This will be my final newsletter as FOS Principal after eight years and over 150 newsletters. It has been a great privilege to lead this magnificent school and I am very proud of everything that we have achieved with and for the children! 

It is always hard to leave a job when it has been successful, fun and fulfilling but there comes a point when it is time for a new challenge. I am looking forward to the adventures that lie ahead for me personally as I move into a different career. I will always remember my time as Principal with great joy. I have been very fortunate to have worked with amazing staff, children and parents and they are the reason why our school is such a great place!

I am delighted that the Board of Trustees have appointed Raewyn Saunders as my successor and I congratulate her on winning the position. I look forward to watching on as Raewyn leads the school for many years to come.

The Year 6's have had a busy last few weeks of their time at Primary School. They have been completing work on their ‘Leave Your Mark!’ inquiry and you will have seen all sorts of initiatives pop up around the school led by these children. I wish them all the very best as they move onto their new schools and expect to hear stories of their amazing dream making in the future.  

This year we will be farewelling the following staff members:

Alison Beatty who is taking maternity leave, and also Michelle Kinney, Karen Brown, Abi Brand and Jeanne Pearce.

Thank you to all of the above staff for their wonderful contribution to Fendalton School and we hope to see you back again in the future.

As we approach the end of the year, this is a good opportunity to explain how things will run for the last few days. We will hold an assembly tomorrow, Friday to farewell staff that are leaving. This is followed by a Year Six Leavers’ Assembly next Tuesday at 1.30pm.

Our final assembly for the year will be on Wednesday 16th December at 9.30am in the hall. School will officially close for the year at 1pm on this day, although parents often choose to take their children home as soon as the final assembly is finished.

Classes for 2016

The classes have been finalised for next year and the children met their new teacher today. The placements are now available via your secure login. Please log in to your school account and select 'My Class' under each of your children's pages to see the children and teacher for next year. 

Year 1 - Carolyn Silby, Amanda Williamson, Amanda Blackwell

Year 2 - Chessa Crow, Juney Jung, Nicky Vincent

Year 3 - Deborah Davids, Megan Lamberg, Lisa Stanbury

Year 4 - Marama Buck, Angela Hazlett, Amy Snow

Year 5 - Sheena D'Abreo, Carmen Dodd, Karen Radovonich

Year 6 - Judy Harford, Sue Gordon, Chris Rae 

All that remains to be said is have a wonderful break with your children and families, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Exit Survey for Parents

If your child/ren are leaving Fendalton School at the end of this year we welcome you to fill out our  Exit Survey

Welcome

Fendalton School extends a warm welcome to all our new families who have started in the last fortnight.

Upcoming Events

December

11 - Farewell Assembly for staff leaving @ 9.45am in the hall

15 - Year Six Leavers Assembly @1.30pm in the hall

16 - Final Assembly @9.30am in the hall

An update on Fundraising for the Pool Rebuild

Thank you to all those that have supported the Pool Rebuild Project. We have successfully raised $377,639.35.

This amount has been raised through:

• School raffle
• Legendary Divas Show
• Spring Fling Ball
• Donations through "givealittle" and directly to school
• Support from local businesses

Charitable grants from CERT (Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Trust); Fendalton Waimairi Community Board; Food Stuffs South Island Community Trust.

Last Monday we received a $10,000 cheque from the Hummingbird Coffee Charitable Trust. Thank you Hummingbird Coffee!

Plans for more fundraising are already under way for next year. On Sunday 13th March, Harcourts will be running a House & Garden Tour which we hope will be very successful.

As soon as the money needed to pay for the rebuild has been received or pledged, the Board is able to seek permission from the MOE to start the rebuild.

Our engineer is currently drafting the design. This should be completed by Christmas. Actual costings will be obtained early next year, and we will then be in a position to make a number of applications for charitable grants. This will help us to meet the MOE requirements.

Please continue to show your support for the rebuild.

If you know of any business that may consider supporting our rebuild, and in doing so qualifying for a  sign on our fence please email pool@fendalton.school.nz.

Donations through "givealittle" or directly to the school are very welcome. Every dollar counts and is appreciated.

You can also follow the rebuild’s progress on facebook at www.facebook.com/fospool/

From the PTA

The PTA have had a busy year - we have organised a large number of events for the school community and raised over $48,000.

The events include 

• our fabulous vintage fair
• talent show
• read feed speed
• sausages sizzles
• family picnics
• discos
• raffles
• class liaison socials
• new family coffee mornings
• quiz night and year group social nights. 

Other fundraising ventures run by the PTA are the calendar art, second hand uniform sales, entertainment book sales and toothpaste scheme.

Although the main fundraising focus has been the rebuild of the school pool, the PTA have also purchased new water fountains for the school. The funds raised have also purchased a mat for the ESOL room, a guitar for Kapa Haka, 10 new chrome books, the phone book for all Fendalton families, material for the sound garden, and robotics equipment. We have also supported the FPS group in their trip to Auckland, donations to all the class teachers to purchase classroom supplies, money towards the year 6 leavers celebration and our school library is funded by the PTA.

Thank you to the wonderful Fendalton community for your support.

We hope you all have a happy and safe Christmas.

The PTA team.

Stationery Orders for 2016

Please click on the link below to order your Stationery for 2016.

Stationery 2016

Dental Care over the School Holidays

At any time phone our 0800 number (0800 846 983) for information on how to access dental care, including emergency care.

In addition, the Community Dental Service will operate an emergency service in January 2016. This service is to provide relief of pain only and will not undertake ‘routine’ treatment. The service will be available each working day from 8:30am until 12:30pm from the Hillmorton Community Clinic, Sylvan Street, Christchurch for the following times:

Monday, 18th January to Friday, 29th January 2016 (excluding weekends)

This service will operate by appointment only and if we are unable to see your child,  alternative options will be given. You can phone and make an appointment for the emergency clinic by ringing the number above.