School NEWSLETTER 2015 Meadowbank School 68 Waiatarua Road, Remuera, Auckland 1050 Phone: 520 3739 www.meadowbank.school.nz principal@meadowbank.school.nz 2 February 2015 Dear Parents/Caregivers Happy New Year and welcome to the 2015 school year. I particularly welcome our 49 new students and their families. I m sure our Meadowbank families will help you settle in quickly. The school roll starts 677, fractionally down on 2014. By the end of the year we expect our roll to end up with around 760 students. ROWAN WILLIS (2005-2015) Families will be aware of the tragic go-karting accident which killed prospective Year 5 student Rowan Willis on 90 Mile Beach during the holidays. Our community has shown fantastic support for the Willis family, and many of you attended Rowan s funeral. The school has sought assistance and advice from the Ministry of Education s Traumatic Incidences Unit and from independent counsellors with regards to providing necessary support for students (in particular Year 5 s) and staff. Today staff have spoken to all Year 5 students and answered their questions where they were able to. One thing we have been advised to do is to ensure rumour and speculation is avoided. As none of our students were present at the accident, we have requested they don t talk, gossip or guess as to the possible details. Eventually a Coroner s report will provide that and we ask that parents support us with this. We have made available a counsellor and additional staffing to provide support for students should it be necessary. If you as a parent would like to ask any questions, please contact me either by phone or email. STAFF NEWS We welcome the following new staff :- Vicky Warner (nee Ryan) Vicky returns after an absence of some five years back in the UK. Hopefully we can make a real Kiwi of her this time. Vicky will teach in the Reception / New Entrant classes. Hannah Kinsman (Year 5/Room 31) Hannah joins us from Karori Normal School in Wellington. Jo Bickley (Music) Jo will be leading our Music Programme including class lessons, choir and musical groups and will be working Wednesday to Friday. Emma Witchall (Library) Emma will be working in the Library Monday and Tuesday and Fiona Evans will be working Wednesday to Friday.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES The Board is the governing body of the school and they establish the school policies and strategic direction of the school. The Senior Management Team ensures that these priorities are acted upon. Our parent trustees are:- Rachel Murdoch (Chairman) 521 2339 rocketmurdoch@gmail.com Ingrid Van Den Bosch (Treasurer) 521 5935 ingrid@beekenbosch.net Anna Fisher (Community) 528 9227 atfisher@ihug.co.nz Tim Traviss (Health & Safety) 522 2620 timothytraviss@mac.com David Dyer (Property/Club Mead) 520 3696 david.dyer@plantandfood.co.nz The Board meets monthly. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 18 February at 7pm in the Senior Staffroom. BOARD ELECTIONS Information containing details on the upcoming Elections were posted over the weekend by our Returning Officer. If you do not receive this by the end of the week, please contact Carlene in the school office. Nominations are now open for 3 positions and your interest to stand must be received by 12 noon Friday, 13 February and no nominations will be accepted after this time. Our current Board members, Rachel Murdoch (Chair), Anna Fisher (Community) and David Dyer (Property / Club Meadowbank) are re-standing for election. Key Information: 13 February Nominations close at 12 noon If the number of nominees is the same as or less than the number of vacancies then the nominees will be declared elected and no election will be required. If there are more nominations than vacancies for Parent Representatives, eligible voters will be posted voting forms and statements. 18 February Voting forms and statements posted (if applicable) 27 February 12 noon voting closes 5 March 1pm results announced COMPLAINTS POLICY We would like to think we run the perfect school where nothing ever goes wrong and no one is ever upset, BUT who would we be fooling? Communication is everything, and in schools there are tens of thousands of interactions everyday with the possibility for offence to occur. If something has upset you or your child, don t talk to the neighbour or other parents. Please contact the school and talk to someone who can do something about it. In the first instance, contact your child s teacher. If you still don t feel anything has been done about your concern, talk to a member of the Management Team:- NE - Year 1 Nicky Durkin - ndurkin@meadowbank.school.nz Year 2 Samantha Knowles - sknowles@meadowbank.school.nz Year 5 Leigh Duncan - lduncan@meadowbank.school.nz Year 3, 4, 6 Moira Blair - mblair@meadowbank.school.nz or myself. If you are still unhappy that nothing has been achieved, then contact a Board member.
