Monday, April 15, 2013

Newsletter 16 April 2013

16 April 2013                      Term 1 Week 12                                    13/11

BOT Elections
Nominations are invited for the election of 5 parent representatives to the board of trustees. A nomination form and a notice calling for nominations will be posted to all eligible voters this week. Additional nomination forms can be obtained from the school office. Nominations close at noon on 16 May 2013 and may be accompanied by a signed candidate’s statement.

Positive Behaviour for Learning Parent Meeting
There will be a parent information evening this Wednesday 17 April, starting at 4.30pm in the school staffroom. The meeting will discuss behaviour expectations at school and at home and is based on our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) programme which has been used at school for the last 4 years. We have some star charts and other giveaways to promote positive behaviour at home and in the community.

Assembly
Assembly will be held in the hall at 2.20pm on Friday. Please note the change to our assembly timetable. Assembly will now be led by R8 who will also present items. R11 will not be presenting. Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend.

Lost Property
Our lost property basket is full to overflowing. Weather permitting, items will be displayed outside R3 on Friday afternoon. Please check to see if you can identify anything belonging to your child.

Wheels Days
This Friday lunchtime is the turn of the junior classes to ride their bikes, scooters, skateboards etc at school. 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 Lunches
Easy Lunches are available this Thursday. The lunch consists of sandwich or pizza bun, fruit, a muffin, popcorn, and a dessert. The cost is $3.50 or $4.50 for a larger lunch. Orders with money need to be into the office by 9am.

Friday PTA Sausage Sizzle
PTA lunch sausage sizzle will be held on Friday. Orders with name, room number, number of sausages required and money needs to be into the office by the start of school each Friday. The cost is $2 per sausage.

PTA News
Autumn Raffle
All completed raffle cards and money should be into the office by today. Prize winners will be drawn on Wednesday and will be notified by phone or text. Thank you very much for taking the time to help with this fundraiser and good luck to all those who bought tickets.

Next PTA Meeting
The next PTA meeting will be held on Thursday 16th May at 3.20pm in the Teaching Room (beside the Library). New comers welcome to attend.

End of Term
School closes on Friday at 3pm for the school holidays and will reopen at 8.30am on Monday 6 May. Best wishes to school families for a restful and safe holiday period.

Security Over the Holidays
Please contact First Security 0800 347 787 if there is a security issue at school over the holidays. Save this number on your mobile phone. The number is also on the 2013 fridge magnet.

Swimming Timetable Term 2 2013
The swimming block will be taught by the JC Swim School. The daily swimming timetable is listed below. Swimming will be over 8 days from Tuesday 7 to Friday 10 May, then Monday 13 to Thursday 16 May.

Room  Swimming Time           Bus Leaves School        Bus Leaves DNI
5         9.15-9.45am               8.55am                          9.10am
2         9.45-10.15am             9.30am                         9.55am
3         10.15-10.45am           10.05am                      10.25am
8         10.45-11.15am           10.35am                      10.55am    
10       11.15-11.45am           11.05am                      11.25am
11       11.45am-12.15pm       11.35am                     12.00pm
                                                 12.15pm                     12.30pm

Children need to bring togs, towels and goggles to school each day. If your child is unable to swim for any reason, please send a note to the classroom teacher. All children are expected to attend sessions, as swimming is part of the curriculum.

Parent help would be very much appreciated, particularly with the younger junior children to help with drying and dressing quickly afterwards in readiness for catching the bus. Offers of parent help can be made to your child’s teacher.

Please ensure your child’s school activity donation has been paid for Term 2 at least as this money is used to go towards the cost of tuition and buses. Please make payment at the school office. Thank you.

