Newsletter - WE 03/06/2022

Janine Jack

— Jun 3, 2022

Tena Koutou Katoa

Cross Country
It was so wonderful to once again have parents on site last week for our Cross Country event. It has been way too long. Congratulations to all that competed and ran in this event with participation levels once again very high and some great results in the zone event this week as well.

Uniform
The same old thing but we do ask that you support us by ensuring your child comes to school in correct uniform each day. Not doing so causes conflict for both your child and for teachers and distracts from the core purpose of learning. As the weather is colder feel free to use a plain black or white thermal as an extra layer and our school jackets are a great external layer for the school day.

Assembly
We have been monitoring the transmission of COVID within school carefully and it remains very low. Attendance rates at school are high and with the resumption of parents on site we feel it is time to re-establish whole school and primary assemblies. Students will be encouraged to wear masks for these events and we will have them ready on the day for any that forget and wish to have one. Our first whole school assembly in well over a year will be next Tuesday closely followed by Primary assembly on Friday June 10th.

We will continue to monitor sickness etc in the school, however our intention is that assemblies will be back until further notice. Getting together as a school and sharing key messages and celebrations is a critical part of our culture and has been sorely missed in the last 24 months.

Speaking of Celebrations!
It is always great to celebrate people who give so much within our local community. This week we marked a very special achievement for two of our local St John Ambulance Volunteers. Jackie Olorenshaw who received her Queens Service Medal and Chris Draper (Ex Amuri BOT member) who received his recognition for 45 years of voluntary service to the community. I have had the priviledge of working closely with both of these amazing people and was so pleased to see them recongised for their efforts. May they inspire us all!

Property Update
After five years and a lot of hard work, last week we finally received notification of the scope for the redevelopment of the High School side here at Amuri. I am pleased to say that the Investment Board listened closely to our arguments for a signficant investment and have come through with the following outcome:

Amuri will receive a significant redevelopment in the coming years. This will include:-
1. One extra classroom on the primary side to manage roll growth in this area of the school.
2. A new technology and science block will be built first on the senior side where the skate park and the academy currently sits. The expected start is in 2023.
3. After this is completed, H Block will be completely replaced with a new classroom block that will increase our school by an extra 5 teaching spaces overall. This building will also integrate all the older classrooms out the back of the school and merge them into a central block.
4. The skate park will be re-established in a different location.
5. The master plan allows for a third block at a later date should it be required with capacity for the school to grow to 500 students.

I would like to thank Minister Chris Hipkins for taking the time to respond to our petition last year and setting the wheels in motion for this to happen. I would also like to thank the Property team at the Ministry of Education Christchurch for their support in putting the investment proposal together.

The next step for the Board and MOE team is to engage an architect and start the process for design. The Board and your new Principal to be will keep you informed as they progress through the process to transform the school over the coming years. I look forward to coming back for the grand opening!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Kia Kitea Toikaka

James Griggs
Principal

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Senior School News

Welcome back to Hanmer students for integrated classes with our Year 7 and 8 students in technology modules. Great to see the value of collaboration being emulated within the projects that are being undertaken. This term we have a few students trialling a soft materials project where they are learning sewing and pattern making skills.

Helicopter inspired aide transportationHeider, AAS working with Mason and Issac from Hanmer school

Zara Hamilton Y8 proving that coding is for girls too

National Careers expo, Christchurch Arena
On Friday 27th AAS Year 11,12 and 13 students took the opportunity to visit the National Careers Expo at Christchurch Arena. The event was jam packed with trades, armed services, polytechnic, vocational trades course and University recruiters all offering advice and guidance on career opportunities. The event was not aimed at students signing up to a determined pathway, more to open their eyes to possibilities. Many came away prepared to look into career opportunities that may support future goals and aspirations.

Paramedicine chest compression challenge - Tuhi, Angela and Emma

VR Tourism experience – Rhys LewisYear

13 Armed Forces

Willow, Hayley, Maddie, Stephanie, Nathan and Jaime

Mrs Peterson will be following up with one on one support sessions with all senior students in the next few weeks ready for tertiary enrolment timelines.With that in mind we have been extremely lucky to organise a visit from Prajesh the Education Liaison from Otago University – 10th June 1pm in Academy.

The aim of this session is to not only talk to students interested in Otago university but also a wider student group around the topic of university/further study preparedness, entry process, student loans, scholarships and much more. It will be a valuable talk for all Year 12 and 13 students wanting to go onto further study.

