School Rules

Welcome to Balmacewen Intermediate!

Our school rules are designed to keep everyone safe, happy, and focused on learning. When you are in uniform or participating in school activities, you represent our community, and we expect you to show pride and respect.

Respecting Each Other & Our Spaces

Be kind: Treat everyone with respect. Bullying, physical aggression, and verbal put-downs are not tolerated.
Move quietly: Please move around the school in a quiet and orderly manner.
Respect classrooms: Stick to your own classroom and designated learning street unless a teacher gives you permission to visit another area. The school hall is only for supervised use.
Keep spaces clean: Cloak bays and toilets are for their intended purposes, not for hanging out or eating.
Take care of property: If school property is damaged due to rule-breaking, we may ask for a contribution toward replacement costs.

Staying Safe on School Grounds

Arrival times: Please arrive after 8:20 a.m., as we cannot provide supervision before then.
Staying on grounds: You must have a teacher's permission to leave the school grounds during the day.
Playing safely: Keep games away from school buildings, the front driveway, and the back of the tech blocks, as vehicles use these areas. The "Infection" game is not permitted in these zones.
Lost balls: If a ball goes over the Summerset fence or onto a roof, please ask a staff member to retrieve it safely for you.
Wheels: Bicycles and scooters should be walked on school grounds, except during Wednesday and Friday Wheels Days on the hall court.

Food, Valuables & Technology

Healthy habits: We are a water-only school! Please leave fizzy drinks, energy drinks, lollies, and chewing gum at home. Food delivery services (like UberEats) are not permitted.
Valuables: Keep large sums of money and valuables at home. If you must bring something important, hand it to your teacher or the office for safekeeping.
Devices: Bring your devices fully charged and use them for learning only (no gaming). All students must follow the Balmacewen Digital Citizen Agreement.
Cell phones: Phones must be handed to your teacher at the start of the day and collected at the end. Phones used during school hours will be kept at the office for parents to collect. Recording or posting images/audio of others without permission is strictly prohibited.

Attendance & Punctuality

Be on time: School starts promptly at 8:50 a.m.
Late arrival: If you are running late, please go through the School Office and let them know you have arrived.

Uniform & Personal Presentation

Wear your Balmacewen uniform with pride, tidily and correctly, both at school and on your journey to and from school. The PE uniform is only for physical activities or representing the school immediately after hours.

Naming property: Please clearly name all clothing, shoes, and bags. Unmarked property is hard to return! Report lost or found items to the library foyer.
Hair & Makeup: Hair should be a natural colour, and long hair over shoulder length needs to be tied up with black or brown ties/clips. Headbands, scrunchies, makeup, false eyelashes and nail polish are not permitted.
Jewellery & Taonga: You may wear either one or two plain studs or a small sleeper in each ear. Taonga are warmly welcomed and respected. Other jewellery is not permitted.
Sports Gear (Available at Uniform Group): Bring your PE gear and sports shoes every day. You may wear the optional Balmacewen sports jacket or school hoodie with your PE uniform.
Girls' Uniform (Year 8 in 2026): Balmacewen Tartan kilt, white blouse, red jersey, and black lace-up leather shoes . Socks must be white ankle socks (sitting above the ankle bone with no logos), or you may wear optional navy/black tights in winter.
Girls' Uniform (Year 7 in 2026): Balmacewen Tartan skirt or navy shorts, navy polo, navy jersey, and black lace-up leather shoes style. Navy uniform dress socks or you may wear optional navy/black tights in winter.
Hijabs & Modesty Wear: Hijabs must be plain navy or plain black. If you choose to wear long-sleeved tops or leggings under your uniform to cover your skin, these must also be plain navy or black.
Boys' Uniform (Year 8 in 2026): Grey winter-weight shorts, long-sleeve winter-weight grey shirt, red jersey, Balmacewen socks, and black lace-up leather shoes (no canvas).
Boys' Uniform (Year 7 in 2026): Navy shorts, navy polo, navy jersey and navy uniform dress socks, and black lace-up leather shoes (no canvas).
Shoe Purchases: For 2026 and beyond, please mention Balmacewen Intermediate if buying shoes at The Athlete's Foot or Shoe Clinic to support our school rewards programme!

NB: You can view the Year 7 uniform in Appendix 1

Keeping Our School Safe (Strictly Prohibited Items & Behaviours)

To protect our community, the following are strictly forbidden and may result in serious consequences such as stand-down, or suspension:

Banned Items: Alcohol, drugs (or related paraphernalia), vapes/e-liquids, cigarettes, synthetic cannabis, glass bottles, weapons/knives, lasers, explosives/lighters/matches, and marker pens.
Violence & Harassment: Physical assault, threats, bullying, cyberbullying, or intimidation of any kind.
Dishonesty & Disrespect: Stealing, cheating, using offensive language, or behaving disrespectfully toward staff, students, or the wider community.
Property Damage: Intentionally causing loss or damage to school property or the belongings of others.
Inappropriate Media: Accessing, sharing, or distributing inappropriate websites or materials.
Defiance: Refusing to follow instructions from teachers or school leaders.

Pedestrians: use the footpath entrance on Chapman Street (behind the staff cars). The school driveway is reserved for cars.

Wheels: Bicycles and scooters must be walked on school grounds from the gate. On Wednesday and Friday we have Wheels Days at lunch time on the hall court. Bikes must be placed in the bike stands at the end of the Food Technology room. You may not touch or use someone else’s bike or scooter without permission.

Road safety: Chapman Street is a problematic area especially at 3.00pm. Please help us make this a less congested area by considering a different pick up/drop off place. A safe and popular option is the Kaikorai Rugby carpark.

In addition please do not:

stop on the bus stop, yellow lines or the courtesy crossing

U-turn in the intersection opposite the school gate.
Do not pull into the school drive to drop off or pick up a student.