ADMISSION POLICY
New students are admitted according to the Ministry of Education
Youth and Culture’s (MOEYC) regulations. A child entering Grade One must
have reached the age of six by January 1st and up to December 31st of each year.
Priority is given to children living in closest proximity to the school. Applications
for registration are accepted the first week of May each year. Each application
must be accompanied by a proof of address.
CURRICULUM
Half Way Tree Primary School is carefully following the Revised Primary Curriculum (RPC) Document developed by the Ministry of Education. Grades 1-3 are taught using an integrated approach while in Grades 4-6, except for Language Arts that is partially integrated, the format changes to discrete disciplines - Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Religious Education, Music, Physical Education and Visual Arts.
PARENT-TEACHER
ASSOCIATION (P.T.A.)
An active and supportive P.T.A. exists at this school. All parents of
Executive: The executive arm of the P.T.A. initiates and
supports many
school-wide and classroom programmes.
Monthly meetings are held (first Thursdays) to discuss and make decisions about
P.T.A. matters and examine and advise on school policies. Your active involvement
in the school’s affairs increases your child’s/children’s chances for success
in school.
Skills’ Bank: We need to know what skills our parents possess so we can build a pool of volunteers to call on for assistance. If you are a carpenter, plumber, tiler, etc., we need to know. Many times during the school year, we require the services of volunteers/helpers who assist as teacher aides in classes, for field trips and in many other ways. We urge you to advise the teachers or the office of how you would be willing to assist.
SCHOOL PROCEDURES/PROTOCOL
Parent Concerns
From time
to time, misunderstandings may arise between parents and a teacher. There is
an avenue for resolution of such conflicts.
The parent should:
1. Meet with the teacher as soon as possible.
2. If
the problem is not resolved, meet with the principal.
3. If
the problem is still not resolved, meet with the education officer.
Parents should always consult in-school authorities before taking issues
to outside
agencies.
Visitors/Parents
We welcome parents/guardians visiting
our classrooms and meeting with teachers, as needed. In an effort to minimize
classroom and instructional disruptions, we ask all visitors to classrooms,
during school hours, to be sure to make prior arrangements with the classroom
teacher. All visitors need to be approved and sign a register at the gate, prior
to visiting classrooms.
Parents are not allowed to be in classrooms while classes are in session, except by special permission from the principal or vice-principals.
Dress Code
It is inappropriate for visitors to
wear anything that distracts/disrupts the learning environment or educational
process. Examples of clothing that are distracting are (but are not limited
to):
(1) obscene or profane T-shirts
(2) too short skirts or shorts
(3) cropped tops (with waist area of
the body showing)
(4) too tight or revealing clothing
(5) merino alone
Teacher/ Parent Conference
There will be two scheduled meetings
during the school year. In the first
term, teachers and parents will meet at Grade P.T.A. level.
During the second term, Parent-Teacher
conferences will be scheduled. At that time each parent will be given feedback
of his/ her child’s progress.
Discipline is a shared responsibility
of students, teachers, parents, and the community. If you have questions about
how your child is disciplined at school and how you can help support positive
school behaviour at home, contact the teacher, guidance
counsellor, vice-principal or principal.
Telephone
Calls to Teachers: Only in cases of emergency will classes be interrupted
for telephone calls from parents to
teachers. In other cases, messages from incoming calls will be relayed to teachers.
Cell Phones: Students will not be allowed to bring cell phones to school.
The office telephones are used for emergency
calls, but only with permission.
Student Information
In medical
emergencies, accuracy is essential. Therefore, it is important that your child’s
information records be accurate. Please take the time to complete a personal information
document for each child in the family attending our school.
Change of address and/or telephone
numbers: The school’s office must always
have current information concerning where parents or guardians can be reached.
If your home address, home or work telephone
numbers or place of employment should change, the school should be informed
promptly.
CIVIC FUND/MEDICAL INSURANCE
Parents are
required to contribute towards a civic fund which is used to offset the following
cost:
(a) furniture repairs
(b) upkeep of the ground
(c) painting of the classroom
Please note also,
beginning in September 2005, only children covered by the insurance will be
allowed to participate in sporting activities such as, netball, rugby, cricket,
football and athletics or to be included on excursions.