Newsletter Issue 10
Term 3 - September 28 2022
Principal’s Update
Kia ora, Nameste, Talofa, Konnichiwa, Guten Tag, Gidday, Vannakkam, Ni Hao, Kia orana, Hola, Salam, Sa wat deekha, Dia Dhuit, Goeie Dag, Bonjour, Καλημέρα, Greetings everyone
Ni Hao and welcome to Chinese Language week - THIS PAGE has some good resources if you wish to celebrate with your whānau.
Term 3 has flown by and what a positive term it has been. After beginning the year in 'Red' and spending most of the year in 'Orange' we have relished the opportunity to connect more with our whānau and wider community. It is exciting to be able to plan for community events once more, such as our Pōwhiri, Year 5/6 Camp and the Kapa Haka festival in Term 4 without the rigid health and safety requirements. Our attendance has steadily improved from around 70% at the beginning of this term to consistently above 85% over the past couple of weeks, so there is hope that we are past the worst of the winter sickness. We hope you can get some quality family time over the term break and we look forward to a positive Term 4 in anticipation.
Learning Celebrations
Thank you to all those families who joined us despite the uninspiring weather last Wednesday to spend some time with your tamariki talking about their learning from the term. We estimated that we were joined by three quarters of our families for this event. The classrooms looked fantastic and the teachers spoke about the buzz of excitement as students talked with families about what was important to them. The feedback we received is included below and will be taken into consideration in our planning for next year. Do not hesitate to get in touch if you had further thoughts to add.
Whakawhanaungatanga Friday
Similarly, it was wonderful to see some of our whānau joining our kaiako around the school on Friday last week for the first open-to-the-community round of Whakawhanaungatanga Friday. Some photos are included later in the newsletter. Please note that we welcome our families involvement in the learning activities alongside the children at this time so do come along and feel free to get stuck in! We will advertise our Term 4 afternoons early next term and look forward to seeing you there.
Professional Learning Reflections
This week's key 'take away' from the New Zealand Principal's Conference in Christchurch is a reflection on the words of Kalia Colbin who spoke of the importance of courage in leadership. She stated that courage is a skill that needs to be deliberately taught and exercised and outlined four skill sets that are important to develop for courage:
Vulnerability
Values
Trust
Resilience - learning to rise
At a time of consulting with our community about what they value, I thought it interesting to reflect on how we work to create the intentional, intelligent, courageous leaders we need to creatively tackle the problems they are faced with and build a better world.
Teacher Only Day - School Closed Friday 21 October
Just a reminder that the school is closed to students on the Friday of the first week back. Our teaching staff will be working on assessment and reporting in preparation for the end of year achievement reports that come home with your child in the last week of the term.
Whole School Emergency Evacuation and Reunification Exercise - Friday 11 November
To be prepared for a major earthquake or similar emergency, Bellevue School holds an annual whole school emergency evacuation, following which we ask families to come and collect their child (during the school day) as they would in a real emergency. We have not been able to hold this exercise since the end of 2020 with the Covid-19 restrictions. Out of respect to our families we usually try to coordinate this with our local schools, however, due to working around Covid restrictions this was not possible this year. This drill informs our in school emergency practices, ensures we have the most up to date emergency contacts for our families and that we are fully prepared to keep our tamariki safe in the event of a major emergency.
Please take note of this date. We will send home further information early next term, but you may wish to check that your contact details / emergency contacts / emergency release adult information for your child are up to date in the weeks leading up to this.
Term Dates for 2023
The term dates for 2023 have been confirmed by the Board and are published HERE on our website.
Hei konā mai
Annette
HEALTH & SAFETY UDATE - Mask wearing optional in Term 4
After the term break mask wearing will be optional at Bellevue School.
We thank our community for their moderate approach over these past few weeks to the removal of the mask requirements. It has been helpful to ease gently into not wearing masks in light of all the winter sickness and the knowledge that Covid-19 has not 'gone away'.
