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Newsletter #3 

3rd March 2017

Kia ora whānau,

What a great action packed week it has been!  Many thanks to all who have supported their young ones in participating in the Walk n Wheel week hosted by Sport Otago.  The benefits to the children support healthy living and allows children a clear head space to start their day.  I have encouraged the children at our singing gathering this morning to try and continue to walk or wheel to school for as long as possible, or while the weather permits.  The other great spin off is a 'little less' congestion at the school gate at peak times.  Check out the photos below from the Wheels day held on Wednesday.

This newsletter also features a Board of Trustees update and also a synopsis of the PTA meeting which was held over the past two weeks.  Please take the time to read these reports so that you have a better understanding about the role these groups have within the school and the work that is going on in the background for the benefit of your children.

Enjoy your weekend.

Nga mihi,

Kim Blackwood
Principal

Welcome to the 2017 school year. Your school's Board of Trustees held their first meeting for the year, and it is clear we are going to be busy. This year we intend to improve our communication to you on what your Board is consulting on. You can expect more frequent feedback on what we do.

As part of the continued evolution of the Board composition, John Hamilton has stepped down from the Chair role after 4 years.  I was subsequently elected as Chair and look forward to working with our community and stakeholders to support Arthur Street School grow even more successful.  It is appropriate to extend my absolute appreciation for John’s energy, integrity and efforts in improving the wellbeing of our School. On behalf of the Board, I would like to personally acknowledge John Hamilton’s efforts in improving our governance and financial position.

We also have a new face, with Brent Russell joining us as a co-opted parent representative. He has a great range of skills and we look forward to his contribution.

Looking at the near term, we are directing our focus on our buildings and maintenance projects. Plans are underway to determine the next steps for the old library, the first school in Dunedin. It is our opinion this slice of Dunedin’s history should be preserved.

The new website is growing and we encourage you to take a look. Any feedback on what information you as parents/caregivers would like to included is appreciated.

Finally, it was fantastic to see our community with the Mayor, Dave Cull on Walk & Wheels day.

Darryl Sycamore

Following the PTA meeting last week, here are the major points from the meeting;  Click here for the full minutes from the meeting.
 

Meeting minutes
Decision: To have a shortened version for School website (PTA Section) and wider community distribution
Action: Kim to add shortened version to website from now on

What is the purpose of the PTA
‘Decision’: advised we are here to fund the wishlist of the staff, students and families of students

Mitre 10 Mega BBQ – this Saturday 4th March 10 – 4
Decision: No-one put their hand up to run it.  However did vote $170 to spend. Debs moved, Mel seconded.
Action: Debs will find someone to organise it, approaching those who put their hand up.

Entertainment books
Action: Mel to meet with entertainment books 28th Feb. Will report next meeting.

AGM
Decision: Set for 29th May @ 6:30pm. PTA will follow.  We will need a new secretary.
Action:  Kim to please add to School Calendar (that is in newsletter)

Brad Meads is the staff member all year
- Technology is so well received even this early in the year. Amazing teaching tool
- $250 the PTA provides is very much appreciated and greatly needed.

Sam Keen presented proposal for tents
- Smiths City provided a quote for $95 for a tent
- It would be used for all senior camps this year
- Would help us to build a stock, and also teach students how to put up before camp
Decision: The PTA would contribute $1000 for the purpose of purchasing tents. (This is based on 10 tents at the quote above, to make it ideal for the largest group using them)
Action: Mel to liaise with Sam about a different quote,
Mel to put payment through.

Sam Keen then presented proposal for discounts for school camps
Decision: The PTA will offer a scholarship of $430 (based on 2 students) for Kim’s discretion. Any money not used will be put forward to the senior camps. A decision will be made closer to the time about any other support which can be given.
Action: Kim and Mel to liaise if necessary.

The Plan for the year: Looking at two larger fundraisers throughout the year. Many different ideas discussed. We need to make sure that our fundraisers are time and energy efficient while making the most money.
Action: Ingrid to look into First Aid Kits as a fundraising possibility.
Action: Mel to look into Eco Soaps
Action: Debs will find out about baking paper and will let the PTA know if it would be a successful money maker.

