Student Support

Healthy Lunches in Schools

Papatoetoe Intermediate School has been selected to receive healthy lunches in schools and FED has been selected by the Board to be our supplier.  FED has an extensive menu, certified kitchens and provides for a large range of dietary options.  Information can be found online at https://www.getfed.co.nz/.

Lunches are delivered to classes right after morning tea (11.45 a.m.) and as all packaging is biodegradable and recyclable the rubbish is all collected by students and managed by FED.  Every meal is individually wrapped and clearly labeled with the choice option.  A lunch is delivered for every child, we do expect children to try their meals, we will not make them eat it.  If a meal is not eaten it will be re-distributed to whanau who request to be added to our support list, and through a range of community groups.

Students will only need to bring a drink of water each day to school.  Students are also offered a health ‘brain’ snack at 9.30am and fruit each day in addition to these free lunches.
In Term 1 the students are supplied with a ‘sandwich cycle menu’.  In term 2 there is a mixture of meal and sandwich options.  Lunches on Monday and Friday are from the Meal Menu Cycle, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays they are from the Sandwich Menu Cycle and some meals will be ‘hot”meals.  In term 3, all meals are from the Meal Menu Cycle and many meals will be ‘hot’.  In Term 4, students are provided lunches from the Sandwich Menu Cycle.  Menus are updated regularly and provide an extensive range of options, attached is our Sandwich Menu Cycle for you to refer to.
If you would like to specify which meal option your child will be delivered please complete the attached form, once completed this can be delivered to our school office or emailed to student.rec@papint.school.nz.

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.

Kids Can/Fruit in Schools
We are very lucky to be supported by KidsCan and Fruit in Schools.  Our students have available to them all year round a black jacket, shoes and socks, fresh fruit daily and brain snacks.
Sanitary Products
We are very fortunate to be able to provide sanitary products to all students who require them.  These are available from the school office free of charge.
Uniform Support
At the end of each year we ask our leaving year 8 student to donate a piece of their school uniform.  We have variety of second hand uniform available at the start of each year and we have some still available throughout the year.  If you are needing uniform support please contact our school office or email student.rec@papint.school.nz and we can see what we have available.
Mana Kidz Registered Nurse

Here at Papatoetoe Intermediate School, we have a weekly Mana Kidz clinic which is a free nurse-led, school health service, that addresses health concerns for your tamariki. Healthcare is delivered by a registered nurse who work throughout the year with schools, whanau, and health providers in the community. Our Mana Kidz clinic is open weekly on Mondays from 9am to 10.30am.

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.

Dental Clinic
A mobile dental clinic visits our school each year to provide dental services to our students, parental permission will be gained before any student is seen by this service.  If your child is needing dental care when the dental van is not on site you can contact the Puhinui Child and Adolescent Community Dental Clinic on 09 278 1975.
 
SWIS – Social Worker in Schools
SWiS is a qualified and registered Social Worker who work alongside students and whanau to support finding solutions to challenges that may impact on children’s education and well-being.  It is a confidential service that requires whanau consent. The social worker is employed by ATWC www.atwc.org.nz  and anyone can refer.
 
SWiS focus on ensuring children have the best opportunity to engage in education.  Their aim is to build on students’ self-esteem, social skills, confidence and inter-personal relationships to enhance their overall well-being.
 
Social Worker in Schools can:
– Work with individuals and also thier families
– Work with teachers, public health nurses and other school staff
– Assist with access to community support and networks
– Offer parenting support
– Discuss legal advice
– Support referrals to community-based services such as counsellors
– Provide group programmes to support students at school
– Offer advocacy and support to young people and families
 
Social worker can help with issues including bullying, peer pressure and relationships, family relationships, domestic violence and mental health issues such as depression, grief and self-harm.
 
The best way to contact this service is through school reception, email or phone:

School Counsellor

Our school counsellor is Sian Strachan. Sian is a qualified teacher who is completing her Masters of Counselling. We are fortunate to have Sian available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Sian’s counselling style is person-centred and she aims to accompany and support students as they navigate whatever issues they may be facing. She uses 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 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.

