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Thursday 31 January - Friday 8 February

GENERAL INFORMATION

Friday School Start Times
Please be advised that the school start time for all students on Fridays during Terms 1-3 is 8.40am, unless a school activity or event is organised for that day (i.e. Swimming Sports Finals, 125th Anniversary). Staff will be undertaking Professional Development from 8am - 8.40am each Friday.

Buses will operate at the normal drop-off times, and parents are welcome to drop-off their daughter(s) at the normal time. Classrooms are allocated in the Hodge classroom block for students who arrive early. Supervision will be available in these classrooms for Intermediate students.

Beginning of Year
In case you missed it last week, here is a copy of the Beginning of Year 2019 Programme: Click to view the Beginning of Year 2019 Programme. We have a range of events for girls and their families to help everyone settle into the year. 

Welcome New Families
It was lovely to meet many of you at the pōwhiri on Wednesday, and great to have the chance to meet some of our Māori whānau at the Term 1 hui. Please do contact your daughter’s Homeroom Mentor, Dean, Boarding Supervisor or any of the staff across Boarding, the Health Centre or the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) if you have queries or concerns.

Staying in Contact
We have a number of different ways for parents and caregivers to contact the school, and also stay in contact. For busy and distant families, the Woodford House app is particularly good for administration and organisation (see details below).

  • Woodford House App - Access events, news items, useful links, contact staff members or notify school of absences straight from your mobile device. Download the app through your device's app store.
  • Woodford House Website - The latest news, events and student and staff successes can be found online:
    - Parents - www.woodford.school.nz/parents
    - News and Events - www.woodford.school.nz/news-events
    - 125th Anniversary - www.woodford.school.nz/125years
  • Email - Notices, letters and request for parent consent are sent to parents and caregivers via email. It is important that the primary email contact address we have for you is one that you access on a daily basis. Please contact the Administration Office if you change your email address: office@admin.school.nz
  • Facebook - Facebook is an effective way to stay up-to-date with events, success stories, classrooms activities and education outside of the classroom. We encourage our community to ‘Like’ the Woodford House Facebook page by clicking here and engage with us through comments, sharing and ‘liking’ posts. 
  • Instagram - Woodford House has started an Instagram account this year to add to our social media communications. You can follow the account by clicking here.
  • KAMAR Parent Portal - The KAMAR Parent Portal is our Student Management System where assessment, reporting and attendance data must be recorded as per Ministry of Education guidelines. KAMAR enables parents to access individual school records. Each account has a unique password to ensure protection of privacy. You can access KAMAR through a link from the Woodford House App or from the following website: KAMAR website.
  • Inhouse - A digital newsletter that celebrates the learning and successes of both staff and students is emailed to parents once a term.
  • Years 7 and 8 Newsletter - Intermediate students contribute short stories and articles to the Years 7 and 8 Newsletter, which is published twice a year for parents and caregivers.
  • Schoology - Schoology is our Learning Management System. This online tool provides parents with a unique insight into your daughter/s’ learning. This platform is not just about seeing your daughter/s’ contact information or attendance data – it is about having access to what is happening at Woodford House on a daily basis, including notices, events and general information. Schoology can be accessed via the Woodford House App under the ‘links’ tab, or from the following website: Schoology website.
  • Sporty - The Sporty website is updated on a regular basis with information about sports draws, online consent forms, team registrations, policies and guidelines, events and much more: Sporty website.
  • Text message/Emergency - In the case of an emergency or crisis, we will use text messages. It is important that we have the most up-to-date mobile number for you. Please let the Administration Office know if you change your mobile number.
Uniform Update
In response to concerns from the School community, we have reinstated the optional wearing of open toe, black sandals in Terms 1 and 4 this year. Woodford House is in the process of organising its own sandal option. We hope to launch this design for Term 4, 2019 and will be in touch with updates.

In the interim, current students are welcome to wear their Ziera orthotic sandals (e.g.  ‘Monet’) or McKinlay ‘Safari’. Students are also allowed to wear black roman sandals. In order to meet health and safety requirements, if girls are in the Science labs or working in technology they must wear their Woodford House covered toe, black dress shoes. Shoes should be brought to school and kept in lockers in this instance.
 