While we are excited about the return to more familiar ways of operating, we wish to assure our families that we will not become complacent. We will continue to adhere to the high hygiene practices that have worked well to reduce the spread in school - regular hand washing/sanitising, coughing/sneezing into the elbow, staying home if sick.
Please note that our school Board and leadership team will continue to be informed by the health of our school community and adhere to the Ministry of Education / Health advice. Should this indicate a need to return to mask wearing for a period of time to minimise the risk to our students, staff and whānau, we will do so. We will keep you informed through our usual channels - this newsletter, update emails and our school Facebook page.
Please do continue to inform us if your child tests positive - office@bellevue-newlands.school.nz
Sunhats & Sunscreen - Term 4
A reminder that, in accordance with our sunsmart policy all our children are asked to wear a sun hat outdoors every day in Term 4 (and Term 1) to protect them. Please support your child by providing a named sun hat for the beginning of the new term. If our tamariki do not have a sun hat, they are asked to work and play in the shaded areas of the school.
Sunscreen is also a vital ingredient for a healthy Term 4 so please either apply to your child before school or pop some in your child's bag so they can apply it during the day. Thank you for supporting us to take care of our tamariki in the sun.
Thank you
Thank you to all our whānau for supporting this term's community events!
Whether it be your attendance at our PB4L consultation evening, Whakawhanaungatanga Friday, Artsplash Choir or our Learning Celebration, or your involvement as a FUNdraiser, Board member or volunteer, we appreciate your involvement and contributions to our fabulous kura enormously!
Bellevue School Board Casual vacancy for a parent representative
A casual vacancy exists on the school board for an elected parent representative. The casual vacancy occurred as there were fewer nominations than the number of positions to be filled after our election.
The board has decided to fill this vacancy by running a By Election Process. More information about casual vacancies can be found here: https://www.schoolboardelections.org.nz/board-resources/casual-vacancies/
The Bellevue Board have opted for this option, as opposed to the selection process, to encourage our community members who may have been considering standing for the Board, to put their nominations in.
Should we not receive any nominations then the Board will consider the selection process.
The Bellevue team and Board encourage you to consider becoming a member of this proactive, supportive team who are driven by supporting our tamariki to be active, connected life-long learners.
Please feel free to contact the Board by emailing boardchair@bellevue-newlands.school.nz
Kind Regards,
Bellevue Board
Bellevue School, Newlands School Board Elections
Parent By-Election Notice
Nominations are open for the election of one (1) parent representative to the school board.
All eligible voters will receive a nomination form via email. Use this form to nominate yourself
or someone in your community. You will also receive a nomination cover letter via email
calling for nominations. Information on who is not eligible to be a board member is provided with
the nomination form. If you need more nomination forms, contact the school office.
Nominations close at noon on Friday 30 September 2022. You may provide a signed
candidate statement and photograph with your nomination. The electoral roll is held at the
school and can be viewed during normal school hours. As nominations are received, there
will be a list of candidates’ names kept at the school up until election day, which you can
view.
Voting closes at 4pm on Friday 4 November 2022.
Signed Amanda Beauchamp, Returning Officer
Otago Maths Problem Solving
Otago Maths Problem Solving
Problem Challenge is a mathematics problem solving competition aimed primarily at children in Years 7 and 8. As an extension opportunity, some of our Year 5 and 6 students participate in this.
The New Zealand Mathematics Curriculum emphasises the need for a problem-solving approach to maths, encouraging children to practise and learn simple strategies such as guessing and checking, drawing a diagram, making lists, looking for patterns, classifying, etc. The problems posed encourage these sorts of skills.
Congratulations to all students who have taken part in the 2022 Otago Maths Problem Solving Challenge!
