Murchison Area School

Transcription

1 Murchison Area School 61 Waller Street Murchison 7007 Phone th May 2016 Term 2 School Wide Value Responsibility Kia Ora Koutou It was great to have the Youth Health Day on Wednesday this week and thank you to Amy Stewart for organising this. There were a number of displays in the Gym for students to explore covering a range of Health issues for young people and our Year 7 to 13 students had the opportunity to visit Health Professionals in clinics in the afternoon. The Year 1 to 6 students visited the displays and the whole school enjoyed the BBQ lunch provided by the visiting team. A reminder that we have scheduled a Stress and Anxiety in Young People Parent s Discussion evening offered by the Mental Health and Action Trust along with the Nelson Bays Primary Health for Parents Team. This will be held following a shared dinner on Wednesday July 6th. Babysitting facilities will be offered. Do put this date in your diary now. I watched the interesting programme on TV3 on Tuesday about the New Zealand education system. It was an interesting analyses of where we are at with education in New Zealand currently and compared us with some other systems in other countries. One thing highlighted was the advantages of smaller schools where the needs of individuals are more easily recognised and met. This is very evident here at Murchison Area School, and it also points out a big advantage of Area Schools where students are so well known by the staff and information is so easily shared across the school. The other theme that ran through the programme was the need for our education system to be different than in the past. We are here to ensure that young people can be successful in their lives, and that future for them is far less predictable than in the past. We need to be encouraging students to be flexible, to take risks, to be creative and innovative in their thinking. To be cooperative, empathetic and good communicators. The programme also emphasised the importance of the home/school partnership and the importance of the role parents play in the first years of life. My impression here at Murchison Area School (after a very short time,) is that this school is moving along the right lines to meet these changing needs. I am enjoying meeting more of you as the weeks go by. Nga mihi Bob Norrish Acting Principal Mufti Day 3rd June Board of Trustees Voting closes noon 3rd June; Board of Trustees Meeting 7th June. Board of Trustees counting of Votes 9th June; New Board of Trustees takes office 10th June; Last day of term 2 8th July. LOST PROPERTY The lost property bin is still overflowing with uniform, shoes, non uniform clothing, lunch boxes if your child s lost it, it s properly in our lost property box! Please come and have a look to see is there is anything in there that your child has not brought home. REMINDER: Please name your child/ren s uniform, school equipment, etc so it can be returned if it is left lying around the school. Your assistance with this is appreciated.

2 AN UPDATE FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Board of Trustees Parent Elections Voting papers for the election have been posted out, and you should start receiving yours, if you are on the electoral roll, sometime in the next few days. Each voter is able to vote for three of the seven nominated people. Instructions on how to vote are enclosed with your voting form. Please also note that each envelope should only have one completed voting paper in it when it is returned to our Returning Officer. Voting closes at noon on Friday 3rd June 2016, so if you are posting your vote, please ensure that it is posted before the 3rd June Voting papers may also be dropped in the ballot box sitting on the counter in reception. Please remember to vote, and show your support for our school. PLEASE NOTE: School does not open until 8.30 am. Please do not send your children to school before this time. If you do, they may well be waiting outside in the cold. Your assistance with this would be appreciated! Health Reminder for Parents You may have heard or seen in the media over the last few days that there have been two reported cases of measles in the Nelson area. Both these cases are linked to the current outbreak of the disease occurring in Hamilton with cases also in Northland and Manawatu. Whilst we are not currently concerned here in Murchison it might be timely to check on the immunisation status of your family if you are unsure. It is also a good time to remind ALL parents that our medical records at school must be updated if any changes have occurred for your children. Please feel free to call Kathryn in the Office, or pop in, if you would like to see the current medical records we hold for your child. If you have any questions or concerns please don t hesitate to contact us here at school. Sarah Peacock Deputy Principal speacock@murchison.school.nz Are you on the move? With Gypsy Day just about upon us, some of our families may be moving farms. If you are, please remember to let Kathryn at the office know of your new contact details. If your children are changing bus runs, there will be new bus forms to complete, which needs to be done prior to you moving. If you have any queries, please give Kathryn a ring at the office.

