Only four days before I fly to New Zealand, with Soren and the kids following me on the 22^nd of January. We’re more or less done with organizing – we hope – and now we can start to look forward to our trip!

Rules and regulations

Now I don’t really know how many rules Danish and Dutch schools have (let me know in the comments!) but there does seem to be an awful number of rules in the New Zealand schools. Here is a fun selection from the information we’ve received for Birk’s school – and we’ll be curious to see to what extent they are actually enforced.

• The school has clear behaviour management plans that set out behaviour expectations and consequences for inappropriate behaviour. Our values of excellence, respect, courage, humility, creativity and integrity guide the way we behave and relate to each other at BIS
• It is compulsory to wear a helmet and a high visibility vest when cycling or scootering to and from school. Riding in the school grounds is prohibited. You must get off your bike or scooter at the gate and walk alongside your bike/ scooter down the driveway
• Coca Cola, Fanta, energy drinks and soft drinks etc. are not permitted at school. They hinder learning.
• If you need to bring a mobile phone to school, it will need to be taken to the office before school (turned off or on silent mode) and be collected at 3pm.
• You are not permitted in nine different areas, such as the library and the classroom when there is no teacher present, the carpark (apart from the pedestrian crossing), but also, interestingly, number 7 of the list of 9, ‘any roofs’.
• Exercise books need to be covered and are to be free of graffiti.
• All students should have signed a Digital Citizenship Agreement which says that the student shall:
  • - Remember that the use of the school’s internet is only for educational purposes
  • - Ensure there is a teacher or responsible adult in the room when using a device
  • - Parents are responsible for discussing the contents and intent of this policy with their child regularly

Pull your socks up

Schools in New Zealand require a school uniform, so that will be quite the experience for the kids. The shoes alone are quite a thing – they must be plain black leather, lace up, school-style shoes with a heel of approximately 1.5 – 2cm. There cannot be any embellishment or logo on them. In summer, students are allowed to wear sandals, either black Roman sandals or black Birkenstock Leather Milano sandals only.

Here are some other uniform rules:

• School uniform must be worn correctly at all times, including during travel to and from school
• Items that are not part of the school uniform may not be worn. Undergarments must not be visible
• Long socks must be worn pulled up
• The BIS PE uniform must be worn for all PE activities, including mufti days. Students must wear sports shoes with their PE uniform or bare feet. School shoes are not to be worn with PE gear at any time.
• Students are required to wear school hats (cap or bucket hat) during all outdoor activities during Terms 1 and 4, including morning break and lunchtimes.
• Every student must wear correct school footwear to and from school. The correct footwear stays on until students go into the classroom for the roll at 8.40am.
• For safety reasons, only a wristwatch and a single set of gold or silver plain studs for pierced ears – no markings, stones or engraving - are permitted.
• Make-up and nail varnish are not to be worn at school under any circumstances, including mufti days.
• Hair must be well-groomed and tidy, hair ties and hair adornments are only permitted in navy blue or black. Only hair colours in the natural human hair range are acceptable. Purple, orange, lime green, pink etc. are not permitted

Upon the sea of knowledge

And, of course, we are busy training with Birk to not only know the NZ national anthem (which is included in the school information package) but also the school song itself. Enjoy it with us:

Upon the sea of knowledge
We have embarked together
In our ship the Belmont
Through fair and stormy weather.
The Principal is steering,
He navigates the shoal,
We’re on a two year journey,
And learning is our goal.

So we’ll hold fast the tiller,
Our course set straight and true,
We’ll sail into tomorrow,
With hope and courage too.
We know that it’s old fashioned,
To say peace and brotherhood,
But Belmont Intermediate can,
Be a force for good.

Our watch cry it is effort,
Which means we try our best,
We’ll persevere with learning,
Until we gain success.
The Belmont is a small craft,
With many dreams on board,
And if we pull together,
We’ll be a force for good.

Happy New Year!!