School Handbook
MISSION STATEMENT
To provide a challenging, co-operative, supportive environment which incorporates Roman Catholic ideals, attitudes and practices where children, teachers, parents and community work together to continue the full development of the child in learning for life.
We are delighted to have you join our vibrant community.
St. Benedict’s is a Roman Catholic school that warmly welcomes all tamariki from Year 1 to Year 8. Our school is home to 13 well-equipped classrooms; each designed to support and nurture our students’ learning journey. Since integrating into the State system in April 1981, we have proudly maintained our unique ‘Special Character’. Together, as a community of tamariki, kaiako and whānau, we strive to uphold the values and traditions that make our school a special place for growth and education.
Welcome to the A-Z of St Benedict’s
This handbook provides clear, practical information to help families navigate everyday school life. Whether you are new to our community or already part of it, we hope this guide supports a smooth and positive experience for you and your child.
You’ll find details on routines, expectations, and opportunities, reflecting our commitment to partnership and our EPIC values: Empathy, Perseverance, Integrity and Creativity.
How to use this handbook
Browse by letter or use the search function to quickly find the information you need about school routines, policies and opportunities. If you have questions or suggestions for new entries, please contact the school office.[Accessibility:
- Ensure all links are up to date and easy to find.
- Consider adding a downloadable PDF version for families?
A
ABSENCES
If your child is unwell or needs to be absent for any reason, please let us know by 8:50am. You can easily send an absence notification through our school app or call us at 479 6878 to leave a message. Please remember, we must have a reason for your child’s absence. If we don’t receive a message, we’ll follow up to ensure your child is safe.
For appointments like doctor or dentist visits, please notify the class teacher and the school office either via the school app or by email.
ACTIVITY DONATIONS
Activity donations are requested to help fund class activities that require additional costs, such as outings, performances, and school visitors. An invoice for these activities is sent to each family at the beginning of the year. These are voluntary and tax deductible.
AFTER SCHOOL CARE
On-site After School Care is available from 2:50pm-6:00pm with afternoon tea provided. Further information and enrolment forms are available from the school office and the school’s website.
APP
Our School APP (Android & iOS) is provided by our Student Management System and is called @School. It includes our Newsletter, SchoolDocs (Board Policies), Account information, Absences notification, School Calendar, Kindo for lunch orders, FWFC Facebook and Instagram. Download instructions are available here.
ASSEMBLY
A full school assembly is held in the Library every second Monday at 1:34pm. Classes take turns at organising assemblies each week. Parents are welcome to join us.
ATTENDANCE DUES
Attendance Due ($527 per student in 2025) are charged directly to parents by the Catholic Education Management Board to cover administration, insurance, buildings maintenance and other related costs. St. Benedict’s School does not invoice or collect these fees. No student will be deprived of a Catholic Education due to financial hardship. If you have concerns, please speak confidentially with the Archdiocese (ADW) or our Principal.
B
BELL TIMES
8:30am Classrooms open for students
8:50am Class commences
10:30am Morning tea interval commences
11:00am Morning tea interval concludes
12:45pm Lunchtime commences
1:30pm Lunchtime concludes
2:50pm School finishes
For reasons of Health and Safety, students are not permitted on the school’s grounds before 8:00am daily. After this time, students can read quietly in the school’s library (unsupervised). The 8:30am bell signals the option to enter the corridors and classrooms to prepare for the day.
BICYCLES/SCOOTERS
Students are welcome to bring their bicycles or scooters to school. For safety, please walk them up and down the drive. Bikes and scooters should be parked in the racks provided on the outside Room 3.
BOOK CLUB
Scholastic New Zealand Book Club catalogues are sent home about six times a year, catering to ages 5 to 14. Orders can be placed online, and books are delivered to school and distributed by our Book Fairy.
BUS (Public Bus for School Children)
Buses leave from the Everest Street bus stop nearest the school around 3:00pm daily; heading to Johnsonville via Broadmeadows. Buses to other directions are available outside of New World on Dekka Street.
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CARETAKER / CLEANER
The Caretaker, Mr Slayman, is at school from 8:30am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday.
CALENDAR
We use Google calendar to share school wide events with our whānau. The link to add our calendar is here. It can also be accessed from our school app.
CAR PARKING
Parents are not allowed to park on school grounds at any time, except in emergencies. Please park on the streets below the school. Do not park on yellow lines or over driveways, or your car may be towed.
During busy drop-off and pick-up times, the parking bay in front of the school is only for quickly dropping off or picking up students. Do not leave your car unattended or wait for long in this area. Our drop-and-go or pick-up-and-go system works well when everyone follows the rules.
