Newsletter Term 1 Week 8

Windy Ridge School Newsletter
March 22nd 2017
Term 1 Week 8
www.windyridge.school.nz
School Bank Account: ASB 12 3072 033 4812 00
PTA Bank Account: ASB 12 3072 038 4799 00
KINDO: online school shop (click on KINDO to register)

Hello, Hola a todos, Kumusta, Annyeonghaseyo, Ni Hao, Konichiwa, Namaste, Zdravstvuyte, Ciao, Hallo, Bonjour, Salut, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Talofa Lava, Kia Orana, Kia Ora Koutou

News from the Principal

Junior Playground – Working Bee

A BIG thanks to the energetic team that arrived on the weekend to help out with the clearing of trees and weeds in preparation for the new playground. There is still firewood available – contact the office to arrange the pick up. We still have earthworks and retaining to complete before the construction of the playground, but hope to have it ready for play before mid-year.

Weetbix Tryathalon – Sunday

Good luck to all children participating in the Tryathalon this weekend at Manly. Ms Maxwell will be there with the gazebo and flags so look for her before and after the race.

Kaipātiki Community of Learning

Our local schools are used to cooperating with each other, but we have taken that a step further. We have formalised cooperation into a more collaborative relationship, with a focus on supporting all children and young people in our community to achieve their full potential. This follows a great deal of discussion by the local school Boards and Principals over the last 12 months. This has resulted in the formation of the Kaipātiki Community of Learning which was approved by the Ministry of Education on 7th March 2017.

It includes:

Bayview School
Bayview Kindergarten
Glenfield Primary
Glenfield Kindergarten
Glenfield Intermediate
Glenfield College
Manuka Primary School
Marlborough Primary School
Marlborough Kindergarten
Target Road School
Wairau Valley Special School
Windy Ridge School

Communities of Learning are part of a government initiative to strengthen collaboration between the various education providers along the learning pathway of students. Research has identified that when schools and teachers collaborate and share expertise, the support for and transition of students through the education system improves.

Each of our schools remain self-governing, but this initiative resources teachers across all schools to work together on meeting the specific achievement challenges within their community, drawing on each other’s skills, knowledge and experience. Mark Whitford, Principal of Glenfield Intermediate School, has been appointed by the appointments panel (representatives from the nine boards) as the initial lead principal of Kaipātiki for the first two years. This Community of Learning is a powerful educational research and development network, focused on meeting local learning needs. As lead principal he is tasked with setting up the systems and processes to develop collaboration between the schools. There are many outstanding education practitioners in our community, and the sharing of the professional expertise across the nearly 3000 young learners in our local area enriches the whole community.

The first event was the inaugural Kaipātiki Community of Learning Conference Day which was held at Glenfield College on the 31st January 2017. This involved a superb day of professional learning for all 250 staff from the learning community schools and ECE centres. This was the start of our learning journey with Cognition Education Consultants who are working in all our schools and kindergartens over the next three years.

As more details and plans are finalised, we will ensure that the parents / caregivers / community members are informed via school newsletter. This will take place at the end of each term, where there will be an Kaipātiki Community of Learning update in each individual school newsletter.

Help Needed:

We have a family that is needing some help with after school/ evening care for their son. It involves a pick up from after-school care and supervision for approximately a hour. If you are in a position to help please contact the office for their contact information.

Reminders

**** School Notices are available on the school website. ****

Policy Review – Recognition of Cultural Diversity
1. Visit the website http://windyridge.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm
2. Enter the username (windyridge) and password (WRS0629).
Sun Safety – Just a reminder that children will need sunhats at school every day. Please make sure they are named.
Attendance – Please ensure that your children arrive at school on time and that we are aware of their absence by 9.00am each day. We do follow up lateness and absence as we are required to report on both to the Ministry of Education and the Board of Trustees. If you are planning a holiday in term time please advise your child’s teacher and the office.
Banking day is Thursday – please send ASB envelopes to the office.
Ez Lunch available all days of the week now. Please go to ezlunch.co.nz to register and order. More information available at the office.
PTA Facebook – Information about our fabulous PTA is available online on Facebook. Search ‘Windy Ridge School PTA’ for the page and join up for updates and information about events and news.
WINDY RIDGE PARENTS Facebook – We have a closed Facebook page for Windy Ridge parents – you need to request to be part of this page. Search – Windy Ridge Parents. It is a valuable page for reminders, information, and general WRS ‘stuff’
Scholastic Book Orders – All order are due in by tomorrow.

Term dates and Upcoming Events

School Terms 2017

Term 1 Wednesday 1st February – Thursday 13th April

Term 2 Monday 1 May – Friday 7 July

Term 3 Monday 24 July – Friday 29 Sept

Term 4 Monday 16 October – Friday 15 Dec

PTA News

D I S C O – LUAU

This Friday 24 March 2017 from 6.30-8.30pm we will be having a disco in the school hall. The theme for this one is “LUAU”. So come dressed up in your hawaiian shirts, your hula skirts or anything beachy!

It will be a little different this time as “Families in the Parks” are at our school with all their gear to play with from 5pm on the field. We encourage everyone to come and have dinner together before the disco. The PTA will be selling sausages etc so that will be dinner sorted. From 6.30pm will be the disco.

F A M I L I E S I N P A R K @ W I N D Y R I D G E – S A U S A G E S I Z Z L E!

Families in parks will be at our school this Friday 24 March at 5pm. They bring loads of toys and things to play on. Come and along and buy a sausage from the sausage sizzle held by the PTA and let the kids have fun playing with equipment and get to know others from our school community.

E A S T E R R A F F L E

The PTA will be holding their Annual Easter Raffle which will be drawn just before Easter. We are asking for any “Easter Themed” items that you might like to donate that we can use in the Gift Baskets. If you could please drop these item/s into the office that would be great. Thank you, we appreciate your support.

L E G O B A T M A N M O V I E

Sunday 9 April 2017 at 1.45pm at Berkley Cinema, Takapuna. Tickets are $15 each which include a drink and popcorn. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Only 50 tickets left so get your order in asap to the office.

Community News

It’s almost time for our AUCKLAND HOLIDAY WORKSHOP with Jen and Zac!
The Marrzipan Holiday Workshop runs from 10am-4pm Wednesday 19th to Friday 21st April at Birkdale Int and Churchill Park School. Students will devise their own play from scratch, create characters, direct each other, design the set, bring in costumes and get to perform to family and friends at the end of the final day!
Past workshops have been a great hit! As well as having fun, the children develop confidence and public speaking ability, in a fun, relaxed environment.
For more information check out our website! Spaces are limited to 16 per group so get in quick!
W: www.marrzipan.com E:jex@marrzipandrama.co.nz

Art in the Holidays
Drawing and Painting One-day workshop for ages 7 – 12 yrs.
Imagine parachuting with a dog to keep you company! Kids will create a vibrant acrylic painting of this fun image with step-by-step guidance from artist/tutor Eion Bryant. Venue: Highbury House, Birkenhead, Monday April 24th, 10am – 3.00pm Cost: $50 (includes all materials)
BOOKINGS: email eion@eionbryant.com, ph. 483 6703