate.
Ensure on-going evaluation of activities and annual review of major EOTC programmes.
Ensure that no student misses out on an EOTC activity for financial reasons.
Ensure that, where possible, students are not excluded from participation in EOTC activities, unless this would create a perceived risk to themselves, or others.
Offer adequate on-going training and support for all staff involved in EOTC.
Follow appropriate Ministry of Education regulations and guidelines on safety and supervision, risk management, and legal requirements.

International Students

All international students will be governed by the International Students Code of Practise. Please see the International Student Procedures

TIRP

All staff must be aware of how to respond for a Traumatic Incident as outlined in the TIRP

Staff must be refreshed on teacher only day at the beginning of the year.

A copy is available here

The TIRP must be reviewed and updated on an annual basis.

Complaints

Complaints Policy

Attendance

Truancy has not been a problem at the school. The provision of interesting, vital and challenging school programmes aimed at meeting the needs of individual pupils has been an important factor. The school has an obligation to ensure that pupils learning are not hampered by absences.

It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that their school age children are enrolled at a school and that their attendance is maintained. The Board has a responsibility to record that attendance and take action where it breaks down.

Students between the ages of 6 – 16 must enrol and attend school.
The Principal will ensure a system is in place for the accurate keeping of an admission register and a register of daily attendance for all pupils.
The Principal must follow up cases where a student has failed to attend school without reasonable excuse.
The family involved should be advised both verbally and in writing of the situation and of the legal requirements for children to attend school between the ages of 6 and 16 years.
If absences continue home visits or family meetings to explain solutions will be held.
Senior Management and Truancy Officer should assess the situation if unexplained absences persist. Matters such as offending, abuse and neglect, learning difficulties and home problems should be referred to appropriate services for assistance.
Modifications may be made to school programmes and arrangements where it is deemed appropriate to overcome absenteeism.
If appropriate other family, community and educational resources may be brought in to assist in gaining a solution.
Accurate written records of absences, home visits, and letters sent and explanations given (including time, date and place) must be kept.
If interventions do not achieve the desired outcome the pupil is to be referred to the Truancy Officer for continuing action in which the school will be involved.

Definition of Truancy – Section 2.2 District Truancy Service

An unjustified absence from school, whether it is one hour, one day or long term
One or more days every week or a pattern of several days absence which persists for a school term
The child or young person has failed to ensure a return to school without a reasonable excuse
Continuous absence for 20 days
Continual lateness is also being targeted, as these children are at risk. Patterns of lateness or non-attendance to school which becomes set in the early school years are hard to break as the child gets older.
Parents, Community Workers, Agencies and Schools may refer directly to the Clutha District Truancy Service if there is a concern regarding a child’s attendance.

Uniform

The school wishes to ensure that recognisable, acceptable and appropriate standards of dress are observed while children are under their care.

To provide the pupils with visible evidence that they have a place within the organisation (ie a sense of belonging).
To ensure that children from different backgrounds can feel safe and accepted.
To ensure our pupils are identifiable with The Catlins Area School.

To achieve these purposes the following guidelines should apply -

School uniforms being a requirement for all pupils from Years 1 – 12.
Enforceable and appropriate codes of dress must be clear to parents, pupils and staff alike.
Any changes to the uniform will be determined by the Board to Trustees after consultation with the staff, parents and pupils and with reference to retailers, allowing at least 1 year ahead in time for changes for retailers.
The school uniform should be of such style and design as to give pupils confidence in their appearance.
The school uniforms must be comfortable to wear and serviceable. They must be appropriate for the climate of the Catlins and for the purpose and activity for which they are intended. They must be capable of keeping their shape and colour, be economic and hard wearing.
The school uniforms (or material and patterns) as stated in the Prospectus, should be available at local retail outlets.
In setting the uniforms, the Board of Trustees must take reasonable care to ensure continuity of supply and existing stocks held by retailers.
The purpose of special uniforms for certain representative groups and which have only limited use, should not be required of parents, but rather should be purchased by the school and hired to the user at a nominal charge.
Year 13 students are free to wear ‘mufti’ within carefully prescribed guidelines, which will be outlined in the Prospectus.

Use of Living Organisms

The Catlins Area School recognises the need to have clear guidelines regarding the use of living organisms in school activities both in and outside the classroom. These guidelines relate to environmental concerns, animal welfare and human health issues.

The guidelines are designed to ensure that both adults and students:

Are aware of environmental concerns when dealing with living organisms.
Observe, handle and care for animals in a humane way; and treat all living things with respect.
Minimise health risks when handling living organisms.

