Day 1: Hanmer Springs camp

 Great day. Beaut weather. Tired kids.

2021 Camp to Hanmer Springs

127 children

16 parents

2 student teachers 

5 teachers

A mountain of bags

Even more food, including 12 kg of corn chips and 36L of ice cream!

And lots of excitement!

.....and we're off!!!!

We will endeavour to upload to the blog each evening with photos of the day's activities

Week 7

Last week we started off with an amazing music concert Monday by Monster Music.  It was a great presentation to showcase our new drum tutor Rob with the support of his boss, Dan.  The duo had all the children rocking along and inspired many to take up the drums.  For more information about drum lessons,

ENROL at: www.monstermusic.nz or email office@monstermusic.nz.

The Senior Swimming Sports were held at Wharenui Pool on Tuesday with a fantastic turnout.  Races ran smoothly with great support heard from the crowd. It was great to see so many participate and strive to do their best.  A highlight of the day is always the house relays. This year the teachers team took out a controversial win. But the crowd enjoyed every moment of it.

Thursday and Friday saw the return of Torsten and our Korfball sessions.  Each class enjoyed the first of their three sessions where Torsten introduced rules as required and kept the games flowing.  I saw a few promising Korfball players emerge after their first session.  We will be looking for a group of enthusiastic and passionate Korfball players to enter the first Korfball tournament before the end of the term.  Morning Korfball training will also begin in the near future so keep an eye out for the starting dates and cost.

Plans are well underway for our Hanmer Camp. This week the gear list, dietary requirements and medical information forms went home. We require these ASAP so we can ensure a successful camp. 

To end our week I would like to acknowledge our Positive Thinkers who were presented certificates in this week's assembly. In Rm 23, Charlotte Cummings, Rm 24, Kyla Lorido, Rm 25 Basel Abdulaal, Rm 26 Jake Yu, Rm 27 Elijah Rodger and from our previous assembly Rm 24 Edrae Dalusag.  

Week 6, Term 1

 Students Council

A huge congratulations to our newly named Student Council and Executive Officers

Rylan Humphrey - chairperson Stephanie Tjiptadjaja - secretary  Rhaya Kakoi - treasurer Henry Grubb - communications officer  Elijah Rodger Sebastian Christophers Emma Ross Tipani Matapo Charlotte Johnson Van Williams Nico van Sande Tom Robson Finn McNeill Charlotte Cumming Monica Ye Zanthe Pethig

Swimming Sports

Our swimming sports have been rescheduled for this Tuesday at Wharenui Pool.  Students who have entered in the 25m and 50m races will be taken straight from technology at Kirkwood to the pool.  All non competitors will be taken back to school to do alternative activities with Mr Wall, Miss Kim and Miss de Beus (they will also need their togs please).

All swimmers will need to bring their togs to technology, along with lunch and a drink.  Please pack as efficiently as possible as there is not a lot of room at Wharenui!

Parents, you are welcome to attend - please sit along the closest wall.  We do need some time keepers, so if you can help please indicate on the form that was sent home last week.  All swimmers should bring that form back anyway, so please send it in on Monday if you haven't already.

Book Day

Wow!!!  We were so impressed with all the students who participated in Book Day and came dressed up as a character from a book. I loved seeing the children who worked together and came as a theme.  Here are some photos from the day...

There are likely to be some photos in the local paper or Star as well!!

Team RESPECT certificates

This week we had the pleasure of awarding ten more Respect certificates in our team. We have loved seeing so many students being respectful to their peers, adults and environment.

Top Team 

Top Team was lots of fun this week.  It was great seeing everyone working together, cheering each other on and enjoying themselves!

Korfball

Korfball lessons start this week as part of our PE programme.  We love introducing our students to this unique sport.  There will be a tournament at the end of the term which we will enter a team, or maybe two, into.  Then in terms 2, 3 and 4 we offer korfball trainings before school for those who wish to continue (at a cost of $2 a session) - these are completely optional! 

Have a great week everyone!

Week 5, Term 1

Our swimming sessions at Kings have finished, and I personally noticed a heap of improvement from lots of the students.  It was so great to see them listening to the instructors and giving the techniques a go.  Our next swimming event is our school swimming sports which are meant to be this Thursday, however due to Level 2 restrictions they will be postponed - stand by for the new date!

