Useful Information for Parents
Absence from School
If your child is sick or attending an appointment, you may call, text or email to let us know. Please mention your child's full name, their class and the reason for the absence.
Absentee Line: (03) 5484972, extn 1
Absentee Mobile (text only): (027 7590096)
Email the school: attendance@nelsoncentral.school.nz
Or complete this form:
If your child becomes unwell or suffers an accident at school, school staff will provide supervision in the Medical Room until contact with a caregiver is made and the child is collected.
If a child requires urgent attention a staff member will accompany the child to the appropriate medical service while contact with a caregiver is made.
HERO Parent Portal
HERO is our main path of communication with parents, both with classroom messaging and student learning information. When you enrol your child you will be given a link to log in to the HERO app. Updates, posts, next steps and reporting are done through HERO. You can enjoy discussing their learning pathway with them.
Log on to your child’s HERO page here.
For help signing up, please view this page.
Digital Citizenship
Please view our Digital Citizenship Policy here
Restorative Practice
We use a model of Restorative Practice to address behavioural issues in the school. Restorative Practice is a powerful approach to discipline that focuses on repairing harm through inclusive processes that engage all stakeholders. Restorative Practice shifts the focus of discipline from punishment to learning and from the individual to the community.
“Restorative schools are places where relationships are as important as academic outcomes, where misbehaviour and wrongdoings are opportunities for learning and where classrooms are living, breathing democracies where life long learners emerge.”
Dogs
Nelson Central School is a dog free zone, we ask that you leave your dog(s) outside the school gate whilst dropping off or collecting your children.
Assistance or service dogs are welcome.
Finance
Payments for donations, sunhats, new entrant packs or camps etc. can be made at the office by cash or eftpos (no credit facilities are available). Also you can pay by direct credit using your child's name and room number and item paid for as a reference. The bank details for the school are:
Account Name: Nelson Central School Board of Trustees
Account Number: 12-3165-0192390-00
If you need any other information please email Anne, our finance officer: finance@nelsoncentral.school.nz.
Lost Property
This is kept outside the office. Please label your child's clothing, it makes it much easier to return.
Lunches
Children are encouraged to bring healthy, minimally wrapped lunches to school. Lunches may also be bought from the shops in Nile/Alton streets, but parents/caregivers are asked to make their own arrangements for these.
We are a water only school. Fruit juice, soft drinks and energy drinks are not appropriate for school lunches.
Sushi Thursday
From Term 1 2024 we will be running Sushi Thursdays each week.
To make an order you will first need a myKindo account. One account for the whole family! Click here or go to www.mykindo.co.nz to start ordering!
For Apple and Android users download the mykindo app.
Medication
Medication is kept in the Medical Room and is administered by the school secretary. If your child requires medication at school, please complete a medical form (available from the office). If you're unsure about this, please contact us for more information. The use of inhalers should be discussed with your child's teacher and appropriate individual arrangements made.
School Bags and Lunches
School bags need to be big enough for swimming togs, home pack, clothing and a lunch box. If children help to pack their bags they learn some independence and also know what is in it.
A named lunch box and plastic water bottle are a great idea. The Kōwhai Syndicate children eat separately from the rest of the school in a supervised area. Children are encouraged to take uneaten lunches home.
Smoke Free
Nelson Central School is a smoke and vape free zone.
SunSmart
We are a Sunsmart school. Wide brimmed hats are compulsory for children playing or taking part in outdoor activities in terms 1 and 4. These can be purchased from the school office for $16.
We encourage children to play in the shade, wear sunscreen and sun protective clothing.
Stationery
Please follow the links below to find the stationery lists appropriate for your child:
EOTC
Nelson Central School values opportunities for EOTC (Education Outside The Classroom) as part of ensuring a diverse curriculum that challenges and inspires. Our year 3/4 classes hav an annual overnight camp at Bridge Valley. Year 5/6 classes alternate between a biennial camp either near the Abel Tasman or Marlborough Sounds and termly “adventure days” in the alternate years. Te Pouahi enjoys an annual Noho Marae at Whakatū marae as an overnight experience.
There are many other opportunities for EOTC through our programmes. Teachers will communicate these as they are coming up.
Complaints/Concerns
If you have a concern about anything at school, please communicate this with us. If it is specific to something around your own child, your first port of call should always be their class teacher. For matters related to the wider school, you may wish to speak to one of the senior leadership team. Please contact the office to arrange this.
If you wish to take the matter further, please see our complaints procedure in our policy section.