To help with traffic at pick-up time, we encourage parents to park legally and consider parking further from the school. Please ask your child(ren) to walk to meet you. This helps keep our streets safe.
CELLPHONES and SMART WATCHES
To comply with government regulations, we ensure students do not use cellphones during school hours, including break times. Parents/Caregivers can request an exemption from the school if required. We allow exemptions for students to use cellphones if they are required for:
- a specific educational purpose approved by a teacher
- health needs (e.g. to monitor insulin levels)
- disability or learning support needs
- a special circumstance approved by the principal.
If you need to contact your child during school hours, please call the office. Smartwatches should not be used for communication between 8:30am and 2:50pm.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS & CONTACT DETAILS
Please notify the school by email as soon as possible if your contact details change. It is essential for health and safety that we can reach you or emergency contacts at all times.
CHARITIES AND IMPORTANT CAUSES
At St. Benedict’s, we support various charities and important causes throughout the year. Each year through the Mission Fair we support Caritas. Our focus may change each year, but we have previously supported Daffodil Day, Red Nose, Onesie Day etc.
CHOIR
The school choir is voluntary for all students in Years 3-8. Every opportunity is taken to participate in outside performances, for example: Music festivals (such as Artsplash), retirement villages and local Christmas carols.
CLASSROOM ORGANISATION
St. Benedict’s is a full primary school catering for students from 5-13 years of age (New Entrant to Year 8). Teacher names are listed on the school’s website here. Student placements for the following academic year are shared in the final weeks of Term 4.
CLASS TRIPS
Class trips are an important part of our education programme. At the start of each school year, parents are asked to complete a permission slip for students to take part in these educational trips around the greater Wellington area. Full details about each trip, including where and when, are provided through our school APP beforehand. The costs are usually covered by the activity donations.
D
DENTAL CLINIC
All students are enrolled at the local clinic and receive yearly treatment from the Raroa Dental Clinic. Parents are informed of visit time and support this service by taking their tamariki to appointments.
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
Digital technology is integrated across all learning areas at St Benedict’s to enhance learning, encourage creativity and build essential skills for the future. Classrooms are equipped with televisions, Chromebooks, laptops, iPads and data projectors. Our library is fully computerised, and equipment is regularly updated. All students learn about digital citizenship and cyber safety and teachers receive ongoing training.
DOGS/ANIMALS
For health and safety reasons, all dogs brought onto the school grounds must be on a leash and owners must carry a ‘poop bag’. No animals are allowed inside school buildings unless prior permission is granted by the Principal. Please report any unsupervised or unsafe animals to the school office. app
DONATIONS
A yearly request for a voluntary donation is made to all families. As the operating grant does not cover all necessary expenses, the school is reliant on fundraising and community donations. These are voluntary and tax deductible. A letter at the start of the school year is issued to all families about Donations.
E
EDUCATION IN FAITH
The Religious Education programme is delivered to all students from Years 0-8. This programme is provided by the Catholic Primary Schools in Aotearoa New Zealand.
EFTPOS
Available for school purchases, donations and school fees. Please note that credit cards are not accepted.
EMERGENCY DRILLS (FIRE, EARTHQUAKE, LOCKDOWN)
Fire, Earthquake and Lockdown drills are practised once one in the first term, and then one drill in each of the three remaining terms throughout the year.
PLEASE NOTE – IT IS IMPORTANT PARENTS ENSURE THEIR ADDRESS AND CONTACT DETAILS ARE KEPT UP TO DATE AT ALL TIMES.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
We offer a wide range of extracurricular activities to suit different interests and talents. Options include Kapa Haka, Splat (drama club), guitar and keyboard lessons, art, dance and music groups. Clubs and activities may change each term, so please check the school newsletter or app for current offerings and sign-up information.
F
FIRST AID – ILLNESS & ACCIDENT
Minor injuries are treated in the playground or sick bay by staff. For more serious illness or injury, parents are contacted immediately. All head injuries are reported to the office and parents, and students receive a fluoro sticker to alert staff. The accident/incident register on eTap, is completed for all children treated in the medical room. All head injuries, however minor, are accompanied to the medical room. Any person attending to a child with a head injury should advise that child’s teacher, the parent (depending on the incident will be contacted by the office staff) and the office. Students treated for head injury (including bumps, lumps, smashed noses, teeth bangs and serious grazes) must have a fluoro sticker placed around their wrist (we use to do this to ensure the message wasn’t missed to teacher or anyone around them).
