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09 278 9763Planning for 2025
In 2025, Papatoetoe Intermediate is planning some big changes. These changes have been promoted by the growing school roll. We have increased our student roll by 100 in zone students so far this year. The MOE confirm that they expect our roll to grow over 1000 students in the next few years.
In 2025 we will restructure our leadership team in preparation for the changes. We will have 4 DP’s overseeing all major areas with the principal as follows:
Principal: Pauline Cornwell |
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Deputy Principal 1: Donna Young [Curriculum & Pedagogy] |
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Deputy Principal 2 Sanjeev Kumar Leader Rehua |
Deputy Principal 3 Gareth Fletcher Leader Puanga |
Deputy Principal 4 Nawinta Prasad Technology & Arts Day to Day Org. |
Student Support
Free Lunches in Schools
Breakfast Club
Our school runs a ‘Breakfast Club’ every morning, in our Foods Room, from 8.00 a.m. to 8.25 a.m. Students who would like breakfast are welcome to visit the Club. There is no charge for these breakfasts. We encourage students to take advantage of this as we all know that breakfast sets our students up for the day.
If you would like to help with these breakfasts please email Nawinta Prasad (AP) – nawintap@papint.school.nz. Alternatively you can contact Linda Nicholls – lindan@papint.school.nz
From time to time we hold a special breakfast event and help is always appreciated on those days.
Here at Papatoetoe Intermediate School, we have a free Mana Kidz nurse led service that addresses health concerns for your tamariki. Healthcare is offered by a registered nurse who work throughout the year with schools, whanau, and health providers in the community. Please contact the school reception for our availability or discuss with your child’s class teacher.
At the centre of Mana Kidz is rheumatic fever prevention. This includes parental discussion and consent for your children who may need a sore throat assessment and medicine. But also offer, skin infection assessment and treatment, vision, or ear health assessments.
Mana Kidz can make referrals to GP clinics or other health specialists if needed. The Mana Kidz nurse would work with you to meet the health needs for your tamariki.
Parents/caregivers may request a referral to the nurse through the school office. You may also phone their free Mana Kidz number on 0800 658326 to speak with a registered nurse. Their business hours are Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm.
Click on the link to see their services https://www.nhc.maori.nz/matou-mahi/our-programmes
This is their Mana Kidz facebook https://www.facebook.com/manakidz.nz for relevant community health messages.
The co-delivery model has many advantages. These include:
Next year (2026) will be the transition year. A transition year is needed to ensure that Year 8 students who weren’t offered the HPV immunisation in Year 7 are still given the opportunity to receive it. They’ll need to spend slightly longer at your school for this year to ensure they have time to give both immunisations to Year 7s and HPV to Year 8s. Please be assured that they will do everything they can to make sure the impact is minimal.
School Counsellors
Our school counsellors are Sian Strachan and Jeremy Shroff. Sian is a qualified teacher who is completing her Masters of Counselling and Jeremy has been a teacher for over 20 years and will be furthering his studies by completing a Masters of Counselling in the future. We are fortunate to have Sian available on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Jeremy on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Sian and Jeremy’s counselling style is person-centred and they aim to accompany and support students as they navigate whatever issues they may be facing. They use a wide range of approaches, including Narrative Therapy and Sand Tray.
Students are able to access counselling through referrals via their teacher or by emailing Sian and Jeremy at papintcounsellor@papint.school.nz.
The school counsellor’s notes and sessions with students are strictly confidential. The purpose of the school counsellor’s notes are to assist the counsellor with counselling effectively. They are not a record of everything discussed in counselling sessions. The notes are kept in accordance with the NZAC (New Zealand Association of Counsellors) Code of Ethics.
Counselling can only be effective when the person wants to engage in it, so please talk with your child and get their permission before referring them.
Students are now able to enjoy our recently refurbished counselling space thanks to donations from the Warehouse Manukau. The Warehouse donated to our school counselling space a new sofa, some beanbags, a rug, a side table, a throw, some cushions, a diffuser and a globe. The space is now a comfortable and relaxing place for students to use and we are very grateful to The Warehouse for their generosity.
Transportation and Bus Information
Bus Travel
Bus services are currently organised through GoBus – website www.gobus.co.nz. A bus route schedule and contract will be issued at the beginning of the year. This can be subject to change several times during the year. School buses leave from Great South Road by 3.10 p.m. each day (except for specially notified occasions).
Students must not eat or drink on the bus and must maintain a high quality of behaviour. Those who do not meet expectations may not be able to use this service.
Public Transport Update – 1st May 2024
Free travel for 5 to 12 year olds and half-price travel for 13 to 24 year olds on AT bus, train and ferry services will end on 30 April 2024, in line with the government’s decision to withdraw funding for these concessions.
