Newsletter 23 April 2012

23 April 2012 Term 2 Week 1 12/10 Dear Parents & Caregivers Kia ora koutou katoa Teaching is a lot like parenting at times - there are good days and not so good days; things can go really well for a while then for no apparent reason everything turns to custard! As parents we need to remember that children grow and change - what worked last month may no longer be as effective today. It’s the same with teaching. Sure, there are some basic strategies that seem reliable but the nature of children and the fact that they change as they grow mean teachers have to constantly ask “Is what we are doing working?” If the answer is no them we have to change tack. We have made some changes in our break times to reflect changes in the way children behave during breaks. The new breaks are outlined below. Morning Break Snack time: inside or outside Syndicate/teacher supervised 10.30-10.40am Playtime: duty teacher 10.40-11.00am Lunch Lunch: compulsory 12.30-12.45pm supervised by teacher in classroom on cold days supervised by the duty teacher on fine days Playtime: 12.45-1.10pm supervised by duty teacher First bell toilet and drink 1.10pm Second bell 1.15pm Afternoon Break (Optional) Teacher supervised 2.00 -2.10pm In or outside plus toilet break Kia kaha tatou katoa ki te tautoko o tatou tamariki, mokopuna hoki. John McKenzie Principal Welcome Welcome to Beth who has started in R11. We welcome her family to our school community. ANZAC Day This Wednesday 25 April school will be closed to observe ANZAC Day. T2 Swimming Block Our first swimming block for the year commences tomorrow Tuesday 24 of April, the second day of Term 2. Swimming is held in the mornings over 8 days. Children need to bring togs, towels and goggles to school each day. We need helpers for this really important time so please let your child’s classroom teacher know if you are available to assist. Please ensure your child’s school activity donation has been paid for Term 2 at least as this donation helps to pay for the bus and the cost of tuition. Smart Food School Lunches - Cold Smart Food lunches are available on Mondays and Thursdays at NEVNS. 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 office by 9am. Smart Food Lunches - Hot Hot lunches are being offered again this term. They are available on Tuesdays at a cost of $4.50. The menu is: Macaroni & Cheese, Spaghetti Bolognese, Shepherds Pie, Mince Chow Mein. Orders with money need to be into the office by 9am. Piano The school has a spare piano in good condition, but will need tuning. Offers. Assembly Assembly will be held in the hall this Friday at 2.20pm. It will be led by R10 with items by Rooms 3 & 10. Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend. Wheels Days This Friday lunchtime is the turn of the junior classes to ride their bikes, scooters, skateboards etc. Children who bring their bikes will need to wear a helmet. A helmet is optional for scooters or skateboards. Cross Country Congratulations to all the children who ran in the cross country on the last day of Term 1. The results are as follows: - Y1 Girls Y1 Boys 1 Oriana Osmers 1 Liam Marsh 2 Harriet Windle 2 Max Martin 3 Olivia Bridgman 3 Thomas Thurlow Y2 Girls Y2 Boys 1 Holly Mount 1 Cameron Wirihana 2 Haylee Evans 2 Finn McGilchrist 3 Eva Woodhouse 3 Noah Taylor Y3 Girls Y3 Boys 1 Eva Muir 1 Brent Bradshaw 2 Satine Aydon 2 Brodie Sinclair 3 Clarice Aydon 3 Dominic Windle Y4 Girls Y4 Boys 1 Emma Andrew 1 Tom Earnshaw 2 Tayla Green 2 Shayden Mercer 3 Macauley Hannah 3=Ben Marsh 3=Hamish Watts Y5 Girls Y5 Boys 1 Kaci Whalan 1 Shay Crombie 2 Caitlin O’Brien 2 Rory Winder 3 Phaedra Love 3 Oliver Jones Y6 Girls Y6 Boys 1 Lydia McMillan 1 Meihana Schooner 2 Kayla Norgate 2 Turi Gordon-Smith Pahi 3 N’Keyah Marsh 3 Ziggi Kaitai-Martin 2012 Term Dates Term 2 Monday 23 April - Friday 29 June Term 3 Monday 16 July - Friday 28 September Term 4 Monday 15 October - Friday 14 December Statutory Holidays During Term Time Anzac Day Wednesday 25 April Queen's Birthday Monday 4 June Labour Day Monday 22 October Dates to Note April 24 Swimming Block begins 25 ANZAC Day - school closed 26 Swimming 26 PTA Meeting 3.20pm 27 Swimming 30 Swimming May 1-4 Swimming 2 Elgregoe Show 1.40pm 3 Rainbow Class 1.15-2.45pm 10 Kids for Kids Concert Regent Theatre 7.30pm PTA News PTA Meeting The next meeting and the AGM will be held this Thursday 26th April, at 3.20pm in the staff room. Everyone is welcome to attend. Found Sunday 22 April White kitten - friendly Arnold Street area Contact Jeanette or Warren Ph 473 9444 Community News Weight Loss: Don't lose weight and put all back on. Lose it and keep it off! Affordable weight loss that really works. Free Wellness Evaluation and sample. PH Kathy 0800 401 828 or go to wwwsupershapeupnz.com Pippins Open Day: On Monday 30 April St Martin’s Pippins is having an open day at Chingford Park from 3.30pm to 4.45pm. Girls aged 5 and 6 are welcome to come and see what Pippins is about. RSVP 0274 676 805 or emmareeves12@hotmail.com Saturday Morning Music Class Ukulele Orchestra:Saturdays 12.15-1pm at Bathgate Park School starting Term 2. Cost $40 for the year. Contact Justine 472 7893. Grimhilda!, a musical written by Tom E’s grandfather for all the family, will be performed from Fri. 27th to Sun. 29th April, and from Thurs. 3rd to Sun. 6th May at the Mayfair Theatre. Evening performances are at 7 pm, and Sunday matinees at 2 pm. Adults: $20, children $10. Group concessions available. Bookings at the Regent Theatre, or via TicketDirect. Zumba Fitness Classes: are on every Monday and Wednesday 6pm at Alhambra Rugby Club rooms 595 Great King street. $6 per person. All welcome. Contact 0276971409. 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; www.pianodunedin.wordpress.com DCC Possum Poisoning Operation: Mt Cargill, Bethunes Gully, Stevensons Bush, Upper Chingford Park from 25 April until 30 May. Dogs must be kept on a lead.