FUNDRAISING
Ensuring there are enough funds to provide consistent, high-quality education for our children is one of the Board of Trustees’ key responsibilities, supported by the fundraising committee, FWFC (Friends and Whānau Fundraising Committee). FWFC’s success relies on ongoing support from the school community, whether by participating in fundraising events or joining the committee. New members are always welcome – it is a great way to get involved in your child’s school community.
G
GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS
We take pride in our school grounds and buildings. Each class is scheduled to help keep the playground clean and tidy, and everyone is expected to do their part. The school is protected by a monitored security system outside of school hours.
H
HATS
No Hat – No Play!
As an accredited Sun-Smart school, the wearing of a St Benedict’s School sun hat when playing outside during Terms 1 and 4 is compulsory. Any student without a school hat will be asked to sit in the shade on benches outside Rooms 3 and 4 for the duration of morning tea and lunch time breaks for their own safety.
HAIR
Shoulder length hair must be tied up during the school day to support active play and minimise the spread of nits – which love clean hair. The office sells a range of uniform hair ties that can be used. Hair ties should match school colours.
HOMEWORK
Our Homework Guidelines state that each teacher is responsible for setting homework which should reflect current work in the classroom. Homework time is as follows:
- Manuka Syndicate: no more than 15 minutes per day (this is usually an opportunity to share new skills with parents).
- Kowhai Syndicate:set for the week and covers maths, reading, topic and RE.
- Kauri Syndicate: a task system in class, where some work needs to be completed at home.
If a student is unable to complete set homework for any reason, a note from the parents is always appreciated. This message is also reiterated in the Termly Syndicate Newsletters.
I
INTERMEDIATE (Years 7 and 8)
We offer students in Years 7 and 8 a supportive and stimulating environment where they can grow as learners and leaders. Remaining at St Benedict’s through these years provides continuity, stability and a strong sense of belonging.
Senior students benefit from a broad curriculum, including specialist subjects such as Te Reo and Mandarin, technology and the arts. Leadership opportunities are a key feature, with students actively supporting and mentoring younger peers, and taking on roles in school events and activities.
In 2026, we are excited to introduce the William Pike Challenge Programme – a nationally recognised, year-long initiative that encourages students to step outside their comfort zones, build resilience and develop essential life skills through outdoor experiences, community service and personal projects.
Our Intermediate years are designed to prepare students for secondary school and beyond, fostering confidence, independence and community.
K
KiVa
The KiVa programme, which stands for “Kiusaamista Vastaan” in Finnish, meaning “Against Bullying,” is a research-based anti-bullying initiative, developed at the University of Turku, Finland with funding from the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. The two aspects of the KiVa programme will work in harmony with our current Positive Behaviour for Learning approach.
- Developing an anti-bullying climate through classroom lessons
- Screening reported behaviours and then responding through the KiVa team to identify continued bullying behaviour.
Each year the schools holds an information evening about KiVa and more
information can be found on our website.
L
LIBRARY
Our modern, well stocked and computerised library is open to all students, with regular class visits and book exchanges. Parent volunteers help run the library, and all families are asked to ensure books are returned on time and in good condition.
LOST PROPERTY
All lost property is kept on the window seat outside Rooms 3 and 4. You will be notified when unclaimed items are available for collection. Any unnamed non-uniform items not collected are donated to a local charity, at the end of each term
PLEASE ENSURE THAT ALL YOUR CHILD’S PROPERTY IS CLEARLY NAMED.
LUNCHES
Lunches are eaten outside in designated areas, weather permitting, under the supervision of the class teacher from 12:45pm to 12:55pm. Students are not allowed to leave the school grounds at lunchtime unless accompanied by a parent. Each student is responsible for cleaning up their rubbish and food scraps. Healthy eating and drinking are encouraged, and glass bottles are not permitted for safety reasons. Lunch orders are available through our school app: Sushi on Wednesdays, and Parsons Cafe on Thursdays and Fridays. Orders close at 9am.
LUNCH ORDERS
Lunch orders are available through the Kindo app. Sushi can be ordered on Wednesdays, and Parsons Café lunches are available on Thursdays and Fridays. Orders must be placed by 9am on the day. For step-by-step instructions, visit the Lunch orders section on our website or ask at the school office.
M
MEDICATION
All medicines go to the office. No medication should be administered without parent consent. Administered medicines must have a consent form completed in the office by the parent and be signed by the staff member administering when the medication is given. If the medications ongoing this will be added to your child’s medical records.
