Senior School Term 1, 2018 Newsletter

Dear Parents

The Senior School teachers are now looking ahead to organisation for 2018.

In order to get off to a great start this newsletter is to inform you of the upcoming events so you can prepare and budget ahead. The first day back for students will be Thursday February 1st. All children have been informed of their class for 2018 our students are settled and well prepared. Please note that the school will be closed Tuesday 6th February for Waitangi Day. The school will also be closed on Friday 30th March to 3rd April for Easter and the start of the school holidays will not be until 13th April. This is different to 2017 as the term has 11 weeks.

Stationery

Your child’s stationery list is held at Paper Plus, 71 Picton St, Howick and is available from the 15th January. We ask that all books are named. Please ensure your child also has his/her pencil case with named pencils. The children will be told on the first day what subjects the books will be for.

Library Bags

Please can you also make sure that your child has his/her named school library bag at school on the first day. New bags can be purchased from our school library for $5.00.

Bring Your Own Devices (BYOD)

The Senior School is currently using Apple iPads (2017/Pro/ Air/4/3/2) and Apple Minis. If your child has an Apple Mini we also suggest they have a keyboard. Some programmes do not work on the Mini. We ask all children with devices to bring them on the first day so the teachers can set up routines. (Note devices are not compulsory, just encouraged) The iPads will be locked in a cabinet when they are not in use and it is important that they are named. Any new students will be given passwords to allow them access to the school internet and their class dashboard. Please note the internet access is turned off at 3 pm each day. New students will need to also have their signed BYOD agreement with them on the first day. The E-Learning Apps can be found online on the E-Learning Guidelines newsletter.

Maths Homework

Next year the Senior School will continue to use Maths Buddy online. We currently believe that this is the best programme available to teaching New Zealand maths strategies. Maths Buddy has been selected as it gives more flexibility for the children to be working on their own individual needs and at their own pace. We had very positive parent feedback as the videos are helpful in learning the new strategies. This is central to our home-learning in Mathematics for the year. The cost will be $30 per child. We ask you to please budget for this. More information about paying for this will come out in the first term.

Learning during the holidays

Those children who were in the Senior School in 2017 are able to access Maths Buddy using their password over the school holiday period to maintain their Maths knowledge. We also highly recommend the Auckland City Council children’s holiday programme “Kia Māia te Whai Dare to Explore!” This programme encourages children to read a little bit every day and complete fun challenges. In past years we have always had a number of our students receive certificates at our first school assembly. Many children have also enjoyed signing up to EPIC to have a library of online books to read.

Uniform

All children will be expected to be in our summer school uniform. Please name all items with a permanent marker, especially your child’s sandals, sweater and hat.

GIRLS Summer Uniform:

* Blue check summer dress in regulation material and style Or navy skirt in regulation material and style.

* Red polo shirt with striped collar in regulation material and style.

*Black ‘school’ sandals.

*Regulation style navy sun hat

  • Plain stud earrings and no jewellery or nail polish please

BOYS Summer Uniform:

* Navy shorts in regulation material and style.

* Red polo shirt with striped collar in regulation material and style.

* Black ‘school’ sandals.

* Regulation style navy sun hat

For PE activities we ask that the children wear navy shorts and a school sports top. Girls are allowed to wear navy bike pants under their uniform or for sport. Please can you ensure your child has their named hat on the first day of school.

Lunch boxes/Drink Bottles

School lunches can be ordered on the school website from the second week, on Thursdays and Fridays. As the first term is always very hot we encourage all children to have a named water bottle. It is also helpful if all plastic lunch boxes are named as these sometimes get left on the seats outside the classroom. We encourage wrapper free food in lunch boxes.

Swimming

The school pool may be operating from the first day so please make sure your child has their togs and towel packed and named. We will be having our school Swimming Sports at Howick Intermediate on Friday 16th February/Saving day 19th February. There will be a small charge for the buses of approx $5.00 per child.  

Swimming over the holidays

The school pool keys are for sale at the office up to 12 noon 14th December. The cost is $80.

Weetbix Tryathlon

The Tryathlon will be held on the 18/2/2018 at Pt England reserve.

To attend, please enrol your child on the Weetbix Website:https://registration.tryathlon.co.nz/Home/Event/23 under Bucklands Beach Primary School. Mr Chamberlain will be organising this event. All parents must transport and supervise their child/ren. The school will have a school gazebo to assemble under.

Beach Education/ Year 5 EOTC Day

There will be a Year 5 Surf Education day at Red Beach on Friday 9th March. We would love as many parents as possible to come. Traditionally this has been a great day for our “Dads” to join in. This will be a long day, leaving school by bus just after 7:15 am and returning by 4.30 pm. The cost will be approx. $25 per child. More organisational details will come out at the beginning of Term 1. While a wetsuit is not compulsory, it is a good idea for children to bring their one back from the Bach if they have one. The day goes ahead even if the day is wet.

Year 6 Camp

This year the year 6 camp will occur in Term 2 on the 8 – 11th May at the YMCA Camp Adair which is located in Hunua, south of Auckland. A meeting for parents will be held early Term 1.

Change of Teacher

Mrs Christensen had a baby girl call Jens in November and is on maternity leave. Mr Chamberlain will be moving from the Middle School to work in the Senior School, even though he will be in the same classroom.

Your Senior Team for next year will be…

Room 2                    Ms Redpath            (Year 6/ Senior School Team Leader)

Room 18                  Ms Corderoy          (Year 6)

Room 19                  Mrs Griffin              (Year 6)

Room 3                    Mrs Chilvers            (Year 5)

Room 1                    Mrs Riach                (Year 5)

Room 5                    Mr Chamberlain    (Year 5)                   

If you have any other queries please contact Jillian Redpath (Team Leader).

We look forward to seeing you the first day back after a refreshing holiday.

The Senior School Teachers

Please remember the school calendar and this newsletter can be viewed on the school website.

See the new term dates below……………..

 

Term Dates 2018

Term 1

Thursday 1 February – Friday 13 April

 

Waitangi Day – Tuesday 6 February

 

Easter Break
Good Friday 30 March, Easter Monday 2 April, Easter Tuesday 3 April

Term 2

Monday 30 April – Friday 6 July

 

Queen’s Birthday – Monday 4 June

Term 3

Monday 23 July – Friday 28 September

Term 4

Monday 15 October – Tuesday 18 December

 
Labour Day – Monday 22 October