14 February 2008
From the Principal
Dear parents/caregivers
We are having a great week at school. Our student achievement
focus this year is on writing and a number of classes already have
students’ work on the walls. I am very pleased with the content and the
presentation. Our term one sports programme is underway and
students have been selected for the cricket and playball teams.
We are starting a gardening group this year. Associate Principal
Sheila Robinson is our chief horticulturalist and she has the support
of four teachers and some parents from the PTA. One of the new
gardens will be a vegetable garden as we want the children to learn
about growing food from seed and caring for the plants through to
fruition (and eating..).
Property projects: 2008- Plans for the covered area outside the
hall are nearly complete and we hope to have building consent by the
end of this term. We are currently designing a garden around the
totara tree by the main gate which the PTA is funding and extra seating
will be built in front of blocks 1, 2 and 3 for the children.
With ideas from the children, we are planning a fitness trail along the
fence line on Great South Rd as we wish to improve the physical fitness
of the children. All classes have a fitness programme each day as
well as structured PE lessons each week.
Meetings with teachers: Thursday 21 February, 7.00-8.30pm: You
are all welcome to come to meet your child’s teacher next Thursday
evening. Please meet in the following rooms first for around 15
minutes and then you can go to your child’s classroom for a chat with
the teacher. Please meet firstly at the following rooms:
Year 1 Room 5
Year 4
Room 18
Year 2 Room 8
Year 5
Room 23
Year 3 Room 12
Year 6
Room 27
We are all looking forward to meeting with you. This is a time
for an informal chat with your child’s teacher. It is not a
conference/interview-just an opportunity for you to meet and get to
know each other. We believe strongly in an effective
parent/teacher partnership for the benefit of your child’s learning and
invite you to be our partners!
Board of Trustees: 18 February: Our first BoT meeting of the year
will be held next Monday night at 6.00pm in the staffroom. You
are welcome to attend this meeting. We have an outstanding Board
who govern our school in the best possible way.
School Fun Day: 8 March: Please keep this day free and come along
to this special event in our school calendar. A group of very
hard working PTA members, plus Kevin Deed, Kirsty Paterson, and Lynda
Barham from our staff are doing a splendid job organising what is going
to be a superb day again this year. You are welcome to bring
friends and family. Please come along and support our school.
A message from the police: I have been asked to advise you that
Manukau City parking officers will issue an infringement notice to any
driver who parks illegally near the school or who drops off a child
while stopping momentarily. They will no longer ask drivers to
move vehicles, but will instead be issuing tickets. Please ensure
that you consider children’s safety if you drive them to school.
We strongly recommend that the children walk to school to cut down on
road congestion and to improve their fitness. Thank you for your
support.
Walking Bus: Please contact the office if you are interested in
setting up a walking bus. This is a fun way for the children to
walk to school under the supervision of an adult who can be the
driver. The walking buses work very well in many areas of
Auckland. Children from streets near each other meet and walk to
school together with their adult “driver”. We could have the
Wilmay Wanderers or the Birdwood Breakers or…..???? Please give
your name to Raewyn at the office if you are keen to be a walking bus
driver.
Best wishes to Paige Schendelaar-Kemp: We are all very proud of
Paige who is currently representing both Howick Pakuranga and Counties
Manukau at the NZ Junior Swimming Championships. Nacoya Anderson,
who is a past student of our school is also competing. We wish
both girls all the very best. Last year Paige was awarded a
swimming scholarship by the Samoan Sports association as recognition of
her wonderful swimming talents.
Best wishes for a fantastic weekend as we all enjoy the continuing mild
weather. Enjoy the company of your wonderful children and make
the most of every day!
Kind regards
Marilyn Gwilliam
Principal
General
Notices
Welcome to our New Students: Papatoetoe Central School welcomes the
following new students to our school –
Yachdeep Kaur, Sioeli Alefosio and Udit Oberoi.
Assembly Day: On Friday, 15 February our assembly will be run by
Room 16. As always you are most welcome to attend but please make
sure that you are seated by 1.15pm. There will be senior students
at the hall to welcome you.
Class visits to St Christopher's Residential Home: This Monday,
18 February(weather permitting) at 1.30pm, Room 16 will be visiting St
Christopher's Hospital.
Medicine at school: When children need to take medicine at school
it is necessary for us to follow a set procedure. We prefer not
to administer medicines at school but if it is essential that the
medicine has to be taken during school hours please assist us in the
following way. We need the parent or caregiver to come in and
sign the book at the office.
Please send only the dose that is to be taken not the whole
bottle. Thank you
Music Lessons: Piano and keyboard tuition is available at Papatoetoe
Central School Thursday mornings. Beginners to advanced levels. Phone
Millennium Music 2681257.
Events
BoT Meeting 6.00pm
18 February
Good Friday
21 March
Meet the Teacher Evening 7 – 8.30pm 21
February Easter Monday
24 March
Zone Cricket & Playball
4 March
Easter Tuesday
25 March
Community Fun Day 12- 4.00pm 8
March
Zone Swimming
1 April
PTA AGM 7.00pm
31 March
Whole School Disco
11 April (6.30 to 8.00pm)
BoT Meeting 6.00pm
17 March
Class / Individual photos
16/17April
End of term 1
18 April
PTA
News
TRC Ink Cartridge Recycling - don't forget to send in as your used
printer ink cartridges for recycling. Ask at work for theirs - the
school gets a refund for some brands and all are disposed of properly
to protect our environment. We will send out envelopes or you can send
them in to the school office. Let us know if you need an envelope.
Sky City Cinemas - Manukau and Highland Park - WHO GOES TO THE
MOVIES? When you do - mention that you support Papatoetoe Central
School and 10% of your ticket sale is given to us. We earned about
$150.00 last year - some schools earned $2000.00 - so please get behind
this as it costs you nothing and our school will benefit.
Thanks to those who gave of their time to attend the PTA on Monday
night. We are very busy finalising details of the Fun Day on the 8th
March.
Regards
Rachel Hagglund - PTA