MONEY TO SCHOOL
We encourage online payments for all school-related expenses. If you need to send cash to school, please place it in an envelope with your child’s name, room number and purpose clearly marked on the outside. We strongly discourage sending large amounts of cash.
MUSIC LESSONS
Private music lessons for keyboard, ukulele and guitar are available at school. For more information, contact the school office. Arrangements are made directly between parents and tutors.
N
NEWSLETTERS/NOTICES
The school newsletter is emailed out on even weeks of the term on a Thursday and is also available on the website. Please read it carefully for important updates. Occasionally, students will bring home notices or reply slips – please return these promptly.
O
ONLINE SAFETY HUB
We use Linewize monitor and Classwize to monitor and support safe online practice. We also have an online safety hub that provides trusted advice to whānau. St Benedict’s Online Hub
ORCHESTRA / MUSIC GROUP
From time to time, a school orchestra or music group is created to support major school celebrations, such as a school performance.
P
PARENT HELP
We warmly welcome parent involvement in many aspects of school life. It is an extremely important part of our school policy that parents are invited to be involved in a number of aspects of school life. You can volunteer your help in many ways:
- library assistance
- in classrooms
- helping with supervision or providing transport on class visits
- supervision of PE at Nairnville Park
- during elective activities
- talking with students about your interests, skills or profession
- fundraising
- as a member of the Board or the Friends and Whānau Fundraising Committee (FWFC) committee
- offering a special skill – such as arts, crafts, cultural knowledge, drama etc.
- with sports’ trainings
- returning/issuing of class reading books
- helping arrange guest speakers
Please leave your name at the office if you can help or talk to your child’s class teacher. We very much appreciate and welcome this extra assistance.
PARENT/TEACHER CONTACT
Whanaungatanga meetings will be held before the school year starts to help families connect with teachers. Additionally, we will have regular parent information evenings on subjects like BSLA, PB4L, and KiVa. After reports we hold Parent/Teacher and Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews. Should an issue arise, whether social, behavioural, or academic, please contact your child’s class teacher first to arrange a meeting. We also welcome pre-arranged meetings from either the teacher or parent(s) to discuss matters in a timely manner.
PE (Physical Education)
All classes have regular PE lessons and participate in a variety of sports throughout the year, often with specialist sports instructors from Kelly Sports. Students from Year 3 onwards wear the school PE uniform. Please email the school if your child needs to be excused from PE.
POLICY
St Benedict’s School is one of nearly 1,200 member schools subscribed to SchoolDocs. Our school subscribes to SchoolDocs to maintain, update, and review our policies. SchoolDocs provides us with a comprehensive core set of policies which have been well researched and follow the Ministry of Education National Education and Learning Priorities. The policies and procedures are tailored to our school. Our school’s Board has the opportunity to view changes/additions and comment on them before they are implemented. We will advise you when policies are up for review and how you can take part in the review.
To access our school’s Policies and Procedures, please click on the below link, and enter our username and password. For those needing a reminder of the password, please email our school’s Office Manager.
Website: https://st-benedicts.schooldocs.co.nz
Username: st-benedicts
Password: 3000stbens
PRAYERS
Each class begins the day with a peaceful time of prayer, offering the day to God before lessons start. Individual prayers are encouraged, and parents are welcome to join. Please note that prayer time is a no-phone zone, and we appreciate parents respecting this environment. Grace is said before lunchtime, and classes come together in prayer again at the end of the day and on other special occasions.
Q
QUESTIONS AND QUERIES
If you have any questions about school routines, policies or your child’s progress, please contact the school office or your child’s teacher. We are here to help and value open communication with all families.
R
REPORTS TO PARENTS
Written reports for each student from Year 1 upwards are prepared twice a year in Terms 2 & 4. Parent interviews (Whanaungatanga) take place in Term 1 and soon after the Term 2 written report. Parents are welcome to schedule an appointment to discuss academic or other concerns at any time during the year. Please reach out to your child’s teacher to arrange a time that works for everyone.
ROAD PATROL/SAFETY/CONGESTION
Fully trained senior students and a rostered parent helper ensure our Nicholson Road crossing is safe for students from 8:30-9:00am and 2:45-3:10pm every school day. Every school family has the opportunity to contribute to this vital safety role. If the rostered parent cannot attend, the students on patrol will not perform their duty. The names of the parent helpers for each week are published in the school newsletter. If you cannot make your scheduled day, please arrange for another parent to cover for you.
To keep the footpath clear, please avoid waiting for your child at the Nicholson Road/Everest Street corner.
- Please do not park on yellow lines or over driveways. Our driveway is reserved for authorised cars only.