John McKenzie
Principal

JILL CLARKE’S TIPS TO HELP SWIMMERS THROUGH THE WEEK
 If you are cold in the pool wear a cap. This assists in reducing heat loss and protects other swimmers and instructors from any health issues e.g. head lice;
 Wearing a woollen hat to and from the pool will also keep you warm;
 Goggles protect eyes from chlorine and allow the swimmer to see underwater;
 Limited numbers of goggles are available if you have forgotten your own, do not forget to return goggles    you have borrowed;
 If the class requires flippers select your correct size prior to the lesson. Flippers can be found in the equipment cage at the far end of the pool;
 Bring your own flippers if you have them; they often fit better;
 As swimming is kinaesthetic boys progress faster in short leg swimmers;
 Wetsuits are fine;
 We love children BUT for best results please keep non-swimmers quiet so that the swimmers in the water can hear. This includes mums and dads;
 Children who have had diarrhoea in the week prior to the lesson should not go in the water.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Newsletter 9 April 2013

9 April 2013     Term 1 Week 11     13/10
  
Dear Parents and Caregivers
Kia ora koutou katoa
 
Cross Country
The annual cross country races went ahead on a somewhat patchy last Friday afternoon. Because of the wind we decided to keep the children inside the hall when their age group wasn’t racing.
 
Whilst this kept the children warm, it did mean the spirit of supporting one’s peers was not as evident as it has been in recent years. I was particularly disappointed with some of the senior children who did not barrack for the younger ones.
 
This reminds us that we can not rest on our laurels when dealing with positive school culture. School culture needs to be nurtured and maintained to ensure the continuation of good practice. We need to continually encourage children to demonstrate those universal behaviours that are cornerstones of our society - treat others as you would have yourself treated - and relate them to each context. In this case to be good sports and to encourage others, especially the less successful.
 
Having said all that, there was some great running and some exciting finishes. Thanks to the teachers for organising the event.
 
Kia Kaha tatou Katoa ki te tautoko o tatou tamariki, mokopuna hoki.
 
John McKenzie
Principal
 
Welcome
Welcome to Holly who has started in R11. We welcome her family to our school community.
 
Scholastic Book Club
Orders for Issue 2 with money need to be in to the office by Wednesday 10 April. If paying by cheque, please make payable to Scholastic NZ.
 
Assembly
Assembly will be held in the school hall this Friday commencing at 2.20pm. Assembly will be led by R2 with items from R10. Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend.
 
Dental School Visits
Dental school visits continue this Friday. Parents will have been contacted by the Dental School if your child is scheduled to go. Please ensure that your child has a completed consent form if required otherwise he/she will not be able to go. Completed consent forms may be left at the office over the next few days.
 
Wheels Days
This Friday lunchtime is the turn of the senior classes to ride their bikes, scooters, skateboards etc at school. 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 Swimming T2
Our 8 day school swimming block taught by the JC Swim School commences on the 2nd day of T2, Tuesday 7 May and will continue until Thursday 16 May. A timetable will be sent home next week. The teachers will need help changing the younger children.
 
Cross Country Results
 
Boys
Y6 1st Shay Crombie, 2nd Jack Carter, 3rd RV Quijano
Y5 1st Ben Deveraux, 2nd Sam Hulbe-Pulver, 3rd Tom Earnshaw
Y4 1st Brent Bradshaw, 2nd Dominic Windle, 3rd George Carter
Y3 1st Finn Abey, 2nd Loek van Broekhoven, 3rd Thomas Dixon-Stewart
Y2 1st Rion Clyma-Cairns, 2nd Stijn van Broekhoven, 3rd Jack Aubin
Y1 1st Xander Gosling, 2nd Finn Dixon-Stewart ,3rd Seth Souquet
 
Girls
Y6 1st Phaedra Love, 2nd Caitlin O’Brien, 3rd Olivia Andrew
Y5 1st Tayla Green, 2nd Emma Andrew, 3rd Jessica Evans
Y4 1st Eva Muir, 2nd Madison Craig, 3rd Billie Charters
Y3 1st Eva Woodhouse, 2nd Haylee Evans, 3rd Maddie Hannah
Y2 1st Oriana Osmers, 2nd Harriet Windle, 3rd Olivia Bridgman
Y1 1st Lucia Johnston-Jones, 2nd Tessa Abey, 3rd Rhiannon Scott

Congratulations to all the children who participated!!

School Lunches
Easy Lunches are available on Mondays & Thursdays.
The lunches consist of sandwich or pizza bun, fruit, a muffin, popcorn, and a dessert. The cost is $3.50 or $4.50 for a larger lunch. Orders with money need to be into the office by 9am.

Friday PTA Sausage Sizzles
PTA lunch sausage sizzle is held each Friday. Orders with name, room number, number of sausages
required and money needs to be into the office by the start of school each Friday. The cost is $2 per sausage.

