WELCOME TO Jane, Braeden, Ariana, Freya and Noah - who all started in Room 3 Holly who joined Room Toroa - Grant's Braes School
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Newsletter No. 22 26 July 2018
WELCOME TO
Jane, Braeden, Ariana,
Freya and Noah
who all started in Room 3
this week and
Holly who joined Room Toroa
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE Kia ora koutou I would like to welcome you all to the third term! It is so lovely that the sun is rising a little earlier and the days seem a little longer! With the completion of the Ngā Manu classroom development, our teachers were able to move into their new teaching spaces, as well as Kea (Room 2) being returned as a junior classroom. All of these spaces look incredible and it is extremely exciting to see how these are being used. I have had constant positive feedback from the students and they love their new spaces! I would like to thank all of the teachers and Mr Harris for working hard during the break to ensure these spaces were ready for instruction on Monday. I would also like to thank our Board, in particular Paul Stevenson, Jamie Lyons (our property manager) and Stewarts Construction for all of their hard to work to make this happen. Poke your nose into these spaces to see how they look, I know you will be impressed! I would like to formally announce that the Junior School have adopted new names for their classrooms. As a syndicate they will be known as ‘Kōhanga’ which directly translates as ‘nest’ or ‘nursery’ and the classrooms will be called the following: Room 1 - Kiwi, Room 2 - Kea, Room 3 - Kākāpō. Door signs have been created and will be put up by the end of the week. I would like to thank the 54 parents/caregivers who took the time to complete the Health and Physical Education survey. The survey has now closed and this vital information will be used by the Management Team to design our Health and P.E. Curriculum Delivery Plan. With Mr Harris away on leave touring around Canada, Donny Thurston has been employed to undertake caretaking duties and Pure Services are doing the cleaning. Strike Action - Primary teachers and principals made their voices heard in June by attending paid union meetings, where they voted overwhelmingly to reject the Ministry’s offer and to hold a three-hour strike on 15 August. In fact, the feeling at the meetings was so strong that there were increasing calls to turn the 3- hour strike into a full-day strike on August 15 and teachers now are voting whether to extend this for a full day. Voting closes early next week and more information will be shared with our parent community as soon as it comes to hand. We appreciate the inconvenience of strike action on some families, and our member teachers do not take the decision lightly. Primary teachers have not taken industrial action in New Zealand since 1994 and the fact that we are taking such a step now shows the grave concerns we have for the future of quality public education. It is important for you all to understand that teachers and principals feel the offer from the Government does not address workload issues, extra learning support or ways to stem the growing crisis in recruiting and retaining teachers. The Government needs to take courageous steps now to address these significant concerns. Each school’s board of trustees will decide whether to keep the school open or close the school. NZEI, our union, has assured that principals will have as much notice as possible if a full strike goes ahead and I will advise the school community as soon as the board decides whether to keep the school open. Parmco Appliances - At the end of the second term the appliances that were won by the school six years ago, but couldn’t be installed have been sold via Trade Me for the fantastic total of $3300. This will be put towards the playground redevelopment. Road Safety - I have requested the presence of the Police before and after school as we continue to have some parents and caregivers parking on yellow lines in the mornings and afternoons. This directly endangers children and drivers need to ensure that they are abiding by the road rules. The police have provided the school with a flyer on this which has been distributed to your children and also included in this newsletter, so please take the time to read this. Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group – Backyard Biodiversity - At the end of last term, Kate Tanner from the Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group (OPBG) came to talk to pupils about biodiversity and pesky pests on the Otago Peninsula. Children were given a pest monitoring pack containing non-toxic chocolate chew cards to put out over the school holidays to see what kinds of pests are lurking in their backyards. It would be wonderful for the chew cards are returned to school in the bags supplied with addresses clearly marked on the bags so pest hotspots can be identified. The OPBG will then analyse the results and provide a short report to the school on the collated findings. If you are interested in finding out more about the Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group please contact Kate directly volunteers@opbg.nz or call 021 0237 5970. Please ensure these are returned by Friday 4 August. GARETH TAYLOR, PRINCIPAL
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR TERM 2
PRINCIPAL AWARD WINNERS
Claudia, Nikos and Talia were presented with the awards at an assembly
held at the end of last term. They were worthy recipients for highly
upholding last term’s school value of “We Care”!
AMAZING GEOMETRIC CITY
At the end of last term, groups of our Ngā Manu children used and
applied their geometry skills to make this ‘real world’ geometric city. The
children planned, designed and built a city of geometric pieces, and this
was a fabulous learning experience for them.
The children in Rooms Tawa and Matai are enjoying playing and
experimenting with the new glow tracks purchased by their teachers
with the PTA’s donation given for indoor activities and games.
CAN YOU HELP MRS McAULEY?
Mrs McAuley needs to access the various items listed below for Wearable Arts. If you
have any of these things you are able to give, along with anything else you feel
would be suitable, please drop in to her in Room Kowhai.
Plastic bags Large plastic or foam packaging
Umbrellas Bubble wrap
Milk bottles Ribbons
Any material Bed sheets
Paper plates Cardboard boxes
Netting Soft wire
And - for a Music/Dance performance, she needs :
Brooms PVC Piping
Metal rubbish cans Hose piping
If you have any of these items that you are happy to donate, please also drop into
Room Kowhai.
Throughout this year we have unfortunately had more and more cars parking illegally around the school environs. This causes a very worrying safety issue and we are working with the Police and DCC to ensure our children and families are kept safe at all times. Please DO NOT park on the yellow lines outside, and across the road from the Belford Street entrance, nor on the yellow lines and restricted parking areas on Larnach Road. We see this happening more often on wet or very cold days. Please always choose safe parking over convenience at all times.
