St Peter's School Newsletter
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Term 3 Week 1 July 2020
Principal’s Update
Kia ora Koutou
Welcome back. I hope that you have all had an enjoyable holiday and that everyone is feeling rested and ready for term 3.
This term we welcome back Miss Ellie Kershaw to Mako. Ellie’s teaching practicum was cut short due to the COVID lockdown, so we are pleased to see her back at St Peters this term. She will be working in Mako until Friday 21 August.
Rocket Challenge - Next week Mako and Paua will begin a series of STEM based lessons (Science, technology, engineering, maths) designed by ‘The Wonder Project’. With the support of engineers Michelle Ellford and Martin Peat, the students will learn about Newton’s laws as they work collaboratively to follow an engineering design process and build and launch a water rocket of their own. Later in the term the students will share some videos on our Facebook page to share their learning.
Cyber Safety - The senior school has begun the term looking at the concept of digital footprints. For those of you who are new to this term, it is the trail of ‘electronic breadcrumbs’ you leave behind when you use the internet. It can include the websites you visit, the photos you upload and your interactions with other people on social networks. Whilst technology is a wonderful tool that enables us to collaborate, learn and connect, it is not without its risks. Over the next few weeks students will be learning about safe on-line practices and digital citizenship.
Research shows that parents are critical to the success of young people becoming safe, confident and capable in their use of digital technology. It is important to regularly talk to your children about how they are using their devices, what sites they are visiting and what to do if they stumble across inappropriate content. Netsafe NZ has a great website full of helpful information that will assist you in ensuring the online safety of your children. I encourage you to visit this site. https://www.netsafe.org.nz/online-safety-for-parents/
Cultural Celebrations - This term classes will further explore our topic “Ko wai au? Ko wai tatau? Who am I? Who are we?” with a focus on the cultural richness of our school community. We would love our community to be involved in the learning and invite you to share your knowledge, skills and talents with our students. Perhaps you are an artful storyteller who would like to share some of the legends of your culture, or maybe you would be willing to teach a group of students a traditional song, dance or game. If you would like to support the learning programme in this way, please let your child’s classroom teacher know.
Curriculum review - Following on from the development of our new school vision and values we want to begin looking at how we might bring the New Zealand Curriculum alive at our school. This term we will begin working with our school community to develop a shared understanding about what teaching and learning will look like at St Peter's. The aim is to develop a local curriculum that is responsive to the needs, cultures, interests, strengths and aspirations of our learners and their families. A local curriculum that celebrates the special character of our school and brings our school vision and values alive for our learners.
Towards the end of last term the Board of Trustees began this process, looking at our Year 7 & 8 programme and how this might be enhanced. We have created a display to show you the types of activities that our year 7 & 8 students engage in, as well as the new activities we will be adding and an overview of our two year programme.
The display board will be outside the library in the mornings and will be moved around the school to other locations in the afternoon. On the back of the display board there are a number of questions that we’d like you to consider. We encourage you to add your thoughts and ideas using the sticky notes provided. These questions will also be sent out in a google survey early next week.
Important Dates - There are a number of events coming up this term, so please take a look at the upcoming events section of this newsletter and make a note of important dates on your calendar. Please note that school will be closed for instruction on Friday 21st August when we have the first of two teacher only days.
Ngā mihi Stephanie Kitto
Nō he kākano iti, e pua wai ana he Kauri
From a small seed, a tall tree will blossom
Upcoming events
Term 3
23 July Year 7 & 8 Art gallery
28 July PTA new parent welcome - coffee and chat 9am in the staffroom Youth Town sports years 5-8
30 July Photolife school photos
3 August PTA meeting at 6.45pm in the staffroom
4 August BoT Meeting 6.00pm in the staffroom
11 August. Youth Town sports years 5-8
13 August Canterbury Hockey whole school
14 August. Year 7 & 8 Halswell Quarry science/ environmental programme
21 August School Closed for Instruction - Teacher only day
27 August Canterbury Hockey whole school
4 Sept. PTA Disco
8 Sept Youth Town sports years 5-8. School Mass and Grandparents day
10 Sept. Canterbury Hockey whole school
11 Sept. Mission Day
Term Dates
2020 Term 3 20 July - 25 September Term 4 12 October - 14 Dec
Teacher only days School will be closed for instruction on the following days: Friday 21 August and Thursday 12 November (leading into Show weekend)
Office Update and Reminders
Contact details on our student management system
Please make sure you update the contact details we have on file for your family if they change.
This includes: - your residence phone number - work and mobile numbers - both emergency contacts numbers As we are in the season of tummy bugs, coughs, colds and flu etc I will be using these more frequently and it is very helpful if they are correct.
DRS Update
It’s always important to take time and remember that we are in the presence of God.
The following reading and reflection are for you to read and nourish yourselves with God’s eternal kindness, particularly as we begin a new term.
