Absentee & Lateness:

There are many reasons why a student may be kept at home for the day and we would ask in each case that parents contact us via the Parent App. Select ‘Absence’ and then ‘Notify an absence’. You can also telephone or advise your childs teacher in person to explain the absence. If it is necessary for parents, caregivers to take children out of school, either from class or at break times; we ask that you ensure that the class teacher or duty teacher is informed. Please ensure your child is signed out on the Ipad at the front office before they leave the school grounds. They will need to sign themselves in on return to school.

In order to monitor absences of our students, all teachers complete a record of absence every morning which is then sent to the office by 9:10am. This is checked by office staff against the school message diary and if an unexplained absence is recorded an appropriate text message or phone call is made to parents or listed caregiver to ensure the child is safe. If your child is to be absent from school please let the office know. If you know how long your child will be away for, please tell us in advance otherwise each day’s absence requires a call to explain. If leaving a message on the answer phone, please provide a reason for your child’s absence as Ministry of Education require schools to code all absences.

The answer machine is always on or you can talk to a member of staff from 8.30am.

Please see this link for further information provided by the MOE on absences and coding requirements for 2025.

Annual Report:

All schools are required to submit their audited Annual Reports to the Ministry of Education and the Auditor General. You can view Saint Paul's Annual Reports by clicking on the year link - 2021. The reports are also available to view on our School Docs Site - click on the link.

Assembly, Liturgy and Mass:

Parents, caregivers, parishioners and friends are always welcome at our various celebrations. We hold shared prayer at the end of every week and our senior classes take it in turns to lead this. On occasions we hold an Assembly at Salisbury Hall and parents will be notified of these. Masses are held in our Parish Church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, in William Street, Richmond. Classes take it in turns to attend Mass at the Church during term time and on special occasions such as our Feast Day Mass. Once a term we have a welcome Powhiri at the church for all our new students who are starting at our school.

Dental Clinic:

Our newly enrolled students attend the Richmond Dental Clinic located at Henley School. If your child has been attending another clinic in the area, they will continue to attend that clinic. The Clinic encourages the enrollment of pre-school children from the age of 2 1/2.
The Richmond Community Oral Health and is open from 8.00am to5.00pm, Monday to Friday.

You can phone the Richmond Community Oral Health Centre at 539 5320.

E-Learning:

We believe that e-learning increases engagement having positive impacts on student achievement and we aim to prepare students with the skills to be successful in a future world we can not yet comprehend.

We have a number of digital devices within our school which are used as tools for learning in every classroom.

We strongly encourage our Senior Students Years 5 to 8 to have their own digital device and we recommend a Chrome book or equivalent. These web browsers represent a very cost effective way to access the class curriculum digitally. Please do not hesitate to talk to your child’s teacher about the most suitable device.

Students are asked to sign an agreement between them, their parents and the school before their device is able to be used on school grounds. Students are given restricted access to the internet and expected to ensure they have the appropriate learning apps available to use during class time.

Emergency Procedures:

Civil Defence measures have been developed at our school. Realistic common-sense procedures have been established among the staff and children so as to decrease anxiety and the possibility of panic in the case of an emergency. Any decision to send pupils home following an emergency will be made by the Principal. No student will be entrusted to anyone other than parents, caregivers or persons nominated by parents or caregivers.

Emergency Snack Packs held at school

Emergency Snack Packs
As a safety measure we are ask each family to provide a small snack pack for each of their children in a named snaplock bag. We recommend you provide snacks that would be guaranteed to appeal to your child and fit in a sandwich size snap/ziplock bag. Items such as muesli bars, dried fruit snacks, wholegrain crackers, fruit jelly cups etc. Please no nuts due to the allergy of other children. Items need to have a shelf life of 12 months and be able to withstand the weight of 25 other bags on top. These are be kept in storage bins in each class. Should our school be in a lockdown situation or other emergency requiring staff and children to remain in the classroom for a lengthy period, your child would be given their emergency snack pack. The school will also have to hand paper cups and water for such emergencies.

If at any time your child has forgotten their lunch, the class teacher would provide your child with the snack pack which could be replaced within the following week. Near the end of the year we will have a snack lunch and children will be given the packs. Replacement packs will be called for each year. We will also send this request out at the beginning of the year to all families.

Homework:

It is expected that every student will have some form of homework every night. This may be reading, basic facts practice, spelling and Religious Education.

