Principals Newsletter No 6

Kia Koutou Katoa

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

School Term Activities

April 15 School closes for Term One Holiday 2:00pm

Term 2 Activities

May 02 School opens

May 02-13 ERO visit

May 03 Miss Leigh Paterson (Rm08) Graduation

May 12 BOT meeting

May 20 Out-of-zone Enrolments CLOSE

May 26 Out-of-zone Enrolment Ballot

June 06 Queens Birthday

June 13-17 Conductive Education Awareness Week

July 07 BOT meeting

July 12-13 Parent Teacher Conferences

July 15 Term ends

Message from the Waikato Museum

The Waikato Museum would like to thank our parents and our students for their fantastic contribution to our celebration of National Children’s day at the Waikato Museum. The children’s performance was a real hit and was a highlight of the celebration at the museum. The display of Lavalava put together by the Pasifika group was brilliant and added so much to the vibrancy of the day. Waimihi Hotere, Kaiwhakahaere I nga Mahi toi from Aerts Waikato and MC, commended the students who performed saying they were awesome and said this of our students; ‘Woodstock School’s Kapahaka and Pasifika group were vibrant, energetic and well-rehearsed, not to mention well disciplined. You could see the tamariki really got into the swing of things as their performance went on and they felt at home on the stage’.

Portfolios and Reporting to Parents

This term we will be completing and distributing our 2011 revised Student Portfolios. We believe they are a big improvement on last year’s model. Of course they are designed around reporting on the progress students are making against National Standards. If you wish to make any comment on these please feel free to email your comments (email above).

6 Year Old Reading Levels Comparison

For your information I have included a data chart that shows comparative information about Woodstock Schools 6 year old’s reading levels with achievement data from schools across the Central North Island. School wide 6 year old data is based on a formal Running Record administered by the Assistant Principal as part of the Observational Survey (when a student has turned 6 or had 1 year of instruction at school). The National Standard for reading after one year at school expects students to read, respond to, and think critically about fiction and non-fiction texts at the Green level.

As you can see from the above chart, Woodstock had a lower percentage of students at ‘Below’ than the CNI average and a higher percentage of students ‘At or Above’ the CNI average.

Lost Property will be on display Wednesday, Thursday and Friday under the walkway outside A block. Please check this before or after school. There is a lot of ‘lost’ clothing.

Parking

Oh dear … yet again … a letter I received from Hamilton City Council about parking. Drivers please note; ‘HCC have received a complaint this week which we are obligated to follow up. It is concerning the parents from Woodstock school who park right up to Anson Ave corner and occasionally over driveways, making it impossible to see oncoming traffic when reversing out of driveways - “an accident waiting to happen”. The New Zealand Road Code and Hamilton City Council standards state that a driver or person in charge of a vehicle must not stop, stand, or park the vehicle on a road, whether attended or unattended, without due care or without reasonable consideration for other road users. This Code is more specific and goes on to say. A driver or person in charge of a vehicle must not stop, stand, or park the vehicle; · within 1 metre of any driveway · on grass or ornamental verges · on a footpath or on a cycle path · on any part of a roadway so close to any corner, bend, rise, dip, traffic island, or intersection as to obstruct or be likely to obstruct other traffic or any view of the roadway to the driver of a vehicle approaching that corner, bend, rise, dip, traffic island, or intersection unless the stopping, standing, or parking is authorised by signs or markings maintained by the road controlling authority. · on any part of a road, whether attended or unattended, within an intersection or within 6 m of an intersection unless the stopping, standing, or parking is authorised by signs or markings maintained by the road controlling authority. This standard is enforceable by our Parking Enforcement Unit (contactable on ph 838 6888). Also as part of an on-site visit performed by our Operations Safety Network Engineer yesterday, he saw cars parked on the grass verge at the corner – this behaviour can cause damage to underground services and compromises road user safety. This matter is taken very seriously by Hamilton City Council’. I’m sure you will have noticed the completion of the pedestrian access onto Fairfield Bridge. This was part of a $3 million project and was instigated, in part, from a request from Woodstock School for pedestrian access and more particularly so that a walking school bus could come from Awatere Ave.

Assertive Discipline and Restorative Justice Plan

This pamphlet went home last week to parents. Essentially it sets out the school rules and outlines consequences for breaking the rules. It also includes the schools procedures for dealing with incidents and resolving issues ie allegations of bullying. Please discuss with your child and return the signed back page to your child’s teacher.

Cool to be Kind

Awarded at recent Assemblies. Lachlan Robertson - For being kind and helping Room 17 children in the playground. Sofia Sartin – Rm 15 – For being a kind and caring friend to Gemma and other children in Room 16.

PTA

The PTA have committed to support the school this year by fundraising raising for the following; Reading resources, (Juniors & Seniors) $8000, Writing Resources $1500 Maths Resources $4000, ITC software/resources $5000, PE/Sport equipment $1500, interactive classroom whiteboards $24000, Classroom sound field systems $30000. Total $74000 However, the IWB’s and Sound Field Systems, $54000 worth, are only on the basis of our funding applications being successful. PTA Garage Sale Special and grateful thanks to everyone who supported this for the school. A particular thanks goes to Jocelyn Kerr and Selina Corboy for their considerable effort managing and organising this event. Currently, chocolates are the fundraising event and thanks to everyone who has supported this by either selling boxes or buying the chocolates. Thanks to all supporters. Please ensure that all outstanding money and chocolates are returned by Friday.

Blog

Don’t forget to join up with our school blog! It’s so convenient. Get an automatic notification about new additions to the blog eg newsletters, PTA notices etc http://woodstockschoolnz.blogspot.com/. Register today. I checked the number of visitors to our site today and I was amazed that they come from all over the World! Europe, Asian, Australasia, North America, South America, Russia … the list of visitors goes on … and on … wow!

