Scheduled reviews: Topics reviewed in term 1 2017

Recognition of Cultural Diversity

• Added headings to make the topic's content clearer.
• Updated and expanded the lists of examples showing how different cultures are recognised and celebrated.
• Updated the list of examples showing how Māori culture is fostered.
• The content related to Pasifika is now part of the updated topic i.e. it isn't optional.
• Added references to the NZ Curriculum, and a link to Cultural Diversity on the TKI website.

Staff Leave

• Added more information to the process for requesting leave, and added a statement about discretionary leave.
• Updated the Leave Application Form.
• Added a link to the Ministry for more information about state servants standing for election.
• Made minor editorial changes.

Criteria for Discretionary Leave

• Added a bullet point about considering the impact of the leave on the staff member's well-being.
• Made some minor editorial changes.

Separated Parents, Guardianship, and Day-to-Day Care

• Added a statement at the beginning to emphasise that the student’s safety, well-being, and security is paramount.
• Added “civil union” and removed reference to “father” being recorded on birth certificate (as may be a same sex partner).
• Added that the school asks for a copy of any agreement or court order, that parents need to keep contact details up to date, and that the school's privacy policy applies.
• Added Vulnerable Children Act to Legislation, and a link to Guardians and Guardianship on the Ministry of Justice site.

The Rights of the Guardian and the School

• Added that both parents and any other guardians are entitled to vote in board elections.
• Added “The school appreciates parents being able to attend the same parent interviews where possible.”

Contact Rights and the School

• Added that “Students should not be disrupted by unnecessary communication during the day (e.g. text, social media, phone calls, or email).”

Surnames

• Changed wording to read “Demo School uses the student's name as provided at enrolment, unless advised otherwise.”
• Added alternative wording for secondary schools.

Internal reviews: Topics reviewed in term 1 2017

Treaty of Waitangi

• Added the statement that the Treaty of Waitangi is one of eight principles in The New Zealand Curriculum, and added a link to this on TKI. Change prompted by scheduled review of the Recognition of Cultural Diversity topic.

Attendance Register

Enrolment

Health topics

Managing Accidents and Illness

• Topic shortened as its old content covered elsewhere in this section.
• Removed Prevention topic as its content is also covered elsewhere.

Illness

• Added content about "staying away from school".

Infectious Diseases

• This new topic contains important information about basic hygiene measures, guidelines for staying away from school, and immunisations. It links to various resources including the Ministry of Health and HealthED.

Chronic Communicable Conditions

• This topic was previously HIV/AIDS and Other Infectious Diseases, and has been moved from the Employer Responsibility section (along with Disclosure of Infectious or Contagious Condition).
• This topic now applies to any chronic communicable condition.

Allergies

• New topic.

Asthma

• Edited to make the content clearer and more accurate.

Privacy topics

Collecting Personal Information

• This new topic comprehensively lists the personal information collected about students and what it used for.

Privacy Guidelines

• Added some wording to clarify specific guidelines.

Parents and the Privacy Act

• Elaborated on the information parents are entitled to.

Third Party Providers

• This new topic explains that third party providers are sometimes used for communications between school and home, and for other services, and are required to meet the school's privacy policy and satisfy the school that their privacy policy and settings are secure and managed appropriately.

Sharing Images of Students

• This new topic provides guidelines to parents and caregivers about sharing on social media images that they have taken at school or school events.

Changes as a result of the Ministry's Guidelines "Planning and preparing for emergencies and traumatic incidents – practical information and guidance for schools".

Health, Safety, and Welfare Policy

• Reformatted to clarify the board's responsibilities, and added the following bullet point: "ensures that emergency planning is current".

Emergency Planning and Procedures

• This topic has been expanded to spell out the board's responsibility and the elements of successful planning. We added a link to the Ministry guidelines from this topic.

Create a Plan (Reverse Evacuation)

• Added a note re: automatic bells. If they need to be turned off, who will do it?