Newsletters

Term 2 Week 1

Wednesday 1 May 2024

Welcome – Nau mai haere mai

Tena Koutou

Welcome back to term 2! I hope you all enjoyed the holiday period and feel refreshed and ready for the next ten weeks of school. It was great to see our tamariki enjoying the sunshine as they played with their friends over the last couple of days. We have started the term with 155 students and expect at least 11 new entrants before the end of the year.

This term marks the beginning of the winter sports and we have teams playing netball on Saturdays, hockey on Mondays & Thursdays and basketball on Fridays. This would not be possible without the support and committment of our parent and family volunteers to coach the teams. Please take the time to thank those who are coaching your child’s team and offer to help as needed. 

Some of our year 8 students managed to tick off a few hours of service for their William Pike Challenge during the holiday break by turning up to help Eltham Lions members clear the grass and weeds from around trees behind the Eltham Swimming pool as well as helping make small posies to brighten the cemetary for ANZAC day.  Then on Monday all of Room 7 helped spread the bark on the playground. A great effort, thank you all so much! And a huge thank you to the PTA who funded the new bark!

We have a few things planned this term so please keep checking in with the ‘Calendar Reminders’ in the newsletter. Teachers will also keep you informed using ‘Seesaw’ messaging. If unsure, please ring Karen in the office.

Nga mihi,

Megan

School Captains Harry, Kaylee & Kelsey, along with Tyler attended the ANZAC service at Eltham as ambassadors for our school. Thank you!

This term we have decided to intoduce “Friday Pie-Day” instead of our Hot Food Tuesdays. 

Instead of children bringing something to keep warm in the pie warmer we will be offering a normal sized mince pie $5 or smaller bridge pies $1 for lunch each Friday. Orders can be placed for every Friday or can be done weekly but must be placed and paid for by Thursday 9am each week. 

Order details out soon!

POOL KEYS   

There are still pool keys outstanding!  Please return asap.

The lock will be changing next season, so if you do not return the past years key, you will not be issued a new key next season.

MUFTI DAYS: To kick off our Term 2 focus on ‘Community’ the junior team have planned a mufti day for this Friday, 3 May. Children are to dress as a hero from our community – could be a nurse, a doctor, a teacher, a policeman, a farmer, a mum, a dad or a genuine super hero. No limit to your imagination! We ask that those dressing in mufti bring a can of either cat food or people food for the local foodbank.

We will also take part in BullyFree NZ Pink Shirt Day on Friday 17th May where children are asked to wear something pink and bring a gold coin donation which will be sent on to help support our youth.

Forward Planning – Some Dates for your calendar

• Monday 29 April – Term 2 begins
• Friday 3 May – Community Hero Mufti Day – Bring a can
• Monday 6 May – PTA Meeting
• Friday 10 May – STRIKE music performance
• Friday 10 May – Canterbury orders and money due back.
• Friday 17 May – Pink Shirt Mufti Day (Bully Free NZ)
• Wednesday 22 May – Ngaere School Board meeting
• Wed 22 & Thur 23 May – Gym Sport Festival in Waitara
• Tuesday 28 May – Yr 5 & 6 Rippa Rugby tournament (SPS)
• Friday 31 May – Teacher Only Day (school closed)
• Monday 3 June – King’s Birthday (school closed)
• Tuesday 4 June – Life Education Trust Mobile Classroom at school
• Tuesday 11 June – Yr 7 & 8 Rippa Rugby tournament
• Monday 17 June – Jones Cup (yr 5-8)
• Monday 24 – Wed 26 June – School ART expo
• Friday 28 June – Matariki Day (school closed)
• Friday 5 July – Last Day Term 2
• Monday 22 July – Term 3 Begins
• Wednesday 7 August – NZ Playhouse performance
• Friday 30 August – Yr 5 & 6 EPro8 event
• Friday 6 Sept – School Photos
• Wednesday 18 Sept – School Production
• Friday 27 Sept – Last Day Term 3
• Monday 14 October – Term 4 Begins
• Wednesday 16 Oct – Pet Day
• Tuesday 12 – Thursday 13 Nov – Yr 7 & 8 Camp, TOPEC
• Thursday 12 Dec – End of Year Prize Giving 
• Tuesday 17 Dec – Last day 2024

COMMUNITY NOTICES:

Term 1  Week 11

Wednesday 10th March 2024

Welcome – Nau mai haere mai

What a great day they had at Junior Athletics last Thursday. Thank you to everyone who came along to watch and helped out on the day.

