BIS Newsletter Week 5 Term 2 2022
Thursday 2nd June, 2022
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Talofa Lava everyone,
Yesterday I received the new uniform guidelines from the Ministry of Education. This is very timely as we are currently in the process of reviewing our uniform. It is pleasing to see that the recommendations made by MOE are already in place at school and our uniform does allow for freedom of expression, comfort and gender neutral options. We will be sending out a community survey this term to get feedback and ideas for future uniform changes and adaptations.
We spend a lot of time ensuring that our students have a sense of belonging and uniform is one way that we establish ourselves as a collective identity. We are well aware that students don't love uniform but we do have a uniform and it is important that it is worn correctly.
In winter, students can wear plain black track pants. They must not have logos on them, can not be cargo or denim pants and should be the correct fit to ensure comfort and movement in them. The PE shorts also need to be plain black with no logos.
School socks can be plain white or plain black socks. These can be knee length, ankle or mid calf. This gives several options. They must not have logos, stripes or colours on them. Black stockings can be worn. Shoes must be plain black, lace up or buckle shoes that cover the toes. Slides are not part of the school uniform.
We currently have 2 options for school sweatshirts. If your child does not have one, we have some for sale in our second hand store at school. Students may wear a plain black long sleeved thermal top under their school shirt if they need extra warmth.
We are very happy for students to express themselves through hair styles,jewellery or taonga. However, if it is unsafe, we will ask them to remove it. An example of this would be long earrings cannot be worn in PE, hair should be tied back when using equipment in food or hard technology. This is for safety.
Please support us by ensuring your child is in correct uniform each day.
Enjoy the long weekend.
JoAnne Sutton (she/her)
Principal / Tumuaki
This year's theme for Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa - Samoa Language Week is Fa’aāuāu le Folauga i le Va’a o Tautai - Continue the Voyage with Competent Wayfinders of the Ocean.
Samoan Language Week is a significant event every year on our school calendar. 2022 is also a significant year for the Samoan community, being the 60th anniversary of Samoa Independence. Our school has been celebrating the Samoan language all of this week, and to commemorate this milestone, we had our first whole school assembly since the beginning of Covid restrictions in our hall on Wednesday. This was also the first time we have been able to use the brand new bleachers that were installed at the end of last year, and it was amazing to see all of our aiga together again in an indoor setting. Across the school we saw students learning the sāsā, speaking basic phrases and numbers, dressing to represent their culture and reading about Samoan myths and legends. It was awesome to see the pride in our Pasifika kids as they stood on stage and sang the Samoan national anthem. Our girls were absolutely beautiful performing their dance with loud and enthusiastic support from our boys. It has been a beautiful week of learning and experiencing different parts of Samoan culture. We have tasted koko alaisa, eaten far too many lollies and seen the absolute beauty of all our Pasifika kids.
Football Zone Days
On Tuesday the Year 8 girls competed in the football zone day at Ashley Reserve in Long Bay. We started with a tough game against a very strong Murray's Bay team which we unfortunately lost 5-0. The girls did not lose faith and stormed back to win their second game 2-0 against Northcote B with goals coming from Sadie Craigie and Suki Hudgins. The next game was a 0-0 draw against TNIS.
This was enough to take the girls into the quarter-finals where we faced Belmont. The game was really exciting and the girls gave their all, bringing the score back to 1-1 with 5 minutes remaining (Ruby King scored a great goal). Eventually the girls ended up losing 2-1 so any hopes of winning the competition were gone. In the final two games the girls acquitted themselves really well as they ended the tournament in a respectable 8th place.
The organiser of the event complimented our team on how much we improved in each game throughout the day!
The Great BIS Library Amnesty!
Worried about that library book that you forgot to return at the end of the school year?
Worried about that library book that you "borrowed" and forgot to put back?
WORRY NO MORE!
Return those long-forgotten BIS Library books to the office with NO QUESTIONS ASKED!
Our EMPTY SHELVES are waiting to receive those LONG-FORGOTTEN books!
Upcoming Events
Friday 3rd June- Teachers Only Day
Monday 6th June- Queens Birthday, Public Holiday
Thursday 16th June- North Shore Mathex
Friday 24th June- Matariki, Public Holiday
Friday 1st July- 40 Hour Famine begins
Hospice needs your help!
Mums, dads, grandparents, carers, aunties, uncles… your local Hospice shops have been hit hard by Covid-19 and we really need your help. Come and volunteer with us! Just one three-hour shift per week will make such a difference to us. Flexible weekly shifts are available to fit in around your lifestyle, and our volunteers have so much fun and really enjoy the company of the other volunteers and shoppers. Come on your own or bring a friend and help Hospice care for your community. Call into your local shop and talk to the manager or contact your local Hospice.
Communication Home
We email home a school newsletter every fortnight. The purpose of this newsletter is to keep our community informed of what is happening at our school.
Please ensure we have an up-to-date email address, download our BIS School App, like our Facebook page and check our website regularly for more detailed information about what is happening at BIS.