NETBALL PLAYER OF THE DAY
NEW SUBWAY ARRANGEMENTS Rebels - Cindy (Pukeko)
STARTING NEXT WEEK
Information in regards to our new Subway HOCKEY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
arrangements were both emailed and sent Mini Sticks - Max (Tawa)
home to families in a hard copy yesterday.
‘Subway’ is to be available via their online system and
these will then be delivered from Subway Andersons Bay
to our school every Wednesday on a trial basis for this
term.
Please note - if you wish to request a particular sauce for
your child, or wish to change the biscuit for a ‘M and M’
cookie, please write this in the Further Information/
Comments section.
‘CHAMPIONS’
Now that the hall space is available again (due to the
renovations being completed) ‘Champions’ (religious
education) is going to resume on Friday 3rd August.
It is now going to be held before school every Friday
8:30am - 9:00am for the Year 3 and Ngā Manu children.
If you would like your child to attend please drop them off at
There are still openings available for Y1 & 2
school on Fridays at 8:25am and complete the form sent players to participate in this programme.
home earlier this week. Or alternatively, email your child’s Currently, there is only 4 players registered for
Saturday morning so this would be a good
teacher to advise that you wish them to participate. programme for your child to join.
CUPCAKES FOR SALE NEXT
LOLLY CAKE FOR SALE FRIDAY 3 AUGUST
Charli is also fundraising for the
FUNDRAISING FOR THE SPCA and she has set herself the
SPCA goal of raising $500. To date she
has raised $203.89.
Check out some of her fabulous
The two Graces, Olivia and
cupcakes on the following link. You
Sophie from Ngā Manu have made
will also be able to read more
yummy Lolly Cake to be sold after about what she wishes to achieve
school tomorrow, Friday 27 July and you are able to donate directly
This will cost $1 per slice and will be to the SPCA if you wish.
sold on a first in, first https:/cupcakeday2018.everydayhero.
served basis - be in fast as com/nz/charli
it will sell out! SPCA’’s annual
Mr Taylor will be visiting the Cupcake Day is on 6
SPCA with the girls to August so Charli is
selling her wonderful
deliver the money raised.
cupcakes - for $2 each
- in support of this.
RAFFLE CARDS - if you have not yet returned your card, sold or unsold, please do so
ASAP. Please drop into Milly the Mailbox. The PTA need to get these reconciled. Thanks.
Cobb & Co Tuesday 31 July 6:30pm
$5 entry/person, teams of 4 people
Join us for a great evening at a fundraising event run by the PTA
Numbers are limited so book tickets with
Vanya Thurston, ph 021545329 or wilsonvanya@hotmail.com
*** PRIZES *** RAFFLES*** PRIZES *** RAFFLES***
Raffle cards for major prizes will be coming home with children next
week. Smaller prized raffles will be run on the night.
We appreciate your support in helping raise funds for
the children of our school
GET YOUR TEAM ENTRY INTO VANYA NOW
*****
THERE IS NOW ONLY AVAILABILITY FOR TWO MORE TEAMS OF
FOUR ($20) OR EIGHT SINGLES @ $5 EACH.
SECOND HAND UNIFORM SHOP ASSISTANT
Due to changes in employment for some of our previous helpers, we now
only have one person available to run our Second Hand Uniform Shop.
We need at least one or two more people who would be able to assist,
especially if the shop was to open again on a semi-regular basis.
If you would like to know more, or are keen to help out, please text
Andrea on 021 08200287 or contact Gaylene.
School Docs - Policy Review - Term 3 2018
The Complaints and Behavior Management policies are currently
DATES TO REMEMBER under review. Please follow the instructions below if you wish to
place feedback.
- Fri 27 July - EPro8 Challenge Visit the website -
- Mon 30/7 - Jun trip to Art Gallery http://grantsbraes.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm
Enter the username (grantsbraes) and password (gbparents).
- - PTA Meeting
Follow the link to the relevant Policy as listed.
- Tues 31/7 - ICAS English (pm) Read the Policy.
- - Year 6’s to Tahuna Click the Policy Review button at the top right-hand corner of the
page.
- - Quiz Night
Select the reviewer type "Parent".
- Mon 6 Aug - Chess Tournament Enter your name (optional).
- Tue 7 Aug - Ariki Cup Submit your ratings and comments.
If you don't have internet access, School Office staff can provide
- Thur 9 Aug - Ariki Cup postponement
day you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.
- Mon 13 Aug - BOT Meeting, 6.30pm
- Fri 14 Dec : Last day of school year 2018
BOOK CLUB ISSUE 5
brochures have gone home with children today.
Orders to be in by 9am, Friday,10th August.
MARK THE DATE
School Ski Weekend to
Cardrona -Saturday 8th & FOSTER CARERS NEEDED
Sunday 9th September
Our team will support potential caregivers to understand
More information to
follow later in the term. and manage the challenges and be there with them, to
Any queries, please contact Bridget celebrate the successes!
Dickson - bc.dickson@yahoo.co.nz or Our foster carers are trained, approved and receive
021 606773 financial support. You could be just who we are looking
for.
For more information about becoming an Oranga Tamariki
Athletics Otago Kids Cross Country foster parent, please contact the following:
Event 4 - 5th August 2018
Memorial Park, Mosgiel Caregiver Enquiries Line on 0508 CARERS (0508 227
Hosted by Athletics Taieri 377)
Check out details - Otago Athletic Website
Register on-line at www.athleticsotago.co.nz
Individual Parent Support - available on request
All courses runs at Catholic Social Services, 42 Macandrew
Road, South Dunedin
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