2015 MONEY MATTERS During week 3 every child will bring home their account which will relate to all 2015 charges. This includes the School Donation request and the many compulsory charges such as Excursion Fee (all levels), Resource Charge (all levels), Reading Eggs (New Entrants, Y1-Y2), Mathletics (Y2-Y6), EOTC (Y5), Garden to Table (Y4-Y5), Waterwise (Y6), Camp (Y6). SCHOOL DONATION REQUEST The Board once again has decided to leave the request at the 2011 rate. Cost per child Full Rate 5% Discount (paid by 31/3) Per Term Monthly (Feb-Nov) $ 480.00 $ 456.00 $120.00 $ 48.00 The donation is the largest area of income after the Ministry of Education grants. Last year over 90% of families contributed over $260,000. The donation request enables the Board to fund:- Specialist Programmes (Mandarin, Garden to Table, Enviro Education, Music, Sport) Needs Based Programmes (Reading Recovery, Booster teachers, Teacher Aides, Gifted and Talented, Music) Smaller Capital Building Projects : Dental Clinic conversion / Hall storage EXCURSION/PERFORMANCE FEE This fee covers the costs of buses, entry fee (eg: Zoo), visiting performers. For children to participate in these activities this charge needs to be paid. The charge varies between year levels :- Year 5-6 = $20 per term / Year 3-4 = $18 per term / Year 1-2 = $16 per term $80 per year $72per year $64 per year MATHLETICS Students in Years 2 to 6 must pay this licence fee in order to be able to utilise Mathletics at school and at home for the year - $20 per student READING EGGS The licence fee allows New Entrants, Year 1 and 2 students to utilise Reading Eggs at home and at school for the year - $20 per student GARDEN TO TABLE A charge for Year 4 and 5 students which funds the ingredients for this programme- $24 per student for the year. YEAR 6 CAMP / YEAR 6 EOTC WEEK (Education Outside the Classroom) Year 6 will be going to Camp Merc, Long Bay (16-18 March) and the cost is $270. Year 5 EOTC week (16-20 March) involving trips to Rangitoto Island, Orakei Marae, Youthtown experiences at school and Life Saving activities at Onehunga Pools and the cost is $50 per student All student accounts will be issued within 10 days and we ask if you please wait for paying your fees until you receive this (other than swimming for the first group). When paying your fees in the school office, please ensure you bring your account with you. If paying on-line please use your child s name and room # as a reference.
MEET THE TEACHER EVENING Teachers look forward to meeting parents next Wednesday, 11 February to discuss with you their class routines, homework, planned topics etc. The evening will commence in the Hall at the following times:- New Entrants, Year 1 & 2 @ 6pm Year 3, 4, 5 & 6 @ 7pm There will be a brief presentation from the Board of Trustees and Principal before moving to classrooms where your child s teacher will discuss matters. Please remember that teachers will have only had 7 days as your child s teacher, so do not expect them to relay specifics. However, you may wish to:- pass on valuable information and insights about your child which may assist the teacher; request a one on one meeting at a later date Children may attend, or alternatively play in the playground. Formal Parent/Teacher Interviews are Tuesday, 31 March and Wednesday, 1 April. HILTON BROWN SWIMMING Hilton Brown offer a swimming enrichment programme of 10 x 30 minute lessons for $48. They provide 3-4 professional instructors who work with smaller groups, often in the water alongside the children. Year 5, 6 & Rm 27 (Y4) Year 1 & 2 Year 3 & 4 & Rm11 (Y2) Monday, 9 February until Friday, 20 February Monday, 23 February until Friday, 6 March Monday, 9 March until Friday, 20 March New Entrant students will have swimming lessons in Term 4. Students will come home with a registration form today. All Year 5 & 6 and Room 27 students must pay this fee by 9am, Monday, 9 February. Other year levels can pay their fee closer to their lessons commencing. Swimming Sports Some key dates for your diary:- Year 5 & 6 2 March at Sacred Heart College Aquatic Centre Year 1 & 2 31 March - school pool Year 3 & 4 30 March - school pool Zone Swimming (Y5&6) 24 March at St. Kentigern s School, Remuera ADDRESS / CONTACT DETAILS Your eldest child will have brought home a pink 2015 contact details form today - we ask that you please complete this and return by Thursday and please ensure you circle the question in regards to the use of your child s image to be used on our website. CLASS & INDIVIDUAL PHOTOS On Wednesday all students will have their class and individual photo taken. Order forms will be sent home within 3 weeks for you to place your order. MAYPOLE DANCERS WANTED There are still a few vacancies for new maypole dancers with training beginning next Monday, 9 February. If you have a child 7 years or older who might like to join please contact Rae Storey to find out further information : 524 9504 or rstorey@ihug.co.nz
