About our School
Our History
Wainuiomata School first opened in 1857, making it one of the oldest schools in the Wellington Region. Last year we celebrated 150 years of education – a fantastic achievement!
In 2001 a review of Wainuiomata schools resulted in our merger with Wood Hatton Primary School in January 2002, taking the new name of Wainuiomata Primary School.
An old school building on our grounds is now the Wainuiomata Museum (open on Sundays from 2–4pm).
What makes us tick?
We have a good record of developing high standards and delivering a balanced curriculum.
The school has an excellent record in reading, promotes technology and has a good physical education and sports programme.
All teachers are involved in literacy and numeracy initiatives.
Our school has a “Healthy School” philosophy relating to food, no smoking and sun protection. We encourage all parents to make sure their children bring a healthy lunch to school.
We have an assertive discipline approach to behaviour management and have a no-violence policy in our playground.
We have social skills and behaviour programmes in place throughout the school, incorporating the “Circle Time” programme, which supports positive behaviour.
Our Facilities
We have excellent facilities, with many upgrade and building projects recently completed using the funding provided by the Ministry of Education following our merger.
This has included classroom renovations, new toilet blocks, new teacher workroom, new fencing and signs, upgraded playgrounds, covered decks and walkways.
Our school has a hall and heated outdoor swimming pool. We have an information and communication technology (ICT) suite, with 15 computers. All 40 of the school’s computers are networked, and are regularly replaced. All children have regular opportunities to work in the ICT suite.
The school is well resourced with other technology, including video cameras, digital cameras, sound systems, televisions, VCR / DVDs and data projectors.
The library is well stocked with a computerised catalogue and issue system. A teacher aide cares for the library books and systems. There is also a computer with CD Rom and an internet link enabling extensive project research.
Furniture across the school is modern and of good quality. All classes have decks, tables, chairs, shelving, display units and teacher work stations.
We operate a school lunch service on Fridays each week, offering food choices that support our Healthy School philosophy.
There are two adventure playgrounds, one for the junior syndicate and the other for the middle and senior syndicates, offering age-appropriate physical challenges. They are regularly upgraded to meet all safety standards. There are also playing courts for netball/basketball, and fields for soccer, rugby and other games.
Activities outside the classroom
Physical education (PE) and sport
PE is a compulsory part of your child’s education. Please ensure your child brings a pair of shorts for PE, as dresses and jeans are not suitable for most activities. They will also need to have appropriate footwear, such as sneakers.
Each week we have a sports afternoon, where children get the chance to learn and play team sports such as soccer, rugby, basketball and netball. Some children are selected to play in inter-school competitions.
Swimming
We are fortunate to have our own pool. All classes swim every day during December, February and March, and we expect all children to take part. Please make sure your child’s togs and towel are named. Goggles or swimming caps may be worn.
We start by teaching non-swimmers to become confident in the water and able to float, then move on to swimming techniques.
Senior swimmers take part in a school-run programme at the local public pool. Near the end of the swimming season, we hold a swim carnival and selected children participate in inter-school and inter-zone events.
We appreciate parent help during swimming sessions. Please contact your child’s teacher if you are able to help.
Music and the Arts
All classes have a music programme, which includes weekly singing. We have a school choir and dance group that participate in regional arts events, as well as a kapa haka group.
Tutors visit each week to teach piano and guitar to small groups during school hours. Please ask at the office if your child is interested in taking part.
Camp
Every second year, Year 5 and 6 children take part in a five-day camp. In recent years this has been held at Forest Lakes Camp in Otaki. Parents, pupils and the fundraising committee work hard to raise the necessary funds to support the camp.
Playground code of behaviour
· Children have the right to feel safe and confident when in the school playground.
· Teachers are rostered on playground duty and sports activities to encourage fair and safe play.
· Conflicts will be resolved fairly.
· Student playground monitors encourage and support safe and fair play
· Positive behaviour is affirmed through “Caught Being Good” tickets and regular reward afternoons. Caught Being Good tickets are entered into a draw at assembly for prizes.
