JOHN MITCHELL SCHOOL

1. MISSION STATEMENT

• The task of JOHN MITCHELL SCHOOL is to provide the opportunity for each learner to develop his or her life skills and talents as far as possible, whether they be academic, artistic, sporting or practical. We aim to provide this opportunity through maintaining high standards in a sound educational environment.

• We strive to provide a balanced and relevant educational programme that includes intellectual, physical, social and moral aspects. In the long term, attention will be paid to the development of an improved curriculum which will enable our educators, parents and learners to create a climate in which learners are able to preserve their own identity with pride, whilst respecting and protecting the cultures of others.

• We want to ensure that dedicated, trained teaching staff are available to equip learners with knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enble them as adults to make a meaningful contribution to society in the economic, social, cultural and spiritual fields.

• We co-operate in a spirit of joint responsibility with all partners and other interested parties in providing sound education.

• We strive to educate in a cost effective way.

• We respect the professional and individual rights of educators.

• We value the sound, positive image of our school.

 

2. OBJECTIVES OF OUR SCHOOL

• To equip each child with the necessary life skills so that he or she can make a meaningful contribution to society and to realise personal fulfilment.

• To encourage an attitude of goodwill and respect towards others, irrespective of culture, nationality, race, religion or gender.

• To create a stable, stimulating and balanced educational environment, to foster full participation by all learners and thereby to produce happy, self-disciplined, considerate and instrinsically motivated learners.

• To attract and retain staff members of a quality worthy of emulation.

• To keep equipment, physical amenities and school grounds at as high a standard as possible.

• To maintain a stable enrolment by meeting the expectations of both parents and learners.

 

3. INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

 

School Hours:

 

Gr. R Monday to Friday:                                             07:30 to 13:30

Gr. 1 to 7 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday:          07:30 to 14:00

Gr. 1 to 7 Wednesday                                                07:30 to 15:00

 

3.2. School Uniform

 

GIRLS

 

Summer:

Black school shoes, long navy blue socks, tartan skirt, white short-sleeved shirt, tartan tie, sleeveless navy blue v-neck pullover or navy blue v-neck cardigan and navy blue school blazer. Any item worn to tie up hair must be navy blue in colour. (No ski pants permitted under skirts.) Only dark blue raincoats or dri-macs permitted when necessary.

 

Winter:

As above, except for a long sleeved shirt and long navy blue woollen tights instead of socks. No brightly coloured jackets – only blazers permitted.

 

BOYS

 

Summer:

Black school shoes, long plain grey socks, long grey trousers or grey shorts, white short-sleeved shirt, tartan tie, sleeveless navy blue v-neck pullover or navy cardigan and navy blue school blazer. Only dark blue raincoats or dri-macs permitted when necessary.

 

Winter:

As above, except for a long-sleeved white shirt. No brightly coloured jackets – only blazer permitted. Uniform stockists are Settler’s Store 93 Broadway Street Bez Valley JHB 011 615 1350.

 

3.3. Security of Valuables and possessions:

Please ensure that all personal belongings are marked with the child’s name. All lost items found and handed in will be put in the lost property collection for the children to identify. Money and/or valuables should never be left in unattended cases or pockets of clothes.

 

The school can not accept responsibility for lost property.

 

3.4. Injuries and illness

If a learner is injured or takes ill at school, parents will be contacted if necessary. In an emergency, if parents can not be reached, the child will be taken to a doctor or hospital. Please ensure that the school is notified of any change in telephone numbers or other personal details, so that you can be reached during the day.

 

3.5. Road Safety

Please ensure that your children always obey traffic rules. They should never cross a street without checking for oncoming traffic. The scholar patrol crossing point should be utilized. We appeal to parents and taxi drivers who collect the children from school, to remind them to wait inside the school grounds. Parents are also requested to refrain from driving into the school grounds to drop off or collect children as this poses a danger to learners.

