Communication

Communication
During term one we trialled a number of ways to improve communication between home and school. The major initiative was to use a programme from the Ministry of Education called Early Notification System (ENS). This is a process where, if a student is away for Period 1 without explanation, families receive a text massage. This way you can know quickly when your child is not at school. However, to make this work well, we need to have up to date cell phone numbers for parents. Can you please contact the student office to ensure we have your current number? You can also email absence@stratfordhigh.school.nz if this is more convenient.

We are in the early stages of using this system (ENS) and apologise if a message is sent in error. However, we feel that our families deserve to know when their child is not in school, so we hope this will keep our children here rather than wagging. After all we are here to learn.

We believe that good communications between the school and its community are very important. If you have any questions please do not hesitate in contacting us either by phone, email or visiting the school. If your concerns relate to your son/daughter’s attendance, behaviour or academic progress, the form teacher or the relevant year level dean is the best person to contact in the first instance. For our part we will keep in contact through the newsletters, written reports on your son/daughter, parent & teacher evenings, the school website and blog and Stratford Press High School Corner.

Newsletters will arrive via email from the start of next term. If you have given the school an email address you will no longer receive a hard copy unless it is posted with reports. If you have changed your email address recently please advise us of your new one. If you do not think the school has your email address please advise the office.

If you would prefer to receive a hard copy of newsletters please let us know so you can be added to the listing for form teachers. The first newsletter of the year is usually posted to all parents.

Rule 3: Partner with your child’s teacher.
Children who do best at school are the ones who have parents (at home) and teachers (at school) working closest together.
• Teachers describe parent-teacher relationships as essential, vital and critical.
• Positive links between parents and teachers create positive attitudes to school.
• Your involvement will help your child’s progress at school, build trust and resolve differences.
• Parent-teacher partnerships, like any teamwork, benefit from communication.