Friday 10th May 2019

Dear Parents and Whanau

Welcome back to another exciting term at Queenspark School! It was great to see everyone feeling relaxed and rested with big smiles ready to take on the challenges of Term 2. We hope you all managed to have some quality time with your children over the term break.

A special welcome to our new students and families who join us this term. We also welcome back Mrs Linda Goodson to the Year 7 & 8 teaching team and thank Mrs Cushla Nichols and Mrs Kate Webster for their support over the last term with the teaching of Hub 1.

Our term has commenced with much movement and excitement with the starting of the earthworks in anticipation for the new classroom block. This work began in the holiday period and will continue in stages that will ensure the foundations are in place prior to the winter months. This week you would have also received notification regarding the upcoming Board Community Consultation Meeting on Monday 20 May at 7:30 pm. This is an opportunity for you to come along and hear from our school architect Malcolm McClurg (OPUS) about the planned build as well as find out about our school's cultural narrative from Janina Konia our Mana Whenua facilitator. Both Malcolm and Janina are experienced in their roles and have worked with many schools as part of the Ministry of Education's rollout of new and refurbished builds across the city post-2011.

This term is actioned packed with a wide range of learning opportunities and events throughout the school. From Cross Country, Book Week, Museum visits right through to Parent Learning Conferences - it's all go!

Our whakatauki for the start of the term is Mauri tū mauri ora “An active soul is a healthy soul”

At our assembly, on Monday our student leaders shared the importance of keeping active as a learner, promoting physical activity. Our teaching staff ensure that healthy promotion of physical activity is incorporated in the day-day learning programme from daily fitness through to sport based activities that suit a range of learner needs.

Disabled Car Park

A reminder to all parents and community that the disabled car park in the area behind the old hall MUST be reserved for those families who have disabled car parking authority.  Several times recently there have been other cars parked in this space.  PLEASE DO NOT park in these parks if you do not have a visible disabled car park sign.  The police have been informed of those cars parking here and the City Council will also be monitoring this.  Any questions please contact the office. 

Phone/Game Compatible Wrist Watches

We are noticing an increased number of students wearing and/or bringing digital wristwatches that are compatible with mobile phones or gaming devices. As part of our Digital Safety agreement that we have in place at Queenspark School, these devices like mobile phones or other digital devices other than Chromebooks are not permitted to be used during the school day. If there is a need for your child to bring one of these devices to school for before and after school use then these devices must be handed to their teacher for safekeeping during the school day 8:30 am - 3:00 pm.  

It was great to see our YR3/4 students participating in the Cross Country today.  Well done to everyone who gave it a go.  Stepping outside our comfort zones is not always easy sometimes.  All the best for the Senior students in their Cross Country on Tuesday and the Juniors on Friday.  Fingers crossed it will be a day like today weather wise!

Finally, even though the weather is cooling down a little and the days are getting shorter, we know our community will continue to be supportive and enjoy being a part of our wonderful learning programmes.

Have a great weekend everyone,

Pauline Jansen

Acting Principal