Windy Ridge School Newsletter
7th March 2018
Term 1 Week 6
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)
Respect, Resilience, Kindness, Integrity
Hello, Hola a todos, Kumusta, Annyeonghaseyo, Ni Hao, Konichiwa, Namaste, Zdravstvuyte, Ciao, Cześć, Hallo, Bonjour, Salut, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Talofa Lava, Kia Orana, Kia Ora Koutou
News from the Principal
Yesterday I met with the Ministry of Education programme manager for the delivery of new classrooms. She explained that the final engineers report raised some questions about the work completed for the foundations of the rooms, and as such they wanted to revisit that work and have a second engineer check it. They are unable to issue us with an occupancy certificate until this work has been completed.
As you can imagine we are very disappointed that this process has been delayed yet again, but we support their decision to ensure the structural safety of the buildings before we move our children into them. However this process could take another 2 – 3 weeks to complete. We have found this contract particularly frustrating in that the time frames were changed on us so many times, but our priority is the safety of our students, and so we find ourselves waiting yet again for the final occupancy permissions to be issued.
So in the interests of creating a workable space for all the students involved we have decided to make the following change for the remainder of this term:
- Room 15 has moved from Rm 12 to Rm 4
- Room 12 will move into their proper room
- Room 5 will stay in their current room
- The ESOL groups and Learning support groups will work in the Resource room for now.
I have been impressed at the resilience of both staff and students during this term, and appreciate your patience as we work towards everyone being in the right place by the start of next term.
Staffing News
Term Two Sabbatical: Late last year I applied for and was awarded one of the two ASB/APPA Travelling Fellowships offered to Auckland Primary school principals. This award allows me to take a leave of absence from the school to research and study an educational topic of my choice, then write and present a report on my return. It is a generous and prestigious award, and I am very lucky and grateful to be a 2018 recipient. In discussion with the Board of Trustees we have decided that term 2 presents the least disruption to the school, and so for that term there will be some changes to the Senior Leadership team as other people take the opportunity to extend their leadership skills and experience. I have every confidence in my team and their commitment to our students, and know that this will be a wonderful opportunity for the school. I plan to travel overseas to talk to educators and visit schools, and look forward to bringing my new learning back to benefit our school in term 3.
Baby News: Congratulations to Mrs Ross-Thompson and her family who welcomed baby Benjamin on the 13th February. Everyone is well and we wish them every happiness. We are still waiting on babies #2 and #3 – we will keep you updated.
Upcoming events and information
Swimming: This year is our regular bi-annual swimming lessons at Glenfield Pools. The classes bus to the Pools once a week for a half hour session with trained instructors over a ten week period. In term two we have Fantail and Tui teams heading to the Pools, with Falcon and Pukeko having their turns later in the year. There is more team-specific information about this coming out to you next week, including dates, times and costs.
- Team Tui EOTC – Parental consent forms were sent home to all of the Team Tui students participating in EOTC trips in March & April, please complete and return to the school office. Tawharanui Parental Consent – Auckland Zoo & Rotoroa Isl Parental Consent
- Kath Bee Performance – On the Wednesday 21st March at 1.30pm in the hall, Kath Bee will be performing for the students from Teams, Fantail, Pukeko and Falcon. Notices will be coming home today – Kath Bee Performance
- Assemblies for this term: This Friday 9th, Team Fantail will be presenting their assembly. Week 8 – Team Falcon, Week 10 – Inquiry presentations. Assembly starts at 9.45am, prior to this we have a coffee and chat for parents in the staffroom from 9am with our Principal Brenda McPherson and board chairperson Caroline Hudson.
- Resilient and Confident Kids presentation – March 21st, 7-9 pm Tea/Coffee from 6.15pm Tickets online at KidsLink Event WRS
- Hockey Year 3-6 – Please return registration forms to the office asap so teams can be allocated and practises can begin. Hockey-Newsletter
- Netball Teams – Please see the attached notice for registering to play netball Netball Season 2018
- Reading Eggs & Mathletics – For more information about these online programs that we recommend for home and classroom use follow these links or talk to your child’s class teacher. nz.mathletics.com/home/primary – readingeggs.co.nz/about/parents/ To subscribe please complete the attached forms and return to the office – Mathletics & Reading Eggs Yr 1 & 2 – Mathletics & Reading Eggs Yr 3-6
- Bike Licences – Next week the year 5 & 6 students will be able to participate in training and assessment for their bike licences. They will need to bring to school their bike, helmet and covered shoes on completion they will receive a hi viz vest. A permission slip will come home tomorrow.
- Ideas for Home Learning – At our recent Meet the Teacher evening we shared some homework suggestions, copies are also available from the office. Ideas for Home Learning
- Regular Happenings & Groups – here is a copy of the chart if you want to put it on the fridge at home. Regular Happenings & Groups
- Parking – We have begun the year with a higher than normal number of parents dropping off and/or picking their children up from school. This has led to heavy demand for parking spaces and some crazier than usual maneuvers. Please respect the rules of the road (including the 40km speed limit) and restrictions on parking (including the 10 min parking zone out the front, no parking between the signs out the back and NO parking in the school car parks).Of course, in line with our Travelwise policy, we promote our students (especially from Year 3 up) walking to school. We have three Walking School Buses and children who live further from school can be dropped off a distance from the school so that they can complete their journey to school by foot. Our Travelwise Students will be promoting active, safe travel to school over the next few weeks.
- 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. You can either telephone the office and leave an absence message or go online to the school website and use the Report an absence tab. 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.
