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Welcome – Nau mai haere mai

Term 2  Week 3 – Wednesday 10th May 2023

Week 3 already! With the onset of wet and almost wintery weather please remember to check your child has their warm polar fleece or jacket each day. Children will be issued with a school beanie later in the term to wear outside on colder days. 

After King’s Birthday Monday we will be back to Hot Food Tuesday. Children may bring something wrapped in tin foil and clearly named to put in the pie warmer which will be delivered back to them at lunchtime. 

We do not offer school lunches, but if you are struggling with school lunch for your child/ren, please contact the school office to talk confidentially with either myself or Karen in the office. We have options available to enable us to provide food for those who need it. 

We want to reiterate that you don’t have to wait until the school-wide parent-teacher interviews later this term to discuss your child’s learning progress with their teacher.  You’re welcome to request a meeting at any point throughout the year to address any concerns or questions you may have.  This helps ensure that any issues are resolved promptly. 

Improving student attendance and engagement is politically a big priority across New Zealand at the moment. Last week we received our latest attendance summary from the Ministry of Education and I am pleased to report that our average attendance rate for term 1 was 90%. The Ministry consider 90% to be the statistical rate of ‘regular’ attendance, which is the equivalent of children attending at least 9 out of every 10 days at school BUT analysis shows that every day has a cumulative impact on student learning, meaning there is NO safe level of non-attendance.

As a school we are revisiting the school values of RESPECT. This includes the 5 Signpost: Respect for Self, Respect for Others, Respect for Learning, Respect for Property, and Respect for the Environment. We appreciate your support in this.

I am away next week attending a Lions Convention in Medan, Indonesia which is an experience I am looking forward to. Then my role as Council Chair of Lions Clubs New Zealand is almost complete. I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Ngaere School Board for their support in allowing me to follow my passion for leadership within the Lions organisation over the past 12 months which has necessitated trips and days out of school.

Nga mihi

Megan

STUDENT COUNCIL PINK MUFTI DAY:  Friday 19th May children are invited to dress in pink to join others around New Zealand as part of a powerful movement to spread aroha and kindness and end bullying. 

What is bullying?
It isn’t uncommon to hear someone say something insensitive or mean to someone else. Although these comments or actions are not okay, bullying has some specific features that make it much more serious and harmful.
• Bullying is deliberate – harming another person intentionally
• Bullying involves a misuse of power in a relationship
• Bullying is usually not a one-off – it is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated over time
• Bullying involves behaviour that can cause harm – it is not a normal part of growing up 

KEEP SATURDAY 01st JULY 2023 FREE FOR THE NGAERE SCHOOL PTA

QUIZ NIGHT

(More details to follow)

A huge thank you to Finer Spraying Services & Lloyd Gernhoefer Agricultural Contracting for all of their support with the Maize paddock.  They donated their time and services to cut the maize, spray the paddock and regrass the paddock.  Their support is very much appreciated. 

CANTERBURY FUNDRAISER: The PTA are running their popular Canterbury Gear fundraiser.  Order forms were sent home with your children last Friday.  If you did not receive an order form, please call into the school office or please find one attached below. Money and orders are due back Wednesday 17th May.

Rooms 1, 2, 3 and 4 made the decision to dress up in royal regalia ahead of King Charles III’s coronation.   The Queen and Princess of Hearts (a.k.a. Mrs Henderson and Charlotte) made a surprise appearance, leaving behind the orb and sceptre.  The children then enjoyed a photo shoot on the throne with the Queen of Hearts’ orb and sceptre.  We celebrated by making, and then eating, scones with jam and cream. The coronation was the topic of some math work and enquiry in Rooms 3 and 4.  

PARENTS CYBER SAFETY EVENING

Because of the rapidly changing times, our tamariki are growing up in and, the mounting challenges and harms they are facing online we need to start talking about and tackling this as a community.

As such, we have organised Author, Filmmaker and Speaker Rob Cope, producer of the documentary “Our Kids Online” to come and give what promises to be a humorous and eye-opening evening talk to our parent community.

His talk will cover

• Cyberbullying – How cyberbullies can reach our kids 24/7
• Social media – The pressure for kids to build an online brand that is often far removed from their authentic selves. FOMO, Highlight Reels 
• Gaming and the developing brain – An oversupply of dopamine leading to dopamine deficiency, synaptic pruning, and the underdevelopment of social skills and empathy
• Naked Selfies – The pressure to send nudes from intermediate up through high school 
• Online predators – The methods they use, how to spot them, and how to get out from under their control if your child has been trapped
• Online porn vs healthy sexuality – How consuming online pornography as a child or teen can create a sexual template where violence, aggression, and dominance are seen as normal and consent can become very blurry

Solutions

• Filters – Which filters are best and how to install them
• Smartphones – How to lock down a smartphone to make it a safe phone
• Boundaries – How to put good boundaries in place around device use 
• 3 golden rules – The 3 golden rules that will keep your kids safe
• Talking to your kids – How to have difficult conversations with your kids
• Challenging our own phone and device usage – Reconnecting as a family.

