Principal Judi Buckley 07 888 0854

Teachers Natalie Dyer

Karen Catchpole
Susan Garrud

Information Booklet
Office Linda Kidner

Cleaner Kathy Banaag

Chairperson Steve Borkin 027 637 5000

Committee Jande Ganas
Tania Bay
Irena Blackhall
Melonie Curwood
Natalie Dyer
Wairere School is a rural contributing school catering for students up to
year 6. The schools location is unique as it is in a beautiful setting
complemented by mature trees with extensive grounds. The grounds

Information Booklet
incorporate a 22m swimming pool, court area and large playground.

Wairere is a future focused school that aims to provide Quality Education

in a Caring Environment, where students are actively involved in their
learning. The teachers provide eLearning opportunities to extend and
support teaching and foster the development of skills to become lifelong
learners.

Class sizes are small and enable class programmes to be more

personalised and to cater for students needs. The school has a very
committed Board of Trustees and Friends of Wairere, and the school is
well resourced because of this. The school has its own school van which
picks up students each day from Matamata and surrounding areas, giving
students the option of attending our country school.

With its idyllic setting and excellence in education Wairere School certainly
has something special to offer students.
 Information Booklet
School Office
07 888 0854

office@wairere.school.nz

Principal
principal@wairere.school.nz

School Address

413 Wardville Rd
RD Waharoa 3474

www.wairere.school.nz
The Friends of Wairere meet each month at the school. All parents/
caregivers are welcome and encouraged to support the Friends of
Wairere by joining the group and helping to fundraise for the school. It is
a great way to meet others and be part of the community.

Information Booklet
Fundraising
In order to provide extra programmes for the children there is the
continual need to raise extra funds.

At the beginning of the year, the FOW run the Op shop for a week in
Matamata. This is a golden opportunity to get rid of those unwanted
items and donate them to school for sale in the shop. Volunteers are
needed to work a morning or afternoon during this week.

All parents are asked to help with the slink run during calving doing the
pick-up runs.

We may have raffles during the year - Easter and/or Christmas.

Families are asked to donate to the prizes and sell some tickets.
If you have any great fundraising ideas, please let our Friends of
Wairere know. The FOW may also have other fundraising activities
during the year.
Vision and Values
 TeamWork
CAring

Vision and Values

ResponsIble
Respectful
HonEst
ConsideRate
PositivE
Persist
Successful people dont give up easily. If it doesnt work one way, they try another.
Stop and Think
Successful people think before they act. They make a plan before solving problems.
Listen
Successful people listen to others with their ears, their minds and their feelings.
Think Flexibility

Vision and Values

Successful people think about their problems in lots of different ways.
Thinking about Thinking
Successful people know what they know and what they still need to find out.
Make it Right
Successful people make their work as correct and accurate as it can be.
Ask Questions
Successful people ask good questions and set themselves tricky problems.
Use past Knowledge
Successful people learn from experience.
Be Clear
Successful people think before they speak and choose the right words.
Use 5 Senses
Successful people use sight, sound, taste, touch and smell.
Create and Innovate
Successful people create clever, original and creative solutions to problems.
GO WOW!
Successful people respond with awe to the world.
Try new Ideas
Successful people arent afraid of learning new things.
See the Funny Side
Successful people can see the funny side and have a laugh.
Work with others
Successful people can work with others well to solve problems.
Learn Forever
Successful people learn new things all their lives even when they are old.
Quality Thinkers Learners & Creators
Quality Thinkers Learners & Creators
 Quality Thinkers Learners & Creators
Quality classroom programmes give priority to Literacy and Numeracy, and a balanced
coverage of the remaining Learning Areas; Social Sciences, Science, Technology, The
Arts, Health and PE.
The Wairere Curriculum is focussed on
thinking, learning and creating through
the school inquiry model of Discovery
learning.
Curriculum planning incorporates the
Habits of Mind to support the Key
Competencies that will enable students
to live, learn, work, and contribute as
active members of their communities.
Teachers work collaboratively to
develop detailed quality planning and
set criteria for teaching and learning.
Solo Taxonomy is used to assess the
complexity of learning by both the
teachers and students.
Discovery Learning ensures students
have opportunity to understand and
make sense of their world. It is
important at Wairere that new
experiences build on existing
knowledge and skills through authentic
contexts.
Pre-schoolers and New Entrants
We are pleased to welcome 5 year olds to Wairere School and believe it is important that their
class is a warm and caring place. Parents of new entrants are invited to visit the school and
pick up an enrolment pack before their child is due to start. Inside the pack is an enrolment
form which needs to be returned to the school office along with a copy of their birth certificate
and immunisation form. New Entrants can begin school on or after their 5th birthday. At

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Wairere emphasis is placed on the key learning areas of Literacy and Numeracy, and we pride
ourselves on our interesting and innovative programmes. Students are given opportunities to
become confident users of technology and to develop the skills to be life long learners.
Reading Recovery
If necessary students are offered Reading Recovery as an early literacy intervention. The
intervention provides for a series of daily individual lessons, additional to the classroom
programme. The lessons are one to one with a specially trained teacher.
Reporting to Parents
Meetings with parents/caregivers are held in February and Student Led Conferences in June.
These meetings enable students to share their learning and to celebrate the successes. The
students at Wairere use Solo Taxonomy for their next steps in learning. Our students have
their own blogs where they are document and reflect on their learning. Parents/caregivers are
encouraged to talk to teachers if they have concerns, as students learning is of the utmost
priority at Wairere.
Bible In Schools
This is for half an hour on Thursday morning. It is a non-denominational Bible study lesson -
all students participate in this unless parents request otherwise.
Buddy Reading
Each child is paired with another to listen and read to on a regular basis. The purpose of this is to
provide additional reading practice, to build positive relationships between junior and senior pupils
and to enhance self-esteem.

