St Clair School Bulletin

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No 5, Week 9, Term 1 ~ April 3, 2009.

Dear Parents/Caregivers,
Kia Ora Koutou

Welcome to our final newsletter for the term – and what a full and busy term it has been!

Children have benefited greatly from the wide array of learning opportunities offered over the past 10 weeks. As always, class programmes have concentrated on the acquisition of high quality literacy and numeracy skills, enriched by a wide variety of stimulating learning experiences aimed at broadening children’s academic understandings and social competencies. Highlights of the term have included;
* two performances by visiting artists, enjoyed by children at all levels of the school
* professional swimming instruction for children in the Junior and Middle Learning Teams
* a week-long camp for our Year 6 children
* a community service week titled ‘Living ‘n Giving’ for our Year 5 children
* our bi-annual DARE to Make a Choice programme to support our senior children with positive decision-making
* musical performances by Year 5 children at St Barnabas Home and Little Wonders Childcare Centre
* a highly successful school fair which raised valuable funds in support of school programmes and resources
* a performance by our school choir with Geoff Sewell and ‘Incognito’ at the Regent Theatre
* ‘Walk ‘n Wheel’ activities involving all children
* Beach Education for children in our Middle and Senior Learning Teams
* a series of three-way goal setting conferences involving children, parents and teachers.

We can all feel justifiably proud of the achievements of our children and the way in which they have embraced the variety of additional learning opportunities available to them. Looking ahead, term two is shaping up to be just as busy and just as exciting.

Today’s newsletter contains a variety of school and community notices. For further information in regard to any item, please contact the school's Executive Officer, Mrs. Bev Mulconroy.

Regards

Richard Newton
Principal

New Faces
This week we welcome Te Waiora Maihi, and Judd Stewart. We trust that you both settle in quickly, and enjoy your time at St Clair School.

‘KCM’ School Values

Our value focus for weeks nine and ten of this term is CARING. During this fortnight classes will discuss ways in which we can care for our belongings, our school property and our environment.

“Every day is Earth Day.” (anonymous)

Our school values are promoted, modelled and supported by staff and children. Parents/caregivers are asked to reinforce school-based discussions by talking about ways in which kindness can enhance life at home and in the wider community.

Year 6 Camp
This week, senior children have enjoyed our annual Year 6 camp. Children undertook a variety of special experiences, which will have generated a lifetime of memories. Key activities included; abseiling, a river traverse, bush craft activities, kayaking, sailing, stone carving, indoor rock climbing, archery and outdoor cooking.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our key staff, Claire Buist and Elizabeth Faithful, for the extensive work undertaken in preparation for the camp. Many thanks also to those parents who assisted with student supervision and programme delivery throughout the week. Without the enthusiastic involvement of everyone, this event could not have taken place.

Year 5 Living n' Giving Week
Whilst our Year 6 children were at Camp Iona, our Year 5 group enjoyed a special week of their own. Activities during the week were designed to enrich children's lives by providing opportunities for them to give something back to the wider community, to their families and to their school. Key activities included; garden beautification, food preparation, soap making and wrapping, performing music and traditional rakau games to community groups, mural painting, making a ‘Welcome to School’ movie for new entrants, and contributing to local food banks. Highlights involved preparing a meal for families on Wednesday evening, delivery of gift-wrapped home-made soaps and a variety of food stuffs to local food banks, and providing entertainment for both the young and the elderly in our community.

Many thanks to teachers Carmel Marshall, Verity Kerr, Alison Caldwell and Shelley Wilde, for planning and coordinating the programme. Thank you also to our hard-working support staff for their enthusiasm and willingness to put so much energy into Living ‘n Giving, to the parents ho assisted during the week.

Living ‘n Giving (from left to right) Food preparation for an evening meal; wrapping and labeling hand-made lavender soap; admiring one of the new mural panels.

DARE To Make a Choice
Last week, our Senior Learning Team celebrated the conclusion of the DARE programme with a celebration and fun day. Activities on the day included an ice skating session at the Ice Stadium, a first aid training session for Year 6 children with St John’s ambulance staff, a police dog handling display, theatre sports, baking and learning to perform card tricks. Our thanks to Constable Janette Parcell from the NZ Police for her enthusiastic commitment to this programme.

