What do I do if I want to enrol my child at BBI?

Firstly check on the school-zoning map to make sure you live in the school zone. As we have more students wishing to enrol than space available we do have to restrict enrolments.

If you live in zone you have the right to enrol. Contact the school office and complete the necessary enrolment documents.

If you live out of our zone it is possible there could be some spaces allocated for out of zone students. This varies from year to year depending on the number of in zone students. Again contact the office for information.

We do not hold waiting lists. Enrolment information is available for all applicants from the first school day of the third school term. The School Prospectus and application forms for the following year are available at that time.

Does BBI take international students?
BBI does take limited numbers of international students. The number varies from year to year depending upon space available. We are signatories to the New Zealand “Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students”.

Information regarding fees and placement is available from the school office. We are happy to email this information if that is more convenient.

Will my child be safe at your school?

The answer is YES! We firmly believe that all students have the right to be safe at school. Any situation that threatens student safety or their ability to concentrate on their schoolwork is dealt with quickly and firmly. We take the safety of our students very seriously indeed.

Every class is required to take a series of lessons to provide students with strategies to use should they have difficulties. Students will know what action to take and where to go for help.

The key to ensuring we have a safe environment is for every student to understand they must ask for help whenever they have a problem. We guarantee to deal with every incident that is brought to our attention.

Does the school have a sound discipline policy?

We have a very supportive environment where we try to operate with the minimum number of written rules. We believe the school should run with the normal rules of society being sufficient. We should treat each other as we would expect to be treated ourselves. This includes of course teachers as well as students.

Where issues of concern do arise we believe it is important that students realize there are always consequences for our actions, just as there are in society. We have structures in place to assist students in realizing this. They may be given a lunchtime detention for minor offences. For more serious concerns parents would always be contacted to discuss the most appropriate way in which to resolve the situation.

What should I do if I have a concern?

We welcome contact with parents. We want to do the best we can for your child. Sometimes problems or perceived problems do arise. Where there are concerns we would want to work with you to reach a satisfactory solution.

Should you have a concern it is best in the first instance to try to resolve the situation with the people involved. If it is an issue concerning a staff member then an appointment should be made through the school office to meet with the staff member concerned. If it seems a satisfactory resolution has not be reached then an appointment should be made to discuss the situation with either the deputy principal or the principal.

Remember if there is a problem we want to work with you to put it right. We can only do that if you make contact with us so we can discuss the situation and work towards a satisfactory resolution.

How does the school keep us informed as to what is happening?

This web site is one way we can keep you better informed. Information will be updated regularly, with the most recent news and events shown on the home page. Class teachers will communicate frequently through newsletters home regarding specific events. A minimum of once a term a team newsletter will be issued to students keeping you informed of happenings within the team.

A school newsletter is issued to students on the first day of each calendar month, or on the first school day following that date. This will give general information regarding school events along with community information. This newsletter will also be posted on the website in case it does not surface out of the school bag!

We have a very active PTA and you are welcome to attend any of their meetings. The PTA section of the web site gives further information regarding meeting dates.

At the end of the school year each student is issued with a school Yearbook. This provides a useful summary of the year with brief articles about major school events throughout the year.

How do I find out about my child’s progress?

Regular reporting times are scheduled throughout the year with information provided on your child’s progress. Late in the first term a conference is scheduled to discuss progress. This meeting is deliberately scheduled early in the year once the homeroom teacher has had an opportunity to evaluate previous progress and to have in place strategies to meet your child’s needs as the year progresses. The student portfolio is available at this time showing work samples from the first term.

A second conference is scheduled towards the end of the second term. A written report is sent home, accompanied by the student portfolio. Here discussions will centre on progress made since the earlier meeting. Students are expected to attend these conferences and in fact to play a significant part in the discussions. They should be able to provide evidence to show they have made progress as a learner since the last discussions.

At the end of term 3 or early in Term 4 the portfolio is sent home for viewing and discussion with the student.

Towards the end of the school year a summative written report on the child’s overall progress is sent home again accompanied by the student portfolio. Interviews with parents are held by request.

Parents are welcome to contact the school at any time to discuss their child’s progress. It is not necessary to wait for the scheduled interview times.

Does the school have an ‘Open Day’ so I can take a look around?

Around mid-November each year newly enrolled students are invited to visit our school. Parents are welcome to attend also. The date for this visit is conveyed to every student accepted for enrolment.

Throughout the year every class provides at least one opportunity per term where parents can visit the school to see programmes in action or the programme outcomes. You are welcome to come along and support your child.

Should visitors wish to view the school at other times it is possible for us to arrange for a student guide to escort you around the site so you can gain a better idea of what we have to offer.

Will my child get homework?

The answer is a definite yes! Students are normally set homework a minimum of four nights per week. It is expected that homework set will take around 45 minutes per night to complete. Many students take much longer over their homework we know.

As each student works at a different pace, as each also has different commitments outside school, we ask for your support to monitor the overall time spent on homework. Where you believe your child has spent sufficient time on their homework, and it is not completed then a note to the teacher will avoid any problems at school.

Each student should also have a homework notebook where set homework is recorded. You should be able to ask for this to see what has been set. Please feel free to write a comment, or ask a question in this notebook. The teacher can reply to you in a similar manner.

Are classes streamed according to ability?

No, our classes are as equal in ability as we can make them given the information provided from the previous schools. On arrival in Year 7 students are placed in classes according to numerous factors such as gender, ethnic background, previous school, ability level, etc. to ensure a mix in all classes.

It is our usual policy to keep the class together from Year 7 through into their Year 8 year to avoid further disruption wherever possible. Should we deem it advisable to move a student to a different group we would consult with parents regarding the placement.