Bradford School Newsletter Week 3 Term 2 2022

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42a Bradford Street 453 6254 office@bradford.school.nz

Monday 16th May 2022,

Kia ora Koutou,

This past week I have had the privilege of again sharing Bradford School with whānau of four year olds interested in attending in the future. For those families who are starting their primary education journey, there is often a common theme of how to minimise anxieties their child may experience with the change.

It is easy to forget the very real trepidation we felt when we sent our special little people off to school. We know that a variety of environmental factors can also increase or decrease the likelihood of anxiety and I can recall vastly different experiences with my children. My youngest Oliver was appalled that I was going to come into school on his first day and begged me to stay in the car, whereas my middle child and daughter Laura's experience was the polar opposite.

One of the parents I recently met with spoke of how confusing it is when there are conflicting messages about local schools on social media. She shared it is really hard making the 'right' choice for her child. Some posts are really happy with a particular school and others might have had a negative experience there. Families will have different experiences based on a number of things and of course there is no perfect one size fits all.

It did get me thinking further though about the health precaution isolation we have had with Covid and how that communal aspect of connecting with other parents is so important. I love when I am on-site in the weekend during the warmer months watching the families congregate up on the bike track. Winter is not conducive to this and I would like to float the idea with you our community, about forming a parent group open to anyone wishing to connect for a cuppa and a natter here at school semi-regularly to support parents new to the kura and those considering Bradford. I would welcome your thoughts please on this sent to my email: principal@bradford.school.nz If there is enough interest we could look to try and establish this together.

Kia mau menemene (Keep smiling)
Emma and the Bradford Team

This Friday is Pink Shirt Day which we will be supporting here at Bradford School. Aotearoa is changing and it is becoming okay to talk about trauma and mental health - we still have a long way to go, but opening up and reaching out for support if you need it is healthy.

We want to instill this message in our tamariki with the support of initiatives such as the Mental Health Foundation's Pink Shirt Day which puts a spotlight on being upstanders and calling out inappropriate behaviours to others.

We understand the current financial strain on many families and you do not need to make a donation in order to wear pink on Friday to show your support. However, if you choose to do so then your donation can be brought to the office on Friday please and we will forward on your behalf.

Production rehearsals are well-underway and I find myself often smiling in my office as I hear the children singing their hearts out on the way out the gate after school. Next week I am expecting to put the call out to our community for certain materials and skill-sets such as sewing that you may have to offer please.

Learning through play in action ...

Left: Hazel, Octavia, Phoenix, Dawn and Lillie integrate telling the time whilst 'playing' with the dinosaurs. On the right, Levi listens to Faizaan as he practices his reading.

Left: Mason was keen to let me know that Dad had been hunting in the weekend and that venison was on the menu. Utilising his oral language skills, young Micah gave Glen step-by-step instructions for an art lesson in R4.

Skyla, Madilyn and Jeevana using technology to practice their learning (supported by our wonderful Learning Assistant Caroline who hightailed it quickly out of the photo).

COVID 19 CLOSE CONTACT REFERENCE SHEET

Healthy Kai Fortnightly Menu

The Term 2 Kaan's menu alternates between the odd week shown above and the even week below. This week is Week 3.

Sports Teams

We have two Kiwihoops (Basketball) teams and a Hockey Team playing this term. Miss McKillop has posted further details on our Facebook page.

SEPTEMBER SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS

Bradford's Board of Trustees is looking for whānau of our tamariki who are interested in being a part of our School Board.

This is a great way to be involved in the running of the school and have a greater understanding of the work that goes on behind the white board.

So if you feel you would like to be involved or would like to find out more information please contact the Board Chair;

Craig Earl
email: craig.boardoftrustees@bradford.school.nz

Bradford School's Enrolment Zone officially ceased at the end of last year. What this means is that we can return to accepting student's from beyond the Bradford boundary that may like to join our special place. In the past, it has been really heartbreaking having to turn away prospective families who were not in Zone.

If you know of families who are interested in attending Bradford School we encourage you to please let them know we are now accepting students across all year levels for 2022. Equally if you have a younger child who you are intending to enrol, we ask that you please let Sonja know so we can put them on our list. This forward planning assists greatly in our staffing and classroom configurations to ensure we deliver the best adult to student ratios we can for our tamariki.

What's coming up...
Term 2, 2022

*Events are all subject to change with the evolving Covid landscape

May 17th Dangerous Decibels - Safe Ear Volume Presentation

June 3rd STAFF ONLY DAY POSTPONED TO 12TH AUGUST
June 6th Queens Birthday observed - Public Holiday
June 10th Jump Rope for Heart
June 24th Matariki observed - Public Holiday
June 27th - July 1 Learning Conferences
June 30th Elgregoe Values Magic Show

July 4th - 6th Production Rehearsals
July 7th Pirates of the Currybean Production 6pm @ OBHS
July 8th Last day of term 2

School reopens for Term 3 on Monday 25th July

STAFF ONLY DAYS FOR 2022: SCHOOL CLOSED ON 12 AUGUST
& 18TH NOVEMBER

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42a Bradford Street Dunedin, 9011
office@bradford.school.nz

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Have a wonderful week!