‘Safe Kids’ – the St John first aid training programme for children in action on the DARE Fun Day A NZ Police dog-handling demonstration during the DARE Fun Day

Arriving at School
With mornings getting darker and cooler, all families are reminded that school buildings open at 8.30am for children. Before this time classroom teachers are involved in resource preparation or meetings and are not available for classroom supervision. Having said this, it is also essential that all children be at school prior to 8.55am when classes commence. Research clearly demonstrates that habitual lateness is very damaging to children’s perceptions of the importance of education, and is directly linked to truancy during high school years.
Families wishing to drop their children off before 8.30am are urged to contact Kid Station (Ph: 455 9344 Email: carmel@kidstation.co.nz <mailto:carmel@kidstation.co.nz> ) to find out more about their before-school childcare options. Kid Station provides a variety of childcare services beginning at less than $3 a day.

Snippets from your Public Health Nurse
Children and Sunglasses
There is evidence that overexposure to sun early in life can cause a predisposition to eye problems later in life. However, it appears that children also need some exposure to the sun in order to develop protection against eye problems. Around highly reflective surfaces (water, sand and snow) sunglasses should be worn if practical. The best protection is provided by wrap-around styles. If sunglasses are worn, they should conform to the AS/NZS1067:2003 sunglass standard.

Bikes at School
All families are reminded of key safety considerations when allowing children to ride bikes to school;
· bikes must be roadworthy and comply with the Road Code
· an approved safety helmet must be worn at all times
· children are required to walk their bike when they are within the school grounds
· riding is permitted on the tennis courts, from 3.15pm & on other hard-court areas from 3.30pm.

Medicines
From time to time children require the administration of prescription medicines at school. To ensure that this is carried out appropriately it is essential that parents contact the office and complete our standard medication administration form before any medicine can be administered.

Attendance Guidelines
Section 25 of the NZ Education Act 1989 requires that all school-age students must attend school whenever it is open. This includes being enrolled in Reading Recovery or other designated school programmes. A full copy of our school’s attendance policy is available on our website at: http://www.stclair.school.nz/aboutus/attendance.html <http://www.stclair.school.nz/aboutus/attendance.html> .

Enrolling a Child in 2009?
Anyone planning to enrol a child at our school in 2009, but has yet to complete a school enrolment form, is asked to contact the school office as soon as possible. We currently have spaces at all levels of the school, but require accurate enrolment information to prevent the possibility of overcrowding. We endeavour to find places for all children wishing to attend our school but can only do so if our roll projections are accurate.

Please share this information with any families you are aware of in the wider community who may be considering enrolling their child at our school during 2009.

Community Noticeboard

Kid Station (based at St Clair School)
Quality before and after school care for your child/ren. Casual bookings welcome.
Please contact Carmel or Kevin by email Carmel@kidstation.co.nz <mailto:Carmel@kidstation.co.nz> or by phone 0274 492 102 and 4559344. Based in the Tech Room 7.15am to 8.30am and again 3pm to 5.45 pm.

The Great Easter Egg Hunt - SouthLife Church
11 April, 2-4 pm at Marlow Park. Free fun, games and entertainment for the whole family. 3-12 year olds... come and find an Easter Egg in a hay stack! ($2 entry). More information - call Sarah, 477 3367

Jim Hoffman’s Holiday Programme
Tennis, badminton, recreational swimming. 20-23 April 2009 at Otago Boys High Gymnasium. 9:30am to 2:30pm each day. Bring your togs, tennis racquet and lunch. Badminton racquets will be provided. Cost $120, or $30 per day. You can choose do one or all four days. To book please email me: jhoff5@xtra.co.nz <mailto:jhoff5@xtra.co.nz> or phone 453 6808. Please leave your son/daughter’s name, age and contact details. Numbers will be limited.

Fun Holiday Mathematics
Take this opportunity to boost your child's confidence and mathematics skills with a NumberWorks Holiday Course. Mon 20 April-Fri 24 April 4.30pm - 6.30pm each day. That’s 10 hours of intensive tuition on an individualized programme for $400. Phone 474 1104 to find out more. For fun stuff, check out our website at www.numberworks.com/dunedin

Leslie Rugby Junior Coaching Clinics
When: 20 or 21 April 2009 Time: 9.00am TO 4.00pm Cost: $60.00 per child
Ages: 6-13 (boys & girls) Where: The Edgar Centre
The aim of our Leslie Rugby Coaching Clinic is to demonstrate and instruct fundamental and essential rugby skills to junior players in a fun and interactive environment. The Leslie Rugby Junior Coaching Clinics will be non-contact and skill based. Come and learn first hand from John Leslie, Stu Forster and other top rugby players. Every child receives a free Leslie Rugby T-shirt. Call Kathryn on (03) 466 3051 or email office@leslierugby.co.nz for a registration form.

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