Newsletter No. 8 - WE 14/06/2024

Kia ora koutou

This week has really felt like the depths of winter with cold and frosty starts and days that don’t really warm up that much! 

The last few weeks have been busy with field trips, sports trips and other exciting opportunities. It was great to see a large group of students from Years 7-11 head off to Kaikōura for a sports exchange on Tuesday. The students had fun and enjoyed the chance to compete with students from outside of the Hurunui. 

At our last board meeting I shared our Term 1 attendance data. This is coming to us in a new format with the current government keeping attendance at school in the spotlight. Their goal is to see 80% of students attending school 90% of the time by 2030. I have shared a snapshot of our attendance below. It makes for interesting reading.

Note: regular attendance is 90%; irregular 80-90%; moderate 70-80%; chronic below 70%.

Interestingly, one day off every two weeks or 19 days across the school year is enough to place a student on that 90% mark. We do know that time off school is necessary for wellbeing, especially in the case of illness. We also know that non-attendance can have an impact on learning and progress. We are really keen to work in partnership with our school community to see our attendance rates get to above 80% of students attending 90% of the time. Our goal is to have engaging classes that encourage students to attend and support their progress. Our pastoral meetings include attendance as a focus and we will be communicating with families in situations where we feel that a lack of attendance is impacting progress. 

A reminder that we will be sending mid-year reports home in Week 9. This will be followed by an opportunity to attend parent-teacher interviews in Week 10. A booking link and code for the interviews will be emailed home next week so that you can select a time to hold your interviews. To help with your planning the following details are relevant: 

Interviews will be bookable between 3:40pm-5:30pm then 6:00pm-8:20pm on both Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd July (5:30pm-6:00pm is a dinner break for staff). Interviews will be 10 minutes in length. 

We encourage interviews to be in person; however, if you really are not able to make it into school, there will be an online option available. 

We will confirm exact locations for each teacher; however, Year 1-6 interviews will be on the junior side and Year 7-13 interviews mostly in the gym or at another location on the senior side. We look forward to this opportunity to discuss and share progress with you. 

Thank you to all of you who have been supporting the various fundraising initiatives that we have at present. This support for the students really is appreciated as it contributes to helping students attend amazing opportunities that are presented by the trips they will be going on.

Lastly, a reminder that our Matariki celebration dinner is being held on Monday 17th June and we have the public holiday on Friday 28th June. We look forward to seeing you at the celebration dinner if you are able to attend.

Achiever of the Month – May
Kaden Tily (Room 5) – Kaden was nominated by several staff because of the hard work and focus that he has shown towards his learning. Kaden has shown diligence completing all of his work to his best standard. In addition, Kaden is a role model of all of the ASPIRE school values. Well done Kaden, you thoroughly deserve this recognition!

Kia kitea toikaka

Matt Barlow
Principal

Primary School News

Kia ora Parents and Whanau

It’s fantastic to have new students among us and we’d like to welcome Skyla-Rose, Skyla-Faith, Maia and Colton who have all arrived into the Amuri area in the last few weeks. This week we welcomed Hunter who is our newest new entrant and he has joined Ms Jamieson and her growing class in Room 1. Welcome Hunter! 

Last week I accompanied six primary Whanau leaders and four Year 7/8 leaders to the National Young Leader’s Day in Christchurch. This day was part of a leadership programme for our young leaders and there were speakers and performers, all sharing their journey to leadership. I know that some of our students are preparing to present at primary assembly and share their experiences.

It’s been lovely to welcome Mrs Shanks back to her part time position in our kura this term. We have missed her lovely smile and sense of humour. The children are delighted as Mrs Shanks has resumed lunch time activities one day a week and this week it was Mega Dodge Ball, it sounded like enormous fun! 

 Are your children missing a lunchbox or drink bottle? Or perhaps a small container from their lunchbox? I’m certain it’s currently residing in our lost property box so please come in and have a look if you are missing anything. Items are always left in corridors and out in the playground and do make their way to lost property which lives in the breakout space in our main primary block. If the item is named, I can find the owner easily but much of what is in there currently is not named. I clean out the lost property at the end of each term and put uniform in the second-hand cupboard and other items get donated to charity. 

Reports for all students in Years 1-8 are currently being proofread and will be emailed out from the 26th of June. Sometimes we find that reports get sent to your junk mail or spam folders so please check these regularly from that date in case this has happened. If there is no report, please ring the school office. 