 

3.6. School Fees

The Governing Body determines school fees on an annual basis according to budgetary requirements. As school fees are compulsory, parents have the option to pay fees annually, quarterly or in ten monthly installments.

Please note that school fees are payable in advance. School fees should be handed to the child’s educator first thing in the morning or personally paid to the secretary between 7:45 and 13:00. You are also welcome to deposit school fees in the school's bank account:

 

School Fees:

 

Please ensure that school fees are paid one month in advance, by the 7thday of each month at the latest.

 

Grade R:              R6000.00 per year / R600.00 per month x 10 months

Grade 1 to 7:        R5700.00 per year / R570.00 per month x 10 months

 

SCHOOL BANK DETAILS:                                   

FIRST NATIONAL BANK (F.N.B.)                            

EASTGATE BRANCH CODE: 257705                            

ACCOUNT NUMBER: 62007385140                           

REFERENCE: Child’s Name, Surname & Class

 

A sincere THANK YOU to all our parents who are vigilant in paying their school fees! We truly appreciate it!

 

Any queries regarding school fees must be discussed with the finance secretary. Problems regarding schoolfees can be discussed with the principal. The expenses involved in the running of a school are very high and the state provides for only a portion of these expenses. A great responsibility rests on the parents of the children to provide the funds necessary for the maintenance of the school as well as for the provision of the equipment and improvement or development of all facilities. The income generated by the payment of schoolfees is the school’s life blood, and it is thus of the utmost importance for the school to receiive your payment if we are to maintain our standards and improve upon them.

 

3.7. Appointments with educators

Partnership in education implies co-operation and liason between school and home. Should you wish to consult your child’s educator, a Head of Department, Deputy Principal or Principal, please contact the school secretaries to arrange an appointment. Obviously educators can not be consulted during teaching hours. Parents are urged to follow certain channels when problems arise in the classroom. If the class or subject educator is unable to assist, a consultation with the relevant Head of Department should be arranged. If the problem still persists parents may consult the Deputy Principal or the Principal. It should be noted that scholastic problems should be addressed by the school’s proffessional staff.

 

THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUR CHILD

 

3.8. Newsletters

From time to time school relies upon learners to hand their parents newsletters. Please study the newsletters. It is always a good idea to file these so that you can refer to them when necessary. Please diarise important dates, fixtures, extra mural activities and functions when notices are received.

 

3.9. Use of the telephone

A public telephone is installed near the tuckshop and another in the hall foyer , for use by learners during break or after school Telephone cards should be purchased for this purpose. Children who are ill may not contact their parents by telephone.  All injuries and sicknesses will be reported to parents by the secretaries.

 

Cell phones: The school discourages the bringing of cell phones to school. Should a parent have no option but to give a child a cell phone, the school will by no means accept any responsibility for its loss, damage or theft. Cell phones MAY NOT be used at any time throughout the school day. Pupils breaking this rule will have their phones confiscated and only returned at year end.

 

3.10. Absence and permission to leave school early

A letter or a note in the homework diary is required from parents after a child has been absent. Illness of longer than three days requires a doctor’s certificate. Parents are rquested to refrain from arranging extended holidays during school term time because this disrupts the school programme.

Parents needing to collect their children during school hours for medical or dental appointmemts etc. should also inform the principal in writing, and must report to the office to fetch the children.

Absence from school means that work is missed and will have to be done by the learner on his/her return. Learners are expected to catch up on all work missed as soon as possible.

The onus is on the learner to approach the educator. Although every effort will be made to assist the learner, the educator cannot be expected to repeat lessons every time a learmner is absent.

Gaps in information can result in poor comprehension, non-performance, eventual lack of motivation and interest, and finally apathy.

 

3.11. Textbooks and stationery

Textbooks, readers and media centre books are loaned to learners. Loss of or damage to these books will result in parents having  to replace items at their own expense. Costs will be added to the schoolfee account. All textbooks and readers are to be covered in durable plastic. All textbooks are to be stored in a zip seal plastic bag. Excerecise books will be given free of charge to all who pay schoolfees. Other Stationary requirements eg. pens, pencils etc. have to be purchased by parents.

