14 October 2010

From the Principal

Term 4 value: Responsibility
Being responsible means that others can depend on you. 
When you are responsible, you keep your agreements.
 Responsibility is the ability to respond ably.  It is a sign of growing up.

Dear parents and caregivers

I hope that you are all having a great week and enjoying the longer evenings.  It is great to have the children back at school after the break.  Classes are settled and productive and we have a very busy and exciting term ahead.  The instructional programme will continue right up to the last day, Thursday 16 December as we strive to ensure that all students make excellent progress in the final term of the year.

Sun smart time:  It is essential that children have a school hat to wear during break and PE times at school this term.  These can be purchased at school and we also have some 2nd hand hats for sale. When the sun is out it can burn quickly and we need to protect the children from this.  If children do not have a hat, they are asked to spend their break times under the sheltered areas.  Thank you for ensuring that your children have a school hat at school each day to enable them to participate fully in all school activities.

Market Day, Friday 29 October: 2.30pm for parents:  You are very welcome to come along to the market at 2.30pm on the 29th.  We are having our first market that is being run by the children for “seeding” funds for our school gardens.  As you know,  we have a student environment team, led by Paul McAleer and supported by Kevin Deed,  and each year group has their own garden that we want to develop more.  Each year group will have a stall and items for sale will include plants grown in our glass house, vegetables from the big garden, hand made cards and book marks, jams, chutney, a toy swap, Christmas decorations, play dough and the PTA will have a 2nd hand clothing stall.  We are all looking forward to our first PCS market where all classes will have the opportunity to do some shopping.  Our intention is that the market is run by the children, for the children, with minimum adult involvement in the organisation.

PCS in the Park:  Following discussion with the PTA, we have decided to postpone “PCS in the Park” until early next year as many of our families will have just celebrated Diwali and we are concerned that it will still be quite cool.  We intend to hold it in late February or early March next year and incorporate our “Meet the Teacher” evening.  This will be an opportunity  for teachers to meet families informally and enjoy some time together with the children, some items and a general big school get-together.  We are sure that this will work well and the weather is much more reliable at that time of the year.

Invitation to all parents: Community and Whanau groups, Thursday 25 November, 2.00pm:  We will be holding our term 4 community meeting on 25 November.   This term we issue an open invitation to any interested parents to come to the main office at 2.00pm and we will take you for a tour around the school.  This will be followed by a get together where we invite you to raise anything that you would like to with us about our school, our learning programmes or any other related topic that you would like to discuss.   All families are welcome.

Teachers’ Union Meeting:  Tomorrow afternoon most teachers will be attending a union meeting to discuss their collective employment agreement.  While we will be keeping the school open, it will not be possible to continue with the regular class programme so if you wish, you can collect your children at 12.40pm, at the end of the morning programme.  Those of us who will not be attending the meeting will supervise children who remain at school.
Children must be collected by an adult or you can send along a note to the class teacher giving permission for your child to leave school at the end of the morning programme.  Children will only be allowed to leave school with an adult or with written permission from a parent or caregiver.

Warmest wishes for a wonderful weekend.  Spring is here in full force, so hopefully you will be able to spend some special time outdoors with your special children.  The trees are bursting into bloom – let’s all make the most of this very lovely time of the year.

Kind regards
Marilyn Gwilliam
Principal

General Notices

Welcome to our New Students: Papatoetoe Central School welcomes the following new students to our school – Tanish Sudan, Louise & Leah Angell, Shania Babu,  Alicia & Anthony Ah Foon, Rahul Narayan and
Kate Dinh.

Assembly Day: On Monday, 18 October, Room 15 will lead our assembly.  As always you are most welcome to attend but please make sure that you are seated by 1.15pm.

Tips from the PCS Environment & Sustainability Team:  There are a number of simple steps we can all take to save water and power and Reduce, Reuse and Recycle much of the waste that is produced in our school and at home.  GIVE IT AWAY
 before you throw something away, think about if someone else might need it. You could donate it to a charitable organisation.


Out of Zone Ballot Reminder: Applications close tomorrow, Friday, 15 October 2010.


Calendars:  The student’s artwork can be viewed in their classroom before and after school. There are some sample calendars and cards available for viewing.  Your child’s artwork will be laser copied so multiple calendars can be ordered using the same piece of artwork.  Classes have been working hard to complete lovely pieces of artwork.  The calendars and cards are a wonderful Christmas present idea for extended family members.  Orders and payment are required before the artwork can be made into a calendar or cards.  The orders need to be in by October 29 so processing can be completed in good time.  We are looking forward to your support with this excellent fundraiser.   