A reading from the Gospel of Matthew
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matau Team Update
The Matau team have enjoyed a relaxing break and are back at school refreshed and ready to learn. We are looking forward to Discovery starting again this Friday. A BIG thank you to our parents and caregivers, your help is much appreciated. This week in Matau we have been celebrating Matariki, the start of the Maori New Year.
Tangaroa Update
Tangaroa team are pleased to be back for Term 3. This term has many exciting new and traditional events. The theme for the term is to engage with the various cultural groups that the students come from. We would welcome any parents to share a craft, skill or hobby with their child’s class especially any dances, songs or art. Please let us know if you have something to teach a group of students.
During this term Y5-8 has Youthtown sports each fortnight and every class has five weeks of hockey activities.
Sports Update
Canterbury Hockey has been rebooked for Term 3. The Canterbury Hockey Educators will be running lessons on Thursday 13 August and Thursday 27 August. The Hockey lessons will conclude with a Hockey Celebration on Thursday 10 September.
Athletics 2020 - At the end of Term 3 we will begin preparing for St Peter’s School Year 4-8 athletics day which will be held in term 4 on Tuesday 3 November (pp date 4/11/20). The local school’s zone Athletics day is booked for Monday 9 November.
Y7/8 Mako Netball Team This team play in the South Zone Thursday competition. They won their first and only game in Term 2. Games are continuing for the next 5 weeks of Term 3.
Senior Key’s Club Netball Team
This team plays on a Saturday morning. They won their first game last weekend.
Junior Key’s Club Netball Team
This team are very excited about their first game this Friday.
PTA update
Welcome to new parents at the school. The PTA are a friendly bunch who organise social and fundraising events for the school. If you’d like to join please come along to a meeting. Many parents can’t commit to the meetings but volunteer their time to help run events. Helping out is a great way to meet new parents and contribute to fostering the community feel we have in our school
Feast Day Cupcakes Term 2 What a way to brighten up a dreary day with cupcakes and milo. Thanks so much to all the parents that baked cupcakes and a special thanks to the mums that came and helped to make the milo and serve the children. It was a special day for the kids to remember!!
New Parent Morning - all welcome. We’d love to welcome all new families and established parents to a morning tea on Tuesday the 28th July 9am- 10am. Love to see you there, cuppa and chat.
Second Hand Uniform Sale Tuesday 28th July. The PTA will open the uniform shed and have 2nd hand uniform available for purchase Tuesday 28th July 2.30 - 3.10pm. This will be outside the uniform shed next to Tuna classroom.
Stocks are looking low so if you have any articles of uniform you wish to donate please drop clean items to the office by this Friday 24th July. Uniform pieces will sell for $2-$5. Cash only please.
Entertainment Books Last year we made a little over $700 in Entertainment Book Sales. Please promote this through all your networks. This year it’s an app on your phone, personally I have found it really easy to use and I’m saving more than I did with the book version because the phone is always with you and you can put it on more than one phone.
DISCO. One of the highlights of the school year is the annual Disco. This year it’s on Friday 4th September. If you are new to the school it’s a family friendly event, all children and their families are invited. Children can not be dropped off, a parent needs to be responsible for each child. There are snacks to buy (drinks, chips, sweets) and ‘bling’ - light up accessories. Children are encouraged to be environmentally conscious and reuse those bought from previous events. A gold coin donation per child is required on entry to cover the cost of the DJ. Thanks to Cat Hulse for the Disco poster. We will put a call out for parents to help set up, sell bling and snacks, and to help with the clean-up.
Pie Fundraiser. In August each family will be given a flyer to sell Naked Baker Pies and they will be delivered mid-September. These pies are delicious and people found them easy to sell last year. This will be a big fundraiser for term 3 and we hope all families support this as much as they can.
Halswell Trains and Scooter Park - Sunday 18th October. The Halswell Trains have been booked for Sunday 18th October at 11am. Please keep this date free for a wonderful family event. The PTA cover the cost of the trains for the morning. Families bring a picnic lunch and scooters/skateboards.
Melon Portraits - 7th and 8th November. This will be our only fundraiser for term 4. A great idea for Christmas presents. $20 for a session which includes a photo. Our school gets all the $20 so it’s an easy way for us to make some money for the school. Let your family and friends know about this coming up.
Mrs Shamy and Ms Matsis appreciated the flowers we sent them on behalf of the parents. The staff were also grateful for the morning tea the PTA shouted them on behalf of the parents at the end of last term.
If you are finding it difficult to cope (in any way) please let a staff member or PTA member know if you feel comfortable doing so, we’re here to help!
Next meeting Monday, August 3rd 6.45pm in the Staffroom, please come along and bring a friend.
Michaela Allen. PTA Chairperson 2020
https://www.entertainmentbook.co.nz/orderbooks/134591f
Community Notices
Studio One Performing Arts, your local dance school, is currently giving Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary lessons in your area. The school’s director is teacher, choreographer & ex-ballet dancer Patricia Paul A.R.A.D. (London). Ballet lessons from 3 years through to Advanced, and all levels in Jazz and Contemporary starting from age 7. For all enquiries please phone 372-9191 or email info@studioone.co.nz