N.B. Learner’s suitcases MUST have solid sides. Rucksacks and bags made of soft material are NOT ALLLOWED. Text and excersise books are easily damaged in such bags. Learners will not be issued with books that are school property, unless they have the correct school bag i.e. a firm well supported briefcase or one of similar nature.

 

3.12. Tuckshop

A variety of wholesome foods, crisps, colddrinks, and sweets are sold. The tuckshop is open during first break, second break, before and after school.

 

3.13. Junior Primary Learners waiting for taxis

Junior primary learners who have to wait for their transport must wait in the Junior Primary Playground. No Junior Primary children will be allowed near the Senior Block as they tend to disrupt the classes in session.

 

3.14. Change of address

It is essential that parents inform the office of any change in address, place of work, home and work telephone numbers. All records are computerized and can readily be altered when necessary.

 

(THE AVAILABILITY OF UP TO DATE INFORMATION IS VITAL IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.)

 

ACADEMIC

4.1. Homework

 

Junior Primary Learners

All grade R  to 3 learners are expected to have a homework excercise book that must be signed by the parent on a daily basis. Parents and educators are encouraged to communicate with one another via the homework book. All Junior Primary Learners receive their homework notification slips at the begining of each week. Learners are encouraged to comply with homework requirements as this will reinforce work done at school.

 

Senior Primary Learners

It is compulsory for learners from grade 4 to 7 to do homework and to have their diaries signed by parents on a daily basis. The onus is on the child to record all prescribed homework. A child must not only do written homework. Revision and studying are also considered to be homework. Reading, spelling and tables are ongoing homework. In other words, the child always has homework. Learners must comply with homework requirements and have their diaries signed by a parent or guardian on a daily basis. Failure to do this will result in the child getting D-merits and attending detention. On returning after a period of absence, the onus is on the child to catch up work done by the class while the child was absent.

 

4.2. Parental involvement

Parents are urged to form a partnership with their child’s educator. Contact between educator and parent is essential if one’s child is to benefit from his/her schooling. Please make every effort to attend parents’ evenings. Notification of meetings will always be sent in good time to parents. The first parents’ evening of the year is is open to everybody, with the idea of meeting the educators. The second and third parents’ evenings are mainly to discuss learners who are not making satisfactory academic progress and exhibiting behavioural problems. However, any parent is free to attend any parents’ evening if they so wish.

 

4.3. Children with particular needs

Additional tuition will be provided by educators in the classroom and, if necessary after school. Parents will be informed in writing when learners need to attend remedial lessons after school. Parents whose children don’t attend these classes on a regular basis, will be informed in writing and other children will be given the opportunity to take their place to enrich and extend themselves. A centre for gifted children housed on the JCE campus offers learners, rated as acheivers, the opportunity to enrich and extend themselves. Suitable candidates are carefully screened annually.

 

4.4. Assessment

In both the Senior, Intermediate and Junior Primary Phases we stress continuous assessment. Classwork, homework, class tests, learner attitude, application of skills and a sense of responsibility are all components for assessment. Apart from continuous assessment, our grade 4 to 7 learners also write a midyear and end of year exam. Reports are issued at the end of each term to inform parents of their child’s performance. Should problems arise, parents will be contacted at any time during the year.

 

4.5. Tours & Excursions

From time to time day excursions and longer tours are arranged by the educators. Such excursions and tours form an integral part of the school curriculum and allow for the enrichment and extension of our learners. Parents will be advised of costs and arrangements in advance and must ensure that an indemnity form is completed and returned to school before departure. Full school uniform is to be worn on day excursions.

 

4.6. Prize giving, certificates & awards

Our annual prize giving ceremony is held at the end of each year. Parents of prize winners receive an invitation to attend this ceremony, but there is also an open invitation to all parents to attend.