Children in Room 4 have been learning how to group their ideas into paragraphs in their writing this week. Here are two examples of their work.

Whanau Day – 11th April has been postponed until later in the year.

Important Notice…..

We have noticed an increase in inappropriate rude and sometimes racist language being used by a number of children in the playground.  We ask you to please be aware of what your child is watching or listening to and talk to them about how they treat others when there are no adults around. In most cases that come to our attention, the user is trying to hurt or offend the receiver so knows exactly what they are saying.

LOST PROPERTY

Please take the time before the end of the term to check out the lost property cupboard (the big blue cupboard on the deck area out side room 4) as this will be cleaned out at the end of the term.  There is alot of uniform, shoes and odd socks in there at the moment.  You may recognise items of clothing that your child doesn’t. 

CANTERBURY GEAR

A canterbury fundraiser order form was sent home yesterday.  Orders and money are due back at school next term, Friday 10th May.  Extra order forms are available from the school office.

01st JUNE FARM CHANGEOVERS

If you are moving with the 01st June farm changeover, could you please advise the school of your new address, Or if you are moving out of the district and your child/ren will no longer be attending Ngaere School, please let the school know.  If you know of anyone moving onto a farm within our zone we would also appreciate a heads up as our roll is growing!

POOL KEYS   

Could we please have all school pool keys returned.  Thank you.

The lock will be changing next season, so if you do not return the past years key, you will not be issued a new key next season.

Forward Planning – Some Dates for your calendar

• Wednesday 10 April – Yr 7 & 8 Literacy Quiz, NP
• Wednesday 10 April – Room 6 Tech catchup
• Friday 12 April – Learner Assembly 2.30pm / Last Day Term 1

Rest of the Year Please note that some of these dates may change and others may be added

• Monday 29 April – Term 2 begins
• Monday 6 May – PTA Meeting
• Friday 10 May – STRIKE music performance
• Friday 10 May – Canterbury orders and money due back.
• Wednesday 22 May – Ngaere School Board meeting
• Wed 22 & Thur 23 May – Gym Sport Festival in Waitara
• Tuesday 28 May – Yr 5 & 6 Rippa Rugby tournament (SPS)
• Thursday 30 May – 5 June – Life Education mobile classroom
• Friday 31 May – Teacher Only Day (school closed)
• Monday 3 June – King’s Birthday (school closed)
• Tuesday 11 June – Yr 7 & 8 Rippa Rugby tournament
• Monday 17 June – Jones Cup (yr 5-8)
• Monday 17 – Friday 21 June – School ART expo
• Friday 28 June – Matariki Day (school closed)
• Friday 5 July – Last Day Term 2
• Monday 22 July – Term 3 Begins
• Wednesday 7 August – NZ Playhouse performance
• Friday 30 August – Yr 5 & 6 EPro8 event
• Friday 6 Sept – School Photos
• Wednesday 18 Sept – School Production
• Friday 27 Sept – Last Day Term 3
• Monday 14 October – Term 4 Begins
• Wednesday 16 Oct – Pet Day
• Tuesday 12 – Thursday 13 Nov – Yr 7 & 8 Camp, TOPEC
• Thursday 12 Dec – End of Year Prize Giving 
• Tuesday 17 Dec – Last day 2024

COMMUNITY NOTICES:

Term 1  Week 8

Wednesday 20th March 2024

Welcome – Nau mai haere mai

A warm welcome to Lenny who has joined Room 1 this week!

Congratulations to our tennis players who played in doubles matches against Matapu School last week. This is something tennis coach, Ghislaine Brien has been trying to initiate for the last couple of years. We are happy and proud to say we are the first winning school for the ‘Karen Brien South Taranaki Primary Schools’ tennis trophy.

SCHOOL ASSEMBLY

Next School Assembly will be Friday 05th April at 2.30pm.

No assembly this week or next week.

