NEWSLETTER NO.4

28 MARCH2012

Here was this gorgeous little girl needing so much help just to survive, yet (as I told her), in just five short years Edenwill have learnt to:

  1. Walk, run, jump, climb, slide
  2. Talk, laugh, sing, chant, have conversations, express an opinion, ask, ‘Why?’ (repeatedly)
  3. Think and reflect, get excited, be hopeful, feel sad, be disappointed, get angry
  4. Count, know about bedtime, have some understanding of what money is, talk about a ‘fair share’
  5. Listen to stories, recognise some words, write her name
  6. Think ahead, look back
  7. Have favourite foods, know what the ‘golden arches’ represent
  8. And so, so much more!

This led me to think about the sort of school which Eden willideally join when those five years have gone by. Not a perfect one (they don’t exist), but certainly one which:

  1. Knows about learning and how this happens
  2. Is able to move children on from wherever they are at
  3. Encourages learners to take risks
  4. Allows them to persevere
  5. Celebrateseach child’s successes
  6. Provides valuable feedback
  7. Steers children to appropriately challenging next steps
  8. Praises them for asking questions
  9. Rewards excellence
  10. Caters for individual differences
  11. Understands that children need to be engaged with their learning
  12. Tells them the truth

Of course every child deserves what we would hope for little Eden. Our commitment is to continue to shape Helensvilleto be such a school: where we know what it is to be a learner.

Kia Manawanui

Be stout-hearted

Kia Kaha

Be strong

Eileen Brunton

Principal

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Term 1 2012
27 - 30 March / Upper Middle Team Camp to Houghton’s Bush Camp, Muriwai
4 April / Board Meeting 7pm Staffroom
- All Welcome
5 April / End Of Term 1 Assembly 1.30pm All welcome!
5 April / Last Day for Term 1
23 April / First Day Back Term 2

A huge welcome to Ms Sonia Youle, who has taken over as teacher in Room 14. Sonia joins us with a wealth of experience, a passion for sport and a background in Intermediate schools. We are especially grateful to Ms Youle for ‘rearranging her life’ and starting here earlier than anticipated, thanks to Eden Hill’s early arrival. Ms Youle will also be taking up our Head of Sport role across the school.

In more good news for our school, we are starting another New Entrant class next week, and are delighted to announce that Ms Tracey Buchanan will be teaching this lovely group of new learners in Room 4. Tracey is well known and well loved by our staff, parents and students. Welcome back Ms Buchanan!

End of Term Assembly

5th April, 1.30pm

HaeremaiHaeremai

Everyone is warmly welcomed to our end of Term One Assembly. Awards will be given out in each class for the term’s standout Achievement, Effort and Citizenship. We will also have special items to share with you.

Thanks you to those families who have paid their camp fees. Remember to see us in confidence if you need assistance 

Ahuge thank you to the England family for their very generous donation of nashi pears. The children (and teachers)have absolutely loved them!

Wanted: Your old unused mobile phones!

Yes it is that time of year again when we are collecting phones for the StarShip Foundation. Please ask at work (a bulk e-mail is a great idea), ask family and friends and check in cupboards! Bring them to the school office. Thank you.

HPS NEEDS YOU!!!

Urgent: Helensville Primary’s Home & School Committee (PTA) needs YOU!

Over the years our Home & School committee has raised funds for many things for our children around the school, not the least of which is the Junior playground, and the Junior sandpit and Middle School interactive sandpit (coming soon).

Unfortunately our Chairperson and Secretary have resigned their positions and there is no-one to take their place. Without some new members our school’s committee will be no more!

If you are keen to become more involved with your children’s school, meet other parents and have a laugh while keeping busy…please come along on Tuesday 24 April at 7 pm in the staffroom.

Netball News

Thank you to everyone who was part of a fabulous twilight netball season. It was a great to see so many smiling faces both on court and courtside 

Special congratulations to the following winning teams

Year 7: Runners up Helensville Tigers

Year 5/6 Group A: Runners up Helensville Cheetahs

Year 5/6 Group B: Runners up HelensvilleLeopards

HPS Monday/Tuesday Night Adult Indoor Netball

Keen to be put in a team or you have a team to enter? Contact Racheal Cook 420 6202. We have lots of fun!

Year 7 and 8 Kaipara Rep Netball Team

Teams were due to be announced as we went to print today. Congratulations to all our players who put themselves forward to be chosen for the Kaipara Rep Teams. We are really proud of you for giving it a go 

Winter Netball Teams

Teams have now been finalised, with our first practice down at Rautawhiri Courts next Tuesday night. A reminder that $60 fees need to be paid before the 28th April. Thanks to those families who have already paid.