Enrolment Scheme

We have reviewed the need for our enrolment scheme and have informed the Ministry that we have an ongoing need to prevent overcrowding or the likelihood of overcrowding. Projections for the next 3 years indicate this need to continue. Enrolment period August – December 2011 We have identified the possibility of 20 Out of Zone student places being available for the second half of this year. If you know of any prospective parents wishing to enrol their child(ren) for the second half of this year from ‘out of zone’, please tell them to contact the school office urgently. Out of Zone Ballot will be held next term on 26 May Red Puppy

Bikkie Day!

A HUGE thank you to all the children who participated in the Woodstock Red Puppy Bikkie Day Bake-off and/or donated a gold coin on this special day. The funds that were raised will be a great help to the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind to train Guide Dog Puppies for their future owners. To see the winning bikkies and students from each classroom, have a look at the bright red display in the Office Foyer.

School Cartridge Recycling Programme

Simply collect empty toner and inkjet cartridges from friends, family and local businesses. Then place the cartridges in the Inkworks recycle box at our school. Inkworks will collect the box and donate funds towards our Enviro Garden. The more cartridges we collect the more plants we will be able to plant. Scooters at School It’s great to see so many children scootering to school however, as we have a lack of storage place in classrooms and corridors, children will need to park their scooters in the bike racks next term. They can be secured with a bike lock to keep them safe during the day. Please remind your child not to scooter with the school grounds. We have had a few “near misses” of late.

Room 9 ‘Operation Quake’ Cake Stall

Last Thursday, the children of Room 9 held their bake-stall “Operation Quake’, which they had planned and organised as part of their ‘Living in a Globalized World’ topic. They managed to raise $455.50 which has been sent to Red Cross for the Christchurch appeal. Thank you to everyone who supported us in this.

Message from one of our students

‘Hi, My name is Maia Barbuzza and I’m in room 9. I’m saving up to go to Italy to see my family. I’m already half way through and I’m looking for a job (holidays or afterschool). such as walking dogs, feeding pets, watering plants while you are away or any other types of jobs that are suitable for a 10 year old. My mum will supervise me. I really want to go and spend time with my grandparents uncles and aunties so, if you have a job for me, please call my mum, Veronica on 0211774451 or 07 2014470 or email vagabondiontheroad@hotmail.com’ Healthy Eating

WAIKATO FOOTBALL ACADEMY

'A top quality training program for all young aspiring players' Register now for Term 2 - Training commences Monday 2nd May at 4.30 - 6.00pm. Porritt Stadium, Crosby Road. All enquiries to Andrea Marden, waikatofootballacademy@gmail.com

Language, Music and the Arts Enrichment Programme for Children. Children - come and join our amazing team and learn new skills after school. We offer language programmes with qualified tutors in; French, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Spanish Cello, violin and keyboard Dance, drama and pottery and soft toy creations. I.T. media, using stop frame animation For more information go to http://www.hamiltonreap.co.nz/ Or e-mail. admin@hamiltonreap.co.nz Courses start Monday 2nd May. Enrol now to confirm your place. Limited spaces available

Tennis - Not Just a Summer Sport! Nor'East Tennis Club based at Fairfield Intermediate School has a thriving junior programme, and for those of you who want to play tennis all year round, or perhaps don't have a favourite Winter sport, why not try our new Winter programme! Starting Mondays from 9th May: Bookings essential. 3.30 - 4.15pm Mini Tennis Tribe Red (5-7 year olds) Cost: $80; 4.15 - 5.00pm Mini Tennis Tribe Orange (8-10 year olds) Cost: $80; 5.00 - 6.00pm Junior Development Squad (10 years +) Cost: $105 All courses run for 9 weeks due to the extra length in the term (usually 8 weeks).All sessions are run by fully qualified coaches who create a safe and enjoyable learning environment. For more details or to sign up please contact Ian Bishop at progressive.tennis@live.com, or call/text 021 842 810.

Hamilton City Libraries April School Holiday Programme

Spend, Stash or Save In partnership with Judi Billcliff, Education Officer, Hamilton Budgeting Advisory Trust, Hamilton City Libraries are hosting a free school holiday programme for 8-12 year olds. Spend, stash or save is a fun way to learn about money through drama, interactive games and activities. There are three sessions all beginning at 10.30 am Monday 18th April, St Andrews Library Tuesday 19th April, Dinsdale Library Wednesday 20th April, Chartwell Library Spaces limited so bookings essential.

Miropiko Kindergarten

Miropiko Kindergarten has a number of morning vacancies for four year olds for Term 2. Please phone 855-6773 for further details.

DO ALL YOUR SHOPPING FROM HOME AT http://www.yourfastshop.co.nz/ AND HAVE MORE TIME RELAXING Over 50 online stores and all shopping raises money for Woodstock School Food from Dominos Pizza. Books from online bookstores, The Nile and Fishpond. FREE DVD rental offer from Fatso. iPods, iPhones and laptops from Apple. Toys from IQ Toys. Gifts, prizes and lots more! Just go to http://www.yourfastshop.co.nz/ and select Woodstock School for great discounts and online offers.

Kid’s Language Club Term 2

汉语 español 日本語 Your child can learn Chinese, Japanese or Spanish in Term 2. Fusion Languages has had a great Term 1. Seeing kids from Hamilton enjoying and succeeding at learning Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish has been a blast! If you are interested in your child joining our classes in Term 2 please call us or enrol online. Places are limited. For more info: phone 0800NZFUSION (0800693874) or visit http://www.fusionlanguages.co.nz/

Steve Ostermann

Principal