GENERAL INFORMATION
On Tuesday 6 March, an unplanned fire evacuation took place at 11.45pm. We had an excellent response from the Fire Department who sent four engines. As with any unplanned evacuation, a review of the School’s systems and processes has taken place.
The Director of Boarding, Mrs Kelly Ives, will be reminding girls in the Boarding Houses tonight of the seriousness of emergency evacuations and the following expectations:
When woken by the bell, girls are to collect shoes and warm clothing and walk quietly to the fire exit. They are to leave a pillow outside their bedroom door once it is cleared. Student wardens need to check rooms en route to the emergency exits. All girls are to sign in at their assembly point quickly, calmly and quietly and wait in their designated areas for staff direction and dismissal. For further information on arrangements and expectations, please refer to Page 14 of the Boarding Handbook: http://www.woodford.school.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Boarding-Handbook-2018.pdf
Please note, in the event of an actual emergency, a member of the Crisis Team will contact parents and caregivers. There will be a follow up drill next week.
Parents’ Association Raffle – win your fees back
In addition to providing support for our school families, the Woodford House Parents’ Association fundraises to support the funding of projects which benefit all girls. Your support for fundraising initiatives and activities is vital and appreciated. One simple way to assist is through the annual Parents’ Association subscription. You will have seen this as a $35 fee on your February invoice and we ask all families to kindly support this initiative.
The $12 term raffle is also an optional fundraising activity where each term, one lucky participating student has their fees of $1822.31 refunded. Congratulations to last year’s winners:
Term 1: Annabel Paterson
Term 2: Lilly Powell
Term 3: Samantha Walsh
Term 4: Ella McCabe
Health and Safety – Testing and Tagging of personal electrical equipment
To ensure Woodford House meets Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 obligations around risk assessment, and to meet the Ministry of Education’s directive that all electrical equipment must be tested and tagged on a systematic and regular basis, we are providing an opportunity for boarding girls' personal electrical equipment to be tested and tagged at school on Tuesday 20 March.
All privately-owned equipment/devices such as alarm clocks, multi-boards, fans, and stereos etc, that are brought into Woodford House must be tested for electrical safety prior to their use. A tag needs to be applied to the device to indicate that it has been tested and is safe to operate. Cellphone charging chords are exempt but laptop chords must be tested and tagged.
If it is not already tagged, we ask that girls make available all electrical equipment to be tested in their boarding house on Tuesday 20 March. A fee (approx $3.50 per item) will apply to each device tested which will be added to their school account.
Day girls equipment must also be tested and tagged, which can be carried out at most electrical repair shops.
Head lice
Head lice seem to be making their unwelcome presence known. Please check your daughter/s’ heads at home as this will help limit the spreading of head lice.
Canterbury University Liaison presentation
Year 12 and 13 students and parents are invited to hear Ryan talk about student life at Canterbury university, courses, costs, key dates and applying for scholarships.
- When: Monday 12 March.
- Venue: Gallery
- Time: 6-7pm
Year 9 and 10 Social
Woodford House Year 9 and 10 students have been invited to attend a social at Iona College on Thursday 15 March, from 6.30 - 8.30pm. An email with further information has been sent to parents and caregivers.
From the kitchen
View and download the menu for next week here.
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ACADEMIC
Year 7 and 8 Homework Club: Wednesdays 3.30 pm – 4.30 pm
All girls are invited to come along and get some prep done with the help of our Seniors. Emily Crosse, our Academic Prefect, will lead this Club. It is the perfect opportunity to ask questions and get any extra support girls need in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Europe Trip 2019
Last year, we called for expression of interest regarding a trip to Europe in 2019. We have received an exceptional amount of responses and will be holding an information session for those families who expressed interest. An email with further details was sent to those parents and caregivers earlier today. If you have any queries please contact Rachel Roberts: rachel.roberts@woodford.school.nz
Are you interested in mentoring Year 13 Business Studies students?
Business Studies for Year 13 students is a new course this year where the students undertake experiential based learning in the form of creating their own innovative, sustainable business start-ups. We run the course under the young enterprise scheme and would love to have some business mentors from our community. The girls are still at the brainstorming phase of their start-ups but if you are interested in being a regular mentor (meeting with the students once per week or fortnight), or a guest speaker, ready to inspire entrepreneurial thinking in the students, please contact toni.dunstan@woodford.school.nz
Follow the link http://youngenterprise.org.nz/news/mentoring-3/ for more information on what mentoring involves. Check out Mentoring: if you only do six things: http://youngenterprise.org.nz/news/mentoring/
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BOARDING
Weekend activity
Unfortunately this weekend’s proposed trip to Pandora Pond has been postponed due to contamination of the pond and expected bad weather. Instead the girls will enjoy time in Napier where they will enjoy exploring the city.
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CULTURAL
House Music Performances
Due to Chapel and Evita, the House Music rehearsal has been cancelled for Sunday 8 April.
House Music performances will be staged during the last week of Term 1.
The schedule for performance week is:
- Monday 9 April: Rehearsal - 12.30-4.30pm
- Tuesday 10 April: Dress rehearsal - 6-9pm
- Wednesday 11 April: House Music Cup – This event will run during the School day for participating students.
- Thursday 12 April: House Music Gala performance - 6.30pm
- Friday 13 April: House Music performance - 1pm
For any queries please contact Mrs Carpenter or Mrs Mackenzie.
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SPIRITUAL
Extra opportunities to fulfil Special Character requirements
A number of students have expressed concern that, due to sporting, cultural or family commitments, they will be unable to meet their Chapel obligations this term (to attend three out of the four Chapels offered).
We will therefore be putting on an extra Chapel service at 7:30am on Thursday 15 March in our Chapel of St Francis. All students and their families are welcome to attend - even those who will be able to meet their Chapel obligations.
Lent, Holy Week and Easter in Chapel.
During the Monday and Friday Chapel services leading up to Good Friday we will be extinguishing the Lenten lights as a symbol of our journey with Jesus to the cross. The following will take place during the week:
- We will celebrate Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week in our morning Chapel on Monday 26 March.
- We will have a Good Friday commemoration in Chapel during morning tea on Thursday 29 March.
We will have a joyful celebration of Easter on Sunday 8 April at 7pm (family and friends are warmly invited to join us for this service).
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