North West Tennis Competition

Thank you and well done to the Helensville School Tennis Team. You represented us so well at our very first interschool school tennis competition…

Rebecca Aitken, Neve Mckenzie, Thomas Clunie, Josiah Sipa, Georgia Logan, Rosie Smith, Taine Cooper, RikiBagosi, KeannaPhillipps,MaliaHemehema, Phoenix Sipa, and Stephen Creek. Thanks to Sharon Thompson for managing the team.

 Congratulations HPS Kaipara Swimming Team!

Woops We missed off James Freshwater who came 2nd in the Year 8 boys Breaststroke.

North-West Swimming Competition Results

  • Keegan Cooper: 2nd Place Open Girls Freestyle, 2nd Place Senior Girls Freestyle, 2nd Place Senior Girls Backstroke, 2nd Place Senior Girls Breaststroke, 2nd Place Open Girls Butterfly
  • Rosie Smith: 2nd Place Junior Girls Freestyle
  • Daniel Calder 3rd Place Junior Boys Freestyle
  • James Freshwater: 3rd Place Junior Boys Breaststroke
  • Junior Boys Relay: 2nd Place Aaron Olsen, Taine Cooper, James Freshwater, Daniel Calder
  • Senior Girls Relay: 2nd Place Rosie Smith, Brianna Clarke, Keanna Phillips, Keegan Cooper
  • Open Girls Medley: 2nd Place Rosie Smith, Brianna Clarke, Keanna Phillips, Keegan Cooper

What impressive results!

Special Congratulations goto Rosie Smith, KeannaPhillipps, Keegan Cooper, Daniel Calder and James Freshwater for their selection into the North West Zone swimming team. They competed at the Auckland Zone Swimming Championships last week and gave of their very best.

Thanks to Rosie’s and Keegan’s mums for transporting 

Traffic Wardens are patrolling our schools

We have been advised by the Auckland City Council that they have traffic wardens out in Helensville patrolling the local schools checking the parking and driving of vehicles in an effort to make our roads safer for our pupils. They have asked us to advise that they WILL be issuing infringement notices when parking offences occur.

The Helensville Triathlon Team

Well done to the Helensville School Weet-Bix Triathlon Team of Holly Limmer, Jamie Binks, Danielle Binks, Emma Painton, Ryan Painton, Oscar Oliver-Chambers, Molly Oliver-Chambers, Alysha Anderson, Devon Shaw, Ben Clarke, Sam Duggan, Jac Duggan, Kendrah Smith and Rosie Smith for their outstanding efforts on what started out as a very wet Sunday morning for a triathlon. Great stuff!

HELENSVILLE SCHOOL BREAKFAST CLUB

HelensvilleSchool is working together with supportive community groups to set up a school based breakfast club. We are planning on launching it on Wednesday of the first week of Term 2 for all Helensville Primary children. The ‘club’ will run every Mon, Wed & Fri with breakfast served between 8am – 8.30am.

Parental or adult involvement demonstrates a supportive environment as role models with a positive attitude. We hope that by passing on the message that eating breakfast is great for our learning at school, we will reinforce healthy eating habits at home. Therefore, we are looking for a passionate facilitator and also volunteers to be rostered for this program. If you can spare 1hr or so on one or more of these mornings, we would love to hear from you!

All queries to Mili Sipa P: 420 7971/021 148 0573.

(Funded by Green Prescription & Tu Tangi Ora).

The North West Schools Cricket competition has been cancelled yet again. Organisers will look to hold the event towards the end of the year. (Third time lucky perhaps?). Thanks to Mr Evans for all his help with the team.

All Whites

I felt nervous but excited waiting for the players in the tunnel. We could sing the anthem, that was hard to do. I led out the Jamaican player who scored one of the goals. It was cool hearing the crowds cheering and chanting.

By Scott Werthmann Room 9/16

Scott with his Jamaican player

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Helensville Athletics Prize Giving

Helensville Primary School Hall

Wednesday 4th April

Starting at 5.30pm

All registered athletics get an American hotdog and drink 

YMCA GYMNASTICS is now available at Parakai School on Thursdays and Fridays after school (during school term). Book now as places are limited!

Phone Massey Leisure Centre 098338100 or email:

Zumba: Helensville Hall, Commercial Road. Thursdays at 3.30 pm. 021 124 0556 Bobbi.

Breast Screening: The mobile breast screening unit will be at Helensville Mitre 10 on Mill Road between March 8 – March 30. Appointments are available now at times to suit

including early morning and Saturday. Don’t put it off – call now for an appointment on 0800 270 200.

Groove A Line Dancing: Low impact classes. Get fit while having fun!! Every Tuesday 9.30 – 10.30 am from 13 March – 15 May with LeviaUruamo at the Martial Arts Centre 36 Railway Street, Helensville. (Where MacBuilts head office is located). The cost is only $5 per session. Please bring bottle of water and wear good sports shoes. For more information please phone Mili on 021 1480573.