Kia ora e te whānau

We had 47 children up in the Port Saddle area above the school yesterday working with Toni from Enviro Schools and the Banks Penninsula Conservation Trust.  Children were involved in the extensive native planting continuing in the area along with learning from experts about the local flora and fauna. Despite the windy conditions children were able to experience their day in the outdoors making connections to learning this year at school around Mahinga kai.  We look forward to ongoing opportunities to use out local outdoor spaces in this way.  Thank you to all parents for your support and for joining us for the day.

You may notice the feature article in today's newsletter from Linwood College.  We would like to take all opportunities to share latest news, events and celebrations from Linwood and so will maintain a Linwood feature article in our school newsletter each week.  You may also be interested in viewing the Aupaki Kāhui Ako website which also includes a publication on Linwood College as the local High School for our kāhui.

Staff this week have been analysing and discussing the data from a recent NZCER Wellbeing@School survey conducted with year 5 to 8 students and all teachers.  The survey explores the perceptions children and teachers have about the climate and culture of Lyttelton Primary School. We are particularly interested in students' opinions of school as a caring and safe place and the strategies they can use to manage themselves and relate to others, coupled with teachers' opinions of the social and emotional learning programmes we provide at school. We have very positive results along with some areas we will be exploring further to address questions and challenges for our planning for 2021 and beyond.

Unfortunately we have had to cancel the Aupaki Cultural Festival this year as we are unable to coordinate a third postponement date between all schools.  The performance the children have prepared for will be filmed and made available for parents and we will ensure there is a future opportunity for our parents and whānau to watch the LPS kapa haka group. In term 4 we have the Aupaki speech showcase coming up, Aupaki Rocks and a new event, the 'Aupaki Science Conference.'  The science conference is a two day event held at Linwood College for year 7 students from across Aupaki who will benefit from learning from specialist secondary science teachers.  More information for parents coming soon along with an opportunity to visit Linwood to see the science learning across these two days. Science Conference for Lyttelton is scheduled for the 3rd and 4th of December.

Please be aware that in the school holidays there is some remediation work underway to re-paint the ibeams of all our stairways due to the formation of rust.  The work will include a full 'wrap' of the stairways in preparation for painting so the school stairways will look like white tubes over the break!  The work is starting on the first Saturday with the wraps being removed in the last weekend.

We are also proceeding with work to support and improve the capacity to physically manage noise travel between the learning spaces. As shared last week "Although the teachers on each floor already manage learning programmes to minimise noise levels at key times of the day, we have listened to parent and whānau feedback, student voice and staff and are now installing slide door options in the gaps between Harakeke and Kōwhai and Raupo and Totara. The new doors will provide for the flexibility to minimise noise between the main learning spaces when closed while maintaining the ability to provide free movement between areas when open. Our new doors fit with the existing style and arrangement of the school."

Next Friday we are planning for an end of term assembly but this is dependent on us being in covid alert level 1 so will be confirmed next week. The assembly is coordinated by Raupo.

Final message is about sun hats for term 4.  All children must have a suitable sun hat that shades their face, neck and ears while outside during term 4 and term 1.  Our sun safe policy outlines the school's health and safety responsibilities and practices.  Thank you for supporting the school by providing a suitable hat for your child next term. More details in today's newsletter about sun safety.

Kia pai tō rā whakatā

Brendan