MBAS

Attendance
All students are expected to be at school by 8.45am every school day. Students who are late need to sign in at the office and bring a note to explain their lateness. On all occasions students leaving school early or arriving late must sign in or out at the office. The school has a legal requirement to know exactly which students are at school at any time. Absences should be for illness or in an emergency. If your child is absent please phone the school office as early in the day as possible. It is school policy to ring or visit parents as soon as possible after an unexplained absence is noted.

Buses
Travel by school bus is provided for students Years 9-13 and students from Year 1 to Year 8 who live in our contributing area. A student aged ten or more is eligible for a ride on a school bus if his/her home is more than 4.8kms from the school. For students under ten, the distance is 3.2kms. Students cannot use the school bus as a convenience. To retain eligibility, students must use the bus regularly as transport to and from school. Any student who misbehaves on a school bus can be banned from travelling on the bus.

Damage to School Property
All willful and accidental damage to school property or damage arising from the infringement of school rules must be paid for. This includes the cost of replacing broken windows.

Dental Clinic
The Dental Clinic is part of the school and provides free dental treatment for students up to Year 8. Appointments for pre-schoolers can be made directly with the Dental Therapist.

Emergency procedures

• A copy of the emergency procedures and a map showing escape routes is displayed in each classroom.
• In the case of fire, at the conclusion of earthquake tremors and for tidal waves the students will assemble on the school field. Roll checks will be made.
• Children will not be released early to find their own way home. Class teachers will record the names of any students whose parents/caregivers request their release into their care.
• When the school evacuates as a whole group (eg: tidal wave) students will not be released to parents/caregivers until higher ground has been reached.

NB In a Civil Defence emergency, Civil Defence Wardens will direct people movement to and from assembly points.

Leaving Proedure
All students from Year 7-13 are expected to go through the process of officially clearing themselves from the school. In the first instance, students must collect a Leaver's Clearance Form from their Dean and have it signed by all those indicated on the form, once all school property has been returned.

Leaving Certificates
All students are eligible to receive a Leaving Certificate which is an official record of the length of secondary education a pupil has received. For the certificate, secondary education starts in Year 9. Parents/caregivers and students should note that almost all apprenticeships and many other occupations require a minimum of two years' secondary education before an application will be considered. Students are required to be at school until they reach their sixteenth birthday.

Testimonials
When a student is definitely leaving school, she/he may apply for a testimonial. The typed original of the testimonial should be kept and copies only sent off with applications. In some cases, students require a comment from the Principal to support an application before the students intends leaving school (eg: to make an application for a Polytechnic Course). These will be provided at the request of the prospective employer/institution, but these comments are not testimonials and are relevant only to the specific application to which they refer. It is the school's prerogative to decide whether or not a testimonial will be issued.

Library
We are very proud of our comfortable and well-stocked library which we regard as the central resource area for the whole school. It is a vital part of our whole reading programme from Year 1 to Year 13. Students are encouraged to use the library at lunchtimes to make full use of its facilities. Parents/caregivers are also welcome to use the library. It is just a matter of coming in and making yourself known to the Librarian. Other facilities in the library include a photocopier and a computer database giving Careers information.

Uniforms

We have a great uniform. Here is a student created interactive resource detailing our uniforms and the costs.

Lost Property
It is our policy to attempt to find the owners of any property handed in. However, this job is made very difficult where property is unnamed. We therefore request that students' property is labelled. This is especially important with uniforms. Name tags are the only way to identify uniform items. Disc mans and cell phones etc are not to be used in class time. If students bring them to school for lunchtimes or breaks, they do so at their own risk. Unclaimed Lost Property will be distributed to needy agencies at the end of each term.

Lunch Orders 
Lunches can be bought through the School Canteen. Lunch orders with money are taken before school and lunches are delivered at lunchtime. A list of food items and prices is given to all new enrolments and is available from the School Office. The Tuckshop is open for counter sales at interval and lunchtime for secondary students.

Lunch Passes - pemanent ie: For the Current Year
If parents or caregivers wish their student to go home for lunch on a regular basis, the student can obtain a lunchpass. The pass entitles the student to go from school to home and back again. It does NOT entitle the student to go to the shops or anywhere else. A letter should be given to the Deputy Principal early in the year for a pass to be issued.

Newsletters
The school publishes a weekly newsletter ,which is also posted on our website.These are issued to students who are expected to take them home. Make sure you ask for yours. Parents are regularly advised about school activities. Some notices require returns and parental consent for various activities and programmes. Your prompt attention to these forms is much appreciated as without the information/consent your child may not be able to take part in the particular activity.

Temporary Out-Of-Ground Passes
Apart from going home for lunch, school policy is against allowing students out of the school grounds, as we encourage students to enter into school life at lunchtime. Permission to leave the school grounds will only be granted if a signed note is received from parents or caregivers. Only the Principal or Deputy Principal can issue a pass.
NB - Temporary out-of-ground passes may be obtained each day during morning interval. Students must go to the Teacher in Charge of the Passes.

Phone Calls To Students & Staff
Staff can be contacted at intervals or lunchtimes by phoning the school office. During class time, the office can take messages for staff and for students but the message should be of an important or urgent nature. Messages, unless quite urgent, will be delivered at interval/lunch times.

School Donation and Paper Fee
The Ministry of Education through the Board of Trustees provides an annual grant to meet the normal expenses of running the school. This invariably proves insufficient and the school has to make up the difference. Parents contribute to the finances of the school by way of a School Donation and Paper Fee. Parents will be notified early in the year of the amount for the year. In addition, students are expected to contribute towards the cost of materials in various subjects and as well, some of the electives run throughout the year require money for expenses and/or materials. Amounts will be stated before students make their choice. The school may also be involved in some official money-raising activity, such as work-day. This is necessary to keep our resources up to date and plentiful, ensuring students are not disadvantaged in comparison with those at larger, urban schools.

Student Drivers & Passenger
Students who wish to drive a car or motor cycle to school must have a current licence, and parents or caregivers must return to the school a completed STUDENT MOTOR VEHICLE FORM available from the School Office. This form must also be completed if parents or caregivers wish their children to travel to and from school with student drivers. Both these forms are to be returned to the Deputy Principal.

Sums of Money
It is strongly urged that students do not carry large sums of money with them at school. On the odd occasion where this may be necessary, we recommend that the money is put into an envelope (named) and handed into the Office before school starts in the morning.

Swimming Pool/Hall Complex
These are most valuable assets to school facilities. Both are used for class instruction during the school day. There are also supervised after school activities by specific groups such as Swimming Club on most week days. Problems can arise however, with unauthorised and unsupervised use of these facilities at other times, and parents are reminded of their personal responsibilities in this regard.