Newsletter T2W8
Tuesday 21 June - Term 2 Week 8 2022
Tēnā koutou katoa
Now that we are well into winter, please be aware that there are lots of students and staff away with coughs, colds and tummy bugs. These seem to be quite contagious and take a while to get over, so keep an eye out for symptoms. Please ensure you let school know if your child is absent and the reason why. We are also having difficulty getting relievers as the bugs seem to be throughout Blenheim, so we appreciate your understanding if your child has a variety of relievers, or in some cases when we are desperate, we have to split classes.
Thank You
A big ‘thank you’ and ‘a job well done’ needs to go to our fill-in caretaker Graeme Ellis.
Graeme has done a stellar job being our Whitney Street Caretaker over the last 3 months. Thank you Graeme! You fitted into the Whitney Team like a dream, as well as doing all the general maintenance and trouble-shooting, not to mention the leaves!
Matariki Celebrations
As a school we will be celebrating Matariki, the Māori New Year this Thursday 23 June. Information about this celebration is listed further down in the newsletter. We hope lots of you can make it to the before school activities and the Community Breakfast kai.
Our senior kapa haka group will also be performing at the Hiwa celebrations in Seymour Square at 1:30pm if you would like to pop down there and support them.
Public Holiday
A reminder that school will be closed on Friday 24 June for the new Matariki public holiday.
Disco
A big thank you to the PSG for running the school disco last week. It seemed a good time was had by all with music, lights and treat food! An extra big thank you to Emile and Dave for being the DJ’s on the night and encouraging all of those extra creative dance moves.
Community Consultation
Thank you.
Learning Progress Meetings: Wednesday 6 July and Thurs 7 July
Learning Progress meetings are being held in the last week of this term on Wednesday 6 July from 1:30pm - 6:00pm and Thursday 7 July from 3:15pm - 6:30pm. Last Friday a note went home about this. Please contact your child’s teacher if you need a copy for logging onto Hero or using the online booking system. Please also note the early finish at 1pm on Wed 7 July.
Click here for the notice with the relevant information.
Board Elections
Our school Board elections are being held on 7 September 2022. We will have vacancies for 3 parent representatives and are in the process of calling for nominations. Nomination papers will be issued out within the coming weeks and will close at noon on Wednesday 3 August 2022.
We need Board Members who are focused on supporting teaching and learning and the ongoing improvement of student achievement.
If you have a genuine interest in the school and its students, you work well in a team, ask challenging questions, and have good communications skills then together we can make things happen - you can make a difference.
If you are interested please nominate yourself or someone you know to stand for election. For more details on what the role involves please contact Cheryl Wadworth (0273218022).
Debbie Henson
Returning Officer
A Generous Donation
Enjoy the short week everyone
Whakataukī
Our school calendar is often filled with trips and events and sometimes the dates and details change. The BEST place to keep an eye on what is happening is on the school App in the calendar section.
Download our school App
We encourage all parents to download our school app from the Playstore or Apple Store, as we find this the most effective way of sending out Alerts to parents/caregivers. You can also access a wealth of information from the app as it has links to the school calendar, newsletters, etc.
Please subscribe to Alerts from the classes/groups that your child belongs to. If you want to subscribe to groups later on, you can do this via the ‘Alerts Subscriptions’ which is in the Menu (top left). Please do this to ensure you are subscribed to the classes and Teams that your child or children are in for the 2021 school year.
This is also the way we would like you to inform us of absences. This system streamlines the morning routine for Tanya and Michelle so that they can easily see who is away and why.
Please click here to download the School App.
Hero
Suggestions Box
Automatic Payment Option
The Whitney Street School BOT bank details are: 03 0599 0305934 00
Pretty Things Embroidery
Contact Us
Email: principal@whitneystreet.school.nz
Website: https://whitneystreet.school.nz
Location: Whitney Street, Blenheim, New Zealand
Phone: +64 3 578 3028
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhitneyStreetSchool/
Community Notices
MATARIKI GLOW SHOW
Please come and celebrate MATARIKI! MATARIKI GLOW SHOW is a giant scale glow-in-the dark puppet show coming to ASB Blenheim SATURDAY JULY 9th - first day of the July school hols! ONE FAMILY SHOW AT 10am!
See flyer below with details.
Update for Community Oral Health Service
We hope this finds all our school communities doing well as things continue to change around us all.
Many of you may be aware that there have been significant disruptions to the Community Oral Health Service in recent years. COVID19 has unsurprisingly had the biggest impact. Lockdowns resulted in all but ‘Relief of Pain’ services being available and there are ongoing limitations to service to manage the COVID19 risks for the whanau/families and our staff in the confined, close-up clinic settings.
A number of other factors are having an increasing impact of the timeliness on Oral health Care for the tamariki/children of Nelson/Marlborough. Most recently staff illnesses have added to the impact of COVID19. In addition we are also experiencing an unprecedented shortage of Dental and Oral Health Therapists. We are working secure more therapists however this is challenging in a period of a national shortage of trained oral health professionals.
A number of strategies are in place to make the most of opportunities available to us to keep wait times for tamariki/children to a minimum. This includes changes to the mobile clinic calendar for site visits to rural areas, recommencement of some Saturday clinics and early discharge from the service. More details below.
Mobile Clinics
The Wairau mobile has been off road for repairs and a COVID19 upgrade since late 2021 and unfortunately we still await parts for the repair. The Nelson area mobile continues to operate but at reduced capacity.
