From the Principal’s Penkhandallah.school.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Principals-Newsle… ·...

6
Office Newsletter No 20 29 November 2018 From the Principal’s Pen Kia ora te whanau It’s hard to believe less than three weeks of the school year remain. 2018 has been another busy, challenging and exciting year for our 431 children and 39 staff. It’s been great to see the improvements to our school environment and impressive to see everyone continuing to focus on quality learning and living our values – kindness, respect, responsibility, resilience, excellence. Kids’ Kaukau Challenge A very big shout out to everyone involved with organising and running the 2018 Kids’ Kaukau Challenge. The combined efforts, determination and careful planning meant the event went smoothly and ensured everyone involved had a wonderful time. It was great to see so many of our children wearing their medals proudly the next day and talking about the great time they’d had with their friends and teachers. Events such as this are fabulous for bringing our community together and many families have thanked us for the experience! Restricted Access Many, many thanks to parents and staff supporting our children in getting to school safely every day but especially over last Thursday, Friday and Monday while the Clark Street pedestrian entry was closed. We really appreciated your efforts either walking children the extra distance to Woodmancote Road from Clark Street or standing along Box Hill to guide children or keep cars from turning in driveways and stopping on the pavement. The heavy rain added to the challenge and we acknowledge everyone showing good humour, courtesy and patience. The entry was closed during the demolition of Block D which has served our school community for around 50 years. We look forward to seeing the demolition completed and excitedly await the construction of the new playground. School neighbours We have received a number of calls from neighbours reporting that some parents are parking over their driveways and refusing to move to allow residents to enter or exit their own properties. We have apologised and advised them to photograph the offending vehicle and send to the police for follow up. Road patrol parents on Woodmancote Road are also reporting some drivers repeatedly stopping on broken yellow lines, in or over driveways and in the no parking areas. Please, please, please allow a little extra time and follow our simple rules that are there to keep everyone safe and the traffic flowing! Thank you morning tea Each year we hold a special morning tea for those who have supported us in any way over the year - in classrooms or library, carrying out road patrol, on trips and excursions, coaching sports teams, during camp, organising fundraising and social activities, on committees, etc. Invitations have gone home via your children. If yours hasn’t made it home for any reason, please do come along and join us this Tuesday, 4 December, 10:30am in the hall. We’d love to see you.

Transcript of From the Principal’s Penkhandallah.school.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Principals-Newsle… ·...

Page 1: From the Principal’s Penkhandallah.school.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Principals-Newsle… · Neuron Disease. Jude has been granted ... newsletter and are provided for your information.

Office Newsletter No 20

29 November 2018

From the Principal’s Pen Kia ora te whanau It’s hard to believe less than three weeks of the school year remain. 2018 has been another busy, challenging and exciting year for our 431 children and 39 staff. It’s been great to see the improvements to our school environment and impressive to see everyone continuing to focus on quality learning and living our values – kindness, respect, responsibility, resilience, excellence. Kids’ Kaukau Challenge

A very big shout out to everyone involved with organising and running the 2018 Kids’ Kaukau Challenge. The combined efforts, determination and careful planning meant the event went smoothly and ensured everyone involved had a wonderful time. It was great to see so many of our children wearing their medals proudly the next day and talking about the great time they’d had with their friends and teachers. Events such as this are fabulous for bringing our community together and many families have thanked us for the experience!

Restricted Access

Many, many thanks to parents and staff supporting our children in getting to school safely every day but especially over last Thursday, Friday and Monday while the Clark Street pedestrian entry was closed. We really appreciated your efforts either walking children the extra distance to Woodmancote Road from Clark Street or standing along Box Hill to guide children or keep cars from turning in driveways and stopping on the pavement.

The heavy rain added to the challenge and we acknowledge everyone showing good humour, courtesy and patience.

The entry was closed during the demolition of Block D which has served our school community for around 50 years. We look forward to seeing the demolition completed and excitedly await the construction of the new playground.

School neighbours

We have received a number of calls from neighbours reporting that some parents are parking over their driveways and refusing to move to allow residents to enter or exit their own properties. We have apologised and advised them to photograph the offending vehicle and send to the police for follow up.

Road patrol parents on Woodmancote Road are also reporting some drivers repeatedly stopping on broken yellow lines, in or over driveways and in the no parking areas. Please, please, please allow a little extra time and follow our simple rules that are there to keep everyone safe and the traffic flowing!

Thank you morning tea

Each year we hold a special morning tea for those who have supported us in any way over the year - in classrooms or library, carrying out road patrol, on trips and excursions, coaching sports teams, during camp, organising fundraising and social activities, on committees, etc. Invitations have gone home via your children. If yours hasn’t made it home for any reason, please do come along and join us this Tuesday, 4 December, 10:30am in the hall. We’d love to see you.

