Newsletter Week 1 Term 1
Our Lady of the Assumption School - 2nd February 2023
OLA News
Strong in Faith, Ako and Aroha
Many thanks to the many whānau/families who took part in surveys last year, especially our consultation at the beginning of the year where what our school community values about our school, what you want our children to learn from our school and what you think are the next opportunities or steps for our school.
After the wide consultation with whanau/ families and students we also talked with our whole staff and our board about what was good about our school and where to next.
We listened to what our families and students said and we have retained our values of respect, responsibility, faith and life-long learning.
What also came through clearly, was, that what our students and their families think is most important at our school is: faith, learning and community. These 3 most important ideals have formed our new, vibrant, exciting, school vision - Strong in Faith, Ako and Aroha.
Strong in sharing the faith with our children, having strong links with our parish community and strong in living our faith in the school Ako means to both teach and learn and it acknowledges the knowledge and experience of both kaiako/teacher and akonga learner. To be strong in Aroha is to be strong in love, compassion and empathy.
This vision and its 3 goals - Become One Body in Christ, Deliver Best Practice Teaching and Learning for our Tamariki and Demonstrating Aroha for our school community form the basis of our board’s strategic vision for the next 3 years. This vision and its goals are encapsulated in the following document.
You will also notice that our graphic designer, Hannah Buutveld (who is also one of parents), has included an adapted version of the Tuna/Eel, which is now sandblasted into the concrete near our new buildings. This Tuna gives a brief overview of the history of the land that our school is one and links to the bilingual book written by our very own Mr Grant. We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before, live and learn in our present and look to the future together.
Ngā mihi nui
Janet and the Team @ OLA
Welcome to Our School
HIllary Hub - Derick, Anisha & Deekshu
Room 12 - Zachary
Room 11 - Haidee
Room 10 - James & Harriet
Room 9 - Maya
Room 4 - Daniella
Room 1 - Riley, Leo, Daryll, Joseph, Cooper, Lucas, & Mila
Term 1 Value - Respect
Our Vision: We are developing respectful, responsible, life-long learners who live their faith everyday.
Each term we take a deeper focus on one of four values and this term we are developing a deeper understanding of respect with our tamariki as reflected in the poster below. Your child may be at different stages for different aspects of Respect. For example they may be a seedling “I usually manage my behaviour” and at the same time be a Sapling “I am an active listener and can demonstrate this”. We have attached a copy of this poster to the Hero notice that this newsletter came in so that you can copy it out and use it at home to support your children learning about and practising respect.
Home School Communication
If you have any concerns regarding your child, their learning or you have something you wish to let us know, then your first port of call is to contact the classroom teacher.
We have a very supportive parent community here at Our Lady of the Assumption and we appreciate the open relationship that we have with you. As a school, we do our best to communicate with you in a range of ways and to inform you early about what is happening at school. We make use of meetings, newsletters, our website, Facebook and emails to keep you up to date about what is happening and to engage you in your child’s education.
Email and social media mean that teachers, staff and parents are more accessible to each other. While this is a positive for communication it can create the perception that we are all available to each other 24/7.
In an effort to further improve communication between home and school and to assist with staff and student wellbeing we have put together the following guidelines.
- If you email staff after 5.00 p.m. or on the weekend, please do not expect a reply until the next working day.
- We have asked teachers to respond to emails within 24hrs or on the next working day. If staff are away sick, they will reply to your email when they return to work.
- Teachers and staff do their best for our children. On occasion, you may be upset about something that has happened regarding your child. In these instances we encourage you to make a time to discuss this with staff face to face as emails can be misinterpreted
Thank you for your continued consideration.
New School "Eel" Feature
Opening Mass
Meet the Team
School Swimming Sports
9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Wharenui Pool. Parents are most welcome to come down to cheer the children along.
This event requires a lot of adult supervision and we are looking for as many parent helpers as possible. If you can help, please email kim.williams@ola.school.nz
Children who qualify from this event will then go on to compete at the Zone Swimming Competition, which will be held on Friday 17th March, at Selwyn Aquatic Centre.
Parent Help for School Crossing
The safety of getting our tamariki to and from school is of high importance to our whānau/families and our school staff.
