School Information

Welcome to Sanson School

“Kia Tū, Kia Kaha, Kia Manawanui” - 

Stand firm, Be Strong, Be your best.

We are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to you and your family as you join our close-knit community at Sanson School. At Sanson, we believe that education is about fostering an environment where every child can flourish and develop into confident, compassionate, and capable individuals.

At Sanson, we are dedicated to nurturing that potential of each and every learner, and strive to prepare them for their future in the best way possible, while holding on to our values, unique to our community.

We take pride in our inclusive and supportive community, where diversity is celebrated. At Sanson, every child is valued for their unique strengths, and we work together to create an environment that encourages collaboration and understanding.

As you embark on this exciting journey with Sanson School, we look forward to building lasting connections, and witnessing the growth and achievements of your child. 

If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to reach out. Welcome to Sanson School

Ngā mihi

Grayson Marsh - Principal

School Information:

Absences

The Education Act requires children to attend school every day it is open, unless your child is sick. Please send a note, phone the school or use the ‘skool loop’ app giving a reason if your child is going to be absent on any day, or phone in the morning by 9am. The electronic attendance register is marked each morning and unexplained absences are followed up by the office - phone calls to parents/caregivers to confirm that children are accounted for. 

Bikes, Bike Track & Scooters

We have an amazing bike track at Sanson School that students can use all year round. Students can bring their own bikes to school to use. Students must bring their own helmet that is to be worn at all times when on a bike or scooters. This is a wonderful facility that is a huge asset to our school. The BMX track is open to the community to use 

Positive Culture (PB4L)

At Sanson School we view our behaviour responses around our school values: Kia Tū, Kia Kaha, Kia Manawanui - Stand firm, Be strong, Be your Best. Through our values students learn to work and play alongside others with respect and kindness. When things do go wrong we believe it is important for children to learn from mistakes or wrong choices they have made. Our first response is to talk about the problem with a focus of our expectations around the school’s core values. This provides the platform for this discussion. Major issues are discussed and resolved with parents support. 

Devices

We are an incredibly well resourced school. All students have access to ipads that are used in a range of learning opportunities including stop motion movie making, coding, 3D design, music creation, and other learning tools. Students in years 3-8 are provided a chromebook that they use alongside learning tasks. At the beginning of each year, expectations are discussed in class around using these devices at appropriate times. Any issues regarding inappropriate use will result in students loosing access to their device, and parents will be contacted regarding this.

Library 

The school has an excellent selection of books which is being updated all the time.  Children are encouraged to take library books home. Please ensure that library books are well cared for at home and returned on time.  We also have a 3D printer in our library that students are able to use at any time with teacher support.

Lost Property

As with any school, theres always lost property/misplaced items. Please ensure all clothing and footwear is named. Encourage your child to check the lost property box regularly and feel free to do the same.

Parent Interviews

Parent interviews will take place in Term 1, and in Term 3. Before and after school commitments often make teachers unavailable, but if you have any concerns or would like to meet with your child’s teacher, we encourage you to make an appointment.

School Facilities

The school and its playground are community assets and the community is encouraged to use them. However, please treat all property with respect. Vehicles, motor bikes and animals are not to be brought onto the school grounds without permission. 

School Hours

​Entry – Not before 8:30am, unless prior arrangement made with the Principal

School Begins – 9:00am

Morning Block - 9am - 10:30am

Morning Break - 10:30 - 10:50

Second block - 10:50 - 11:50

Lunch Eating 11:50 - 12.00

Third Block – 12:00 - 1:00pm

Lunch Break - 1pm - 1:50pm

Fourth Block - 1:50 - 3pm

School Ends – 3:00pm

School Lunches

Every child at Sanson School receives a free healthy lunch provided by the Ka ora Ka ako lunches in schools programme. This gets delivered daily. If your child has any dietary requirements, please let the office know. Students will still bring their own morning tea, and then enjoy Lunch together at 11:50am.

SkoolLoop - School App

We have a Sanson School app to keep you up to date with the comings and goings at our great school. This app includes newsletters, notices, permission slips, sports team sign-ups, absentee notification, events, reminders, alerts, emergency notifications and more. 

Seesaw

Here at school students use the Seesaw app to create a digital learning portfolio. This is a place where students share their learning, successes, and all things happening inside the classroom. Whānau can connect to this digital platform to connect with their childs learning, and celebrate alongside them. 

School Events & Trips

Sanson School is part of the Te Kawau cluster, which is a cluster of 9 school around our district. We participate in a wide range of sporting and cultural activities with these school throughout the year. At times, we request parent transport and support to make these events happen. Information will be shared via our school app, and any support is always greatly appreciated.

Stationary

Sanson school provides most stationary for students. This includes books, glue sticks and rulers. Each student is required to bring in their own personal stationary to use to complete learning tasks. This should include:

• Pencils

• Red pen

• Blue pen

• Colouring pencils/Felts

• Pencil Sharpener

• Eraser

• Pencil Case

We also ask, if students are able, to please bring in a pair of headphones to use in class. They will require these for a range of learning tasks.

SunSmart

We are a sun smart school; this means that during terms 1 and 4 children must wear a hat for all outdoor activities, including lunch and play breaks. This can either be a blue school hat, or one brought from home. 

Swimming Pool

Sanson School has our own swimming pool. During the summer months the pool is open during the school day so children have the opportunity to swim during class time. For information about community use outside school hours, please contact the office.

Year 7/8 Technology

Every week, year 7/8 students travel to Rangitikei College for Technology. They will get opportunities to learn new skills in the following areas:

• Food Tech

• Science

• Clay

• STEM

Key Dates: 

Term 1 - 3/Feb - 11/Apr

Term 2 - 28/Apr - 27/Jun

Term 3 - 14/Jul - 19/Sep 

Term 4 - 6/Oct - 16/Dec

UNIFORM

See form for information & uniform order below. Alternatively email Jen Simpson, office administrator at office@sanson.school.nz

Each child is required to wear a logoed polo shirt and fleece. Children can wear any tidy black or navy pants/shorts/skort.
Sanson School Polo Shirt - Cotton Backed Polyester Polo Shirt - $28.00
Sanson School Polar Fleece - 1/4 Zip - $44.00

Values

Our School logo, consisting of a Koru design, is based on the idea of the silver fern, which grows from tightly coiled spirals (koru) that unfurl over time into full fronds. 

Kia Tū - Stand Firm The smallest frond represents “Kia Tū - Stand Firm.” Represented by the koru starting to open, it signifies early growth and the beginning stages of a student's schooling years. It is here where students begin to build self-confidence in who they are and learn to stand firm in who they are.

Kia Kaha - Be Strong The second frond represents “Kia Kaha - Be Strong.” As the fern grows, so does the child. At this stage, students become more settled in who they are as a person and as a learner. They discover what they are capable of, build strengths, learn new things, and celebrate their achievements along the way. 

Kia Manawanui - Be Your Best The third and largest frond represents “Kia Manawanui - Be Your Best.” The final stage of the koru is likened to an established full frond, contributing to the growth of the ponga tree with a place in the forest. Here, students are confident in who they are, understand who they are as learners, and are grounded in knowing that they have a place in world.

Through connecting with this whakataukī, students will be able to uphold all the values of our school: “Kia Tū, Kia Kaha, Kia Manawanui - Stand tall, be strong, be our best.”