Wow.  We no longer have any contractors on site!  What a treat!  While we still don't have a hall it is nice to know that there will be no banging and crashing going on around us for a while.  

On a different note, the Government recently announced its School Donations Scheme, where schools will get an additional $150 per student if they no longer ask for donations to cover the costs of delivering curriculum related activities.  After careful consideration the SNBS Board intend to ‘opt in’ to this scheme for 2020.  We will monitor progress and are able to opt out again if we need to.

This will mean that parents will no longer be asked to pay for:

• An annual school donation
• Curriculum based activities and visits eg swimming lessons, Friday sport, arts, science visits.

However we will be able, and will need to, ask for:

• Donations towards the cost of running overnight school camps
• Payment of costs for non-curriculum events eg specialist sports event, Koru games, ski trip.

We plan to communicate clearly about the actual cost of all events, so that you can choose to help if you wish!  As has always been the case we can only provide opportunities for our children when we have enough money to do so!

Further information is available at the office or via this link https://www.education.govt.nz/our-work/publications/budget-2019/government-introduces-donations-scheme-for-decile-1-7-schools/.  You are also very welcome to come and discuss the scheme with me.

A further change that is being considered for next year is the possibility of shifting to cohort entry to school.  This would mean that students started school at 2 entry points during a term not on the actual date that they turn 5.  We have added a link to a document which outlines the proposal and we would be very interested in hearing your thoughts on this.

We are looking forward to next Wednesday when we all get to visit the town hall to hear the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and then have lunch at the Margaret Mahy playground.  A notice will be heading your way soon.  

Heres hoping for great weather on Friday so that we can enjoy our Senior Athletics.  Fingers crossed!

Kia pai to rā

Sue