Information for Parents
Transitioning your Child into School
You can assist your child’s preparation for school in the following ways:
Work towards:
- holding a book correctly holding and using pencil correctly writing and recognising their own name
– using capital letters for the first letters only recognising some letters of the alphabet and know some of the sounds counting to 10 and knowing some other numbers
- also what comes before and after a number recognising basic shapes recognising colours (colouring in skills would be an advantage).
Self-management and organisation skills - by:
- being able to tell the teacher what they need or want. toilet themselves independently carrying their bag to the classroom listen and follow instructions
- put things away in the right place at the right time put on their shoes and socks cough into their sleeve and how to blow their nose (tissues are available)
Daily you should help your child by:
- Asking them about their learning
– talk about the good things that happened in their day
- Read to and with you child Help your child to complete home learning tasks as required.
Other ways you as a parent can support your child’s learning.
- Start the day with a positive attitude and a balanced diet.
- A big breakfast is essential and a healthy lunch – not too many treats in the lunchbox and always a good sized water bottle – not fizzy drinks please. We have morning tea at 10.30, an energiser at 11.50 and lunch at 1pm.
- Get your child to school by 8.45am. This allows your child to be organised for the day and to reestablish their friendship circles – which is important to all children. When they are late sometimes they are out of sorts for the day.
- Regular and consistent bedtimes. Ten hours or more of sleep each night is recommended for five year olds starting school.
Parents please check - everything is brought from home for the day - uniform, stationery, lunch, library books, homework. We prefer not to ring you to bring things up to school during the day. It is really important to ask questions if you are not sure.
No question is an unnecessary one!
New Enrolments
We welcome new enrolments at our school. The following enrolment form can be completed and dropped in to our school office, or emailed to office@mulberrygrove.school.nz
School Booklet
Check out our school booklet, with everything you could ever need to know about our school included:
School Hours
The school operates the following hours:
8.30am Grounds open for students
9am School starts
9.00am - 11am Morning Classes
10am Stop for a 10 minute fruit break, fruit provided
11am - 11.40am Morning Tea break
11.40am - 1pm Classes
1pm - 1.40pm LUNCH
1.40pm - 3.00pm Afternoon Classes
3pm School finishes
School Lunches
Our school is very lucky to be a part of the amazing Ka Ora Ka Ako Healthy lunches in schools programme. The school offers hot nutritious and yummy free lunches to all students daily and the school provides healthy fresh fruit platters for morning tea. Please let the school know if your child has any dietary requirements.
Friday Lunch Orders are also available for order each Friday.
School Term Dates 2024
The school term dates for 2024 are as follows:
Term 1: Wednesday 31st January - Friday 12th April
Term 2: Monday 29th April - Friday 5th July
Term 3: Monday 22nd July - Friday 27th September
Term 4: Monday 14th Oct - Friday 13th December
School Bus
The school has a daily school bus run in mornings and afternoons, picking up and dropping off elligible children to and from the school and allocated bus stops. Contact the school office to check whether your child is elligible to catch the school bus
Assemblies
Assemblies are currently held fortnightly on Fridays at 2.30pm. Family members are always welcome. Special assemblies showcasing excellence and celebrating achievement are held at the end of each term. Specific dates will be supplied to families.