Friends of Saint Paul's - FOSP

We are looking for a group of enthusiastic parents who would enjoy working together as members of our Friends of Saint Paul’s (FOSP) parent group. Typically this group has met twice a term and have been active in organising social and fundraising events. If you personally would enjoy being a part of the group or know of a group of parents who have discussed working together as a team, we would love to hear from you. Contact Maureen or Natalie in the office.

Leadership Opportunities

School Councillors

Our Student Council is made up of a class representatives from years 1-7, two class representatives from year 8 and our school ambassadors. These students are chosen or elected at the beginning of each school year and work together with the Deputy Principal and Principal. Meetings are held in each term to hear our ‘student voice’. This team also plans for some of our fundraising events and assists in organising cultural and sporting events.

Year 7 & 8 Leadership Initiative:

The school has a leadership initiative running in Year 7 and 8 and all students in these year groups are asked to rise to the challenges of leadership and win gold, silver and bronze awards. Throughout the year students work within our school and wider community to demonstrate leadership qualities. Our Year 8 students attend a Leadership Course based at Whenua-Iti where they examine what leadership is and how they can grow as leaders.

The Year 7 and 8 students play an important role in school duties such as library monitors, Road Patrol, Peer Mediators, sports leaders and office assistants during lunchtimes.

School Ambassadors:

We have two school ambassadors selected by the staff as the senior leaders of our school. These students represent our school by leading school assemblies, meeting and greeting important visitors to our school, attending formal functions and visiting people in our community with the Principal. These students also have the opportunity to attend the Young Leaders Conference held each year.

Library:

Our beautiful library was completed and blessed in 2002. Students have the opportunity through class programmes and lunch times to enjoy our Library including the borrowing of books.
We are always very appreciative of any time parents can give to working in our library, covering books, tidying shelves or sewing bags and cushions. Let us know through the school office if you have any time or skills to offer.

Lunches:

Healthy Lunches

At Saint Paul’s we encourage healthy eating as we believe this plays a vital role in student’s well being and ability to stay focused and learn. We encourage our parents to provide rubbish free lunch options for their children. All packaging and food scraps need to be taken home by the child as we are a Rubbish Free School.

Nuts at School

We have a no Nuts policy in our junior area. Please do not include any form of nut in your child's lunch from Year 0 - 2's.

Year 3's upwards will receive communication from their child's teacher at the beginning of the year regarding the classroom nut policy. Please be guided by their advice when making your child's lunch.

Subway lunches are available on Fridays only. Please order online at any time during the week for delivery Friday lunchtime. www.subwayexpress.co.nz , select the Subway School Lunch Programme option

FIRST TIME, create an account by selecting the 'Register Online Now' link

COMPLETE your Registration - Submit

SELECT 'St Paul's School, Room and Student Name'

Build your order from there. As a courtesy orders should be placed by 8pm Thursday night but orders will be accepted up to 9am Friday Morning. Your order will be delivered to school ready for lunchtime.

When the lunch bell rings at 12.25pm children are allowed to play until 1pm when another bell rings to indicate lunch eating time. Children return to class settled and ready to learn at 1.15pm.

On Wheel – bikes, skateboards & scooters:

Students cycling, skateboarding or scooting to school are encouraged to be safe and sensible on the roads. There are two bike stands for students to leave their bikes safely during school hours. We also have a scooter park for easy storage of scooters.

All bikes, skateboards and scooters are NOT to be ridden once students enter our school grounds for safety reasons.

School Day

8:30 am Children allowed into classrooms

8:55 am School begins

10:30 am Morning break

10:50 am Lessons resume

12:25 pm Lunch break

1:15 pm Lessons resume

2:50 pm End of school

Parent Involvement:

We welcome parent involvement in the life of our school. Active involvement by parents sends students the message, ‘This is OUR school. We care about it.’ We need parent support to continue to deliver the high standard of education to our students.

Parents are invited to become involved in all aspects of our school programme, particularly in the following areas:

Supporting class and school Masses, Liturgies and Assemblies
In classes assisting with class program’s
Supporting Religious Education Program’s
Coaching and supervising of sports
Assistance on sports days
Transport and participation in Education Outside the Classroom
Working bees
Working in the Library
Helping to develop our teaching resource areas such as Reading books
As an active member of the Friends of Saint Paul’s (FOSP’s)
Supporting the many and various school or class functions.

