General Information
General Information
Follow the links or click on one of the boxes below to find out more about our day-to-day operations at Nelson College.
2025 Start of the Year
Week 1: First Week of School
| Monday | 27th January | Staff Only Day (new & returning staff) |
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Tuesday
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28th January
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Teacher Only Day New Internationals boarders move in to their house |
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Wednesday
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29th January
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Staff Only Day Year 7 & 8 Prep School, 12pm to 3.15pm New International student induction Day 1 Year 9 boarders with older siblings move in to their house |
| Thursday | 30th January |
Years 7 & 8 Prep School, 9.05am to 3.15pm New International student induction Day 2 Year 9 Big Day In |
(Please note – buses will run on the regular bus timetable) All other boarders (years 10 to 13) move in their house |
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| Friday | 31st January | Ārahi Day (All Year Levels) |
(Please note – buses will run on the regular bus timetable) |
Absences
General Attendance
You must notify the school immediately if your son is absent for any reason. Please either complete the online form, email attendance@nelson.school.nz or call the attendance line on (03) 548 3099 (ext 2). Please leave your son’s name, the reason for his absence and, if known, how long he will be absent for. If returning to school during the day please collect a absence slip from the Attendance Officer (upstairs by the Deans Office).
Absences
All students are expected to be in their timetabled class. This will be monitored and parents contacted when students are not present. All absences from class should be explained and parents should provide their sons with an explanatory note. Failure to provide a note will result in the student being disciplined and the parents contacted.
Full Student Absence Procedure policy can be found HERE.
Leave for non-school related Activities:
Parents who wish to take their sons on holiday during term time need to contact their son’s dean.
Year 9: Samme Hippolite
Year 10: Daniel Moon
Year 11: Helen Allan
Year 12: Richard Townsend
Year 13: Simon Powrie
Email at least two weeks prior to the start of leave. Please give the dates of absence from school and the purpose of the leave.
Appointments
Please don’t make appointments during school time. However, if this is unavoidable students should bring a written request for leave at the start of the day to the Attendance Office for a absence slip which they then show to their teachers.
Sick/Illness
Students are not to leave school if they are feeling unwell without permission. Students who feel sick during the day should inform the classroom teacher and then report to the reception. If a student needs to go home reception will contact the student’s parent/caregiver. DO NOT JUST LEAVE SCHOOL.
Off Site
It is a College rule that no pupil leaves the College grounds at lunchtime unless they have the permission of the Deputy Headmasters. A note from home would be accepted.
The neighbouring dairy and bakery are out of bounds during interval and lunchtime.
Bikes, Scooters, Skateboards, Vehicles
Bikes
There is a bicycle compound at the college for safe keeping of bikes during the school day. This is located behind the Technology block. It’s locked at the start of period 1 and opened again before the end of period 5. Boys must lock their bikes as well as putting them in the compound in order to minimise the possibility of theft.
Scooters & Skateboards
Students may ride scooters and skateboards to school, but must leave them in the bicycle compound. Boys must provide their own lock. Students may not carry or use them during the day.
Cars & Motorbikes
Students may bring a vehicle to and from school. They must not park on school grounds and must follow all relevant laws at all times. Students may not access their vehicles during the school day.
Buses
There are a number of buses for students to travel to school each day. You can view the bus timetable as an indication of bus times.
Ministry funded bus routes (Atawhai to Hira) are free and do not require a ticket.
Public bus tickets (SBL and NBus) Bee Cards can be purchased at the NCC, Public Libraries and Nelson SBL bus depot. Bee Card FAQ: Nelson’s new electronic bus card explained – Our Nelson
Nelson Coachlines routes (Motueka, Mapua, Wakefield, Brightwater) Smartcards can be purchased from the Nelson College Finance Office and topped up via the Smartcard app.
Canteen and Dining Room
The school canteen has a large selection of cold and hot food, snack, & home baking and drinks.
Open morning interval and lunch
- 11.00am to 11.25am
- 1.25pm to 2.15pm (dining room has finished at 2pm)
Dining room lunch meals available each school day for $8.00
- Hot item of the day, pasta dish, salads, cold meat platters, fruit
- Meal tickets must be purchased from the finance office prior to lunch
Lockers
There are a limited number of lockers available for purchasing at a cost of $15.00 for the year from the Finance office. We would encourage your son to bring his own lock for extra security.
Parent Teacher Interviews
Parent teacher interviews are held twice a year, term one and term three. These are important lines of communication of teachers with parents. Teachers will have a good perspective on how your children are performing and would welcome the opportunity to discuss their progress and next steps at these interviews. Students are invited to accompany their parents to interviews so they can be part of the conversations.
Due to Covid restrictions, and our wish to keep our community safe, they maybe hosted online. You will be emailed booking instructions with a parent login code prior to interivews.
