5 November 2004

A school is as strong as its community

Dear Parents, 

Well, what a busy two weeks!

It all began at 9.15pm on Sunday night, three weekends ago.  The telephone rang and it was Mr Brown.  “Ah, John, I can’t go on the Year 6 camp because I have torn my Achilles tendon.”  That meant that Mrs Richardson and Mr Stackhouse were now Year 6 camp leaders!

Mr Brown is on the mend now and is back at school — that’s great to see.  I was going on the Year 6 camp anyway, but my role had suddenly changed.  Monday dawned grey and cool!  I went to get the school van but a large note said … ’no gears’.  The other vans were booked but fortunately I managed to ’unbook’ one and we were soon on the road.

The weather got worse … at Waikari it drizzled, by Hanmer it was raining!  Fours days inside with 60 children and numerous parents … it did not look good!  But God had things under control (except for one or two uncontrollable parents!), the weather was magnificent for the rest of the week.

Highlights …?

`            Great group of children … they were an excellent bunch to go on camp with.

`            A fascinating group of hard working parents … great codes too!  Thank you to all the parents involved.

`            A week of fantastic weather.

`            The beauty of Hanmer Springs.

`            Great challenges … rock climbing, a 6-hour walk up Isobel, getting on together for the whole camp and many more.

`            Being able to broadcast to New Zealand on the More FM radio station!

Next week we’ve got the Year 4 camp to Cracroft.  This is another great week coming up.  I am a bit worried though, because two of the Dads who both thought they would try to outdo each other in being ‘Coolest on Camp’ at Hanmer are also at Cracroft … now that will be interesting!!!

John Stackhouse, Head of Primary School

PS  See the camp photos in this newsletter.

I have had feedback from a number of parents regarding class designations for next year.  We ask for parental input and do take note of concerns or reasons underlying requests for a particular placement.  However, we cannot guarantee that parental requests can be met.

We do our very best to consider a variety of factors including academic, social/relational, learning styles, teaching styles, personality types and overall class mix.

Class designations will be issued with reports on Friday 3 December.

On Wednesday 10 November school will be starting late.  Please do not deliver children to school until 9.35am.  Before this time there will be no supervision of children.

Buses will also arrive at school around 9.35am, an hour later than normal.

School Notices

Welcome to the Primary School … Year 5 Teacher Appointment

Miss Stephanie Smith will be teaching Year 5, Room A (next year Room 12).  Miss Smith originally attended Middleton Grange up to Year 13 and then trained at Bethlehem College in Tauranga … a Christian teacher training college.  Miss Smith enjoys a wide range of activities including music, reading and sport.  We are looking forward to welcoming her back to MGS next year.  She will be visiting us later this year to meet staff and children.  This is a one-year appointment.

Final Assembly

Remember … keep from 1.00pm Tuesday 7 December free.

The Primary School Final Assembly will be held in the Sports Centre.  We’d love to see you come along!  The theme of the assembly this year is CHANGE.

New Classroom Block Opening

We were hoping this year we could open the new block.  The classrooms are almost completed but it is proving very difficult to get a landscaper in to clean up the site, lay hard surfaces and plant plants.  We will keep you informed but the opening will now most likely be Term 1, 2005.

Athletics Day

What another wonderful day.  We had lots of parents along to the events.  Great weather, excellent attitudes and support from the children and great organisation all combined to produce a great day.

Thank you to those parents who helped with events on the day.  We have a real struggle each year getting enough volunteers … so next year we would encourage you to get involved, even if it’s for half of the day.

Big thank you to Mr Pomare (with assistance from Mrs Kench) for organisation on the day.  Also to junior staff (Years 0-2) for the work done with this group.

Fiesta

Fiesta was a great success.  Armed with candy floss and hot dogs families had great fun taking part in many fun-filled activities. 

It is a community day only made possible by all the people who gave generously of their time and talent.  A big thank you to all those who contributed by helping on stalls and side shows, or by donating goods and services.  This year we raised over $20,000 which will go towards computer equipment.

Roadsense

We are a Roadsense school … teaching our children to show more sense on the roads.  Did you know …

Þ        As the driver, you must make sure that any child under five years is properly restrained by a child restraint, appropriate for their age and weight.  They must not travel in the car if you can’t put them in an approved child restraint.

Þ        Children aged 5-7 years must use a child restraint if there’s one available.  If no restraint is available, they must use an adult safety belt.

Þ        Children aged 8-14 years must use a safety belt if one is available.  Otherwise they must travel in the rear seat.

Þ        A child under 15 years old may sit beside the driver only if the child is restrained by a child restraint or safety belt (whichever is appropriate for their age).

Þ        When someone chooses not to wear their safety belt, they aren’t just risking their own lives.  If a car suddenly stops when traveling at 50 km/h the human body reacts like a pinball—bounding off the inside of the car.  It can also collide with people in the car that are wearing their safety belts—severely injuring them.

Þ        Wearing a vehicle safety belt reduces the risk of being killed or seriously injured in a road crash by about 40%.

Room B Poetry Mr Langford is developing a class of great poets.  Here is a sample of their recent efforts.  Well done Room B.		Deep, dark, blue, black Corals, rocks, fish Shark, holes, sand, cracks, Seaweed, dives, swish,   Sea by Tarapi N
Did you ever see nature? The sparkling gold sun, Wet dew on the grass, The sea shimmering, Shining out God’s greatness by Isla S	Did you ever see an ancient house? Crumbling brick walls, Rotten thatch roofs, Creaking long stairs, Ghostly dark rooms. by Grace M	Birds and Eggs Blue, black, warm, down High, white, legs Messy, camouflage, birds, brown Tidy, low, eggs by Alex W
Did you ever see a swan? As beautiful as a woman, And as white as the full moon, And a beck like a sword, And a head as dark as coal. by Christopher C	Did you ever see a robber? As swift as a fox, Clothes as black as ebony, Creeping into a building like a cat, And caught like a mouse. by Harry V	Sand, camels, people, marks Writing, hyroglyphics, old Snakes, scorpions, walls, dark Scared, pyramids, gold by Madeline A
Did you ever see an orphan? About 12 years old, Rags as smelly as unwashed socks, All alone, Looking. by Catherine L	Did you ever see a swan? Floating on crystal clear water, Snow white feathers, Gliding softly away like a dove! by Madeline A	Cave Scary, dark, cold, rushing Shiver, creepy, eyes Echo, rocks, leaves, brushing Sore, hurt, cries by Camero

"In thy light shall we see light." 
                                        Psalm 36:9

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