You may be aware that late last year a new crossing for the safety of our OLA and Hoon Hay tamariki, was installed on Maryhill Avenue. This is a Kea Crossing and Hoon Hay School have moved from supervising the crossing on Sparks Rd to supervising the crossing on Maryhill Avenue on behalf of both schools.
We therefore are doing our part by now supervising the crossing on Sparks Rd for both OLA and Hoon Hay tamariki. Presently staff are supervising from 8.30 - 8.45 and then I am doing the last 10 minutes each morning. They staff supervision does limit their time to talk to children and to be available to parents before school starts for the day.
We are asking if there are any kind parents or grandparents who are able to give us some time to help us at the crossing and so make more time for teachers, children and parents to connect before school. If we have 10 parents/grandparents who are able to do this it would mean 1 day a fortnight, however if we have more it would be an even smaller commitment of time. If you are able to give some time could you please contact either Kim or Carolyn in the school office.
Second Hand Uniform & PE Uniform
Current stock of second hand items can be found on our school website.
Our stock of PE uniforms are very low at the moment due to a delay in the delivery of the current order. We are anticipating arrival of new stock next week and the PTA will be in the uniform room (beside the toilets) on Wednesday 8th February between 2:30 pm and 3:30 pm if you wish to make a purchase.
Prices are listed below and payment can be made via internet banking to the PTA bank account 03 -1594-0014948-00.
If you have any item of the current school uniform that you would like to donate to the PTA please drop them into the school office. All items must be in good condition. All funds raised from the sale of these items go towards fundraising for our school.
Mana Ake
Kia ora!
My name is Victoria and I am proud to be the Mana Ake liaison for your school.
Mana Ake can provide a range of support, from work with kids during school time, to advice and guidance for parents. I can help with anything from anger or anxiety, to behavioural challenges… even screen time and sibling rivalry. I am a registered social worker, mum of a ten year old… and three cats!
If you would like to have a chat with another parent who also has lots of resources and advice to share you can request a drop-in session by contacting Kim or Carolyn in the school office. If you think Mana Ake support may be right for your child, you can discuss this with their classroom teacher.
New Library Books
Each class visits the library once a week and can take out up to two books at a time. Books need to be returned after two weeks.
Once we have our student librarians up and running the library will be open during the lunch break. Children can take books out, sit and read or play with the selection of games that are in the library.
Student Absences
Please let us know why your child will be away (i.e. sick, on holiday, medical appointment etc). It is a Ministry of Education requirement that we record the reason for your child's absence.
Contact Details
Lost Property
We do encourage you to ensure that all school uniform items are clearly named.
Lunch Online
Our school is registered with Lunch Online. This is an online lunch ordering system that uses Sushi Factory and Subway as providers. To view the menu click here. Lunch order days are Fridays.
How do I order?
First you must register online at www.lunchonline.co.nz. You will need to register your children selecting Our Lady of the Assumption School and also indicating which room they are in from the drop down menus.
You may go on and order lunches any time up until 8:30 a.m. on the Friday morning of the lunch order. You can order up to 4 weeks in advance if you wish.
To activate your account and to place an order you must first credit your account either by the online banking or online credit payments. Both are set up with reputable security systems. There is a minimum of $20 that is required to be in your account before you can create an order. Once you have set this up you are ready to go.
Should you want to change or cancel an order e.g. if a child is away ill from school on the order day, you can simply go online before 8:30 a.m. on the Friday and cancel their order.
Lunches are delivered to the school on Fridays and dispatched to the relevant children’s classrooms.
Currently Registered
Remember to update your details with your child's new room number, otherwise the lunch will be delivered to the wrong room. To do this click on "members" and change the room number.
Upcoming Events
PTA News
God Bless
Janet and the Team at Our Lady of the Assumption School
Church Notices
First Holy Communion
Please note that the First Holy Communion programme is run by the Parish. It is no longer organised by the school.
To register please click here.
Rental Accommodation - Hoon Hay Presbytery
The house at 170 Hoon Hay Rd is available for rent - a periodic tenancy or set period agreed to with the parish.
Please contact Judy at the Parish office for details.
Phone 338 8395 or email administration@christchurchsouth.org.nz
Community Notices
Boxing & Basketball
School Links
Contact Us
Email: admin@ola.school.nz
Website: http://www.ola.school.nz/Home/
Location: 89A Sparks Road, Hoon Hay, Christchurch, New Zealand
Phone: +64 3 338 9503
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olaschoolchch/