See detailed instructions on how to book interviews
Appointments will close at 9am on interview days, with no bookings being able to be made after this time. If you have any issues with the booking system please contact Sandra Cahill (sc@nelsoncollege.school.nz)
Phones
Cell phones are to be turned off and out of sight in class. Texting is not permitted during class time.
Phones will be confiscated and handed to the Deputy Principals if these rules are not followed.
1st Offence – mobile phone usage Confiscation and returned at the end of the day.
2nd Offence – mobile phone usage Confiscation for 2 school days.
3rd Offence – mobile phone usage Confiscation indefinitely with parents uplifting the phone.
Regulations governing confiscation of communication technologies and the use of technology within the College campus are stipulated in the College Mobile Phone Management Policy and its associated acceptable use protocols.
Policies & Procedures
Policies and procedures webpage College Policies | Nelson College
Rules & Regulations
The Authority of the College
The College Rules apply to students at all times while they are under the authority of the School.
Students are under the authority of the College while:
(a) Present at College during an official school day.
(b) Representing the College at any time whether it be in sport, cultural pursuits or any other activity.
(c) Attending any College related event, social function, or activity identifiable as a student of our College.
(d) On a College trip whether or not a parent or guardian is also present.
(e) On the way to and from College.
(f) At any time they are wearing College uniform.
(g) Identifiable as a student of Nelson College in an online environment
Section A – Fundamental Rules
General Conduct and Commitment
(a) Students are expected to display a high standard of behaviour, courtesy and manners.
(b) Loud or offensive behaviour is not permitted.
(c) Students are expected to display respect towards all staff, toward each other and towards members of the public at all times.
(d) Students must not act in a manner that brings, or potentially brings, the College into disrepute.
Behaviour in Class
(a) Students are expected to behave in a courteous manner at all times.
Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco
(a) No student shall consume, sell, purchase, supply, have in his possession or be under the influence of alcohol, tobacco, (or look alike tobacco products such as, but not unlimited to, ecigarettes/vaping), illegal drugs, synthetic drugs, R18 legal drugs or party pills, whether or not lawful under the law of New Zealand, while on the College’s property or under the authority of the College.
(b) No student is permitted to have in their possession any drug or alcohol paraphernalia while under the authority of the College.
(c) A disciplinary committee of the Board of Trustees is authorised, in its sole discretion, to determine, in any particular case before it, whether a drug, pill or substance is prohibited by Rule (a) above.
Theft, Bullying and Sexual Assault
(a) No student shall steal.
(b) No student shall bully, harass, assault, fight with or intimidate another student, staff member or any other member of the community.
(c) No student shall be in possession of, or use, a prohibited or restricted item, for example knives or firearms, or use any item to intimidate or as a weapon.
(d) No student shall engage in any form of sexual activity while under the Authority of the College
Section B – General Rules
Uniform
The Board of Trustees, and College Community have affirmed that Nelson College is a College that wants a uniform and that it should be worn well.
Uniform helps instil a sense of identity and purpose. Self-esteem is enhanced by wearing a uniform with pride. Uniform should be worn in accordance with the attached guidelines.
GENERAL
These Rules are a guide and are not intended to be a comprehensive statement or exhaustive list. The College reserves the right to amend/replace these Rules from time to time at its discretion.
Breaches of the College Rules will not be tolerated and will be treated seriously by the College administration and Headmaster.
Any breach of the Fundamental Rules will be referred to the Principal. The Principal will review all the circumstances and where appropriate consider a stand- down period and/or Suspension as disciplinary options.
Serious and/or sustained breaches of any of the College Rules will be referred to the Discipline Sub-Committee of the Board of Trustees.
The Board will consider the Principal’s report on the matter and the parents/guardians of the student and any representative (if required) will be invited to a hearing. The Board’s options in such cases include lifting or extending the Suspension (with or without conditions) or to exclude (if the student is under 16 years) or expel (if the student is 16 or older).
Stationery
Stationery lists will be available online on the college website and from two suppliers, Paper Plus or Office Max. Stationery lists will also be held in store at these two suppliers. Both websites can be found below for ordering online:
2024 Stationery
Paper Plus: https://www.paperplus.co.nz/school-lists?SchoolId=294 (click and collect option available)
Office Max: https://www.myschool.co.nz/nelsoncollege
Uniform
The new uniform will be worn by all students from 2026.
The Board of Trustees and College community have affirmed in a recent review of uniform that Nelson College is a College that wants a uniform and that it should be worn well.
Uniform helps instill a sense of identity and purpose. Self-esteem is enhanced by wearing a uniform with pride.
Where to buy
Nelson College no longer has a uniform shop onsite. Uniforms can be purchased at:
NZ Uniforms Nelson
8/38 Estuary Place
Richmond
Phone: 03 928 0757
Email: nelson@nzuniforms.com
Website: NZ Uniforms
Opening Hours
Monday – Friday
9.00am – 5.00pm
Saturday
9.00am – 1.00pm