Welcome‎ > ‎Newsletter‎ > ‎Archive‎ > ‎2016 Term 2‎ > ‎

20 May 2016

Kia ora e te Whanau o Whetukairangi

Our school has one 'rule' . It's easy to remember. It's Respect. "Respect for ourselves, each other and he environment."
This week, being NZ's Anti Bullying week, all children have been engaged in a range of activities across the school to highlight what bullying is and isn't and most importantly what to do about it...............

Some responses to "What is bullying?":

"It's when someone is mean and it goes on and on." (Year 2)
"It's planned and repeated." (Year 4)
"It's not something that happens once." (Year 3)
"It's mean words, taking friends away, not letting you play, putting you down again and again." (Year 2)
"It's when people make you feel bad a lot." (Year 1)

When asked "So what do you do about it.......?"

"You have to tell, you stick up for yourself and other people." ( Year 4)
"You tell a teacher or your Mum or Dad what is happening." (Year 3)
"It's difficult to tell, you need courage." (Year 4)
"You must be brave and if everyone is brave and tell it's much better." (Year 5)
"You tell because there is something that is making the person doing that, they aren't happy, there is something wrong." (Year 6)

Our focus on Positive Education and aspects of our Health Curriculum highlight positive relationships and emotions. Having this whole week bringing this ongoing, targeted, repeated, planned, negative behaviour to the fore, we hope, has encouraged more of the culture of telling I wrote about in last week's newsletter. Telling is the hard part. I'm sure many of us can think back and remember a time we had to gather the courage to tell.

I have had some feedback from parents this week commenting on how much they like the concept of a 'culture of telling'. I'm certainly all for it! The important piece is to tell the right person at the right time. If something is happening at school, teachers do need to know at the time......... it's much easier to get to the nitty gritty then, there, on the spot...... not after the fact when stories tend to become a little muddy or confused with the 'he said..she said..."

We have been talking about children but, as we know, it's adults too that are affected in workplaces and within communities. For our school community to really thrive, adults, too, need to have courage, speak up and 'call it' when they witness inappropriate comments or behaviours that aren't conducive to belonging to a positive community. It's about: 

"Respect: ourselves, each other and our environment."

You may like to read "What is Bullying?" at the bottom of this page, and this article in the NZ Hearald: www.nzherald.co.nz.

Nga mihi.


PRINCIPAL’S AWARDS
Our Principal’s Awards are currently focusing on the following:

  • I am connected... (with a focus on empathy) 
  • I can build relationships with others
  • I can communicate clearly
  • I can be part of a team
  • I can connect to my place, the environment and globally

Autahi and Tautoru
Eddie, Aila, Lucy, Konrad, Eloi, Sammy C, Ella M and Izar.

Matariki and Mahutonga
Louise, Emma Mc, Parker and Alex P


Letter from Stephanie Hayes' Parents

Dear Worser Bay School families

Many thanks for your support and understanding since Stephanie (Year 4) was diagnosed with leukaemia (a type of blood cancer) last year. She is responding well to treatment and she is doing well.

Stephanie has started the Maintenance phase of cancer treatment. All of this treatment is done in Wellington so we are fortunate to have no more Christchurch trips for treatment. Maintenance lasts two years, finishing in April 2018. Stephanie still has regular hospital appointments for chemotherapy but they are less frequent and less intensive than the past six months.

Stephanie's immunity is suppressed for the duration of her treatment. This means she will continue to have low immunity for the next two years. Lowered immunity means she is more susceptible to illness than other children. In particular, chicken pox, measles and the flu can have serious consequences for her.

Stephanie is very aware of the importance of personal hygiene to help her stay well. 

It is vital that Worser Bay families stay vigilant and do not become complacent. Please notify the school immediately regarding cases of chicken pox, measles or flu within your family. It's very important that you do not send your child(ren) to school if they are unwell.

Many thanks for your ongoing support.

Kind Regards
Cath Peebles and Dave Hayes (Stephanie's parents)




Autahi Parent Catch Up - Friday 27 May at 7.30pm

A reminder that next Friday evening (27th May) is another opportunity to catch up and connect with new families who've joined the WBS community. Please join us at Park Kitchen, Miramar for drinks from 7.30pm. Partners are, of course, welcome too.

If you are able to RSVP that would help us to reserve a space. Either email parentnet@worserbay.school.nz or just let Helen (Finley's Mum) or Miranda (Cleo's Mum) know if you are keen to come - the more, the merrier!!



School Cross Country


What a fabulous Cross Country. It didn't even rain!



Autahi




Reading on the IPADS

We are reading a story called Growing Up. Have a look at our blog to find out more!



