Term 1, Week 4 - Wednesday 24 February 2016

Kia ora families

Life seems ever increasingly complex for families each and every year, as children get older they are often involved in more sports, clubs, tuition and out of school activities and in school especially in Years 5 & 6 children have an immense range of opportunities for leadership, sports, music, clubs and mentoring roles. We are aware that each year it becomes more and more difficult to get parent help for all of the activities on offer and in addition where children have an endless range of options it can be difficult for teachers to continue on with their learning programmes. To streamline our school as we come back to one site we have looked at all of the options available and worked hard to protect learning time in studios and have specific days and times when other options are available. This also means we have rationalise the sporting programme in 2016 to include:

School sport on Fridays rather than summer Hagley. With the number of children we have we can provide those with the competitive drive suitable options as well as those who simply want to participate. We also no longer waste over an hour in the bus to and from Hagley and there is no cost to parents.

Winter Hagley will still be offered with an alternate programme for those not going to Hagley. Simplifying some school events so that we offer a school event (swimming for example) based on

the same criteria as the zones events.

Please be aware the ongoing provision of after school events such as touch rugby, basketball etc are totally dependent on parent help and ongoing parent support. Many thanks to the parents who are already helping with sports and other school events. At the PTA AGM last night it was great to see many new faces as we work together to create our new school. We welcome back Krish Macgregor as Chairperson, Edwina Duncan as Deputy Chairperson, Trina Mark as Treasurer and Nicola Smith returns as Secretary. Our PTA do an outstanding job of supporting the school. Their next meeting is 21 March 2016 at 7:15 pm in the staffroom if you would like to come along. Many thanks also to the 2015 team led by Dani Thompson and Krish Macgregor who did such a great job supporting the school. Finally thanks to all of you who are using the pedestrian crossing with your children, using the correct entries to the school (not through the carpark) and driving carefully around our school. It has been very positive seeing the mutual respect and consideration of others and the many families who are choosing to get out of cars and walk each day!

Take care, Neill O’Reilly, Principal

HELPERS NEEDED FOR POOL REASSEMBLE PLEASE HELP! We are getting our school pool put back up and need 6 – 8 volunteer helper on Tuesday 1 March 2016 to assist with this please. If you can help in any way, please contact Kim in the school office on 383 2736 or office@waitakiri.school.nz or call Woody on 027 224 5608. Thank you!

SWIMMING INSTRUCTOR NEEDED We are looking for a qualified swimming instructor for a paid fixed term position for the year to teach our children water safety and swim lessons. This is for 5 days per week from 9am – 3pm approx.. If you, or someone you know is a swimming instructor, please ask them to contact the office. Thank you.

HERITAGE PHOTOS Class and individual photos will take place on Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th March. There is also an opportunity to have a family portrait taken. To be added to the list please email

megan.johnston@waitakiri.school.nz with your children's name and studio number. The day and time

of family photos will be advised in the newsletter closer to the time.

SCHOOL BANKING

ANZ would like to welcome everyone back to school for 2016. Our ANZ School Banking Programme will start this Friday, we will be in the CHOICE Room from 8.30am to 8.55am. We welcome our regular bankers and any new bankers wanting to join. . EASTER HOLIDAYS CLOSING DAYS Waitākiri School will be closed Good Friday 25 March, Easter Monday 28 March and the Tuesday after Easter Monday 29 March.

WAITAKIRI OSCAR

On Tuesday 29th March school is closed and we will run Holiday Programme Activities from: 7.30am-

3pm at a cost of $28 per child or 7.30am-6pm at a cost of $35 per child. Bookings are essential &

limited for enquires or to book contact amanda.murray@waitakiri.school.nz

UNIFORM FOR SALE Size 8 School uniform jacket for sale, good condition. please phone 0274715376

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB Back Orders from 2015 - Scholastic's are currently re-loading all the back orders and hope to dispatch them as soon as possible. They apologise for the delay.

Email: office@waitakiri.school.nz Website: www.waitakiri.school.nz

School: 383 2736 or 027 202 3543 OSCAR: 383 2649 or 027 655 8104

Please ensure you are signed up to receive our texts.

This is one of the main forms of communication.

Text: follow WaitakiriSchool to 8987 Unfortunately Vodafone do not support this service, so if you are a Vodafone customer, please ask a fellow parent or

family member to receive the texts and forward them onto you.

SCHOOL SCRUNCHIES FOR SALE $3 each from the office - cash only, please have correct money, no change available.

VIDEO – Everything is going to be alright

This is a 5 minute film of Canterbury parents and children sharing their learning from the last 5 years

in Canterbury funded by The Red Cross. Well worth the watch!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDFDlqPbSzk

SCHOOL POLICIES UP FOR REVIEW Dear parents, the following two policies are up for review this term. - School swimming pool (due to be put up next week) - Alcohol, Drugs and Other Harmful Substances Please follow these instruction to review :

1. Visit the website http://waitakiri.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm

2. Enter the username (waitakiri) and password (waitakiri).

3. Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.

