Rai Valley Area School
Newsletter - Week 2, Term 4, 2021
School Contacts
Rai Valley Area School
6700 SH6, RD 2 Rai Valley
Marlborough 7192
Telephone: (03) 571 6016
Facsimile: (03) 571 6336
Email office: office@rai.school.nz
Web address: www.rai.school.nz
Principal: Maree Furness
Deputy Principal: Mike Wilson
Primary Leader: Karen Davies
Secondary Leader: Siobhan Skinner
Executive Officer: Selene Turner
Receptionist: Pauline Agnew
Caretaker: Shane Dearman
If you have questions, concerns or compliments please let us know - we value your feedback.
Important Reminder: When students arrive late at school they need to sign at the office so we don't end up ringing parents unnecessarily. Thanks.
Principal's Report
Kia ora koutou,
It has really been a very busy start to Term 4. I apologise that it has taken to the end of week 3 to get our newsletter out. Our senior students only have 2 weeks before they begin study leave and the external examinations begin. I would strongly advise them to is really take every opportunity to revise and work closely with teachers.
Last week we held the indoor section of pet day. Sadly the COVID regulations did not make it possible for us to run the outdoor section. It was really pleasing to see the great turn out of parents and community members who came to include to school to view our students work
This is an event that takes a lot of work and organisation to run smoothly. I would like to acknowledge the hours of work that Michael Wilson, Renee, and Pauline put in to ensure a really successful day. I would like to acknowledge those of you who generously gave up their time to judge. We really appreciate and value that you give up your time to ensure the success of pet day.
The re-modeling of the primary block is underway. The work is on schedule and we definitely believe that our students will be learning in these rooms at the beginning of the year. During the holiday’s the work has started on the Ministry of Education’s upgrade of our fire alarm system and the exterior blinds were fitted to the mobility deck. This will make this area safe during wet weather
Two years ago the Ministry gave additional funds for upgrading school property that is not normally covered by regular property funding. Our school chose to resurface courts and invest in a skate ramp. The court resealing started this week. Once these are completed we will put the tennis nets up on the bottom courts. It would be great if you are able to come and have a game sometime.
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There has been a lot of discussion by secondary Principals in Nelson and Marlborough about secondary senior prize-giving. Most schools will not be running prize-giving in its normal format. Our prize-giving is not until the 15th December. This means we will be able to make a decision nearer the time on what type of format prize-giving will take.
Noho ora mai
Maree
Events Calendar
Friday 5th of November - Last Day of Trades for seniors
Monday 8th of November - Last day for photos (date extended)
Friday 12th of November - Pelorus Cluster Athletics Cancelled.
Upcoming Board of Trustees Meetings
Thursday 11th November
Thursday 16th December
Indoor Pet Day
An extra big and special "thanks" to Renee and Pauline who worked tirelessly to help make this event happen at a time when surety around events is at an all time low.
Below are some photos for those who missed getting in to see the hall in person. On that note, many of you beat me in there and managed to get to the Pet Diaries before I could. I was hoping to hang onto them as on top of the normal indoor certificates, Maree would like to judge them for animal ribbons. If you would still like your child's Pet Diary judged, please drop it back to me or Pauline by Monday 8th of November.
Indoor Trophies
A lot of trophies to share this year. Congratulations to the following students:
Pre-School Cup:
Joy Harrison
Photography Trophy for most outstanding photography:
Meika & Marcus O'Donnell
Floral work Trophy for most points in Floral Section:
Ana Harrison & Brooke Dow
Committee Trophy for most points indoors:
Leah Jones & Olivia Harrison
Secondary Cup for Indoor Exhibits:
Rose Stuart
This Pet Day was my last and I would like to end with another thanks, a really big one, for everyone who have helped me run the event since 2017. Impossible without your help.
Mr Wilson
A Selection of Indoor Exhibits 2021
Primary News
Head of Primary News:
Congratulations to all students who produced some spectacular entries into the Indoor Pet Day last week. A big thank you to friends and family for all your support helping students with their indoor entries and floral arrangements. There are some bins left here at school. Please collect from outside the staffroom if they are yours. Thank you for helping us to follow covid level 2 guidelines throughout.
