PĀNUI | NEWSLETTER 24 JULY 2020

Welcome to the start of Term 3. Let's hope that we have a proper term and not one affected by Covid.

We hope everyone made the most of the holiday break. Unfortunately, the weather this week for our return has been very cold, wet, and windy. This will hopefully improve and we get more sunshine.

This newsletter has lots of really important information and we appreciate you taking the time to read to the end of it.

We are already underway with training for our school cross country and there are many more events happening throughout the term. Please keep an eye out on the school's calendar available via the link to the left, on our school app and on the school website.

With the chickens being given out today, most students will now be underway with animals for Ag Day. The Ag Day entry form (click here to go through to the entry form or scroll down to the entry form below) needs to be completed for every student and are due in by next Friday 31 July. Please note that you will need to complete an entry form for each child in your family so you will need to click on the above again for your other children.

As Ag Day is a traditional part of our school curriculum, students not entering an animal are required to do an Ag Day related inquiry. The only students this is optional for is Year 0-2. The inquiry information will go home on Monday 03 August to those students. 

Once again, we have Footsteps back in our school later this term. Footsteps teaches students a range of dances through breaking them down into manageable steps. The students love Footsteps and we will be holding a parent viewing on the last day of Footsteps.

As you can see, we have got a big term in front of us, one we are all excited and energised about. 

Kevin Bush, Principal.

We are pleased to announce that Miss Charlotte Stoppard is returning to Te Hihi to cover Kendall Crisp while she is on maternity leave. Charlotte will be starting in Taylor on Monday, 31 August and Kendall will be leaving on Friday, 4 September.

Wednesday 29 July,  is our school cross country. Here are the details for you.         

Juniors (Y0-4) Start:  11.10 am

Seniors (Y5-8) Start: 1:30 pm

Where: Moody’s farm paddocks

What students need:

• Students need to wear their school uniform to school and they will get changed into their running gear at school.
• Change of clothes. Please make sure these are named.
• An old towel to dry their legs when they have finished running.
• Preferably running in bare feet as shoes/boots often get lost.    
• Named polar fleece or jacket in case it is wet and cold. 

Times: The year 0/1 girls are first followed by the year 0/1 boys and so on through the junior year groups. 

When we get to Year 5&6 and Year 7&8 in the afternoon, both year levels will run together for selection of our North Counties team. Each race usually takes around 10 minutes. The students in Years 0-4 will have normal classes in the afternoon.

Sickness: If your child is unable to participate due to medical reasons we do require a note excusing them.

There is some talk in the community about the format for Ag Day this year now that it is being held on Friday, 25 September. Some of the issues rise out of Friday 25 September being a school day. As such, we do have to keep the school open until the normal close of the day and students are required under the Education Act to attend school on that day.

However, the day will be very similar to a normal Ag Day and whilst the programme for the day is yet to be finalised, students will not be required to be in class; all students will be out enjoying Ag Day whether they have an animal or not. Being the type of day that it is, it will also be a mufti day for all students.

The difference to previous years is that we will not have an emphasis on the day being a fundraiser as well. We will have food for sale through the BBQ and Cafe but all activities will be free for students to enter.

It has come to our attention that some students are struggling to find Ag Day lambs due to the drought conditions at the moment – meaning that less triplets are being born in time for the cut off date.

The Ag Day committee need to urgently understand how many families this is affecting – if you can’t get an Ag Day lamb or are on a long wait list – please email Gina on gbeck@coca-cola.com

Next Friday, 31 July, we will be sending your Mid-Year Reports home with the eldest or only child and we will be holding our Student Achievement meetings on Tuesday 4th August and Wednesday 5th August.

There will be a seperate newsletter sent out early next week with all the information about the Student Achievement Meetings including a link to our booking site.

Hello Te Hihi School

The school council have organised to have a pj’s/onesie day on Friday 7th August.

Bring along a gold coin donation and you can wear your coolest pj's or onesies and have fun of course.

See you there!

A few weeks ago, Ashton Balu competed in an international online Karate kata competition. New Zealand was one of 15 countries that took part and he did exceptionally well, winning second place. This is a huge achievement as he represented New Zealand and competed against competitors from around the world. Congratulations Ashton.

Is your Dad a master of the Dad joke? Are his gags so bad they are actually good? TVNZ are launching a hilarious (and utterly ridiculous) new family show called “Last Dad Standing”. So, if you are a Dad, or know a Dad, this is your opportunity. “Last Dad Standing” is a Dad’s joke competition for TVNZ 2. Join in the family fun and apply: tvnz.co.nz/lastdadstanding

Dads need to be free to film either first or second weekend of August 2020 in Auckland so get your application in as soon as possible!

Have your say on our three-year Franklin Local Board plan and help shape the future of your community. If you love local go to https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/franklinplan to find out more about our plan and watch a video on how local boards work.  Or use #lovelocal while commenting on the post on our Franklin Local Board Facebook page.  We need you to tell us if we are on the right track, consultation closes 13^th August.