- Lost Property – please see the office or the hall kitchen for any lost items, please remember to name all clothing and hats.
- WINDY RIDGE PARENTS Facebook – We have a closed Facebook page for Windy Ridge parents – you need to request to be part of this page. It is a valuable page for reminders, information, and general WRS ‘stuff. https://www.facebook.com/groups/windyridgeparents/
- School Library – The library will be open from week 3 from 8.30am to 8.55am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings and during lunchtime. The students will also get to visit once a week with their classes.
- Music Lessons – John Casson from MusiqHub is now offering music lessons at our school, see the attached notice for more information. John Casson Flyer
Term dates
School Terms 2018
Term 1 Thursday 1 February – Friday 13 April
WAITANGI DAY – Tuesday 6/02
EASTER: Friday 30/03 – Tuesday 3/04
Term 2 Monday 30/04 – Friday 6/07
Queens Birthday: Monday 4/06
Term 3 Monday 23/07 – Friday 28/09
Term 4 Monday 15/10 – 17/12 TBC
LABOUR DAY – Monday 22/10
PTA News
- Cake Day – This Friday 9th at morning tea time Rooms 1 & 2 will be selling yummy cakes and slices for $1 as part of the PTA’s fundraising project.
- Playground Update – It’s taken a long while to raise the many 10’s of thousand dollars to purchase the playground plus the many more for the earthworks. Thank you to all who have contributed over the years through the PTA events and a MASSIVE THANK YOU to all of those people behind the scenes volunteering many many hours to make it happen. I just wanted to share with you the approved design of the new junior playground. Please note the flying fox track and frame next to it will not be part of the design. There is still a lot of work going on in the background to get this moving along….we are at council stage at the moment. Thanks! Stace
FRI 30 MAR TO SUN 13 MAY 2018, SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS HALL
LEGO® lovers look out! Ryan McNaught (aka Brickman), one of only fourteen LEGO Certified Professionals globally, will bring some of the world’s most iconic landmarks and masterpieces made exclusively from LEGO bricks to Auckland Museum in one month, just in time for the school holidays.
Discover 50 LEGO masterpieces that will be on display including the Taj Mahal, Michelangelo’s Statue of David, The Great Wall of China, the Empire State Building (complete with King Kong), the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Arc de Triomphe.
Book your tickets now to ensure you can experience the wonders of the world in LEGO at Auckland Museum!
_________________
________________
Free Books for Schools – We need your help
Mrs Ogden has signed us up to the Free Books in Schools with the Kellogg’s promotion. If you shop at New World and purchase a nominated Kellogg’s products then you can go online and select Windy Ridge School.
We can win up to 20 free books so please get your friends and families involved too.
- Step 1 – purchase any Kellogg product with the Free Book artwork on it.
- Step 2 – Register on freebooks.kelloggs.com (you’ll only need to do this once)
- Step 3 – Upload your receipt
- Step 4 – Select your school to receive the book pack
You are done! Thanks for helping us while you shop!
Beach Haven Birkdale Fun Run and Walk
Sunday March 11 – 10.30am – Shepherds Park
A fun filled morning with spot prizes, certificates for every
participant and activities for the whole family before during and after the event.
Gold coin donation raising money towards connecting our parks and making our coastal
walkways more beautiful!!
5km and 1km Courses to choose from
Like us on Facebook – Beach Haven Fun Run
www.beachhavenfunrun.co.nz to register now
Register online by the 8th March and be in the draw to win a $50 Glenfield Mall voucher!
___________________
_____________________
AFTER SCHOOL ART CLASSES – A fun and focused 6-week program for children aged 7 – 12yrs.
With step-by-step guidance students will explore methods and techniques useful for developing skills in drawing and acrylic painting.
Tuesdays in Birkenhead, 3.30pm – 5.00pm starting Feb 27. Cost $110
Bookings: email eion@eionbryant.com, ph. 09 483 6703
_____________________
MILFORD SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE CLUB
Boys and Girls 7 to 12 years old. Thursday 4.45pm to 5.30pm.
Milford Senior Citizen’s Hall (behind New World) Milford.
$25 per term includes shoe hire.
Contact: Lois, 440 5568 Or Liz, 027 405 3415
__________________
Kauri Park School – End of Summer Festival
Kaipatiki Community Facilities Trust Sustainable Neighbourhood Project.
Boomerang Bags ` `made in Kaipatiki “ is a community driven initiative tackling plastic pollution at the grassroots level through our KCFT Sustainable Neighbourhood Projects which is supported by the Birkenhead Licensing Trust. The many dedicated volunteers get together to make re-usable bags using recycled materials as a means to provide a sustainable alternative to plastic bags in Kaipatiki.
To set the scene, of Plastic Free Kaipatiki, we absolutely need your help! Keen Volunteers needed to help with cutting and sorting the materials, pinning, ironing, stamping and sewing at the planned sewing bees.
All ages welcome! No experience required – sewers non sewers…….churches, community sites………every one volunteer is exceptional……..if you’re keen please let us know, or if you can donate material for this programme…….or other ideas, we welcome contact Jill@kaipatikicommunityfacilitiestrust.org.nz Let’s see how many sewing bees we can add to the existing at Bayview Community Centre, Chartwell Hub and Beach Haven Community House. Our two lovely project leads Tracey and Alana……would be keen to hear from you.
The Facebook Page Boomerang Bags North Shore Auckland https://www.facebook.com/groups/184754688701669/ Thank you.
