You can get ideas, also if you get to know those in charge at the schools and the teachers they can help you in the future.

Also you can look at a school’s statements and see how much you want your Home Schooling to be the same.
Public schools do a good job and much imagination on low budgets can create some wonderful opportunities for the students, also they tend to compete with one another and means that there can be advantages for the Home Schooling families.

Here is another example – see how many idea you can get from this for your Home Schooling:

1.    This school is situated in the North Western sector of Tokoroa, drawing its pupils from an established urban area and the rural farming community. A stable roll ranges from 400 to 460 pupils with varied ethnic origins giving the school a multi cultural dimension.

The pupils are polite, caring and display enthusiasm towards their education. Our pupils exhibit exemplary behaviour within the playground and classrooms.

The school has:

– an attached unit for children with intellectual disabilities.

– an attached itinerant teacher, who provides behavior support to children in four Tokoroa schools.

– a full time support teacher for children whose learning may be at risk from social/behavioural factors.

A supportive community has provided resources and equipment to assist the staff in attaining our mission statement.

These include excellent learning and teaching resources, a heated swimming pool, hall, three adventure play areas, library extension and resource room, computers, and a modern, attractive administration area and several withdrawal offices for extension programs to cater for small groups and one-to-one teaching. The school has a total staff of 45.

2.  Tokoroa North School was founded in 1967.

3.  Extra curricular activities include piano, keyboard and guitar lessons. Hocky, soccer and Netball are played during winter months. There are also Kapa Haka, Polynesian and Choir groups.

4.  We cater for you Entrants to Year 6 children.

5. MISSION STATEMENT

__________________________________________________________________________

                                               Together We Learn For Life                                          

                                                     Ako ngatahi ki to ora                                                

_________________________________________________________________________

OUR AIMS

*To deliver high quality education in the seven essential learning areas.

*To provide learning activities based on learner needs.

*To involve children in goal setting and self assessment.

*To provide a stimulating school environment.

*To allow children to develop high levels of self esteem.

*To maintain a balance between academic, physical, cultural and emotional needs.

*To provide appropriate opportunities for all children to participate in education outside the classroom.

*To enhance the awareness of the multi-cultural nature of the school community

                                Our school operates on a system of shared beliefs and values

                                   Which have been developed with the staff and community.

6.   KEY FEATURES OF TOKOROA NORTH SCHOOL

#Well resourced with:

community built hall

community built heated swimming pool

community extended library and resource room

community extended administration block

quality books, modern equipment and computers

modern, safe playground equipment.

#A staff dedicated to giving their best to all pupils, keen to use the most modern teaching equipment, resources and methods.

# Pupils who:

take pride in their school

take pride in what they do

are courteous

willingly accept challenges

are eager to please

are caring for one another

respect individuality

are sensitive towards cultural differences

are creative

are familiar with computers

will be offered every opportunity to succeed.

# A well resourced special unit for children with intellectual impairment.

# A full time support teacher providing support to children whose learning may be at risk from social/behavioural factors.

# An itinerant resource teacher of learning and behavior for children with behavior and learning difficulties.

7. FEATURES OF THE CORRICULUM

READING:

The school strives to developed independence in reading using a wide variety of modern reading material.

Reading Recovery is available. The school has a well stocked library and a qualified librarian.

WRITING:

We emphasise independence, creativity and quality.

ORAL LANGUAGE:

A support group is available for those junior children with special oral language needs.

MATHEMATICS:

We emphasis understanding, problem solving and mathematical learning in context.

The school is committed to the new curriculum framework.

SCIENCE:

The new curriculum is in action.

TECHNOLOGY:

The school uses technology to enhance learning and makes developments in technology available to children and staff.

EDUCATION OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM:

The school has a senior (Year 5 and 6) camp programme and the local environment is used by all classes.

SOCIAL STUDIES:

A varied programme is followed including visits, visitors and parent involvement.

PERCEPTUAL MOTOR PROGRAMME:

PMP provides meaningful activities, through movement, and experiences in areas that have been shown to be related to cognitive development prior to the onset of formal learning.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION:

The school has a solar heated swimming pool.

Phys. ED. is activity centered with emphasis on co-ordination, balance and skills.

ART & CRAFT:

Children are encouraged to explore different media and to use their imagination.

MUSIC:

The school has a choir and cultural group. Private in-school lessons for piano and keyboard are available.

HEALTH:

We concentrate on the development of self-esteem and consideration of others.

COMPUTER STUDIES:
There is at least one computer in each classroom. The school has 30Plus CD ROM computers available for children’s use. We are also connected to an information “net”. We have an “information technology” area supported by a full time computer skills support staff member.

CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS:

Special needs are identified and programmes provided.  Additional support staff are paid for by the Board of Trustees.

The school has a wide variety of special needs programmes in operation.

CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL ABILITIES:

Child-centred extension and enrichment programmes are provided.

SPORT:

School sport is based on the “Kiwi Sport” programmes. There is a variety of after school and weekend sports available.

PLAYGROUND:

The school has well developed playground equipment including three adventure playgrounds.

VALUES:

Our shared values are part of the Health curriculum and staff, reinforce and teach these values as part of the wider school culture. We also have specific programmes aimed at addressing values with children, our “lunch club” is one example.

8.   There is free bus transport for rural children if Tokoroa North School is there nominated school. A bus service is available for a fee to children living in town or outside the nominated rural area. Cost is negotiated with the bus provider.

9.   An information booklet/ enrolment pack is available by calling the office