We encourage you to enrol your child around their fourth birthday. The school has an enrolment scheme with defined boundaries. Children and parents attend for two pre school visits in the two weeks prior to their enrolment. Children may start school on or soon after their fifth birthday.
You will be required to have proof of your address, proof of date of birth and immunisation certificate at the time of enrolment.
Preparing Your Child for School
- All clothing must be named.
- Teach your child how to do buckles up on sandals, and put on and take off sweatshirts independently
- Begin teaching your child how to tie shoe laces (this takes time and patience)
- School uniform is compulsory.
- Teach your child how to cope with zips and buttons
- Reinforce that toilets must be flushed (boys may need to know about using a urinal)
- Teach children how to wash their hands after using the toilet
- A backpack is easiest and safest for children walking to school. Ensure it is big enough to hold lunch, a book bag, library book and raincoat
- Allow children to carry their own school bag as it encourages independence
At Your Pre School Visits
- Your child will meet their new teacher and be involved in the morning programme from 9.00 - 10.30am. You must stay with your child during this visit and help them participate in the classroom activities. You are welcome to stay for morning tea and introduce your child to theplayground activities and toilet area.
- You are welcome to stay for morning tea and introduce your child to the playground activities and toilet areas
- During the second visit you will be invited to the office to complete all the necessary paperwork and then you and your child will meet with the Principal
- It is a good idea to purchase stationery during the second visit
First Day
- Provided the paperwork has been completed during the pre school visits, your child starts in the classroom along with the other children at 8.55am.
- Ensure your child knows where you will collect them from
- Feel free to spend a few minutes in the classroom on the first day, but experience shows that a quick goodbye is least upsetting for all
- It is helpful if your child's morning tea is wrapped separately from their lunch.
- Keep food simple and easy to manage in a small container or lunch box
Enrolment at St Thomas's School
For the purpose of avoiding overcrowding at the school, the St Thomas's School Board of Trustees will implement the following enrolment scheme effective from 1 January, 2001 until such time as the enrolment scheme is abandoned or amended.
This scheme applies to children who are New Zealand citizens, or have New Zealand residency or who have a parent who is in New Zealand with a current work permit, and for whom a student visa has been obtained.
The Enrolment Scheme
Home Zone
All students who live within the home zone shown on the attached map (also attached is a list of street names with numbers where required) shall be entitled to enrol at the school.
The Board of Trustees will require proof of residential address.
Out of zone enrolments
Each year the board will determine the number of places which are likely to be available in the following year for the enrolment of students who live outside the home zone. The board will publish this information by notice in a daily or community newspaper circulating in the area served by the school. The notice will indicate how applications must be received.
Applications for enrolment will be processed in the following order of priority:
First Priority
This priority category is not applicable at this school because the school does not run a special programme approved by the Secretary.
Second Priority
will be given to applicants who are siblings of current students.
Third Priority
will be given to applicants who are siblings of former students.
Fourth Priority
will be given to applicants who are children of board employees.
Fifth priority
will be given to all other applicants
If there are more applicants in the second, third, fourth or fifth priority groups than there are places available, selection within the priority group will be by a ballot conducted in accordance with instructions issued by the Secretary under Section 11G (1) of the Education Act 1989. Parents will be informed of the date of any ballot by notice in a daily or community newspaper circulating in the area served by the school.
Applicants seeking second or third priority status may be required to give proof of a sibling relationship.
Pre-enrolment of in-zone students
For administration purposes the Board of Trustees will request that a pre-enrolment form be completed. Proof of a permanent in-zone address will be required along with a statutory declaration to this effect.