We are always eager to hear of any special skills that parents, grandparents, parishioners and friends of our school would be willing to share.

If you would like to become involved in a class with any of the above, please make contact with your child’s class teacher.

Parking, Drop offs and Pick ups – Guidelines:

The preference of The Board of Trustees and the teaching staff is that parents and caregivers park their vehicles away from the school in either D’Arcy Street or Arbor Lea and either walk to school to drop off or meet their children or arrange for their children to walk to either of these streets. The Drop Off Zone outside Waimea College may also be used and children can cross at the patrolled crossing.

The Board is however aware that there will be occasions when parents and caregivers need to drop their children within the school grounds. The following are the guidelines for parents and caregivers to also have this option.

Before School:

The turnaround area of the driveway is a “Kiss and Drop” area only. This means that drivers do not get out of their vehicles and all children must exit the vehicle on the left hand side.

If a parent or caregiver wishes to take their child into the classroom, but is unable to park away from the school, (e.g. sick child, baby on board, disability) then in a limited number of cases they may park their vehicle on the grass area of the staff car park.

To take advantage of this concession however, the parent or caregiver must be at school prior to the chain going up at approximately 8:30am or arrive after the chain comes down at approximately 8:50am. The teacher on crossing duty will be responsible for putting the chain up and down in the mornings. If the parent or caregiver arrives prior to 8:30am but when they come to leave, the chain is still across the lane, they must wait in the school grounds until the chain comes down.

This means that, except in the case of an emergency, no vehicles are to stop and remove the chain at any time between 8:30am and 8:50am.

After School:

Because we have over 360 children leaving the school grounds at the same time, there will be no parking in the turnaround area of the driveway.

Again if a parent or caregiver needs to collect their child directly from the school grounds (for reasons stated above) they must arrive before the chain goes up at approx. 2.50pm and stay until the chain comes down at approx. 3.10pm.

Road Patrol and Buses:

Buses

Our students ride on the Waimea Intermediate buses to Waimea Plains and Coastal Highway. Students from Stoke can catch public buses, but these are not controlled. It is important that you contact Suburban Bus Company in Richmond to arrange for your child to be picked up at a suitable place and time.

The students are informed of the procedures of where to collect the bus in the mornings and when to cross at the crossing, on the first day of the term. A register is called every afternoon before the students move across to the Bus Park with the duty teacher.; It is very important that students inform the duty teacher if they are not on the bus.

Please note that we are responsible for the road crossing from 8:30 a.m. and no student should cross from the bus park until the signs are operational or a parent crosses with them.

Road Crossing:

We are responsible for the road crossing outside our school. Our Year 7 and 8 students are given the opportunity to volunteer for this duty and are trained by the School Liaison Police Officer at the beginning of the school year. The crossing is operational between 8.30am to 8.55am and 2:55pm to 3.10pm every day.

Sickness and Medicines:

In case of sickness or injury, students are sent to the medical room for assessment and further action as required. If the sickness or injury is considered to require treatment and contact cannot be made with the parent or designated caregiver, the student may be taken to the Duty Doctor in Richmond or if it is deemed the injury requires hospital treatment, such as for a broken bone, an ambulance will be called. Parents will be notified with regard to any steps taken by the school in this area. It is really important that your contact phone numbers and emergency contacts are kept up-to-date in our office.

The health and welfare of the students in our care is paramount. If a student has a head injury, regardless of its severity, parents will be informed. If the injury or illness is minor, this will be attended to and the student will be returned to class. If the student appears distressed, parents will be called.

Medicines in School:

It may be necessary for students to have medicine available at school on a long-term basis, and we are happy to co-operate if we are informed in writing of the dosage and circumstances. If your child needs medicine for a short time only, it will be preferable for him or her to be kept at home until the course is completed. You, the parent, should hand all medicines in to the Office, with instructions.

School Bank Details:

Payments can be processed via online banking or by EFTPOS at our school office.

School bank account name; Bank Account Name; Saint Paul's School (Richmond) BOT

School bank account number is 12 3158 0172957 00

Please reference your childs name and invoice number when making payment. Thanks

Sport:

See our sports page or contact our sports coordinator natalie.allam@stpauls-richmond.school.nz

Stationery 2025:

Stationery Packs for the 2025 school year are available from Office Products Depot, 7 McGlashen Avenue, Richmond, Ph. 5446116, please ask for your childs year group.

