20th November 2008 – Issue 3 : Term 4
Week 6 of 10
Key Dates for Term 4
November
Wk6
21
Wk7
24
27
27
27
28
Grans and Greats Choir Concert
Parent Teacher Assn Meeting
7pm in the staffroom. All parents
welcome.
Pohutukawa Wheels Day
Rainbows End Helpers Trip
For children who have given up their
own breaks and time during the year to
perform a duty.
Board of Trustees Meeting
7.00pm in the boardroom. All welcome.
Scholastic Book Order Deadline
December
Wk8
1
Helpers Thank You Morning Tea
2
Y5/6 Athletics
Choir Concert
3
4
5
5
Wk9
9
12
12
12
Wk10
16
17
Disco
LA Galaxy Training Day
National Jandal Day
Christmas Concert
Rain day is set for 11 October.
Pohutukawa Pre-Visits
For children starting school in 2009.
Pre-visits for new entrant children will
be held in Room 14 from 8.50am to
11.00am.
Meet The Teacher
Children have the opportunity to meet
their 2009 teacher and classmates.
Reports Go Home
Senior Graduation Assembly
Last Day of School for 2009
From the Principal’s Desk
Some kids know more about the Amazon rainforest than their
nearest riverbank! Children who grow up with little or no
direct contact with their natural heritage could be said to be
suffering from ‘nature deficit disorder’. For some, nature is
something to watch, to consume, to wear – to ignore.
While the normal daily diet of TV and computer games are
convenient scapegoats, the reasons for this phenomenon are far
more complex. Nowadays, children’s time has become more
pressured. When everything in a child’s life is organised and
supervised, there isn’t much room left for spontaneous activities
such as fishing for tiddlers or simply mooching around outside.
Of course, there are good reasons why today’s children are no
longer allowed to wander around unsupervised. However, some
scientists now believe that just as children need good nutrition
and adequate sleep, they also need regular contact with nature.
A benefit of connecting with nature is increased environmental
awareness. How can we expect our children to face the
challenges posed by global climate change if they feel no real
link with their own natural heritage?
In schools, especially ‘Enviroschools’ like Swanson, we look for
ways of reconnecting our children to the natural world. As
parents you may like to consider some of the following
activities:





Visit a seabird colony
Collect seeds and plant them
Go on a nature walk – note the variety of plants, birds and
insects in your neighbourhood
Take a closer look at minibeasts in your section – set the
challenge of catching them and identifying them (and
letting them go!)
Check out the tide pools at the beach for signs of life
Kia kaha, Bruce
McLachlan
Great News
Congratulations and well done to the following people:

Ex-student Leanne who has been appointed Deputy
Head Girl at Massey High School.

Ex-student Micah who has received a scholarship to
attend further education – UNITEC Scholarship.

Ex-student Mathew who took part in the Alliance
Francaise Oral Competition on 1st September. He
passed and was a great ambassador for Waitakere
College.

Ex-student David who gained a Distinction in the NZ
Economics Competition.

Ex-students Isaac, Aimee, Blake, De’Ana, Corey,
Charlee, Toni, Joshua, Sarah, Richard, Sheri-Dean who
were named students of the week at Waitakere College.