01st JUNE FARM CHANGEOVERS

If you are moving with the 01st June farm changeover, could you please advise the school of your new address, Or if you are moving out of the district and your child/ren will no longer be attending Ngaere School, please let the school know.  Thank you.

Student Leadership: This year we are trialing a new structure for our student leadership. All Year 8s are part of wider leadership teams with their own set of responsibilities around a specific role. As well as this, all year 7 and 8 learners are able to work towards Head – Hand – Heart badges. These are a formal acknowledgement that recognises the development of character and embodiment of values as demonstrated in their actions to their school, community and self.

Actions of the head – knowing the good

Actions of the hand – doing the good

Actions of the heart – desiring the good

This is an accumulative, points based system where each learner will need to earn 15 points before being awarded a badge. This badge represents the strengthening and development of character – our aim of the Year 8 graduate from Ngaere School.

We will be seeking feedback later in the year and are always open to new ideas.

If you would like to know more please see either Miss Dravitzki or Miss Hulme.

A huge thank you to Rebekah and Red from Eltham Fire Brigade, for visiting our Year 2 students yesterday. They gave their time and knowledge to help support our learning and curiosity.

A reminder

Our teaching staff will be attending a meeting on Friday 22 March in Stratford. We would appreciate parents collecting children from school between 12.30pm and 1pm on this day if possible. School will not be closed – children who need to remain will be supervised. Please advise your child’s class teacher or  Karen in the office asap if your child is to remain at school for the Friday afternoon.

Winter Sports: Thank you to those parents who have put their names forward to help with coaching this year. Netball starts for our Yr 7 & 8 teams on Saturday 6 April and all other age groups on Saturday 4 May. Hockey starts for Yrs 3-6 teams on Monday 29  April,  Yr 7 & 8 Thursday 2 May and Yr 1&2 Funsticks Monday 4 May.

PTA AGM: This meeting is on Monday in the school staffroom at 7pm.     All are welcome to come along – you will NOT be given a role unless you want one!

Our current Chair, Monica McMahon will be standing down so if you are interested in taking on the role please get in touch. 

SCHOOL MAGAZINES: We still have a few 2023 School Magazines available from the school office for $25 each.  These are great keepsakes!

Forward Planning – Some Dates for your calendar

• Friday 22 March – Teacher Union Meeting collect children @ 12.30-1pm if able to – please advise if your child/ren will be remaining at school.
• Monday 25 March – PTA Meeting AGM 7pm – Everyone Welcome
• Tuesday 26 March – Ngaere Board meeting 6.30pm
• Wednesday 27 March – Weetbix Tryathlon New Plymouth
• Friday 29 March – Good Friday
• Monday 1 / Tuesday 2 April – Easter Holidays
• Wednesday 3 April – School Pool Closed from today
• Thursday 4 April – Junior Athletics
• Friday 5 April – School Assembly at 2.30pm
• Sunday 7 April – Day Light Saving Ends
• Thursday 11 April – Whanau Day / Afternoon
• Friday 12 April – Last Day Term 1

Rest of the Year Please note that some of these dates may change and others may be added

• Monday 29 April – Term 2 begins
• Friday 10 May – STRIKE music performance
• Wednesday 22 May – Ngaere School Board meeting
• Tuesday 28 May – Yr 5 & 6 Rippa Rugby tournament (SPS)
• Thursday 30 May – 5 June – Life Education mobile classroom
• Friday 31 May – Teacher Only Day (school closed)
• Monday 3 June – King’s Birthday (school closed)
• Tuesday 11 June – Yr 7 & 8 Rippa Rugby tournament
• Monday 17 June – Jones Cup (yr 5-8)
• Friday 28 June – Matariki Day (school closed)
• Friday 5 July – Last Day Term 2
• Monday 22 July – Term 3 Begins
• Wednesday 7 August – NZ Playhouse performance
• Friday 30 August – Yr 5 & 6 EPro8 event
• Friday 6 Sept – School Photos
• Wednesday 18 Sept – School Production
• Friday 27 Sept – Last Day Term 3
• Monday 14 October – Term 4 Begins
• Wednesday 16 Oct – Pet Day
• Tuesday 12 – Thursday 13 Nov – Yr 7 & 8 Camp, TOPEC
• Thursday 12 Dec – End of Year Prize Giving 
• Tuesday 17 Dec – Last day 2024

COMMUNITY NOTICES:

Term 1  Week 7

Wednesday 13th March 2024

Welcome – Nau mai haere mai

SWIMMING SPORTS: Thank you to everyone who supported our swimming sports yesterday. We will include a list of winners and their times in next week’s newsletter. All our Ngaere swimmers did well and we are especially proud of them all.