Keep warm this weekend!

Ngā mihi nui

Kylee Habgood
Deputy Principal - Primary School

Secondary School News

Brrrrrr, it is definitely cold now that winter is here. The senior students are looking warm and smart in their insulated jumpers. If anyone is wanting to purchase these, they are available for order through the school office, still at wholesale price of $98.00. It was a Board of Trustees decision to include these jumpers as part of our senior uniform to ensure that our students were warm enough during the cold winter months and to eliminate the need for students to wear puffer jackets to school that were unsightly and not part of the school uniform. 

PIKE (Primary and Intermediate Kaiāraha Exchange) is a new initiative at Amuri for 2024 and is being led by our two Head Students. Activities have been developed to grow connections across the school and develop a tuākana tēina approach with our student leaders mentoring younger students. 

Otago University Liaison ‘Prajesh Chhanabhai’ will be visiting Amuri area school on Tuesday 18th at 1pm in the school academy. Any student thinking about university for 2025 or 2026 should attend to get an overview of the process of applying for courses, halls of residence and scholarships, loans etc…

The first set of exams for the year for the National Literacy and Numeracy standards have now been completed and while we wait for the official results, work continues in our homeroom classes and subject classes to develop students’ knowledge beyond where they are currently achieving.

The Senior Formal preparation is well under way and tickets are selling fast. Please get in quick to secure your tickets. The Year 13 formal committee have organized a great venue at Mt Lyford Lodge, a fantastic DJ and a reputable event photographer for the evening. The theme of a ‘Night Under the Lights’ has been enjoyable to create the stylisation and décor for the event. Be prepared for an extravagant night. Ticket sales close at 3:00pm on Friday 21st June.

The wearable arts competition is heating up, with junior and Form classes collecting and looking for recyclable items for their projects they are completing at school. We are looking for students, parents, Whanau and community members to take up the challenge in the open section of the competition. There is still time… Outfits are due on the first Monday of term 3 the 22nd of July, with the awards show on the 25th July. I am looking forward to seeing the creations come to life.

Nicole Peterson
Deputy Principal - Secondary School

** WANTED ** 

Old pots, pans, metal spoons, baking trays, colanders etc. These are needed for our new mud kitchen in the Primary School.

Donations would be appreciated and dropped off to the School Office.Thank you

Dates for Your Diary

June
17th Years 12/13 Physics trip to Canterbury University
17th Kapa Haka Matariki Dinner/Performance @ 5:00pm
18th Prajesh from Otago University visit
18th Year 11Ag trip to Eudunda
19th Caverhill Assembly @ 2:00pm
22nd Senior Formal at Mt Lyford Lodge
26th-27th Year 7/8 Matariki Sleepover
26th CPS Cross Country Champs
26th Year 12/13 Ag trip to Hossack Downs
26th Student Executive Meeting @ 1:00pm
26th-5th Year 13 Geography trip to Australia
27th CPS Cross Country Champs postponement
27th Market Day
27th NZ Playhouse for Year 1-6 students
28th Matariki Holiday - SCHOOL CLOSED

July
2nd Children’s University Campus trip to UC
2nd-4th Parent Teacher Interviews
5th End of Term 2
7th-12th NZ Area Schools in Te Awamutu
22nd Start of Term 3

Strive Merit Awards

Roll of Honour
Tanveer Ali
Zaki Aspe
Chester Barroz
Chloe Dela Vega
Emily Fenemor-Halsey
Shay Flapper
William Hamilton
Peyton Langford
Marionne Libiano
Pia Mercado
Ziggy Paora
Alfonso Ripa Pereira
Liv Whittleston
Kauri Wiperi
Nicky Wiperi
Jennafer Youngman

First Merit
Eli Belton
Gus Clisby
Emily Colombus
Kimberly Egmao
Billy Jones
Henry Lott
Molly McKenzie
Aggie Rutherford
Sarina Woodhouse

Canterbury Secondary School’s Cross Country

Angela, Eli, Valerie, Alex, Gwen and Connor attended the Canterbury Secondary School's Cross Country at Ascot Park in fantastic conditions on Thursday. There was some outstanding running (and hurdling) to be seen.

Congrats to our highest placegetters - Angela who was 29th of 44 in the Senior Girls and Eli who was 28th of 47 in the Junior Boys.