FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER: 2 May 2019

Torbay School Learning Powers – RIC

DEAR PARENTS

Tēnā koutou

A huge welcome to Term 2 at Torbay School. I would especially like to welcome the new families who are joining us this term. We have a large number of children joining our New Entrant class. This is an exciting time for both parents and children as they set off on their journey through school. I know that Susan and her team will provide your children with a wonderful environment that they will make the transition a positive experience for everyone.

Please do not hesitate to ask questions and get involved in the school, in particular if you are worried about any aspect of your children’s transition or not sure about any aspect of the school’s systems and processes or your child’s wellbeing.

We have one or two staff changes this term with Keri Lesorgen moving into our new entrant class to teach alongside Susan Ye. Keri has been in the school for much of last term fulfilling our classroom release time role. This role will now be filled by Laura Patey who joins our staff for the remainder of the year. Laura has been recently teaching at Albany Primary and St Joseph’s School in Dargaville. She has moved back into the area and we are really pleased to have her as part of our team. Rachel Watts has also joined our staff as a Classroom Assistant. Rachel is an active member of our PTA and community and we welcome her onto the staff.

On Friday the 17th of May our school will be participating in Pink Shirt day. Pink Shirt Day focuses on bullying and highlights three key messages, Speak Up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying. Our School is committed to reducing bullying. We recognise that New Zealand has the second highest rate of school bullying in the OECD and that bullying can heavily impact people’s lives for years to come. We feel that this cause fits with our drive to develop students wellbeing.

This year we have appointed Renee Heasley to lead a team of teachers in developing practices to support Student Wellbeing. Renee has been working for the last year gathering information and looking at best practice and will now work with her team to build our programme.

Our Kāhui Ako has also decided that all the schools in our area will participate in Pink Shirt Day. Linda Urwin our Kāhui Ako Within School Lead and our two Kāhui Ako Student Leaders Wilco C and Paige S have developed a range of activities for the school to participate in. This programme will be communicated in the coming days.

Pink Shirt Day will not be a fundraising day for us but we will be holding a PINK mufti day. This mufti day does not require a gold coin donation and there will be class prizes for the most creative dress up. Part of our programme will include running programmes and/or activities in our classrooms both leading up to and on Pink Shirt day. This along with other activities organised by the children and teachers will focus on the three key messages and raising peoples awareness of not only what bullying is, but what the outcomes can be.

If you wish to donate to the cause you can purchase Pink Shirts from Cotton On either online or from the Cotton On store. Proceeds from the sale of these shirts go to the trust to help put a stop to bullying. You can purchase shirts by following this link.  We thank you for your support in getting these very important messages through to our children and community.

I was thrilled to watch our Netballers get underway last night at the North Harbour Netball Centre. It was terrific to see two teams perform so well and above all totally enjoying themselves. A huge thank you to Monika Benkovic in her new role as Sports Coordinator. Our numbers are up in all sports areas and she is just doing a fabulous job. Thank you to all those parents who are supporting her while she is bedding in new systems and grappling with all the issues that confront her. Your support of Monika in her role is critical in this first year.

I am really looking forward to term 2. Our teachers have some wonderful activities planned for the children. Thank you for your continued support and please do not hesitate to contact me on any issue.

Ngā mihi nui
Gary O’Brien
Principal

ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

KAI PAI to the following students who have shared their fantastic learning with us this week: Jack O, Hannah T & Michelle H Rm 22  Awesome work!

SCHOOL NOTICES

REMINDER:  Paid Union Meeting 10th May 1.30pm.

Our staff will be attending a Paid Union Meeting at 1.30pm on the 10th of May. As the vast majority of our staff will be attending this meeting we will only have a skeleton staff here at school to supervise your children.

We seek your support by making alternative arrangement for your children’s care on that afternoon by collecting or arranging for the collection of your children at 12.30pm. Please inform your classroom teacher if you are unable to make other arrangements and your child will be attending school that afternoon. We will need to know these children’s names by the end of the first week of term 2 so that we can organise our very limited staffing.

We thank you for your continued support in our endeavour to secure a successful conclusion to this campaign. We as a profession need to regain our status and improve our terms and condition so that we attract the best people we can to teaching.

Ngā Mihi Nui

Gary O’Brien

Principal

BOARD OF TRUSTEES ELECTIONS
Nomination forms have now been mailed with additional ones available at the school office if required.  These must be received by noon on Friday 24th May 2019 to be valid.

The draft electoral roll (also at the school office) is now available for inspection between the hours of 9.00am and 3.00pm.<

If an election is required, voting papers will be issued with the poll closing at noon on 7th June 2019.  For any queries please contact the Returning Officer, Rachel Mayne at school phone 473 8603 or email rmayne@torbay.school.nz

SCHOOL FEES – A reminder that if you are paying off your annual activity fees and donations – instalment 2 was due on the first day of term.

Activity Fees $23 per instalment
Donation (1 child) $45 per instalment
Donation (2 children) $80 per instalment
Donation (3 or more children) $107.50 per instalment.

Electronic statements will be sent out early next week showing any unpaid amount on your account (the system automatically sends these with the email subject line of Request for Payment). This is a chance to check that our records agree with yours. Please contact mboyd@torbay.school.nz if you have any queries.

MEETINGS – The next B.O.T Meeting will be held on Wednesday 15th May @ 7pm in the Staffroom.  The next PTA meeting will be held on Monday 20th May @ 7.30pm – new members welcome.  Please contact Megan Sadler at ptatorbay@gmail.com for venue details.  New Parent Meeting will be held on Monday 10th June at 9.30am in the Staffroom.

PARENT HELPER TRAINING – A reminder that Parent Helper Training will be on Monday 6th May at 11am in the staffroom.  Under the new Health & Safety legislation all parent helpers will need to complete an initial parent helper training session and sign a Health & Safety Procedure each year. Thanks for your support in this area. Reminder -all parents who come to school during the school day 8.55-3.00 must sign in at the office.

ENROLMENTS 2019/20 – If your child, (or someone you know has a child who lives in the Torbay School zone) and is turning 5 within the next 12 months, please urgently complete an enrolment application (available from our website or at the school office).

CHANGE OF DETAILS  – If you have moved house or have new contact details, or if your child has a new medical condition or older issues which have changed or are no longer a problem, please advise us so we can update our records.

TERM 2 ASSEMBLIES – ANZAC DAY Assembly will be on FRIDAY 10th May at 11.30am (please note time change). Going forward whole school assemblies will be on a Friday.

PHOTOLIFE PORTRAITS/CLASS PHOTOS/SIBLING PHOTOS – Friday 3rd May: PhotoLife will be here tomorrow.  Every child will be photographed individually and in their class group. When photos are ready for printing, students will bring home their own unique shoot key. Simply follow the steps to view and purchase your photos.

Sibling photo request forms can be collected from the office. Please complete ONE form for EACH family and return to school before photo day.

CHESS:  Students are invited to play chess for fun at lunchtimes at Torbay School.  If you would like your child to participate, please encourage your child to listen to the notices or contact Katie Hills   khills@torbay.school.nz