NEWS Stepping Up & Reaching Out      05 MAY 2015

Important Notes /Dates     A note from the Principal

Term Dates 2015:Term 1 - Mon 02 FEB – Thu 02 APRTerm 2 - Tue 21 APR – Fri 03 JULTerm 3 - Tue 21 JUL – Fri 25 SEPTerm 4 - Mon 12 OCT – Fri 18 DEC

HOLIDAYS:Waitangi Day, Friday 6 FebruaryGood Friday, Friday 3 AprilEaster Monday, Monday 6 AprilEaster Tuesday, Tuesday 7 AprilAnzac Day, Saturday 25 April observed on Monday 27 AprilQueens Birthday, Monday 1 JuneLabour Day, Monday 26 OctoberShow Day, Friday 13 November

2015 Teacher Only DaysMonday 20th April is a Teacher Only Day.First day back at school for Term 2 is Tuesday 21st April.

Monday 20th July is a Teacher Only Day.First day back at school for Term 3 is Tuesday 21st July.

Whats coming up:

MAY 2015:

04 MAY – PTA Meeting 7.30pm Library04-6 MAY - RM 23 & 24 Y5/6 Camp – Woodend6-8 MAY - RM 14,15,16 YR5/6 Camp - Woodend08 MAY - YR0-3 Cross Country 11-12.30pm08 MAY – Sausage Sizzle 12.30pm – raising money for Water Polo12 MAY - Young Leaders Day - House Leaders /Wigram AirforceMuseum 9.30 – 2.30pm13 MAY - BOT Meeting 7pm15 MAY – Rocket Plane competition – Student Council19 MAY - Zone Cross Country (Held at QPS)

JUNE 2015:01 JUN – Queens Birthday – School closed for instruction05 JUN - LEAP 3.15 - 4pm School Hall10 JUN - Canterbury Cross Country26 JUN – Disco – Run by QPS Student Council. Theme: Formal Wear. Juniors: 6-7pm, YR5-8: 7.15-8.30pm

Dear Parents / Caregivers

Term 2 is well under way and we are happy to report that the children have quickly settled after the holiday break.

Welcome to new children:We wish to welcome the following children who have joined the Queenspark team this term: Carter McClurg, Ryan Blair, Taylor Williams, Keira Fox & Holly Kurzfeld all in Room 5. We wish a very warm welcome to these children and their families and hope you enjoy your time at Queenspark School.

Teacher Only Day:Thank you for your support for our recent Teacher Only Day, which was at the beginning of the term. On this day we visited Pegasus School, Clarkville School and Te Waka unua. The purpose of this day was to take a look at Modern Learning Practice in action at a new school and two older schools that have been modified. We had opportunities to talk to teachers and children along the way and to collect ideas that we liked. This was a great opportunity to see how property changes have enhanced teaching and learning at these places. We were appreciative of these schools being willing to host us especially on the first day of term.

Anzac Day:Last week it was really great to see so many of our children learning about the significance of Anzac Day. We talked about this at assembly and had the “ Last Post “ played by Natasha on her saxophone. Ask your children about this. It was has been humbling to see the many different ways our children paid respects to the young soldiers who have gone to war for our country especially at Anzac Cove.

Cross Country Year 4 - 8:Congratulations to all the children who took part in last week’s Cross Country event. We loved the way they strove for Personal Best and the way they encouraged each other from the sideline. This is something all students at

29 JUN - BOT Meeting 7pm30 JUN & 02 JUL – Mid Year Parent InterviewsJULY 2015:

03 JUL – Term 2 ends20 JUL – Teacher Only Day - School closed for instruction21 JUL – Term 3 begins23 JUL - YR7/8 Ski Day (PP Date: 28 July)27 JUL - BOT Meeting 7pm30 JUL - Winter Tournament (PP Date: 06 Aug)

AUGUST 2015:

04-05 AUG - School Photo Days25 AUG - Kids for Kids Concert26 AUG - Strike, Strum, Blow Concert31 AUG - Cultural Festival Week31 AUG - BOT Meeting 7pm

SEPTEMBER 2015:

10-11 SEP - Art Workshops11 SEP - LEAP - 3.15 - 4pm School Hall21 SEP - BOT Meeting 7pm

OCTOBER 2015:

12 OCT – Term 4 begins26 OCT - Labour Day - School closed for instruction27 OCT - BOT Meeting 7pm30 OCT-01 NOV - Water Polo Trip to Dunedin

NOVEMBER 2015:

11 NOV - Zone Athletics (Rawhiti Domain)13 NOV – Show Day – School closed for instruction20 NOV - QPS Twilight Fair 5-9pm27 NOV - LEAP 3.15 - 4pm School Hall30 NOV - BOT Meeting 7pm

DECEMBER 2015:

02 DEC - Canterbury Athletics08 DEC - YR7/8 Prize Giving Evening10-11 DEC - YR8 Hanmer Camp18 DEC - Final Day Term 4 - 12.30pm finish

Queenspark School do extremely well.

Thinking about learning:

.....Some discussion points and things to ask your children

Think about and tell me about some recent learning that has been your BEST WORK - what is your next step?

Share with me some current reading How would you solve this problem - brainstorm for

ideas Tell me what being respectful, being responsible,

being resolute looks like for you Tell me about a way you are really “ Stepping Up “

at the moment Create and tell me a story in your own words What is your opinion on this? What is your absolute best idea at the moment How have you made a difference for another

person lately? What are some ways you practice the skills of self

management What is your current goal and how are you going

with this?