Library
Students visit our well stocked library and are allowed 3 books out at a time. They must have a book

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bag to protect books. Books need to be returned weekly so that more can be issued to foster a love
of books and reading for recreation.

Home Learning
This will usually be based on reading, and mathematics. We encourage Parents/Caregivers to
regularly listen to students reading, and to talk about what they have been doing at school. The class
blogs are a good starting point for this.

Lunches and Snacks

Students at Wairere need two snacks and lunch each day. Popcorn is the best brain food, water is
wonderful brain juice and fruit and vegetables are also good snacks. Please assist us and the
students by providing food that will enhance learning and teaching.
There is a small list of lunch items available on specific days.

Assemblies
A fortnightly assembly is held at 1.50 p.m. Friday afternoons to share and celebrate learning.
Parents and others are most welcome to attend. This will be on the same week as newsletters.
Sunhats and Hair
All students are required to have a hat to wear outside during Terms 1 and 4.
Shoulder length or longer hair needs to be tied back as students need to work without hair in the
way, and headlice are less likely to be spread. Children also need to wear clothes suitable for
school.

Bikes, Skateboards, Rollerblades and Scooters

Children may bring these to school on Fridays only. They are kept outside the classroom and may

The Wairere Way

be used at intervals on the court area. Students must wear helmets.

Behaviour Management
Wairere school has a Promoting Positive Behaviour Programme to ensure our school is a safe
place for all students. With parents' support, we aim for our students to take personal responsibility
for their behaviour.

Sport
Each class undertakes a regular exercise and P.E. programme and includes a weekly sports
period, weather permitting. All students are expected to take part in all activities including
swimming. A note needs to be provided to excused a student from sport/phys ed because of an
illness or injury.
Swimming
Swimming is part of the PE programme during the first term. Students need their togs each day
that term and we encourage the use of goggles. Board shorts/shorts are not permitted as they are
not suitable for instructional swimming.
Calendar
The calendar is available on the school website and there are a number of annual events.

Newsletters
These are sent home with the eldest family member, usually every second Wednesday. The
newsletter is an update of what has been happening at school and lists forthcoming events.

The Wairere Way

EOTC - School Trips
As part of our Education Outside the Classroom the senior class have a camp each year. These
camps (city, beach, bush) are aimed at providing the children with experiences they would not
normally get in the school environment.

Often there are school trips during the year that are planned as part of the classroom programme.
The students either travel by bus or car and parents/caregivers are kept up to date with events
through the newsletter or on our Facebook page. Information and permission slips for trips are
send home prior to the event. These need to be completed and returned promptly.

School Teams
We have three school teams Kaimai, Wardville and Turanga-o-Moana. These teams are used for
various activities including sports and after lunch playground clean-ups.

Dental Technician
Liz Kervell and Tracey Thompson at Firth Primary are the children's Dental Technicians - they can
be contacted on 888 5202.
Absences
Please phone the school before 8.25am so that we know that the student will be absent for the
day. You can text an absence to 027 338 5391.

Bus and Van

Wairere is in a unique situation as it has its own school van that travels from Matamata each
morning and returns there each afternoon. This allows for flexibility and gives students from town
the option of attending our great country school.

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Arrangements for students who use the bus are made through the school. Parents need to notify
the school if a student is NOT travelling on the bus or van, or is getting off at a stop other than
normal. This is a safety precaution so that we know your permission has been given for the
change. Accident research indicates the biggest danger to students is after they get off the bus
(dashing across the road). To avoid this, please meet your child on the SAME side of the road as
the BUS STOP.
Students are required to sit quietly on the bus or van so as not to distract the driver. Please note:
unacceptable behaviour (as specified in the Policy) will result in the child being removed from the
bus.

Safety Vests
All students travelling on the bus, van or walking are issued with a numbered safety vest to wear to
and from school. This increases their visibility to drivers. Parents are responsible for returning the
vest at the end of the year.

School Times
8.25 am - 9.25 am 9.30 am - 10.25 am 11.45 am - 12.15pm 1.05pm - 2.20 pm
Medication
Medications will not be given to students at school unless a permission form is signed. Asthmatics
are encouraged to leave inhalers at school if required. Students with specific allergies (e.g. bee
stings) will have medication placed in the first aid cupboard at school. Prescription medicines need
to be handed to class teachers.

First Aid

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Students with minor injuries can be treated at school but in the event of an accident we will contact
you immediately. We ask parents to assist by treating things such as sores and head lice as soon
as possible and to contact the school so we can pass on information to others. Please ensure your
emergency contact number is current.

School Stationery / Photocopier / Laminator

School stationery can also be purchased through the office at school. Photocopying is available at
the school office. We do not have eftpos.

School Grounds After Hours

Wairere school grounds are available for use after school hours. The Board of Trustees and staff
will not be held responsible for any injuries, accidents or damage that may occur. For safety
reasons, children should be supervised. Skateboards are not permitted after school hours. If there
is any damage, please report it to the School Office. Wairere School and the pool area are
smokefree.