Special Congratulations to the relay teams – Year 5&6=4th, Yr 7&8=1st & 3rd.

Welcome to the new children in Room 1 this week: Isla C and Connor S.

SCHOOL LEADERS

Congratulations to our school leaders who were announced at the last assembly:  Jaxon, Harry, Kelsey & Kaylee.

WINTER SPORTS COACHES: We still need coaches for the following teams:  Netball Year 3-4 Team and the Hockey Year 3-4 team.  If you are able to help in any way please contact the school office.  Thank you.

Room 7 children had a great day last Wednesday taking part in an art activity at Govett Brewster Gallery followed by a service project ‘Beach Clean’ at Ngamutu Beach as one of their first service projects for the William Pike Challenge.

A huge thank you to the parents who accompanied them.

SCHOOL SUNHATS: Students are issued their first school sunhat for free when they start at Ngaere.  Children must wear our school sunhats from Labour Weekend until Taranaki Anniversary for outside play. Outside of these months they are not compulsory. It is their responsbility to look after it and to put it somewhere safe after each break.  Unfortunately the cost of these has risen, so a replacement hat will now be $18. 

SCHOOL POOL: With the weather turning cooler classes may not be swimming every day. The pool will remain open to the public until after Easter weekend. If you no longer require a key, please return it to the office. We will be changing the lock at the end of this swimming season.

Piano Tuition: We have been lucky enough to secure a piano teacher, Fiona Martin for this year as it was no longer viable for the previous teacher  to travel to Ngaere. If you would like your child to have 1-1 20 – 30 minute weekly piano lessons please advise Karen in the office. Your name and details would then be forwarded on to Fiona to coordinate times and to discuss payment.

PAID UNION MEETING: Teachers who belong to the union are entitled to attend meetings during work hours. While we do not always agree with this sometimes it is necessary for them to attend.

Our teaching staff will be attending a meeting on Friday 22 March in Stratford. We would appreciate parents collecting children from school between 12.30pm and 1pm on this day if possible. School will not be closed – children who need to remain will be supervised. Please advise your child’s class teacher or  Karen in the office if your child is to remain at school for the Friday afternoon.

Year 7 & 8 Technology: Children in Rooms 6 & 7 attend technology classes at Stratford High School on alternate Tuesdays. Next Monday is a catch up day for Room 6 to make up for the day spent at swimming sports yesterday.

The cost of Tech is $50 a student. This covers the materials associated with delivering the progamme.The Board have agreed to pay half this cost. Parents of children in Year 7 & 8 will be invoiced $25 before the end of term.

MAZE MAIZE

Thank you to the PTA, Parent helpers & students who helped with preparing & maintaining the maize, and running the maize sessions, and most of all a 

Huge thank you to all of our sponsors 

4 Square Eltham, Adan Larsen Builders, Baker Tilly Staples Rodway Accountants, Baldock Earthmoving Ltd, BDO, The Beauty Depot, Central Taranaki Automotive, Colonel Malones, Dairymaster, Eltham Pharmacy, Farmsource, FMG Insurance, Fieldtorque, Hunger Contracting, Ingrams Bin Hire, Inkpot Cafe, ITM Stratford, First National Collective Real Estate, Keegan Electrical, Kingy’s Refurbishment Machines Ltd, Loveridge Ag & Earth, Mark Bellringer, Marinner Groundspread, Mitre 10 Stratford, Murray Bros Ltd,  New Commercial Hotel, New World Stratford, On the Spot Gas & Plumbing, Paper Plus Stratford, Preston Engineering, Thompson O’Neill Eltham, Schurr & Ireland Accountants, Stanners Motors, Steve Cowan – McDonald Real Estate, Taranaki Vets Stratford, Uhlenberg Haulage & Vesty Firewood

RESULTS:

Guess the lollies:  Emelia Lawrence 209 (there were 208 in the jar)            Lucky Draw:  Emma Gernhoefer                                                                    BBQ Raffle:  No 3 Amy Mills                                                                        New World Raffle: No 85 Karen B 

TENDERS FOR MAIZE

The maize is looking amazing! The PTA are asking anyone who may be keen to purchase the maize to send their tender in to the school office (in an envelope with price, name and contact details) by Tuesday 19th March. The crop covers just over 1ha. 