Swimming: Are we funding term 4?
Decision: Debs moved we set aside $1000 for swimming Term 4. Bruce seconded. By having some funding it will help Kim with grants she sources throughout the year.
Action: None needed – just for Kim to be informed.

Good in the hood: We have applied for Z Kaikorai. Will advise if this is successful.

Student Council Support
Decision: We would set aside an amount. Students (with Andrea Elvines) will need to come up with a well-researched idea and present to the PTA. Once granted it is expected they will report back. This was decided as acceptable by Brad and Sam.
Action: Debs/Ingrid to have a letter given to Andrea to present to the council.

Sun Umbrellas for the picnic tables: Are we reimbursing school (we did heavily discuss this)
Decision: Yes, we will reimburse school $400 (8 umbrellas)
Action: Mel to liaise with school

Ruma Tahi
 

Walk and Wheel Week
  
We have all been doing our best to walk or wheel this week instead of hopping in the car and getting driven to school.
 
We had a great time on Wednesday the 1st of March when Mayor David Cull, Holly Robinson and the Sport Otago team, police officers and More FM accompanied most of us as we walked to school from Jubilee Park. We even had a very special zebra join us to see that we got safely across the Rattray Street intersection.
 
Once at school we has a special assembly and enjoyed learning about why using active transport is good for us, our community and our environment.
 
We collated our data and created a pictograph to show what kinds of active transport Room 1 children used. We were surprised to find that using scooters was the most popular form of transport in Room 1.
 
We enjoyed biking, scooting and skating around the track at school. It was exciting testing our skills and following the course.
 
Walking, wheeling and skating to school has been so much fun and lots of us plan to keep using active transport as much as possible.
 
By Ruma Tahi.


 

Room 7

Room 7 students have almost completed an integrated statistics project involving literacy and art. Our problem was that we wanted to create posters of cartoon characters to liven up the entrance to our new entrant classroom, but we were not sure what characters we should select to make.
We decided that we would consult students from the junior school and offered them some choices. They were interviewed on a one-on-one basis and asked to select their favourite four characters out of nine options. We then processed our data into frequency tables and graphs and were able to make a decision, which was to go with Mickey Mouse, Nemo, Pikachu and a Minion.
Students then had to work in groups to produce these posters by carefully enlarging a small image onto a huge sheet of card, then carefully use sharpies and paint to complete them. All of this was done free-hand. This was a huge task which involved a lot of participating and contributing. Pictured here are Nalani and Meg revealing our finished Mickey at our last school assembly, and Maggie touching up Pikachu. All students involved should be proud of what has been achieved.

Arthur Street School Stars
Great writing from Adam from Room 1.
Assembly Awards and 'R Card' Winners.
Arthur Street School Stars is not just about the children - congratulations must also go to Miss Elvines who competed in the Challenge Wanaka Half Ironman recently.  Andrea was 2nd in her age group, had the 3rd fastest overall bike time and was 12th out of 179 women!  The half involves a 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21.1km run. 
Great effort Miss Elvines!
2016 OSTA's.
Otago Southland Theatre Awards
Congratulations to Mr Keen and the Musical Theatre Dunedin who won Best Hair and Make-up, Best Sound, Best Cameo Performance (Morgan Poll), Best Supporting Male in a Play or Musical (Max Beal), and Best Leading Female in a Musical (Alethea Chittenden); all part of the production of Spamalot.
Mr Keen is now busy working with the crew and their costumes for the up coming Mary Poppins production.
Sport @ Arthur Street School
Stay tuned to read results and stay up to date with how our teams are performing!

Check our school website for the sports draws.  Click here

Well done to the Arthur St Rovers futsal team.  
This week they played Mornington Yellow. The team played really well,  passing and communicating with each other and came away with the win, 4 /1.
Well done team!

