• To meet fellow pupils and prospective friends, to develop confidence in the class, and affinity and identity with the school.
• To introduce children and their parents or caregivers to their teacher and senior teacher.
• To become familiar with the layout and facilities at school.
• To experience some school activities, and to become familiar with class and school routines.
• To provide information needed to settle into school life quickly and smoothly.

This is probably your child’s first experience at school and we want to make this as happy and positive as we can. The class teacher will generally try to keep a normal programme running so that children and parents have a ‘taste’ of school life. For this reason we ask that you do not bring other pre-schoolers as they often cause distraction to the pupils during this very important transition time.

Your visits are generally scheduled for three consecutive Friday mornings. As children are not permitted to officially commence school until their fifth birthday, we require a parent or caregiver to remain at school during the pre-school visits. You are welcome within the classroom, and also feel free to have a look around our school, check out the library and computer suite, or have a coffee in the staffroom.

Be sure that by the end of your visits you feel the above purposes have been met and that you and your child know about the following:

• Location of the cloakrooms and toilets.
• Location of drinking fountains.
• How and where to order lunches.
• Play time boundaries.

Please check that you have been given a stationery list and a home reading information booklet on your final visit.

We look forward to our forthcoming partnership as your child begins this exciting new journey. 

Road Safety For Your Children

Some facts worthy of consideration ...

• Young children take longer to focus than adults and may not be able to see and identify potential traffic dangers.
• They cannot judge distances or speed of objects.
• Language we take for granted may not mean the same to a young child.
• Children tend to concentrate on just one thing, and may therefore forget traffic.

Titirangi Primary is situated near a very busy intersection. Therefore positive action to teach your child to deal with traffic needs to be taken to reduce the likelihood of accidents. 

Basic Training Steps For Walking To School

• With your child, work out the easiest and safest route between home and school. Walk over that route several times with your child. Check the route from time to time as major changes can happen to traffic patterns.
• Demonstrate safe crossing behaviour to your child.
  -  Show your child where to stop. The line of sight must be clear both ways.
  -  Look and listen for moving vehicles.
  -  Walk smartly across the road. Avoid having conversations while crossing. Do not run.
  -  Always use the manned crossings where available.
• Observe your child doing this task on their own. Talk about what they did. Praise good behaviour.
• Once your child has mastered the skills, try and arrange for friends or older children to accompany your child to school.
• Provide bright clothing or a bright schoolbag so that your child can be easily seen.
• Let your child see you follow these actions when they are out with you.

Basic Steps For Driving Your Child To School

• When driving to school, try to park on the school side of the street. If this is not possible, always ensure your child walks to the pedestrian crossing before crossing.
• When collecting your child, have a prearranged waiting spot. If this is not possible, park your car and wait at the exit your child uses.
• Ensure your child gets into and out of your car on the footpath side.
• Avoid calling your child from across the road. Cross the road yourself and escort your child over.
• Do not park on the yellow lines. They have been put there to provide clear visibility on both sides of the pedestrian crossing. Parking on the yellow lines, even for a few seconds, can endanger lives.
• Give your child a positive attitude about pedestrian crossings. Talk with your child about the good points for using them.
• Under no circumstances, show your child that ducking across the road and not using the crossings is acceptable behaviour.
• Avoid double parking near the crossing as this reduces visibility.
• The parking area outside the school is a drop off zone only. Please do not stop and park as this adds to traffic congestion.

Bicycle Riding To School

Because of the increased volume of traffic on the roads, particularly near the school, it is our policy not to encourage the riding of bicycles. However, for those children whose circumstances indicate the need for them to do so, the school asks for certain criteria to be met. These criteria have been work out in liaison with the School Traffic Officer.

• The child needs to be Year 5 or Year 6.
• The child must have written permission from you as parents or guardians.
• The child must have a roadworthy bicycle as required by the law.
• The child must wear a safety helmet.

For Their Safety ...

• Children are to use the steps, or the footpath at the side of the driveway when leaving or arriving at school.
• Children are not to walk across the car park.
• The school crossing is manned:
  8.15 – 8.50 am each day
  2.55 – 3.10 pm each day

Walking School Bus - The Kereru Express

We have two "walking buses" operating to and from school. This helps to ensure that children get to school safely, eases traffic congestion and of course gives the children great exercise. Each "bus" is supervised by a trained parent "bus conductor". This is an initiative from Road Safe Auckland and open to all children attending Titirangi School. The routes are:
Route #1: Corner Kopiko / Kohu Road, along Kohu Road to school.
Route #2: RSA entrance, South Titirangi Road, turn right into Titirangi Road, cross at New World pedestrian crossing, turn left and walking along Titirangi Road to school.
A consent form must be completed before using the "bus". Children are supplied with a yellow hat. 

School Bus
 
Bus route 025 runs from Glen Eden Intermediate School to Wood Bay leaving our school at approx 3.20pm. Children gather at Room 1 at 3.10pm and a teacher escorts the children to the bus stop opposite Lopdell House. A register is maintained by the school office of children who catch this bus, so parents are asked to keep the office informed of any changes.