Kia Ora Hampstead Whanau. It has been a busy couple of weeks at school with Swimming, Winter Tournament plus Maths Week last week and a Jump Jam competition on Sunday! It's nice to have lots of opportunities to keep the children happy and enthusiastic about school.

Jump Jam Competition: We hope you had a chance to watch the videos of our two teams on Facebook.  They were outstanding!  We took 26 children to compete in the Regional competition at Ellesmere College on Sunday 14th August.  We were so proud of how they represented our school.  They were so enthusiastic and really gave it their all!  And the cherry on top is that both teams won in their category.  Some very excited children.  Huge congratulations go to you and a massive thank you to Miss Martin and Miss Bruerton for all the hard work coaching these teams.  

Swim Week for Year 5/6: Our Year 5 and 6 children have had a successful Swim Week at EA Networks pool.  It has been great to see them progress their aquatic skills and water confidence. 

Winter Tournament: Hampstead School had two netball teams and a rugby team entered into the Mid Canterbury Winter Tournament.  A huge thank you to Sera and Makeleta Ula and Mrs Carolyn Coulter for coaching the netball teams and to Mr Dayle Prichard and Mr Regan Broker for coaching and managing out rugby team.  This event was set for Thursday, however the weather postponed it to Friday.  We appreciate everyone who helped with transport as well.  It takes many adults to make these events happen and we appreciate all you do.  THANK YOU also to the Hampstead Rugby Club for donating shorts for our rugby teams.  They looked smart and very proud.

Hampstead’s School healthy free lunch – and morning tea programme: A message from Jo Taylor at Kai for Kids

Did you know that up to 40% of what we eat every day is used by our brain to help it function. In children this can be up to 75% of what they eat. Our brain is a very hungry part of our body.

Our school is one of the 944 schools in New Zealand taking part in the healthy free lunch programme.

This means that every child at Hampstead School receives a filling nutritious lunch every day at school. Starting on Monday August 22, we will also be providing morning tea every day.

There is no need for your child to bring any food to school from next week .

Our lunch provider is Kai for Kids Charitable Trust which is a local group - whose aim is to cook the best lunch possible for every child at Hampstead.

The lunch menu during the winter terms includes some fabulous hot meals that the children are really enjoying. The 10 day menu rotates throughout the terms. The 10 meals are: pizza, cottage pie, macaroni cheese, cheesy pasta bake, chicken pasta bake, cheeseburgers, ham and cheese sandwich, nachos and roast chicken and veg in gravy on mashed potato and kumara. Each meal is served with cut up pieces of fruit – oranges, apples, pineapple, kiwifruit or banana and twice a week there is a muffin or pikelet.

Each meal is nutritionally balanced and provides lots of vegetables, fruit, fibre and protein.

Every dietary allergy or cultural preference such as Halal, is catered for. For those with special dietary needs their meal are made separately at the kitchen and they have a named lunch box each day.

Kai for Kids will put out a survey towards the end of Term 3 for any feedback on the menu and any suggestions.

Our Board of Trustees: Our next Board of Trustees meeting is on Wednesday 21 September at 6pm in the Staffroom.  We welcome to new members to our board - Anna Smith and Naneh Manoa.  They join our three existing board members: Dayle Prichard, Regan Broker and Margaret Walker.  Mrs Lois Eaton is our new Staff Trustee.  We look forward to working together. 

PTA: our next meeting is Tuesday 27 September at 6.30pm in the Staffroom.  All Welcome. 

Our Star Students: Alicia in Rm 7 has grown in confidence this year. She gets involved in all class activities and does so with the biggest smile. She works hard independently to complete her tasks to high standards and is always excited to learn. She is kind, caring and is always willing to help others around her.  Fereni in Rm 8 is a kind, thoughtful and helpful girl who is respected by her peers.  She willingly becomes involved in extracurricular activities.  She works hard to achieve her best and has a positive attitude to her learning.  She is a positive role model and has a great sense of humour.

Coming Up: 
Yr 5/6 Ski Day – 30 August
Life Education – 12-21 September
Wellbeing Open Afternoon: 27 September (Save the Date - more information to come)

Nga Mihi Nui
Claudine Campbell (Principal)