Each term the `Our Place` Newsletter will focus on what is happening

Laingholm Primary School - Term 2, 2015
Each term the ‘Our Place’ Newsletter will focus on what is happening around the
school in a physical sense, building projects, property development, future plans,
changes in the way we do things and so on.
Swimming Pool:
Thanks to a substantial donation from the amazing team at FOTS - Friends of the
School - and a grant from the Communities Trust, the much needed work on our
swimming pool and the surrounding area is now pretty much finished. Once the fence
is painted the job will be complete. Looking forward to Term 4 this means that once
again the community will be able to hire keys to use the pool over summer. Keys are
normally available from the first week in December.
Staff vs Student - Swimming
http://tinyurl.com/maat249
Main Block Modernisation Project:
After over a year of negotiation with the Ministry of Education, the Board has finally
been able to commission an architect to produce some sketch plans for the proposed
modernisation of the main school block. While these plans will cover the block from
Room 3 to Room 10 it is likely that the funding we have available will only allow us to
address some of these rooms.
During our recent teacher only day we had the opportunity to look around a number
of schools, including Kaurilands, that have recently undergone modernisation projects.
Of particular interest was the work that has been done at Pomaria School as the block
they modernised has exactly the same layout as our main block and the architect that
did their plans is the same one we are using.
Once we have the sketch plans we will display them in the office area and, if possible,
e-mail them out, for comment and feedback.
ANZAC Ceremony
http://tinyurl.com/p96t9vy
Our current plan - Ministry of Education willing - is to start this project towards the
end of this year. As the actual building part of the project is likely to take four to six
months, it is likely that this will impact on what classroom spaces we will have
available at the beginning of next year. Once we have a more accurate picture of
timeframes and what rooms will be affected we will share this information in future
editions of the ’Our Place’ newsletter.
Secret Garden Development:
Website
www.laingholm.school.nz
All our classes have been working hard on their art installation project ideas for the
“Students at ‘The Greatest Little School in the Universe’ shall reach the stars”
Our PlaceNewsletter—Term 2, 2015
Secret Garden. These ideas are slowly being collected and collated on a plan in the
main office area.
While this is happening in the classrooms we have some structural work - retaining
walls and the like - that we need to do to make sure the area is as safe as it can be.
Events & Notices:
A full list of upcoming
events and an assembly
calendar can be found
on our website.
www.laingholm.school.nz
Fence Project:
After almost three years in negotiation and building the fence is almost finished. There
are a few changes that need to be made to the vehicle gates and some in-fill panels to
be installed under the fence where it goes down the hill. Once these are done we can
address any defects in the construction of the fence. If you see anything that you think
we need to be aware of, please let us know. Thank you to the parent that brought to
our attention a panel that had separated from its support.
Boiler:
Joanne, our amazing Property Manager, has managed to resuscitate the boiler and it
has been working - touch wood - reasonably well for the last few weeks. At one point it
looked like we would need to remove five tonnes of coal to get to a part buried deep in
the boiler system. While the system is working well at the moment, it is old and
temperamental so please ensure all students have warm clothes - as well as a complete
change of clothes - with them everyday. Replacing the coal fired boiler with something
more environmentally friendly is part of the brief for the modernisation plan.
Often we get requests
for key dates, particular
those that parents may
wish to take time off
work to attend.
Year 6 Graduation 2015
Friday 11th December
Evening Event
Gold Certificate Assembly 2015
Monday 14th December
9:15am in the Hall
Prize Giving 2015
Wednesday 16th December
1:00pm in the Hall
Year 5&6 Camp 2016
Monday 21st March to
Thursday 24th March
Carey Park
Vulnerable Children Act & Police Vetting:
As you may be aware some of the new regulations contained in the Vulnerable
Children Act 2014 are due to be implemented.
At the moment, advice from the Ministry, Auckland Council and other organisations is
somewhat confusing. While we continue trying to unravel the practical implications for
our school we have decided to implement the following interim response. From this
point forward any parent wishing to assist in a classroom programme will need to be
police vetted, before they can start. It is probable that we may be able to refine this
rather blanket statement as the practical intent of sections 23 through 27 of the
Vulnerable Children Act becomes clearer.
Headway Cup - Girls
http://tinyurl.com/p9t2vtp
We will keep you updated on implementing the Vulnerable Children Act as more
information becomes available.
Kind Regards - Martyn Weatherill (Principal)
As always feedback and suggestions are always welcome. My e-mail address is
Headway Cup - Boys
http://tinyurl.com/p9t2vtp
Address:
54 Victory Road
Laingholm
Auckland City 0640
Telephone:
(09) 817 8874
e-Mail:
Office:
Principal:
Website:
www.laingholm.school.nz
[email protected] or [email protected]
[email protected]
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