In week 3 of this term we held our 'Celebrating Our Cultures' week. We are so privileged to have so many different cultures within our school community and this is a special time when we celebrate this.

I would like to thank Kartika Sulistiowati and Catrin Hinton for their teaching of violin and flute in our Out of School Hours Music Programme this year.

On Tuesday evening this week, we celebrated all of the kaiako who have been working hard to whakapakari/strengthen their te reo māori. These wāhine toa have committed lots of time and brain power to this mahi and we think that's awesome! Congratulations to Asima, Dawn, Ingrid, Jani, Jo, Kiri, Michelle, Sandra, Latoia and Victoria. Ka rawe koutou!!

Well done to all the 2022 athletes from our school who competed in this event last Sunday.

Our last paintings of the Māori Art Year used paints, pastels, crayons and cardboard. Weaving skills were practised on the birds which created a third dimension on the flat surface.

On Thursday, 10th November, two T Ball teams travelled to Tauwhare School to participate in the annual T Ball competition. It was a windy day and we even had a few showers of rain pass through making conditions tricky. The two teams got the opportunity to play six games in total.

The Silverdale Scene Stealers have been working so very hard on their production - 'The Point of the Pyramid'. The middle and senior school were fortunate last week to be their first two audiences at the University of Waikato. Parents had the opportunity to attend the final show at 5.30pm last Thursday evening. What a talented bunch - singing, dancing, and acting up a storm. So proud of them! Big thanks to Claire Coleman for all her work with our actors and making this opportunity happen.

At the beginning of Term 4 the Senior School had the pleasure of having Meg Wilshier come in and teach us how to create with uku (clay).

On Tuesday our Year 5 students had the chance to train with the NZ Police so they can take part in Road Patrol next year.

Please see the link a survey below. The survey is to gauge interest in the YMCA running a holiday programme from 9th January to 27th January 2023. The proposed programme is STEAM based activities. In order for them to run the programme they need 15 bookings a day.

Please check your child's Seesaw account in Week 8 to see his or her End of Year Report and this term's learning post.

On Wednesday, 7th December, we would like to hold a Community Appreciation Morning Tea for those of you who have supported us in a variety of ways this year. We are very appreciative of all the ways our school community help to make our school such an amazing place for our tamariki to learn, our teachers to teach, and our support staff to work. Thank you.

See below what the PTG have coming up his term to raise funds to save our school pool:

On Monday, 14th November, the Senior and Middle School held their annual Athletics Day. Greeted with hot weather, the students competed with sportsmanship, and individuals continued to improve on their personal best. The students demonstrated whanaungatanga, supporting and encouraging each other.

Our Junior school has been working very hard on their artwork. Please take the time to come and view the Junior Art Exhibition at the Framing Workshop, located at the Silverdale Road Shops.

Please check your child's school bag next Monday, 21st November, for information about his or her 2023 class and teacher.

Come and join us for our End of Year Assembly at 9:30am on Friday, 9th December.

This is the final issue of Book Club for 2023. Brochures will come home this week - The last day for orders will be Tuesday, 29th November to ensure books arrive before school closes.

The last day of the year is Wednesday, 14th December. School will finish at 1.00pm on this day.

Student learning the keyboard, guitar and drums are being given the opportunity to perform to parents, siblings and friends in the Student Commonroom at 1.00pm this Friday.

If you have a child ready to school at the beginning of 2023 and have not completed an enrolment application, can you please contact our School Office as soon as possible.

We would like to remind you that in Term 4, children need to wear a named hat at morning tea, lunchtime and during any outdoor activities. Can you please remember to pack a hat in your child's bag each day.

The Board of Trustees set the term dates for 2023 at its last meeting.

To be held on Friday, 16th December, from 6.30 to 8.00pm at Hillcrest Chapel, corner of Masters Avenue and Morris Road.

Hamilton’s 2022-2023 Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon will again be held at the Waikato University Fields, Hamilton East - with a new date of Sunday, 4th December 2022.

This Christmas morning on Newstalk ZB – it’s The Star of Christmas singing competition… on The Crazy Kiwi Christmas Kids Show! The grand prize? The opportunity to professionally record any Christmas song with Nathan King, lead singer of Zed. You’ll be treated like a star – with return flights for two to Auckland (if you’re out of Auckland), hotel accommodation, and a music studio tour.