Newsletter Term 2, Week 7

Term 2, Week 7 – Friday 18 June 2021

Principal’s Chat

Kia ora everyone

This week I had the absolute privilege of attending the Northern Bays Cluster Schools festival on Wednesday night. This festival celebrates the talent of our students, and the strong connection between the schools in our old cluster group of 16 schools (pre Kahui Ako). Thank you to the students who contributed artwork and those who performed so wonderfully. 

Congratulations also to all of the students who participated in the cross-country, and to the student mathematicians who went along to the Mathex at Northcross Intermediate this week, (thank you to Mrs Patrick and teachers for supporting them in preparing for this high level event).

You may notice that we have roped off the corner by the entrance to the school. This is because we have had some upsetting incidents this year where parents are not using the pedestrian crossing and jay walking or calling their children across the traffic. Kids watch adults and learn from their behavior – if you jay-walk with your child then you are also teaching them (and others watching) to cross through the traffic, and they may well try this on their own.
Also, rather than waiting to roll around to the pick-up zone, a handful of parents are loading their child into their car when it is on the road, or on the yellow dotted lines. This is both dangerous and illegal.
Last week on rainy afternoons, two children (in separate incidences) were called by a family member and ran across the road in between the cars. I don’t want the possibility of anyone being injured or killed in front of our school, just to save a parent a couple of minutes.
I also wish to acknowledge the 99% of parents who do exercise patience and assist the school as we manage the 15 minutes of pick up time at the end of each school day. A sincere thank you to you all. Please know that you are appreciated by all of the road patrol adults and student monitors.
We have again included the road guidelines that were provided in term one. These are further on in this newsletter.

Production: Classes have just started to practice for the production in term 3, and we have started to make the props. One of the props is a set of bunk beds, so Bill has made us a mini version (thanks Bill!). We do however need some foam to make two mini mattresses. If you have some foam or rubber that is 1.4m x 600 cm in size that you can donate for the production can you please email Nikki Douglas on nikkid@longbayprimary.ac.nz  (no actual mattresses though please, we just need some foam we can cut to size).

Teacher Union Meetings: Next week union meetings are being held for our teachers. We have worked out a roster so that teachers are out at different times. This may mean a couple of slightly different learning days for your students (as we split classes) but we will not need to close the school.

Student Learning Conferences: Teachers are currently writing the individual progress reports for their students. These will go home on Thursday 1 July. The only exceptions will be for students who have just started at Long Bay. Learning progress conferences will then be held for all students on Wednesday 7 July. On this day our school will close at 12.30pm and there will be no lunch orders that day. We will be offering supervision for parents that cannot make an alternative care arrangement for their child/children, but we really do need to know if this is the case so that we can staff appropriately. Please let your child’s teacher know if your child requires supervision from 12.30 till 2:55pm. Kelly Club will be open as usual at 2:55pm and the usual buses will run. Please see below about making your conference appointment time (and do remember to bring you child with you to their learning conference). Thank you.

I have noticed that a number of students are arriving late in the morning. Please remember that our school day starts at 8:55am

Matariki Celebration: Please note that our assembly on 25 June is to celebrate Matariki and will be held at 12.30pm in the hall (so there will not be a 9.00am assembly that day).
All are welcome to come along and celebrate Matariki with us.

Have a great fortnight everyone.
Linda

Linda Barton
Principal

2021 Upcoming Events

2021 Term Dates

Mid-Year Learning Conferences – 7 July

On Wednesday 7 July 2021 we are holding our mid-year learning conferences.
Students are encouraged to come along with their parents to speak to their teacher.

School will finish early at 12.30pm on Wednesday 7 July.

The Okura and Torbay buses will run at 3.00pm as per normal that day. 

Supervision in the Library is available from 12.30pm to 2.55pm, please notify your child/children’s class teacher if your child/children require superivsion in the Library and they will add them to the list. Please do not contact the Office to do this.

