We recognise that an effective partnership between the school and parents is a key element in educational success. To this end we focus a considerable amount of energy to ensure that you are well informed of what is happening in the school.
We encourage you to contact us to discuss your child’s learning, progress and achievement or any matters that may impact on their well-being or learning – see: CCS Communication Guidelines
Mechanisms that are in place to ensure that you are connected with the school, that you are well informed with what is going on and able to discuss your child’s learning with us include:
Up-To-Date information:
Refer to the school website or your email
To access all up-to-date information and any last-minute changes to the school day, for emergency notices or sports events, your first source should be to check the school website noticeboard pages, or the school calendar:
If there is a school emergency, we will first publish a short announcement to the ‘Important Reminders’ noticeboard, as well as sending out a txt via KAMAR which will then direct you to check your emails for any ongoing updates.
School phone App – SchoolAppsNZ is being retired
In the last few years, CCS has used a phone App: SchoolAppsNZ, for notices and alerts that went out to groups that parents/caregivers signed up to receive.
As we have been moving forward with the updated school website and communication system via HailMail, the school app will no longer be used as a port of contact.
Parents/Caregivers are welcome to remove the school app from their phones.
Class Dojo
From time to time the primary classroom teachers will communicate news and events via a message, photos or a short video on the Class Dojo app. You are welcome to comment on these posts on class stories. While the Class Dojo app does have a facility to message the teacher privately, please use email for parent / teacher communication.
Social Media
Cornerstone has a Facebook page and an Instagram page where various events and activities throughout our school are featured. You are welcome to follow our page/account.
Search Facebook: CCS NZ
https://www.facebook.com/CCSNZ
Search Instagram: ccs_pn
https://www.instagram.com/ccs_pn/
Weekly school newsletters
The newsletter outlines school-wide foci, successes and upcoming events. It is posted on the website every Friday and is also emailed out weekly to each family.
Primary Team newsletters
Team newsletters for Aroha (love) team – Years 0-2, Manahau (joy) team – Years 3-4 and Tumanako (hope) Team – Years 5-6 are distributed to parents at the beginning of each term. These newsletters outline major learning areas for the coming term. These newsletters will also be available in publications for each team of the primary school, which can be found under the Primary School Structure drop-down menu:
Secondary News
As secondary students are taught be multiple teachers in years 7-13, teachers will generally use the school email system to keep you up to date with their events.
Email correspondence
Teachers have a list of parents’ email addresses and are encouraged to contact you by email if this is a useful means of communication for you. Teachers are only expected to respond to emails within normal school opening hours.
Occasionally, bulk emails are sent from our student management system (KAMAR). These emails are sent from a bulk server. Please do not reply to these emails. Rather, respond to the individual staff using the staff school email addresses, as below.
Please feel welcome to contact your child’s teacher at their school email address. These can be found in the Staff Directory on our school website, at the bottom of each individual teacher profile.
Open door policy
Parents are welcome to visit the classroom before or after school and to briefly check in with their child’s teacher regarding learning and well-being. If a discussion needs to be had at length or the teacher is busy, e.g. on gate duty, please arrange a suitable time with your child’s teacher. Parents may observe the classroom during lessons by prior arrangement with the classroom teacher.
Parent advisory group meetings
On occasion, the Principal holds a forum with parents on matters of interest or concern. The date of the forum and the topic of interest to be discussed are advised in advance in the school newsletter and on the website. All parents are welcome to attend.
Consultation with the school’s Māori and Pasifika communities
The Principal consults at least twice each year with the school’s Māori and Pasifika communities about their aspirations for their community of learners and the policies, plans and targets that the school has in place for improving student achievement.