Learning Power Tip of the Week
“Be at school everyday and be on time.”

BOT Elections
What is a school board of trustees?
Every state school in New Zealand has a board of trustees. Boards bring families, communities and schools together to work for a quality education for our children. The board of trustees is a Crown entity. It is the employer of all school staff and sets the school’s overall strategic direction. The school's principal is the board’s ‘chief executive’ and manages the school operation in line with the board’s policies. The membership of the school board includes 5 elected parent representatives, an elected staff representative and the principal.

What do trustees do?
School trustees have a very important role in making sure every child achieves their potential at school.
Here are some of the things they do:
  • Work with the principal and consult with staff, students and the community.
  • Set the educational goals and strategic direction of the school.
  • Monitor progress and let parents know how the school is progressing against its annual targets and how well students are achieving.
  • Decide how the school’s funding will be spent.
  • Select the school’s principal and support the development of all staff.
  • Oversee the management of staff, property, finances, curriculum and administration.
 What sort of skills do trustees need?
Trustees need to work well in a team, be able to put plans in place for the school's future, ask challenging questions and have good communications skills. It helps to have an understanding of financial matters and the education sector, and experience in managing people.
 
Who can become a trustee?
Parents, caregivers and people from the wider community can be nominated for election to a school board.
 
Key Dates
15/4 Nominations called for; 16/5 Nominations close;
21/5 Voting papers issued; 30/5 Voting closes;
6/6 The new BOT takes office.


2013 Term Dates
Term 1 Monday 28 January - Friday 19 April
Term 2 Monday 6 May - Friday 12 July
Term 3 Monday 29 July - Friday 27 September
Term 4 Monday 14 October - Thursday 12 December

Statutory Holidays
Queen's Birthday: Monday 3 June
Labour Day: Monday 28 October

Statutory Holidays not affecting the school term
Anzac Day: Wednesday 25 April

Dates to Note
April
10 Scholastic Issue 2 closes
11 PTA AGM 3.20pm
12 Art Gallery Trip R3
15  BOT Meeting 6pm
17 Parent Information Evening
19  Last day of Term 1

May
6  Start of T2
6 Show 1.30pm
7 Swimming Block Starts
16  Swimming Block Ends
16 PTA Meeting 3.20pm
23 Rainbow Class 1.15pm
27 Maths Workshop 9.30-11.30am
30 BOT Election voting closes noon.

June
6  Rainbow Class 1.15pm
20 Rainbow Class 1.15pm

July
4 Rainbow Class 1.15pm
 
PTA News
Autumn Raffle
By now all families should have received an Autumn Raffle card. If you haven’t please collect a card from the office. All completed raffle cards and money should be into the office no later than Tuesday 16th April. Prizes will be drawn on Wednesday 17th April and winners will be notified by phone or text. Owing to the generosity of our sponsors we have been able to add to our prizes. First prize will now also include a voucher for 2 adults and 2 children to Discovery World and there will be a bonus prize of a grocery basket from Gardens New World. We would like to thank our major sponsors: Yard Art Otago, Fortune Theatre, Lone Star CafĂ© and Bar, Taieri Gorge Railway, Mitre 10 Mega, Otago Museum, Gardens New World, ORFU and OPSM. Thank you very much for taking the time to help with this fundraiser and good luck to all those that buy tickets.

Next PTA Meeting
The next PTA meeting and AGM will be held on Thursday 11th April at 3.20pm in the Teaching Room (beside the Library). New comers welcome to attend.
 
Community News
Han Ma Um Dunedin Olympic Taekwondo: A fun way for the whole family to make new friends, get fit and learn new skills in a safe and friendly environment. Experienced instructors. Classes are held in the North East Valley Normal School hall from 6-8pm. Ph: 0274125770 or Email: dunedinolympictkd@hotmail.co.nz

Weight Loss: Don't lose weight and put it 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

Catering for all occasions: contact Leanne, Cordon Bleu Catering 477 3330.

Celia Lashlie Live on “Growing Gorgeous Boys into Good Men”: or what’s going on with my teenage boy?Wednesday 17 April at 7.30pm Level 2A Forsyth Barr Stadium. Cost $25 per person. To book contact celialashlie@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