Hello everyone,

Welcome to the last newsletter of the year - hasn't time flown! Although it has been a year of interruptions we’ve also been super busy and achieved so much to be proud of. Some of the highlights include: the rebuilding of the playground; Kiwican Community projects such as the ‘Can raising’ project in Ōpaoa Hub, native planting in Taylor Hub and the Sit and Chill Seat in Wairau; the Matariki hangi and activities; the Y5/6 Rotoiti Ski Camp; the Y3/4 Eco Tours; Kids Edible Gardens; the Kiwi Can programme; lots of sporting and arts activities; RideOn Cycle Safety; Fundamental Skills; reaching 400 students at the end of the year; and did we mention rebuilding of the playground? Last but not least, there has been lots of learning across the curriculum including the inquiry learning context of Hauora - such an important theme for this year. The children (and staff) deserve a well earned rest after all that learning!

School Lunches 2022 - IMPORTANT - ACTION REQUIRED

Please ensure you have completed this form for all current Year 0-5 children to receive school lunches in 2022. We are changing providers and would like everyone to opt back in again. We also need an updated list of dietary requirements/allergies which the form provides. It is important we receive this information before the end of this week. Thank you.

Reports

Reports go out this Friday. These are in two parts. Firstly, there is a digital component on Hero. Here you will see some of the recent learning and goals your child/ren have achieved, as well as the next steps in their learning pathways. Your child will also be coming home with the second half of their report. This is a ‘hard copy’ report with a General Comment, and indicators of how your child/ren are doing in relation to the Key Competencies included in our vision. Both the digital online component and the ‘hard copy’ are important aspects to your child’s learning this year. Please take the time to read, make sense, reflect, and celebrate with your child their achievements for the year.

Staff Farewells

At the end of this term we say farewell to a few members of our superstar staff. As mentioned in an earlier newsletter: Liz Ives is the new Principal at Linkwater School; Rachael Pottinger is off to teach at Witherlea School; Michelle Roughan leaves us as the student she works with is moving on from primary school; and Jodi Lovell has decided on a new direction in her career. We really are lucky at Whitney Street School to have such a supportive work whānau and these four, with their lovely smiles and positive attitudes will be greatly missed. We wish them all the best in their new roles and pursuits.

We also temporarily farewell Debbie van der Gulik as our ‘Term 4 extra teacher’ in Room 5 and 6. However, we are super excited to welcome her back next year at the end of Term1/early Term 2 in a full-time position taking on the next New Entrant class.

Last Assembly

For the final assembly for the year we will be following the MOE recommendations in the current COVID situation, which are for schools to remain with the Alert Level guidelines for the next two weeks rather than work on the traffic light system. Consequently we will be celebrating the End of the Year Assembly with the children only. We also hope to live stream the assembly so anyone who wishes to attend digitally will be able to do so. We will send out more information about this later on this week. Thank you for your understanding, as we know this is disappointing.

Year 6 Dinner and Movie

A reminder that the Year 6 Dinner and Movie is happening on Wednesday 15 December. Please drop your child off at My Space (The Marlborough Youth Trust) on Redwood Street at 5:30pm, no earlier.
At the end of the night, please pick your child up from inside the Movie Theatre at 9:40pm.

Please be aware that you may need to show your Vaccination Passport to get into the movie theatre. If you don’t have one, please email the teacher of your child and we will bring them out to you at the end of the night.

Class Placement Letters 2022

This Friday your child(ren) will bring home their school report as well as a letter stating what class they will be in next year. Please note that, although we hope this will not be the case, the classes may be subject to change, depending on whether we get unexpected enrolments over the holidays.

Class Changes and Transition Visits for 2022

Next Tuesday the children will be visiting their new room and teacher for 2022 for a small part of the day in order to make the transition for them easier at the start of next year. They will get to meet their new teacher and see the room they will be in.

Last Day of Term

The last day of Term is Thursday 16 December and school will close at 12:05pm. This is basically a clean up day so parents are encouraged to keep their children at home.

Swimming Togs

As of this week the pool is open for classes to use. Children should bring their togs daily as swimming might be timetabled. On Thursday and Friday Kiwican are having their Wet and Wild days with the children. Children will need togs and towels to participate in.

Swimming Pool Keys

Swimming pool keys are now available to purchase and collect from Adele in the office. They cost $50 for the season, and the pool will be available for keyholders use from 11 December. Under the traffic light system key holders must follow current recommendations, and while we remain at Orange no more than 50 people including children may use the pool at one time. We feel this is the best way to operate the pool over the Christmas break as we cannot check vaccine passes and the pool being open is the responsibility of parents out of school hours.

Holiday Office Hours
The office will be open for stationery and uniform sales on:

• Friday 28 January 9am - 3:30pm

• Monday 31 January - 1pm - 6pm

• Tuesday 1 February 8am - 3:30pm

• Wednesday 2 February 9am - 3:30pm

2022 Term and Holiday Dates

In order for you to start planning ahead, below are the term and holiday dates for next year. The dates allow for one Teacher Only Day during the year in Term 2 and the date is tentatively set for Friday 17 June.