Students accepting the Challenge
Ethan, Alice, Han, Xavier, Levi, Aadi & Mahi
Students achieving Merit
Vivaan
Students achieving Excellence
Miles
Pourakahua Show
On Monday 26th September the whole school saw a show called Pourakahua in the School Hall. The performers spoke in Te Reo Māori so some parts of the show were tricky to understand but we thought about the story they were telling through the songs and puppets. Hub 3 have been writing their own interpretations of the show. Here is one from Elena (Year 3)
Long ago, there was a magnificent red bird called Pourakahua. She came all the way from Hawaiki to New Zealand. Pourakahua was sad because she encountered a storm. What an unfriendly welcome! A tiny kuri barked a loud bark. It startled Pourakahua during a soaring flight. She was scared of the storm. But she turned into a human bird. Then moa hunters came to hunt moas. Pourakahua was so worried about the moas. The kuri annoyingly barked again. Rakau came and blocked Pourakahua’s way, but she managed to escape. She, Pourakahua met some taniwha. Pourakahua quickly and quietly collected kumara. But then she was captured by some eternal darkness. Moa hunters were acting like bird hunters. Then she met a baby shark. Now Pourakahua saw taniwha again! She went further in the eternal darkness. Then she was free and turned into a normal bird again. She met the haast eagle. She also saw another batch of kumara. The haast eagle helped Pourakahua carry the kumara all over New Zealand. They saw a baby kiwi hatching. They gave the mother kumara. They continue to give kumara to the country.
By Elena
Shots to Make You Smile - Whakawhanaungatanga Friday
Life Education
This week classes have been enjoying visits to the Life Education classroom with Marsha and Harold. Today Marsha and Harold visited classrooms. Everyone was very excited!
PB4L
Thank you to everyone who gave feedback on our values consultation at last week’s Learning Celebration Evening. Next term, the PB4L Team will be communicating further about the outcome of this consultation. Watch this space!
Lost Property
At the end of each term we endeavour to reunite families with items that collect in our 'Lost Property'. If you are missing items, they may well have ended up in this collection. We will be putting the items on display in the Room 2 & 3 patios on Friday 30 September (last day of term 2) from 2pm onwards. Please note that any unclaimed items are donated to charity.
Library News
It's been a busy term in the Library.
Firstly a big 'Thankyou' to Nita Glew for her help two days a week with book repairs, cataloguing, rosters and librarian training.
Secondly, thanks also to Alana Salmon who has been helping to re-barcode our fiction and non-fiction books to make the issuing and returning of books for students a lot more streamlined.
Thirdly, a huge thankyou to those of you who have kindly donated puzzles (and games) for lunchtime fun. These have been well received.
'Thankyou' to our great team of Librarians who give their time to help keep our library open and operating at morning tea and lunchtimes.
And finally, congratulations to the following students for completing their Librarian's Bronze Awards:-
Shiv
Amelia
Aurora
Sofia
Caitlin
Kate
Enjoy the holidays and enjoy some fun and relaxing 'book' time.
Sports News
Miniball Results:
Storm lost against Redwood Nuggets, 36:60. Player of the day: Lillian
Lightning lost against Amesbury Pukeko, 19:31. Players of the day: Ethan and Caleb
All four teams have had a brilliant season! The kids have loved playing (regardless of the result) and enjoyed playing as a team. A big thanks to our coaches and managers: Tim Cooke, Harriet Elworthy, Chloe Abel, Amy Wood, Damien Grant and Rebecca Coster!!!!
Touch Rugby:
Touch Rugby is starting up again in Term 4. If you are interested in signing up your child(ren), please follow this link. Registrations need to be completed by 30 September.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHN3-QCA_XNxd7-hgPOb1Xr9I0yckbdqW0M40_DIkqonFsRQ/viewform
Wellington Weet-Bix KIds TRYathlon 2023 registrations are now open!
The Wellington Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon will be held on Sunday 19 March, 2023 at Kilbirnie Park. Information about the event can be found here. If your child is interested in taking part in this fun activity, please register as part of our ‘Bellevue (Newlands)’ school group.
School Organisation for 2023
Term 4 is a short term and always busy term! At this time of year we begin looking at the numbers of students we anticipate in each year level to make decisions about class organisation and placement for the following year.