Due to the current covid levels, Pelorus Cluster Athletics and Top Team events planned for this term have been cancelled. Please keep an eye on notices as some teachers are arranging class trips for this term which we still intend to go ahead with.
As we head into summer, please note that it is school policy for students to be wearing a sunhat at school, ideally wide-brimmed. Many thanks for your support with this.
Ngā mihi
Leigh McKinlay
Acting Head of Primary.
Year 1 Pet Day Writing
We have been practising using our ‘violet vocabulary’: making our writing more interesting by adding action and descriptive words. Last week we described our pets.
Kiwi Can Term 4
Secondary News
Secondary News from Mrs Skinner
NCEA Exams
A reminder that the NCEA exams have been pushed back by two weeks following this term’s lockdown.
Key dates are:
Y11, 12 and 13 students final day of school: Friday 19/11/21
Last day Trades Academy: 22/10/21
NCEA exams start: Monday 22/11/21
NCEA exams end: Tuesday 14/12/21
A copy of the exam timetable has gone home for all students. Should you need to refer to it, it is also available online (NCEA exam timetable 2021).
Year 9 & 10 Media Studies: Fake News Assignments
Learning Support News
Different not Dumb!
In the area of learning support, many parents, teachers and experts try to avoid putting labels on kids experiencing difficulty with their learning. The very title of ‘Learning Support’ is an example of this, since this area of work used to be called ‘Special Education’. We don’t talk about ‘disabilities’ any more, we talk about ‘differences’, ‘neuro-diversity’ or ‘learning support needs’.
Children don’t want to be labelled as ‘different’ to their peers. They don’t want to be the only one that needs ‘special help’. Parents and teachers have to make being different ‘normal’.
How? Firstly lots of talk about how we are all different. We all have strengths and challenges. Talk about what you find difficult. What helped you? Find out what the child’s strengths are and celebrate them. Make use of them. But also acknowledge their challenges and discuss the strategies they need to succeed.
Some of the strategies teachers will use in the classroom may include using devices and apps, extra time or different formats for assignments. These accommodations aren’t ‘cheating’, they are simply ways we use to find out what a student knows and is capable of.
Voice typing on a Chromebook allows a student’s ideas to flow without having to put cognitive energy into spelling and handwriting. Having a passage read to them allows the student to think about the text, make inferences and comparisons and draw conclusions without having to work out the words themselves. Being able to choose to do an oral presentation or a slideshow instead of writing a report gives the student the ability to demonstrate what they have learned rather than just how well they can write.
Teacher aides move around the classroom supporting many students with their learning, not just one. Making these accommodations available to all students ensures that they aren’t seen as something to be ashamed of.
Sometimes a label can be empowering. Simone Biles is quite open about her ADHD: “Having ADHD and taking medicine for it is nothing to be ashamed of, nothing that I’m ashamed to let people know”. Richard Branson celebrates his dyslexia, “Being dyslexic can actually help in the outside world. I see some things clearer than other people do because I have to simplify things to help me and that has helped others”. Similarly parents can feel incredible relief on discovering ‘there is a reason, and this is what it’s called’.
We need to celebrate that we are all different and that we are all ‘special’.
Debby Upsall
Learning Support Co-Ordinator
Community News
GUMBOOT KIDS RAI VALLEY PLAYGROUP
All parents/caregivers of little people are WELCOME to come along and join in with the activities.
- Ages 5 and under.
- Tea and coffee provided.
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday at 9.00am to 12.00 noon.
- Facebook: Rai Valley Playgroup.
- Bring a kids lunchbox and sunhat.
For further information please contact Kelsey Knight 027 315 7969 Vicky Thompson 027 370 9097
Messages from our Community
Marlborough Mobile Dental Clinic
Ring for available appointments 2022.
Havelock - Monday 28th March to Wednesday 13th April
Renwick - Tuesday 19th April to Thursday 26th May
Havelock - Monday 8th August to Thursday 8th September
Renwick - Monday 10th October to Wednesday 16th November
Contact Oral Health Administrator, Linda Butler, Phone 03 546 1286, Ext. 7286