4. Read the policy.

5. Click the Policy Review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.

6. Select the reviewer type "Parent".

7. Enter your name (optional).

8. Submit your ratings and comments. If you don't have internet access, please use the computer in the CHOICE Room to review.

TE REO

Kia ora whānau (far-no) – family. This term we are looking at mihi –greeting. This includes how we greet people as in Tēnā koe (tear-nah kwe) – hello to one person and saying a few things about ourselves in Māori. Your tamariki may come home with a mihi booklet they have made ranging from saying their name to the different people in their whānau and kura-school. It would be tumeke-awesome if you could kōrero-talk with them about it.

SCHOOL UNIFORM HATS Aly Maclean Uniform Suppliers have advised us that the delayed shipment of hats have arrived in New Zealand and they expect to receive them any day. So those waiting for hats they are not far away, hopefully the end of this week or beginning of next. Thank you for your patience.

Whānau - family

SPORTS NEWS Minijammers Basketball Please remember that a MOUTHGUARD is now COMPULSORY for all school children playing basketball. Please ensure you have one if you are playing Minijammers, starting this Thursday 25 February. Weetbix Tryathlon Come on encourage your children to give it a go! Make sure when you are registering to put in our school name. It is on the Sunday 13 March. Grab a friend and go for it! Reminder to all parents, if you do not receive a sports notice or misplace it, there is a copy of all sports letters on the school website under 'Notices'. Congratulations to all Year 5/6 students who participated in our Friday Afternoon Sports. We had a fun afternoon of Volleyball, TeeBall, Cricket and Rippa Rugby. Parents are more than welcome to come and watch. (Fridays 1.45-2.45pm, School Field/Clare park). Good luck to the Year 5/6 students who have entered the Waitākiri School Swimming Sports and the

Canterbury Triathlon next week. All the very best!

Thank you, Kirsty Hay & Roanne Riordan

2016 REAL Challenges Home Learning We are very excited to launch our 2016 REAL Challenges at our Learning Celebration on Friday 26 February at 9.15am. Booklets and information will come home with your Year 4 – 6 child on Friday. These will also be available on the school website under Our Learning/Home Learning. Please encourage your children to take on these challenges. All challenges must be completed by Friday 18 November 2016.

OUT OF SCHOOL ACHIVEMENTS Laine C competed in the Under 10's Southern Regional Surf lifesaving Junior champs. He placed the following: 3rd Run swim Run, 3rd Ironman, 1st Cameron Relay and 3rd beach sprint relay.

Sophie M (pictured left) also competed in the South Island Surf lifesaving champs last weekend and medalled in all her individual water events picking up a gold, silver, and two bronzes.

W

Waitākiri School Parent 3-Way Conferences (Bookings are now open!) 3-way learning conferences will be held on Tuesday 8th March 3.30pm – 7.45pm and again on

Thursday 10th March 1.15pm – 6pm. Bookings can now be made online. Please follow the

instructions below:

1. Log on to: www.schoolinterviews.co.nz

2. The school code is VX6EY

3. Follow the prompts on screen:

4. When you are done, your interview timetable will be emailed to you.

5. Bookings opened on Monday 15th February

6. Bookings will close on Monday 7th March at 11am.

7. Please only book one conference per child.

8. If you have any questions or do not have access to a computer, you may contact either

office and they will be happy to make a booking for you. A confirmation slip will be sent

home with your child.

If these dates and times do not suit your family, please contact the teacher directly about

making a mutually suitable time.

Please note: On Thursday 10th March, school will be closing at the earlier time of 12.30pm as interviews will

start at 1.15pm that day. If you cannot arrange for your child to be collected at this earlier time, please

contact the school office by Monday 7th March on phone 3832736, txt 027 2023543 or email

office@waitakiri.school.nz On Tuesday 8th March school will finish at the usual time and interviews will

begin at 3.30pm. Please note OSCAR will operate as per usual from 2.55pm on both days.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Badminton

Ashgrove Badminton Club is running an after school program in the evening during

the school terms on Monday evenings 6.30pm to 7.30pm at Avonside Girls High School

gymnasium, 180 Avonside Drive for children 6 to 17yrs old.

Our aim is to make badminton part of a lifestyle encouraging health, fitness, social

interaction ,well being and fun.

First classes start Monday February 29th

till the end of the school term. Please bring

non-marking sports shoes. All other equipment is supplied. Cost is $4 per person per

night. Contact Desmond Gee 0210356440 for further information or e-mail

hiho1961@gmail.com

Family Free Movie Night Saturday 27th February

Come along and enjoy a FREE Family Friendly Movie.

@ 180 Queenspark Drive, Parklands Baptist Community Church.

Doors open at 5.45pm for those who want to come along and bring there dinner to eat before

the movie starts.

Movie starts at 6.30pm

This months Movie is "Blinky Bill"

Snacks and drinks available for purchase.

Bring your cushions or bean bags and enjoy a fun night out.