At Bellevue, providing the best environment for learning is at the forefront of our decisions. The number of classes we start the year with is dependent on the staffing entitlement received from the Ministry of Education. This is based on the number of students in the school.
Our teachers are capable of teaching at all levels of the school and so we can allocate teachers to classes no matter the structure of the school or where they were teaching the previous year.
When looking at class composition, we aim to meet each child's needs regardless of the whānau class or mix of year groups. Our team of skilled educators takes the following factors into account when considering class placement for students -
- Individual needs and achievement
- Peer relationships
- Learning groups and friendship groups
- Age and year group
- Gender balance and number of students
- Siblings in other classes and year groups
We are committed to making the most appropriate placement, considering all the information.
If there are any factors we may not be aware of that you believe are important for us to take into account please contact the school over the coming month - by 21 October at the latest. There will be reminders in the newsletter before and after the term break.
You can talk with your child's teacher or a member of the leadership team or email us at Anne Smith (Deputy Principal Year 0-3) annes@bellevue-newlands.school.nz, Deeann Daniels (Deputy Principal Year 4-6) deeann@bellevue-newlands.school.nz, Annette Borgonje (Principal) annette@bellevue-newlands.school.nz.
Once again, please make sure that you have contacted us before 21 October (end of the first week back) so we can take this into consideration when planning classes early next term.
COMMUNITY NOTICES
Ka Pai Kidz - Holiday Programme
We are operating from the school hall 03-14 October inclusive. Book via our website www.kapaikidz.co.nz or contact Linda Robinson 021 40-9641 email linda@kapaikidz.co.nz
Haere Ra Term 3!
Pizza Lunch – Friday 30th September.
231 pizza orders were received this term, woah! Gonna be some yums hitting the tums of a lot of our tamariki on Friday!
Bellevue Book Fair – 5th November 2022, 10am to 2pm.
A collection box has been placed in the school reception/office area for donations.
Is someone in your family an arty and crafty type? A toy maker? Do you have a hobby making something that you would like to sell?
If so, we have decided to have stalls on the day of the book fair!
Please contact Rebecca at fundraisers@bellevue-newlands.school.nz with information about your wares.
COFFEE!
What goes better with sitting down to read a book than a cuppa? (OK peace and quiet, but we are all parents, we know that hardly happens!)
Do you know anyone that would be prepared to sponsor a coffee cart/coffee machine for our event?
Kids Art Work (Calendar Art)
Our order is still being processed, so delivery will certainly be Term 4 now.
Wildflower World Spring Seed Fundraiser
Orders are now closed. Delivery of seeds TBA.
Coming Up Next Term from your FUNdraisers Team!
If there is a suitable opportunity, we will look to run a JUICIE’s Fundraiser for the kids, and either a sausage sizzle or pizza lunch day toward the end of term.
And somewhere amongst these and the Book Fair, we will be releasing an Alana Estate Wine Fundraiser just for the parents 😊
A decision is yet to be confirmed for a bake sale this year… so stand by on that one!
Important Dates
Friday 30 September
Term 3 ends
Monday 17 October
Term 4 begins
Wednesday 19 October - Wednesday 7 December (Term 4)
Hub 1 & 2 Swimming (every Wednesday)
Friday 21 October
Teacher Only Day - School Closed
Monday 24 October
Labour Day - School Closed
Saturday 5 November
Bellevue FUNdraisers Book Fair
Friday 11 November
Year 6 Orientation visit to Newlands Intermediate (am)
Whole School Emergency Evacuation and Reunification Exercise
Friday 18 November
Te Korowai ō Horokiwi Kapa Haka Festival - details to come
Wednesday 23 - Friday 25 November
Hub 5 Camp
Thursday 1 December
Pōwhiri to welcome new students and staff 10.30 - 11.30
Newsletter proudly sponsored by
Email: office@bellevue-newlands.school.nz
Phone: 04 4787037