7 February 2008
From the Principal
Dear parents

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.  If you are new to our school community, a very special welcome as you are now members of our very large school family. We actively encourage you to become involved in our school.  Your skills and ideas will be welcome.

Our school’s mission is “Persevere, Challenge, Succeed”.  We encourage all students to try hard, we challenge them in their learning and ultimately we want them all to achieve and to enjoy success.

Our school’s mantra is “Polite, Considerate and Sensible”.  This mantra is the underpinning of our behaviour management plan and programme in the school.  We have a zero tolerance policy of bullying.  All students are expected to use good manners, to be kind and considerate to everyone and to make sensible choices in their behaviour.

Our term one value is kindness which aligns with our mantra.  I speak to the children about the term value each Friday at our school assembly and all staff in the school focus on the value for the term as an integral part of class programmes.

We want our students to take pride in themselves, their school and their community.

We ask for your support in achieving our mission and our mantra and thank you for your willingness to work positively with us.

We have a very hard working staff here in all areas of our school and we will continue to  provide a rigorous and challenging learning programme for your children in our extremely well resourced school.  We have a focus on the improvement in students’ writing this year and a continued focus on catering effectively for the learning of all of our students including our gifted and talented learners.

Please note the list of staff and the school’s organizational structure in the next section of the newsletter.  We welcome the following new teachers to our school: Patricia Lelei, Angela Stonestreet, Julie Sila, Lena Erakovich, Charli Lowes and Elle Mackwood.  We have been very fortunate to appoint such a high quality group of new teachers.

Over the next couple of weeks you will receive information about our “Meet the teacher” evening on 21 February at 7.00-8.30pm and the school fun day on Saturday 8 March.  Please note these important dates in your diary or under that magnet on your fridge!

I would like you to know that I wrote a message on behalf of our school in a memorial book for Sir Edmund Hillary when he lay in state in the cathedral in Parnell late last month.  We have spoken to the children about Sir Ed’s full, modest and generous life, his unselfishness and his willing contribution to support those less fortunate than himself – a truly quintessential New Zealander.  We feel very proud that he grew up in South Auckland and remained a loyal participant in Manukau City activities.  His life was one of achievement.

Finally I would like you to know that I have an open door policy at school.  You are very welcome to come and see me and I will be out on the crossing on St George St each Wednesday morning if you wish to have a quick chat about anything.  I do enjoy catching up with you and hearing about how things are going for you and your family.

My warmest wishes for a wonderful year in 2008.

Kindest regards


Marilyn Gwilliam
Principal

P.S.

A thought for the term:

“If it’s to be, it’s up to me”.

General Notices

Welcome to our New Students: Papatoetoe Central School welcomes the following new students to our school –
Namita & Akash Saggar, Jaskaran Singh, Het Patel, Harshdeep Banwala, Diljot Kaur, Sharon Luthra, Alana Rodriques-Birch, Harry Singh, Taji Singh, Conor Tindall, Daniel Morgan, Neyha Prakash, Jensen Foster, Troy Harrison, Trent Fa’aofo, Oshayanna & Paraihe Schmidit-Davis, Tania Bell, Jasjot Nijjar, Luke Kelemete, Hinewai Turnbull, Sharondeep  Singh, Monish Kapoor,  Jason Sivilay, Neha Singh, Kansas Boyce, Liza Gupta, Uilini Mafi, Victoria & Louise Olsen, Priya Kumar, Priyanka Prahalad, Sangeetha Thirumalai-Chetty, Gurnam Singh, Harmanpreet Kaur, Andre & Jordan Falanai, Alysha Ismail, Joban Singh, Sukhchandan Kaur, Margaret Peto, Arapeta Mark, Xaria Paul, Tyrone Chisholm-Corry, Zaheeda Nisha, Shahid Ali, Saniya Chaudhari, Daniela Du, Daniel Tran, Sahib Singh, Rohan Saini, Lakia Lagatule, Divineel Pillay and Xaria Paul

Assembly Day:  On Friday, 8 February we will have a singing assembly.  As always you are most welcome to attend but please make sure that you are seated by 1.15pm.


Term 1 Events

PTA Meeting 7.00pm                11 February                           BoT Meeting 6.00pm        17 March
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                            East Tuesday            25 March
Community Fun Day 12- 4.00pm        8 March                      Zone Swimming            1 April    
PTA AGM 7.00pm                10 March                                  Class / Individual photos        16/17April
End of term 1            18 April
PTA News

Fun Day 2008 - yes we are having another one and this time kids you can bring your friends and relatives!!! On March 8th from 12pm - 4pm. We will have lots of games again, food and quick fire raffles. There will also be a cake stall.  We will send more information later. So mark your calendars and come and join us.
 
PTA Meeting - the first meeting for 2008 is this Monday the 11th at 7pm in the oval room ( in the office block). All are welcome to attend. If you are a new parent to the school, please come and join us, we would like to meet you.
 
Thanks and Happy New Year!!
 
Rachel Hagglund – PTA

Community Notice

            
HELP YOUR CHILD WITH MATHS HOMEWORK

Would you like to know how children learn mathematics and what you can do to help your child? Maureen Sheldon, Director of Maths at Papatoetoe Intermediate, will be teaching a 7 week course that focuses on the mathematics that children are taught at school and how you can help your child at home. It will be held at the Papatoetoe Intermediate School Maths Centre (Room 26), and starts on Thursday 21 February, 6 – 8pm.

This course is supported by Aorere College Adult and Community Education and Papatoetoe Intermediate School so that you only pay $10 for the whole 7 weeks. If you are a parent or caregiver who has children at primary or intermediate school, then this course is for you! To enrol phone the office, at Papatoetoe Intermediate School, on 278 9763 between 9am and 3pm