by Heather Walkinshaw

LATEST NEWS AND VIEWS : 4 August

Welcome to our Newsletter #11 for 2022

Welcome to Term 3

What a mixed bag of weather - rain, rain and more rain, then some wonderful drying days, with a glimpse of sunshine.

Scooter Track - For scooters and skateboards only

From Monday 8 August we will start our scooter use.  We know there will be heaps of children wanting to ride the track, so this way we can introduce it without there being too many at a time.  Children will not be able to ride the track on a day that is not theirs, or on a scooter that belongs to someone else.

Helmets and protective gear is recommended, but optional

Learning Space Scooter Days

Monday - Ruru

Tuesday - Pukeko

Wednesday - Kererū

Thursday - Matuku

Friday - Toroa

Scootering will be available before school, at Morning Break and Lunch time.  Children will be going over the Scooter Track Rules in their classrooms.

Uniform

Over the two interview days this week a number of parents were seeking to purchase uniform.  We have just had a new delivery of uniform so the sizes we were short of are now back in stock.  Call into the office when you are able to select your items.

Mask Wearing

We were lucky to receive our child sized masks on day one of the term.  There is a supply in each class and while it is optional for Years 1 - 2, mask wearing is required at years 3-6.  We hope this is making a difference to the spreading of bugs and germs.  Most children are wearing their masks appropriately, and the Teachers are doing well with mask wearing too.  At this stage mask wearing will continue for another two weeks and we will await guidance from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education regarding options moving forward.

Teacher Only Day

For some time now we have been trying to secure a day for staff to update their First Aid Certificate.  We have managed to secure Monday 29 August as our training day.  Please be advised that the school will be closed on Monday 29 August.

Next Friday we will farewell Mrs Alexia Walker (Toroa Team) as she leave to have a baby.  Alexia is taking 12 months leave from her permanent position.  We wish Alexia and Duncan well and look forward to meeting their new arrival.

Learning Conferences

It was great to see so many parents at the conferences earlier in the week. We hope this was an opportunity for a learning conversation and a chance to ask some questions of the teachers.  The focus for the next reporting will be Writing and Inquiry/HEART Zones.  Conferences will be offered following this reporting too.

New Staff

We welcome two new Teacher Aides to the school.  Miss Brittany Duston and Mrs Catherine Manuel.

Additionally we welcome Miss Eden Ronald to Toroa to replace Alexia Walker for the remainder of 2022.


Kind regards

Heather Walkinshaw

Principal