GUIDELINES

Staff members should be familiar with Section 3 from the Safety and Science Manual.

Environmental concerns

Native vertebrates such as frogs or lizards may not be kept in school.
Native invertebrates such as worms or spiders may be kept in classrooms for observation provided that they belong to non-endangered species, can be suitably cared for, and returned unharmed to their natural environment at the end of the study.
Native plants may be kept in schools but should not be collected from reserves or national parks without a DOC permit.
During field trips students should always be encouraged to show respect for living organism, and to avoid causing damage wherever possible. Living organism, especially animals, should only be brought back to school if there is a valid reason for doing so.

Animal Welfare

Students should always be taught to treat animals with respect and kindness.
Animals kept in school must always:

Be kept in suitable, secure containers in conditions which do not cause undue stress eg by exposure to noise, temperature extremes, bright lights etc
Have suitable food and access to drinking water if necessary
Be able to express normal behaviours
Be free of injury or disease. Sick animals should be given suitable treatment then removed from school
Have arrangements made for their suitable care outside normal school hours.

Experimental procedures involving living non human vertebrates need to obtain approval from an animal ethics committee. As the school does not currently carry out such experiments we have not established such a committee. Experiments using vertebrates such as slaters or earthworms should always be designed so as to avoid harm to the animals.
Parental approval must be obtained if students are being used as experimental subjects involving such activities as the ingestion of caffeine.

Human Health

Rules of basic hygiene eg hand washing should be stressed when students are working with living organisms.
Teachers should be aware that some living organisms are poisonous and/or allergenic and ensure that appropriate precautions are taken when handling them.
Animals such as cockroaches, hedgehogs and possums which have been captured in the wild are a health risk and must not be kept at school.
Animals used for dissection must be obtained from a reputable source and be free of disease. Animals which have died naturally may not be used.
Experiments may be carried out with micro-organisms but the teachers involved must be aware of the potential hazards, and of the necessary safety precautions to take.

IT Management

The school aims to provide all teaching staff members with a Laptop to enable them to efficiently do their job.
All Laptop recipients must follow the Laptop Lease agreement in terms of use and care for their Laptop.
All technical issues arising from use of the Laptop should at first be noted at the office to pass on to the relevant authority for repair.
As well as personal Laptops, teachers must also be responsible for the use of school computers by students in their care. They must actively supervise students who are using computers. Report any misuse immediately.
Students who misuse computer equipment may be blocked from using the system or their access to restricted.
To save power they will endeavour to make sure all computers in their room are switched off at the end of the day.
Computers are expensive to maintain. Any computer that is continuously misused due to lack of supervision or care may be removed and reissued to another staff member.

Damage to school property

Although accidents are a part of life, it is still expected that those who are responsible for the accident will pay for the repair or replacement.

The school will actively seek to recover costs where practical. This may include debt collection services.

STAR

The STAR is an important grant used by the school to meet the identified learning needs of senior students that cannot be catered for within the traditional school curriculum. In particular, it is to be used to:

(i)facilitate transition to the workplace for students, particularly those intending to go straight into the workforce or those likely to leave school without any formal qualifications;

(ii) provide or purchase tertiary-type courses which will better meet students’ needs, which will motivate them to achieve, and which will facilitate their smooth transition to further education, training or employment.

(iii) support students to explore career pathways, and help them make informed decisions about their schooling and future work or study.

Details of how this funding will be allocated and accounted for are in the STAR manual

Boiler Operation

The Caretaker is responsible for the operation of the boiler.
The Caretaker shall maintain up to date records in the maintenance journal
The boiler must be operated in accordance with the manual of operations provided by Raynors
The boiler must be cleaned in accordance with the maintenance schedule as provided by Raynors
All faults to with the boiler must be reported to the office and subsequently to Signal/ Property Managers straight away.
No one shall operate the boiler who has not received training.

The current trained operators are:

Murray Clarke
Pete Honnar
Brian Price

If the caretaker is absent then one of the trained personnal should be contacted to operate the boiler

Delegation of Authority

The school is under the stewardship of the Catlins Area School Board of trustees. They delegate all day to day running and management duties to the Principal. (As defined in the Principals Job Description)

If the Principal can not fulfill their duties (Illness, accident, absence or suspension of duties)

the board delegates this authority to the Deputy Principal.

In absence of the Deputy Principal this authority is delegated to be shared between the two other Senior Managers, Head of the Junior School and Head of the Middle School.

The authority reverts back to the board in absence of these personnel.

Emergency Procedures

A copy of our emergency procedures is available here.