Forward Planning – Some Dates for your calendar

• Thursday 14 March – Year 7 & 8 Vaccinations 9.15am
• Monday 25 March – PTA Meeting AGM 7pm – Everyone Welcome
• Wednesday 27 March – Weetbix Tryathlon New Plymouth
• Friday 29 March – Good Friday
• Monday 1 / Tuesday 2 April – Easter Holidays
• Wednesday 3 April – School Pool Closed from today
• Thursday 4 April – Junior Athletics
• Sunday 7 April – Day Light Saving Ends
• Thursday 11 April – Whanau Day / Afternoon
• Friday 12 April – Last Day Term 1

Rest of the Year Please note that some of these dates may change and others may be added

• Monday 29 April – Term 2 begins
• Friday 31 May – Teacher Only Day (school closed)
• Monday 3 June – King’s Birthday (school closed)
• Monday 17 June – Jones Cup (yr 5-8)
• Friday 28 June – Matariki Day (school closed)
• Friday 5 July – Last Day Term 2
• Monday 22 July – Term 3 Begins
• Friday 6 Sept – School Photos
• Wednesday 18 Sept – School Production
• Friday 27 Sept – Last Day Term 3
• Monday 14 October – Term 4 Begins
• Wednesday 16 Oct – Pet Day
• Tuesday 12 – Thursday 13 Nov – Yr 7 & 8 Camp, TOPEC
• Thursday 12 Dec – End of Year Prize Giving 
• Tuesday 17 Dec – Last day 2024

COMMUNITY NOTICES:

Term 1  Week 5

Wednesday 6th March 2024

Welcome – Nau mai haere mai

Tena koutou katoa

The board select their Presiding Member ( previously known as Board Chair) at the first meeting of each year. David England was elected by the meeting to lead the board for the next 12 months. I would like to congratulate Dave while at the same time offering sincere thanks to outgoing Presiding member, Stacey Clough, who still remains on the board. 

Dave shared a little about himself:

“Along with Hollie and our three girls, we have been farming in the Ngaere area for the last 10 years. One of our daughters is still at Ngaere School. My interests include motorbikes, mountain biking and enjoying family time. I was elected to the board 5 years ago and in that time have held the Property portfolio, being responsible for prioritising the upgrading and maintenance work with the Ministry of Education and more recently, replacing the turf. I was elected to lead our dedicated and hard working team to support Megan and her great team of staff going forward to do the best we can for all our children.

Thank you, Dave England.”

Moving forwards this year, the board would like to tidy up the school hall and seek suggestions as to what an upgrade may look like. If you have an opinion or idea, please feel free to email Karen in the office or call in and fill in one of our ‘Hall Upgrade’ suggestion slips in the office. As the hall is owned by the school the cost of this must be met by the school rather than through the Ministry. We are lucky enough to have a starting amount of $48,000 which was gifted to us by the now closed Ngaere Hall Committee. We will keep you posted on this project.

Late last year a small number of families responded to a school survey. While there were no obvious strong themes to emerge, as a board we were reassured that we are meeting the needs of the children at our school.

A reminder that school is closed on Friday (Teacher Only Day) and Monday (Taranaki Anniversary Day)

Nga mihi, Megan

Room 2 children enjoyed a great visit to Beck Helicopters to support their learning about “Things that Move”. A huge thankyou to Beck Helicopters and parents who helped with transport.

School is closed Friday 08th & Monday 11th March

Senior Swimming Sports: Tuesday 12 March

The  Swimming Sports will be held at the Stratford Pool on Tuesday 12 March beginning at 10.10am. This event is for children in Year 5-8 (includes some children from Room 4). Parents are welcome to attend. if available to assist on the day ie. as a time keeper please see Mr Mercer.

