Newsletter 17 August 2011

17 August 2011 Term 3 Week 3 11/17

Dear Parents & Caregivers
Kia ora koutou katoa

Snow Day
I sympathise with parents whose plans had to be amended yesterday after conflicting messages were broadcast about school closures. At 6.30pm Radio Dunedin reported primary schools would open at 10am. Later that was changed and the radio station report stated schools were closed for the day. For many families that change would have meant reorganising the whole day to accommodate child care for the day.

Late starts and closures for Dunedin primary and intermediate account, current and forecast conditions; whether children can get to school safely; whether staff can get to school safely. They take advice from a number of sources in the city.

Monday was a no-brainer. Tuesday was different and the call to close schools was not as easily defended.

I have polled our school staff and only 2 classroom teachers would have been able to safely get to school by 10am yesterday. So in hindsight it was the correct call for our school.

Parent Workshop
On Monday 29 August a parent workshop will be held in the school staffroom to outline our school’s safe travel plan. This plan has been developed by the DCC, Sport Otago and the Police in consultation with families to provide a safe and healthy way for children to get to and from school. All are welcome to attend.

Kia Kaha tatou katoa ki te tautoko o tatou tamariki, mokopuna hoki.


John McKenzie
Principal

Welcome
We welcome Max who has started in R11, and Connor who has started in R5. A warm welcome to their families to our school community.

Book Character Day
This Friday 19 August is Book Character day in support of Library Week. Children should dress as their favourite book character and bring the story book too. There will be a parade at 11am. Prizes will be awarded for the most imaginative home made costumes. Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend.

Smart Food Cold 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.

Smart Food Hot Lunches
Smart Food are now offering hot lunches on a Tuesday. Meals will be delivered to school between 12 and 12.30pm. The cost is $4. The choices are: -
Chow Mein
Macaroni Cheese
Spaghetti Bolognese
Shepherds Pie
Orders and money need to be in to the office by 9am.

Road Patrol
We need some adult supervision help with road patrol for Tuesday and Friday afternoons. Please contact Mrs Staynes or the office if you can assist.

Assembly
Assembly will be held in the library this Friday at 2.20pm. It will be led by R10 with items by Rooms 3 and 10.

School Swimming Block
Advance Notice; the second school swimming block for this year will be held over 8 days from Monday 5 September until Wednesday 14 September.

Dental Therapist
Joan Ferguson, the school dental therapist is now on site at the dental clinic. Joan’s contact number is 027 284 9932.

Scholastic Book Club
Orders with money for Issue 5 need to be in by next Friday 26 August.

Stars on Stage
Only a week until the senior classes perform at the Regent Theatre as part of Stars on Stage. Their performance is titled “What’s the weather like Jim?”
(From Auckland to Invercargill you can follow the weather with Kim and Jim). Our performance night is Thursday 25 August at the Regent Theatre.

Tickets are still available from the Regent Theatre. The cheapest way is purchase tickets is by going in person to the Regent. It is not necessary to buy a ticket for the child who is performing.

Further details will be sent home concerning the rehearsal and arrangements for the night of the performance.

2011 Term Dates
Term 3 Monday 1 August - Friday 7 October
Term 4 Tuesday 25 October - Thursday 15 Dec

Dates to Note
August
19 Book Character Day
22 BOT Meeting 6pm
23 PTA Meeting 3.15pm
25 Rainbow Class
25 Stars on Stage - Regent Theatre
29 Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre Performance
31 Wide Horizons trip R5

September
5-14 Swimming Block DNI Pool
6 PTA Meeting 3.15pm
8 Rainbow Class 1.15pm
12 BOT Meeting 6pm
14 School Photos
15 Wide Horizons Trip R8
22 Rainbow Class 1.15pm

October
4 PTA Meeting 3.15pm
5 Wide Horizons trip R10
7 Final Day of T3

PTA News
School Banking
Remember banking day is WEDNESDAY!

Tea Towel Fundraiser
The tea towels have now arrived and don’t they look great! Due to popular demand we have decided to put through another order for all those that missed out the first time and for anyone who would like to buy
additional towels. If you would like to place an order you will need to put your child’s name, room number and contact phone number onto a piece of paper, along with the number of towels you would like to order and the total cost. Tea towels cost $10 each. Orders and money need to be into the office by Tuesday 31st August.

Next PTA Meeting
The next meeting will be held Tuesday August 23rd at 3.15pm. All are welcome to attend.

Community News
Shampoo with Nit-Enz Certified Organic shampoo twice a week, normal conditioner afterwards, and you won't have to worry about head lice again! $15.35 NIT-ENZ Certified Organic Shampoo 225ml (will last approx a school term when used as directed)! $10.20 NIT-ENZ Head Lice Repellent Hair Gel 200ml or Hair Spray 165ml to help keep them away! Nit-Enz is NOW available from Dunedin Pak n Save or for further details visit www.nit-enz.com.

Dunedin Junior Rugby Disco: Open to All Children Friday 26th August 2011 Entry $2 per Child. 4-8 Year Olds 5:30pm-7:30pm. 9-13 Year Olds 7:30pm-9:30pm DJ Black Pearl.

Dunedin Public Library Free Family Day: Storylines Festival: Saturday 20 August 11am-4pm. A whole day of free family fun! Meet your favourite NZ authors and illustrators, get your face painted, listen to storytellers and debates, enter competitions and take part in heaps of awesome activities! Pick up a
programme from your
local library!

Snow/Wintry Conditions
The main reason for school closure or late starts is the condition of the roads and the safety issue of travelling on them. While many children could walk to school it is not often the case for teachers if they do not live near by. The decision for school closure is made by a group of school principals who live in the hill suburbs. A 10am start will be made in consultation with the local police or taxis.

On especially wintery mornings check the radio
stations/cancellation line for any school closure or delayed start notices. Alternatively ring school as a message will be left on the answer phone if there is a delayed start.

If you do choose to keep your child at home please ring and leave a message on the school answer phone. Local radio stations most commonly used for cancellations are Newstalk ZB 1044AM, 4XO 1206AM, Radio Dunedin 1305AM, Classic Hits 89FM. The cancellation line number is 474 8426. Please take a note of these details.