Newsletter, 2012 term 1, week 4

Beach Clean Up Monday 27^th February

Thanks to everyone who returned their slips. We will begin the day with a short presentation at 9am. We will be at the beach for about an hour. There will be no swimming.

Country Schools Swimming Sports– for Years 4-8 are on Tuesday 28 February

The Swimming Sports will be held at Mercury Bay Area School – Westpac Trust Pool on Tuesday 28th February. Postponement Day to be confirmed.

Start time is 10am.

Finish by 2pm

Programme - will follow the Thames Valley sports programme that will be held at Thames on March 21st.

Ages - Age as at 1 January 2012

BOT Meeting—this Thursday, in the staffroom at 3.15pm. All welcome.

The Mercury Bay Junior Rugby AGM

There will be an AGM for The Mercury Bay Junior Rugby on Thursday 1^st March 2012 at the Mercury Bay Junior Clubrooms at 6pm. Contact Teremoana Johansen on 869 5578 for more information. See you all there.

Maths Workbooks

We have been offered some write in Maths workbooks for $13. These are an extra and designed to be used at home. If you would like to buy one please complete the slip at the end of this newsletter.

Letterbox – I have had very positive comments about the recent photo in the Peninsula Post – It is great that learning can be this authentic – problem, design and build.

Student Records – We have been reviewing out student records and have found that we do not have immunisation information on many students. Next week we will be sending home the emergency contact update forms which have a space for immunisation information and permission to administer paracetamol when deemed necessary. Once all the updated sheets are in I will send out an updated phone tree.

Gardens

Thanks to Janine and Sam who spent a morning in the school gardens. They are looking 100% better.

We have some baby palms to pot up for selling at markets etc. If you have surplus small pots please let me know.

Fundraising Committee

This group will be meeting soon and are after some fresh fundraising ideas. Please give this some thought and watch this space for their meeting date.

Sausages – The fundraising group will be selling sausages this Friday. They are $2 each. YUM.

Newsletter, 2012 term 1, week 3

  Charity Trail Bike Ride – What a fabulous event in the most difficult conditions – I have it on very good authority that the organisation was amazing and the best burgers on the Peninsula were produced on the hill that day. The rain came down and the intrepid riders kept coming – Shame on those who turned around and missed an amazing opportunity to have fun in the mud – We used to call in “Mud Plugging” in the MG Car Club. Thanks to the organisers and many helpers who assisted with this event.

More pictures below: Riley Jean, Tyrese, Caitlyn, Tane, Danyl

Bike Wise Whitianga

10am-1pm Sunday 26 February 2012

www.bikewise.co.nzPark. Experience the fun and freedom on two wheels during February with Bike Wise month. New Zealanders are encouraged to ditch their cars and 'Go by Bike' instead. Get peddling with the local Bike Wise events in your neighbourhood…don’t forget the helmet.

Country Schools Swimming Sports– for Years 4-8 are on Tuesday 28 February at MBAS. The Swimming Sports will be held at Mercury Bay Area School – Westpac Trust Pool – on Tuesday 28th February. Postponement Day to be confirmed.

Start time is 10am. Finish by 2pm

Programme - will follow the Thames Valley sports programme that will be held at Thames on March 21st. Ages - Age as at 1 January 2012. Children keen to compete for places in the Peninsula Central Cluster team (Coroglen, TeRerenga,

MBAS, Whenuakite) will swim in the championship competition and those competing in the country schools events will swim in standard events.

Children can enter in both categories but they cannot swim in the same event in both categories. Everyone should have at least 3 or 4 races plus several free swims.

Championship swimmers cannot swim in 25m and 50m events of the same stroke. They need to choose between 25m and 50m carefully

We will choose the 3 fastest championship swimmers in each race and in week 5 they will have a swim off with the 3 fastest MBAS swimmers. (Monday 12/3). The first 2 fastest swimmers will then represent the Peninsula Central Team at Thames. Non swimmers need a genuine medical / health reason for not participating and will be excused from school on the day.

Children need – swimming gear, hats, sun block, food and drink. (the tuck shop is open but there are often queues ).

Adults may like to bring – seats to sit on, sun umbrellas, sun shelter.

