eNews – Week 3, Term 2

12.05.2023  

FROM OUR PRINCIPAL MRS COOK

Kia ora

This is an information filled newsletter with lots of dates for you to diaristise for this term.

Class Home / School communications will be sent out this afternoon so keep an eye out for these. The purpose of this communication is to inform you of what has been planned for your child for the term. Knowing what learning is taking place in the classroom will help you to support your child at home.  Of course if you have any wonderings or questions, please email or call the school we will be happy to help.

PERFORMING ARTS 2023

What opportunities will our learners have to share their ‘Arts’ talents in 2023?

• Specialist Arts Teacher: We have employed a teacher with expertise and enthusiasm in the areas of Dance, Drama and Music to teach our learners for a session each week. In assembly today we heard that one of our learners had described his most recent session as ‘the best lesson he’s had in this whole life’. A big thank you to Mrs Lockett for providing this engaging learning programme.
• Alfriston School will be hosting this years Hunua Cultural Festival. While our Kapa Haka group will perform, it is not a ‘Kapa Haka Festival’, therefore we hope to have another couple of groups perform.
• Jump Jam – this is a dance and movement group coached by Miss Groom. Trials for Year 5 and 6 learners will be next Wednesday.
• End of Year ‘Arts Cultural Week’ – an opportunity for all learners to showcase their learning and talents. This will include visual art and class performances.

We will not be having a school production in 2023. 

Staffing update…

We would like to inform the communitiy that Mrs Renae Beck will be leaving Alfriston School this term.  We would like to take the opportunity to thank Renae for all the hard work and dedciation she has shown to our school, our learners and our wider community.  Renae has worked with many learners over the past years ensuring that their learning needs were met and often creating exciting resource.  She willingly helped with big school events and more recently revamped our library.  We wish her all the best.

Important dates for your diary…

Please check the school website for updated information – LINK

Some of the events this term

Monday 15th May: Jumping June launch – a note will be coming home

Tuesday 16th May: Bike Skills – Te Tupu Ria, Room 1, Room 3 and Room 4 (note change for Rm 3)

Wednesday 17th May: Bike Skills Rooms 2, Room 5, Room 6 and Room 7

Friday 19th May: Pink Shirt Day (Supporting Bullying Prevention) – Wear pink to school

Tuesday 23rd May: Year 7 and 8 ECCS Netball Fun Day

Friday 26th May: Learner Reports sent home

Tuesday 30th May: Three Way Conferences (Learner, Caregivers and Teacher) SCHOOL FINISHES at 12 o’clock

Wednesday 31st May: Three Way Conferences (Learner, Caregivers and Teacher)

Wednesday 31st May: Year 7 and 8 ECCS Hockey event

Friday 2nd June: Donut Day (Friends and Family event)

Friday 2nd June: Whānau Assembly

Monday 5th June: Kings Birthday – No school

Friday 9th June: Year 5 – 8 Mathex event

Thursday 15th June: Jumping June

Friday 16th June: Class Home/School Partnership communications emailed home

Monday 19th – Thursday 22nd June: Book Fair (Character Parade and Grandparents Morning Tea on Thursday 22nd June)

Friday 23rd June: Friends & Family Winter Movies in the PAC (Details to be provided)

Thursday 29th June: I Am A Scientist Open Morning – sharing of our Term 2 learning

We always look forward to making this time to connect with families.  All whānau will receive an email inviting them to make an appointment to meet with their child/children’s teacher to discuss the recent report.

The interview portal to book an interview will be live on Wednesday 17th May.

Mobile Phones at School (Learners)

We have a growing number of mobile phones being brought to school by learners and although we are happy for this to happen we do have rules and expectiatons of the learners to ensure everyone is kept cyber safe.

• Only Year 7/8 learners have the privilege of bringing their phone to school
• Learners from other year groups may only bring a phone if parents/caregivers have made a prior arrangement with the school
• The phone can not be used during school hours
• The phone must be signed in at the office and signed out at the end of the day.  The phones are locked away and kept safe for the duration of the school day
• Failure to hand in a phone may result in the learner loosing the privilege of bringing their phone to school
• We  strongly discourage the wearing of smart watches to school especially if they have connecitvity capabilities
• We expect all learners to abide by the expectations in order for the learners to continue to have this privilege
• If requested by a staff member, learners must hand over their phone and it will be locked up for the duration of the day

Early to School?

The number of learners who are dropped off at school well before learning begins is increasing.  We ask that you do not drop your child to school too early, the gates open at 8am, however, learners should not be on the school grounds until 8.15am.  We do not have supervision for the learners who are at school early, our teachers are busy preparing for the learning day and with the changing weather, waiting outside in the cold and rain is not ideal.  

Should you need to be somwehere before 8am please make alternative arrangements for your child to get to school.  We suggest that you make arrangements with a friend, family member or trusted parent of one of your childrens friends to drop your child/children at school at the appropriate time.

We thank you in advance for your support and understanding.

 Bike Track Success!!

Learner Celebrations

Community Call out!

We are setting up lots of wonderful opportunities for our learners during break times, however, we are still in need of puzzles and boardgames for our library.  Do you have any complete puzzles or boardgames that you no longer use and would be willing to donate to school?  We would love them!

We are also sending some learners to sports camp and as part of their participation they will be competing in the boardgames chess and checkers.  If you have any of these games at home that you are able to donate it would be very much apreciated.  Thank you!

Ensure we have accurate, up-to-date contact information for you

Download our school app

We will not be using Seesaw this year. Learning will be shared via newsletters (class, team and school) and a ‘Home / School Partnership Communication’ twice a term.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND WELCOME TO…