THURSDAY 14th FEBRUARY 2013 EDITION 02/2013

Dear Parents and Caregivers, Welcome to all our new families and students who have joined us over the past fortnight. We hope you are already feeling part of our school.

PAID UNION MEETING Please remember this coming Tuesday 19th March school will be closing at 1.30pm to allow teachers to attend a NZEI Union Meeting. Students who need supervision and have returned the yellow slip from the original letter will be looked after until 3.00pm. OSCAR will run as usual on this day however the Walking Buses WILL NOT be running afterschool.

GLADSTONE’S SCHOOL CHARTER

The 2013 Gladstone Primary School Charter has been submitted to the Ministry of Education. This has all the school goals for this year. There is a link on our website and on your children’s class BLOGs. Please take the time to look at this and if there are any questions please do not hesitate to ask us.

EASTER BREAK

As Easter has fallen in the holidays for the last few years we thought it important to remind you that schools are closed for 3 days, Good Friday, Easter Monday AND Easter Tuesday. (29 March, 1st and 2nd April)

ROAD SAFETY

If you are dropping your children off to school or just driving past the school at the start and end of the day please slow down near the crossings. There have been a couple of close calls in the last week.

SUPPORT OUR DEDICATED STAFF MEMBERS

On April 6th, Mr. Hattie and Miss Muscat are going to participate in the OXFAM Trailwalker. This is a 100km walk around Taupo which they will attempt to accomplish in 24hrs, non-stop. It’s going to both be physically and mentally challenging for them but these challenges pale in comparison to those faced by the communities they are supporting. OXFAM New Zealand works in Africa, Asia and the Pacific with poor communities and local organisations to help people address the root causes of poverty. The organisation is great in that they work at the grassroots level but also with institutions and governments at the national and international level.

In short, it’s a great cause that we are excited to support. Their goal is to raise $2000 for OXFAM and they need your help. How can you help? There are two collection boxes at school, one in the office and one in the staffroom. You can also donate to their team online at http://www.oxfamtrailwalker.org.nz/otw13/teams/sleepwalkers

STUDENTS WHO MOVE OUT OF THE GLADSTONE ZONE a message

from the Board of Trustees Important information regarding school zones Children enrolling at Gladstone

School must live permanently

within the zone and will be asked

to provide proof of this (a power,

phone or gas bill; a rates demand;

Sale and Purchase or tenancy

agreement). If the tenancy

agreement is for less than 6

consecutive terms parents will be

asked for further proof of address

after 6 and 12 months.

If a child moves out of zone while

they are attending Gladstone

School please let us know of your

change in circumstance

immediately. All cases will be

presented to the Board of Trustees

for discussion and consideration.

In most instances current students will

be allowed to complete their education

at Gladstone unfortunately however,

siblings will not be able to be enrolled.

OFFICE HOURS

The School Office is open 8.15am – 4.30pm Monday-Thursday and 8.15am – 4.00pm Fridays.

SUN HATS Reminder in Term 1 all students need to wear the school sun hat when outside. Also the use of sun block is recommended.

TERM DATES - 2013

FIRST TERM From: Monday, 4 February 2013 To: Friday, 19 April 2013 SECOND TERM From: Monday, 6 May 2013 To: Friday, 12 July 2013 THIRD TERM From: Monday, 29 July 2013

To: Friday, 27 September 2013 FOURTH TERM From: Monday, 14 October 2013 To: Wednesday, 18 December 2013 HOLIDAYS/OTHER Good Friday: 29 March 2013 Easter Monday: 1 April 2013 Easter Tuesday: 2 April 2013 Anzac Day: Thursday, 25 April 2013 Queen's Birthday: Monday, 3 June Labour Day: Monday, 28 October

UPDATE OF INFORMATION If there have been any changes to the custodial arrangements, change of address, change of telephone number, change of emergency contact numbers, or any other changes we would be very grateful if you would inform us as soon as possible, so our records can be corrected.

WINNER OF THE DINNER!! Thank you to the parents who were able to pay their school fees for the full year. Your names went into the draw for a ‘Dinner for two’, and we are pleased to advise that Anna Horsley’s family were the recipients of the dinner voucher!

DOGS There is a reason why the signage at the three entrances to the school read ‘NO DOGS’. Every Monday morning there are numerous doggie ‘messages’ left around the school, especially on the field. We are sorry that the owners of those dogs are not conscientious in cleaning up after them. If you can help in any way we would be grateful. It is not pleasant for our children to stand in the mess!!

Greetings, Kia Ora, Fakaalofa Iahi atu, Malo e lelei, Talofa lava, Taloha, Ki a Orana Ni Hao, Buenos Dias, Chao, Malo ni, Habari Dobar Dan, Namaste, Salam

OUR VALUE FOR THE FORTNIGHT

FRIENDLINESS – “caring about other people…it’s about making others feel welcome”.