Camp Iona
Year 5 and 6
21st March - 24th March
With year 5 and 6 camp just around the corner a reminder it is a cost of $215.00, which you can choose to pay off in instalments (please see Michelle for this option).   
Please click on the links below if you wish to reread the camp notices that have been sent out previously.
Please return all medical forms as soon as possible.

Notice 1 & 2
Notice 3
Notice 4
 
The School Council met for the first time yesterday.  It was great to see the enthusiasm and maturity from all involved.  The councillors discussed things they wanted to focus on such as sports equipment, events that they could help run (eg. a Pet Day).  
Congratulations to Jesse who was voted in as School Council Chairperson.
They will be meeting every fortnight, bringing ideas from their house groups.
Updated points after 5 weeks!
School Term Calendar
Check out the school website to see our google calendar for up to date events that will be happening this term.
arthurst.school.nz/calender


 
Week 6 - Term 1
  • 7th March 2017 - K.V.C Sports Expo - Year 7 and 8 students
  • 10th March 2017 - Assembly, 11.05am in the school hall.  All welcome.
  • 10th March 2017 - Junior/senior school swimming
Week 7 - Term 1
  • 14th March 2017 - Year 5 First Aid
  • 16th March 2017 - Year 6 First Aid
  • 17th March 2017 - Junior/senior school swimming
  • 18th, 19th and 20th March - Otago Anniversary Weekend - SCHOOL CLOSED on Monday 20th March
  • School Newsletter
Week 8 - Term 1
  • 20th March 2017 - SCHOOL CLOSED
  • 21st to 24th March 2017- Year 5 & 6 Camp at Camp Iona
  • 24th March 2017 - Assembly, 11.05am in the school hall.  All welcome.
  • 24th March  2017- Junior Swimming Only
Week 9 - Term 1
  • 31st March 2017 - Junior/senior school swimming
  • School Newsletter
Week 10 - Term 1
  • 5th April 2017 - School Swimming Sports at Moana Pool (More information to come)
  • 7th April 2017 - Assembly, 11.05am in the school hall.  All welcome.
  • 7th April 2017 - Last Senior Swimming
Week 11 - Term 1
  • 13th April 2017 - Last day of the Term
  • School Newsletter
  • 14th April 2017 - GOOD FRIDAY
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS - 14th April until 30th April 2017

Week 1 - Term 2
  • 1st May 2017 - First day of term 2 - School open

Community Events!

Maori Hill Junior Football 2017

Maori Hill JFC, Dunedin’s largest junior football club, is currently taking player registrations at all grades for the 2017 football season. We are a family-focused club in which a number of Arthur St children play. We offer all-girls as well as boys and mixed boy/girl teams, and run an in-house Little Kicks programme for 4-5 year olds. Where a player is new to the club and/or football we endeavour to place him or her in a team appropriate to their skills, with friends from school. While the best of our teams are competition winners at their respective grades, our primary focus is on player development and enjoyment.

 

To obtain an online registration link or simply find out more, email us at Maorihilljfc@gmail.com or telephone Club President Phil Tait on 021 735 605 or Junior Club Captain Jonathan Bolton on 027 431 1300 (both evenings). Initial registrations for Maori Hill JFC close on Friday 3 March although there may still be some places available in various grades depending on player numbers.

Local table tennis club - 38mm Table Tennis - has started its 2017 season and is looking for junior members. 

38mm Table Tennis Club
Meets weekly - mid-February to mid-November
Based at Kaikorai Valley College gymnasium, Kaikorai Valley Rd
Thursday nights, 6pm to 8pm

38mm welcomes all new members - whether seeking social games or local and national competition.
Coaching and equipment all provided.

Many thanks,

Fiona Clarkson
Club Secretary
Piano Tuition
Experienced and committed piano teacher is taking on new students. Skill level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced. All enquiries phone Maud Schroeder on 476-4336 or 022-153-7258 or email maudschroeder@aol.comwww.pianodunedin.wordpress.com
 
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Arthur Street School
26 Arthur Street,
City Rise,
DUNEDIN 9016

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Arthur Street School · 26 Arthur Street · City Rise · Dunedin, Otago 9016 · New Zealand

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