Enrolling

Puketapu School Home Zone

All students who live within the home zone described below and/or shown on the attached map shall be entitled to enrol at the school.

In a clockwise direction, both sides of streets are included in zone unless otherwise stated:

The zone begins at the river mouth of the Waiongana Stream. It follows the river inland (southerly) until it reaches Te Arei Road West. Properties on the western (New Plymouth) side of the stream are included.

From the intersection of the Waiongana Stream with Te Arei Road West the zone follows Te Arei Road West in a westerly direction, crosses over Mountain Road (State Highway 3A) then bears south at the intersection with Ninia Road. Kaipakopako Road is in zone.

The zone follows Ninia Road in a southwesterly direction until the intersection with Corbett Road where it follows Corbett Road in a northerly direction (existing property 204 Corbett Road and all property numbers lower than this are included).

The zone follows Corbett Road in a northwesterly direction to the intersection with De Havilland Drive. Properties on Arthur Road are included.

The zone then follows De Havilland Drive in a northwesterly direction, until the intersection with Mangati Stream. Properties on Vampire Place and Hercules Place are included.

The zone then follows the Mangati Stream in a northerly direction to the intersection with Parklands Avenue. Only properties on the northeastern side of the stream are included.

The zone turns west to follow Parklands Avenue to Smeaton Road. Both sides of Parklands Avenue are included and Acacia Place is included.

The zone turns north onto Smeaton Road. The property at 148 Parklands Avenue is included, 146 Parklands Avenue is excluded. Smeaton Road marks the western boundary of the zone. The zone includes both sides of Smeaton Road. Glamis Avenue is excluded.

The zone follows Smeaton Road in a northwesterly direction until its end, inclusive of the Hickford Park facility access road. From the point where Smeaton Road turns west to become the Hickford Park access road (opposite Parkvue Drive) the zone stops following the road, but continues northwest, maintaining the direction of Smeaton Road to the coast. The zone then follows the coastline northeast returning to the start point at the mouth of the Waiongana Stream.

If you have any questions about our zone or your entitlement to enrol, please contact the School Office.

Our school operates a Cohort Entry Policy.

Cohort entry is when new entrants start school in groups through the year rather than on their fifth birthday.

Cohort entry helps support children’s well-being and learning, helping them build relationships and settle better into school.

This means our new entrants start school in cohorts after they have turned 5. There are two entry points per term, On the first day of each term, and at a mid-point during a term.

In each cohort, new entrant children come to school visits together, meet their teacher together and start on the same day.

Tips to prepare your child for starting School as New Entrant.

These notes are a guide as to the types of things parents can focus on with their children in the time leading up to their start to assist with a successful transition into primary school.

Reading to Your Child 

The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children. If you haven’t already done so, join the local library and regularly take your child to select new books.

Life Experiences 

As a family make sure you take the time to go out and do things together. Children benefit from experiencing as many things as they can which increases their life experiences that they bring into their learning at school. Visit the beach, the walkway, parks, the mountain and all those other great places we have in our local environment.

Talk to Your Children 

In our busy world surrounded by technology it is surprising the number of obstacles we have talking with each other. Have times where you turn off devices and talk with your children. Use the experiences above and times of reading to talk about and have children express their feelings about the book you are reading to them or the place you have visited. Successful oral communication is the foundation of so many things children learn at school.

Social Interaction 

Although the majority of children will learn to play and interact with other children through some form of Early Child Education Centre it is important to ensure that they have as many experiences of being with other children whether this is with brothers and sisters, cousins, neighbours or children of family friends. Through these types of situations children learn the importance of sharing and taking their place. Children also benefit from an understanding of what the word “no” means as they move into the world of being involved with others.

Other Useful Things To Work On 

It is important to remember that all children are different and everyone learns differently but some of the things we would like your child to know before they get to school are:

• How to recognise their name when written
• Some knowledge of colours and shapes.
• The numbers 1 to 10 and letter names and sounds.
• How to hold a pencil/pen
• How to use scissors
• How to flush a toilet and wash their hands
• How to blow their nose rather than just wipe it
• How to tie laces if not wearing Velcro

We have developed a searchable list of many of the common questions parents ask.