Kia ora e te whānau, welcome to the start of the second to last week of the year. I cannot believe how fast this year seems to have gone by. I do hope that the dreary weather we have today disappears before we all start our holiday breaks.

I would like to start this week by acknowledging all of those parents who have helped out and supported our programmes over the last term in some way. We are extremely grateful for your support. Thank you!

Have a great week. 

Ngā mihi nui.

Darryn Ward

Pool Keys still for sale. 

Swimming pool keys are still on sale at the school office.

Keys will cost $100 this year. The money can be paid by cash or EFTPOS. There is also a $20 cash deposit, which is refunded when the key is returned at the end of the season. 

Help with the pool covers / roster

Over the coming week we will be looking to make contact with all of those families who have purchased a key for the pool so that we can put together a roster for the season. We will likely try and arrange an after school meeting so we can meet and share what we are asking for.

For those who are new to the school we like to ask key holders to give up one week during the swimming season to assist with removing the covers and putting them back on. This is at 8am and 8pm. There are also a couple of other small jobs that we ask our helpers  to do. 

By putting the covers on in the evening we can maintain the temperature and keep the pool clean. It was 30 degrees yesterday and is 29% today.

Until we have finalised  a roster, we would ask that any family who is here in the afternoon or evening, and are the last to leave can you please put them back on.

Canterbury Athletics

On Wednesday 23 students competed in the Canterbury Athletics Championships and many in 2 events. On a cold, windy day competing against the fastest and most skilled in primary Schools from across Canterbury and the West Coast, Fernside athletes represented us well in what can be an intimidating event, especially given the 2 week rest since the Rakahuri Champs.

In the field events:

• AJ nailed it with his 34.53m discus throw winning the Year 8 boys’ discus
• Rhys Tobin placed 3rd with his 4.95m long jump setting a new School record previously held by Dylan McCord (4.85m in 2014)
• Georgia Grant threw 21.91m in the Year 7 girls’ discus to be placed 2nd
• Miriama Jonathan threw 19.50m to be placed 3rd in the Year 6 girls’ discus, and was placed 5th in the shot put
• Emily Raika placed 1st in both the Year 5/6 girls’ AWD discus and shot put
• Brooke Hansen placed 6th in the Year 7 girls’ long jump
• Julius Wilson placed 10th in the Year 5 boys’ shot put
• Robbie Owens placed 11th in the Year 8 high jump setting a PB of 135cm in the process.

We had 3 individual sprinters finish in the top 8 – it is so exciting when I get the marshalling sheets for the finals and see a Fernside child’s name on it.

The Year 8 boys’ 4 x 100m relay team of Robbie, Rhys, AJ, and Rowan were placed 22nd in the final while the Year 5 boys 4 x 50 team of Ollie H, Sonny, Zach, and Edwin were placed 4th in their final.

Robbie Owens was placed 4th and Rhys Tobin 7th in the Year 8 boys’ 100m while Brooke Hansen placed 7th in the Year 7 girls’ 100m sprint.

Congratulations to all of the competitors. You were fantastic ambassadors for our school. 

Sports' update - Mountain Biking

Last Monday the School was represented by an enthusiastic team efficiently and passionately led by Barbara Shadbolt. A team of 24 Fernside children competed in the local Rakahuri Blast.

Surpassing the fantastic results was the glowing feedback from our parents telling us that all the students were a true credit to Fernside School. They were competitive, supportive and a fun bunch to spend the day with - they did Fernside proud.

A special acknowledgement of Carter Cunningham in Year 3, must be made. He was there to support his brother, Lochie but when Adrian Foster (in the Year 5 category) had a fall in the first lap injuring his ankle, Carter stepped in to replace him. After riding a couple of laps while the team figured out how to keep teammate Duke in the event, Carter stepped in. Not only was Duke still able to compete the pair finished 16/25 which was downright amazing!

We thank Barbara Shadbolt for leading the MTB Club over the last few years and acknowledge the work she has done. She has handed over the reins to Melanie Cunningham.

The results from the day are:

Yr7/8 boys' teams

• 1st Alex Shadbolt and Robbie Owens
• 6th Rowan Watson and James McCurdy
• 7th Isaac Plaskett and Austin Mclean
• 10th Koby Blackler and Harrison Louttit
• 14th Harry Gardner and Kaleb Pradhan
• 20th Josh Leslie and Henry Larcombe

Yr 5/6 boys' teams

• 2nd Ollie Henderson and Lochie Cunningham
• 4th Carter Louttit and Sonny McLean
• 12th Julius Wilson and Camden Jones
• 16th Duke King and Adrian Foster (with a big thanks to Year 3 Carter Cunningham who step in to relieve an injured Adrian)
• 22nd Luke Marshall and Blair Marshall

Yr 5/6 mixed teams

• 7th Imogen Neate and Seth Clenshaw

Congratulations again to all of our students who took part. You were great role models. 

Working Bee -Thank you

Thank you to those parents and children who came along on Sunday to lend a hand for thee working bee. I appreciate that it was not the best time of the year to have one with everyone being so busy so thank you to those who were able to come along. 

We made our priority tidying up the front of the school. You will notice the difference in and around the amphitheatre as we have planted some new grasses which should look fantastic

Thank you for your feedback

Thank you to those families who sent back their response to our community survey. This information will now be collated to help us decide what our priorities will be under each of our aspirational headings for the next 2 years.

Important dates for your diary

Tuesday 5th December  - BOT

Friday 8th December. - Year 8 dinner

Monday 11th December - Junior Prize giving 1:45 in the school hall

Tuesday 12th December -Senior Prize giving 6pm at RHS hall

Wednesday 13th December  -Fun day

Wednesday 13th December  - Year 8 trip

Thursday 14th December  - Last day of term 12- 12:15 finish

Wednesday 31st January - 1st day of Term 1 2024

Previous Notices

Celebrating success in assembly

Thank you for the photos that keep rolling in. Please remember that at our fortnightly assemblies continue to be a way of celebrating and sharing the many different activities that our students are involved in throughout the term. If your child has success in any event, or has had a great time in an event and you have some photos that you would like to share, please send these to me at principal@fernside.school.nz

Kids Base Holiday Programme

Please see the information attached at the bottom about the Kids Base Holiday programme

Busy Bumbles

Come and join us at Busy Bumbles for a summer full of fun!

Bookings are now open for our January Holiday Programme. Attached is the activity overview for our programme at Te Matauru School and the direct booking link is below:

https://enrolmy.com/busy-bumbles/book-now/505-Te-Matauru--January-2024-Holiday-Programme

All primary school aged children are welcome to attend any of our programmes though, so feel free to book at a different venue if that suits you best. More information about our awesome holiday programmes, including our Christmas Holiday Programmes during that week before Christmas, can be found on our website: https://www.busybumbles.co.nz/Holiday-Programmes/

Your children won’t want to be anywhere else this summer!