Kia Ora, Nǐ hǎo, Greetings,
A very warm welcome to 2018. I hope you have had a restful break and made the most of the wonderful weather. The staff have had a busy couple of weeks preparing for the term and are excited to welcome you and your children back to school. Our new staff (Donna Crowhurst, Marlies Wison, Liz Keel, Sarah Bartholomew and Cherry Wong) and students were welcomed in a powhiri last Friday, hosted proudly by our kapa haka group.
A special welcome also goes out to students and families returning from last year and to new children and their families who are joining us this year: Allen Chen, Olivia Keel, Noah Keel, Winnie Lie, Emily Simmons, James Simmons, Allie Simmons, Janice Xu, Fachen Guo, Rui Aoyama, Jessica Waar, Kyle Waar, Bernice Zheng, Daisy Hu, Bilva Shukla, Raymond Liu, Jia Yu, India Crowhurst, Tobias Crowhurst, Briella Drew, Amelie Taylor, Marcus Yan, Flora Soro-Albarran, Samuel Dos Santos, Bianca Thomson, Lincoln Bin, Lilah Stewart, Luke De Roock, Ryan Choi, Justin Choi, Aijay Kumar, Sam Li, Ella Ford, Alistair Liew, Jude Michaels, Kruz Arama & Adele Toh. .
A big thank you to those members of our community who helped look after the school in the holidays. In particular thank you to Chris O’Loughlin, Debbie Gregson, Simon Hiley and Ebony Slade who maintained the pool over the summer break.
Class Assemblies
This year we are building on our cross school collaboration and relationships, and our class assemblies are going to reflect this. Classes will work collaboratively with their buddy class, and present together to parents. The theme for term one across the school is ‘Sharing the Planet’. Please see the parent calendar for when your child’s class is presenting.
Concerns and complaints
For any concerns you may have BBPS BOT follows a procedure which is available on our school website. In the first instance please see the teacher closest to your concern. Make an appointment after school and let the teacher know what the concern is about. I’m sure through discussion any misunderstandings or concerns can be cleared up.
National Standards
I’m sure you will have heard through the media that National Standards have been scrapped. So what does that mean for our school? Students will continue to have their progress tracked and reported on, but instead of using the language of National Standards (well below, below, at and above), we will be looking at how students are progressing through curriculum levels. In the coming weeks we will be redesigning our school report to reflect this. The timing of reports for students in years 1 -3 will fall back in line with the rest of the school (mid year and end of year). If you would like to give any feedback or have any thoughts on what you would like to see in the new school report, or feedback around what you found useful or not so useful on the previous format, please email me at k.slater-brown@bbps.school.nz.
Birthdays
A reminder that while we love to acknowledge your child’s birthday, the school asks that you don’t bring in cakes or lollies to share with the class. We have a number of food allergies across the school and we need to ensure the safety of all our students. Even though it seems like a small amount of time taken to share food for one child, you can imagine over the year this becomes very time consuming. Thank you for your support with this.
Swimming
We are very lucky to have expert input into our swimming programme this year. Years 3 – 6 are getting lessons at Lloyd Elsmore Pools, and years 1 -2 will be getting lessons from Farm Cove swimming school, here at the school pool. A big thank you to Philippa Boyes who secured a generous swimming grant and a big thank you to the Auckland Maritime Foundation for providing the grant to fund the in school lessons. Please help support the swimming programme by ensuring students have their swimming gear on their swimming days.
PTA News
2018 is well underway for the PTA! Please check out what is coming up on our new PTA notice board in the library window over the next week!
For 2018 the BOT has asked the PTA to fundraise for a sun shade over the playground area so we will be working hard to achieve this in time for next summer. The BOT are in the process of obtaining quotes and ensuring all objectives of the schools property plan and needs of our students are being met.
Fundraising: First off the block for 2018 is our big Whittakers Chocolate Bar fundraiser. Coming home, to the oldest and only, on 22nd Feb is a box of 36 chocolate bars ($2 each) that the PTA kindly ask our school families to sell. It is an easy sell as most people love the Whittakers range of chocolates! More information to come by flyer this week, please check your childs school bags for the yellow notice!