Helpers may be called upon to help with judging etc.

Cars providing transport will depart from school at 9.15am and return children to school by 3pm if they are catching a bus. Cars that park over entrances or driveways outside MBAS may be removed or towed away. Please complete the permission/transport slip at the end of this newsletter.

Sustainable Coastlines - Beach Clean Up

Last year we had a rewarding, windy time at Hot Water Beach taking part in the “Beach Clean-up”. We uncovered and disposed of an amazing array of debris. This year the clean-up crew will be at school on Monday 27^th of February and after a short presentation – briefing, we will be going to Hot Water Beach at 9.30 to see if we can beat last year’s effort. Please complete the permission/transport slip at the end of this newsletter.

For more information, contact Lisa Ju07 867 102627 4945 600

Health – We have had some reported cases of impetigo (school sores) at school. These must be seen by a nurse or doctor and will usually require antibiotics. Any scratches or insect bites are prime targets for these bugs. Children should stay away until the medicine is working and any sores must be covered.

I have also noticed some children with itchy heads. Please check your child’s hair and treat any head lice before sending your child to school. It is a good idea to have long hair tied back to prevent transmission of head lice as well as making things easier in the pool when swimming.

Newsletter, 2012 term 1, week 1

Welcome – We have begun the year well and everybody as grown over the holidays, Special welcome to Myah Hales who is five and has joined the Junior Room.

2012 Term Dates
Term 1 10wks	Tuesday 31 January to Thursday 5th April. Easter falls in the holidays
Term 2 10wks	Monday 23rd April to Friday 29 June. Wednesday 21st April is ANZAC Day; Friday 1st June is a staff development day so school is closed. (same as MBAS); Monday 4th June is Queen’s Birthday holiday. i.e. a four day weekend– Friday—Monday.
Term 3 10 wks	Monday 16 July—Friday 28 September
Term 4 9 weeks and 1 day	Monday 15 October to Monday 17 December. Thursday 18th October Pet Day (to be confirmed) Labour Day is 22/10.

Tues Jan 31	First Day of Term 1
Friday 3 Feb	Technology for Y7&8 at MBAS begins
Monday 6 Feb.	Waitangi Day—school closed
Tuesday 28th Feb	Country Schools’ Central Swimming Sports—MBAS (Y4-8) Postponement 29/2
Monday 12/3	Peninsula Central Swimming selection MBAS –
Wed 14/3	Year 7&8 vaccinations
Tues 20/3	Cross the River Swim Y7&8(postponement 22/3)
Wed 21/3	Thames Valley Swimming Postponement—22/3
Tues 29/3	Life Education Trust Caravan 26th and 27th March
Thurs 5/4	Term 1 finishes

Year 7 & 8 Technology - starts this Friday. Year 7&8 children will travel to MBAS at 9.15am and return to Coroglen by about 1pm.

ABSENCES: Please notify the school before 9.am if children are absent.

Phone (8663850), fax (8663 859) or answer phone are convenient ways to communicate with school

outside normal hours.

Bus Message from Murphy Buses

Hi all, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and relaxing holiday and are all refreshed and ready for the new school year.

With the start of the new year, we thought it timely to request you to remind all of your students catching the school bus to and from school that no Skateboards, Rip-sticks, Scooters etc. are to be carried on the bus.

Any object that may fly through the air, down the aisle or trip somebody up is dangerous, simply put;

The Golden Rule is: If it doesn’t fit in their school bag, it won’t be allowed on the bus.

Anything that is outside these guidelines that is required as part of the school curriculum must have prior written consent from the Murphy Buses Thames office.

Thanks in advance for your help on this and I look forward to talking to you through the year.

Kind regards

Joe Mellow
Operations Manager
Murphy Buses
Thames Office

Sun safe Term 1—Hat wearing is compulsory when outside, during Terms 1 and 4. Hats need to be able to effectively protect faces, ears and necks from harmful sun rays.

Free Ear Clinic for children will be in Whitianga on Thursday 21st March at Town Centre Car park from 8.30am to 12.30pm.

Swimming – Sylvia is offering swimming lessons again beginning after school on Wednesday the 8^th of February. The cost is $6 per lesson.