Here is a promotional video for you to watch Our Kids Online Parent Evening.

The talk will be held in our school hall on Thursday June 8th from 7-9pm.

UNIFORM:   With the weather turning cooler it is important that your child has a warm outer layer. Our school uniform is either the blue polar fleece or the black jacket. Non uniform jerseys or jackets should not be worn. Please ensure all items of clothing are clearly named.  There is also a small selection of secondhand thermals available from the school office which may be worn under the school polo shirts.

To add to your Diaries:

• Wednesday 17th May – Canterbury Orders due
• Wednesday 17th May – SHS Principal Visit 9.30am
• Friday 19th May – Pink Mufti Day
• Wednesday 24th May – BOT Meeting 6.30pm
• Friday 26th May –  9.30am Restoration Planting at Soldiers Park, Eltham
• Monday 5th June – School closed for King’s Birthday weekend
• Thursday 8th June – ‘Empowered Online’ parent presentation (SPS)
• Friday 09th June – Book Club Due
• Thursday 15th June – Play Day, Midhirst (Rm 1&2 only)
• Monday 19th June – Jones Cup, Toko (Yrs 5-8 only)
• Monday 19th June – PTA Meeting
• Friday 30th June – End Term 1
• Saturday 1st July – PTA Quiz 
• Start Back Term 3 Monday 17th July

COMMUNITY NOTICES:

Welcome – nau mai haere mai

Term 2 – Wednesday 03rd May 2023

Welcome to Week 2 of Term 2.  The children have been busy settling back into routine and learning.  

All winter sports are now well underway.  A huge thank you to the parents who have volunteered their time as coaches and to help out with the teams, your support is very much appreciated.

Sports fees have now been invoiced to your accounts.  Please pay these as soon as possible.  If you are unable to afford the amount in full, you can pay smaller regular payments.  If you have any questions in regards to this, please see Karen in the office.

Just a reminder that Covid is making itself known again and that if your child/ren have flu like symtoms, please keep them home.  If they do happen test positive for covid they are required to isolate for 7 days.

Due to the Ministry cracking down on Truancy if your child is going to be away from school, please let the school know.  This can be done either by phone 764 8643, the school loop app, or email office@ngaere.school.nz.  Thank you.

PARENTS CYBER SAFETY EVENING

Because of the rapidly changing times, our tamariki are growing up in and, the mounting challenges and harms they are facing online we need to start talking about and tackling this as a community.

As such, we have organised Author, Filmmaker and Speaker Rob Cope, producer of the documentary “Our Kids Online” to come and give what promises to be a humorous and eye-opening evening talk to our parent community.

His talk will cover

• Cyberbullying – How cyberbullies can reach our kids 24/7
• Social media – The pressure for kids to build an online brand that is often far removed from their authentic selves. FOMO, Highlight Reels 
• Gaming and the developing brain – An oversupply of dopamine leading to dopamine deficiency, synaptic pruning, and the underdevelopment of social skills and empathy
• Naked Selfies – The pressure to send nudes from intermediate up through high school 
• Online predators – The methods they use, how to spot them, and how to get out from under their control if your child has been trapped
• Online porn vs healthy sexuality – How consuming online pornography as a child or teen can create a sexual template where violence, aggression, and dominance are seen as normal and consent can become very blurry

Solutions

• Filters – Which filters are best and how to install them
• Smartphones – How to lock down a smartphone to make it a safe phone
• Boundaries – How to put good boundaries in place around device use 
• 3 golden rules – The 3 golden rules that will keep your kids safe
• Talking to your kids – How to have difficult conversations with your kids
• Challenging our own phone and device usage – Reconnecting as a family.

Here is a promotional video for you to watch Our Kids Online Parent Evening.

The talk will be held in our school hall on Thursday June 8th from 7-9pm.

HOCKEY Registrations are now required: 

If your child/ren are playing Hockey this season please register your child/ren asap via the below link:

https://www.playhq.com/hockey-new-zealand/register/5e56fb

REGIONAL COUNCIL SURVEY: Taranaki Regional Council want your views to help shape the future of public transport, cycling and walking, road safety and speed management across Taranaki. The community conversation has been launched and you can take part in surveys or comment on an interactive map from 15 March to 30 April.

Feedback on road safety and speed will be used by the region’s district councils when they develop their speed management plans while responses around public transport and cycling and walking will inform our new Better Travel Choices in Taranaki strategy.