ICAS – English Results:  Congratulations to these students who received the following awards from the ICAS English test:
Year 4:    Credit - Daniel Burrows, Alysha Ismail, Olivia Nilson           
Year 5: Distinction – Jaida Chandra, Sukhchandan Kaur, Keelan Vodanovich    
Year 5: Credit – Toni McIntyre, Vanessa Nguyen, Mason Tauti-Damm
Year 6: Credit – Paige Aiono, Brittany Andrews, Joeli Filipo, Donna Huang, Euan Raill, Lizzie White
All other students who sat this test received participation certificates. Well done to everyone for taking part. The students noted above will be presented with their certificates at Monday’s assembly.

School Hats: The wearing of the school hat is compulsory at Papatoetoe Central School in terms one and four (summer).  Could you please take urgent action by sending $15.00 to the school office if your child does not have one.

Market Day Reminder:  Please bring in your second hand clothing, accessories and toys by Thursday, 28 October for the Market Day on Friday, 29 October.  They can be dropped into the teacher aide room next to Room 1.

School Sports:  Cross Country Zones - Tuesday 19th October, Saving Day Thursday 21st October.  Venue - Puhinui Reserve, Prices Road.  Races will begin at 10am and will be finished by 12pm. Parents and caregivers are more than welcome to come along and watch.  Students will be transported by bus to the event.


In Beltenup, taxi drivers charge $1 flag fall once you get in the car. Then they charge you $2 for each kilometre you travel. How far can you go if you and your friends have just $23 between
you? __________

Name_________________________________________     Room __________

Term Topics

The theme for term 4 is:  Let’s Go Shopping
Year 1: The Supermarket                   
Year 2: The Supermarket
Year 3: From the Garden to the Plate     
Year 4: Ice cream and Dairy Farming
Year 5:  Town Planning – How do we decide where to build a shopping centre                   
Year 6: Dairy Farming / Supermarkets / Consumer Behaviour & Consumer Rights



Term Events

BoT Meeting                                     Monday, 18 Oct       
Cross Country Zones                         Tuesday, 19 Oct
Athletics Prelims 9,10 & 11yr olds    Wednesday, 20 Oct   
Athletics Prelims 7 & 8yr olds           Thursday, 21 Oct
Teacher Only Day (School Closed)   Friday, 22 Oct       
Labour Day (School Closed)             Monday, 25 Oct   
Athletics Finals Day                          Wednesday, 27 Oct    
PCS Market Day                               Friday, 29 Oct
PTA Meeting                                    Monday, 1 Nov       
Junior Sports afternoon                     Tuesday, 2 Nov
Photos Y0/1 new classes only          Tuesday, 9 Nov       
Year 4 Tip Top Trip                        Wednesday, 10 Nov
Year 4 Tip Top Trip                         Friday, 12 Nov       
Mufti Day RNZF of the Blind          Friday, 12 Nov   
Year 6 Camp                                    Mon-Fri, 15-19 Nov   
Athletics Zones                                Tuesday, 23 Nov
PTA Meeting                                    Monday, 29 Nov   
Grasshopper Tennis Yrs 4-5            T-F, 30 Nov-3 Dec
BoT Meeting                                    Monday, 6 Dec       
Yrs 4-6 Swimming                           Thursday, 9 Dec
Junior School Xmas Show               Friday, 10 Dec       
PTA Xmas Disco                             Friday, 10 Dec
Yr 2 Trip – Allenby Park                 Tuesday, 14 Dec   
Yr 6 Graduation Dinner                   Tuesday, 14 Dec
Yr 1 Trip – Allenby Park                 Wednesday, 15 Dec   
Reports go home                              Wednesday, 15 Dec
Yr 6 Graduation Assembly              Thursday, 16 Dec   
Last day of school at 1pm                Thursday, 16 Dec


Community Notices

Hunters Plaza School Rewards Promotion Update: Papatoetoe Central is still in the lead! 
IMPORTANT INFORMATION –DOUBLE POINTS OPPORTUNITY.  This week earn DOUBLE points for every receipt from Kmart and Countdown at Hunters Plaza. (receipts must be dated from Monday 11 – Sunday 17 October)  Plus, all new members to the Hunters Plaza Kids Club each receive 10 bonus points!
Kids Club is open to all children 12 and under. To become a member, simply fill in the application form at The School Rewards desk by Dunkin Donuts.  Remember, the easier way to earn points for your school is to enlist the help of family and friends!
We look forward to seeing you at Hunters soon.

Afterschool Computer Programmes  Bubble Dome is back with the exciting Afterschool Programme in 3D Animation, Games Design and Inventions at a school near you. This 8 week programme is open for all students aged 6-12 years interested in Computers, Art, Design, and Inventions. Students will be given a software list so they can continue using the software for their own school and personal projects providing hours of learning and creative opportunities! Spaces strictly limited. To book Tel: 09-622-0670 or Email: info@bubbledome.co.nz or Visit: www.bubbledome.co.nz