Formal preparations are in full swing and tickets are now on sale for the Oscar’s themed event. Our senior formal committee is well into planning and organising the venue, decorations and outfits ready for the event. Just a reminder that tickets for partners who are outside of Amuri can only be purchased once approval has been given for attendance by the formal committee.

It has been great to see so much ‘upstander’ behaviour over the last few weeks. Students modelling the values of ASPIRE build our school culture and create a positive atmosphere within the school where students can feel safe and valued as individuals. We are going to focus on continuing to build the value of ‘upstander’ behaviour for the remainder of the term through our assemblies which restart next week and our whanau form time.

Wrap up warm, winter is here, but please remember the expectations on school uniform.

Thank you
Nicole Peterson
Deputy Principal - Secondary
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Primary School News

Kia ora Parents and Whanau

Discovery time in Tekoa this morning. Stop motion movies, walnut boats and high tea parties for the Royal Jubilee!

Year 7/8 girls self defence had their last session this morning. Thank you to the facilitators and to the teachers for providing this opportunity for our girls in Tupuae-o-Uenuku.

A reminder that children are not expected on the school grounds before 8.30am in the mornings. There is no supervision before this time and the buildings may be locked. School starts at 8.55am and we encourage parents to have their children at school just before then to help them settle along with their classmates for their first lesson. If you are late, please ensure you or your child signs in at the school office. Quite often late students miss the roll and then you get a text to say your child isn’t in school. Signing in helps our admin staff track who is where. School ends for Year 1-6 at 3pm and 3:05pm for Year 7-13. This time difference allows our primary students to get out the gate before the older students start to flow across to the buses.

Miss Sopp accompanied some of our students from Tupuae-o-Uenuku to the PCT challenge last week. The students performed well and were heard to say that the qualifying activity at school was easier than the challenge course itself! Constable Ken, our Police Community Education Officer had his speed gun there and the students were sprinting past to get their speed recorded. Owen Lewis clocked 28km ph which is quite impressive on two legs. Kapai Owen!

Last week’s cross country was a welcome activity, not just because we were blessed with good weather but also to see so many of our parents and whanau back at a school activity. The children certainly appreciated the shouting and cheering from the supporters and it was great to catch up with parents face to face! Ms Garthwaite and her class had a very successful fundraising bake sale where they raised $900 for their end of year camp. Thank you to the parents who helped the children with the stand. This week 35 students headed off to Scargill for the Hurunui Zone cross country and we had many top six placings. Miss Sopp will be putting those results out as soon as they are all confirmed. We will have top place getters heading to the Canterbury Cross Country later this term. Congratulations to all these students!

Under Orange level, we are able to have visitors back in the school and so we welcomed the Bible in Schools team back today. Your children will remain in or out of this optional activity, depending on your initial instructions. The alternative is a values-based programme run by the teachers. If you’re unsure which option your child is in, please ask your child’s teacher. Any changes must be made in writing to me on kylee@amuri.school.nz Orange level for parents simply means that you are able to go into the school grounds without a mask, but if you wish to enter the buildings, please sign in at the school office and wear a mask whilst indoors.

Welcome to Claudia who has recently turned 5 and joined Room 1 in Te Kooti.

Hei konā
Kylee Habgood
Deputy Principal - Primary

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Dates for Your diary

June
6th Queens Birthday - SCHOOL CLOSED
7th Hamilton Assembly
14th-15th Year 12 Outdoor Education Trip
18th-19th SISS Swimming - Dunedin
22nd CPS Cross Country - Nga Puna Wai
22nd NZDF Presentation
22nd Tapuae-o-Uenuku Matariki Sleepover
24th Matariki Holiday - SCHOOL CLOSED
27th School Reports sent out
28th Matariki Dinner and Kapa Haka Performance
29th Mitchell Assembly
July
3rd Amuri Rogaine
4th-6th Parent Teacher Interviews
7th Mufti Day - Gold coin donation to Cutting for a Cause - Leukaemia and Blood Cancer NZ
8th End of Term 2 and Mr Griggs’s last day
11th-13th SISS Netball Christchurch
11th-16th Area Schools Tournament - Whangarei
25th Start of Term 3

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Roll of Honour

Ashlyn Abernethy
Zoe Bailey

Safira Barroz
Maddie Bell
Rachael Bell
Eli Belton
Annabelle Cundy
Ella Dawson
George Flintoft
Lilly Frame
Bee Jamieson
Georgie O’Neill
Daniela Panganoron
Quaye Paora
Oscar Roberts
Zedric Tabunar
Gypsy Thornton
Kyani Wilson