The date has been set for the BBPS Family Fun Night – Friday 23rd March. Bring along a picnic rug and join other school families in the early hours of the evening – the school pool will be open and there will be a variety of food and goods for sale. This is a PTA fundraiser and also a great chance to socialise with your school community and meet our new parents and families. If you would like to contribute to this evening in any way please contact bbppta@gmail.com
Thank you again for your support and we look forward to meeting you all soon!
Kind regards
Kelly Slater-Brown
Community Notices
SKIDS Plus – For those parents that would like to send their child to extra maths or reading after school, please see times and days below.
Each class is $25 per session, per child. (Normally between $45 and $65 elsewhere). If you are needing to go to after school care before or after these times, then those costs are separate.
Our staff per child ratio is no more than 1 teacher to 4 kids. If our numbers increase the staff ratio may go down to 1:3.
sKids Plus Extra Maths – Held in Room 18
Mon and Wed – yr 1,2,3 from 3.40pm to 4.25pm
Mon and Wed – yr 4,5,6 from 4.30pm to 5.15pm
sKids Plus Extra Reading/Spelling – Held in Room 18
Tues and Thurs – yr 1,2,3 from 3.40pm to 4.25pm
Tues and Thurs – yr 4,5,6 from 4.30pm to 5.15pm
Please contact Wayne at skids.bbps@gmail.com for more information.
Guitar Lessons – Do you want to learn to play the guitar, Jordan Morrison offers after school classes here on site – for more information, including price, please contact Jordan.morrison@musiqhub.co.nz or phone 021 132 7024. Click on the link below.
Musiqhub Flyer.
Fun French Beginners’ Classes Years 2-6: An 8 session taster French course is being offered again at Bucklands Beach this term, and beyond. The major emphasis is on communicating orally through the interactive use of fun games, song, role-play and ‘real life’ activities. For more information, please email admin@Lpa.co.nz or contact us on 022 358 2211. C’est si bon!
SUP Out East offers Stand Up Paddle Lessons in the Bucklands Beach area. Beginner, teenage and SUP fitness classes available as well as private lessons. Contact qualified NZSUP coach Rachelle on 0274736464 or find us on Facebook.
BUCKLANDS BEACH TENNIS – Mid- season enrolment with reduced fees is currently open. This membership runs until August and includes all kids coaching till the end of term 1. Check out bbtc.co.nz for kids coaching times and enrolment form. For Mums and Dads we have a 2 x Beginner adult course starting up on 21st Feb. Please emailbbtc@xtra.co.nz for further info or contact Coach Julia Sim on 021 505553. Learn tennis …a game for life at our family friendly club !!
THE FLASH BANG SCIENCE CLUB – AFTER-SCHOOL CLASSES ARE BACK!!! (7yrs-12yrs) Open for bookings now and filling fast! Inspire your curious kids with practical, hands on experiments in a fun creative environment. Our popular PAKURANGA class is back on Tuesdays 4-5.30 and a brand new one in HOWICK on Mondays 4-5.30pm starting from 19th Feb so still time to book. For more information and bookings please check out www.flashbangscienceclub.co.nz or email: admin@flashbangscienceclub.co.nz.
Hornets Rugby League Information – 2018 Junior Recruitment Poster + Warriors[14950]
Let’s come and celebrate Children’s Day at Pakuranga Family Fun Day!
Date: Saturday 3 March 2018 – Wet or Fine
Address: 219 Ti Rakau Drive (Enter the carpark at 2 Fremantle Place. Corner of Ti Rakau & Gossamer Drive).
Time: 12pm – 3pm
Cost: Free Entry, kid’s food, and All are welcome! (Toddlers, pre-school children, primary & intermediate aged children.) Sausage sizzle and coffees available for purchase to raise funds for our local youths to attend their Annual Easter Camp.
Activities: Clown, traditional races, side-show games, craft, face-painting, inflatables, food stalls, toddler area, balloon shaping and etc.
We are in partnership with: Riverhills Primary School, Pakuranga Baptist Kindergarten, Pakuranga Chinese Baptist Church, and Pakuranga Baptist. We are proudly supported by Auckland Council, Howick Local Board. It is a smoke-free event! Please check out the Free Ticket link: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2018/pakuranga-family-fun-day/auckland/pakuranga?_ga=2.12780272.696554220.1517783548-1027709979.1517783548 .
BBYC Junior Learn to Sail – 11 February 2018
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