SCHOOL INFORMATION

To assist us with ensuring the safety of our students during the school day, please remember the following procedures on student absence/appointments.

If your child is going to be absent or late to school, please contact school via one of the following options before 9.00 a.m. on each day of absence or lateness with the student’s full name, room number and reason for absence. Students arriving late to school must sign in at the student reception desk on arrival.

  - Ring the school office (09) 483 7052 to leave a message

 - Email the school office at office@verranprimary.school.nz

 - Report an absentee via the Skool Loop App 

Irregular attendance patterns have been identified as one of the major barriers to children's learning and the Ministry of Education provides schools with a number of avenues of support to help reduce unjustified absences and truancy. Children are required by regulation to attend school unless prevented by special circumstances or illness.

It is important that children arrive each day on time. We require prior written notification to the Principal if your child is going to be absent for reasons other than illness eg family holiday.

The school day starts at 8.55am when children need to be at school ready to start the day.  Arriving after the bell can cause disruption to the class and make it difficult for a child to settle.

Roll call is at 8.55am and if children are not there they will be recorded as late or absent.

If your child is unavoidably late please notify the office on arrival. If your child is absent for the day you need to notify the Office. Any unexplained absence will be followed up with a phone call.

Student absence: please ring the school office 09 483 7052  before 9am and leave a message or use the Skool Loop app.

SKIDS (Safe Kids in Daily Supervision) run a before school (7:30am to 8:30pm )and an after school programme (3pm to 6pm) in our school hall for Primary aged children. 

This organisation is separate to any Verran Primary School management, responsibility and payment.

Contact  Ph 021 298 8919 or verran@skids.co.nz  for further details.

Click here for more information on our BYOD programme which involves Year 5 -6 Students 

The Dental Therapist is located at Birkenhead Primary School. Children can be enrolled at the clinic from 3 years or when they start school. 

If you require urgent treatment contact 480 9602 direct. A mobile dental van visits our school once a year and screens all children. 

Children should be appropriately dressed at all times and we request that you name your child's items of clothing and belongings to assist their return. 

Clothing that is not claimed is kept in the cloakroom outside Room 3 and Room 4 for about a term. After that it is put into the clothing bin at the school gate. We ask that children wear shoes or sandals to school each day as this is a health and safety issue.  

There are several Community Centres available in the area, with the Birkdale Community Centre offering after school care. 

As a decile 8 school our funding from the Ministry of Education only meets 75% of our costs to run our basic operations. Many of the extras we provide have been subsidised through fundraising. We see parental contributions as the most feasible way (and so do most parents) to provide educational opportunities for our children......... Please support our school

School Donation

The suggested contribution is outlined below:

1 Child: $130 per year (or 4-term payments of $32.50)

2+ Children: $230 per family (or 4-term payments of $57.50)

If you wish to discuss any of payment options please contact the Principal.

This is a voluntary contribution to your child's education and is the minimum amount we have estimated needed to subsidise government funding.

All contributions are tax deductible and we will issue you with a receipt for tax purposes.

Activity Fee

$35 per child per term

This covers Class Trips, Kiwi Sport Festival Days, Cultural Visits to school, Life Education.

Please Note: Swimming, Waterwise, Sports Teams, Science Roadshow trips are additional costs.

Materials Fee

$5 per child per Term - Materials associated with class programmes, where extra materials need to be purchased, such as kitchen science and technology challenges.

Parents and caregivers are now able to access their child’s attendance, assessment reporting and make school payments via the Caregiver Portal on our school's Management System Edge.  

All sections of the Enrolment form must be filled in.  

Please click here for enrolment information. 

The school acquires large quantities of lost property, most UNNAMED. 

Lost property is available (when recently lost) from outside Room 4. Parents are encouraged to check this regularly. Please name all clothing.

Wednesday and Friday we have lunches available through LunchOnline.  Both are delivered fresh to Verran Primary every Wednesday and Friday in time for lunch. 

To place an order visit www.lunchonline.co.nz to register an account, pay and customise an order for your child. 

Orders must be made before the morning of the delivery.  

Early in the year, each syndicate holds a parent evening to inform parents of syndicate policies, programmes and organisations. 

It is also an opportunity for parents to informally meet their child's teacher. The aim of this meeting is to provide information in a general way and is for parents/guardians only. 

Two orientation evenings are held for parents of New Entrant children during the year. Parents will be notified of dates and times. 

Parents are actively encouraged to participate in school activities. 

This may include, assistance in classroom programmes; particularly in the Junior Department, or assistance with school trips; sports coaching, cultural activities or general school operations such as: fundraising, lunchroom, typing, book repair, Library or B.S.M. Resources.

Please contact the school if you are willing to help in any of these areas.

Parent help is always appreciated. In addition there is 'Friends of Verran Primary', which is particularly concerned with fundraising activities.

The school considers oral reporting the most effective way to discuss pupils' achievements and progress with parents. 

Two formal verbal reportings are held each year. The first in the Term 2, and the second late in Term 3. 

A written report is provided in conjunction with the Term 2 parent interview, and during the last week of Term 4. This will describe children's individual achievements in key curriculum; personal/social areas. 

a) Verran Road - children should cross over at the special patrol place at 3 pm. In the morning they should go around the footpath. 

b) Bush paths - Children are encouraged to walk to and from school in small groups. 

c) Castleton Street - children should go around the footpath to the opposite side, not cross near Vandeleur Ave or any other point. 

These rules have been made in the interests of child safety. Parents who do not wish their children to conform must accept all responsibility.

Throughout the year children will have the opportunity to purchase paperback books at a reasonable price through these book clubs. 

Parents can order online using the Scholastic Loop app. 

Cash purchases must be returned to school with the completed form in an envelope stating child's name, room number and amount enclosed. 

School Hours: Each of these times is marked with a bell.

08:50 am - Children in class

08:55 am - Class starts

10:40 am - Morning tea

11:00 am - Class starts

12:30 pm - Lunch eating starts

12:40 pm - Lunch eating ends

1:25 pm - End of lunch warning bell

1:30 pm - Class Starts

3:00 pm - School finishes.

Children are allowed in class at 8:30 am and should be in the school grounds by 8.50 am. There is NO shortened lunch hour on wet days. Children who are required to go home for lunch or for any other purpose during the day must have written permission. Parents are requested to leave classrooms by the 8.55 am bell to enable a quick and settled start by children.

Individual and class photographs are taken every year. 

Classroom photos are taken in Term 1 and individual photos and sports teams Term 4. Photos will be sent home for parents - pre paid photos can be ordered. 

The school has access to the following:

• Public Health Nurse (and Public Health Doctor, when required)

• Psychological Service

• Speech Therapist

• Audiometrist (hearing and vision tester)

• Advisor of the hearing impaired

• Visiting Teacher

Children may be seen as a matter of course or as referred by parent or teacher.