If there is an issue of safety or a wellbeing concern, caregivers will be contacted and the appropriate supports will be provided.

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 confortable 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.

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.

BYOD Information

Bring your own Device (BYOD)
Students are encouraged to bring their own laptops and tablets to school to use for schoolwork.  Our school’s internet usage is monitored by the Ministry of Education ‘Network for Learning’ and ‘Linewize’. Students who register their own devices can access unlimited ultrafast broadband in school. Devices must be at least iPad size but preferably a little larger – 13.3″. For further information ask for a ‘bring your own device’ registration form. Connection to our school wireless is  free for students and specific to the individual device.  Use of all devices are subject to the Papatoetoe Intermediate User Agreement.  In the event of online we encourage you to contact our school and linewize.

BYOD Documents

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Online Safety Tips

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Uniform

The school has a very small number of second-hand uniforms, for sale.
 
We are very lucky to be supported by KidsCan.  Our students have available to them all year round a black jacket, black lace up shoes and socks.  If your child requires any of these items, they only need to ask at our School Office.
 
At the end of Year 8 students are encouraged to donate at least one item, in good condition back to the school.
 
Students must have ‘safe’ shoes; crocs, jandals and dress sandals are not allowed.

 

Stationery List

Stationary must be brought before the first day of school.  It is important that every stationary item is marked with your child’s name before school starts.  Stationary Packs are available from our School Office for $25.00.
 
Stationary remains in the class over holidays and is used over the two-years students spend at our school.  Parents/Caregivers will need to replace items as they are used.

Timetable


Arrival
School gates open at 8.00 a.m.

Students need to be in their classrooms by 8.30 a.m. for the 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 a.m. All students prepare for class
8.45 a.m. Start of school day – karakia
8.45 – 9.30 a.m. Period 1
9.30 – 9.35 a.m. Healthy Brain Snack
9.35 – 10.20 a.m. Period 2
10.20 – 11.05 a.m. Period 3
11.05 – 11.40 a.m. Morning Tea
11.40 – 11.50 a.m. Lunch eating – free lunches in schools
11.50 a.m. – 12.35 p.m. Period 4
12.35 – 1.20 p.m. Period 5
1.20 – 1.55 p.m. Lunch break
1.55 – 2.05 p.m. Lunch eating
2.05 – 2.55 p.m. Period 6
2.55 – 3.00 p.m. Pack up/Reflection/Notices
3.00 p.m. End of school day
3.00 – 4.30 p.m. Study Centre – Monday – Thursday

 

Term Dates

 

Term 4

Monday 9th October – Term 4 Starts

Monday 23rd October – Labour Day

Monday 13th November – Teacher Only Day – School Closed

Thursday 14th December – Final day for Year 8 students

Friday 15th December – End of Term 4

 

2024

Term 1

Monday 29th January – Auckland Anniversary Day

Tuesday 30th January – Year 8 students return

Wednesday 31st January – Year 7 and new Year 8 students start

Monday 5th February – Teacher Only Day – School Closed

Tuesday 6th February – Waitangi Day – School Closed

Friday 29th March – Good Friday – School Closed

Monday 1st April – Easter Monday – School Closed

Tuesday 2nd April – Easter Tuesday – School Closed

Friday 12th April – End of Term 1

Term 2

Tuesday 25th April – ANZAC Day [During the holidays]

Monday 29th April – Term 2 Starts

Monday 3rd June – King’s Birthday – School Closed

Friday 28th June – Matariki observed

Friday 5th July – End of Term 2

Term 3

Monday 22nd July – Term 3 Starts

Friday 27th September – End of Term 3

Term 4

Monday 14th October – Term 4 Starts

Monday 28th October – Labour Day – School Closed

Friday 13th December – Final day of Term 4 [TBC]

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.

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 : 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.

Papatoetoe Intermediate School does not ask for any school fees.  Our school uniform is designed to be as cheap as it can be for our families and we aim to keep trip costs to a minimum.

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 and EOTC Week].  Our aim is to have all students attend field trips etc and so have some options regarding payments.  Our school does receive the MoE subsidy, and all costs are subsidised.

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 2024.