Our Year 5/6 whānau groups have had an amazing camp week in Woodend. They have been rock climbing, zip-lining, go-karting, orienteering, water-sliding, mini-golfing, trampolining... to name a few activities.

It is such a great experience for our learners who develop new skills while on camp. Special thanks to GROW who subsidised the cost of the camp for our families.

Special thanks to Mr Peter Northmore the team leader who has organised the camps and to our amazing staff: Mr Ben Galletly, Mrs Amanda Clarkson, Miss Jess Cooper, Mr James Hunt, Miss Nicole Davidson, Miss Kendra Ward, Mrs Tess Rodgers, Mr Otis Sole and Mrs Nicki McKenzie. Huge thanks also to the parent helpers, we could not run camps without you: Craig Homer, Yolanda den Haring, Janna James, Marcus Linehan, Lynn Hoffmeister, Dan Paterson, Crystal Tamou, Lee Richardson, Blair Croucher, Sean Spooner, Sam Abrol, Sam Anania, Jamie Murray, Monique Gordon, Tim Rait, Renee Roker, Brad Mitchell, Kezia Tapsell, Ken Broom, Ivan McAuley, Poonam Prethika, Cody Whittington, Marie Mills, Tony Sheard and Tim Spencer.

CONGRATULATIONS to our two Year 5/6 basketball teams who won the local zone competition and will be representing our school and the zone at the Canterbury Championships in August. We are so proud of you all. They, along with the Year 7/8 teams who participated, were awesome on the day. Big thanks to Amy Price and Annette Hynes who have been amazing basketball coaches at our school since we opened! Thanks also to Mr Kyle Seckold, Miss Jess Cooper and Miss Bec Lambert who helped coach and support the teams as well. 

Thanks also to Jo Burnett and Carmen Walcott-Wood and a team of dedicated parents who helped with a popular hot dog fundraiser last week. The money raised has gone towards sports socks for our learners.

Finally, last week we farewelled Sarah Booth who has been a valued Teaching Assistant at our school for the past five years. We will really miss Sarah's invaluable contributions to our learners and community and wish her well as she returns to the Early Childhood Sector. We have welcomed Miss Melanie Dempsey as a new teaching assistant this week.

Ngā mihi

Sylvia

PS our whare leaders will be collecting Pink Day donations by the scooter area in the morning [not outside Te Ara Maia] 

Thank you