HERO
From 2026, PNINS will be using HERO as our main School Management System (SMS) for communication, reporting, and sharing learning updates with families.
Initially, HERO will be used for the following key functions:
Informing the school of student absences
Receiving school notices and reminders
Additional features will be onboarded throughout the year, including:
Viewing learning posts and progress information
Accessing reports and important documents
To help us get started smoothly, we encourage all families to download and set up the HERO app before the first full day of school.
How to get started with HERO:
If you are new to HERO, download the HERO app from the App Store or Google Play, then search for and add Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School (PNINS).
If you already use HERO for another school, simply add PNINS as an additional school within the same app.
You will receive further instructions if needed, and our office staff can support you with access if you have any difficulties.
Here is a link to HERO’s parent guide if you require further information/assistance.
https://our-hero.com/parent-guide
We will also continue to use:
PNINS School website: https://pnins.school.nz/
PNINS School Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/palmerston.north.intermediate.normal.school/
Please note that paper notices and newsletters are no longer routinely sent home unless requested. Most forms, including sports registrations, are completed online through the PNINS website.
Absences
If your child is going to be absent, we ask that you, as parents and caregivers, please send a message via your HERO account or ring the school by 9.15am, at the latest. This must be done every day that your child is absent.
Please communicate all details related to your child's absence - duration, reason, and any additional information deemed necessary. Students who show a pattern of absence or lateness without good reason may be referred to the Truancy Service.
Regular attendance is essential for student success please follow link to see the PNINS Board Approved Attendance Management Plan.
Subway School Lunches
Subways Lunches are available Thursdays & Fridays
From 2026 Subway you will be able to order Subway via your MyKINDO app.
Cellphones
PNINS does not allow students to have cellphones at school. Parents/caregivers must follow this link (https://forms.gle/pUe4kZUMqsZscBx28) and complete the form providing an explanation as to why their child needs to bring their cellphone to school for health and safety reasons only.
Your child’s name will be added to the classroom cellphone box list and they must hand it in to their class phone monitor or teacher before school, and pick it up again after school. If a student is observed with a phone during school time, it will be taken to the office and held until a parent/caregiver collects it.
Permission will be granted at the Principal’s discretion. You will be notified by email if your explanation is NOT accepted and permission has been declined
The school will take no responsibility for the loss of any cell phones.
Ngā mihi
Payments
Kindo
We use an online school shop called Kindo.
Open 24/7 so you can make payments on your personal accounts, support fundraisers, order school merchandise and order your yearbook at a time that suits you!
Click on the link below to set up your family myKindo account.
At the School Office
Payments can be made to the school office by you or your child. Payments may be in the form of a cheque, cash, or eftpos.
Internet Banking
You can now make payments through your internet banking.
Our school account number is:
02-0630-0029588-00
Particulars - Child's first name
Code - Room number
Reference - Last name
Cyclists
Cyclists are expected to know and follow the ‘Rules of the Road’.
By law, all cyclists must wear cycle helmets. It is also a school requirement that all cyclists in school uniform must wear a fluorescent cycle vest.
Cycle stands are available in a lock up area. It is important that all cyclists use this area, and that all cycles are locked when in this vicinity.
Cyclists must walk their bikes when on the school grounds at all times.
The streets surrounding the school are extremely busy during peak traffic times. Considerable thought has been put into Palmerston North Intermediate School’s guidelines into arriving and departing from school safely. Please study and discuss these maps with your child and select the most suitable route.
School Bus
2026 BUS ROUTES
As a result of the MOE review, PNINS will be served by the following school bus routes from the start of Term 1, 2026:
D080217 – Aokautere / Turitea to Palmerston North Intermediate – Shared with Awatapu College (Map Link)
D080228 – Tokomaru to Palmerston North Intermediate - Shared with Palmerston North Girls' High School (Map Link)
D080236 – Ashhurst to Palmerston North Intermediate School (temporary transitional bus service) - Shared with Palmerston North Girls’ High School (Map Link am - Map link pm)
Conveyance allowances There may be some eligible students who, as a result of the MOE review, may become eligible for a conveyance allowance. A conveyance allowance is a contribution to help with the cost of getting eligible students to school or the nearest bus route. To receive a conveyance allowance, students must meet the three criteria for being eligible for school transport assistance and have limited access to a school bus. This means either:
There is no school bus or public transport available, or
There is a school bus or public transport available, but they live more than 2.4km from the nearest bus route.
If you believe you meet the criteria, then please apply online via the Ministry’s website.
If your child is ineligible for a Ministry school bus, you may like to explore carpooling or using the public transport to transport your child to school next year. For information on public transport routes and timetables, please visit https://www.horizons.govt.nz/buses-transport.
Review of Palmerston North School bus services FAQ’s Link
If the student travels the full distance from home to school by private vehicle, or travels more than 2.4km to the school bus stop, he/she may be eligible for a conveyance allowance.
To determine whether your child is eligible for the transport conveyance allowance please apply online:
https://takueducationnz.my.site.com/SESTA/s/conveyance-allowance
As you may be aware, the Ministry of Education is currently reviewing school bus routes for schools in Palmerston North. As part of this review, the Ministry is investigating school bus route changes based on the locations and numbers of eligible students attending our school.
While we were expecting to hear an outcome from the Ministry before the end of the 2024 school year, we have been advised that a decision has been delayed until 2025 for further work to take place. The Ministry has advised us that this means all current school bus route arrangements will remain in place for the beginning of 2025.
If you have any questions regarding eligibility for a Ministry-funded school bus, please contact Vicki James, our school’s Bus Controller, via vjames@pnins.school.nz
School Docs
The school works with SchoolDocs to maintain, update, and review our policies. SchoolDocs provides us with a comprehensive core set of policies which have been well researched and follow the Ministry of Education National Administration Guidelines. The policies and procedures are tailored to our school, and the school supplies specific information such as our charter, and procedures for behaviour management, reporting to parents, etc.
SchoolDocs updates, modifies, or creates policies in response to changes in legislation or Ministry guidelines, significant events, reviews/requests from schools, and regular reviewing from the SchoolDocs team. Our board of trustees has the opportunity to view changes/additions and comment on them before they are implemented. We will advise you when policies are up for review and how you can take part in the review.
We invite you to visit the site.
Click here for our School Doc Site.
Username: pnins
Password: linton
Social Media
PNINS is on Facebook! Click here to follow us.