Student Expectations
• School begins at 8.40am and finishes at 3.15pm Monday to Thursday and 3.00pm on Friday. There are usually eight days in the school year when school closes at 2.00pm to allow staff professional development.
• Homework is an essential part of the learning process and all students are expected to do homework. All students are issued with a homework diary to assist them in the development of self-organisation and time management skills. The school library is open after school for student research and homework. Computer suites are also open some lunchtimes to allow student use of computers.
• Each school night a commitment to homework is required. The school’s homework policy recommends the following amounts of time:
Years 9 and 10 - Up to 11/2 hours Years 11 to 13 - 2 to 3 hours
• Parents are asked to co-operate in ensuring that homework is completed. Reading and making notes from the day’s lessons is regarded as a useful homework activity if no work has been set. To assist with the completion of homework and study, at set times during the year, staff are available in the school library after school to provide assistance for students. Staff are present to help students in a variety of subjects.
• We expect all students to show respect for others, for the school and for its property. They should always behave in a way which ensures their safety and that of others. Courtesy, consideration and common sense should be shown at all times. Students are bound by the school’s behaviour policy and school rules on the way to and from school, at school, and when attending or participating in school activities. All students must stay at school all day unless procedures for obtaining a pass are followed.
• Papakura High School has a zero tolerance of violence, harassment, bullying and swearing. Students are also forbidden to bring or use tobacco, alcohol or drugs whist under the jurisdiction of the school. Other forbidden items include cellphones, skateboards, Walkmans, CD players, IPods and MP3 players.
• Students who do not follow the school’s code of behaviour can expect to be placed on detention or receive some other appropriate punishment. In some instances students may be placed on an individual period by period report which is monitored by both staff and parents. Such reports are intended to help students establish better patterns of work effort, behaviour and attendance. Serious breaches of school rules may result in referral to the principal for possible further action.
• Students whose behaviour affects the ability of a class to learn may be removed from those classes. They may be placed, in the short term, in the reflection room, learning support centre, or, in the longer term at the Activity Centre. This is located off site in Wood Street, Papakura. Students who miss significant amounts of school through unexplained absence may be required to attend the
Te Aoatoa class to redo core learning subjects. This class is also based at Wood Street.
• Students are expected to be in the correct school uniform at all times. Details of both Junior and Senior, Summer and Winter, Boys and Girls uniform can be obtained from the school office.
• By law all students must attend school until the age of 16. They are expected to attend regularly and punctually.
• Students arriving late must bring a note signed by their parents. If they arrive after 9am they should go straight to Period 1.
• Students are not permitted to go home for lunch and if a student has a dental, medical, or other essential appointment during school time, then the school must be notified prior to the appointment and an official appointment card and/or parent’s note must be taken to the Tutor Group meeting. A school pass will be issued by Student Reception when the student signs out of school.
• Students leaving the school grounds to attend authorised appointments must sign out at Student Reception and on their return they must sign back in. No student may leave the grounds during school hours without a school pass.
• All absences must be explained in a written note signed by parents and given to the Class Tutor or Attendance Officer immediately after an absence. If it is known that a student is going to be absent for more than two days parents should notify the school by telephone. If a student requires an extended leave of 5 days or more for a non-medical reason approval from the Principal is required.
Leaving School
• A leaving form needs to be completed along with a letter of authorisation from parents when a student leaves school in order to commence employment or to enrol elsewhere. A Leaving Certificate will only be issued after completion of a leaving form, together with the return of all text books, library books and school equipment, and the payment of any outstanding fees or debts. Senior students may apply for a Testimonial (forms available from the school office).
Student Travel
Students are expected to obey traffic regulations at all times.
• Bicycles
Students must wear helmets.
Bicycles are to be placed in the stands provided. Parents are advised to provide a strong chain and padlock for security purposes.
• Pedestrians
Students must take care when crossing Willis and Marne Road after school.
Students are not to cross the Mansell Senior School grounds during school hours.
• Buses/Trains
There are free buses available for students who live in the outlying country areas.
A paying bus service is available from the Manurewa East, Takanini and Conifer Grove areas. These buses transport the students to and from the school grounds. All students who travel to and from school by bus or train are expected to behave in an appropriate way and obey Rail or Bus Company regulations.
• Cars
Students must have permission from the Principal in order to bring any vehicle to school or to carry a student as a passenger. Permission forms are available from the Student Reception counter.