We’ve prioritised outlying areas for the mobile service where access to town clinics is the most difficult. All whanau/families will be contacted by the nearest hub and alternative clinic appointments will be offered. We’ll endeavour to work with whanau/families from outlying areas to find a time that coincides with trips to town centres.
Our usual annual calendar is now changing frequently so we will endeavour to remain in contact with schools as the plan evolves. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any concerns in regard to the mobile service.
Early Discharge Year 7 & 8 children
A large number of private dentists have generously agreed to take over the care of Year 7 & 8 children instead of the usual transfer to private dentists at Year 9.
Our clinics will be in touch with families as appointments come due (or are overdue) to make arrangements for those who wish to take up this option. Please work with your Community Oral Health Hub in the first instance to get this arrangement underway.
Saturday Clinics
Some of our team have kindly offered their time on Saturdays as an option for appointments. This is a very limited service and will be offered where it is available.
Urgent Care
As is our normal practice if your child has urgent needs please be in touch with your nearest clinic to make arrangement for an urgent appointment or contact Nelson or Wairau hospitals for dental afterhours information.
Warm thanks
Kirsty Rance
Team Leader
Community Oral Health Service
Nelson Marlborough Health
Ext: 8526 DD: 06 5393526 Mob: 027 246 0676
mailto:kirsty.rance@nmdhb.govt.nz
Respect - Integrity - Teamwork – Innovation
Table TennisTournament.
’Mitchell Sportspower’ Marlborough Primary/Intermediate Schools table
tennis tournament Sunday 26th June, 9am start, Simcox Stadium.
Open to all children up to and including Year 8. You do NOT have to
belong to a club to enter. Separate boys and girls events, lots of prizes.
Entries are available here, or from Mitchell Sports Power, 15 Queen St.
Info phone Debbie 5786822, or 0211632140 e-mail deb_e_j@hotmail.com
Refer to notice below.
Kids School Holiday Art Club (see flyer below)
There are two art classes on Saturday 16th July 2022
Dream Catcher Creations is at 9.00am
Unleash your inner creativity using some very cool mixed media art materials.Have fun creating your own colourful dream catcher wall hanging.
Sand and Glitter Art starts at 11.00am
Discover the magic of coloured sand and glitter. Have fun creating dazzling abstract artworks that shimmer and sparkle.
This is a great opportunity for children to explore mixed media and abstract art techniques while having fun creating cool artworks to take home.
Bookings are essential. All art materials are provided.
To book a place please go to https://www.eventspronto.co.nz/artschoolmarlborough
Please see attached poster for more details.
The Marlborough Scout Zone is looking for Adult Leaders to assist in running Scouting in Marlborough. If you would like to learn more please register here, https://tinyurl.com/ScoutsIntro to take the first step in joining an exciting Outdoors Adventurous program, and the chance to positively influence the youth of Marlborough.
Covid support for whānau
Kia ora whānau
Ko Fionna Hughes toku ingoa.
As Covid is about in our community, we wanted to make sure whanau are aware there is support available whilst in self-isolation.
We are mindful that a large number of whanau not accessing the supports available, as the information is only sent to them via the DHB, if their positive RATS test has been registered.
Maataa Waka can support whanau with:
- Picking up and delivering online grocery orders
- Picking up and delivering prescriptions/medications
- Picking up and delivering school work/devices for children
- Picking up and delivering RATS tests
We can also support whanau who are struggling financially, if isolation has affected their income:
- Kai parcels
- Home and self-hygiene packs
- Internet costs (for connecting to school/working from home)
The support is not limited to the above, and will be assessed on a case by case basis.
Whanau can self-refer to these services by:
- completing the online form on the Work and Income website - https://workandincome.govt.nz/covid-19/self-isolation-forms/ask-community-support.html and selecting Maataa Waka ki Te Tau Ihu Trust. This referral comes directly to us and we will make contact with the whanau to assess their needs.
- If they don’t have access to a computer or internet, they can call the MSD Covid Support Line – 0800 512 337 or Maataa Waka Community Connectors on 0800 6282 9252
We also offer longer term support for rangitahi, individuals and whanau that have been impacted by Covid. This may be loss of employment, financial hardship, inability to complete study due to lockdowns, social isolation and health issues.
Whanau can access this service by:
- completing the attached referral (see button below) for and sending to admin@maataawaka.co.nz (whanau can self-refer or be referred by you with their consent)
Our support is free-of-charge and available to anyone in our community.
We would really appreciate if you could extend this information to your whanau networks/add to your newsletters.
Any questions, queries or otherwise, please feel free to contact me directly.
Nga mihi nui
Fionna Hughes
Whanau Tuhono | Community Connector
P 03 577 9256 | C 027 576 9717
Maataa Waka Ki Te Tau Ihu Trust
P.O Box 1016 | 56 Main Street | Blenheim 7240
Nga mihi nui
Fionna Hughes
Kaitohutohu Putea | Financial Mentor
P 03 577 9256 | C 027 576 9717
Maataa Waka Ki Te Tau Ihu Trust
P.O Box 1016 | 56 Main Street | Blenheim 7240
Scottish Country Dancing
Heart KIds would like to extend an invitation to you and your clients/students to attend the 2022 Kids Day Out Variety Show. Show Dates below.
This is free to you and fully funded by the local business community. We have a great line up this year including magic, acrobatics, stunts and juggling.
See our full line up here: https://www.kidsdayoutvariety.co.nz/entertainment-line-up/
To order your free tickets or if you have any questions please email helen.weller@pds.org.nz