Kia Kitea Toikaka
Nothing But The Best
Raising Achievement; Realising Potential; Encouraging Excellence
Phone: 03 315 8233
Email: [email protected]
NEWSLETTER NO 7
Fax: 03 315 8476
Web: www.amuri.school.nz
Week Ending 21st March 2014
Kia ora Parents & Caregivers
The highlight for many in the last week was participation
in Ecoblitz, a joint venture between Lincoln University
and a number of schools, based at the Nina Valley and
Boyle Lodge last Saturday and Sunday. Taking 14 months
to organise over 150 people worked together in teams
to workshop and conduct environmental studies where
fungi, lichens, animal and insect life and invertebrates were
studied. Led by 50 scientists and ecologists from throughout
NZ this was a marvellous opportunity for the 15 students
who attended from here. Thanks to Miss Diggle, Ms Thomas
and Mrs Shaw for their enthusiasm and support at the camp
and Mr Alino for promoting the trip as part of the desire to
create enthusiasm for Science.
Welcome this week to Hamish Pratt who has joined Mrs
Cleeve and Room 2 – we know Hamish will enjoy and do
well in his time at Amuri.
Our Year 8 students competing in the Police Bluelight
PCT competition last Friday did well in the face of stiff
competition and well practiced teams with our two teams
coming 53rd and 66th in a 72 team event where activities
ranged from Zumba to ‘tyre running’. Thanks to Jo Hartnell
for taking the teams down and encouraging them during
the day.
It’s been great to see a variety of equestrian activities
taking place as we have a number of students who actively
participate in Pony Club and events held around the district.
Miss Diggle has entered a team in the dressage and show
jumping sections of a Secondary Schools event on April 2
and we look forward to seeing how they go. Meantime
congratulations go to Priscilla Thompson and Casey Smith
who were placed 4th and 5th respectively in the Hack and
Pony Section of the PGG Wrightsons show jumping circuit
recently.
Above: Priscilla (back) and Casey (front) with their horses
and
ribbons.
Our volleyballers had a successful night on Monday with
the junior girls beating St Margarets A 2 sets to nil and they
remain unbeaten this season as they go into the final next
Monday – best wishes girls for this. The senior girls beat
Rangi Ruru 2 nil and the senior boys lost to Shirley Boys 2
nil although both sets were close and they should play off
for 3rd and 4th next Monday. Thanks to Jo Adams, Martin
and Rachel Hickey and Robbie McIlraith for driving this
week.
Chris Fortune from ‘Kids Can Cook’ had a great day in
perfect outdoor conditions on Wednesday and all the classes
from Years 1 – 10 thoroughly enjoyed his presentation style,
content and products. It was great to see Chris explaining
the dangers of energy drinks to the students and he passed
on how much he enjoyed working with our students.
Thanks to Ms Thomas for arranging and coordinating his
visit.
Invites to the upcoming student conferences with teachers
were issued to parents of all Year 4 – 13 students this week
and it would be appreciated if these could be returned by
Monday if you want to meet with your son’s/daughter’s
teachers to consider the goals they have set for the year and
progress to date. We all hope for a busy three days as we
work with you to help our young people give nothing but
their best in their learning.
There is quite a bit on next week with a Year 12 Photoshop
course on Monday and Tuesday, our Year 13 Biologists
visit Orana Park on Monday, the HPSSA Softball and T
Ball competition is being held on Tuesday, the PTA AGM
is on Tuesday evening, CCHS Athletics are on Tuesday after
being postponed a fortnight ago and we have a team of
30 going, a Year 5 & 6 cricket tournament is being held on
Thursday and on Friday we conduct the draw for the team
to go to Casafest this year!! We also have a team of fencers
coming to build new fences around the Primary school and
they join the builders and painters on site at present – it’s
a full house.
PTA AGM
Staffroom
7.30pm
Tuesday March 25th
Come along and join us
URGENT!!
Top of the South
Area Schools Trials
These trials will be held on Sunday 11th and
Monday 12th May. We require host families
for the night of Sunday 11th May for
students coming from Tasman, West Coast
and Akaroa.
If you have space for a student or two and
are willing to help us out please contact
Chrystal or Gavin at school.
Procedures for Review
If you would like to view and/or make comment about
these procedures please call in or
email [email protected] to receive a copy.
Appraisal/Attestation/Staff Development
School Swimming Pool
Special Needs
Education Outside the Classroom
Equity
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Mar
24
Photoshop Course
25
HPSSA Softball/T Ball
Year 13 Biology to Orana Park
PTA AGM
CCHS Athletics
26
Assembly
31
Conferences 3.30-7.00pm
Apr
1
Conferences 3.30-5.00pm
2
Conferences 3.30-5.00pm
9
Assembly
10
CPSSA Swimming
15-17
CASAfest - Oxford
17
Last Day Term 1
18
Good Friday - SCHOOL CLOSED
May
5
Term 2 Begins
Primary School News
Tena koutou!
The weeks are flying by in Term 1. Year 1-6 and the Kapa
Haka group are busy preparing for their trip to Rehua
Marae in Christchurch on the 31st of March. The students
have been learning about correct protocol when visiting a
marae and are practising a song for the powhiri.
Bible in Schools began again last week for our Year 1-6
students and we welcomed back the ladies who take the
children for this half hour session. The programme that is
taught to the students in this time covers a wide range of
themes such as honesty, compassion, respect, tolerance and
integrity. Some of these themes are the same as the qualities
we look for when giving a STRIVE card to our students as
part of our reward system. If you do not wish for your
child to take part in this programme, please contact the
school.
