Kia ora Whānau

Tenā koutou and welcome to the new term. We have had a great start to the term.

Our Year 4 ākonga, parent helpers and teachers had a fantastic camp at Living Springs. The children (and adults) came back tired but very positive about the experience.

What a great few weeks of sport. Several students represented our school over the holidays. Sophie H was part of the South Island Inter Regional Cross Country team that raced in Nelson and Jack S participated in the National School MTB Champs in Bluff. Well done Sophie and Jack on your training and efforts. 17 ākonga competed in the Huxster MTB at McLean’s Island last Thursday, with Team Keegan C and Cory O coming in the top 7 teams for Y5/6 (out of 118 teams)! The senior athletics went to plan on Tuesday, with a dedicated group of parent helpers, a coolish breeze and keen athletes. Congratulations to the following ākonga that set new school records: William K Y8 Boys High Jump; Finn S Y7 Boys Long Jump and 100m; Ethan T Y6 Boys Long Jump; Riva H Y6 Boys High Jump; Arlan M Y5 Boys 80m; Sophie N Y7 Girls 100m; Aiden W Y8 Boys Discus, Long Jump and 60m; Riley T Y8 Girls Long Jump. Good luck to our Selwyn Zone qualifiers and our Jump Jam team going to Nationals.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our teachers. It is World Teachers Day tomorrow and it is timely to acknowledge the dedicated, talented and passionate group of people we have working at West Melton School. Ngā mihi nui.

With our recent SunSmart accreditation we continue to be a SunSmart School. At West Melton School we have a Sun Protection policy in place. A copy of this policy is also attached.

SunSmart also has many resources to support whānau when not at school too. Check out the link: https://www.sunsmart.org.nz/be-sunsmart

Earlier in the year we consulted with whānau regarding our Health and Wellbeing Programme as part of a review that occurs every two years. We are pleased to present this programme for 2022 and 2023. If you have any questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

You may have walked past the school pool and noticed it is still a construction site. We have been assured that the pool will be ready to be handed over in time to open on 21 November. More information on key hire will be sent out in the near future. We will be calling for volunteers to help with testing and the pool cover over weekend breaks and the school holidays.

A reminder that school will be closed for Monday 14 November for all ākonga. This will give staff the opportunity to engage in professional development and planning for 2023.

Ngā mihi nui

Tracey