Tena koutou katoa. What an exciting week! To see our students come back in the gates each morning has been really lovely. These young people are the heart of our school, and their happy voices bring it alive. I’m so glad we can be back, even with half classes, for these last few weeks. Can I remind families that if someone in your home is unwell, it is best you keep your child home too.

Wow - we have an amazing amount of talent at Milford School and it was so exciting to see all the entries arrive in my inbox. So many teachers and staff have commented about the awesome students, their performance etiquette and talent. The other students have also been inspired. Thank you to all the students who entered - it was very challenging for us to narrow down the winners for each category, but here they are:

In Term 2, the Hive began creating 3D bees to be used in the Bee Musical production and to feature in Sculpture on the Shore. Unfortunately Covid put a halt to all that. Before lockdown though, the children created bee shapes out of plastic bottles and then enjoyed using papier mache to help strengthen and add features. They finally got to add the finishing touches to their bees this week. They are very proud of their finished bees!

In previous years, Milford School have been very proud to participate in the Children's Exhibition at Fort Takapuna, as part of New Zealand's largest outdoor sculpture exhibition, Sculpture On Shore. We were even winners of the inaugural Angela Morton prize for Primary and Intermediate schools in 2018. Sadly, Sculpture on Shore was postponed due to lockdowns in 2020 and this year it has been brought online, so there is no children's exhibition.

Wow, it certainly has been a great week for Room 10 with so many students finding new, creative ways to deepen their understanding of our unit Sharing the Planet. This week we have been researching an endangered species and learning how to take a positive action in environmental causes. Our class has been so motivated to extend their learning in this important subject and find new ways to show their learning.

Catalogues were sent home this week, BUT if you didn’t get one, don’t despair! Please check with your classroom teacher or the office to get your copy. Orders need to be placed by 12pm, Wednesday 1 December.

See the article below from Kidz Therapy. There are 6 easy tips to help your children come back to school and enjoy the last few weeks of the 2021 school year.

All netball uniforms MUST be returned to school by 30 November 2021. Please wash the full uniform, and return in a named plastic bag so I can check your child's name off the list. Your child can drop the bag into the pink tub outside the office in the morning. If your child is not returning to school, please just hand the uniform to one of the teachers at the gates in the morning and I will collect it from them. Thanking you for your cooperation. Mrs Beverley Smith (Netball Coordinator)

These books need to be returned to school please. This is especially important for the Year 6 students leaving our School this year. In case you can't remember what your child had out, I will be providing teachers with a list of what their students still have. There is a box outside the school office for returns. Thank you very much for your help with this. Susan Jury, Librarian.