Beware of Cyclists in our area:We have had some very close calls regarding cars not giving way to cyclists close to our school. We have received reports from parents who have witnessed students cycling along Broadhaven Avenue and cars that are turning into Radiata Ave are cutting them off and not allowing the cyclists to carry on through. This is happening frequently and it is not acceptable. PLEASE be courteous to all cyclists and be aware of them at intersections.

YR 7/8 Hillary Awards:

Each year we acknowledge those students who step up and live our Queenspark values, and are actively involved in our school community. These awards include a wide variety of community, sporting, cultural, academic and leadership areas, where students at Year 7 & 8 choose to be involved in. These awards recognise the importance of school community and promotes involvement giving our senior students opportunities to demonstrate the 'Q Competencies', which are important aspects of the New Zealand Curriculum.

We are very proud of our students who have stepped up to achieve these awards as they prepare for their high school years and beyond.

SAUSAGE SIZZLE :

This Friday 8th May the Queenspark School PTA are having a Sausage Sizzle at school in conjunction with the Junior Cross Country. Sausages will be sold from 12.30pm and the money will go towards helping our Water Polo Team get to a Tournament in Dunedin later in the year.

If you are able to help in any way with the Sausage Sizzle, please leave your details at the office.

Please support our Sausage Sizzle on Friday 8th May, by buying sausages for $2

Thank you very much for your support!

YEAR 4-8 MID YEAR INTERVIEWS:

Please keep an eye out for a notice coming home about school mid year interviews. The dates for this are:

Tuesday 30 June & Thursday 02 July. This is only for those children in Year 4-8. Year 0-3 will hold interviews at a later date and you will be individually notified of these dates /times by your class teacher. Once you receive the notice about this you may book a time online. Details will also be on the school website.

* ALL students (NE – Y8) will be leaving school at 1.45pm on both these days.

Gold Badges:Ella Shackleton (R3), Claudia Wiffen (R3), Hamish Swift (R2), Josh Hemmingson (R2), Hayley Campbell (R2), Jessica Cross (R1), Lauren Kruger (R1), Lauren Millar (R1)

Silver Badges:Jessica Parkin (R4), Ethan McGregor (R1), Emma Savage (R1)

Bronze Badges:Tenaisjah Tauapai (R4), Dominic Oakes (R1), Bailey Pryde (R1)

RegardsRoss WillocksPrincipal

Bullying:

It is interesting to note that from time to time where there has been a disagreement or behaviour issue with children that the word ‘bully’ or ‘bullying’ has been liberally used. Bullying is a very emotive word and is used extensively in the media to describe many situations. I think that we all need to err on caution when we use this word especially in school the situation. The oxford dictionary defines a bully as “a person who uses strength or influence to harm or intimidate others typically to force them to do something one wants”. Thankfully very few of the behaviours we deal with at our school fall into this category. A disagreement between a number of children at school is not necessarily bullying but is a situation where we will teach and empower them with skills to resolve situations of conflict. You might like to have this discussion with your children around the tea table.

Remember the Queenspark School policy around a disagreement at school:

1. Children, report to a duty teacher if occurs during morning or afternoon breaks2. Report to the class teacher during class time – or parent to contact class teacher in the first instance3. If no resolution, contact the Team Leader of your child’s syndicate.

All staff contact details are on our school website under ‘contact us’ if you are not able to come to school to speak with your child’s teacher or you may call the office to get a message through to the class teacher /syndicate leader.

                            General News . . .

NORTH EAST SECONDARY EDUCATION :

The North East Secondary Education Committee Inc. (NESE) advocates for secondary education in North East Christchurch. NESE has been actively lobbying politicians and the Ministry of Education since 2009. NESE’s Management Committee members are all volunteers from the local community

Here is a link to Amanda Williams, Chairperson NESE. Please visit this site if you require information or progress on local high schools in our area such as Shirley Boys & Avonside Girls High. You can join here to subscribe to newsletters and email links to ask to be kept updated also.

North East Secondary Education Committee Inc. www.nese.org.nz

Slapped CheekWe have had some cases of Slapped Cheek at school recently. If your child appears with these symptoms please keep them home until the rash disappears and they feel well enough to return to school.

Slapped cheek (also known as fifth disease) is a common childhood illness. It causes bright red cheeks – like you’ve been slapped – and a lace-like rash on the body.

Summary

Slapped cheek most commonly affects children under 10 years of age. Some adults may get it if they are not immune from childhood.

How is slapped cheek spread?

Slapped cheek is caused by the human parvovirus B19 (no connection to the animal parvovirus).

Slapped cheek is passed on in droplets from the respiratory tract of an infected person, mainly by close contact, coughing and sneezing. Once infected the time until symptoms appear is between 4 and 20 days.

If you catch slapped cheek, you’ll be infectious for 5 or 6 days before the first symptom appears. You’ll stop being infectious once the rash appears. Please stay home until the rash clears and you feel well enough to return to school .

Slapped cheek rapidly spreads through schools and childcare facilities and is most common during winter and spring.

If you are pregnant

If you are pregnant and catch slapped cheek during the first half of your pregnancy, there is a small risk that your baby can develop a serious form of anaemia (low iron levels in the blood), or that you may have a miscarriage.

If you come into contact with a child with slapped cheek, contact your doctor or lead maternity carer.

2015 QUEENSPARK SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY

What a great day we had for the YR4-8 Cross Country this week! The sun was shining and the children were in fine form trying their very best. Thank you to the Mum’s, Dad’s, Grandparents and all the support we received on this day. The children really appreciate the extra cheering from the sideline. Please join us and support the Junior’s at their Cross Country this Friday!