Newsletter 14 May 2012

14 May 2012         Term 2 Week 4                    12/13


Dear Parents & Caregivers


Kia ora koutou katoa

Topical Issues
I watched with interest (and a high level of annoyance) the Secretary for Treasury Gabriel Makhlouf on TV recently suggesting that one way to save the country money and lift educational achievement was to increase class sizes.

I called Treasury and asked to speak to Mr Makhlouf but was unsuccessful. I wanted to tell him that he was wrong and that increasing class size would put too much pressure on already overstressed children, teachers and school administrators.

John Clark, Associate Professor at Massey University replied more eloquently than me ...“if the socioeconomic background of a student is the major cause of success and failure in school achievement, how is it possible that quality teaching … could have any significant causal effect on patterns of achievement. …. Solutions will flow when the root causes are addressed and this will only happen if the debate is broadened from within-school factors to include beyond-school factors, especially those government policies which produce poverty and how poverty in turn impacts on families and their children’s learning at school”. (Dominion Post 30 April 2012).

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

John McKenzie
Principal

Welcome
Welcome to William who has started in R11.

Rainbow Class
Our transition to school class will be held this Thursday in R11 from 1.15-2.45pm. It is taken by our new entrant teacher Mrs Cleland. If you have a 4 year old who would like to join this group please contact Mrs Cleland or Sara at the office.

Assembly
Assembly will be held in the hall this Friday at 2.20pm. It will be led by R5 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. It is recommended that children wear a helmet when riding their scooters or skateboards.

School Activity Donation
Statements have been sent home today for any child whose activity donation has not been paid for terms 1 & 2. Payment can be made by internet transfer to the school account number 03 1726 0055515 00.

Kids for Kids Concert
Our 23 choir children sang their hearts out in the World Vision Kids for Kids Concert with Suzanne Prentice last Thursday evening at the Regent Theatre. Many thanks to Mrs Sintmaartensdijk for taking the choir.

PMP Help Needed
More helpers are needed for the PMP sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9-9.30am. Please contact Mrs Cleland in R11 if you can assist on any of these days.

Learning Power Tip of the Week
?????? If in doubt ask a question !!!!!!!!!


Sports Results

Netball
The senior teams had good wins last Tuesday. The Gold team won 4 goals to 1 against Waikouaiti and the Bronze team won 12 goals to 2 against Sawyers Bay. The junior team played their first game last Monday and had a great win 5 goals to 0 against St Leonards. Thanks to Mrs Hesson and Sacha Turnbull who are doing a great job coaching the teams.

Please vote for our application for funds for new netball bibs. You can vote every day though the link
below - http://anznetball.co.nz/gransche/gallery-application/application.html?id=16655

Smart Food School Lunches
Cold lunches are available on Mondays & Thursdays
The lunches consist of 2 sandwiches/pizza bun, fruit, a cookie or muffin and a dessert. The cost is $3.50 or $4.50 for a larger lunch with two extra sandwiches.

Hot lunches are available on Tuesdays.
The menu is: Macaroni & Cheese, Spaghetti Bolognese, Shepherds Pie, or Mince Chow Mein. The cost is $4.50.

PTA Hot Lunches
The PTA will be providing hot lunches on Fridays. This Friday the menu is 1 hotdog for $2, and Milo for .50c. Please bring a cup for Milo.

Orders and money in a envelope with your child’s name and room number to the office by 9am please.

Dates to Note
May
17 Rainbow Class 1.15-2.45pm

29 Vision and Hearing Testing 9am

31 PTA Meeting 3.20pm Staffroom

31 Rainbow Class 1.15-2.45pm

June
4 Queen’s Birthday observed - school closed

11 BOT Meeting 6pm

13 Extra Spelling Quiz

14 Rainbow Class 1.15-2.45pm

29 Term 2 ends

PTA News
PTA Hot Lunches

Each Friday during the next two terms the PTA will be making hot lunches for the children to order. They will consist of something hot and a cup of Milo (children will need to bring their own mugs for this). Orders with names, room number and money will need to be in the office at the start of each Friday. We will advertise what the hot food will be at the start of each week.

PTA Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 31st May (note the change in day), starting at 3.20pm in the staff room. Everyone is welcome to attend.

School of Dentistry Dental Check Ups
Further appointments will be sent out in the next weeks for North East Valley Normal children to attend the
Bachelor of Oral Health Dental Therapy Clinic at the School of Dentistry for their regular dental check up.

These appointments will be on Mondays. The shuttle van which transports the children to their appointment will leave the North East Valley School at 9.50 am and will return to school at approximately 11.20am.
Children will be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Please ensure your child has the necessary consent forms with them or they may not be able to attend the clinic. If necessary send these forms to the school office.

The contact at the Dental School is Donna van der Hurk. Her contact number is 479 7189 and is available
between 8.30am and 2pm during the school term. There is an answer phone if you wish to leave a message.

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

Children’s Operetta Auditions for ‘The Song of Caedmon’ for recorder players, singers and actors will be held on Thursday 17 May at 6.30pm at the St Martin Church crypt 194 North Road. Contact Agnes Beamish 4738592.

Onyx Militaires Marching Teams are currently looking for members aged 7 to 16 years old to join our Under 12 and Under 16 teams for the2012/13 season. Both our teams are Otago Champions and were placed at both South Island and National level, No experience is necessary and uniforms are supplied free of charge. Teams are based at the Edgar Centre. The competitive season runs from October to March. Teams will compete at the 2013 NZ Champs being held in the Forsyth Barr Stadium. If interested please ring Shona at 4530964, text 0273216275 or email onyxmilitaires@xtra.co.nz

Dunedin Gymnastics Academy: has a number of exciting programmes available: - aerobics and artistic, trampolines and tumbling gymnastics, trampolines and artistic gymnastics, advanced artistic gymnastics. Classes are designed to suit all ability levels. We also offer a number of general gymnastics classes for boys and girls aged 5+ years. Contact dunedingymnastics@gmail.com

NEV Normal School Banking is Proudly Sponsored by Credit Union South

NZCU SOUTH
26 Filleul Street
Dunedin 9059
Ph 03 4771473
www.nzcusouth.co.nz
email enquiries@nzcusouth.co.nz

Remember School Banking Day is Wednesday

Application forms are available at the school office