Measurement in Maths!

We’ve been learning all about weighing things and comparing things that are heavy and light.



Pretty Pirates

We made pirates and pirate treasure maps! Pirates start with a p!



Tautoru

Spanish lessons: Gracias Maria
Maria (Leola and Violeta's Mum) came in to teach us Spanish. Some of us chose to work with her as part of our golden time today. We learnt how to introduce ourselves, numbers and colours. Please see more on our blog. We have also started to put some resources together on our site so students can learn at home: https://sites.google.com/a/worserbay.school.nz/matarikiwbs/spanish

A big GRACIAS to Maria for her time. It is great to have parent expertise in the classroom! 



Our Town Poems
Our students buddy reading “Our Town” poem.



Last week we wrote poems based on the poem by James K Baxter. We used the same structure to write about a place of our choice. Enjoy! 

We asked our students about the Helping Circle. Read the blog to see what we said. 



Find out about the NZ Armed Forces Visit.

Compliment Circle
We have been learning how to do a Compliment Circle in base groups. We have been trying to focus on one person for that week and notice things that they have been doing for other people. Please check out our blog to see the video!




Mahutonga/Matariki

What’s in a good poster?
We were lucky to have a parent and former student come in and share what it’s like to be graphic designers. They gave us some great tips on good visual communication. Now we’re using these skills to make posters about what kind of learners we are and how we look after our environment at Worser Bay School, like by having a worm farm. 

Major Cooper on ANZAC Day
Following on from our work around ANZAC Day, Major Cooper came in to talk to us about the NZDF today and what it’s like to be in the army. Have a read to find out more…



Netball
Our Netball team attended Eastern Zones. Take a look.


ACTIONS AT A GLANCE
  • Autahi and Tautoru - Visit to the Island Bay Marine Education Centre - Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 May - $10.00
  • Drumming/Percussion Concert - Friday 27 May at 9.10am (Assembly time)
  • Book your Reporting Progress Meetings:
    Go to www.schoolinterviews.co.nz and enter the code:     98gcp
  • The following payments are now due:
    • Island Bay Marine Centre Visit - Autahi and Tautoru - $10.00
    • Voluntary Contribution - $335.00 - Full year
    • Voluntary Contribution by Installment - 2nd instalment is now due - $83.75 per term (or $71.25 if you made the first payment in Term 1.)
    • Swimming Lessons - $60 - Whole School (or Pro Rata rate for those who have just started school)
    • Camp - 3rd instalment of $50 is now due (for those paying by instalment)

  • Next Lost Property Clearance - Thursday 2 June (Please ensure clothing, lunch boxes and drink bottles are named.)
  • Sausage Sizzle Tuesdays
  • Sushi Lunches Fridays (Remember not to order for Friday 3 June when school is closed for Queens Birthday Weekend.)
  • Queens Birthday Weekend - School will be closed on Friday 3 June and Monday 6 June.
  • Matariki - 17 June (morning). 
  • Matariki Programme at Te Papa - Friday 24 June (Years 3-6) and Monday 27 June (Years 1-2). 
  • Term Dates 2016 and 2017. 
  • Take a look at our Blogs! www.worserbay.school.nz/blogs

All payments via Wrap It Up please.



Autahi and Tautoru - Visit to the Island Bay Marine Education Centre

Autahi and Tautoru are going to visit the Island Bay Marine Education Centre on 23 and 24 May. This will link into our Inquiry about change and what we discovered about rock pools in Term 1. 

When:     Monday 23 May and Tuesday 24 May (You will have received an email informing you of which day your child is going.)

Time:     9.15am - 2.30pm. (The Marine visit is from 10.00am to 11.30am on each day and we hope to go for a walk/have lunch on the beach or in the playground in Island Bay, if the weather permits.)

Cost:     $10.00  (Please pay and give permission via Wrap It Up.)

For those children who have ordered sausages on Tuesday, we will endeavour to give you a refund.

Please note that, if you haven't yet paid via Wrap It Up, you won't have ticked the permission box and your child will not have permission to go.




Reporting Progress Meetings

Bookings are now open for Reporting Progress Meetings to be held from Monday 13 June to Friday 1 July (inclusive). Bookings will close at midday Friday 10 June.

Please follow the instructions below:
Enter the Worser Bay School Code: 98gcp




A Note from the Office

School Closed
Please note that school will be closed on Friday 3 June and Monday 6 June for Queen's Birthday Weekend.

Absences
If you are emailing the office regarding absences, please send the email to office@worserbay.school.nz (we no longer use the sitemail email address), as well as your child's base group teacher (you can find their email address at http://www.worserbay.school.nz/people). Remember to mention the reason for absence.