All children will travel by bus to this event and will be returning at approx 1pm. Children are to have enough food and water to snack on during the morning – we will not be stopping to eat. Please do not send your child with money – the shop will not be open to us.

WINTER SPORTS COACHES

We still need coaches for the following teams:  Netball Year 3-4 Team and the Hockey Year 3-4 team.  If you are able to help in any way please contact the school office.  Thank you.

SCHOOL SUNHATS: Students are issued their first school sunhat for free when they start at Ngaere.  Children must wear our school sunhats from Labour Weekend until Taranaki Anniversary for outside play. Outside of these months they are not compulsory. It is their responsbility to look after it and to put it somewhere safe after each break.  The cost of these has risen so a replacement hat will now be $18. 

TURNBALL CUP RESULTS: Congratulations to all those who participated in the Turnball Cup Swimming Competition on 21/02/2024.  Results are as follows:

1st Daniel Taunt Year 8 Boys 50m Freestyle, 3rd Olivia Waite Year 8 Girls 50m Freestyle, 3rd Quinn O’Sullivan Year 7 Boys 50m Freestyle, 2nd Riley Otene Year 7 50m Boys Freestyle, 3rd Place in the Centenial Cup Relay, 1st & 3rd in the Small Schools Relay.  Well done!

                          A huge thank you to the                          Stratford St Andrews Op Shop

who have very kindly donated a couple of boxes of stationery to the school.

Room 3 Pictured with the donated stationery

SCHOOL POOL: With the weather turning cooler classes may not be swimming every day. The pool will remain open to the public until after Easter weekend. If you no longer require a key, please return it to the office. We will be changing the lock at the end of this swimming season.

TENDERS FOR MAIZE

The maize is looking amazing! The PTA are asking anyone who may be keen to purchase the maize to send their tender in to the school office (in an envelope with price, name and contact details) by Tuesday 19th March. The crop covers just over 1ha. 

Forward Planning – Some Dates for your calendar

• Friday 8 March – Teacher Only Day (Kahui Ako wide) School Closed
• Monday 11 March – Taranaki Anniversay Day – School Closed
• Tuesday 12 March – Senior Swimming Sports 
• Monday 25 March – PTA Meeting AGM 7pm – Everyone Welcome
• Wednesday 27 March – Weetbix Tryathlon New Plymouth
• Friday 29 March – Good Friday
• Monday 1 / Tuesday 2 April – Easter Holidays
• Thursday 4 April – Junior Athletics
• Sunday 7 April – Day Light Saving Ends
• Thursday 11 April – Whanau Day / Afternoon
• Friday 12 April – Last Day Term 1

Rest of the Year Please note that some of these dates may change and others may be added

• Monday 29 April – Term 2 begins
• Friday 31 May – Teacher Only Day (school closed)
• Monday 3 June – King’s Birthday (school closed)
• Monday 17 June – Jones Cup (yr 5-8)
• Friday 28 June – Matariki Day (school closed)
• Friday 5 July – Last Day Term 2
• Monday 22 July – Term 3 Begins
• Friday 6 Sept – School Photos
• Wednesday 18 Sept – School Production
• Friday 27 Sept – Last Day Term 3
• Monday 14 October – Term 4 Begins
• Wednesday 16 Oct – Pet Day
• Tuesday 12 – Thursday 13 Nov – Yr 7 & 8 Camp, TOPEC
• Thursday 12 Dec – End of Year Prize Giving 
• Tuesday 17 Dec – Last day 2024

COMMUNITY NOTICES:

Taranaki Diocesan School for Girls – Stratford

An integrated Anglican Year 9 – Year 13 Boarding and Day School

OPEN DAY – Wednesday 20 March 2024 – visit anytime between 10 am – 2 pm

Enrolments: Weekly Boarding, Part Boarding (2/3 nights) and Day Students

Daily transport options from and to New Plymouth and Hawera

Prospectus Packages available 06 765 5333   sandrac@taranakidio.school.nz

Virtual Tours available any time via website  www.taranakidio.school.nz