Carterton School is a full primary school catering for children from New Entrants to Year 8 (5 to 13 year olds). Carterton School is conveniently situated in the centre of the town adjacent to Carrington Park, Carterton Events Centre and the Public Library. The school roll fluctuates and in the middle of the year is usually about 270 children.

The school has a modern teaching environment in an outstanding setting, which includes a hall, swimming pool, bike track, all weather turf, and generous grounds with many play environments.

The school staff is a dedicated team who make a positive contribution to all aspects of school life. The school operates in four learning teams led by those with positions of responsibility. Staff responsibilities and Curriculum responsibilities are shared. The teaching staff are assisted by high quality Support Staff.

The Board of Trustees (BOT) govern the school with outstanding commitment. The achievements of the Board and the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) have been major factors in school development in recent years. Parent support for the school is always at a high level and is enhanced by the open door policy and effective home/school communications.

Innovative developments are a regular feature at Carterton School with some schemes as follows:

• Ākonga māori classes, 

• Digital learning development 

• Bikes in Schools

• On Board Skateboarding Programme

• Garden to Table 

• Enviroschool 

• PMP Programme

•  Better Start Literacy Approach 

• After School Care facility to assist working parents.

Ākonga Māori

Ākonga Māori provides a Māori enrichment learning environment and program. Ākonga Māori is open to all learners of any cultural descent or background. There is no need for any prior knowledge or understanding of Te Reo, just an interest in learning Te Reo Māori and Māori culture.

Our Ākonga Māori has two classes that cater for years 0 – 8. These are whānau based classes, focusing on Te Reo Māori, Tikanga Māori and Te Ao Māori integrated and central to this culturally responsive environment. Māori language, culture, heritage and identity are celebrated and essential components to our heritage and unique to Aotearoa. Ākonga Māori is a special learning place where Māori is celebrated. The classes still follow the NZ Curriculum and the learning in reading, writing and maths is taught in English.

This learning environment has proved to be effective and successful, and provides positive outcomes and achievements – providing all learners with the opportunity to get what they require to realise their own unique potential and succeed in their lives as Māori and New Zealanders. 

If you are interested, or would like to learn more, please get in touch with: 

• Jo Taia (Team Leader of Ākonga Māori & Kaiako Tau 5-8) jtaia@carterton.school.nz 

• Hera Taylor (Kaiako Tau 0-4) htaylor@carterton.school.nz 

• Lesley Standish (CRT & Kapa Haka) lstandish@carterton.school.nz

• or any of our whānau who are part of the Ākonga Māori akomanga.

Open Door Policy

Parents and caregivers are welcome at the school any time. Please make an appointment by phoning or emailing the school office if you want to talk to a particular teacher or the Principal. Parents/caregivers are permitted to visit classrooms at any time. Please sign in at the office when you arrive and out before you leave.

In fairness to teachers and students, we request that visiting classrooms is done in an appropriate manner. Please make sure the teacher is aware that you have entered the room and do not interfere with the teaching programme. Please talk to the teacher, when convenient, about assistance you could give while in the classroom.

When collecting children at the end of the day, please wait outside the classroom doors until the final bell rings and students have been dismissed.

Carterton School welcomes parents helping in classrooms and we also have a number of other people from the community who come into school to assist in a variety of ways. The links between school, home and the community are continually strengthening. We very much see Carterton School as the school which belongs to the Carterton Community.

Pupil Security, Attendance and Absence

Carterton School makes every effort to account for every child enrolled every school day. Children are not allowed to leave the school grounds at any time unless they go home for lunch.  In this case please send a note to the teacher.

Please inform the school as soon as possible if you know your child is going to be absent. The school has a system of checking on the attendance or absence of every child enrolled.

If your child has to stay at home (e.g. is sick in the morning) the best way to make the communication is by telephoning (06 379 4010) or texting (027 263 0770) the school office. Please state who you are, the name of the child absent, their room or teacher and the reason for absence. The phones are answered from 8.30 am. We have a number of lines which often ring simultaneously at this busy time so you may need to be patient for a minute or two as there is usually only one person answering the phones until 9.00 am.

Alternatively, you can personally come to school and speak to our school office team or visit the child’s class teacher with the information. We do not accept absence information passed on to us by other children.

If you know in advance that your child will be late to school or absent from school, there are five options.

• A written signed note given to your child's teacher or the school office

• A personal visit to your child's teacher or the school office

• A telephone conversation (06 379 4010) or text 027 263 0770

• Email to admin@carterton.school.nz

• Use the Hero app to submitt an absentee notice

While it is the parent’s responsibility to ensure the school knows that a child will be absent, we do have a back up system of phone calls or text messages where there is no explanation or where we have doubts.

If you collect or drop off a child at any time between 9am and 3pm please go to the school office before your child’s class to sign them in or out.

Once a year we ask all parents/caregivers to complete a contact information form. This provides us with your current contact details – we need the other alternative telephone numbers to cover cases where we cannot contact you on the first number. Please notify the school office when there is any of your contact details change.

The safety and security of every enrolled child is of paramount concern to us. Your assistance to help us keep accurate records is appreciated.

Remember that sickness and health matters are the only legally accepted reasons for absence from school. Frequent absences hinder the child’s ability to learn. Medical absences over 3 days will need a doctors note.

Emergency Procedures at School
Information for Parents/Caregivers

• A continuous ringing of the school bell is the evacuation signal.

• Classes gather on the grass area in front of the main block, on the ‘green’.

• Roll checks of children and staff are then taken.

For Flooding or Earthquake emergencies, the Principal will make the final decision as to whether to send pupils home. This decision will be made after full consultation with Civil Defence Officers in relation to safety of roads, rivers etc.

Fortunately, we are near the Civil Defence Headquarters, the Council Building, in Holloway Street.

In the case of a serious emergency, children will only be released from school to an adult included on their emergency contact list/form.

School will be regarded as an assembly point for children not at home.

In escorting children home from Carterton School, the route Holloway Street, High Street between Victoria Street and Belvedere Road should be avoided. Routes to be used are as follows-

1. South through Carrington Park

2. North – Dixon Street, then Park Road

For full details see: Policies & Procedures