Page 2: From the Principal’s Penkhandallah.school.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Principals-Newsle… · Neuron Disease. Jude has been granted ... newsletter and are provided for your information.

Teacher Strike

Thank you again for your support on Friday 16th November as Wellington teachers and principals took strike action. Electronic voting to accept or reject the latest offer from the Secretary for Education is currently underway. We are likely to hear the outcome next week.

Staff Wellbeing

We have received the incredibly sad news that Jude Hampton has been diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease. Jude has been granted discretionary leave by the board for the remainder of the school year and 2019. We are fortunate indeed that Shelley Strand and Julie Lear will continue to teach alongside Elise Chan and Lucy Julian in the Kākā Hub with our Year 2 children for the remainder of the year. We acknowledge Elise, Lucy, Shelley and Julie for the tremendous way they are working together to ensure quality learning continues for our children.

A number of people have asked how they can support Jude who has taught many of our children over the past decade. Jude is facing up to some real financial challenges as she comes to terms with her diagnosis and plans for the future without an ongoing income. For those who would like to help in this way, a “GiveaLittle” page has been set up. You can also help by sharing this page amongst your networks: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/jude-has-motor-neuron-disease#

Congratulations

We would like to congratulate Amy Pierce, Kauri Team teacher and School-wide ICT Education Leader. Amy has successfully completed her Mind Lab Postgraduate Study in Digital and Collaborative Learning.

Earlier this year, Amy also become one of the first teachers worldwide to complete all 3 levels of Hapara Training- Champion Educator, Champion Scholar and Champion Trainer. Hapara is the platform teachers use to make digital learning visible, manageable and enables teachers to personalise digital learning for children. Well done, Amy on all of your hard work. Our learners and staff benefit daily from your knowledge and expertise.

Staff Changes

At the end of the school year we will say farewell to three members of our teaching team Elise Chan and Roanna Reidy will be a great loss to teaching as they pursue other career options. Renata Balfour has made the big decision to move closer to family in the Wairarapa.

Appointments

We’re delighted that Lucy Julian and Annabel Smith, currently in fixed term positions, have been appointed to permanent positions next year. We have been fortunate and will welcome four new teachers to our team in 2019 – Caerwyn Morgan (currently teaching at Ridgway School), Nadya Nicholson (currently teaching at Pauatahanui School), Holly Caughley (currently teaching at Hataitai School) and Daniel Hunt (beginning teacher).

Organisation for 2019

Children will meet the teachers in their 2019 Learning Hub during the last week of the school term when all our new teachers will join us for a planning day.

Our school will be organised in three Teams. Teachers have been allocated to teams only at this point in time and this could alter slightly if any further staffing changes occur.

Kowhai New Entrants

Year 1

Matai Year 2 / 3

Kauri Kākā: Year 4 Kererū/Korimako: Year 5 / 6

Teacher placements within each hub are in the process of being finalised.

The various release roles covering Classroom Release, Leadership Release, Beginning Teacher Time, Reading Recovery and special needs will be covered by our experienced release teachers Kirsty Gardner, Wendy Dunphy, Fiona Healy, Diane Buttar, Shelley Strand and Julie Lear.

Page 3: From the Principal’s Penkhandallah.school.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Principals-Newsle… · Neuron Disease. Jude has been granted ... newsletter and are provided for your information.

Mandarin Language Assistant Wu Yuhang is returning to China after a successful year in Wellington teaching Mandarin at our school and Onslow College. We have been successful in our application to host another MLA in 2019. Next year we will welcome ZENG Zixia, from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies in Guangzhou. Zixia has been in NZ for 2018 based in Gisborne and is looking forward to experiencing Wellington. We are looking for a family to host Zixia. An accommodation allowance is paid. If you or someone you know locally is interested, please contact [email protected]

Help for Refugee Families

On behalf of the family, we are looking for bicycles for two children aged 10 and 11. If you have one that is no longer used by your children and would like to donate, please email [email protected]

End of Term The final day for school is Wednesday 19 December. Children can be collected from school at 12 noon. Staff celebrate the end of the school year with lunch together at 1:00pm. YMCA after school care operates from 12 noon – 6:00pm.

Ngā mihi mahana

Louise Green

Board News

Reminder - Policies for review

Please take the time to review and provide feedback on the following policies

• Improving Educational Outcomes for Maori

• Behaviour Management • Complaints procedure

To read the policies go to http://khandallah.schooldocs.co.nz and login with the username: khandallah and password: kaukau

To place feedback click the "Complete feedback form" button, or use this link: https://feedback.streamliners.co.nz/Schooldocs/feedback.aspx?id=12727&[email protected]&cc=&Subject=Khandallah%20School%20Feedback%20re:%20Complaints

Important Dates for your Calendar The following events can also be found on our school calendar on our school website.