· Children who break the code of behaviour during playtimes may be sent to a ‘time out’ detention area.
· Time out is supervised in a suitable area by a senior teacher.
· Children who play within the bounds of our code of behaviour participate in regular reward afternoons. Children who receive a time out detention have the opportunity to “earn back” their reward day by showing consistent good behaviour.
· Extreme or repeated breaking of the code of behaviour will result in referral to the Principal or Deputy Principal.
· We will inform parents about repeated problem behaviour by note, phone call or personal meeting.
· Students who do not respond to school solutions may be referred to an external agency for help.
· We will keep accurate records of pupil behaviour to assess trends.
· Stand-downs (where a child is officially taken out of school for a period of days) are a last resort, and the school will follow Ministry of Education guidelines.
We welcome parent help and involvement in all aspects of school activities. Our hard-working Board of Trustees gives the staff strong support. They are elected every three years, and all families with children at the school may vote. The last election was in March 2007. The BOT is the administrative body of the school, and meets monthly.
Our fundraising committee supports the BOT and staff by arranging and running fundraising activities. This helps the school run extra activities such as camps and visiting performers, and also provides funds for improvements to school facilities like our swimming pool.
Starting School at Five
Enrolling
By law, a child cannot start school before their fifth birthday, but you may enrol your child before then. It is important that you complete all parts of the enrolment form, as this gives us information we need to best care for your child, particularly in the case of an emergency. Please let us know if any of the details on the enrolment form change in the future.
Pre-school visits
We invite all enrolled children to visit the school during the term before they are due to start. One of the new entrant class teachers will invite you to a morning or afternoon tea to explain the new entrant programme and visit schedule. School visits give children the opportunity to become familiar with the teacher and the room they will be in.
Adjusting to school
When children start school, they are often extra-tired and hungry! Make sure they start the day with a good breakfast, and provide healthy morning teas and lunches for them to bring to school. Try to keep to a regular bedtime routine for your child. The transition from pre-school or home to school should be happy and positive. We aim to work with parents to achieve this.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child settling into school, please contact their teacher.
Wainuiomata School first opened in 1857, making it one of the oldest schools in the Wellington Region. Last year we celebrated 150 years of education – a fantastic achievement!
In 2001 a review of Wainuiomata schools resulted in our merger with Wood Hatton Primary School in January 2002, taking the new name of Wainuiomata Primary School.
An old school building on our grounds is now the Wainuiomata Museum (open on Sundays from 2–4pm).
What makes us tick?
We have a good record of developing high standards and delivering a balanced curriculum.
The school has an excellent record in reading, promotes technology and has a good physical education and sports programme.
All teachers are involved in literacy and numeracy initiatives.
Our school has a “Healthy School” philosophy relating to food, no smoking and sun protection. We encourage all parents to make sure their children bring a healthy lunch to school.
We have an assertive discipline approach to behaviour management and have a no-violence policy in our playground.
We have social skills and behaviour programmes in place throughout the school, incorporating the “Circle Time” programme, which supports positive behaviour.
Our Facilities
We have excellent facilities, with many upgrade and building projects recently completed using the funding provided by the Ministry of Education following our merger.
This has included classroom renovations, new toilet blocks, new teacher workroom, new fencing and signs, upgraded playgrounds, covered decks and walkways.
Our school has a hall and heated outdoor swimming pool. We have an information and communication technology (ICT) suite, with 15 computers. All 40 of the school’s computers are networked, and are regularly replaced. All children have regular opportunities to work in the ICT suite.
The school is well resourced with other technology, including video cameras, digital cameras, sound systems, televisions, VCR / DVDs and data projectors.
The library is well stocked with a computerised catalogue and issue system. A teacher aide cares for the library books and systems. There is also a computer with CD Rom and an internet link enabling extensive project research.
Furniture across the school is modern and of good quality. All classes have decks, tables, chairs, shelving, display units and teacher work stations.
We operate a school lunch service on Fridays each week, offering food choices that support our Healthy School philosophy.
