GRETA VALLEY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

16 May 2018GRETA VALLEY SCHOOL

SKILLS FOR LIFE!

Dear Parents

EL GREGOEWhat a fun afternoon we had at El Gregoe on Friday 4th May. The message was simple but presented in a visually interactive approach that grasped the children’s attention. Thank you to all those who helped with transport to this event we hope you enjoyed it as much as the children did.Bully Free Schools Week continues through this week with a focus on getting along together in harmony. I spent the time with the student council training them yesterday in how to mediate when they observe that others in the playground are having a disagreement.

FONTERRA GRANTOur grateful thanks to Fonterra Grassroots fund who have awarded us funds ($1,182.60 including GST) to put towards purchasing 2 large self-watering raised gardens called 'VegePods'. Thank you Megan Whelan for organizing this and for donating your time (and seeds) to getting a garden set up for our school.

RED CROSS DONATIONWe would also like to acknowledge the generous donation from NZ Red Cross who have donated $2500 towards the cost of holding a 125th Jubilee Celebration at school in September this year, and also towards the cost of putting on a school production in the third term. Thank you for your donation.

MAORI HUI

We are holding a Hui for our Maori families on Monday 28th May to discuss issues relating to Student Achievement, Equity and future direction. More information will be sent closer to the time.

CROSS COUNTRYThe school cross-country has been postponed until this Thursday 17th May (tomorrow) down at the Scargill Domain. Training has been underway for some time now and we look forward to some stiff competition from Waikari School.

BAD HAIR MUFTI DAYThe student council has organised a Bad Hair Day on Friday 25th May in support of raising funds for the Helicopter Rescue Service. Bad hair can mean anything from wearing a wig, colouring it, gelling it, whatever spins your wheels for fun. This will be a mufti day and it’s also an assembly day. May we please ask you for a gold coin donation for this great service?

TEACHER ONLY DAYJust a reminder that coming up we have a teacher only day coming up on Friday 1st of June and then there’s Queen’s Birthday on Monday the 4th of June. This break will enable some families to take and extended weekend away and perhaps even beat the Queen’s Birthday traffic exodus.

UNION MEETINGThe NZEI have called another Union Meeting for Thursday 21st June and once again we must issue notice that we cannot close the school. However to enable the staff to attend these meetings we are asking that if it is possible for you to have your children at home in the afternoon, it would be most helpful to us. We will run the buses earlier that day. If you are unable to have your children at home because of other commitments then we will have supervision organised to look after your children. The NZEI are doing their best to have teachers’ voices heard in relation to pay and conditions so that more people are attracted to the teaching profession, which ultimately will improve the outcomes for students. FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY On Monday 4th June (Queens’ Birthday weekend) there is an opportunity for us to do some fundraising

Phone 314 3800 - fax 314 3809 - E-Mail: office@gretavalley.school.nzPlease support our sponsors

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at the Hurunui Hotel. We are able to set up a stall and sell any second hand items that we have available. If you have anything in saleable condition that you would like to donate to the school we will be only too happy to take it off your hands for the school coffers. Please contact the school and we’ll organise a time for you to drop it off to us.

PARENTING TIPS ‘What did you do at School today?’Try the following questions;What did you create at school today?What was your worst moment and why?Who helped you today and what did they do?

A COUPLE OF QUICK JOKES Yesterday I saw a guy spill all his scrabble letters on the road.I asked him, “What’s the word on the street?”

Did you hear about the new restaurant called ‘Karma??”There’s no menu: you get what you deserve.

UPCOMING EVENTSTerm 230th April – to 6th JulyWe have made some date changes to assemblies and newsletters. Please note the following;Assemblies: 25th May, 8th June, 22nd June and the end of term celebration on 6th JulyNewsletters: 16th May, 30th May, 13th June, 27th JuneMay15 School cross country18 Bad Hair Day21 BOT Meeting29 Hurunui Cross Country30 National Young Leaders DayJune1 Teacher only day (school closed)4 Queen’s Birthday holiday5 Life Ed Visit13–29 Woolshed Visit21 Union meeting29 Sample books homeJuly3 Student-led Conferences Have a great week from the great Greta Valley Team, Malin, Jo, Sue, Amelia, Megan, Yo and Christine.

**COMMUNITY NOTICES **OMIHI HALL AGM

Wednesday 23rd at 7.30pm at Omihi School. All welcome.

HURUNUI TIMEBANKFabric Weaving, Sunday 27th May, 10am-12pm, CulverdenLearn about the traditional craft of hand weaving, and how to get started creating your own beautiful and functional fabrics.Annabel Harris is a skilled weaver who uses natural yarns such as cotton, wool, hemp and possum to make scarves, stoles, throws, baby slings and more. She’ll show you samples of her work, and demonstrate on a table loom. We’ll learn the basics of setting up a loom and calculating yarn quantities, and you’ll also get to try your hand. (Check out Annabel’s Facebook page: We Two Handwoven)Cost: 2 TimeBank Hurunui credits or $17. Te Reo and Tikanga Maori, Tues 29th May, 7-9pm, AmberleyMaori language and culture are integral to our kiwi identity, and we are all enriched by this. At this “taster” evening, we’ll familiarise ourselves with some key Maori words and expressions, polish our pronunciation, and enjoy a waiata (song). Nukuroa speaks te reo and has a deep connection with Maori

Phone 314 3800 - fax 314 3809 - E-Mail: office@gretavalley.school.nzPlease support our sponsors

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customs and values (tikanga). A Gore Bay local, he loves teaching surfing and enjoys waka ama (outrigger canoeing). He is a keen environmentalist, and a fisheries guardian for Ngai Tahu.Time: 7 - 9pm, Amberley Bowling Club. Cost: 2 TimeBank Hurunui credits or donation appreciated. Beeswax Wraps, Serina Linton, Leithfield, Thurs 7th June 1.15 to 2.45pmDo away with plastic cling film and try a natural and healthy substitute that you can make yourself! Reusable wraps from fabric soaked with beeswax are easy and fun to make. Serina is a ‘rethink waste’ educator and is passionate about teaching children and family’s practical ways to care for the environment with reuse and recycling. She’ll share her handy tips at this workshop, and we’ll make wraps to take home.Time: 1.15 – 2.45 pm, Leithfield Community Centre. Cost: 1.5 TimeBank Hurunui credits or donation appreciated.Flax-basket Weaving: Kate McMillan, Waikari, Sunday 10th June 1.30 to 3.30pmWeave a handy flax basket suitable for stowing toys or other belongings, which will also grace your living space! Kate teaches an easy method using 20 large flax (harakeke) leaves. This doesn’t require preparing the leaves in advance. We’ll enjoy a sociable time together weaving chat as well as baskets, and connecting to a wonderful traditional handicraft. BYO flax leaves. (Selection instructions given when you register). Time: 1.30 – 4.30pm, venue tbc. Cost: 3 TimeBank Hurunui credits or $20. Register: 03 314 3406 or tbhlearningexchange@gmail.com https:\\hurunui.timebanks.org

Phone 314 3800 - fax 314 3809 - E-Mail: office@gretavalley.school.nzPlease support our sponsors

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Phone 314 3800 - fax 314 3809 - E-Mail: office@gretavalley.school.nzPlease support our sponsors

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WHAT WE’VE BEEN DOING THIS WEEK