ABSENCE If your child is absent from school please remember to call the Office and leave a message by 9.00am. (846 9744 ext 1 )

SCOOTERS

With the number of scooters coming to school, parking is at a premium in the scooter racks. There is a technique to stacking the scooters in the scooter rack behind the hall. Could the handles be turned sideways as this gives more room for scooters to be parked in the slot next to it. If you are able to talk to your child about this system to reinforce it for us, we would appreciate this.

SCHOOL ACCOUNTS FOR DONATIONS

AND FEES Last week an account was sent home to you showing the payments you have made. If there are any queries, please email Judith or ask at the office. We would like to see all the compulsory charges paid by the end of term one. These charges cover resources which we have already purchased, out of school funds for the benefit of your child. $75 donation per term for the 1st child $65 donation per term for siblings $45 tech/specialist fees per child $25/$25/$20/$10 Years1,2,3,4 specialist text books Judith’s email is: judith@gladstone.school.nz

THANK YOU

To all of you who have paid your school fees, donations and camp charges. We realise it is

an expensive time of the year and appreciate your support.

HAPPY ROC CAFÉ

The food sold at the canteen follows Heart Foundation guidelines. You will notice on the menu that food is categorised into groups including “Sometimes Choices’ and “Occasional Choices’ to help assist us with healthier eating. The menu is on the school website with the Thursday special being sushi. If you have any feedback please let Judith know. The service is out sourced to The Tasty Tuckshop.

judith@gladstone.school.nz

BIRTHDAYS The following students have had a birthday over the next 2 weeks. We wish you a Happy Birthday and trust you have a wonderful day. Happy Birthday to: 15th March Kana Rahadi 16th March Ruihapounamu Wilcox Rose Young 17th March Alonso Fitzpatrick Levi Fitzpatrick Jade Parkin

18th March Will Blyth Theo Cooling Ezra Pollard Madison Pollock

Daisy Purdon Nick Selwal 19th March Isobel Barnes Bella Nielsen Noen Okesene 20th March Jade Carroll Ryan Valkenburg 22nd March Liane Gao Felicity Reid 24th March Liam butler Emma Douthwaite Noah Ebdale 25th March Tylah Harder 26th March Anne-Marie Groves Joshua Vaaelua 27th March Hannah Curin-Fleming Chloe Siulepa NB: Please let us know if we inadvertently miss a birthday so we can acknowledge it in the next newsletter

CLASS REPORTS

Room 36, Year 2; Marae Trip Yesterday Room 36 went to the marae. When I began to go in I felt nervous. Inside the area it was awesome. When Whaea Jess taught us the song I thought it was amazing. We bent our heads so we were showing our respect to their culture when we were walking into the marae. Jared Lauron

“What is this?’” I said. When everybody went out of the marae my group looked through a peep hole. We saw an olden day house. “That is fantastic” I said. Then we hurried out. We went out to the marae on Tuesday. Ellie Pizzini

Yesterday I went to the UNITEC marae. I liked Whaea Linda singing to welcome us in and I felt nervous and it was super fantastic. Ollie Gibson

We went to the marae. I was nervous. It was amazing. It was beautiful. It was EXCITING! I liked mummy showing us the totem poles. We had to take off our shoes. It was showing respect. It was super. AnoukBlackburn

Room 49, Year 6 The Flower The bud spreads open like a new sunrise just beginning. The stalk stands looking at the blinding sun. The petals fall from the wide blue sky.

The tips of the petals point to a big kauri tree. Summer Fea

The Acorn

The shell is hard like a rock, smudges of colours appearing, smooth like a clear surface, round like a mini grape. The inside brown like the wood of a tree, lines scratching it, bumpy like a highway road. The top flat and round like a frisbee. The bottom small and squinted like a little ant. Angela Wang

Have a great fortnight.

Dave Shadbolt PRINCIPAL

COMING EVENTS March 18th – New Entrant Intake 2 20th – Sausage Sizzle 22nd – Assembly Rm 49 27th – BOT Mtg 7pm 28th – Newsletter No 3; Assembly Rm 32 29th – GOOD FRIDAY April 1st – EASTER MONDAY 2nd – EASTER TUESDAY (school is closed) 3rd – World of Maths Yr 5/6 4th – Year 3-6 Cross Country 9am 5th – Assembly Rm 46 11th – Newsletter No 4; Yr 6 trip to Waipapa Marae 12th – No Assembly due to Gala 14th – SCHOOL GALA 10-2pm 15th – World of Maths Yr 0-6 17th – PTA Mtg 7.30pm; Sausage Sizzle; Pasifika Exp Middle School 18th – Interschool cricket; Pasifika experience Middle School 19th – Assembly Rm 1; World of Maths Yr 0-4; END OF TERM 1 at 3pm May 6th – SCHOOL STARTS 8.45am; New Entrant Intake 3 7th - 10th - Yr 6 Totara Springs Camp 10th – Assembly Rm 40 14th – Year 5 and 6 Zoo visit 15th – PTA Mtg 7.30pm; Sausage Sizzle 16th – Newsletter No 5; Interschool Cross Country 17th – Assembly Rm 22; Whole School Walkathon 11.45am 20th – 24th – Primary Schools Science Week 21st – NSW Computer test 22nd – Interschool Cross Country Saving Day