There are two adventure playgrounds, one for the junior syndicate and the other for the middle and senior syndicates, offering age-appropriate physical challenges. They are regularly upgraded to meet all safety standards. There are also playing courts for netball/basketball, and fields for soccer, rugby and other games.
Activities outside the classroom
Physical education (PE) and sport
PE is a compulsory part of your child’s education. Please ensure your child brings a pair of shorts for PE, as dresses and jeans are not suitable for most activities. They will also need to have appropriate footwear, such as sneakers.
Each week we have a sports afternoon, where children get the chance to learn and play team sports such as soccer, rugby, basketball and netball. Some children are selected to play in inter-school competitions.
Swimming
We are fortunate to have our own pool. All classes swim every day during December, February and March, and we expect all children to take part. Please make sure your child’s togs and towel are named. Goggles or swimming caps may be worn.
We start by teaching non-swimmers to become confident in the water and able to float, then move on to swimming techniques.
Senior swimmers take part in a school-run programme at the local public pool. Near the end of the swimming season, we hold a swim carnival and selected children participate in inter-school and inter-zone events.
We appreciate parent help during swimming sessions. Please contact your child’s teacher if you are able to help.
Music and the Arts
All classes have a music programme, which includes weekly singing. We have a school choir and dance group that participate in regional arts events, as well as a kapa haka group.
Tutors visit each week to teach piano and guitar to small groups during school hours. Please ask at the office if your child is interested in taking part.
Camp
Every second year, Year 5 and 6 children take part in a five-day camp. In recent years this has been held at Forest Lakes Camp in Otaki. Parents, pupils and the fundraising committee work hard to raise the necessary funds to support the camp.
Playground code of behaviour
· Children have the right to feel safe and confident when in the school playground.
· Teachers are rostered on playground duty and sports activities to encourage fair and safe play.
· Conflicts will be resolved fairly.
· Student playground monitors encourage and support safe and fair play
· Positive behaviour is affirmed through “Caught Being Good” tickets and regular reward afternoons. Caught Being Good tickets are entered into a draw at assembly for prizes.
· Children who break the code of behaviour during playtimes may be sent to a ‘time out’ detention area.
· Time out is supervised in a suitable area by a senior teacher.
· Children who play within the bounds of our code of behaviour participate in regular reward afternoons. Children who receive a time out detention have the opportunity to “earn back” their reward day by showing consistent good behaviour.
· Extreme or repeated breaking of the code of behaviour will result in referral to the Principal or Deputy Principal.
· We will inform parents about repeated problem behaviour by note, phone call or personal meeting.
· Students who do not respond to school solutions may be referred to an external agency for help.
· We will keep accurate records of pupil behaviour to assess trends.
· Stand-downs (where a child is officially taken out of school for a period of days) are a last resort, and the school will follow Ministry of Education guidelines.
We welcome parent help and involvement in all aspects of school activities. Our hard-working Board of Trustees gives the staff strong support. They are elected every three years, and all families with children at the school may vote. The last election was in March 2007. The BOT is the administrative body of the school, and meets monthly.
Our fundraising committee supports the BOT and staff by arranging and running fundraising activities. This helps the school run extra activities such as camps and visiting performers, and also provides funds for improvements to school facilities like our swimming pool.
Starting School at Five
Enrolling
By law, a child cannot start school before their fifth birthday, but you may enrol your child before then. It is important that you complete all parts of the enrolment form, as this gives us information we need to best care for your child, particularly in the case of an emergency. Please let us know if any of the details on the enrolment form change in the future.
Pre-school visits
We invite all enrolled children to visit the school during the term before they are due to start. One of the new entrant class teachers will invite you to a morning or afternoon tea to explain the new entrant programme and visit schedule. School visits give children the opportunity to become familiar with the teacher and the room they will be in.
Adjusting to school
When children start school, they are often extra-tired and hungry! Make sure they start the day with a good breakfast, and provide healthy morning teas and lunches for them to bring to school. Try to keep to a regular bedtime routine for your child. The transition from pre-school or home to school should be happy and positive. We aim to work with parents to achieve this.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child settling into school, please contact their teacher.
