Garston School Newsletter
Thursday, 5th May 2016
In Loving Memory of Liam
Many of our school’s parents and their children were shocked to the core and experienced a deep
sense of loss after hearing of Liam’s tragic death in a helicopter accident.
On behalf of our school family I wish to express deepest sympathy to Liam’s family and those in
the community who were his close friends and loved him dearly. It is clear that Liam’s positive
energy and good-natured humour will be missed for a very long time to come.
While we respect that people will have their personal memories of Liam to cherish I felt it
important to acknowledge and in some way attempt to pay tribute at school to Liam’s memory in
order to help our students process this extremely sad event. On Monday they participated in a
ceremony when they planted a kowhai tree in the playground. We chose this native tree because
early Maori used it for its healing properties. Two seats will be placed alongside the tree next
week. This memorial has been positioned in what is now a sunny location in the area where Liam
had worked to clear oregon trees during the January holiday break. This will be a reminder to our
staff and children of the happy, helpful, outdoor man that they knew Liam to be.
Email: [email protected].
Ph/fax. 248 8802.
Website: www.garston.school.nz
Important Term Dates
Week 1
Wednesday, 4th May:
* Board election nomination forms posted to each family.
Week 3
Tuesday, 17th May:
* Mobile Book Bus visits at 1:30p.m.
Thursday, 19th May:
* B.O.T. meeting at 7pm. All welcome.
Friday, 20th May:
* Nominations for board elections close at noon.
Week 4
Wednesday, 25th May:
* Voting papers for Board elections posted to each family.
Friday, 27th May:
* Garston School hosts the Mid-Dome Cross-Country.
Week 5
Monday, 30th May:
* Postponement day for Mid-Dome Cross-Country.
* Mrs. Lagan is expected to return to teach.
Friday, 3rd June:
* Northern Cross-Country.
* Polls for board elections close at noon.
Week 6
Monday, 6th June:
* Queen’s Birthday public holiday.
Tuesday, 7th June:
* Postponement day for Northern Cross-Country.
* Evie Arthur starts school.
Week 7
Friday, 17th June:
* Southland Cross-Country
Week 9
Thursday, 30th June:
* B.O.T. meeting at 7pm. All welcome.
Week 10
Tuesday, 7th July:
* District newsletter.
Friday, 8th July:
* Garston School Speech/Poetry Celebration.
* Last day of Term 2 - Reports issued.
Term 3 starts on Monday, 25th July.
Jessica, Maddi, Cooper, Gabby, Alex and Mya tidying up the autumn leaves.
To:
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Sue Chalmers for instructing our three Year 7 students in cooking skills.
The staff really enjoyed the delicious bounty too.
The fundraising Calf Sale helpers: Mark Evans, Ian Clark and Stu.
Stephen Glover for donating 4 posts to be used in the construction of Liam’s memorial seat.
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To:
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Zara Glover who came 2nd in the ‘Save the Whio’ colouring
competition. She is eagerly awaiting her competition prize.
The members of the Piwakawaka Whanau Group for winning the Garston SPIRIT competition
for Term 1. Their points showed that they consistently completed their homework on time,
demonstrated independence and were helpful and showed respect for staff, students and
their school.
To Jess and Dan Matheson to the school family, and their two children Solomon and
Sophie who have joined Room 1 & 2 classes respectively.
We also welcome Joel, Brie Shaw’s younger brother, to the New Entrant class.
Sports Uniform Up-date
We are aware that our school’s sports uniform supply needs topping up and are currently working
towards buying items to supplement it.
Supporting Learning at Home
Our teachers feel very lucky that our students have committed parents who are so willing to help
them with their learning at home.
Home help with Maths
Room 1 News
I was pleased to find that one student returned from the holiday break feeling very proud of herself
for having mastered how to tell the time. I urge you all to spend time (excuse the pun) helping your
children to practise skills which the children will use every day throughout their whole lives such as
measuring (weight, capacity, length) and calculating using money.
Room 2
The children would benefit from using a calendar at home to plan and then count down to important
events in their lives.
Room 3
They continue to need to practise the addition and subtraction facts up to 20 since they are the
base for higher learning.
REMINDERS
There are a number of Term One stationery invoices outstanding and a few swimming pool keys
to be returned. Thank you.
WANTED TO BORROW
10 or 20 litre drinking water containers for our cross-country runners. Please drop them off at
school if you have any. Thank you.
The following 2 polices have come up for review as part of our triennial cycle of review. If you have any queries on
these then please contact the school office.
GARSTON SCHOOL - Internet Safety Policy
This policy supports National Administration Guideline 5.
Purpose:
- To provide and ensure the welfare and safety of children and young people when using the Internet.
- To provide Internet access, so all staff and students can:
- Become effective and safe users of the Internet
- Extend their awareness and knowledge of the Internet
- Become motivated, responsible, independent users of the Internet.
Guidelines:
1.
Use of the Internet facilities at this school is strictly for educational purposes and at all other times at the discretion of the Principal.
This includes personal use and use for professional development of staff.
2.
Training for staff who wish to use these facilities is available through the teacher responsible for the Computer/Information
Technology Department and is essential for the safety and protection of staff, students, and equipment.
3.
Students will need to be directed to sites on the Net, rather than surfing, which is why staff members must gain experience using the
Internet before letting their students use it.
4.
All staff members must a sign a copy of this School Internet Safety Policy before using the internet themselves, indicating that they
are aware of the details of this policy. This documentation will be kept on file by the school.
5.
Staff can request website links to be placed on the school webpages (homepage for browsers) to provide quick access to particular
sites.
6.
A teacher must be in the room whenever a student uses the internet. This also applies to any special use before or after school hours.
7.
Filtering software will be deployed on Student terminals which access the Internet. (Network4 Learning)
8.
The Garston School Computer Code of Behaviour will be clearly displayed near the computers in the classroom.
9.
Teachers will regularly remind students of the Garston School Code of Behaviour especially informing the new students’ of the rules.
10.
The school will continue to refine methods of improving safety on the Internet.
11.
Ensure that C/D’s are removed before turning the computer off.
GARSTON SCHOOL - Equal Employment Opportunities Policy
This policy supports National Administration Guideline 3.
Purpose:
To ensure that people are able to pursue their careers, without their chances being reduced by factors which are irrelevant to the actual
requirements under consideration.
To comply with the state sector Act 1988 and the Human Rights Act 1993 when following processes associated with the recruitment selection
for positions of employment at Garston School including:
- The development of the job description
- The person specification
- The advertisement
- The appointment process
Guidelines:
1. Develop/review questionnaires for gathering EEO information and to distribute these at the time of their annual appraisal.
2. Ensure that questionnaires are used when people apply for positions at the school
3. Analyse the information from the questionnaires; to identify staff who fall into any of the EEO target groups and where they are, in relation
to all staff i.e.:
- Maori
- Women
- Ethnic or minority groups
- People with disabilities
4. Consult those in the target groups as to their needs, goals and wishes
5. Use information from the consultation to review how the school meets EEO requirements.
6. Keep the Board and staff up to date on levels of staff satisfaction with meeting these requirements and those involving personnel issues.