Newsletter Issue 3
Term 3 - August 10 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
We hope this finds you warm in this chilly snap we are experiencing - how lovely to see a glimpse of sun today!
Our learning programmes at Bellevue continue to be led by student voice, interests and passions. To share a little of what is going on in classrooms we will 'shine the spotlight' on a specific learning area over the coming weeks.
Spotlight on Writing:
Improving student achievement in writing is one of our Annual Plan goals for 2022. We know that good writing comes from having something to say! It is important that students have strong models, exposure to rich language and experiences they want to talk about.
What hubs are working on at present:
Hub 1- The last couple of weeks we have been focussing on storms and weather in our writing - for obvious reasons! Just recently there have been lots of conversations about our pets - someone brought in a small 'pet' chameleon. This has inspired writing about our pets. You can see photos of some of our learning in the 'Shots to Make You Smile' and our writing below. We have also been very interested in the Commonwealth Games so this may lead to our next writing focus.
Hub 2 - We have been learning to write a question as well as how to write the answer to one. This is a good opportunity to look at how punctuation is used in a sentence and will also help us to research our interests in the future.
Hub 3 - We have created 'Recipe's for wellbeing'. Following the example of our teachers recipe, including 'a dash of sunshine, a sprinkle of beach walks...' we thought about the things that made us feel good and put these all together as the 'ingredients' for our recipe. We learned about how to correctly structure procedural writing (recipes/instructions) at the same time as thinking creatively about our 'Method' - how we mix our ingredients together or 'cook' these.
Hub 4 - Our focus is on writing persuasively. We are enjoying using humour in our writing. At the moment we are imagining a time when we are desperate to use the bathroom but there is a queue. How would we convince the person at the front of the queue to let us go first! We are having to use all our persuasive vocabulary and language tricks!
Hub 5 - We are also writing persuasively. We have been tasked with the job of selling our school! Looking at the language features and vocabulary used by estate agents when they sell houses, we are getting creative about Bellevue.
I have been fortunate to have had several incredible authors in the principal office this last week sharing their writing. It is exciting to see their pride in the rich language they have used and their ability to articulate their thinking. These are special examples of our tamariki's steps towards the active, connected life long learners we aspire for them to be.
Ngā mihi nui
Annette
Chloe's writing about the worm she made - see "Shots to make you Smile'.
Pavit wrote about his dog.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT - Matariki at Bellevue School Video is here!
We are very excited to let you know that the families of our populare ‘Matariki at Bellevue School’ video which was on display at our community evening last term have given permission for this to be shared with our school community.
We ask that you respect the families of students in this video by enjoying this yourself, but by not sharing any wider.
HEALTH & SAFETY UDATE - New Information!
We remain open and averaging 76% of our students still attending school onsite (as at today). Winter illnesses are taking a significant toll on our families, community and staff.
Ventilation and COVID-19: Information for parents and whānau
The Ministry of Health has put together advice on improving ventilation in homes. Please follow the link below.
Ventilation and COVID-19 – Unite against COVID-19
Community access to masks
The Government is also increasing accessibility to masks for people in our wider community.
More masks are being provided in the community to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and to protect people who are at higher risk of more severe illness if they contract COVID-19. You do not need to have COVID-19 or have COVID-19 symptoms to get free masks.
Free medical masks
You can get free medical face masks by:
- picking them up from testing centres and collection points alongside your free rapid antigen tests (RATs)
- visiting a participating pharmacy
- talking to a participating GP or alternative community healthcare provider.
To order RATs online visit the Ministry of Health website.
Rapid antigen testing (RAT) – Ministry of Health
Alternatively, if you’re unable to order RATs online or visit a participating healthcare provider in person, call 0800 222 478 and select option 3.
For a list of testing locations with free face masks visit the Health Point website.
COVID-19 testing – Health Point
Free P2/N95 particulate respirator masks
In addition to medical masks, P2/N95 particulate respirator masks are also available from the providers mentioned.
P2/N95 masks will be prioritised for those people at higher risk of severe illness if they contract COVID-19. This includes people:
- with compromised immunity
- with high-risk medical conditions
- who are older
- who live in aged care facilities
- who are pregnant
- with a disability
- who live with mental health conditions or addictions
- of Māori and Pacific ethnicity
- who smoke.
For information about people considered at higher risk, see the Ministry of Health website.
Higher risk people – Ministry of Health
Bellevue School is still operating under our 'Open' scenario for our provision of distance learning on our (updated for Orange) Community Plan.
Please do continue to inform us if your child tests positive or is required to isolate so we can code them accurately in the roll as:
- unwell
- self isolating - so accessing distance learning
- at home due to family decision - so accessing distance learning
annette@bellevue-newlands.school.nz and office@bellevue-newlands.school.nz
Thank you.
If you have let us know that your child is self isolating or has tested positive, please also let the office know when they return to school.
Please continue to monitor your child and do not send your child to school if they have any symptoms.
Health and Safety Measures at school
It continues to be a priority to take all measures we can to protect our school community from the spread of illness and infection.
Please note the following plan to manage critical staffing levels due to sickness (this works in conjunction with our Community Plan scenarios):
Step 1 - Students and teachers work collaboratively in buddy hubs (Hubs 1&2, 3&4, 5) to cover staff shortage. Please be aware this will mean some aspects of classes may not operate as usual and we will run alternative programmes.
Step 2 - If we are unable to cover staff shortage due to having more than one teacher away with no relievers or being unable to rearrange existing cover in school we will need to close a hub. In this scenario our leadership team will provide cover for classes to enable us to provide a day’s notice to the affected hub families.
Step 3 - In the case of a hub closure, to minimise the spread of covid-19 we will return to operating in our 'bubble zones' (separate play and working areas) and compulsory mask wearing for all adults and students from Year 4 up. Again you will have a day’s notice of this.
