Number crunching, outdoor adventure planning, student council, pink days and more!

Pink Shirt Shenanigans

It was mīharo | amazing to see the sea of PINK coming into the school grounds on Friday 19 May for Pink Shirt Day! A big THANK YOU to everyone who made the effort to deck themselves out in this glorious colour to remind us about being an upstander not a bystander; to stamp out bullying by celebrating diversity and promoting kindness and inclusion.

Throughout the day, buddies worked together on a pink t-shirt design of their own (these can be seen hanging in the window of the old Tūī room) and we judged a best dressed competition - not an easy task! Congrats to our winners: Jed, Saoirse, Tor, Lorelei, Alma, Violet, Emily, Aria and Josh for winning a small prize in reward for their PINK efforts. 

Our school bake sales are always hugely popular - thank you to all the bakers from the area! The cupcakes were beautiful 🍧 and the demand was high!

The William Pike Challenge

The past two Sundays has seen a small group of Year 7 students take on new adventures in the hills. Part of the William Pike Challenge, Meg, Harper, Emily, Kate D and Bronte were rock climbing at Pop Up Crag and abseiling at Cattlestop Crag last weekend, alongside students from Mt Pleasant School's WPC. Then yesterday, a smaller group of Harper, Meg and Emily traipsed out to Lees Valley for a rogaine. Read more about the WPC in this issue of the Update. 

Student Council

We held our first meeting for this year's Student Council at the start of the term. They are well underway, working with school leadership to name the 'empty' room previously known as Tūī and organising posters, activities and baking for Pink Shirt Day last week. 

Leaders: Izzie & Tessa
Tūī Representatives: Saoirse (Y2), Isa (Y2)
Korimako Representatives: Max H (Y3), Lorelei (Y4)
Pīwakawaka Representatives: Kate Y6), Alma (Y5)
Kererū Representatives: Bronte (Y7), Josh (Y8)

Board and PTA Working Together

Last week, Sally-Ann F (Presiding Member of the School Board) met with the co-chairs of the PTA, Bex and Susan. We took them through our ops grant and explained why we need the PTA to keep up all their good mahi and fundraise on behalf of the school. 

In short, our ops grant comes in around $170,000 for the year. This is the budget to cover everything except for (most of) our teaching staff. We also receive some income from MOE and other sources to support our ākonga with the highest of specialist needs. 

That $171,816.96 covers:

• School resources, like reading books
• Monthly bills like water, phone, photocopier, laptop leasing for teachers
• Council Rates
• Rubbish collection
• Grass cutting and grounds keeping
• Extra staffing (i.e. to cover sick leave, extra support in the school)
• Topping up Learning Assistants to full time
• Office staff
• Accounting, insurance, audit fees
• Property maintenance and cleaning materials

It's quite a list! This is why we also ask for a donation to school if you can afford it. Almost half of you have paid already, so thank you!! Your donations give us an extra $15,000 p.a. to ease some of the financial pressure on the school. Remember, you can claim back your charitable donations as part of your personal tax claim, going back four years. 

The IRD rules state that the following payments qualify for the Donation Rebate

• Donation payments to state schools (including integrated schools), schools approved as charities for tax purposes, school boards of trustees or parent-teacher associations. These payments must be donations, not just a payment of school fees.

Parents will need a Rebate Claim Form (IR 526) which will either be sent to them or can be obtained from www.ird.govt.nz or by phoning 0800 257 773 (need IRD number).

Some of our whānau make a small, regular donation to their school account (i.e. $10/week) and find that they are in credit by the end of the school year. Some of this can also be earmarked for the school donation. Have a chat with Rebecca in the office about any of these options, or to get a receipt for your current or previous year charitable donations. 

Upcoming fundraisers and events

• This weekend! The PTA are hosting a working bee here at school, from 9am - 11am. 
• The office will be organising fundraisers for Fix & Fogg nut butters and for salami from Cured NZ. Watch this space!

Term 2 - Upcoming events and important dates

• Wednesday 24 May - Zone Cross Country (Year 5-8 who qualify only)
• Thursday 25 May - PTA Hui, 6pm @ Ōtoromiro Hotel
• Sunday 28 May - Working Bee, 9am - 11am
• Wednesday 31 May - pp Zone Cross Country (Year 5-8 who qualify only)
• Monday 5 June - King's Birthday - School is closed
• Wednesday 14 June - BOT Hui, 6pm
• Wednesday 21 June - Canterbury Cross Country (Year 5-8 who qualify only)
• Friday 23 June - PTA Disco @ Community Centre, times TBC
• Thursday 29 June - End of Term Assembly, 2pm
• Friday 30 June - YOU-niform day
  
• Friday 30 June - Mid-year reports go home, last day of Term 2