Nits
Nits are doing the rounds again. Please check your child's hair and treat, if necessary. Your local pharmacist can advise, if necessary.

Keep collecting those Yummy Stickers! 
Collect the Yummy cut-out labels from bags of apples (each cut-out label is worth 10 stickers) and individual Yummy apple stickers for our school’s share of the $200,000 free DG Sport sports gear prize pool. Yummy apples are available from New World, Pak'n Save and participating Four Square stores. The more you collect, the more sports gear Worser Bay School will receive. Pick up a collection sheet from the office, or print out the Collection Sheets at the bottom of this Newsletter.

Payments via Wrap It Up
Tip: To avoid doubling up on payments, you can check what you have already paid for on Wrap It Up by going to the "My Orders" tab on the menu below. This will list all the purchases you have made in date order.


Sushi Lunches

www.wrapitup.co.nz




Matariki 2016

Coming up in June is our annual Matariki Celebration. This year it will be slightly different again.

Matariki, as well as welcoming the New Year, has been a time to acknowledge Tupuna, the ancestors who have gone before us. Some Maori did this by flying kites as it was a way of connecting with the spiritual world. Some of the kites were enormous and very beautiful like the one shown.



Please set aside Friday 17 June for kite making and flying with your children at Worser Bay Beach. We will be following this up with some sort of shared kai. More details on this will follow.

The other part of the Matariki programme this year will be run at Te Papa. This will be taking place the following week on Friday 24 June (Years 3-6) and Monday 27 June (Years 1-2). More information to follow.



Swimming

This term, the main focus for the PE curriculum is swimming. This involves every student having one weekly swimming lesson at the Kilbirnie Aquatic Centre for ten weeks. Because of numbers, students may be heading to the pools with different teachers from usual (see below). Lessons and times are as follows:

Thursdays - 5th May to 7th July - 10 lessons

Years 1 & 2 - 1pm to 2pm - Kath, Gillian, Chrissy and Shona
Buses leave at 12.35pm from WBS and 2.20pm from the Aquatic Centre. 

Years 3 & 4 - 11am to 12noon - Nicola, Scott and Gabrielle
Buses leave at 10.30am from WBS and 12.20pm from the Aquatic Centre.

Years 5 & 6 - 12noon to 1pm - Hamish and John
Buses leave at 11.30am from WBS and 1.20pm from the Aquatic Centre.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s base group teacher.

The cost is $60 per child. Please pay online at www.wrapitup.co.nz. If your child started part way through Term 2, you can pay from the week you start (also on Wrap it Up under Pro Rata Swimming).

Kia ora te whanau

If you are one of the willing parent volunteers for swimming next term, please read the Volunteer Guidelines and get back to the base group teacher via email and acknowledge that you have read this before the first swimming session. We need to keep everyone in the community 'safe', including our parent volunteers (who we rely on so heavily!)

Nga mihi
Jude




Community Notices...

The NZ School of Music presents Honk! Jr.
Starring Danielle, Natalie and Pieta (past and present WBS students).


Supporting success in your school
If you are a parent, staff member or member of the school community and draw down a new ASB home loan of $150,000 or more, ASB will donate to your chosen participating school $500. Visit www.asb.co.nz/schoolbanking for more information.


Brainwave




Seatoun and Bays Progressive Association

Eastern Cycle Way
The Wellington City Council, as part of the Eastern Cycle way, is proposing 2 possible routes - one that starts in Seatoun. The two routes and details on the development are on: http://cycleways.wellington.govt.nz/. Deadline 23rd May 2016.

CentrePort Harbour Deepening Project Centre
Port is planning to dredge the harbour entrance to increase access for larger shipping into Wellington Harbour. The resource consent is to remove 8.6 million cubic metres of sediment and to be disposed of in Fitzroy Bay. CentrePort has done technical assessments of the impact on Seatoun beach and bays. Details of the project are on www.centreportbigpicture.co.nz. 

The next Public Open Day is being held in Seatoun RSA Clubhouse on: 
Saturday 21st May, 10am-3pm 

If you live in Seatoun and Bays, look at the website, go to the open sessions on 12th or 21st May and talk to your neighbours. If you want to make a submission, you have until 27th May.

Ċ
What is Bullying.pdf
(81k)
Carolyn Brett,
17 May 2016, 17:10
v.4
Ċ
Yummy Cut Out Label Collection Sheet.pdf
(495k)
Carolyn Brett,
17 May 2016, 18:10
v.4
Ċ
Yummy Sticker Collection Sheet.pdf
(741k)
Carolyn Brett,
17 May 2016, 18:10
v.4