Thank you for your support in ensuring students meet uniform expectations from the start of the year. Also, a reminder that no jewellery, makeup, false eyelashes, nail polish, sports socks, dyed hair styles or inappropriate underwear choices will be accepted. Your daughter will be warned and given an opportunity to remove any errant item, but repeat indiscretions will result in confiscations, contact home and service duties. 

Staying Hydrated
To celebrate the 2019 return to school, summer has arrived with soaring temperatures. In order to keep as cool as possible, students are encouraged to drink plenty of water, wear their panama hats and apply suntan lotion before they go outside. Students are allowed to bring drink bottles to most classes.

Woodford House Parents' Association (WHPA)
The first WHPA meeting of 2019 will take place on Monday and is a planning meeting for the year. Mary Rookes, WHPA President, would like to extend an invitation to any new members interested in attending. The WHPA would love to hear from anyone with ideas for fun social events for the year ahead. A light supper will be provided. Please email Mary Rookes if you are interested in attending: maryrookes@hotmail.co.nz

Cyber-safety Expert Visit
On Monday 4 February, John Parsons, New Zealand's leading cyber-safety expert and author of ‘Keeping Your Children Safe Online’ will be delivering presentations to Years 7-13. Each presentation will be tailored to meet the specific needs of each individual year group. After school, John Parsons will be running a staff professional development on this key topic. 

Future CEO Summit, Napier
Currently, only 2% of NZX CEOs are women - GirlBoss New Zealand are changing that. Young women aged 15 - 18 are invited to join the GirlBoss New Zealand team for a day of inspiration that promises to be energising, refreshingly honest and packed full of the learning needed to take their initiatives to the next level. Fast-paced modules will cover topics such as: Leadership, Confidence, Networking, STEM, and Interview skills.

This event is taking place at Eastern Institute Of Technology on Saturday 6 April from 9.45am - 3pm. Further details and ticketing information is available by clicking here.

Student Homestays
This year, Woodford House welcomes Ms Sandra Flessak as our new Global Education Coordinator. She will also be in charge of our students’ homestay arrangements during Exeat and school holidays. If you are interested in hosting a student during these times, please contact sandra.flessak@woodford.school.nz for a homestay info pack. 

From the kitchen
View and download the menu for next week here.

ACADEMIC

External Examinations
Senior students should continue getting their external examination papers back over the next few days. If students want to apply for a reconsideration, please follow the instructions on the NZQA website: www.nzqa.govt.nz
 

BOARDING

Weekend Activity - Big Weekend In
We are looking forward to another action-packed Big Weekend In for all our boarders this weekend, Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 February. This is a compulsory weekend in for both full and weekly boarding students.

CULTURAL


Co-curricular Application Forms
Thank you to everyone who has completed the Performing Arts co-curricular consent forms and returned them to school. We are currently sorting through these. All students who would like to enrol in co-curricular activities should complete the necessary consent forms. Please note most activities will start in Week 3, with further details to follow. If you have any questions please contact the School Reception - 873 0700.

SPIRITUAL


Chapel services in Term 1
Girls are required to attend at least three Chapel services in Term 1. Below are the dates and venues:

  • Sunday 3 February, 9am: School Chapel (Compulsory for all full and weekly boarders, Day Girls are welcome)
  • Friday 22 February: Founders' Day Chapel Service as part of the 125th Anniversary student celebrations (Please note this compulsory service will count towards the three required services) 
  • Sunday 7 April, 7pm: School Chapel
  • An additional evening Chapel service will be added for Term 1

SPORT


Year 9 Camp
The Year 9 Camp will take place on Monday 18 - Tuesday 19 February in Napier. More information will be sent out by the Sports Department next week. 

Term 1 Sport
Registrations are open for Term 1 Sport. To register, students can click on the link below, where they will also find the Sport Schedule and Sport Department Handbook for Term 1. If you have any queries please contact the Sports Department at sport@woodford.school.nz
 
Term 1 Sport registration link: Click here
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