A to Z Directory

Here we hope you will find everything you may need information on, from reporting absences to sporting opportunities and lost property.

Parents/caregivers are required to notify the school if their child is absent or late and give the reason for the absence. The absence can be through  SchoolsApp, email, or a message on the school phone.

In the event of an absence not being notified, a member of the office team will contact caregivers by phone as close to 9am as is possible. 

Find out about the after School Care Programme by clicking on the Kelly Club St Brigid’s  link.

Whole school assemblies take place at the St Francis of Assisi Ohariu Parish Church every second Wednesday from 2.15 pm – 2.45 pm.  Any changes will be emailed to parents and put up on the school’s facebook page.

We expect ALL members of our community to show respect in their interactions with each other. Our school’s values and school wide expectations of respect for self, others and the environment underpin behaviour across the school. A full copy of our code of conduct and behaviour expectations is available here.

Information can be found on our Board of Trustees page.

No discussion on any complaints involving pupils or staff should take place in the presence or hearing of students.

Student Complaints – If you have a complaint about a student or students, you should refer your complaint to your child’s classroom teacher. If the action or response does not satisfy your concern, please refer your complaint to the Deputy Principal or Principal.

Teacher Complaints – In the event of a complaint about a teacher, you must first make an effort to discuss the problem with the teacher concerned before you approach the Deputy Principal or Principal.

Full Complaints Procedure

Please ensure that you update the school when you change your contact details. It is very important to have current information, especially if we need to contact you for an emergency.

Students are to make a reasonable contribution to pay for damage to school property that is the result of misuse, vandalism or inappropriate behaviour.  Recompense for lost library books may also be sought. The Principal will make decisions regarding these matters.

Class teachers are happy to respond to and send email communications to parents. They will endeavour to respond to emails within 24 hours of receiving them.

For forms and information on enrolment at St Brigid’s please click here.

At the beginning of the year, we ask parents to sign a permission form giving consent for us to take your child out of the school on planned, supervised, educational trips. You will be informed of the details of the trip in advance and are welcome to contact your child’s teacher if you have any concerns or queries. Any overnight or trips outside of the school day will have separate permission forms sent home before the event.  EOTC Procedures.

Our school has a fundraising group “Friends and Whanau”. As well as a number of small events held throughout the year, a bigger fundraiser is held annually. We value the work done by the Friends and Whanau group and invite all parents to be part of it.

We believe Home Learning should focus on developing the whole child though intellectual, spiritual, physical, emotional and social dimensions. Limiting homework to just academic (intellectual) does not support hauora (well-being). We believe giving time to develop each of these dimensions as a family is critical for hauora. For this reason we encourage families to participate in a range of after-school activities both formal and informal.

St Brigid’s School is part of the local Kāhui Ako, Kāhui Ako o Tarikākā, of eight primary schools, one intermediate and one college. The schools in the Kāhui Ako work collaboratively to improve teacher practice and increase opportunities and outcomes for all students.

Our school has a well-stocked library that classes visit regularly. It is also open from 1 – 1.25pm each day for children to read or play board games. Classes make use of our local Johnsonville library, Waitohi, on a regular basis.
See the School Library page.

Lost property is placed in the red bin in the junior corridor (by the door).  At the end of each term lost property will be put on display.  Unclaimed clothing will be disposed of.

Lunch time is 12.30pm to 1.25pm.  In the interests of healthy eating and playground safety we encourage healthy lunches.  We discourage sweets, canned drinks and takeaway meals (e.g. McDonald’s).

Lunch Ordering System

Each Friday  Sushi and items from Nada Bakery can be ordered online through St Brigids Lunches Online. These will be delivered to the school before lunch time.

If your child needs to take medication during the day please contact the school office and inform them of this. All medication MUST be brought to the office for safe keeping. School staff are happy to give your child medication when needed. We ask that, if your child has asthma, you provide an up to date asthma plan.

A newsletter is emailed home every second Tuesday afternoon, with notices going out alternate weeks.
Please see the newsletters page.