 

4.7. The house system

For academic, sporting and cultural competitions within the school, each learner belongs to one of three Houses. Throughout the year points are awarded for the various House activities and the merit and D-merit system, at the end of the year the winning house is announced.

The three houses are : Viking (red) Trojan (yellow) and Spartan (blue). We emphasise  the importance of sportmanship and good behaviour in all extra-mural activities. These aspects reflect on the individual as well as the school.

 

4.8. Extra-mural Activities

In order to benefit fully from primary school education, it is necessary that your son/daughter participate fully in the extra-curricular activities of the school. This involvement in school life plays an important part in developing character and personality and does not detract from academic work, but rather tends to improve it. Aspects of sport such as sportmanship, etiquette and acceptable behaviour on and off the sportsfield, should not be taken for granted and should enjoy more specific attention. The playing and coaching of sport is primarily of an educational nature. Sound educational principles underlie coaching, practices and matches. Participation in extra-mural activities aims at enhancing a child’s self development.

 

Our aims in sport;

a)

• To teach players and team members to play the game skillfully, unselfishly and in a sportsmanlike manner, especially when under pressure.

• There are no degrees of debate about sportmanship. The standards are absolute. Self-control is the order of the day, no matter what the provocation.

• Foul play or retaliatrion of any sort (hacking, intentional obstructing, swearing, loss of temper, disrespectful behaviour) is unacceptable.

• Play the ball and not the man, is of prime importance.

 

b) To taech players to place the interest of the team above the interests of the individual .

c) To teach players to play as skillfully as possible.

d) To teach players to master the basic skills.

e) To emphasize the value of good, hard, clean play.

f) To develop physical fitness in the players.

g) To teach players to keep on trying when the going is tough.

h) To teach players the value of and necessity for proper sportmanship, etiquette and hospitality.

 

Children are encouraged to participate in after school activities. These vary according to seasons and include Athletics, Soccer, Cricket, Netball, Cross Country and Concert. Other activities may be introduced from time to time. A programme of activities will be published each year.

 

5. SCHOOL RULES

Learners are forbidden at all times to engage in the following activities:

• Bringing of toy guns, guns, knives, or any dangerous weapons to school.

• Bullying and fighting.

• Throwing of stones or dangerous objects.

• Littering.

• Shouting inside the school building.

• Rough games likely to cause injury.

• Bringing of toys of any discription to school unless requested to do so by an educator.

• Use of foul language (swearing)

• The riding of bicycles, skateboards, roller skates or any other vehicle inside the school grounds.

• The chewing of any form of gum.

• Running on corridors or in the classrooms.

• Selling of any article unless such sale has been organised by an educator with the principals’ permission.

• Children are not allowed in a classroom or the hall unless accompanied by an educator.

• No children are allowed on the corridors during break.

• No learner may leave the school grounds during school times.

• Stealing: this is strictly forbidden.

• The exchange of money or goods with one another.

• The lending of money or goods to one another.

Please note that the school buildings and grounds are out of bounds over weekends and during holidays.

 

6. PROMOTING THE DUTY AND OBEDIENCE OF THE CHILD

 

6.1 No learner will be allowed to be disruptive in class. Learners have to behave well at all times.

6.2 Classes will be dismissed under supervision of the educators and learners are to proceed along the left of the corridor/stairs in single file to their next class.

6.3 Damage to property. Property damaged maliciously, intentionally or through disobedience by the learner, will be paid for by the parents.

6.4 Insolence. Insolent behaviour or insubordination by word or action will not be tolerated.

6.5 Behaviour in cloakrooms. Learners found misusing the toilets and cloakrooms by making a noise, or littering for example, will be punished. If toilet paper is wasted a letter will be sent to the parents who will be expected to replace the commodity.

6.6 Respect of fellows. Discrimination in any form against race, sex, religion or financial status is viewed in a very serious light and will not be tolerated. Learners are at all times to respect the right of others to be educated.