Though we are hopeful we will not be required to use these measures, we will continue to keep our families informed of the situation as required.
Upcoming Student led fundraisers
The Student Council has two upcoming fundraising events this term.
Onesie Day on Friday 2 September. All students are invited to wear onesies to school. Students are also encouraged, but not required, to bring a gold coin donation which will go towards supporting Wellington Free Ambulance.
There will be another fundraising event on Friday 16 September. Further details will follow. Students will also be invited to bring a gold coin to go towards the cost of redesigning the black hut.
Both events should be a lot of fun and all students are warmly invited to participate regardless of a gold coin contribution.
Talking positively to your child about school
Sometimes it can be tricky to coax information from children at the end of a long day of learning!
Some families have mentioned this to our team.
There are numerous articles online about asking specific, open ended questions that support positive reflection on the day. This article (written with a focus on our neurodiverse learners but with strategies that will work for all) is a quick read and has some good suggestions:
https://www.understood.org/en/articles/how-to-say-it-questions-to-ask-your-child-about-school
Link from Understood.org
Thank you:
Thank you to Feta Laulau for coming in over the weekend to move the book fair books from one area of the school to store on our stage area so teachers are able to use this space
Thank you to the Sargeants for donating puzzles to Hub 5!
Thank you to our Hub 5 families for your patience and understanding with the unforeseen changes to swimming this week.
The Equity Index - Replacing the Decile System
Last week I attended a Ministry of Education webinar about the Equity Index which is set to replace the school decile system.
Socio-economic barriers have led to persistent gaps in educational success for many children. The government's intention is to provide schools and kura with equity funding, in addition to their core funding, so they can work in different ways to reduce the impact socioeconomic factors have on student achievement.
The decile system of school funding is out of date and has many limitations that have meant that funding has not always reached schools with the greatest need for support. Misconceptions about the decile system (for example as a 'ranking system' for schools) has also led to certain stigma for certain communities and their schools.
Like the decile system, the Equity Index is NOT a measure of school quality, but rather a tool used to identify and target equity resourcing.
For those who would like to find out more: Equity Index FAQ
School Library Week
Aotearoa’s inaugural School Library Week is happening this week.
School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa - Te Puna Whare Mātauranga a Kura, SLANZA, instigated Aotearoa NZ School Library Week to celebrate the valuable role school libraries have in education and to acknowledge the work of school librarians.
National and international research has shown the importance and necessity of having a school library, supported by a specialist librarian with an adequate budget, in improving student achievement, well-being, literacy, and in building information literacy, critical thinking and a love of life-long reading.
The Aotearoa NZ School Library Week raises the profile of school libraries. It normalises the need for our tamariki to have access to this valuable resource.
We hope Aotearoa NZ School Library Week will provoke discussions on the correlation between Aotearoa’s crisis in declining literacy rates among our children and teenagers, and that fewer than a third of schools and kura in Aotearoa have paid library staff.
“. . . we need a book-rich and well-resourced library in all schools, and qualified school library professionals to staff them.” Dr Margaret Merga
SHOTS TO MAKE YOU SMILE - Hub 1 Creative Play
Liam made a jet out of cardboard boxes and tape
Chloe made a pet worm and added some pink paper which is his brain
Leith made a cage for his pet chameleon called "Meleon"
Newsletter proudly sponsored by
Sports News
Miniball Results:
Hurricanes lost against Paparangi Pelicans, 28:12. Players of the day: Benji and Tyler
Lightning lost against Johnsonville All Stars, 42:11. Players of the day: Ethan and Levi
Thunder lost against Paparangi Pitbulls, 66:6. Player of the day: Lawson
Scholastic Book Club Orders
Orders are due in by tomorrow, Thursday 11 August. Late orders cannot be accepted. Payment is by cash or credit card (details on the bookclub form). Please place your order in the locked money box in the Office foyer, in a sealed envelope with your child's name, room number and Scholastic book club written on the outside of the envelope.
Kia Ora Bellevue School Community!
Our FUNdraisers committee meeting is THIS WEEK, 11 August 2022 at 7pm.
We will be meeting in the school staff room, and looking to set dates for upcoming events including the Book Fair. All are welcome and we look forward to seeing you!
Kids Art Work (Calendar Art)
Kids Art Work (Calendar Art)
In term 2, our children each completed a masterpiece which via Kids Art Works, we can get turned into some pretty neat products for purchase, making fantastic gifts for family and friends! Rebecca’s personal favourite – the cards! At less than $2 a card, they are great for your kids to use in place of birthday cards with gifts.
Calendar, $13. Cards, $14. Diaries, $17. Sketch Pads, $13. Mouse Pads, $15.
Orders close THIS WEEK , 12th August.
Check out our web page for options to online order, or print out an order form to return to the school office: https://www.bellevue-newlands.school.nz/fundraisers
Important Dates
Thursday 11 August
ICAS Writing (Y4-6 Only)
FUNdraisers Meeting 7pm Staffroom
Friday 12 August
Kids Art Work orders close
Thursday 18 August
ICAS English (Y4-6 Only)
Board Meeting
Tuesday 23 August
PB4L Community Values Consultation 6.30 - 7.30
Wednesday 24 August
ICAS Science (Y4-6 Only)
Thursday 1 September
ICAS Maths (Y4-6 Only)
Monday 5 September
Board Election Day
Wednesday 21 September
Learning celebration - open evening
Thursday 22 September
Board meeting
Friday 30 September
Term 3 ends
Monday 17 October
Term 4 begins
Friday 21 October
Teacher Only Day - School Closed
Wednesday 23 - Friday 25 November
Hub 5 Camp
Email: office@bellevue-newlands.school.nz
Phone: 04 4787037