Newsletter 20 October 2009

20 October 2009 Term 4 Week 2 09/32

Dear Parents & Caregivers

Kia ora koutou katoa
Term 4 has taken off like a rocket – we are already into week two. I notice Christmas decorations up already in some of the shops – eek!!!

Swimming lessons have begun under the tutelage of Jill Clark’s Swimming School down at the DNI pool. The school takes the teaching of swimming very seriously so there are two intensive blocks throughout the year. Parents are welcome to attend these lessons to watch how they run and to learn how to best teach your child to swim well.

This coming Monday is a public holiday, Labour Day, and school will be closed. That means a short week and so our teachers lose some more teaching time. This serves to remind us that the time at school is often interrupted by non core activities. This is why it is very important to use the time we do have available as effectively as possible. For parents this means getting children to school every day, on time and ready to learn. The teachers are ready at 9.00 to get straight down to work but they need the children present and prepared.

Last week the three local normal schools hosted the NZ Normal And Model Schools’ Annual Conference here in Dunedin. The delegates were very impressed with the welcome they received. Speakers were mainly from Otago University but also included the Secretary of Education and the Director of the Teachers’ Council. The visitors also enjoyed visiting the butterflies at the Museum, the Chinese Gardens and they
especially enjoyed a cruise on the harbour which culminated in dinner at the Carey’s Bay Hotel. Thanks to the staff of NEV Normal who helped in the preparations and delivery of the conference.


John McKenzie
Principal
Visit the school’s website www.nevn.school.nz


Welcome
A warm welcome goes to André who started in R11 last week. We welcome his family to our school community.

Social Studies Quiz
Good luck to Cassandra, Junior, Puti, Sierra, Gemma, Cameron and reserve, Rika, who are representing NEV Normal in the 2009 Extra ODT Current Events Quiz tomorrow.

Rainbow Class
Rainbow class, the transition to school class for 4 year olds, will be held this Thursday in R11 from 1.15 to 2.45pm. Please contact Mrs Will or the office if you have a 4 year old who would like to join.

Assembly
Friday’s 2.30pm assembly will be organised by Room 8 with items by Rooms 3 & 10. Assembly will be held in the Hall. Parents/caregivers are welcome to attend.

Scholastic Book Club
Leaflets for Issue 7 were sent home last week. Orders with money need to be into the office by Friday 30 October. Please make cheques payable to Scholastic NZ.

Smart Food School Lunches
Smart Food lunches are available on Mondays & Thursdays at NEVNS. The cost is $2 or $3 for a larger lunch with two extra sandwiches. Orders & money in a named envelope need to be into the office by 9am.

Swimming
School swimming block has started and will continue for 2 weeks. Children need to bring togs, towels and goggles to school each day. Swimming is being taught by the JC Swim School.

School Activity Donation
Please ensure that your child’s school activity
donation is paid in full. This donation helps to cover the cost of the swimming bus and the tuition.

Hand Sanitisers
The hand sanitiser study is now complete. The results of this study will be known at the end of the year. 3 hand sanitisers have been kept for children’s use, one for the senior block and 2 for the junior block.

Sports Success
Congratulations go to Sierra Sawyer who competed in the 2009 New Zealand Synchronised Swimming National Championships held in Wellington 25 - 29 of September. Sierra was competing in a group event and her team was placed 4th by 0.2 of a point. This was a fantastic result as it was a new team who were younger than the age group they were competing in, and Sierra was recovering from a broken leg! Well done Sierra!!

Dates to Note
T4 Monday 12 October Friday 18 December

October
19-27 Keeping Ourselves Safe programme
20 PTA Meeting 3.15pm
21 Social Studies Quiz
22 Rainbow Class 1.15pm
26 Labour Day—school closed
30 School swimming block ends
Book Club orders close

November
2 Cultural Day
5 Wide Horizons Trip
9 BOT Meeting 6pm
11 Armistice Day Assembly
13 Wide Horizons Trip
17 PTA Meeting 3.15pm
20 Wide Horizons Trip
23-27 EOTC Week for Y6
26 Orange Day Road Patrollers Parade

December
1 Senior School Golf 9.30am-12pm
4 Helpers Morning Tea 10.30am
Wide Horizon Trip
7 BOT Meeting 6pm
8 PTA Meeting 3.15pm
10 Y6 Helpers Lunch
11 Wide Horizons Trip R11
NEV Community Christmas Party 3.30-6.30pm
17 End of Year Assembly 11am-12.30pm
18 Talent Quest 9.30-10am
School finishes 12.30pm

PTA News
Term 4 Fundraiser – 2010 Calendars
Be in quick – 2010 calendar orders close at the end of this Friday 23rd October! Each calendar will cost $12 and a pack of 8 cards will cost $12.50. The calendars and cards can either have your children’s art work or, a photo of your choice. The finished calendars should be delivered within about 3 weeks.

Next PTA Meeting
A meeting will be held today after school Tuesday 20th of October at 3.15pm. All welcome.

Community News
House Wanted: from early December in North East Valley - 2 bedroomed house/ flat for a new family coming to our school. Furnished or
unfurnished. Please email details to Jessica Lesley Pyarabon j.lesley3@gmail.com

Otago School of Piping and Drumming: Free beginner classes. Bagpipe starting Friday 30 October at 4pm, snare drumming starting Friday 30 October at 3.30pm and tenor drumming starting Wednesday 28 October at 6pm. To enrol contact Victoria on 489 1650 or www.ospd.org.nz

Wattie’s Can Film Festival: Wednesday 28 October. Free entry with every donated can of food. All donated cans go to the Salvation Army
Christmas Appeal. See www.watties.co.nz for more details.

Anglican Family Care: Caregivers wanted to provide short term and respite care for children aged 0 to 16 years. Training and support provided.
Remuneration by way of a board payment.Contact Ginnie on 477 0801 for further details.

“Remembering Ralph” Puppet Show: at the Fortune Theatre Saturday 31 October, for children aged 4 to12 years. Door sales available or contact 477 1693.