If you wish to purchase the stationery items individually please contact the school office for a stationery list.

Technology:

Our Year 7 and 8 students attend Technology classes at Garin College. A Saint Paul’s staff member will accompany the students to and from Garin College on Technology days. The students spend approximately 10 weeks on 1 of 4 different technologies: Food technology, Hard materials technology, Digital Technology and Fashion and Design Technology.

Young Vinnies:

The Society of St Vincent de Paul Vinnies Programme

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Vinnies programme is a programme run at Primary, Secondary and Young Adult levels throughout the country. It offers an opportunity for young people to make a positive difference in their own communities (and quite often further afield) by helping people in need.

The Vinnies programme offered in Nelson is divided into three levels – Bronze, Silver and Gold with Vinnies working towards gaining their certificate at the end of the year by meeting the programme requirements each level presents.

In 2011, the Vinnies groups under the umbrella of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Society Nelson Area Council came Runners-up in the TrustPower Nelson Tasman Community Awards Education and Child/Youth Development section.

Nelson Tasman Youth Volunteer Awards:

Every year, the Saint Paul’s Vinnies along with Vinnies from other groups around the area meet together at the Nelson Tasman Youth Volunteer Awards to be recognised for their work in the community along with other young people who volunteer in a large variety of organisations. This is a hugely positive event where each young person is presented with a certificate for their community service by the Nelson or Tasman District Mayors. This event is normally held in June to tie in with Volunteer Awareness Week.

Saint Paul’s Vinnies Community Involvement:

At St. Paul’s School Year 6 – 8 students voluntarily participate in Vinnies. Vinnies is part of the leadership programme for Senior Students.

School Uniform:

Girls and Boys

Polar fleece: maroon with navy blue collar, embroidered school name

Polo tops: unisex blue/maroon

A plain blue short or long sleeved polyprop top may be worn under uniform tops in the winter months.

Girls: navy blue skirt, skort or shorts

Boys: navy blue drill shorts

Sports shorts: plain black shorts or black bike shorts

Sports tee shirt: blue with school monogram

Sports socks and shoes: an option for PE and sport only

Hat: maroon wide brim/cricket style – compulsory in terms 1 and 4

Sandals (Terms 1 & 4)

Boys: plain black or brown with back strap

Girls: plain black, brown or blue with back strap

Shoes

Boys & Girls: plain black shoes with laces, velcro or buckle.

Please ensure that correct footwear is worn at all times.

No Skate or similar type shoes

Socks

Girls: ankle or knee-high navy blue socks or navy blue tights (Terms 2 and 3)

Boys: ankle or knee-high navy blue socks

Optional Softshell Jacket for Outdoor Wear

3-layer performance softshell jacket
Outer 95% polyester 5% elastane
Inner 100% polyester bonded fleece

Light water repellent and wind resistant finish
2 side zip pockets and 1 chest zip pocket
Concealed hood
Shaped back tail for added warmth and modesty
Tone on tone changeable zip pullers

General Info

Navy and Black Puffer type jackets may be worn during the winter. These are not permitted to be worn during classtime. Hats, gloves and scarves in school colours; navy, maroon or black may be worn to and from school but not during school hours.

Hair to be tied up (below shoulder length) for girls and boys. Hair bands to be in school colours.

Note: If a student is not able to wear the correct uniform a note of explanation must be sent to the teacher.

No nail varnish is to be worn.

To Purchase our School Uniform;

https://www.nzuniforms.com

Select School specific uniform

Select our school: St Pauls School

Select from the range available online.

All our uniform can be purchased online through NZ Uniforms at https://stpauls-richmond.nzuniforms.com/ OR directly from NZ Uniform Shop; Unit 8, 38 Estuary Place, Richmond

Regular Shop Hours are:

Monday/Friday 9am - 5pm

Saturday: 9am - 4pm

Additional Uniform notes:

SECOND HAND UNIFORMS/SELLING ON BEHALF: FOSP are not able to sell second hand uniform items on behalf. You are welcome to send us the details and we can advertise uniforms for sale on the FOSP Facebook page with your contact details so other parents can contact you directly. We are happy to take second hand uniform donations that we can sell or pass on. Any money received by FOSP for second hand items that are sold are considered a donation to the School.

Saint Paul’s Catholic School

Ruru

Share Article