This week we will be getting back to our normal programme and different opportunities will begin as well.

Orchestra - Monday

Chorale - Monday TBC

Choir - Thursday 8am

Jump Jam 'have a go' - Monday and Friday lunchtime

Top Team - Wednesday - please bring a change of clothes as students might get wet!!

Last week we were delighted to announce our 2021 House Captains.  These students were selected from a large group of Year 8 applications.  Congratulations to...

Honours Board recording sheets have been shared with the students.  These are just to look at as they will record what they have done on a sheet that their homeroom teacher will have.

This Friday is Book Character dress up day - we can't wait to see what the students come dressed as!

A reminder to check your emails regarding the Level 2 restrictions.  The key points are frequent hand washing/sanitising for the students when they come into the classroom or a new space, staying out of other people's 'breathing zones', and for parents - please do not come onto the school grounds this week.  Please have a chat about us all being vigilant about this!

Have a great week!

Week 3/4

 Week 3 / 4 

Well done to our Team 7/8 hui certificate winners during week 3, which had a focus on one of our school values, Respect.  It is great to see so many of our learners starting the year with a positive, respectful manner! It was pleasing to see that this was acknowledged by the bus drivers to and from technology as well.

Also well done to Maotua on his special recognition for his hard work in maths and to Nico for completing a science badge in only week 3!

Learning Programmes 

Week 3 means that our learning programmes are up and running. During the week our learners have been completing some assessment so that learning programmes can be catered to their learning gaps. 

Mr Rodger and Mr Malins's literacy class were able to draw on Mr Rodger’s gunge making experience as a starting point for their writing. The facial expressions say it all! 

    

Our swimming groups have been focussing on developing their scientific knowledge and thinking about clouds in the afternoon. One of the groups made some time lapses of some clouds and made some water cycles in a bag. This was a great way to increase our vocabulary. 

Swimming 

It is great to see that our learners have been really organised during the week for swimming and have been making the most of their lesson time.  If your child is unable to swim during the week, can you please either send a note or email to your child’s teacher.  Hopefully the great weather continues! 

Week 4 Reminders 

• Swimming all of this week 

• Technology on Tuesday 

• If you have not yet returned your camp form, please get this in this week, even if your child will not be attending. Payment plans may be set up in the office - please see Mrs Honeybone about this.

• Mrs Moore’s birthday on Thursday!!!

Book Character Dress Up Day (from the newsletter) 

Friday the 5th of March (week 5)  is our Avonhead School Book Character Dress up Day. Your child may dress up as their favourite character from a book for the day.

We will be having a School parade at 9:10am to show off our amazing costumes. You are welcome to stay and watch this.

We know many children are already well underway with preparing their costume/ outfit for the day. Your child might like to bring along the favourite book whom their character comes from to share with their teachers and friends.

We thank family and caregivers for your continued support.

Week 2 - It's Leadership Week in Team 7/8!

This week we have a leadership focus for our Year 7/8 students.  We have 5 guest speakers booked in to share pearls of wisdom with us about what leadership is all about and the key attributes that we can all work on to grow our leadership skills and be a great leader.  Have a chat to your child about the guest speakers and what they've learnt from them over dinner this week!

Home rooms continue to focus on team building and building class culture this week.  There have been lots of fun games, activities and challenges both in and out of the class.  We've been impressed with the students' maturity, co-operative skills and the budding leadership we have spied.

On Wednesday the entire team went to experience Kapa Haka with Matua Steve, our group's tutor, who comes and works with our Senior Kapa Haka each week.  As of next week, keen and interested students can join our weekly Kapa Haka meetings and work towards preparing for concerts and shows in 2021.  We would love your child to be part of the group!

Reminder!  Reminder!  Reminder!  Reminder!

Next week we start swimming at Kings Swim School on Main South Road.  As discussed in the 'meet the teacher' interviews.  Your child needs to bring togs, towel, goggles and a swimming cap in a carry bag to take back and forward next week.  We've also talked to the students about bringing a rain jacket or umbrella if the weather forecast predicts rain.  We walk in all weather so being prepared will be essential.