The school day begins and ends with class prayer.  Class prayer may be led by the class teacher or by a group of students.  A thank you prayer before lunch is also encouraged. It is important for all children to be at school in time to take part in class prayers as this helps set the tone for the day ahead.
Staff prayer or reflection is held every Friday morning from 8.15 until 8.30. Teaching staff are unavailable to meet with students at this time.

Each classroom has a paper recycling bin which children are taught to use when disposing of used paper. Our school strongly believes in teaching children to be environmentally aware and we would appreciate minimum packaging etc in lunch boxes. We hope parents are able to reinforce what we are teaching at school.

As a school, we regularly share with parents information about student progress and achievement by using the digital platform of Seesaw. Families have access to this digital tool. If you do not have access or are not sure how to connect, please contact your child’s teacher.

Students enjoy sharing their learning, reflections and next step focuses with whānau; you will have received notifications when students have shared posts with you. Your feedback and comments on their learning is much appreciated. Evidence shows that whānau feedback enhances motivation and engagement.

Beginning of Year:

  • Whānau Picnic – a low key evening with families gathering to have dinner at school and informally meet their children’s teachers
  • Learning Conversations Whānau Meetings – Parents/student/teacher meet for 25 minutes to discuss their needs and establish relationships. This includes parents working with Admin staff to ensure documentation is current/updated

Term 1:

  • Learning Conversations – a formal meeting for teachers and families to talk about learning steps and how children can be supported at home and at school
  • Using Seesaw to share with whānau learning throughout the term

Term 2:

  • Year 0-8 using Seesaw to share learning posts that detail next steps. A document is sent to parents in Week 10 that details student progress, effort and achievement in relation to the Key Competencies, and expected levels of Curriculum learning for the student’s year group

Term 3:

  • Learning conversations – a formal meeting to discuss current goals and progress to date
  • Using Seesaw to share with whānau learning throughout the term

Term 4:

  • Using Seesaw to share with whānau learning throughout the term
  • Year 0-8 using Seesaw to share learning posts that detail next steps. A document is sent to parents in Week 10 that details student progress, effort and achievement in relation to the Key Competencies, and expected levels of Curriculum learning for the student’s year group

This site contains our school policies and procedures along with useful checklists and forms. Find the login page and credentials here.

Here are the class stationery requirements for 2024.

Room 1 stationery
Room 2 stationery
Room 4 stationery
Room 5 Stationery
Room 6 Stationery
Room 7 Stationery
Room 8 stationery
Room 9 Stationery
Room 10 Stationery
Room 11 stationery
Room 12 stationery
Room 13 stationery
Room 14 stationery

The school only stocks the specified ‘school purchased’ items so replacement stationery items need to be purchased by parents at retail outlets.

We believe that it is important to provide leadership opportunities for our Year 6 to 8 students.
A  range of opportunities including Young Christian Leaders, road patrol, first aid monitors, library, sports and environmental leadership are offered for students.

Students may use the telephone if necessary.  However they need permission from a staff member.  Cell phones are permitted at school but they must not be used during school time, including intervals.  Any student found using a cell phone  at an inappropriate time or manner will have it confiscated and parents will be notified and asked to collect it from the class teacher.
The school discourages students bringing toys or other valuable items to school and therefore takes no responsibility for any loss or theft of such items.

Our school is a thoroughfare to the shops, library, swimming pool and transport hub, so people frequently walk through our grounds. Families are welcome to use our playgrounds during the weekends and after hours. Our school is monitored by CCTV.

The school is open for students at 8.30am each day. Students who arrive before this time will wait in the playground, unless the weather is particularly terrible. Parents are welcome to call into the classroom in the mornings, but must be mindful of the fact that teachers are preparing for the day and welcoming all children into the classroom.
School finishes at 3.00pm and there is an expectation that all children will be collected by 3.20pm. Once again children can wait in the school foyer if it is raining.

All children participate in a swimming programme at some stage in the year. Each team organises their swimming programme for a time that works for them. This will be shared in the school calendar and through team newsletters.

Please see the school uniform page for all the information along with images of the current uniforms.