Family Information – Starting at Te Pae
Before Starting | First Day | Stationery | Rūmaki | Attendance | Health & Safety | Lunchboxes | Getting Here | Our Spaces | Whānau Partnership
Before your Tamaiti Starts
We want every transition to Te Pae to feel calm, positive and well supported.
Before starting, families will be invited to connect with the school, share important information and help us get to know their child.
- Tell us your child’s strengths, interests, culture, language and what helps them learn well.
- Share any medical, wellbeing, learning, sensory, communication or accessibility needs.
- Provide information from your child’s previous school or early learning service where relevant.
- Check that emergency contacts, authorised pick-ups and medication information are current.
The School Day
Arrive between 8.15am and 8.30am and check in at the school office.
Meet your child’s kaiako and visit their learning space.
The school day finishes at 3.00pm. Please make sure your child knows their end-of-day plan.
What to bring each day
- A named school bag.
- A named lunch box with enough food for the day.
- A named drink bottle filled with water.
- A navy Te Pae sunhat in Terms 1 and 4.
- Any prescribed medication, supplied to the office with the required form.
Embroidering or printing names on the outside of hats and uniform are encouraged. This helps the uniform to always return to it’s owner.
You will receive a stationery list from the school office before your child starts.
The list will be matched to your child’s year level and learning needs and will include information about what to purchase and how to order it.
Please name stationery items where requested. If purchasing stationery is difficult for your whānau, contact the office so we can discuss how we may be able to help.
Te Pae is developing a Rūmaki pathway.
Families interested in Māori-medium education are invited to complete an Expression of Interest.
This is separate from formal enrolment.
The school will contact whānau directly about next steps and opportunities to kōrero.
Expression of Interest
Visit the Māori Language Pathway page or contact Stevey Taylor through the school.
Being at school every day and arriving on time supports belonging, progress and achievement.
If your child is going to be absent or late, please notify the school before 9.00am and provide the reason.
The confirmed absence process and link will be available on the website before opening.
If attendance becomes a concern, we will contact whānau early, listen to what is happening and work together on practical support.
Please talk with us if health, anxiety, transport, learning needs or family circumstances are making attendance difficult.
Let the office know about allergies, medical conditions, care plans and emergency medication.
All medication must be handed to the office by an adult, clearly labelled, and supported by the required permission form.
Keep your child at home when they are unwell and follow current public health guidance.
Tell us promptly if contact details, custody arrangements or authorised pick-ups change.
Contact your child’s kaiako or a school leader if you have a wellbeing, learning or safety concern.
Please pack enough food to sustain your child across the school day and send water as their everyday drink. A balanced lunchbox could include:
- A filling main item, such as a sandwich, wrap, roll, rice, pasta, sushi or leftovers in a suitable container.
- Fresh fruit or vegetables that your child enjoys.
- A snack such as yoghurt, cheese and crackers, popcorn, hummus, boiled egg or home baking.
- An extra small snack for children who become hungry during the day.
- Choose familiar foods your child can open and eat independently.
- Reusable containers are encouraged.
We recognise that children have different cultural, dietary, medical and sensory needs, so lunchboxes may look different for each whānau.
Details about any lunch-order services will be shared when confirmed.
Food safety
Tell the school about all allergies and dietary requirements. These will be saved in our HERO system for the time they are at Te Pae School. Please do not share food between students.
The school is located at 120 Rua Hills Parade, Westgate, Auckland 0816.
Detailed information about entrances, drop-off and pick-up areas, walking and cycling access, parking, buses and road-safety expectations will be shared with families before opening.
Before/After school care and holiday programme
This will be available for all Te Pae whānau through Premium Kids care. Learn more about Premium Kids Care.
Te Pae has modern single-cell classrooms supported by breakout and specialist spaces.
At the foundation stages, we will start in Block 1 (near playgrounds).
Facilities that will be open include fields, courts, a gymnasium, technology spaces, classrooms, a library and a Māra Kai (edible garden).
Students will have a junior and senior playground to enjoy, pickle ball court, tennis and netball courts, basketball courts, junior and senior football fields.
Two satellite classrooms will also be operated by Arohanui Special School.
Whānau are an essential part of Te Pae. We welcome your knowledge, questions, ideas and participation. Opportunities to connect may include whānau hui, learning conversations, information evenings, celebrations, cultural events, trips, sport, volunteering and community consultation.
If you need an interpreter, accessible information or another way to take part, please let us know. We want communication and school events to be welcoming and accessible for all families.
Still have a question?
We are happy to help. Please contact the school office [email protected] and a member of our team will respond.