Newsletter, Term 1, Wk 8

Hello / Kia Ora

School Swim Carnival

Please come along from 1pm tomorrow to see the children display their swimming skills. Children will need an extra towel. We will also draw the Easter Basket raffle.

If too wet postponed to Friday 1^st April –will send text in the morning.

BOT Parent Survey

Our deadline for the Parent Survey is tomorrow as well, so if you haven’t already filled out the survey, please do so and bring it back to school when you come for the Swim Carnival. What we really want to know is – What do we do well? And what could we do better? The set of wicker drawers at the front door is still there for parents to drop their completed surveys into. There are extra copies on top of the wicker drawers if parents want to fill out a survey on Thursday.

Easter Basket Raffle

All money and extra tickets should have been returned to school by now. The draw will take place after the school swim carnival, so please make sure all tickets are included in the draw.

Easter Break

School is closed Good Friday (25^th March), Easter Monday (28^th March) and Easter Tuesday (29^th March). We will see everyone again on Wednesday.

Teacher Only Day

School will be closed on Monday 11^th April for a Teacher Only Day. Our teachers will be joining 60 other teachers and educators for Professional Development focused on Maths.

Charity Horse Trek

As you are all aware, the weather was too wet for the horse trek which has now been postponed until Saturday 2^nd April. We will still need your assistance contributing baking towards the lunch to keep our expenses down. If you are able to bake a cake or biscuits or have fresh fruit available, please send any to school on Friday 1^st April.

Soccer

Whenuakite School is looking for any expressions of interest for children of all ages especially 11-12 year olds wanting to play soccer during Terms 2 & 3 on Tuesday/Wednesday afternoons children. Please ring Jeni on 869 5308 ASAP if you are interested.

A huge thank you to Countdown for sending along a basket full of library books. Our avid readers are very grateful for the extra books.

Also a BIG thank you to the Whitianga Pig Hunting Club for their generous donation of $1,500!!!

Thank you to the Academy Sponsors who supply our school with homework books for each child in our school.

…and to the families who have sent fruit to school over the past few weeks…. The Bristow family for the grapes and the Cocker family for the apples.

120 year Anniversary

If any of you have come up with a fantastic idea to celebrate our 120 year anniversary please let us know. So far suggestions have included a dance, a sports day or open day at school. It would be great to have a team to begin to plan ahead for the 125th Jubilee, including looking at ways to fund-raise to repair, paint and up-grade the Gumtown Room.

Head lice and Impetigo

We have another outbreak of head lice in the school. Please make sure to check your child/rens heads. Some children may have impetigo. This needs to be treated and covered with an antibiotic cream.

Lost Property

Tomorrow will be a good opportunity to check and collect any lost property. We will have all clothing out, so please don’t forget to check it out.

PINNACLES ADVENTURE

Jenny is keen to hear feed-back regarding the trip from parents and to gauge interest for a further challenge later in the year.

There will be NO newsletter next week due to the short school week.

Have a wonderful week and enjoy the Easter break, Jean and the team.

Newsletter, Term 1, Wk 7

Hello / Kia Ora

Pinnacles Trip

Our senior class trekked up the Pinnacles yesterday and returned today. They had a wonderful time and were rewarded with some spectacular views on top of the Pinnacles. Many thanks to all the parents who came along, and those who also provided transport.

School Swim Carnival

We have decided to have this on Thursday 24^th March (day before the Easter break – add to your calendar). Please come along from 1pm to see the children display their swimming skills. We will also draw the Easter Basket raffle.

BOT Parent Survey

Attached is the Parent Survey which was also handed out at our Community Meet and Greet BBQ last month. Please complete this and return to the school by next Thursday 24^th March. We have put the set of wicker drawers at the front door for parents to drop their completed surveys into, this way your survey will remain anonymous. Michelle will collect these at the end of next week. There are extra copies on top of the wicker drawers if parents want to fill out a survey, individually.

Easter Basket Raffle

Keep selling those raffle tickets. We will be drawing the Easter Basket raffle next Thursday 24^th March, not April as was written on the front of the tickets. Can everyone please return all unsold tickets as well as ticket butts and money by next Tuesday 22^nd March.

Charity Horse Trek

Thank you to the few parents who came to the fundraising meeting last week. We do need some new faces to join our small group to help spread the load doing our fundraising ventures. Each year we put on a Charity Horse Trek with all the proceeds going to our school. We ask parents to help by contributing towards the lunch to keep our expenses down. If you are able to bake a cake or biscuits or have fresh fruit available, please send any to school this Friday as the horse trek is on Saturday.

MERCURY BAY JUNIOR RUGBY MUSTER

Junior Rugby Muster will be from 5pm on Wednesday 16^th March, at the Mercury Bay Rugby Clubrooms.

This is for all players from Rippa Rugby to 5^th Grade. All players will need to register, please bring a copy of the players birth certificate, a photo and pay their fees: Rippa $30, Individual $50, 2  siblings $75, 3 or more siblings $100

If you have any questions, please email:

[email protected]

Toys at School

Please do not send precious or fragile toys and personal possesions to school to avoid disappointment if they are lost or broken. Junior children who wish to show something for their news may do so and then the teachers will keep it safe until home-time.