UNIFORM / HATS Lost Property If your child has lost any uniform items, they can check the lost property at:- Junior School - by the Sick Bay Senior School - Room 17 foyer (Mandarin Classroom) Hats A reminder that the school hat is compulsory during Terms 1 and 4 for all outdoor activities which also includes morning tea and lunch. Second Hand Uniforms We have a wide variety of second hand items available to purchase at very reasonable prices. These can be viewed and purchased at the Junior School Office. Naming your Uniforms With 700+ students all wearing the same items, it is essential that parents clearly name all uniform items. This will enable us to return items to its owner. Sports T-Shirts Sports t-shirts are for students in Year 4 to 6 only and should be worn when doing PE and not as their normal school uniform top. Shoes Shoes must be worn to and from school each day. PTA NEWS The PTA plays an important role - not only do they fundraise for specific school projects, they also organise events which promote the Meadowbank Community spirit. Their first meeting for the year is to be held on Wednesday, 25 February at 7.30pm in the Senior Staff Room (Waiatarua Road). Come along and hear about the projects that the PTA will be looking at this year. Time for some new members, come on junior families - you have the longest time to go at Meadowbank and would love to see you join. Sausage Sizzle starts Friday, 20 February We continue to ask for volunteers to make this great fundraiser ($12K) work 9am - Orders / Money counting 11.30am - Cooking of the sausages If each family volunteered just ONE time per year there would be ample helpers. Which day/time would you like? Remember sausage sizzle is every 2nd Friday. If you able to help please email meadowbankpta@gmail.com Ice-Block Friday Starting next week the PTA will be selling ice-blocks for $2 each at both the junior and senior gates after school. Children attending Club Mead0wbank will have a PTA member go to the hall. SCHOOL WEBSITE - www.meadowbank.school.nz We are pleased to announce that we have launched a brand new school website. Please take time to explore and familiarise yourself with the key functions on the home page, especially reporting your child Absent, What s On and Our Staff where all email details are available. We welcome your feedback on your thoughts so please use the contact us form available at the right hand side of site to let us know.
ABSENCES Student safety is a priority. If your child is sick/absent or going to be late for class, please make sure the school is aware. You can either :- > click on the Report Absence function on the homepage of the school website and complete relevant information, or > phone the school office Please give a brief reason for the absence, ie: dental/doctor appointment, sickness, tutor class, holiday. If we don t receive a message we will need to contact you. With an average of 5-6% absenteeism (40+ children) on any day (more on Monday/Friday) this can take some time and valuable time is lost. ROAD SAFETY It is essential for the safety of our children that parents:- Please... do not park on the yellow lines do not park across or in neighbour s driveways do not double park, blocking movement of cars do not use the staff car park as a drop off/pick up zone between 8am and 4pm Be a role model for your child(ren) and other children who may be watching you:- please cross at the crossings do not pressurise our new Year 6 patrol monitors do not walk through the staff car parks do not use the staff car park between 8am and 4pm Home time at 3pm is chaotic with so many cars being in a small area all at once. It is worse on wet days - please be patient and considerate to others. Please note that Auckland Council Traffic Wardens will be patrolling both our roadways this term and will ticket drivers who offend. UPCOMING DATES February 4 Class Photos 6 Waitangi Day 9 Year 5 & 6 & R27 Swimming 11 Meet the Teacher Evening 18 Board of Trustees Meeting 23 Year 1 & 2 Swimming starts Year 3-6 PAT testing 25 PTA Meeting MOBILE PHONES/I-PODS If children bring a mobile phone etc. to school, they are to be left at the school office and collect it at 3pm. 2015 TERM DATES Term 1 Monday, 2 February - Thursday, 2April Waitangi Day - Friday, 6 February Easter Friday - Friday, 3 April Term 2 Tuesday, 21 April - Friday, 3 July Teacher Only Day - Monday, 20 April Anzac Day Observed - Monday, 27 April Queen s Birthday - Monday, 1 June Term 3 Monday, 20 July - Friday, 25 September Term 4 Monday, 12 October - Thursday, 17 December Labour Day - Monday, 26 October DISTRIBUTION OF FLYERS Throughout the year your child will come home with various flyers on a Friday from local businesses. These flyers are distributed at the cost from the originator and are a fundraiser for the school.