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- Panui 29 November 2019
Panui 29 November 2019
29 Nov 2019
PĀNUI | NEWSLETTER 29 NOVEMBER 2019
Rutherford students proudly held Te Hihi School's first Exhibition Thursday night as an International Baccalaureate (IB) school and did an absolutely fabulous job of it! They began the evening with their performance and then ended it confidently and clearly talking about their inquiry. It was an exciting evening celebrating the years of learning at Te Hihi School through the Primary Years Program (PYP).
Last week Te Kanawa went off to camp at Kauaeranga Valley unknowing of all the HARD challenges ahead of them! The students had a lot of fun and faced big challenges too! These challenges include missing tents and poles, long marches and cold nights.
Even though it was hard, the Kauaeranga valley DOC workers, the lovely parent helpers and teachers helped to support the students to find a way through.
The four main highlights were: going to the model dam at the visitor’s centre, Edwards Lookout, Hoffman’s Pools and Miranda Hot Pools.
On the first night Te Kanawa performed skits. On the second night there was a haka followed by a Burma Trail. They finished off each night with some yummy shared baking. Eventually they settled into their tents for the night.
Going to the Hoffman’s Pools was an experience where the middle was deep and cold. The other side of the pool was where Mr Vazey and Mr Curtin jumped in from high on a cliff.
Last of all, Te Kanawa went to the Miranda Hot Pools. The water was hot, and they had most of the pools to themselves. The bacon and egg sandwiches were delicious, thank you Mr Bush.
Te Kanawa would like to thank all the amazing teachers and wonderful parents who gave up their time and energy to make this camp happen.
Based on the feedback from the community survey about the government's school donation scheme, the Board of Trustees has decided to opt in to the scheme. Therefore, the school will not be asking for parent donations next year and all trips will be covered by the school. Should the school decide to hold any camps, the school is allowed to charge for the cost of accommodation, venue hire, transport and catering of those camps.
As the board has opted into the government's school donation scheme, the school is not permitted to ask parents to supply a device for students to bring to school.
Our Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy currently allows students to bring their own device to school. Some children bring tablets, some bring Chromebooks and some bring their phone. Given that we can no longer make this a requirement, we are changing the school's BYOD policy.
At the start of this term the school bought a supply of Chromebooks for use by those students who didn't have a device. The school will be increasing this supply for 2020 to to improve the ratio of Chromebooks to students in Years 3-8.
The changes to our BYOD policy will allow for students who wish to bring their own Chromebook to school. The school will only allow Chromebooks to be brought to school, no other device. In allowing for this, the school wishes to make it clear that there isno requirement or expectation for students to bring a Chromebook.
As only Chromebooks will be allowed, no student will be allowed to use their smart phone as a device for classroom use. Those students who bring in a phone will be required to be hand it into the office at the start of each day to be securely stored away.
At the end of the year we will be bidding farewell and good luck to three of our staff.
Mrs. Sally Buckley is retiring after a long career. Sally has been a wonderful teacher at Te Hihi and helped hundreds of students on their learning pathway. We wish her the long and enjoyable retirement that she deserves.
Mrs. Sarah Hack has taken up a position at Ohinewai School nearer her home and Ms Danielle Ingram-Trevis has won a leadership role at Pokeno School. We wish Sarah and Danielle all the best for the next stage of their careers.
We thank all three for the contribution they have made to Te Hihi School in their time here.
With one of the positions filled already, a second to be confirmed in the next few days and a good number being received for the third, we are confident we will be able to announce the staffing for 2020 very shortly.
In last weeks newsletter we published the Piwakawaka Athletics results. There was an error in the Year 2 girls placings. We apologise to Kayla Hansmeyer for this mistake.
The results are as follows:
1st= Kayla Hansmeyer & Te Eva Tonorio.
Next week we have a lots of things happening that you don't want to miss.
Thursday 5 December
Whole School Triathalon - more information below.
School Disco - more information below.
Friday 6 December
Helpers Morning Tea - Starts at 10 am - 10-25am.
Every year we host a morning tea for all the wonderful parents that have helped over the year. This is a way to say thank you for doing things to enable our students to participate in things they would not be able to without assistance.
Special Assembly
There will be an assembly to farewell Sally Buckley, Sarah Hack & Danielle Trevis-Ingram from 11:30.
Sharing Our Learning
All the learning spaces will be opened for our students to share with you, their whanau, what they have been learning in their unit of inquiry.
The learning spaces will be opened from 1.30 p.m.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Next Thursday 5th December at 12pm, we will be holding our annual school triathlon. The distances for the Kereru Syndicate are similar to those used in the Franklin School Triathlon and Sanitarium Kiwi Kids Triathlon.
Children riding bikes must have their bike delivered to school on Wednesday morning so it can undergo a roadworthiness test which will be carried out before Morning Tea. All running will be inside the school grounds as well the cycle leg for the Junior Syndicate. As the school car park forms part of our cycle lap, this will be closed. Parents will be able to park across Linwood Rd in Elliot Park.
Distances
Year 7/8
Swim 200 m. 8 laps of pool.
Cycle 8 km. 4 laps of Biddick Road and back.
Run 1.5 km. 6 laps of field.
Year 5/6
Swim 100m. 4 laps of pool
Cycle 4 km. 2 laps of Biddick Road and back.
Run 1 km. 4 laps of field route.
Year 3/4
Swim 50m. 2 laps of pool
Cycle 1.5km. 6 laps of the field
Run 750m. 3 laps of field
Year 2
Swim 4 widths of pool
Cycle 6 laps of top tiger turf
Run 500m. 2 laps of field
Years 0-1
Swim 2 widths of pool
Cycle 4 laps of top tiger turf
Run 250m. 1 lap of field
Year 8 Dinner
The year 8 dinner invitations for parents have been sent home with students. Each student has 2 tickets available to purchase. The students receive a complimentary ticket for themselves to attend. The dress code for the evening is smart casual. Year 8 Dinner starts at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday 12 December and will finish at approximately 9:30pm.
Pool keys for out of school hours use are available for purchase from the school office now and until Friday, 7th December. No pool keys will be available for sale during the last week of school due to workload demands. The pool form is available at the school office.
We are pleased to advise that the Franklin Local Board has provided a grant for $2000.00 to assist Te Hihi School with the pool costs, including a contribution towards utility costs, chemicals and water testing. We are very grateful to the Franklin Local Board as the pool running costs are substantial.
Although the solar heating will be operating each day during the pool season, the BOT cannot guarantee the temperature will reach and retain its optimum level.
Access to the pool facilities is by way of a key. The price of the key for out of school hours swimming pool use by Te Hihi School families is set at $155.00 for the season with a bond of $50 for the key that will be refunded upon return of the key. Although we expect to have the season run through to the end of March 2020, the Board may extend or shorten the swimming pool season subject to weather. There is no variation on this set fee.
Access will only be possible between 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays, and between 3:00 - 6:30 p.m. school days. All access keys will be de-activated at the end of the season.
Parent donations and fees must be paid in full before an access key can be issued or reactivated.
For clubs and sports outside of school please click here