Year 7-8 and Year 1-6 students are eagerly awaiting their
new break out space furniture which was ordered last week.
Tables to kneel or stand at, bean bags, cushions and pods
are all ordered and will complete the new spaces which are
for children to work at outside the traditional classroom
environment.
Teachers of Year 1-3 are beginning to write their first reports
of the year. The introduction of National Standards
brought about some changes in the reporting system for
Year 1-3 students. The traditional mid and end of year
reports were scrapped for these year groups in favour of
a reporting timeframe that allowed for all children to be
measured against the National Standards after the same
time at school. Your child in Year 1, 2 or 3 now receives a
progress report after 20, 60 and 100 weeks at school and
then a report after 40, 80 and 120 weeks which will be
written in the month of their birthday. Amuri Area School
has been operating under this reporting system for Year 1-3
for a few years now. Once the students reach the end of
their first three years at school, they then move back to the
more traditional system of a mid and end of year report.
Next week on Tuesday 25th of March, Year 3-4 are travelling
to Scargill to play in a T-Ball Competition and Year 5-6 host
a softball competition here at Amuri. Thank you to all
the parents who have offered their help on the day with
supervision and transport. We have our fingers crossed
that the good weather continues for both of these events.
Thank you for your support.
Kylee Habgood
Ping Pong Party (table tennis competition)
Friday 21 March
Hurunui College
3.30 – 6.00pm
$3
Water Fight
Friday 28 March
Cheviot
3.30 – 6.00pm
$3
Bring along your togs, towel, water gun and
prepare to get WET! Please bring something
warm to put on afterwards (also bring polypro if
the weather is cold)
HYP Formal
Friday 11th April
Hanmer Springs Hall
7pm – 11pm
Tickets $15 (includes supper)
Years 7 - 13
HYP are pleased to announce the HYP formal
(dresses, suits, shirts etc). Some transport will
be provided, registrations close on Friday 28th
March. Please register online, via e-mail or drop
a form off to the Council Offices. I require early
registration so we can get transport sorted and
cater for numbers.
We will also require adult helpers for this event
and would appreciate any offers of transport.
Please see Chrystal for registration forms
MOTOR X SKILLS
Bryan Heaphy from MotoX Events in Nelson is
returning to the Hurunui to hold a series of motor
cross skills days in the first week of the April
school holidays.
Riders will learn balance and control techniques,
riding on a variety of terrain, bike maintenance,
and general safety skills.
Cost is $90 per day.
Influenza Vaccination
Seasonal Influenza vaccination is again being offered
free for all people aged 6 months to under the age
of 18 years in Canterbury. The vaccine helps protect
against influenza which is a serious disease that
spreads rapidly in the school environment, to homes
and the wider community. The only effective way
for people to protect themselves is to get vaccinated. Vaccination is available through your general practice
team. Be flu strong this winter.
8:30am-3:30pm
Tuesday 22nd April- Waiau – Intermediate and
Adult rider Day
Contact Jen Le Pine 03 315 6635
ENTRIES CLOSE 25
MARCH
Kaikoura New World Duathlon & 5km Run
Sunday 30th of March 2014
Wednesday 23rd April – Rotherham – Beginner/
Young rider Day
Contact Vikki Gould 03 315 6359
Thursday 24th April – ‘Flaxmere’ Hawarden –
Beginner/Young rider Day
Contact Keri Zino 03 314 4662
South Bay Racecourse, Kaikoura
1.2km run / 15km cycle / 5.2km run
Adults / Teams / Juniors (Years 9—13)
Race starts at 10.00am (Adults $25, Teams
$30, Juniors $20)
ADULTS you could
win 1 of 2 pairs of
Asics Shoes
donated by the
Lobster Inn Tavern
Children’s Races ($10)
Years 1—3 Start at 1:00pm
400m run / 1km cycle
Years 4—6 Start at 12:30pm
600m run / 1.5km cycle
Years 7-8 Start at 12:00pm
800m run / 2km cycle
5km run or walk ($15)
Race starts at 10:30am
CHILDREN you
could win a GT
BMX Bike
donated by R&R
Sport Kaikoura
www.kaikourasportsevents.co.nz
Enter now—online or pick up an entry form from Kaikoura New World, Paper Plus
Kaikoura, R&R Sport Kaikoura, isite Kaikoura, or St Joseph’s School Kaikoura
This is an achievable, affordable and fun social event for the whole community
Each Tuesday night from the 4th of February to the 25th of February the 5km run series
will be held at the Lobster Inn pool on Hawthorne Road. Meet at 5:45pm for a 5km run or
walk followed by a free sausage sizzle and a swim and a wee drink!
From the 4th to the 25th of March the 5km run will be at the Racecourse using the same
course as the Duathlon. Meet at 5:45pm and bring a gold coin for entry fee.
Purchase Ballance Agri-Nutrients fertiliser from PGG Wrightson to earn $$$ for your local community.*
Nominate your cause at www.pggwrightson.co.nz
*Open to PGG Wrightson account holders only. $1 per tonne of Ballance Agri-Nutrients fertiliser purchased (excluding Lime, Gypsum and Hatuma), between 3 March and 31 May 2014,
will be donated to your nominated cause. See full terms and conditions at www.pggwrightson.co.nz. Minimum donation per cause applies.
Freephone 0800 10 22 76
www.pggwrightson.co.nz
Helping grow the country