Healthy Lunch Boxes

Briar Ward from Project Energize worked in both rooms on Monday, talking with the children about healthy lunch box choices.  While duty teachers try to monitor the children’s eating, it is not always possible to “police” every child. Please talk to your children about what they have in their lunch and what you would like to see them eat. Involving them and listening to their preferences may help encourage healthy eating habits. Attached are some ideas to add to lunch boxes. Please don’t consider this a criticism – our children have yummy lunches!

Assembly

While swimming continues we have decided to extend the Monday morning assembly to allow time for awards, performances and singing. This will be a half hour assembly which whanau are welcome to attend. Next week there is a Junior reading group’s play and hopefully a video clip produced by Max.

120 year Anniversary

In May this year the school will have been open for 120 years! If you have ideas as to how we can celebrate this mile stone please let us know. So far suggestions have included a dance, a sports day or open day at school. It would be great to have a team to begin to plan ahead for the 125th Jubilee, including looking at ways to fund-raise to repair, paint and up-grade the Gumtown Room.

Have a wonderful week, Jean and the team.

EASTER  RAFFLE ‘A Gift Basket Full Of Easter Goodies’ 1 Ticket = $2 3 Tickets = $5 Raffle Drawn Thursday 24th March 2016 Winners will be notified by phone Thank you to Countdown Supermarket for your support

 

Newsletter, Term 1, Wk 6

Hello / Kia Ora

Staff Changes

As many of you are already aware Penny has unfortunately had on-going health issues. She has decided to take leave for the remainder of the term. Jean Saunders is the acting principal and Katarina Lee will be full time relief teaching in both classes. We are all working hard to ensure the learning and teaching programmes continue to run smoothly in both classrooms.

Castle Rock/River Hopping for seniors

All permission slips should now be handed in for this epic day which is another training day for our Pinnacles Trip.

Pinnacles Trip

All payments for this trip and permission slips should now be handed in. If you haven’t done so, please get this done by Thursday.

Thames Valley Swimming

Well done Leon Melde for making the selections for the Thames Valley Swim held yesterday. Leon came in 1^st in his backstroke and 2^nd in freestyle swimming against 9 year olds while still 8! An excellent effort – congratulations.

School Swim Carnival

We have decided to have this on Thursday 24^th March (day before the Easter break – add to your calendar). Please come along from 1pm to see the children display their swimming skills. We will also draw the Easter Basket raffle.

Hot Water Beach Charity Trail Bike Ride

Our Fundraising Committee has just banked $4,100 from the proceeds from the Charity Trail Bike Ride. Many thanks to Craig & Taina Hill and Alasdair Smith for all the work they have put in to make this event as successful as it has been. Countdown also donated the sausages for the sausage sizzle which made over $600. The staff, parents and children at Coroglen School all appreciated everything you have all done. Thank you!

Easter Basket Raffle

Countdown supermarket have also donated a large basket full of Easter eggs that we are raffling as a fund raiser. Each family will be given 12 tickets to sell or return. These will come home this week.

Across the River Swim

We had four students participate in the annual Across the River Swim on Monday with Jenny Upsall and Kylie Willigers. They all enjoyed this fun challenge.

Stationery Accounts

Please find these attached. With enrolments and start of year admin tasks piling up Julia still has some items still to add, so there may be more to come for your family. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Mercury Bay Day Camp

Don’t forget to get these forms in asap so you don’t miss out on a spot. These are available at the staffroom for those interested.

The Public Health Nurse will be visiting tomorrow morning, about 9.30am, There is some concern that scabies may be effecting some children and adults. If you have worries about skin infections you may like to be here to ask questions. Also. . .

Head Lice They are back again!

Head lice are a community health issue that we deal with every year. We ask parents to let us know if they find head lice or nits so that we can notify classes. All parents are very vigilant in preventing or getting rid of head lice as quick as they can and this is really appreciated.

Some Lousy Facts:

 · Head lice can be found on clean hair or dirty hair. They don’t mind– its blood that they are after.

 · Lice have short stumpy legs which are not much use for jumping or walking. They can move from one person’s head to another but the heads have to be very close.

· Head lice don’t like light so they hide behind ears and the backs of necks.

Water Bottles

We are still having a few issues with water pressure but the water is tested a fine to drink. A bottle from home will help relieve some pressure on the system while this is sorted.

Cathedral Cove visit

Thanks to the parents who helped with transport last Thursday to Cathedral Cove for the senior room. It was a great training exercise for the Pinnacles and we were rewarded with the beautiful sights at Cathedral Cove.

MERCURY BAY JUNIOR RUGBY MUSTER

Junior Rugby Muster will be from 5pm on Wednesday 16^th March, at the Mercury Bay Rugby Clubrooms.

