Nga mihi nui ki a koutou katoa – warm greetings to everyone

Staying Connected in difficult times:

Right now, teachers and staff are getting to know their new students and those in their classes.  This includes who their friends are, how they like to learn, their interests, talents and strengths. These are important aspects to understand, especially  if, in the future,  learning has to shift from school to home.

It is also important for students’ social and emotional wellbeing, to be connected and stay connected with other students.  If learning has to happen at home in the near future, then we need to create a plan so students can connect with their friends, with the class, the teacher and staff. Teachers are beginning to set regular work in SeeSaw and Google Classroom so that this will be seamless when necessary.

Think about your own whanau hauora too. What is your plan, to stay connected with your loved ones, and with people who can support you?

We need you to update addresses, phone numbers and email addresses. This will save us so much time if you we have to move to home-based learning soon.

Playground Update:

It is with great excitement that I can finally announce that we are moving forward with the playground developments. After many delays due to Covid-19 lockdowns in Auckland, we are now nearly ready to sign off on our plans. Students are currently giving us feedback on what they think of the new design. Once we approve it, it will be about September (there is a long waiting list) when installation will start. We will be applying for grants to fund it during this time. Feedback is welcome to [email protected]

Structured literacy:

Thank you to those parents that came out on Wednesday to listen to Kirsty Tatare talk about our journey into Structured Literacy. It was very informative and exciting to see something happening that will be far more effective in teaching our junior students literacy skills. If you missed it, we will be sending a video link out soon.

Covid-19 Plan:

With the ever changing guidlines and rules around Covid-19, we have decided to create a page on our website dedicated to this. Please get all of the updated information by clicking HERE.

Included are some really helpful “Frequently Asked Questions”.

Message from the Board:

The Board of Trustees met last week on Wednesday for their first meeting of the year. Some important items at this meeting were to approve the charter, decide on the level of Board funding for the playground, and to make sure our Covid-19 response plan was in line with MOH and MOE guidelines.

We are looking forward to a productive year that will see some long term projects such as some modernisation to rooms 5 & 6 and the installation of the playground finished. We sincerely hope that we can move towards a more open and whanau inclusive school this year as we used to be pre-covid times.

Stay safe and well everyone!

Kate Bowron

Charter:

The Board of Trustees approved the Strategic Aims and Annual Plan at their meeting last week. Please click here to go to the information page.

Charter/Strategic Aims/Annual Plan

Reminder – Only essential adults onsite:

We have clear guidelines from the government to only have essential visitors onsite. Please make sure you drop your child off at the gate unless it is necessary to come onto the school for a purpose (such as dropping them into class on their first day of school). If you do come onsite, we need you to wear a mask and use the Covid App to scan in. If you are here for more than 15 minutes you will also need to sign in at the office.

BYOD:

The BOT have approved for us to move to a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) system in the senior school. Information will be coming home next week about this. We will accept ipads and chromebooks only. Students will be able to bring these devices to school and work on them in their google classroom.

Please note – this is 100% optional. We have school devices that our students can use at school.

Technology has a vital role in teaching and learning, and in our daily lives. We encourage our students to use technology efectively and responsibly. In keeping with our Health, Safety, and Welfare policy, we maintain comprehensive cybersafety policies and procedures to guide our use of the internet and ICT devices and equipment. These include digital technology agreements, including a BYOD agreement if a personal digital device is brought to school for learning. Students in years 4–6 may bring their own digital device to use at school to enhance their learning, provided that the following conditions are met:
The student and their parent/caregiver must read and sign the BYOD agreement before a device is brought to school. This outlines the expectations and responsibilities of each party.
The device is suitable for the purpose. (It needs to be wifi capable, have a screen size no less than 7″, and come to school fully charged.)

Parents record the serial number of the device, and are responsible for its insurance, servicing, repairs, etc.
Parents are also responsible for ensuring that the device has an antivirus program installed (this is not necessary for Chromebooks), and for checking and updating any apps installed on the device.
If a student breaches the BYOD agreement, they may lose the privilege of bringing their own device to school, and the school’s behaviour management strategies, responding to digital incidents, and/or surrender and retention of digital devices guidelines may be invoked, as appropriate.

Keep an eye out for more information coming home next week.

Year 6 Leaders:

Whanau Group:

Sports:

Junior Swimming Sports:

The Junior School swimming demonstration will be held at our school pool on Thursday 3rd March at 11:30am – 12:30pm

In order to meet the Ministry of Education / Ministry of Health – Covid-19 Red Setting, conditions need to be placed around parents/caregivers and whānau. Please do not offer to assist if you are a spectator. Volunteers will be organised prior by the sports team.

Therefore, spectators MUST:

1. Stay out of the pool area (inside the fence).
2. Maintain a physical/social distance of 2 metres.
3. QR code in (QR codes at all entry points).
4. Wear masks.
5. To limit numbers, ONE adult per family

Senior Swimming Sports:

The Senior School swimming demonstration will be held at the College pool on Thursday 3rd March at 1pm

In order to meet the Ministry of Education / Ministry of Health – Covid-19 Red Setting, conditions need to be placed around parents/caregivers and whānau. Please do not offer to assist if you are a spectator. Volunteers will be organised prior by the sports team. We also need to follow the College expectations for us to use their pool. 

Therefore, spectators MUST:

1. Be double vaccinated.
2. Stay on the road side of the pool area. Do not mix with the students.
3. Arrive at 1pm and leave when the swimming sports is over.
4. Park on the road, not the school grounds.
5. Maintain a physical/social distance of 2 metres.
6. QR code in (QR codes at all entry points).
7. Wear masks.
8. To limit numbers, ONE adult per family
9. There is no use of the toilet facilities

Calendar:

Other Notices:

School Account Details:

Account payments can be made directly to our school ASB account using online banking.  The account number is: 123155 0134517 00

Details: 

Remember if you change address, get a new cell phone number or email address  to notify the school so we have up to date records. The office needs your up to date email address so the newsletter can be emailed out – thanks.

LUNCHES: 

We are part of the governments healthy lunches programme. Children are provided lunch everyday. If they have any allergies, please let the office know so that allowances can be made. Children still need to bring a drink bottle (water only please) and morning tea every day.

Absences:

Reminder – if your child is absent either text, phone and leave a message, or fill in an on-line absent form. We also are required to fill in the reason they are away, so remember to include this in your message – thanks. IF CHILDREN ARE SICK PLEASE KEEP THEM AT HOME.

Car Parks:

Please use the car parks provided at the front or back of the school. No vehicles are permitted on the school grounds except for staff or service vehicles.

Nãku i runga i aku mihi ki a koe – Yours with thanks

Richelle McDonald

and our team –Nikkole, Korkz, Gemma, Tanissha, Isla, Steven, Julie, Jasmin, Maureen, Heather, Mary, Bridget, Karla, Linda and Sarah.