• • Term 1: Thurs 3 Feb- Thursday 14 April

  • Wed 2 Feb - Setting Up for Success Meetings (individual whānau and teacher meetings)

  • Thurs 3 Feb - School Starts for all children

  • Mon 7 Feb - Waitangi Day Observed

  • Easter occurs at the start of the holidays with Good Friday on 15 April

  
  

  • Term 2: Mon 2nd May - Fri 8 July

  • Mon 6 June - Queen's Birthday

  • Fri 17 June (possible Staff Only Day)

  • Fri 24 June Matariki (new public holiday)

  
  

  • Term 3 - Mon 25 July - Fri 30 Sept

  
  

  • Term 4 - Mon 17 Oct - Fri 16 Dec

  • Mon 24 Oct - Labour Day

  • Mon 31 Oct - Marlborough Anniversary

  • Fri 16 Dec - Last day

Kobie Madsen-Clark recently competed at the South Island Champs. It was really tough class of 35. He had an amazing ride and came 3rd in the 8-11yr pro 65 class. Well done Kobie!

At Kiwi Can this term the Ōpaoa hub have been learning about accountability and responsibility under our big term topic of Integrity. Kiwi Can alongside their weekly lessons also run community projects across all of their schools and this year the Ōpaoa hub did a canned food drive with a twist. The children had to complete responsibilities/jobs at home in order to earn a can of food. They had to make sure they used their Integrity at home to complete them as Kiwi Can were not there to check up “do the right thing even when no one is watching”. The children did an amazing job with their can earnings and raised 230 cans to donate to our local food bank in Blenheim. This project had great success and created the wonderful feeling of doing something to help others. What an awesome contribution they have all made to our community. Ka Pai Ōpaoa hub!

We thought we would touch base and let you know what is happening in Term 1 2022 since the reality is that it will be here before we know it!! Don’t worry if you forgot most of this as I will be in touch again early 2022, and all of this is live on the website.

Summer Hockey Camp

Thursday 27th January and Friday 28th January.

Year 3 - 10

For more information and registration click here

Interschool Summer Hockey

Monday 28th February – Monday 4th April 2022

· Hockey Marlborough will run the coaching on the night for each team

· 2 x 20mins halves, 2min half time break

· 6 aside on quarter field (Year 3&4 / Year 5&6) Half Field Year 7-8

· $30 per person

More information and registration click here

Junior Umpire Programme

Want to become an umpire?

Hockey Marlborough is growing, our game is getting faster and we require junior umpires to become part of our HM Team…………

Sign up for summer hockey where we require newbies as well as those who have umpired before.

More information and registration click here

Give Goalie a Go Day

Its back for 2022! We are stepping up the level and have got Black Sticks Goal keeper Georgia Barnett and Canterbury Cats Goal Keeper Kirsty Nation coming to showcase the dynamic position.

Sunday 13th March. 9am – 3pm but timings will be arranged closer to the time once all registrations are in.

Year 5 – 11.

More information and registration click here

Goalkeeper Development Programme

4 x Sundays

March 20th and 27th and April 3rd and 10th

Year 5 – 11

$40 per person

More Information click here. Registration will open closer to the time.

Coaching for Coaches

Support of the Junior Coaches with development by sharing resources and providing information and inspiration focusing on skill teaching and session implementation for all junior coaches. The outcome will be an increased game understanding and correct execution of basic skills to a high level for our junior players leading to player fulfilment.

Week 1: Theory Monday 11th April 6pm at Stadium 2000 upstairs meeting room.

Week 2: Practical Session Monday 2nd May 6pm at Turf.

More information and registration click here

Junior School Team Coaching

Pre season team coaching with Emma. Once you have your players and teams sorted for the winter season. Dates and times are

Year 3/4 teams Weds 6th April - 3.30pm, 4.30pm, 5.30pm (2 teams each session)

Year 5/6 Teams Thursday 7th April - 3.30pm, 4.30pm, 5.30pm (2 teams each session)

Year 7/8 Teams Friday 8th April - 3.30pm, 4.30pm, 5.30pm (2 teams each session)

Year 3/4 teams Monday 11th April - 3.30pm, 4.30pm, 5.30pm (2 teams each session)

Year 5/6 Teams Tuesday 12th April - 3.30pm, 4.30pm, 5.30pm (2 teams each session)

Year 7/8 Teams Wednesday 13th April - 3.30pm, 4.30pm, 5.30pm (2 teams each session)

To book your school team in please email Emma with year group and time required.

Winter Season Outline

More information is available on the website

Main change is that Fun Sticks will move to Monday afternoons 3.30pm – 4.30pm.

Start Dates

Year 7/8 – Wednesday May 4th

Year 5/6 – Tuesday May 10th

Year 3/4 – Monday May 9th

Fun Sticks – Open day SUNDAY 1st May and first session Monday 9th May.

There is a lot of information to take in! We are looking forward to 2022 and we hope you enjoy your summer break. If at any time you have a question please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Kind regards,

George Nation

Administration and Accounts