24th – Assembly Rm 4 28th – HOUSE ACTIVITY 11am 29th – BOT Mtg 7pm 30th – Newsletter No 6 31st – Assembly Rm 39

June 3rd – QUEENS BIRTHDAY 4th – New Entrant Intake No 4 5th – NSW Science Test 6th – Science in a Van 7th – NO ASSEMBLY; Science in a Van 10th – Road Safety with the Juniors 11th – Interschool rugby 12th – PTA Mtg 7.3-pm; Sausage Sizzle 13th – Newsletter No 7 14th – Assembly Rm 23 17th – NSW Writing Test; Road Safety with the Juniors 18th – NSW Spelling Test 21st – Assembly Rm 44 26th – BOT Mtg 7pm 27th – Newsletter No 8; Interschool Kiwikick 28th – Assembly Rm 2

COMMUNITY NOTICES

RASAM IS LOOKING FOR A FLAT! Rasam is looking for a place to live closer to Gladstone School. He is ideally looking for a 1 bedroom self-contained unit/granny flat type place around the Mount Albert area. If anyone has any info could you please email him rasam@gladstone.school.nz or alternatively call or visit him in the office. Thanks.

PLAYBALL

Has now started for the term. However, you can still enrol your child(ren). WHERE: Gladstone Primary School WHEN: Thursday 3.00pm - 4.00pm COST: $90 for the rest of the term (eight weeks) HOW: www.playball.co.nz OR 021-919-169" Playball is a sport and movement program for 2-8 year olds, which is designed to introduce children to seven sports as well as teaching them life skills through sport skills. For more information please visit www.playball.co.nz for more information." THE INCREDIBLE YEARS PROGRAMME

FOR PARENTS Is This You? I am a parent who would like support with one or more of the following: Morning routines Raising self esteem Helping my child to persist with difficult

tasks Motivation Sibling interactions Strategies with managing difficult

behavior Supporting social and emotional skills

We are offering The Incredible Years Programme This is free to you. It: Supports parents to effectively manage

challenging behaviours Encourages learning in a supportive

environment This programme is invaluable for all

parents Where: Newmarket Primary School Library, 7 Gillies Ave, Newmarket When: Thursday 21st March 7pm-9pm Involvement in this Incredible Years

Group means you… Meet once a week for two hours over a 14

week period (excluding holidays)

ST CUTHBERT’S COLLEGE Open Afternoon on Saturday 16th March; 12.30pm – 3.30pm, register online at stcuthberts.school.nz

CAR WASH

The Karate Group who meet on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at Gladstone, are holding a car wash this Saturday at Gladstone School. Come along and support them, and give yourselves a weekend free from cleaning your vehicles. It is at the Carrington Road entrance to the school. WOMEN’S SOCIAL FOOTBALL – DIV 3

Metro FC is putting a social team into the Women’s Div 3 competition this season and would welcome 2-3 new players to the team. They are currently training on Sunday evenings. Fun, fitness and football! If anyone is interested in joining the team, could you please contact Vicky Owens: victoriaowens23@gmail.com

PTA News

Gala Here We Come! The Gala is approaching fast on Sunday April 14th and a big THANK YOU goes out to the fabulous Gala Committee who are in full swing. It’s going to be a great day, so please check in with the Gala notices to see what you can do to help. This year’s Gala funds will go towards the new senior school fitness trail/playground which will be near the pool fence on the field. It looks like an exciting project and I’m sure it will be well loved and used by all the Gladstone kids as they go through school and also outside of school

hours.

Friends of the PTA please sign up

Thanks to those who have signed up to become a Friend of the PTA on our new email address – It’s

great to have you on board as an occasional helper. We’d love to see some more emails, so if you are happy to help out from time to time please drop us a line on:

pta@gladstone.school.nz and we can add you to our contact list.

The idea is that we’d email out a request for help and if you are available to help that’s great, but

if not, no pressure. If you already help us out in various events, a big “thanks” but please also email the PTA address so we can have everyone’s contact details in one place. This is a low-stress way to help out at school and a great way to meet some other parents from across the Gladstone community, so thanks in advance for your support.

PTA Meetings Our next meeting is at 7.30pm on Wednesday 17th April in the staffroom. You’re always welcome so feel free to pop along.

Karen Burge, PTA Chair