Newsletter 7 February 2012

7 February 2012 Term 1 Week 2 12/2

Dear Parents & Caregivers
Kia ora koutou katoa

Happy Waitangi Day
Welcome
This morning we welcomed two groups who will use our facilities for a time:
Pakiki Kids: these are the gifted and talented children from across Dunedin who attend classes at our school. They are here Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays with a different age group attending each day. Over 40 children attend over these 3 days. NEV Normal has 2 children who are part of this initiative.

Ka Puanani: these are children who are reasonably proficient in Te Reo Maori. They too come from schools around Dunedin and like Pakiki Kids they attend their special programme for one day a week. There are around 12 children in the Puanani group, one of whom is from NEV Normal. These children are based in Room 4 on Tuesdays which is upstairs in the Senior block.

We welcome Mrs Janice Tofia, former principal of Forbury School (now closed) and former Education Review Officer, who will do some work with special needs children. We also welcome Melita Liu, who is a 3rd Year College student working in R10.

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

John McKenzie
Principal

Vision and Hearing Testing
Letitia Bootten, our Vision Hearing Technician, will visit school tomorrow, Wednesday, to carry out the screening for vision and hearing.

Rainbow Class
The first Rainbow Class for 4 year olds will be held this Thursday 9 February from 1.15 to 2.45pm in R11. This is a fun transition to school class which is taken by the new entrant teacher Mrs Will. If you have a 4 year old who would like to join this class, please contact Mrs Will or the office.

Assembly
Assembly will be held in the hall this Friday at 2.20pm. It will be led by R3 with items by Rooms 2 and 11. Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend.

Advance Notice
The 3 way teacher/child/parent conference will be held on Monday 5th, Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th March to discuss goals for your child this year. Further information will be sent home shortly.

School Activity Donation
Thank you to those families who have paid some or all of the school activity donation. School activity donations for 2012 are: Senior School $85, or $21.50 per term; Junior School $75 or $19.00 per term. The family discount donation for a 2 child family is $130, or $32.50 per term; and a 3 child family is $160, or $40.00 per term.

Payment may be made in full at the start of the year, termly, by automatic payment or by internet transfer to account 03 1726 0055515 00, or by other arrangement with the office staff.

Stationery
Children should have their school stationery by the end of this week. Stationery is available from the office.

Smart Food School Lunches
Smart Food lunches will resume on Thursday 9 February 2012 and 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 $3.50 or $4.50 for a larger lunch with two extra sandwiches. Orders and money need to be in to the School Office by 9am.

Road Patrol
Thank you to those parents who have volunteered to help with road patrol. We still have vacancies for Friday morning and Mon to Thursday afternoons. If you are able to assist with supervising the road patrollers before or after school for 15-20 minutes please contact Mrs Staynes or the school office.

Update Contact Details
Contact details have been included with this newsletter for updating. Please make any changes and return to the office as soon as possible.


PTA News
School BankingBanking day is each Wednesday. At the end of each term all children with active (minimum of 6 deposits per term) accounts will be mailed a Hoyts movie voucher. Banking is fun and teaches your child the merits of putting some money in the bank regularly and watching the total grow!

EZ covers
These are a selection of New Zealand designed and made re-usable book covers for school exercise books. Each cover costs $1.30 and comes in sizes to fit all NZ exercise books. You place orders online and for each cover you buy the PTA will receive 5c. If you enter our special code (XFC186) when ordering, our donation will be doubled to 10c per cover. Every order also receives 12 stick on book labels. Some samples of the covers will be available for looking at in the office.

PTA Meeting
The first meeting for the year will be held on Tuesday 21st February at 3.20pm. We will meet outside the senior block. Everyone is welcome to attend.

