This week we remember all those who lost their lives in the Mosque attack on 15th March 2019.

This tragic event changed the lives of many families and like the Christchurch earthquakes, made us realise how important it is to continue to support our communities as they face the difficult task of rebuilding their lives.

As a school community, we want to recognise this day however have been really mindful to the requests from the muslim community around what is appropriate. 

On Friday we will participate in Colour Your Day #CYD2020 #UnitingYP. Please see information further on in this eNews around our plans.

Our ongoing reminder is the Kia Kaha print by artist River Jayden hanging in reception. LINK kindly donated this to the school in 2019.

National Remembrance Service

A National Remembrance Service will be held from 3pm to 4.30pm on Sunday 15th March in Horncastle Arena. The service, Ko Tātou, Tātou We Are One, will be jointly led by the local Muslim community, Christchurch City Council, the Government and Ngāi Tūāhuriri as mana whenua. Find out more.

We have reached another milestone!

We have reached 400 learners! (408 now actually!). Last Friday all our learners decorated an outline of their handprint. These will be put together as a collaborative artwork and hung in the school to remember this milestone.

'Through Your Eyes' Meetings

It was great to see so many families here this week for the 6 week check in. This is a new initiative we have introduced this year to ensure you get the opportunity as first educators to share with us your child's needs, passions and interests. As you will have seen, our staff completed the same form as did some of our older learners. We will now use this data to continue to personalise our programmes. Please remember that we have a shared responsibility to keep connected around your child's learning. There will be further times to connect and discuss learning over the coming terms however please keep in regular contact with your child's whānau teacher. They will be doing the same! 

Thank you!

A big LWG thank you to the Elderton Family who donated a new pear tree. This is a great addition to our school orchard outside Kahurangi and Maunga. It was awesome to see Rico from Southern Woods back on Friday to plant it. 

Also to Shona Brown and her whānau for donating some new plastic reels to add to our outdoor play based equipment. 

Important Reminders

There are a couple of concerns I have this week around Health and Safety. There are an increasing number of learners who are not wearing their safety vests to and from school. The admin team have also given out 50 loan vests since the beginning of the year and the majority have not been handed back in. Can you please support us to continue this really important health and safety initiative. 

There are also a number of learners who are enthusiastically arriving at school just after 8:00am. Learners can arrive at school from 8:15am however we don't have a duty of care and responsibility until 8:30am. Again your support around this would be appreciated. 

Extra Teaching and Learning spaces

Two weeks ago we communicated with you that we have been working with the Ministry of Education around providing us with additional teaching and learning spaces until stage 2 is built. Below is the design of the relocatable classrooms that will be moved onsite beside the caretakers shed on Charlbury Ave early next term. We have worked hard to ensure they will 'fit in' with the current look of our school. Initially these spaces will accomodate 90 learners. Long term, they will be great multi purpose and community spaces. 

In our thoughts

Our thoughts are with Troy and his whānau on the passing of his father in law Ron. 

Congratulations 

Congratulations to Sophia and Johnny Fenwick on their recent marriage. We wish them all the best for their future together. For those new families, Sophia is one of our staff members currently on parental leave. 

Regards

Sean | Tumuaki

principal@lemonwoodgrove.school.nz