Newsletter - WE 03/03/2023

Kia ora Koutou
I want to begin by acknowledging the generous contributions of our community towards our non-uniform day last Friday. Many students gave more than a gold coin in donation and we raised over $1,100.00 which will be distributed to schools affected by Cyclone Gabrielle in the North Island. Thank you for supporting this cause. 

I also wish to acknowledge the following local businesses who have generously supported us in our project to erect a fence around our lodge at Windy Point: Farm Source - Culverden, PGG Wrightson’s - Culverden, Farmlands - Culverden, Amuri Fencing Ltd, Leo Dunne Ltd and Waiau Hardware. The new fence looks amazing! We hope that our Year 9 students enjoy their camp at Windy Point next week.

Over the past week we have held our Swimming Sports and Senior Athletics. It was nice to be running these events at the normal time of year again! Well done to all who participated. Good luck to our students who will be representing the school at upcoming Hurunui and Canterbury-wide events. 

A reminder that Friday 10th March is a Teacher Only Day and the school is closed for instruction. Staff are attending a professional learning and development day with the other Tipu Māia schools at Ōnuku Marae in Akaroa. 

You may have recently seen some publicity about industrial action for teachers. The Secondary Teachers Union have signalled that teachers may hold a strike on Thursday 16th March. If a strike is confirmed, we will communicate with you as soon as possible about any potential impact for instruction at school. This may include a closure of the senior part of the school on the day. 

A reminder that our school value for the term is ‘Respect.’ The following conversation starters could be good to use with your children to help them unpack this value: 

- “What does respect look like, sound like and feel like?”
- “Is respect something that is expected or something that is earned?”
- “What are some ways we can show respect for ourselves, respect for others and respect for society?” 

I’m looking forward to my first Amuri Show this weekend, and in particular to seeing all of our Primary art on display. Good luck to students and parents who have entered competitions at the show.

Have a great weekend.

Kia kitea toikaka

Matt Barlow
Principal

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Primary School News

Kia ora Parents and Whanau

It has been a jam packed fortnight for our Year 7 and 8 students. Last Tuesday we had swimming sports for all students who can swim a length or more and then this week, senior athletic sports for Year 7 to 13. Some parents have asked why Year 7 and 8 get two attempts at athletics and the reason is because they qualify for different events. The Term 1 athletics qualify them for CCHS (Canterbury Country High Schools) and the Term 4 events qualify them for HPSSA (Hurunui Primary Schools Sports Association or Zones). We have had students in the hub attend CCHS swimming this week and there are CCHS athletics to come next week. Unfortunately they coincide with Year 7 camp! 

Mrs Shaw and Mrs Voice are accompanying our Year 7 students to Hanmer Springs next week for two days and will be taking a group of parents to help supervise activities and provide transport. We wish them a successful camp and we look forward to some photos and a recount in our next newsletter. Ms Campbell will be working with the Year 8 students at school. 

Last Monday we held our Primary Splashtacular. This event is for Year 1-6 students and is a showcase of all swimming abilities and stages. Again, the weather gods smiled and we had a brilliant sunny day which made the pool look very enticing. It was also the first event for a long time where we have been able to welcome parents back without restrictions and we had a great crowd of supportive parents and whanau attending. 

Thank you for coming along and supporting the children. Today we have held our annual Primary Duathlon and there will be more photos in the next newsletter!

In between all the swimming and athletics and camps we have been working to establish routines and testing students to find where we need to direct our teaching. Thank you to all parents and carers who provided answers to our parent survey regarding your children. These provide us with insightful information about your children and help us build relationships quickly. The staff in Year 1-8 enjoyed reading through them and making phone calls where needed. 

Thank you for all the parent and whanau support regarding uniform. Year 1-8 students have made a huge effort to show respect by wearing the correct uniform items and we as a staff, are very appreciative of the parent support. I know some students are disappointed not to be able to wear their sports shorts and hoodies, but I have pointed out these are made for the respective sport, not for school. 

And of course, on Saturday we welcome back the Amuri Show after a break due to Covid restrictions. If you are going along, please take some time to view our Year 1-6 show art in the produce shed. Our theme this year is ‘Natives around Amuri’ and we hope you will enjoy each class and their individual interpretation of this theme.

Nga mihi nui

Kylee Habgood
Deputy Principal - Primary

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Congratulations on your recent marriage Mr and Mrs Voice

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Roll of Honour - 20 strives

Jakob Bush
Lucy Cater
Mac Langford
Aggie Rutherford

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Congratulations to Sean Moriarty!!

Sean had a great week, some challenges and much success. He made the NZ Drew Junior Team (Top 10 Juniors). He had at least one match every day, shoulder to shoulder with up to 20 other athletes.

There was an interassociation match on the last afternoon for teams of 3. And right up Sean's alley... Fancy dress! He and his team took out 2nd place and won best dressed!! 

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Dates for Your Diary

March

6th HPSSA Swimming
6th-8th Year 9 Camp to Windy Point
7th HPSSA Swimming postponement
8th-9th Year 7 Camp to Hanmer Springs
8th CCHS Athletics
8th Year 11-13 Crash Bash - Safe driving presentation postponement
9th Mitchell Assembly @ 12:20pm
10th Teacher Only Day - SCHOOL CLOSED
13th Year 11 trip to Faulkners Farm
14th CSS Athletics Prelims
15th Year 7-13 - Attitude Presentations
17th Primary Assembly @ 2:00pm
18th CSS Athletics Finals
19th Year 12/13 Geo/History South Island Trip
20th PTA Meeting at 7pm
20th Year 11Ag fieldtrip to Montrose
21st HPSSA Duathlon - Year 4-8
22nd HPSSA Duathlon - Year 4-8 PPT
23rd CSS Swimming
26th-30th Year 12 OE/PE to Marlborough Sounds
29th Caverhill Assembly @ 9:55am
30th SISS Mountain Bike
30th Year 13 Geography Coastal Fieldtrip
31st-1st SISS Athletics

April

3rd HPSSA T-Ball - Year 3/4
3rd Amuri Softball - Yr 5/6
4th HPSSA T-Ball - Year 3/4 - Postponement
4th Amuri Softball - Yr 5/6 - Postponement
6th CPS Swimming
END OF TERM 1

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School Absences

If your child / children are going to be absent from school, can you please contact the office on
03-315-8233 or put a message on the School App. This will prevent a text message being sent to you.