Date Activity

29 November Interzone Athletics

29/30 November

RNZ Ballet – Matai Students

3 December Home & School Meeting

4 December Regional Athletics

4 December Parent Thank you Morning Tea

5 December Wheels Day

7 December Library books returned

9 December Kapa Haka Village Fair Performance

11 December Sausage Sizzle

13 December School Fun Day Library – All books returned by Friday 7th December. The annual stocktake is due now so please can all books be returned to the library. Sports Uniforms Home and School Tuesday 11 December

Page 4: From the Principal’s Penkhandallah.school.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Principals-Newsle… · Neuron Disease. Jude has been granted ... newsletter and are provided for your information.

Khandallah STARS

Kids’ Kaukau Challenge Winners Congratulations to students Connor Kemp (1st place) and David Cook (2nd place).

Community Notices The following notices have been received from a range of sources for inclusion in our school newsletter and are provided for your information. Khandallah School does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of information provided.

RAROA MUSIC CENTRE ENROLMENTS FOR 2019 Raroa Music Centre offers Saturday morning group music lessons for primary school children at low cost. Classes include choir, keyboard, recorder, drums, ukulele, guitar, violin, cello, clarinet, saxophone, flute, trumpet and orchestra. To enrol for 2019 visit our website at www.raroamusic.org.nz and enrol online. Enrolments open in December. Stop Motion Animation - Popular movie making creativity with LEGO and colour paper (based in Newtown) Options for three or four days (9 to 5) in the week starting Monday 14 January 2019. For more information go to www.newtownmovieschool.co.nz or contact Craig Lauridsen 021 966 277 or [email protected]

Page 5: From the Principal’s Penkhandallah.school.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Principals-Newsle… · Neuron Disease. Jude has been granted ... newsletter and are provided for your information.

CASTING CALL! LOOKING FOR SINGERS TO HELP RECORD THE FIRST 'FEEL BRAVE' SONG AND MUSIC VIDEO - KAPITI COAST JAN 2019.

If you think you've got what it takes and want to be a part of a magical day recording the first ‘Feel Brave’ song in a studio with some fabulous musicians and being part of a music video that will get exposure all around the world, please send a video/video link of you singing to [email protected] The recording studio is on the Kapiti Coast in New Zealand so you'll need to be able to get there on Sunday the 20th January 2019 and also be available for an audition in person on the 16th Jan and participate in a rehearsal a few days before the recording on the 20th Jan. It doesn't matter what age you are, your voice just needs to sound like characters who are around the 8 to 10 year old range.

DECEMBER DROP & SHOP IS BACK! Monday 17th – Thursday 20th Dec 2018. Perfect time to get your Xmas shopping done while the kids have active fun! JANUARY HOLIDAY PROGRAMME - Monday 14th Jan – Friday 1st Feb 2019. Children enjoy a fun filled time taking part in gym circuits, challenges, competitions, free play, structured games and talent quests! Children that love gym, trampolining, tumbling and parkour will benefit from practicing and extending their skills during these sessions too. Term 1 2019 GYMNASTICS, TUMBLING, TRAMPOLINING OR PARKOUR class bookings open from Monday 26th November online www.bigairgym.co.nz. If you are interested in BIGAIR BIRTHDAY PARTIES or CHEERLEADING, contact Bigair Tawa on 2323508, email [email protected] CLASS SPACES ARE LIMITED AND OUR PROGRAMMES ARE EXTREMELY POPULAR, SO MAKE SURE YOU BOOK IN EARLY!

FOR ALL INFO GO TO: https://www.feelbrave.com/casting-call

CodeCamp - Summer Holidays Dates & Venues: Samuel Marsden School: 7th-10th, 14th-17th and 22nd-24th January 2019

Thorndon Primary School:7th-10th, 14th-17th and 22nd-24th January 2019

Petone: 17th – 20th December 2018, 7th-10th, 14th-17th and 22nd-25th January 2019

Porirua: 17th – 20th December 2018, 7th-10th, 14th-17th and 22nd-25th January 2019

CodeCamp allows kids from the ages of 7-12 to develop 21st century skills in a fun and action packed environment. Develop confidence & initiative through design, creativity, solving problems & collaboration. Create games, apps & work with robots and electronic building blocks. Book Now at http://codecamp.co.nz/holiday-codecamp/

Page 6: From the Principal’s Penkhandallah.school.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Principals-Newsle… · Neuron Disease. Jude has been granted ... newsletter and are provided for your information.