This means that from Wednesday 1 May:
5 to 12 year olds will no longer travel for free on weekdays and will instead pay a child concession (at least 40% off adult fares). They will continue to travel for free on weekends. The child concession will apply to anyone aged 5 to 15, who has a registered AT HOP card with their correct date of birth.
13 to 15 year olds will stop receiving the half-price child fares discount and instead switch to paying full child fares (at least 40% off an adult fare during weekdays, and free travel on weekends) from 1 May. The child concession will apply to anyone aged 5 to 15, who has a registered AT HOP card with their correct date of birth.
16 to 19 year olds with a secondary student concession will stop receiving the half-price secondary fares discount and instead switch to paying full secondary fares (at least 40% off an adult fare). Students aged 16-19 should apply for the secondary student concession to ensure they are paying the cheapest fare possible.
More information about the discounts and what you may need to do next can be found at AT.govt.nz/farechanges
Please note regarding student ID cards:
Unfortunately, Auckland transport not be supporting physical ID cards this year – all queries will need to be forwarded to Plasticard (or manufacturer of your choice). Digital IDs under the Yoti app will also be discontinued; schools currently using the MyMahi student ID will still be able to use this for verification when loading concessions onto their AT HOP card.
Bicycles/Skateboards/Scooters
Students are encouraged to cycle to school. Safety checks are provided for every bike. We have a secure compound to store these. It is however the responsibility of students to chain their bike, scooter or skateboard to the stands provided. Parents are expected to ensure their children have and wear helmets that meet the required safety standards.
Each morning students who ride their bike or scooter to school will drop off their bike or scooter to the bike shed. A monitor will sign them in and ensure that students have correct gear e.g. helmet and lock. Bike Shed Monitors will sign each bike and scooter in a book that identifies the students bringing their bike or scooter to school each day and ensure that there is no damage to the bikes or scooters. The monitors will make sure that bikes and scooters are safe until the shed is locked up. In the afternoon students will collect their bike or scooter from the shed and sign out with the monitor. These monitors work from 8:00am – 8:30am, 8:30am – 9:00am and 2:55pm – 3:10pm.
Bike Track
Our school is very fortunate to have a bike track and bikes for students to use. The bike track is used as part of the PE curriculum and used at lunch break. Students are able to get a bike and helmet from the monitors to take on the track and have some fun. We have our sponsors NZCT, Lotteries Board, Tu Manawa and Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board to thank for this.
Road Patrol
Road Patrollers monitor students crossing Motatau Road and do this in the mornings and afternoons each day. These students wear hi vis gear provided and take the necessary equipment needed (eg. Lollipop signs and flags). These students are here to ensure their peers get to and from school safely.
Cell Phones
International research indicates some key challenges with cellphones at school such as being a major distraction for our students. These rules are designed to ensure that the learning of all students is maximised, while minimising any potential for distraction and cyber-bullying.
Our approach is “away for the day”, meaning cellphones either do not come with the student to school, or are switched off and in the classroom’s security box during the full school day.
We strongly recommend students do not bring these devices to school with them. If a student does bring their cellphone for emergency contact or health reasons, these must be switched off and in the classroom’s security box at all times, unless directed by a teacher.
We understand that some parents like their children to have a phone to communicate with them after school, cellphones will be available for students to use after school hours, including pick up time. If a parent or caregiver needs to contact their child urgently during the day, they should call the office.
Papatoetoe Intermediate School expectations
We encourage our students to uphold our school values and to act responsibly with their devices.
If a staff member observes a student with a cellphone during school time, the student must hand it to the staff member immediately when asked. The phone will be put in the classroom security box held in the office and can be collected by the student at the end of the day.
Breaches of the cellphone rules occur when using the cellphone in a way that goes against the school values of:
- Safety
- Trust
- Attitude
- Respect
Cellphones ‘away for the day’ exemptions
Learning Activities
If cellphones are used for a learning activity, this will be at the teacher’s discretion and the phone’s use will be supervised by a staff member. Guidelines on appropriate usage still apply.
Health and emergency situations
Students with additional learning needs who use cellphones in class to increase or improve their ability to participate and learn will be granted an exemption. In matters related to a student’s immediate health and safety concerns, a parent or caregiver can apply at any time to the principal for a period of exemption (e.g., medical conditions or protection issues).
Education outside the classroom (EOTC)
Students may take certain digital devices on EOTC activities but should check whether their device is allowed before the activity commences. Usage will be at the discretion of teachers and other adult supervisors.
Please note with all exemptions and exceptions appropriate usage guidelines and other relevant school rules still apply.
It is important to note that if students do make the decision to bring a phone to the school grounds, they do so at their own risk. The school is not responsible for any loss or damage caused to any phone.
Uniform
Stationery List
Timetable
Arrival
School gates open at 8.00 a.m.
