IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS
Torbay School Learning Powers – RIC
PRINCIPALS MESSAGE
Tena Koutou e te whānau
What a very busy term it has been. I want to congratulate our teachers on the energy and time they have put into everything we have done this term. The pressures that are being placed on our staff are immense as the sector goes through unprecedented change at an unprecedented pace and I am proud of the way our staff have handled these pressures ensuring that our children stay at the centre of everything we do.
I also want to thank our board. The board work in the background of any school and much of the work they do goes unnoticed. Our board are a talented, thoughtful group of people who have been a massive support to me and the staff of the school. They have made some critical decision’s that have helped facilitate the continual development of our school and always put people at the centre of their decision-making processes. Many of our current board members have been long term members and I celebrate their dedication to the school.
Our PTA are an outstanding group of individuals who continually turn up and provide the Mahi, facilitating so many wonderful community and fundraising activities. I thank them for the role they play in not only raising funds but also in helping to build the wonderful community spirit that Torbay school has.
From the recent quiz night that raised $15,000 toward the heating of our school pool, our school disco’s, to our end of term sausage sizzles are all prime examples of the tremendous and consistent effort that goes in by a relatively small number of parents. Thankyou from us all.
Whānau Feedback
Our term started with our Whānau feedback evenings which were extremely well attended providing an opportunity to discuss your child’s midyear reports and set the scene for the second half of the year. Our annual Book fair was also held at this time and was once again well supported by the community.
Jump Jam Regionals
A great big shout out to students and teachers for the quality and level of participation in the annual Jump Jam competitions. Sports at Torbay School gives our children many opportunities and where we can, we try to ensure it is as inclusive as possible, giving all those who wish to be involved the opportunity to be involved.
I want to commend the nine staff members involved in coaching teams who gave up so much of their own time to ensure all children were able to participate. On top of that to take out the top two places in the Auckland Open competition was outstanding and to gain a third place in the junior section and to win several other excellence awards is a tribute to the children and their determination and resilience.
Ricc’s Olympic Variety Show
Production was a major focus for this term and was integrated into many classes’ programmes during term 3. The inclusive nature of this event with all 600+ of our students involved in one way or another is always a feature and a key outcome. To see almost all of our students on stage performing is a thrill and to see students facing their anxieties around this and succeeding is indeed a step forward for many. Other children extend themselves in so many different ways and take the experience on with them to help them succeed later at school and in life in general.
I want to reiterate my thanks, voiced on the final night to all of our staff for going above and beyond to make this a special event such a success. I also want to celebrate Nic Davis’s leadership and inspirational drive as head of Arts. Every two years Nic finds the energy and creativity to produce a wonderful show and infects the whole school to fly high.
I also want to thank Claire Kelly and Todd Goodman for the wonderful work they did to support the show with technology and Nikki MacBeth for her work supporting the team with logistics. Finally thank you, to you for coming and supporting your children at each performance, I know they love to see you there.
Dates for term 4
- 14th October 1st of Term 4
- 23rd November Colour Run
- 12th December Awards Assembly
- 17th December Graduation Evening
- Wed 18th December Last Day of Term
Dates for 2025
- 30th and 31st of January Staff Only Days
- 31st January Office Open
- 3rd February First Day of School – Term 1 2025
- We have planned two staff only days in term time provided to us by the govt/ministry to help implement the new curriculums that are being rushed into place.
- Monday 10th of February
- Monday the 10th of March
We have chosen these days for a number of reasons including;
- The availability of presenters for the workshops that we have planned.
- That we wanted to hold the workshops early in the year so we gain maximum benefit from them.
- So the learnings from these workshops impact our classrooms for the full year.
We also have follow up days planned (not staff only days) designed to cement the skills we develop in the initial workshop, into our classroom practice.
- We understand that the 10th of February date provides something of a stutter start to the year however for the reasons outlined above we feel it is necessary and we ask for your understanding.
- We have booked these days prior to yesterday’s confusing announcement by the Associate Minister of Education.
- 12th February Our School meet the teachers and picnic evening.
- 18th of February and Wed 19th of February Whānau Feedback evenings
Safety
Please ensure you behave sensibly when dropping off and picking up. We have had a complaint from a neighbour of the school about cars parking on yellow lines outside their house in Alexander Rd. Please do not do this, the no parking zones are designed to keep our children safe, please obey them.
Staffing
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Petru Mintchev to our staff for the start of term 4. Petru comes to us after several years of experience as an early childhood teacher and will work in Room 11 and 12 alongside Kylie Wilson and Jamie Cope to accommodate our growing roll numbers in that space.
I am also pleased to announce the appointment of Ben Beguely and Ben van der Leoff. Mr Beguely and Mr van der Leoff will join our staff as teachers at the beginning of 2025.
I wish you all a safe holiday period and that you manage to have some valuable family time.
I congratulate and thank our staff for a great term and wish them a well earned break.
Thank you all for your continued support of everything we do here at Torbay School. Please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss any matter.
Nga mihi nui
na Gary O’Brien
Principal
ACOMPLISHMENTS
CONGRATULATIONS to the following tamariki who received certificates from their class teachers:
Sophie & Jax Rm 3, Jamie & Eva Rm 4, Coby & Nyla Rm 5, Luca & Brahmpreet Rm 6, Kenzie & Gilda Rm 7, Jack P & JaoJao Rm 8, Leo & Arthur Yu Rm 9, Tristan & Riley Rm 10, Yuvana & Nathaly Rm 11, Bodhi & Bria Rm 12, Oscar & Michelle Rm 13, Reuben & Matilda Rm 14, Ethan & Jade Rm 15, Jeanne & Niklaas Rm 16, Harry & Delilah Rm 17, Crystal & Lucas Rm 18, Kotaro & Cooper Rm 19, Alfie & Jackson Rm 20, Greta & Henry Rm 23, Max S & Bede Rm 24, Indiana & Kevin Rm 25, Lucia-Grace Rm 26, Ethan & Joseph Rm 27, Gabrielle & Ollie B Rm 28, Well done!!
KA PAI to the following students who have shared their fantastic learning with us this week: Eva A Rm 3, Jarvis Rm 10, Bella P Rm 6, Maxim Q Rm 5, Milly & Maia Rm 21/22, Austin Rm Rm10, Zeenya & Lily Rm 5, Rory Rm 9, Harrison T & Talon Rm 20 , Millie Rm 21, Roseleen Rm 18Keep up the good work!
RICC REWARDS, for displaying our C.A.R.E Values – Yesung Rm 21, Kupa Rm 5, Jesse Rm 26, Haoyuan Rm 13 Ka pai!
KA RAWE AWARDS, For using Te Reo Māori at school – Braden Rm 15, Alfie Rm 19/20, Larissa Rm 23 Tino pai!
STUDENT NEWS
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