Kelly Club will be open from 3.00pm.

To make an appointment please visit  https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/ and follow the prompts.

You will need to enter in our school code hstq8 then follow the options. Confirmation of your appointment(s) will be sent immediately to your email address.

Appointment bookings are OPEN NOW and bookings will CLOSE on Tuesday 6 July at 3.30pm.

Due to the mid-year learning conferences there will be NO lunch orders delivered to school on Wednesday 7 July.

Mathex Competition

On Tuesday morning the Year 5 and 6 maths extension students participated in the inter-school Junior Mathex competition, held at Northcross Intermediate. Mathex involves teams of four students racing against the clock to answer 20 very challenging maths questions in 30 minutes. This year there were 54 teams of mainly Year 6 students competing, from schools all over the North Shore – from Hauraki to Silverdale. Our school had five teams competing and they all worked well together and had a great time. Thank you so much to the parents who gave up their time to transport the students to Northcross and cheer them on in the competition. 

Kapahaka, Northern Bays Festival

Our senior Kapahaka students represented Long Bay for the stage performance; they were so positive with the adults supporting them and with the other schools, they were also powerful in their performance, and clearly enjoyed themselves on the stage. It was also a great audience, all cheering for all of the children, regardless of the school. And our own Mrs Hohaia led the multi-school choir. It was a wonderful night all round!
Special thanks go to the kapahaka supporters; Kathryn Hohaia, Diane Edgoose, Tarina MacKay, Irene Navarro, Julie Butler, Sef, Winiata, Amanda and Gemma (and all the other wonderful parents who assisted). Thank you.

Sports Buzz – Term 2, Week 7

A special thank you also to Nikki Douglas for the superb organization of our Senior and Junior cross country events (and to John Underwood, our wonderful teachers and parent helpers, and to Long Bay College students who assisted on the day). We were immensely proud of both the students who gained a place, and all of the students who demonstrated their resilience and ran the full course. Thank you to everyone who cheered them on to finish.

Linda

Senior Cross Country

Junior Cross Country

Road Safety Guidelines

PTA News

PTA Vacancies – Chairperson and Communications Liaison

Sadly, our wonderful PTA Chairperson, Jo Clark, is standing down after a few years of wonderful leadership.
If you are community minded and love working with a team to organise fundraising projects, please consider putting your hand up for this role.
Jo is happy to support a new PTA Chairperson. If you are interested in this role please contact longbayprimarypta@gmail.com

We are also looking for a regular volunteer to assist the PTA in a communications capacity. If you are interested in the role, please email longbayprimarypta@gmail.com

Important School Reminders – Please Read Notices

Absence from School

If your child is going to be absent from school, please email admin@longbayprimary.ac.nz or call 09 473 6077, option 2 and advise the Office to avoid your child being marked as truant.

If you are collecting your child early from school, all parents/caregives need to sign them out at the Office. Children are not allowed to leave school grounds early unless they are signed out. Where possible, please do not arrange to collect a child during break times, as it is extremely difficult to locate them. Morning tea is 11.15am to 11.45am and lunch is 1.15pm and 2.00pm.

Lateness

A concerning amount of children are arriving late to school. The Office now hands out approximately 30-40 late passes every morning! Please ensure your child is at school, settled and ready for their learning before 8.55am. If your child arrives late to school, they MUST call at the Office window for a late pass. This is so we know they are safe.

Borrowed School Uniform

The Office has loaned out a huge amount of school uniform to students and this is not being returned to school. If your child/children has borrowed school uniform, please wash and return it to the Office as soon as possible. We are getting low in supply and will not be able to loan out any school uniform in future.

Lost Property

Please regularly check the Lost Property box inside the hall foyer for any missing items of clothing, lunchboxes, hats and drink bottles. Any named items are returned to the students, but there is a large amount of items not named and the box is overflowing. At the end of term, this box is emptied and remaining items delivered to charity.

Community Local Events and Sports