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19 February 2015
Meadowbank School 68 Waiatarua Road, Remuera, Auckland 1050
Phone: 520 3739 www.meadowbank.school.nz
BOARD OF TRUSTEES ELECTIONS At last Friday’s deadline six nominations were received:- - 3 standing members : Rachel Murdoch, David Dyer, Anna Fisher
- 3 new candidates : Lisa Fullford, Sarah Lang, Rachel Martin
We are aware that there were other nominations posted to the Returning Officer, but unfortunately they missed the deadline. The election schedule is as follows:-
- Voting papers posted - 17 February - Voting closes - 12 noon, 27 February You can either:- - post your voting envelope directly to CES using the envelope provided or - drop your voting envelope into the voting box in the Senior School office. - Election results declared - 1pm - 5 March Please carefully read the information sheet before voting.
HILTON BROWN SWIMMING Year 5/6 and Rm 27 finish their swimming lessons tomorrow. They have been extremely lucky with the weather and the instructors have seen some great improvements. Year 5/6 have their Swimming Sports at Sacred Heart College on Monday, 2 March. Parents are welcome to come and support their children. Year 1/2 classes commence their lessons next Monday. If you haven’t already paid for your child’s lessons we ask this is attended to prior to lessons commencing. Year 1/2 Swimming Sports are on Tuesday, 31 March in the school pool. Year 3/4 & Rm11 classes commence their lessons on 9 March until 20 March. Year 3/4 Swimming Sports are on Monday, 30 March in the school pool.
Dear Parents/Caregivers
What an incredibly smooth start to the year it has been! It was great to see the fantastic numbers of
parents attending the Meet the Teacher Evening last Thursday. At each year level the numbers were:-
Year 1 - 103 / Year 2 - 116 / Year 3 - 83 / Year 4 - 65 / Year 5 - 85 / Year 6 - 44
On the evening teachers would have introduced you to the new school website and advised where to
access the classroom blogs and student work. Have you had a look yet? www.meadowbank.school.nz
TEACHER INQUIRY PROJECT Every year we undertake a school wide teacher inquiry / professional development focus. For each of the past two years the focus has been on Mathematics. This had a pleasing impact with national standards achievement in this area. For 2015 the focus is on developing and improving relationships with the expectation that this will improve student achievement and in particular help reduce the lower achieving tail which is evident across NZ schools. The professional development is being led by a facilitator from Cognition Education and involves teacher only days, staff meetings, professional learning groups, readings, in-class observations of teaching practice, surveys, tracking student progress and building relationships with parents and students. Parent Voice Questionnaire : At the Meet the Teacher Evening parents were given a questionnaire in relation to each of their children. A huge thank you to those who have completed and returned these . You will understand that this is part of us developing and improving relationships. If you were not at the evening your child will no doubt have brought home a copy. I do ask that you return your questionnaire by next Monday, 23 February.
INTERNATIONAL VISITORS
Last week we hosted 12 new Mandarin Learning Assistants (MLA) who will be based in schools
across Auckland. This was their first experience of a NZ school. The MLA programme is a
product of the NZ/China Free Trade Agreement which helps fund and staff the tuition of
Mandarin Language in NZ schools.
We have enjoyed MLA’s for the past two years, and this year we welcome a new MLA,
Lisa Zhang.
Yesterday we hosted a large group of Swedish Principals and Teachers visiting to observe good
practice in Reading, Writing and Maths. They also took away good ideas regarding Solo
Taxonomy and Environmental Education.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR SPORTS
In response to Keith Ratcliffe’s Sports Newsletter, we have had huge numbers looking to participate in:-
Flippaball Inter-school Programme
Weet-bix Try-Athlon this Sunday, 22 February
Top Schools, Sunday, 1 March
Round the Bays, Sunday, 8 March
Eastern Trolley Derby, Saturday, 21 March
I thank Keith for giving up his own time to provide these sporting opportunities for our children and also
to Mike Thorpe for organising the Soapbox Derby team.
SAUSAGE SIZZLE HELPERS WANTED URGENTLY
Our first Sausage Sizzle fundraiser for the year starts tomorrow.
On the back of your child’s order form today there is an area for you to indicate your interest to help out.
We are looking for parents from each class to help - you may only be needed just once for the year.
If you are interested please either complete the form or e-mail the PTA direct
PICNIC ON THE FIELD - THURSDAY, 5 MARCH FROM 5.30pm
Bring the picnic rug and basket of goodies/takeaways and sit in your class / year level
area to meet up with other families at your child’s level.
We are looking to incorporate some picnic games / races in the evening as well.
PTA MATTERS WEDNESDAY, 25 FEBRUARY - 7.30pm - SENIOR STAFFROOM
Come along to our first meeting of the year to help determine this years school community events that
help maintain our family culture, and help raise some funds. Historically the PTA events have included:-
Quiz Night Bingo Night Parent Revue Show
Arty Party Gala Dinner/Ball Auction
Other key PTA events include the Ice Block Fridays and Sausage Sizzles. A reminder that Ice Block
Fridays are every Friday until 6 March and are sold at both Junior and Senior gates at 3pm for $2 each.
Lisa Fullford has indicated that she is standing down from the PTA and we thank Lisa for all her
hard work over the past 3 years as both PTA Chair and organising our wonderful Gala in 2013.
WALKING SCHOOL BUS We now have 4 ‘Walking School Bus’ groups who walk every day to school. This is free for families to join as you are expected to do one ‘duty day’ per week when you walk with the bus. For more infor-mation please contact the WSB co-ordinator closest to your house:
Duck Express (Tahapa/Bonnie Brae) Sarah Valentine: [email protected]
Millepede (Temple, Lucia Glade) Penelope Moody [email protected]
Koraha (Maungarei, Koraha) Kath Manning [email protected]
Ngaphui (Kenny, Lucerne, Ngapuhi) Di Maxwell [email protected]
LORAX GARDEN WORKING BEE Our Property Manager, Mike Thorpe will be working on rejuvenating the Lorax Garden on the Junior campus this Saturday between 10am and 1pm and is looking for 6-10 helpers. If you can spare an hour or so he would really appreciate your help - all you need is to show up with a shovel and gloves.
SCHOOL FEES
Your child should have brought home their account this week in a brown envelope. Please note that if
you wish to pay by EFTPos or Credit Card these can only be processed in the Senior School office.
Should you wish to discuss payment options - please do not hesitate to contact
Gabrielle Thornton-Smith : [email protected]
UPCOMING DATES
February
23 Y1/2 swimming commences
PAT testing commences Year 3 to 6
25 PTA Meeting
27 BOT Election voting closes
March
2 Y5/6 Senior Swimming Sports
5 BOT Election results announced - 1pm
Picnic on the Field
6 Waterwise commences
Rooms 21 & 22 Assembly - 2.15pm
9 Year 3/4 & Rm11 swimming commences
Year 5 EOTC Week including:-
- Rangitoto
- Orakei Marae
- Garden to Table
- Youth Town
- Onehunga Pools
13 Room 15 & 16 Assembly - 2.15pm
CLASS & INDIVIDUAL PHOTOS
Photo order envelopes have been issued and should you wish to purchase your child’s photos please either pay on line or send your envelope back to school with your payment by 27 February.
All orders will be issued on 9 March.
UPLANDS KINDERGARTEN
CELEBRATING 45 YEARS
Sunday, 22 March 2015
3pm until 5pm
497 Remuera road
Remuera
RSVP by 16 March