3 MUFTI DAY FRIDAY 3rd JUNE 2016 Gold coin donation for Friends of the School (formerly Parents Supporting the School) Royal Theme Queens Birthday Come as a Queen, a King, a Prince or Princess, stablehand, cook, gardener, anything from The House of Royals. Teachers too! So start planning, get dressed up and have a ball! CAN YOU HELP? The school has a family in need of some respite care for a pre-teen high functioning autistic child. If you are able to give up some time to help or would like more information, please contact Bob Norrish, (Acting Principal) phone (03) HAVE YOU RETURNED YOUR POOL KEY? If not, please do so as soon as possible. Your $15.00 key bond will be refunded to you once the key has been returned. Thank you. Thank you. Hi Everyone Who would have believed that when John and I came to Murchison from Nelson all those years ago we would still be here in The reasons - the people, the students (both past and present), the school, the environment, the community groups and the friendliness of all who live here. During my years teaching in Nelson, Otago, Southland and Taranaki I have taught Science, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Accounting, Food Technology, Fabric Technology, and Work & Study Skills. This has helped me in my current role of Distance Learning, Gateway and STAR Co-ordinator of Senior students. The senior students use online resources for their learning in their chosen subjects from providers throughout NZ such as Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu, Telford, Southern Institute of Technology, NZ School of Tourism, Building ITO, Porse to name a few. I am continually rewarded in my job, watching and helping the students become independent learners, developing their full potential, achieving their goals and qualifications as they move from the school environment into the workforce or further learning. Wendy Thomason

4 SCHOOL UNIFORM SHOES We are seeing more of our students arriving at school with non uniform shoes. We would appreciate it if Parents/Caregivers ensure that their child/ren arrive at school in the correct uniform shoes. Our official supplier of footwear is Hannah s. Their Richmond Mall store has the official list of the Murchison Area School shoes that they stock. Non-uniform shoes will not be accepted at school so please buy carefully. NO BLING ALL shoes must be plain black and able to take nugget (no suede or fabric). Girls shoes must have Velcro or lace up, buckle up or have an instep strap no slip on s. Boys shoes must lace up or Velcro pull on s are allowed if they can take nugget and cover most of the foot see the last example (boots are unacceptable). Sandals must be plain black or brown, have a back strap and buckle or Velcro PE requires shoes with a white sole in the gym these are ADDITIONAL to the uniform shoe. Technology and Science requires a covered in shoe for safety reasons. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to ask at the office.

5 NZQA EXAMS NZQA fees are payable by the 26th August 2016, for all Senior Students (Years 11 to 13). The fee is $76.70 (or reduced to $20.00 if you hold a current Community Services Card and qualify for financial assistance). Financial assistance forms will be sent home in the next couple of weeks, and need to be completed and return to the school office, with the money by the 26th August If you require any assistance completing the forms, or have any queries, please contact Wendy Thomason. NEXT BOARD MEETING The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is Tuesday, 7th June 2016, at 7pm in the school meeting room. All welcome to attend. IS YOUR CHILD GOING TO BE ABSENT FROM SCHOOL? If so, can you please remember to ring the school office FIRST THING IN THE MORNING and let Kathryn know? When you do ring, there is an option to leave a message. Please advise your child s name, contact phone number and reason for their absence. We are required to know where all our students are during the school day. Your help with this would be appreciated. Did you know we have 3 ways you can pay money to the school for your child s activities? By direct credit into the School s Bank Account. The account number is Please ensure you put your child s name as the code, and what the money is for as a reference; By eftpos. We have a eftpos machine at the office; By cash or cheque over the office counter.

6 PHOTOS FROM THE YOUTH HEALTH FEST

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8 If you would like to see these photo s in colour, have a look at our website. Go to: and click on today s date.