Phone 314 3800 - fax 314 3809 - E-Mail:
Please support our sponsors
1
GRETA VALLEY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
Phone 314 3800 - fax 314 3809 - E-Mail:
Please support our sponsors
1
Phone 314 3800 - fax 314 3809 - E-Mail:
Please support our sponsors
1
13 September 2017
GRETA VALLEY SCHOOL
SKILLS FOR LIFE!
Dear Parents/Caregivers
SCIENCE ALIVE
We had a wonderful day with the Science Alive Team. I had the privilege of working with the Year 3/4 students who learned about the invention of the wheel through to the development and use of cogs and wheels. Using Lego, they explored the key aspects of cog ratios and power. What an amazing 2 hours we spent playing and learning at the same time.
The Year 1/ 2 group of students had the additional help of Lisa Connor and James Hyde as they learned through inquiry about levers and pulleys in action.
The Year 5-8 group also learned about gear ratios and explored the use of a variety of different components requiring mechanisms in action. They created some wonderful machines.
John and Rebecca were impressed with the behaviour of our students and their overall willingness to participate and be engaged and explore new ideas and concepts. Our school values came to the forefront as we observed them working.
TEACHER ONLY DAY
Our grateful thanks to all our families who supported us on our Teacher Only Day last week. It was most valuable for us to visit and see other schools in action. We came away with many new ideas and a wish list of things we would like to see upgraded in our classroom environments. The main focus for the day however, was to visit Hanmer Springs School and observe their Play Based Inquiry Learning Programme. It was most interesting and we have decided to use some aspects of what we observed in delivering our curriculum programme. Our Discovery Time on a Wednesday afternoon is a key component in our programme of Play Based Learning. Sue’s Room will explore the concept further.
ROOM 2 UPGRADE
We are excited as the upgrade to our senior classroom and cloakroom area is about to begin. We may need to shift Room 2 students to Room 4 for a couple of weeks before the holidays so that work can begin. The lighting may also be upgraded in both classrooms to LED but final costs have not been determined.
FINAL DANCE OFF
We are looking forward to the dance off next Monday the 18th September! The theme for the dance off is ‘Country’ where they want the students to be dressed as a cowboy or cowgirl. We have three couples who are also entering the Rock’n Roll competition and we have been practicing at school this week. We’re right into competing this time and endeavouring to put in some stiff competition. Parents are most welcome to attend and watch the proceedings this coming Monday between 1.30 and 2.30pm at the Tin Shed in Amberley. We would love to see you there, I know the News will be in attendance. We express our grateful thanks to Countdown who supplied fruit for the dancers after each lesson we have had and to Rachael Anderson for the use of their van to transport the children each week during this past term.
FARM BREAK FUNDRAISER
The Friends of the School team did a marvellous job catering for around 350 people at the Farm Break event on Friday night. Well done to all those volunteers and especially to Charlotte who organised the product and managed the team. It was a huge job with a lot of accountability on the main organiser. We appreciate and all children benefit from all that the ‘Friends of the School’ do.
If you haven’t had the opportunity to help, then please consider volunteering for any up-coming activities and fundraisers that the Friends are working on. The next event is the barbecue for the Kiwi Sport Day next week and we need some extra help with the catering there on the barbecue and selling food at lunchtime.
REWARDS SYSTEM
Our new rewards system has begun and the students have already been trading their cards for either reward time or buying stationery goods. I had a quiet chuckle when one of our juniors said to me yesterday while having their lunch, “I only need one more card and I’ll be able to buy what I want.” They could have bought something last week with a lesser amount of cards but they were saving up more cards to exchange for a better product. Well done that student!
CLASSROOM OBSERVATION
Yesterday morning the Omihi School Teachers, Jaz and Jo came to observe in our classrooms. They were impressed with our school environment and what our students, teachers and teacher aides were doing in class. Many photos were taken and when they left us they were going back to their school to plan for their next term. We know they went away, just as we did on our Teacher Only Day with lots of new ideas. The interaction between our schools has been enhanced considerably with Maree, the Omihi School Principal wanting their school to be more involved in our small schools’ community.
RUBBISH
We have noticed an increase in the amount of rubbish accumulating around school and we can only attribute it to school lunch boxes. The move away from wholesome whole foods has been rather alarming as we see the trend towards processed packaged foods. We need to be acutely aware of the effect that these products have on learning. There has been much research done on the impact these convenience foods have on brain function and we would like to encourage you to please limit the number of packaged processed products that you place in your child’s lunchbox. We encourage the children to eat their sandwiches and fruit before anything else. There’s nothing like the traditional sandwich and fruit to help the brain function well especially in the afternoons at school. We also have had some parents approach us about the amount of food not being eaten and children returning home with lunch in their boxes. The children must sit and eat before they’re allowed to go and play and their lunch boxes are inspected by staff before they’re allowed to leave. Sometimes we get distracted and some of our younger ones see it as an opportunity to sneak their lunch boxes away. Please know that we do care and do our best, but sometimes it comes down to the integrity of the child.
CONCERNS
Please let us know if there are any concerns whatsoever to do with your child’s schooling. There’s nothing worse than us hearing about it through the grapevine, it’s quite demoralising for us when we work so hard for your children. I can testify that there is not one of our teaching and support staff who do not lose sleep over your children and their well-being whether it be learning or behavioural. We are here, we do care, your child’s welfare is our concern, we are in teaching for the love of it, certainly not for the money, and the happiness and welfare of your child is of utmost importance to us. Please also be aware we are an experienced team of teachers and most importantly we have also had and in some cases still have children at home. We will do everything it takes to help your child succeed and to be resilient in their life skills. A simple phone call to your child’s teacher first is all it takes to let us know what is concerning you; we can then resolve the matter. A plea also that both sides of the story, not just your child’s version, needs to be heard before making any judgements on learning or behavioural issues. As the old musical song goes it’s all a matter of, “Accentuating the positive and eliminating the negative. Let’s foster a community of trust, let’s work together.
