Newsletter 22 March 2011

22 March 2011 Term 1 Week 8 11/6

Dear Parents & Caregivers
Kia ora koutou katoa

Happy Otago Anniversary!
This past weekend locals marked the 150th Anniversary of the first gold strike at Gabriel's Gully. The 1860’s saw a massive change in the province as a result of the gold rushes - Dunedin became the financial hub of the nation and was a very influential city for many years.

Our school was founded in 1851, ten years before the gold rush to Lawrence. Some of those who attended school in its founding years would have followed the hordes who went Central way hoping to make their fortunes.

I have been re-reading the history of the district lately as we celebrate our 160th birthday. I am continually reminded that even through major change, ageless truths remain. I quote below from a former NEV school pupil, O W Hastie (1903-?) from his memoirs of his life in the Valley: -
“My philosophy in life:
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you;
Respect others opinions… agree to disagree;
Try to be optimistic when going thru’ bad times;
Meet people with a smile...;
Cultivate a good sense of humour…;
Try and show genuine appreciation of any good turns done to you”.

Some things just don’t change!

Ma te Atua e mannaaki tiaki tatau katoa.

John McKenzie
Principal

Welcome
Welcome to James and Charlie who have started in R5 and to Thomas and Naisa who have started in R11. We welcome their families to our school community.

Teacher/Parent/Child Goal Setting
Thanks to all who attended the goal setting interviews. If you were not able to attend please contact your child’s class teacher to make an alternative date and time.

Smart Food School Lunches
Smart Food lunches are available on Mondays and Thursdays at NEVNS. The lunch consists of two sandwiches, a piece of fruit, a home made biscuit or muffin and a jelly or milk pudding. The cost is $3, or $4 for a larger lunch with two extra sandwiches. Orders and money need to be in to the School Office by 9am.

Scholastic Book Club
Leaflets for Issue 2 have been sent home. Orders with money need to be in by Wednesday 30 March. Please make cheques payable to Scholastic NZ.

Upcoming Event
Note in your diary that there will be a maths evening held on Wednesday 15 June.

Safety
All classes have been learning about fire safety and what to do in the event of a fire. Today our police education officer John Somerfield has started a unit on road safety. Please reinforce these important fire and road safety messages at home as well.

Netball
The junior netball competition will be starting again in Term 2 on a Tuesday after school at the Edgar Centre. There will be a team for Y3 and Y4 children and a team for Y5 and Y6 children. If you have a child who is keen to play please let the classroom teacher or the office know. The cost per child will be approximately $20 plus $2.50 entrance fee to the Edgar Centre per player each game (spectators free).

Sports Results
Flippaball
Our Y5 & 6 team lost the game two Sundays ago 1 goal to 6. Mrs Hesson was pleased as they played a good game!

Touch Results
Our last 2 games were against Abbotsford teams. We drew 2 all against Abbotsford 3 - a very tight contest. The whole team were awarded Players of the Day. In the other game against Abbotsford 2 we lost 2 trys to 4. Alyssa was awarded Player of the Day.

2011 Term Dates
Term 1 Tuesday 1 February - Friday 15 April
Term 2 Monday 2 May - Friday 15 July
Term 3 Monday 1 August - Friday 7 October
Term 4 Tuesday 25 October - Thursday 15 Dec

Dates to Note
March
22-28 Road Safety
23 Wide Horizons Trip
25 R3 Leads Assembly 2.20pm: Items 2/11
28 BOT Meeting 6pm
30 Scholastic Book Club closes
31 Rainbow Class R11 1.15-2.45pm

April
1 R2 Leads Assembly 2.20pm: Items 5/8
5 PTA Meeting & AGM 3.15pm
6 Wide Horizons Trip
8 R8 Leads Assembly 2.20pm: Items 3/10
15 R10 Leads Assembly 2.20pm: Items 2/11
15 Term 1 Ends

May
2 Term 2 Commences
3-12 Swimming Block at DNI Pool

PTA News
New CD player and Computer headphones. At our last meeting the PTA agreed to purchase a new CD player for Room 10 and six new computer headphones for Room 2.

Easter Raffle
The first fundraiser for this year is going to be our Easter Raffle. Raffle cards will come home with the children soon. A box will be placed in the office for any donations of non-perishable goods (food, drink, books, etc.) that we can use as prizes for the raffle. All donations and raffle cards need to back into the office no later than Friday 8th April. Winners will be drawn and notified on Wednesday 13th April. All the money made from our fundraisers is used to benefit the children at our school!

PTA Meeting
The next meeting and AGM will be held on Tuesday April 5th at 3.15pm in the Parents Room. All are welcome to attend and new members are always keenly sought.

Community News

Further details are available on the notice board in the school office.

Autumn Community Dinner Tonight: Come and listen to Kaitrin Mc Millan’s wonderful stories, treat you ears to Anna Bowen’s fiddle, discover why our local plumber is no ordinary plumber, admire some of the stunning fibre
creations of the Art Fibre Group, learn all about the Knitting Squad, sing along with Clare and our own inspiring community choir and maybe try out some dance steps from Slovakia with Martin Takac and his devilish pipes. All neighbours welcome at 270 North Road across the road the hospice (Baptist Hall) from 6:30pm. Bring a plate and a drink. Gold coin donation for the North East Valley Community Development Project.

New Zealand Marine Studies Centre Presents: "Fishy ICONZ" Photo Competition: Look around you – can you spot any fishy icons in your town, at your school, in your home or perhaps in your wardrobe? Take a photo of the fishy icons you see in your daily life, send us your photo and go in the draw to be the lucky winner of a Free Family Pass and an Aquarium Goodie Bag. Email us your fishy icon picture, no later than the 4th of April, in a jpeg file, no larger than 3MB. Send your photo to: marine-studies@otago.ac.nz and give us your name, age, address, phone number and email. Please also tell us where you took your fishy icon picture.

OUCA After School/Holiday OSCAR Programme: CYF approved, WINZ subsidies available. Run from Nga Maara Hall, Sacred Heart School. Free taxi pick-up arranged from NEV Normal School to the Programme. Cost per hour $7.30. Booking options 1.5hr/2.5hrs. Information flyers and booking forms available from the school office. Bookings: OUCA office 4776098 ouca@xtra.co.nz

New Rudolf Steiner Kindergarten in Pine Hill: opening at the end of March 2011. We will offer a full Steiner kindergarten to children aged 3 to 5 years old, initially opening on Mondays to Wednesdays. If you are interested then please call either the Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School on 471 2163 or Sandra Lukeman on 488 1280 or email office@dunedin.steiner.school.nz

Drive In Movie 8th April @ 7pm Brighton Domain. Early bird special $30 per car or $35 on the night. Tickets available from Big Rock School on 4811781 or contact Katherine on 4811638.