LBP Newsletter – Term 1, Week 1

Term 1, Week 1 – Friday 2 February 2024

Principal’s Chat

Kia ora Parents/Caregivers

Starting the new school year is a bit like a roller coaster (for the record the Log Flume Ride at Rainbows End is the full extent of my thrill ride enthusiasm). On the first day everyone is full of either excitement or nervous energy (or a mixture of both). Day 2 brings a level of exhaustion not felt since watching a very late cricket game on TV or a narrow Warriors victory. By the third day it is a bit like the corkscrew, up down and sideways and when the end of the week arrives things settle down and everyone gets a sleep in. 

Our year at Long Bay Primary has kicked off well. There has been no flood to deal with, drainage has been installed on the bank to prevent a repeat of last year, we are fully staffed, and the students arrive happy, and leave happier. We are making a concerted effort to focus on communication both internally and with you – not too much, but enough to keep everyone well informed and up to date. So far so good.

Our first key event is being held on Monday 12 February – Meet the Teacher Conferences. Please ensure you book a time and bring your child along as well. It is being held on Monday this year to avoid a clash with Wednesday 14 February – we thought you might like the opportunity to spend that evening with a loved one rather than with us at school.

With our second week nearly upon us the highs and lows will balance out and everyone will be back in the swing of things. I managed well over 40 years of happy existence on Earth before my son forced me onto the roller coaster at Rainbows End. I did not think a more unpleasant experience was possible until somehow I ended up on the blue spinning around thing next to it (The Invader). 

After that I always ensure we take a friend along – I am very happy to carry the bags.

Rob Hutton
Tumuaki/Principal 

2024 Term Dates and What’s On

Welcome New Students

A warm welcome to our new students who have started at Long Bay Primary so far this year:

Sam, Vivian, Michele, Mira, Kira, Maximillian, Madison L, Aws, Martharyta, Evie, Amelia, Jessie, Andre, Juno, Mia W, Celine, Kyler, Felix, Noah, Lucas, Ana, Keanu, Lucah, Jack, Zoey, Mia C, Max, Presley, Lucas C, Amani, Anna, and Madison J

Mihi Whakatau

School Attendance

Each term the Ministry of Education provides us with a report on attendance at school. In 2023 we fell short of our goal of 66% regular attendance. Across the year we achieved 63% of students attending school regularly (they were at school at least 90% of the time). Our aspiration is to meet the 2024 target of 70% this year. Every day children are at school gives them the opportunity to learn, develop and improve their abilities in a range of different areas.

COVID-19 has brought to the forefront of our minds the importance of staying home if you are not well to avoid spreading what you have to others. Please do not send your children to school if they are sick – we will be in touch if they are unwell at school and ask you to take them home.

One of the reasons we did not meet our goal is because 44% of our unjustified absences were due to students being on holiday. Before you plan a trip away please ensure it falls within the holiday breaks to give the most time at school possible. I appreciate it is more expensive, however the more time your child can spend at school the more they will learn and develop.

I will keep you regularly updated each term on how we are progressing towards our 70% goal.

Rob Hutton
Tumuaki/Principal 

Important School Reminders – Please Read

Absences

If your child/children are going to be absent from school, then you must let the Office and class teacher know.

Absences can be reported by calling the school on 09 473 6077, select option 1. Emailing the class teacher and admin@longbayprimary.ac.nz or through the school website ‘Report an Absence’.

All absences from school must have a reason so your child/children can be coded accordingly on their student record. Thank you for your co-operation.

Contact Details

If your personal contact or emergency contact details need updating, please email admin@longbayprimary.ac.nz It is very important that we have correct details on our student records.

Meet the Teacher Conferences – Monday 12 February

Meet the Teacher Conferences are being held in the classrooms on Monday 12 February, commencing at 1.00pm and ending at 7.30pm. This is a good opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher so students are encouraged to attend. To book your Conference, please go to:

https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code/xh3m4

Enter the unique school code xh3m4 and follow the prompts.

Bookings are now open and will close on Monday 12 February at 9.00am.

School will close at 12.30pm that day. Supevision in the library will be available from 12.30pm to 2.55pm. Please click here to register your child/children for supervision.

Torbay and Okura buses will run at the normal times.

Access via Ashley Reserve Walkway

For any students who would like easy access to the Ashley Reserve carpark please make your way along the walkway we have created. We hope this will assist to alleviate the traffic issues in Ralph Eagles Place so please encourage your children to use this walkway as an alternative to the drop-off/pick up zone. The gate is also open in the morning for students to arrive to school this way. 

Ashley Reserve Path Working Bee

Calling all enthusiastic people with a wheelbarrow, a hammer and are keen to help us with a small project. Please put a circle around Saturday 24 February 2024. We are going to enhance the path between the school and Ashley Reserve to make it more of an all weather access opportunity while we wait for a more permanent solution to be found.

Year 5 Camp 2024 Information

Save the Date – Monday 8 April to Friday 12 April 2024

This year we have moved our Year 5 Camp forward to Term 1. There will be two camps in the same week (due to the large number of students in this year group). The first camp will run from Monday 8 April to Wednesday 10 April (Kauri Room 12, 13, 14 and 15) and the second from Wednesday 10 April to Friday 12 April (Tōtara Room 23, 24 and 25). They will both be held at Kiwanis Lodge in Huia. We will be able to provide you with more specific details about the camp your child will be attending shortly.

Sports Buzz – Term 1, Week 1

Basketball and Flippaball
We are running both of these sports as semester registrations. This means your child needs to be available to play with their team for both Term 1 and Term 2. If your child would like to play, please register them through your Kindo account. 

There is a very short registration window in Term 1 – please make sure you have registered for either/both of these sports by Thursday 8 February.

PTA News

Kelly Club – Term 1

Please email Kelly Club at longbay@kellyclub.co.nz to register and/or make a booking for before and after school care.

Community Notices and Events