Ex-student Alannah who gained a Distinction in her
NSW English test and a High Distinction in her NSW
French test at high school.
Lost Property
Weather permitting, lost property will be displayed this Friday
21st November on the top court outside Rooms 35/36.
Please have a look through if your child is missing any
clothing.
Swanson School Emergency Phone No. 027 237 8777
(The above number can be phoned in case of a power cut or any other emergency where we cannot be reached on our main phone number – 833 3500.)
Citizenship Awards
Week 5
Rm
3
13
14
17
18
Name
Payge
Thomas
Maddison
Jemma
Laiba
19
Hope
20
21
Owen
Taking turns & sharing
Safwan
Taking turns & sharing
24
26
27
28
29
31
32
33
34
Aliyyah
Erin
Nishan
Joshua
Showing leadership qualities
Showing leadership qualities
Showing leadership qualities
Perseverance
Being helpful & co-operative
Honesty
Showing leadership qualities
Courtesy
Innovation
Firas
Hayden
Hannah
Max
Georgia
Skill
Working independently
Taking turns & sharing
Taking turns & sharing
Taking turns & sharing
Respecting own & others
property
Respecting own & others
property
Week 6
Rm
3
13
Name
Sean
Madison
14
Samuel
17
Adrian
18
19
20
Kieran
Michael
Teagan
21
Devesh
24
26
27
28
29
31
32
33
34
Izaiah
Ben
Ariele
Stanley
Wyatt
Megan
Liam
Kate
Ashley
Skill
Respecting opinions of others
Respecting own & others
property
Respecting own & others
property
Respecting own & others
property
Taking turns & sharing
Taking turns & sharing
Respecting own & others
property
Respecting own & others
property
Being honest
Being honest
Being honest
Enthusiasm
Speaking pleasantly
Enthusiasm
Being honest
Responsibility
Innovation
PTA Elections
On Monday 24th November, we will be holding our last PTA
meeting for the year. At this meeting we will be electing new
positions within the PTA. We are always seeking new
members to boost our numbers. Please come along to the
staffroom at 7.00pm if you are interested in joining us for
2009.
THANK YOU
A big thanks to Fiona Porter for organizing a great fundraiser
at the “Christmas Heirloom Co” last month. We really
enjoyed it and it helped to get us into the spirit of things.
Christmas Presents Wanted
Last year we collected presents under a Christmas tree in
the school office to help bring a little joy to children in need.
Our school community donated a large quantity of gifts for
these children and we would like to do this again this year.
A Christmas tree will be in the school office from Monday
24th November for donations to be placed under. These
presents will be going to children with a background of
neglect, chaos and trauma who are being kept safe in
alternative care. Presents may be placed under the tree
until Tuesday 9th December.
Aluminium Can Recycling
Thank you to those people who are recycling their aluminium
cans in our recycle bin at the front of the school. Just a
reminder that this bin is for cans only please – not glass.
National Jandal Day
On Friday 5th December we will be supporting National
Jandal Day. We are asking that the children come to school
in a beach theme and in a pair of jandals. This day is to help
support Surf Life Saving New Zealand and to help keep our
west coast beaches safe. This is an excellent way for our
students to support a service that many of us use while at
the beach over the summer.
The gold coin donation can be brought to school and given
to the class teacher.
Library Books
A stocktake of library books will commence shortly. Please
check your child’s bedroom for school library books and
ensure these are returned to school by Friday 5th December.
School Uniform
School uniforms can now be ordered and tried on in Room 6
from 8.30am until 3.30pm. Early bird specials will apply until
school closes this year – 17th December 2008. Note that if
you purchase one long sleeve top and one short sleeve top,
you are able to receive another short sleeve top for no
charge.
Uniform orders may be placed during the school holidays on
Thursday 29th January from 9am to 4pm and Friday 30th
January from 9am to 4pm. Please be aware that your order
will not be available until Week 2 Term 1 2009 and Early Bird
prices will not apply.
Play by Ear - Keyboard, Piano & Guitar
Rob Packer is a local music teacher who has been teaching
for 15 years and is available in 2009 to teach children at
Swanson School to play either Keyboard, Piano or Guitar by
ear. Students can learn to play their favourite tunes
melodically or to use a chord base to accompany others who
may be singing. Rob is also available to teach sight reading
to those who would like a mixture of playing by ear and by
music. The cost would be $20 (incl GST) per half hour
lesson. If you are interested in your child having lessons
with Rob please contact him on 833 6873 or 021 429 009,
preferably before the end of 2008.
Hobbs Family Raffle
Here is your chance to create memories for a family.
Rochelle Hobbs is 37, married with 2 children who attend
Swanson School. She has recently been diagnosed with
pancreatic cancer. Happy Kiwi Ltd is fundraising to send this
lovely family to Disneyland for the memory of a lifetime.
Great prizes. $25 per ticket. Tickets can be purchased by
email [email protected] or ph 021 0294 6186.