Garden time

The year 6 technology group were back into the gardening today, pulling out most of the dead stuff and weeding ready for replanting and new growth.  If you have any interest or expertise in this area we would welcome your input and involvement so please be in touch if you are able to offer your time.

Today we have our 'Meet the Teacher' sessions, Val Blackwell at 6:00pm and Moria McNulty and Rachel Whiteside at 6:30. This is a good opportunity to find out more about the class and to ask any questions regarding anything you have encountered to date that you are unsure of or don't fully understand. It is important that we develop a three way partnership in the children's learning and, as parents, you part is hugely important.  If you are unable to make it tonight but would like to talk to the teachers or myself please be in touch to make an appointment at an alternative time.

Swimming Sports March 25th

School swimming sports is on March 25th at Living Springs. I may have originally indicated in a blog post that it was February 25th, but that is not the case, it is in fact March. My apologies for anyone adversely affected by this and I hope it has not caused issues or confusion.

Today came the announcements of the interim decisions on school closures and mergers as part of the 'Education Renewal in Greater Christchurch' project. A number of staff, students and families have been effected by these announcements and it is to be hoped the appropriate support mechanisms are put in place by the Ministry.
Tomorrow there is a rally at the CBS arena at 4pm to support the schools that are closing or merging and to show that we are concerned about the future of Education in Christchurch. Everyone is welcome.

 Here is the document outlining the interim decisions
http://shapingeducation.govt.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/SummaryOfInterimDecisions.pdf

Here is the website which has all of the information
http://shapingeducation.govt.nz/engagement/renewal-interim-decision

Rolling, rolling, rolling

We've had our annual 'car rolling down the hill' event early this year as a Toyota MR2 crossed the road and rolled into our bollards. I found the owner at She Cafe and gave him the bad news. While it was entertaining for the class involved in fitness at the time, it posed no danger and caused no damage to the school.

As we come to the end of the first full week of school for the term, the class programmes are now in full swing. The students have settled into routines, you should have some idea of how the programme runs through the introductory class letter and you will be able to find out more on Wednesday night at our 'Meet the teacher' evening.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns at any time please don't hesitate to be in touch with the classroom teacher or myself.

Swimming

Next Tuesday there will be school as usual, with no strike action to be taken. Below the photos is a piece from the NZEI teacher's union outlining the plans for that day.

With the weather on the improve again, classes were able to get back into swimming today. We have our swimming sports at Living Springs on Monday March 25th from 9am 'til 11:00am. It will follow a similar format to last year and will involve year 3 to 8. More information on this will be coming to you soon. Zone swimming sports is on Tues 12th March for those who make it through to that stage.

Please join us for a rally to support Christchurch education
CBS Arena, 4pm, Tuesday 19 February

You will be aware that last year we voted for strike action on the 19th of February in order to send a strong message to Government about the need to change its approach to education renewal in Christchurch. 

We are hopeful that we have agreement with the Ministry of Education over new ways of working together that will be more positive for education in Christchurch.  Therefore we will be remaining in school and with our classes on the 19th for a ‘normal’ school day.

However we are meeting together for a public event at the CBS Arena at 4pm on Tuesday 19 February, followed by a march to the Ministry of Education.

This will provide an opportunity to affirm our commitment to engage in the work we need to do in Christchurch and to start to talk about ways this can happen.  We will be able to hear about the discussion that is occurring with the Ministry.  We strongly encourage all parents and community members to join us at this event so you too can show your commitment to quality education in Christchurch.

Full week

Today notes the start of our first full week. It has been good for the children to ease into the beginning of the year and they are now into routines and systems and all set up for a stunning year.

Class Newsletters are coming home today so be on the lookout for yours.

Beans

I had some students arrive in my office over lunchtime with some marvelous examples of the beans we have grown in our garden. Like everything here, if we're going to do it, we do it well! The garden has been a valuable project and something of which the children can be proud. It is always commented upon by visitors to the school and we are grateful for the help we have had with it over the course of last year. It was a project largely run by Karen and her technology group last year and I am meeting with the Year 6s on Wednesday to see where they would like to take it next.  As my skills in gardening are not as well developed as Karen's, if there was anyone who was willing to lend a had in this area, your advice, expertise, and help would be much appreciated.

Day off tomorrow

We had our first Board meeting last night and it was a very positive start to the year. We covered a lot of ground and set ourselves up for a very focused year. Elections are coming up in May and we welcome inquiries from anyone who may be interested in becoming a board member. The board will put out more details around this soon, in the meantime if you have any questions please don't hesitate to talk to me or any of the other board members.

Tomorrow is Waitangi day, so no school. We'll see everyone back and into it on Thursday.

Wet

Good to see everyone refreshed and keen after the weekend. We're pleased to have started at the end of last week so that we have all of the initial work behind us and we can start this week familiar and raring to go.  Everyone has settled in very well and we are shaping up for a great year.

The first edition of the Bay News was out today including an article from the school.

Walking around the classes today it was great to hear the interaction between the students and teachers. The staff here are all very professional in the way they work, treating the students with respect while maintaining a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. It is one of the many pleasures of my job; to witness them teaching. This has continued from last year and Rachel has fitted in seamlessly.

Day One

Welcome back!

A special welcome to Fynn, Peter, Oliver, Scarlett, Toby, Olivia, Julia and Biddi who join us for the first time today!

It was a great start to the day with the chance to catch up with everybody as they were arriving. Everyone was abuzz with excitement and pleased to be back, including the parents. Having left Rachel's class full of parents and children chatting away, I went to Val's and even though it was 10 past 9,  it was full of parents with no children in sight. Moira's class was the same as Rachel's, full of parents and children catching up. It was a lovely atmosphere in the school and a nice way to start the year. (But if anyone is talking to Hekia, we started sharp at 9 with a busy maths lesson).

There was also the added dimension of a new teacher. Talking to the students at lunchtime, words like cool, awesome, really nice, friendly and such like were the norm when asked about what the new teacher was like. Rachel has really enjoyed her start to the year and agrees with what what we have been telling her all along; that she has a wonderful class.

It's great to see so many new faces among the old ones. Talking to the new arrivals over the course of the day, everyone feels welcomed and is enjoying their new school and of course that's just what we'd expect.

A wonderful start to what I'm sure will be a wonderful year.

School Starts Thursday 31st.

Hi all and welcome back. School starts this Thursday at 9am.

After school had finished at the end of last year, Karen won a management position in the education branch of the YMCA. We wish her all the best for this and she will be missed around here for so many reasons.

This year I would like to welcome Bridget Mortlock who will be teaching in the Yr 6, 7, & 8 class on a Wednesday afternoon and all day Friday. We all know Bridget well and it is exciting to have her here as part of the teaching team.

I'd also like to welcome Rachel Whiteside who will be teaching the year 3, 4, & 5 class. Rachel comes to us from Cotswold and brings many innovate ideas with her. I will also be teaching in that class most Thursdays.

We've had a number of inquiries from parents looking to enroll their students since the end of last year so we have new students throughout the school. I am sure you will make both the parents and students feel welcome and make them feel part of our wonderful community.

After an exciting and productive teacher only day today I am looking forward to another very successful year.

See you all on Thursday.