Students need to be in their classrooms by 8.30 a.m., so they are ready for the morning karakia and to start their school day at 8.45 a.m.
Bell Times
| 8.00 – 8.30 a.m. | Breakfast Club in the Food Technology room from 8.00 a.m. |
| 8.30 – 8.45 a.m. | Home Room time / checking rolls / notices |
| 8.45 a.m. | Start of school day – karakia |
| 8.45 – 9.35 a.m. | Period 1 |
| 9.35 – 10.25 a.m. | Period 2 |
| 10.25 – 10.50 a.m. | Break 1 – 25 minutes |
| 10.50 – 11.05 a.m. | Break 1 – Morning Eating |
| 11.05 – 11.55 a.m. | Period 3 |
| 11.55 a.m. – 12.45 p.m. | Period 4 |
| 12.45 – 1.10 p.m. | Break 2 – 25 minutes |
| 1.10 – 1.20 p.m. | Break 2 Eating |
| 1.20 – 2.10 p.m. | Period 5 |
| 2.10 – 3.00 p.m. | Period 6 |
| 3.00 p.m. | End of school day |
Term Dates
2025
Term 3
Monday 14th July – Term 3 Starts
Friday 19th September – End of Term 3
Term 4
Monday 6th October – Term 4 Starts
Monday 27th October – Labour Day – School Closed
Friday 12th December – Final day of Term 4
2026
Term 1
Wednesday 28th January – Year 8 students return
Thursday 29th January – Year 7 and New Year 8 Students start
Thursday 5th February – School Closed
Friday 6th February – Waitangi Day – School Closed
Thursday 2nd April – End of Term 1
School Holidays
Friday 3rd April – Good Friday
Monday 6th April – Easter Monday
Tuesday 7th April – Easter Tuesday
Saturday 25th April – ANZAC Day
Term 2
Monday 20th April – Start of Term 2
Monday 1st June – King’s Birthday – School Closed
Friday 3rd July – End of Term 2
School Holidays
Friday 10th July – Matariki observed
Term 3
Monday 20th July – Start of Term 3
Friday 14th August – School Closed
Friday 25th September – End of Term 3
Term 4
Monday 12th October – Start of Term 4
Monday 26th October – Labour Day – School Closed
Monday 2nd – Friday 6th November – Whole School Camp
Monday 9th November – School Closed
Thursday 10th December – Final Day for Year 8 Students
Friday 11th December – Final Day for Year 7 Students and Staff
Attendance
Parents/caregivers, by law, must ensure their children attend school. Schools are required, by law, to check all absences from school. Therefore, we must have a note or medical certificate to explain a child’s absence. A phone call, text or an email to your child’s class teacher or to student.rec@papint.school.nz or admin@papint.school.nz, advising us of an absence is appreciated because it helps us account for the whereabouts of students each day and increases the safety of your child. Our school automatically sends texts (by 10.30 a.m. each day), to caregivers if a child is not at school and the family has not informed school of the reason for their absence. This is to ensure student safety, and we ask parents to be diligent in responding.
In cases of concerning attendance an Engagement Worker [EWIS] may visit your home to inquire how we can support your child to attend regularly.
Student attendance: A guide for parents and caregivers – Ministry of Education
Supporting attendance during winter
Regular school attendance is vital for learning, social development, and overall wellbeing. As we enter the winter, there will naturally be times when it is appropriate for tamariki to stay home and recover from illness.
However, minor symptoms do not always require time away from school. Below is a link to information that will help parents and caregivers decide when it is okay to send their child to school, when they should keep them at home, and when they should contact a health professional for advice.
Knowing if your child is well enough to go to school – Ministry of Education
Sickness and Accidents
Minor accidents are attended to by staff members who hold a current First Aid Certificate. In the cases of accident or illness of a more serious nature, parents are notified as soon as possible. In cases of extreme emergency, and on occasions when parents or nominated caregivers cannot be contacted, the staff will determine what should best be done to care for your child. All staff members receive regular first aid training to support their work with our students.
We ask that you ensure emergency contact details and medical information are reviewed and always kept up-to-date.
School Payment Information
For any payment to the school through internet banking please use the below details.
School Bank Account : Papatoetoe Intermediate School Board – 12-3028-0656566-00 (ASB)
Please use your child’s full name and description of what you are paying for in the reference field when making payment.
We charge ‘no’ fees. Our school does receive the MoE subsidy, and all costs are subsidized. The only costs to families are travel expenses for trips, camps and EOTC [Education Outside the Classroom]. We aim to request no more than $20.00 per term [with exception of Camp Week in 2026, and EOTC Week in odd years]. Our aim is to have all students attend field trips etc. and so have some options regarding payments. EOTC Week is held in each ‘odd’ year and Camp Week is held in each ‘even’ year.
The School Camp will therefore be held for all students in 2026.