This is for all players from Rippa Rugby to 5^th Grade. All players will need to register, please bring a copy of the players birth certificate, a photo and pay their fees: Rippa $30, Individual $50, 2  siblings $75, 3 or more siblings $100

If you have any questions, please email:

[email protected]

Fundraising Committee

Remember that our next fundraising committee meeting is on Thursday 10^th March (add to your calendar) at 3.30pm at the school. This is to organise the Horse Trek fundraiser on 19^th March and de-brief the Trail Ride event.

  

Bus Wardens

Constable Kathryn visited our school recently to talk to the children about Bus Safety and train our bus wardens, who this year are Max Willigers, Riley-Jean Macdonald and Hayley Cullen-Winstone.

  

EASTER  RAFFLE ‘A Gift Basket Full Of Easter Goodies’ 1 Ticket = $2 3 Tickets = $5 Raffle Drawn Thursday 24th March 2016 Winners will be notified by phone Thank you to Countdown Supermarket Thank you for your support

 

Have a wonderful week

Jean and the team

Newsletter , Term 1, Wk 5

Hello / Kia Ora

River Hopping

River hopping is off this week due to the high water levels in the river. Instead we are going to Hahei to walk to Cathedral Cove and plan to leave school at 10.45am on Thursday. Thank you to those parents who have agreed to provide transport and supervision.

Thames Valley Swimming

The Thames Valley Swimming is next Tuesday 8^th March. At this stage we have not been informed who has qualified for this round. We will let any children who have qualified know, as soon as we find out.

COROGLEN FARMERS MARKET After nine years we think it is time for new management/ownership of the market. It comes with a responsibility to the community, every Sunday for six months, 2 x coffee machines, 15 x gazebos, plus loads more. We are not sure of price, but would love to hear from anyone who thinks they have what it takes. We are open to all ideas. Please phone Fiona 866 3315 for more details

Hot Water Beach Charity Trail Bike Ride

Thank you to those parents who were able to help in the food stall on Sunday at the Charity Trail Bike Ride. We had a great turn out of supporters and successful sausage sizzle raising over $600. We are waiting for the organisers to finish paying the bills and will let you know how much money we raised on the day through registrations. Feedback from the riders has been good, so hopefully next year will be even bigger!

Across the River Swim

The annual Across the River Swim will be held on MONDAY 7th March 2016 (postponement date is 21 March 2016).
Student swimmers will cross the estuary using the ferry, they will then be directed to an area where they will enter the water and swim back across the estuary. The swimming event is closely supported/ supervised with boats supplied by Hot Water Beach Surf Life Saving - Whitianga Coastguard - Whitianga Harbourmaster – Dive Zone - Mercury Bay Area School staff and parents supporting in kayaks.

LOW TIDE IS 12.13pm– the expected time when the first group of senior students will enter the water will be approx.12.45pm. Those that are Hot Water Beach Surf life guards will then re-enter the water to be our life guards for all other students participating.

Our Y7-8 children will be leaving the Coroglen School with Ms Upsall and Kylie Willigers, who will be crossing the river with them. If you have any concerns about this, please contact Jenny Upsall on 027 353 5224.

COROGLEN CHARITY HORSE TREK

SATURDAY MARCH 19, 2016 from 8AM TO 5PM

Register & pay your $50 on the day from 8am. We will start riding from 9am We have a 4 and a half - 5 hour trek planned from the Mill Creek Valley over to the Kaimarama Valley - it is going to be awesome! If you are keen on coming, please txt your interest to Lisa 027 212 4999 or alternatively check out our Facebook page Coroglen Charity Horse Trek, for photos and more information.

Mercury Bay Day Camp

Day Camp for 6 – 13 year olds, at Cook’s Beach, will be in the second week of the school holidays: Wednesday 27^th April to Friday 29^th April. There is a limit on the numbers so please register quickly! Registration forms are attached.

Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

We have attached a parent’s guide from Caps Hauraki with hints and tip to make sure your child is prepared for school. Section 20 of the Education Act 1989 states that: Every person is required to be enrolled at a registered school at all times during the period beginning on the person’s sixth birthday and ending on the person’s 16^th birthday.

Countdown filming Breakfast Club

On Tuesday the Countdown crew were at school filming an in house training resource for employees to let them know what wonderful things Countdown do for the community. Countdown supplies our school with groceries every week so we are able to provide a nutritious breakfast for the children a few times a week.

Do you want to make a difference in a child’s life? Child, Youth and Family are currently looking for people in this area who can offer safe, caring, stable homes for young people in need of short term care, time out over weekends and/or holidays, or a home for life. Our team will support you to understand and manage the challenges of fostering a young person, and we will be there with you to celebrate the successes. You may be surprised; you could be just the right person to offer your care to a young person who needs you! If you are interested in finding out more, or know someone who may be interested, or if you think you might be able to help in some other way then we would love to hear from you! Please call Johnson Taoho, Care Services Manager, on 07 957 4740 or email [email protected]

Fundraising Committee

Our next fundraising committee meeting is on Thursday 10^th March at 3.30pm at the school. This is to organise the Horse Trek fundraiser on 19^th March.

Spelling for juniors

Y2 & Y3 have spelling notebooks which should be kept in their book bags. There are instructions and words to learn in each book.

Have a wonderful week

Penny and the team