SAMPLE BOOKS
Sample books are coming home next week and we ask that you review and make any comments that you wish. A lot of time goes into preparing these sample books and we ask that you return them to school the following week as we need to keep these as a record of your child’s activities and performance at school.
This newsletter was written at 4.00am this morning as I have much to do today.
Please check the school website for weekly updates of happenings in and around school. It’s great to see that the website is getting far more hits than previously.www.gretavalleyschool.com
TERM 3 CALENDAR
Term time – Monday July 24 –Friday September 29
Newsletters September 13th and 27th.
Assemblies The next assembly will be 15th September and last day of Term 29th.
Year 7/8 Dance classes will be held every Monday beginning July 24th with the final Dance off competition, Monday September 18th.
Year 7/8 students will attend Technology classes at Hurunui College each Friday of Term 3.
UPCOMING EVENTS
September
19 Kiwi Sport Day
22 Sample books home
26 Yr7/8 ARA Careers Programme
27 Waikari School Cultural Festival
28 End of Term Activity at Mega Air 12 pm
29 End of Term
TERM 4 CALENDAR
Term Time - Monday 16th October – Friday 15th December
Enjoy the rest of your week from the Great Greta Valley Staff.
**BOT NEWS **
September BOT update.
During the July school holidays I attended the NZ School Trustees Association (NZSTA) conference in Dunedin with over 1000 Trustees from all over New Zealand. I was fortunate to receive sponsorship for conference fees and accommodation from the NZSTA Canterbury branch. We had some captivating and informative speakers including Judge Andrew Becroft – Children’s Commissioner, Judge Peter Boshier – Chief Ombudsman, David Rutherford – Human Rights Commission. I also attended six workshops on topics ranging from “The update of the Education Act” through to “Communities of Learning” and “Governance Framework”. I felt it was an extremely valuable conference and I am very grateful to the NZSTA Canterbury Branch for the opportunity.
As some of you may be aware with the update of the Education Act a new provision was included whereby a school could choose to introduce a Cohort Entry System. This is where there would be only one intake per term for children starting school – if your child’s birthday was before the midterm they could start at the beginning of that term, if the birthday was after the midterm date (dates are gazetted by the Ministry of Education) they would have to wait until the next intake at the beginning of the following term. As we could not see this being of benefit to our children or school, nor would it make better use of our resources it was voted not to introduce this system
Thank you to all the parents who took the time to fill out our recent school uniform survey. It was very pleasing to have 84% of you reply and we appreciate the feedback. It was also very encouraging to see that 84% of you were happy with our current school uniform policy. I will work through all the comments and look at each survey and then report back to the BOT at our next meeting.
The next BOT meeting is Wednesday 25th October 7pm in Room 4 at GVS
If you have issues/complaints/compliments please talk to Malin or your child’s teacher in the first instance.
If you have any queries on the role of the board or would like to know more about the BOT please feel free to contact myself.
Kind Regards
Kate Verrall
BOT Chairperson
**COMMUNITY NOTICES **
JUNIOR TRIATHLON TRAINING TERM 4
Do you have children keen on triathlon? Canterbury Triathlon run a triathlon programme for 10years+ children over the summer terms. There are two coached sessions per week (Thursafternoon & Sun morning) teaching kid’s specific triathlon skills and building fitness over all three sports.
The programme will include sessions at Pegasus so is an ideal preparation for the Primary Schools Triathlon at the end of November.For more details visithttp://www.canterburytriclub.co.nz/junior-programme/
ELECTRIC BIKES :CHEATING OR TRANSPORT
"....enjoyable,fun,economical and green “Nigel Marx will talk about the mechanics and power efficiency of the various electric bike systems, advantages and disadvantages, their legality and % uptake in various countries.
He says no one ever returns from a trial ride without a huge smile on their face.
There will be a number of e-bikes on view /some for a trial ride lent by The Electric Bicycle Company in
Christchurch, also an electric Stihl chainsaw and electric outboard motor
Hurunui District Library Amberley
Monday 2nd October 7.30 pm
Gold coin donation appreciated
For information ph. John 3149144
REQUEST FOR CLOTHING
My name is Gita- I'm Lucas Henderson's grandmother. At present I work at a little school in the foothills of the Himalayas in India. We have need of skivvies and leggings for boys and girls age 7-11. If you have any that you no longer require, we would be very grateful. Please give them to Lucas to take home. Thank you.
CHRISTCHURCH VEGAN EXPO
Air Force Museum of New Zealand, Harvard Ave, Wigram.10am – 4:30 pm Sunday, October 8, 2017
Studies have shown eating excess meat is causing health issues, so whether you are looking at reducing your meat intake by including Meatless Mondays into your family’s diet, or if you already eat a wide range of vegetarian/vegan meals, you will find something at the 2017 Christchurch Vegan Expo to interest you.
Enjoy great vegan food, watch top veggie chefs display their cooking secrets, learn about vegetarian living and enjoy celebrating cruelty-free, pro-planet lives with Christchurch’s vegetarian and vegan community. Whether you are vegetarian or not, you will love the variety of foods and entertainment including a special kid’s zone and bouncy castle.
Eftpos and plenty of free parking will be available.