To provide your opinion, you only have to click on the link, click on the area you want to comment on and start typing.  You can also review every other comment and like/dislike that comment.

Transport engagement | Social Pinpoint (mysocialpinpoint.com)  

UNIFORM:   With the weather turning cooler it is important that your child has a warm outer layer. Our school uniform is either the blue polar fleece or the black jacket. Non uniform jerseys or jackets should not be worn. Please ensure all items of clothing are clearly named.  There is also a small selection of secondhand thermals available from the school office which may be worn under the school polo shirts.

CONGRATULATIONS Ngaere White who had a fabulous game on Saturday and won 13-3.

Well done girls!

To add to your Diaries:

• Friday 05th May –  Rooms 1-4 Royal Celebration
• Monday 8th May – PTA Meeting 7pm
• Wednesday 24th May – BOT Meeting 6.30pm
• Friday 26th May –  9.30am Restoration Planting at Soldiers Park, Eltham
• Monday 5th June – School closed for King’s Birthday weekend
• Thursday 8th June – ‘Empowered Online’ parent presentation (SPS)
• Friday 09th June – Book Club Due
• Thursday 15th June – Play Day, Midhirst (Rm 1&2 only)
• Monday 19th June – Jones Cup, Toko (Yrs 5-8 only)
• Friday 30th June – End Term 1
• Saturday 1st July – PTA Quiz (TBC)

COMMUNITY NOTICES:

Welcome – nau mai haere mai

Term 2 – Wednesday 26th April

I trust you have all enjoyed a fun filled, yet relaxing time with your children and are ready to deal with whatever Term 2 has to offer. We welcome three new entrant children and their families this week, Alexa (who joins big brother Riley), Lucian & Liam, and to Aston and Blake who have also joined us here at Ngaere.

SICK CHILDREN:

As covid is making itself known in the community again, we would like to remind families that if your child/ren have flu like symtoms, please keep them home.  If they do happen test positive for covid they are required to isolate for 7 days.

Also as the Ministry are clamping down on truancy, just a friendly reminder that if your child/ren are a going to be away from school, please let the school know.  This can be done either by phone 764 8643, the school loop app, or email office@ngaere.school.nz.  Thank you.

NEWSLETTER:  As you may have noticed, our newsletter is a little different.  This is because we are now doing it through the Ngaere School Website.  We have hopefully have transferred everyones email across to the new platform, but if you or someone you know has not received the newsletter, or would like to receive the school newsletter, please let Karen in the office know and we will add the email address to the mailing list.

HOCKEY Registrations are now required: 

If your child/ren are playing Hockey this season please register your child/ren asap via the below link:

https://www.playhq.com/hockey-new-zealand/register/5e56fb

Please find attached information on teams, fees, etc.

THANK YOU TO THE PTA

The PTA ran a motorbike flat track fundraiser yesterday.  It seems that it was a very popular event with over 60 children attending.  A huge thank you to the PTA and helpers on the day for the organsiation and running of this event, and an extra thanks to Bryce Meads.  Approximately $1000 was raised. 

REGIONAL COUNCIL SURVEY: Taranaki Regional Council want your views to help shape the future of public transport, cycling and walking, road safety and speed management across Taranaki. The community conversation has been launched and you can take part in surveys or comment on an interactive map from 15 March to 30 April.

Feedback on road safety and speed will be used by the region’s district councils when they develop their speed management plans while responses around public transport and cycling and walking will inform our new Better Travel Choices in Taranaki strategy.

To provide your opinion, you only have to click on the link, click on the area you want to comment on and start typing.  You can also review every other comment and like/dislike that comment.

Transport engagement | Social Pinpoint (mysocialpinpoint.com)  

UNIFORM:   With the weather turning cooler it is important that your child has a warm outer layer. Our school uniform is either the blue polar fleece or the black jacket. Non uniform jerseys or jackets should not be worn. Please ensure all items of clothing are clearly named.  There is also a small selection of secondhand thermals available from the school office which may be worn under the school polo shirts.

To add to your Diaries:

• Monday 8th May – PTA Meeting 7pm
• Wednesday 24th May – BOT Meeting 6.30pm
• Friday 26th May – Restoration Planting at Soldiers Park, Eltham (TBC)
• Monday 5th June – School closed for King’s Birthday weekend
• Thursday 8th June – ‘Empowered Online’ parent presentation (SPS)
• Thursday 15th June – Play Day, Midhirst (Rm 1&2 only)
• Monday 19th June – Jones Cup, Toko (Yrs 5-8 only)
• Friday 30th June – End Term 1
• Saturday 1st July – PTA Quiz (TBC)

COMMUNITY NOTICES:

THE REPAIR CAFE