Principal's Newsletter - 28 June

Check out the latest news from the Principal's Desk

Steve Ostermann
Principal

Junior School Cross Country

Photos from our recent Junior School Cross Country

Mathsathon Money

Dear Parent/Caregivers

Our Mathsathon Testing has now been completed. Your child’s score card was sent home on Friday and it is now time to collect their well earned money. We ask that you please supervise the collection of this money. All money and sponsorship forms, or donations if you prefer, are to be retuned to the School Office by Thursday 28 June 2012.

There will be a Lucky Prize draw for those children who return their money on or before Thursday 28 June 2012.

Please ensure the money and sponsorship form are placed into an envelope with your child’s name and class written on the outside. It is to be posted into the post box at the school office.

The sponsorship money raised through our mathsathon will go towards school resources and equipment that enhance classroom learning programmes for your children.

Thank you once again for your support.

Mathsathon Co-ordination Team

School Finishes Early

Don't forget school finishes early this week at 2pm on Tuesday 26th June (for Parent Interviews) and Friday 29th June (End of Term). 

Senior Cross Country - Postponed

The Senior Cross Country (Years 4-6) has been POSTPONED until Monday 25 June.  We would love to see you there. 

Principal's Newsletter - Fire Alarm

Dear Parents and Caregivers, Fire Alarm activation Thursday 14 June

Yesterday at 2.45pm we had a fire alarm activation that originated from the hall. It was most unfortunate that this activation occurred simultaneously with the end of school bell. It was a most unusual situation. Of course and as normal, we had many parents/caregivers in the school at that time to collect their children after school.

Our teachers immediately went into our fire alarm response procedures and took their classes out onto the field to check children as per our plan. Once we engage in this procedure, we cannot release children until the ‘ALL CLEAR’ is given by the Fire Safety Officers. This is to protect the safety of children (and anyone else in the vicinity). We must be sure we are not releasing them into an unsafe situation.

Thanks to the great majority of parents/caregivers who understood the situation and cooperated fully with the staff. Staff did as they were trained to do under our emergency procedures. There were some parent/caregivers however who put pressure on staff to release their child(ren) early, that is, before the ALL CLEAR was given by the Fire Safety Officers. This became a difficult situation to manage for staff. I ask for your cooperation in this as we are only acting in what we believe is in the best interests of children. I appreciate that due to the critical time this occurred, it may have caused difficulties for parents/caregivers on limited time frames. However, I cannot stress more strongly that this was an emergency.

The fire alarm activation in the hall (back wall) can only have been caused by someone breaking the glass and pressing the alarm button. As far as I can ascertain, there were some pre-schoolers in the hall at this time. It appears they may have been unsupervised. It is highly likely a child activated the alarm. If any parent/caregiver waiting by the hall before the activation/end of school bell witnessed anything, I would be most appreciative if they let me know. I remind everyone that pre-school children must be supervised at all times in the school grounds when they are with parents/caregivers. This fire alarm activation may well come at a great cost to the school as a ‘false alarm’ fine of $1000.

Steve Ostermann Principal

Principal's Newsletter 14 June

Check out the latest news from the Principal's Desk. 

In addition, please note the Teachers Professional Development meeting scheduled for 19 June has been postponed and school will NOT close at 2pm as originally signalled

Steve Ostermann
Principal

Parent / Teacher Interviews

Woodstock School Parent-teacher interviews will be held at the following times:


• Tuesday 26th June 2:30pm - 8:00pm
• Wednesday 27th June 3:10pm - 5:00pm

To book your interviews, go to www.schoolinterviews.co.nz in your browser, and enter the event code LQRTX
Please complete these steps before Monday 25th June.  Click here for further instructions.

PTA Meeting

Reminder the PTA is meeting Monday 11 June at 7.30pm.  All welcome to attend

Photos from Samoan Language Week

This year’s theme was “O le Vāfealoa’i” “Strong and Respectful Relationships”. 2012 marks both the 50th anniversary of Samoa’s independence and the 50th anniversary of the unique ‘Treaty of Friendship’ between New Zealand and Samoa.

Woodstock School held a special assembly on Friday 1st June to celebrate Samoan Language Week. Children were invited to dress in Samoan style.

Soteria Ieremia lead the Assembly.  The performance group gave a synopsis of how Independence came about to Samoa, and the group performed a wonderful Sa sa. The group has been ably tutored by Sau Taula.

Each team from the school reported back on the activities they had undertaken for the week. Pohutukawa had created Big Books on Samoan life, and the journey to independence. Everyone had practised their phrases of the day, and the National Anthem.

A big THANK YOU to ‘Popo Sports Ltd’, who donated a celebratory cake, which was decorated in the Samoan colours. Each child in the school was given a piece!

KANOHI KI TE KANOHI HUI

KANOHI KI TE KANOHI HUI (face to face meeting)

This is an opportunity for Whānau of our Māori students to discuss their education and support the school in meeting their needs.
6pm – 8pm
Monday June 18th
(Meet in the Woodstock School Hall)

In preparation for the hui, please consider the questions overleaf as these will shape much of the discussion.

All tāmariki will be cared for throughout the evening and a small meal provided. A light supper will also be provided for whānau
For more information and RSVP Slip click here