 

7. PROMOTING THE SCHOOL’S IMAGE AND REPUTATION

 

Greeting of adults:

Learners must greet educators, secretaries and the school ground staff by name. All visitors must be greeted politely.

 

Please and thank you are words expected as a common courtesy.

No hands in pockets

 

Uniform:

The correct uniform must be worn at all times. (see 3.2)

 

Hair:

Hair must be neatly cut and groomed. Girls with long hair must wear it tied up. Boys are not allowed to shave their heads or have a “steps” hair style. No tails or bleached hair is allowed. Hair accessories for girls may be blue in color only. Hair should not fall in a child’s eyes. No streaking, colouring or dyeing of hair is permitted AT ALL.

 

Nails:

Boys and girls must at all times have short, clean nails. No nail polish of any kind is permitted at all. No make up is permitted either.

 

Jewellery:

No rings chains, bracelets or other jewelery may be worn to school. Single matching sleepers or studs may be worn in pierced ears by girls only. Only medic alert bracelets are permitted. Watches are worn at a child’s own risk. Boys may NOT wear earrings.

 

Learners must adhere to the code of fair play for all sporting and cultural activities. Good sportmanship is essential.

 

Educational tours:

While on tour, learners must conduct themselves in such a manner that the good name of the school does not come into disrepute. Bad behaviour on a tour will result in that particular learner being prohibited from participating in all future tours and excursions.

NB. Learners who contravene the school rules will be punished. Each case will be dealt with according to the severity of the misdemeanour. Prefects will assist in enforcing the rules, but the educators will be responsible for meting out the punishment. In cases where the need arises, parents will be contacted to assist the school in taking punitive action against learners who contravene the school rules.

 

8. PROMOTING THE HEALTH OF THE CHILD

 

Illness

If your child appears genuinely ill on a school morning, kindly make arrangements for your child to stay at home. We have limited sick-bay facilities and with many strains of cold and flu virusses they tend to be contagious.

 

Sick notes and doctors’ letters

If your child has been away for a day, please complete the last page of the homework diary that refers to reasons for absence. If a child has been away for more than three days, we require a doctor’s letter upon return to school.

 

Universal safety precautions

It is required for your child’s safety as well as the safety of others, that all open, bleeding, or weeping wounds be dressed with a plaster or bandage.

 

9. GOVERNING BODY

The Governing Body is the controlling body of the school. Members are elected by the parents of the school every three years. The governing body controls all aspects of the school. It works out the school’s budget and determines school fees. The Governing Body meets at least once per term.

 

10. PARENTS RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure that your child attends school regularly and arrives on time each day.

• Assist with the time management – don’t allow activities to interfere with study/homework time e.g. part-time job, housework, watching TV.

• Take an active interest – curb your own social life, if necessary, so as to spend more time with your children.

• Attend Parents’ Days. Your children appreciate active interest on your part.

• Come and watch your child when he/she takes part in school activities.

• Provide facilities for effective study.

• Provide stimulation – discuss, observe etc.

• Insist that you see school reports at the end of every term, and together analyse his/her progress. (Too many parents claim, at the last minute, that they did not know, their children were in danger of failing.)

• Respond to any correspondence from the school.

• If there are home or social problems, please inform the educator, principal or social worker.

• If possible, address any queries about your child to the educator first.

• Make the education of your children your main priority.

• Should you have any further queries regarding John Mitchell Primary School, its staff or aspects pertaining to your child, kindly contact the Principal.

 

Keep the booklet in a handy but safe place!!!

 

Please remember that we are available if you have any questions or concerns.

 

Note that: NO educator will be called out of class during teaching times. Educators may be contacted at the following times:

 

Before school:            07:20 to 07:30

1st Break:                  09:40 to 09:55

2nd Break:                 12:10 to 12:30

After School:              14:00 to 14:30

 

PLEASE MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE RELEVANT EDUCATOR IF YOU NEED TO SEE HIM/HER AFTER SCHOOL.