- During morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up, parents/carers should not leave their vehicle unattended or park in the ‘drop and go/pick up and go’ carparks directly outside the front of the school.
This helps keep our system running smoothly. Thank you for your cooperation!
Pro-Social Behaviour PB4L
At St. Benedict’s School, we prioritise promoting pro-social behaviours in all settings, in partnership with parents. These behaviours are displayed throughout the school and reinforced in class, aligning with our EPIC values. Behaviour that does not meet our expectations is addressed through our Responding to Behaviour framework or KiVa process. Our rules are based on common sense, respect for others and are appropriate for all our tamariki needs. Our code of conduct also supports parents in being great role models for their children.
S
SAINT BENEDICT’S DAY
St. Benedict’s Day is celebrated on the 11th of July. A special Mass and a fun activities day are held on the nearest Friday during term time.
SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLAN
The School Strategic Plan:
- is an agreement between the Board of Trustees and the Ministry of Education
- sets out the National Education and National Administration Guidelines
- sets educational and finance-related goals and targets.
A copy of the Strategic Plan is available from the school office and can be found on the school’s website.
SCHOOL OFFICE
The School Secretary, Mrs Coralie Purnell, is in attendance in the office from 8:00am – 4:00pm, Monday to Friday.
SMOKING/VAPING
We are a proud smoke-free school. We have a Smoke and Vape Free policy across the school’s property.
SPECIALIST ASSISTANCE:
We have access to a public health nurse, audiometrist, optometrist, dental clinic, special education services, and speech therapist. Please contact the school office if you have concerns about your child’s health or learning.
SPONSORSHIP
There are several organisations that provide sponsorship assistance to our school. Please remember to mention St Benedict’s School if you are dealing with these businesses:
- New World Khandallah
- Real Time survey
- Finance NZ
- Roof Protect Wellington
- Wellington Ballet
- WellFit studio
- Foundation Bricks and Blocks
- O’Reillys Garage
- Proper Crisps
- Dough Bakery
- Hamilton and Murray
- Cashmere Lounge
- Sam’s Art House
- Parsons Café and Bakery
- Lighthouse Cinema
- La Cloche
- Khandallah Trading Company (KTC)
- Bread & Butter
- Whittakers
- Yeti
- Evolve Tennis Coaching Khandallah
- Hells Pizza Khandallah
SPORT
St. Benedict’s teams compete in Winter Netball, WCC Miniball and Basketball from Year 3 onwards and Touch Rugby from Year 1. Teams are managed by parent volunteers, and information about sign-ups is shared in the newsletter. Kelly Sports competitions are organised externally. The school does not organise teams for Kelly Sports Competitions.
STATIONERY
All class stationery lists are available on our school website. The school office has a small supply of regular items for sale during the year.
SWIMMING
Swimming lessons are an important part of the school curriculum. Year 1-8 lessons are held over a 6-8 week period during Term 2 at Keith Spry Pool. Students are taken by bus to the venue. Swimming costs are included in the activity donation. Please ensure all swimwear and towels are clearly named.
SUN SMART
All students must wear a school sun hat during Terms 1 and 4. Sunscreen is encouraged for outdoor activities, and protective clothing is recommended for sports days and camps.
T
TECHNOLOGY FEES
The Ministry of Education fund part of the cost of sending our Year 7 & 8 students to Technology at Mt Cook School. There may be a small charge for course materials, invoiced directly by Mt Cook School.
U
UNIFORM
Our uniform reflects pride in our school and a sense of belonging. Guidelines, costings and photos are available from the school office and website. Summer uniform is worn in Terms 1 and 4, winter uniform in Terms 2 and 3. All items, including sports uniforms, can be purchased new or second-hand at regular sales.
V
VALUABLES
Children should not bring valuables or precious toys to school. The school cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage.
VOLUNTEER and PARENT SUPPORT
Our school thrives from its continued and unwavering parental support; this is one of our school’s strengths. From class prayers to parent car drivers, our supportive BoT to our impressive FWFC – St Benedict’s is one amazing family-orientated community where our EPIC values permeate through all we do.
W
WELLBEING
The wellbeing of our students is a top priority. We have clear procedures for managing illness, accidents and medication. If you have any concerns about your child’s wellbeing, please speak with their teacher or the school office.
WHĀNAU ENGAGEMENT
We value strong partnerships with families and encourage whānau to get involved in school life. There are many ways to participate, including volunteering in classrooms, supporting events, joining the Friends and Whānau Fundraising Committee (FWFC) and attending school masses and celebrations. Upcoming opportunities are shared in the newsletter and on the school app.