Our School
The school roll ranges from 490-520 pupils depending on the time of year. The school population is diverse; 61% of our students identify as NZ European, 25% Māori, 2% are ‘Other European’ and the remaining 10% consists of Tongan, Dutch, Cook Island Maori, British, Irish, German, Filipino, Fijian, Australian, African, Chinese, Korean, Indian and Latin America/Hispanic.
At Kerikeri Primary School we value the bicultural foundation of New Zealand and are proud to provide a bilingual learning option called ‘Te Whakatupuranga’ where learning occurs in te reo Māori and English and Māori tikanga has a special place in learning and the daily routines of the classroom. If the classes are full, your child can go on the waitlist for Te Whakatupuranga. Your child must be enrolled at our school to be on the waitlist.
Kerikeri Primary School Attendance
The Importance of School Attendance
At Kerikeri Primary School, we believe there is a direct link between regular attendance and student achievement. Being at school consistently also helps children build stronger friendships, emotional well-being, and a sense of belonging. We appreciate your support in prioritising your child’s learning and social growth. Even missing just two days per term can impact a child’s progress, as the loss of learning accumulates over time. If a student misses one day every fortnight, they will have missed over a full year of schooling by age 16.
By law, students must attend school daily. Please notify the school of any absence, such as for a medical procedure or tangihanga. Please note that family holidays or non-school extracurricular activities are considered unjustified absences by the Ministry of Education.
Working Together
We really value your child/children coming to school regularly. If you are having any trouble getting them to school, please get in touch with us so we can work together to figure things out.
We ask our parents and whānau to support their child’s learning journey by:
- Valuing education: Encouraging your child to see that being at school matters
- Prioritising punctuality: Ensuring children arrive at school on time so they can settle in for the day.
- Open communication: Contacting the school promptly to explain any absences
Parent Notification System
To ensure the safety of our tamariki, we use an active notification system:
- Morning Alerts: If your child is absent and we haven’t heard from you, we will contact you via text or email in the morning. Please reply with the reason for the absence and how long they will be away.
- Afternoon Alerts: If a student is marked absent during the day, you will receive an automated notification in the afternoon to keep you informed.
The STAR Attendance Plan
All state and state-integrated schools in New Zealand are required to implement an attendance management plan. This must have regard to the STAR framework and be in place by the start of Term 1 2026.
Stepped Attendance Response (STAR) is our framework for supporting families. We track attendance across four stages each term to ensure every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Please click the link below to view our Attendance Management Plan