The Green Paper for Vulnerable Children:
Norm Hewitt asks us to “Say something and change children’s lives.”
Like me, as parents I’m sure you feel angry and sad every time another child is deliberately hurt, or worse, by their caregiver. Each year, around 10 of our children – our own tamariki – are killed by the very people they are supposed to rely on for protection, while at least 160,000 children are living in conditions that mean they are unlikely to reach their potential. We know the factors that make these children vulnerable – the big question is how can we fix them? What needs to change to make New Zealand a great, safe place to bring up kids?

These are the types of questions the Government’s Green Paper for Vulnerable Children asks. Released in July last year, this discussion document is asking what we think should be changed to ensure all children reach their full potential. We need as many New Zealanders as possible to answer – it doesn't matter what you say; you just need to say something. We aren’t powerless to stop child abuse – this is something we can all do to help.

Please take the time to go to www.saysomething.org.nz and have your say. You can also mail in a submission, or post comments on Facebook or Twitter. After the submissions are read, a Children’s Action Plan will be developed and released during 2012. As parents, you know what it’s like to raise a child in New Zealand; you are the experts. So, please, do your part to become part of this critical conversation. Submissions close on February 28.
Nāku noa, nā
Norm Hewitt
Champion. Green Paper for Vulnerable Children

Community News

Sinfonia Academy: provides an orchestral & ensemble experience for late-primary and secondary school students who play their instrument at a grade 3–6 level. The academy has a string section & woodwind section which rehearse both together and separately. It will meet on Thursday evenings between 7 and 8.30pm for school terms 2 and 3. For further information, or to book a place, contact sandy@garner.net.nz or phone 4822 764 (Anthony Ritchie and Sandy Garner.

Southern Children’s Choir: for young people aged 8 to 18 who love to sing (boys with unbroken voices). Also a senior choir for experienced singers who can read music. The choir will be directed initially by Daniel Kelly, and meets at Marama Hall, University of Otago, on Wednesday evenings from 7pm until 8pm, senior choir until 8.30pm. Auditions for new members will be held on February 1st and 8th. For further information, or to book an audition, contact  sandy@garner.net.nz or phone 4822 764 (Anthony Ritchie and Sandy Garner.

MA-FI Arts After School Programme: Children’s art classes in drawing, design, painting, sculpture, print-making, pottery, mask making. At King Edward Court. Open: Monday-Friday 3:00-6:15pm, Sat. 10am-12:00 Noon & 2:00-4:00pm Fees: $20 for 2hrs &/or up to 3hrs. Contact Matthew or Fiona 477 6112, email
ma-fiarts@clear.net.nz or www.ma-fiarts.co.nz

Chisholm Park Golf Club: Junior Golf Classes on Tuesday afternoons for 6 weeks starting 14 February: 30 minute lessons for boys and girls aged 7+. Equipment supplied. Cost $40. Parent and Child Classes on Saturday afternoons at 1pm starting 11 February for children aged 5+. Cost $60 for 6 x 1 hour sessions.
Contact 455 0565.

Netball Otago Future Ferns 2012: netball coaching for boys and girls Y5-Y6 at the Edgar Centre on Monday afternoons from 4-5.15pm from 27 February to 2 April. Contact Trish 455 1702.

Piano Tuition: Experienced piano teacher is taking on new students. Skill level: Beginner, Intermediate. All enquiries phone Maud Schroeder on 466-7548 or 022-153-7258 or email maudschroeder@aol.com

Catholic Social Services Parents Inc Toolbox Parenting Courses: Day & Evening courses: Game On-dads / Seasons for Growth. Register now for 2012: 0-6 years/6-12 years/Tweens & Teens(12+).6 sessions; cost negotiable. ph 4773403 txt 0276670890 sue@cathsocialservices.org.nz

Port Chalmers Swim Club Junior Tryathlon: Tuesday 21 February at the Post Chalmers swimming pool from 5pm. 5-7 years: 400m bike/400m run/ 30m swim; 8-10 years: 1km bike/1km run/60m swim. Cost $15 per individual or $10 per team member. Contact Licia Mihaka 472 8684. Entry forms are at the office.