Copy

View this email in your browser
Volume 14|  20 May2022| Roll Number 631|  Week 3 Term 2

Hi all

Winter has arrived!! As much as I love my shorts and jandals, seeing snow in tube hills is exciting. 

Over the holidays, we asked for feedback from our parent community. Thank you to those parents who took the time to give us feedback on Term 1. We got valuable feedback  and also confirmed we are on the right track with achieving our school goals for 2022:

  • Building and sustaining effective relationships with all stakeholders. 

  • Ensuring all stakeholders are informed in a consistent and timely manner. 

Like our students, we are ever-improving and have created the following next steps in response to the feedback. 

Q1. Have you been informed in a consistent and timely manner? Forms response chart. Question title: Have you been informed in a consistent and timely manner?. Number of responses: 117 responses.

Next steps: 

  • Valid points were raised regarding the consistency of how important information is sent out. 

Action: Our adverse weather strategy needs to be consistently used for all whole school events. Email, School app and Facebook. 

  • Feedback around parents receiving more notice period for the whole school and year level events. 

Action: The parent/community calendar embedded in the website and school app is not widely used. A system has been created where all school activities are duplicated onto this calendar. A big push is needed on parents tagging themselves to the different groups set up on the app. 

Q2. Has the relationship between home and school been positive? Forms response chart. Question title: Has the relationship between home and school been positive?. Number of responses: 117 responses.

Next steps: 

  • Feedback over how students are enrolled / unenrolled for the school bus. 

Action: In the school office, we are working on a new system of how we generate bus lists. This should streamline the whole process. We have already created email groups and will be advising parents to attach themselves to the correct bus group on the app. 

  • Some parents are unsure about what is happening in their child’s class. 

Action: Ensure that team leaders and classroom teachers are sending an email at least fortnightly to keep them informed of what is happening in the class. 

  • Covid guidelines were mentioned in this survey. QPS follows the legislative guidelines as required by the ministry and does not reflect the personal opinions of any staff member. 

Action: Continue to regularly update our community as the Ministry of Education shares legislative changes. 

 

Q3. Do you feel valued as an important stakeholder in our school community? 


Forms response chart. Question title: Do you feel valued as an important stakeholder in our school community?. Number of responses: 117 responses.

Next steps: 

  • Term 1 has been hard to engage all stakeholders onsite as valued members of our school community with the cancellation of school events that encourage parental involvement and support. 

Action: With the country moving into orange and the relaxing of government covid guidelines we look forward to welcoming our community back on site for sporting events. DOTs this term, we have a number of parents running workshops. Thank you for the support we received at the Rippa tournament. 

Action: Offer parent tours of the school across the term to allow parents to view the inner workings of the school and gain a better understanding of what happens during the day-to-day. Tour the school and have time for Q + A. 

We welcome parents into school on Friday 3 June between 11.30-12.30pm. You will have the opportunity to talk to Matt, tour the classes in action and ask questions. 

We will be looking to repeat this survey later in the year, and fingers crossed if all of our actions work should show a measure of school improvement. As always, I encourage parents to contact their child's classroom teacher or team leader if there are concerns about their schooling. Members of the senior leadership are available too, please make contact with Justine or myself. 

Have a great weekend- rug up, chuck a log on the fire (or as Mr Whitley showed me - get a lovely image of the fire and cast it on the tv).

Matt Leach
Acting Principal

IMPORTANT DATES

ALL ACTIVITIES DEPENDENT
ON ALERT LEVELS

Thursday 26 May
Cupcake Day - fundraiser for 2023 Stewart Island Camp

Monday 6 June 
Queen's Birthday - SCHOOL CLOSED

Wednesday 8 June
Year 5 - 8 QPS Swimming Champs

Thursday 16 June
Cupcake Day - fundraiser for 2022 Year 8 end of year camp

Tuesday 21 June
Wakatipu Swimming Champs

Friday 24 June
Matariki Celebration - SCHOOL CLOSED

Thursday 7 July
Central Otago Swimming Champs

Friday 8 July
Last day of Term 2
Term Dates 2022

Term 1 - Wednesday 2 February - Thursday 14 April
Term 2 - Monday 2 May - Friday 8 July
Term 3 - Monday 25 July - Friday 30 September
Term 4 - Monday 17 October - Friday 16 December
ADVERSE WEATHER

We are now approaching the time of year when adverse weather, including snow and ice, can affect roads and buses and the operation of the school. Below are the two main adverse weather scenarios and the methods of communication that we will use for adverse weather. 

Adverse Weather Overnight and early Morning 

We will liaise with QLDC’s roading contractor and the bus coordinator and make a decision regarding any changes to the school day. 

If changes are made they are likely to be: 

  1. School is open as normal, however, some buses may be delayed or cancelled.

  2. School has a delayed start (usually 10am), with a compacted timetable. Buses may be delayed or cancelled. 

  3. School is closed. 

Please note that we liaise with all the schools in the Wakatipu Basin, and the decision to close or have a late start is coordinated by the designated representative for the school. (Conditions can vary across the basin and be different for schools). 

Adverse Weather During the School Day 

Please note that closing the school early is problematic for a number of reasons (notably trying to run all buses early), and we will try and run school until the normal end of day if at all possible. Accordingly, we do not want parents coming to school to collect their children unless specifically notified to do so. The likely scenarios for adverse weather events during the school day are: 

a) School runs until normal time, and buses run as normal. 

b) School runs until normal time, but some buses run early and/or runs are altered. 

c) School closes early, with buses also running early. In some cases bus routes may be altered. 

d) In an extreme adverse weather event students may be kept at school until travel is safe or even stay overnight.

 

Communication 

We will use the following channels for communicating with parents and students about adverse weather impacts:  

  • QPS App alert - please download the free QPS App and sign up for alerts.  

  • Email.

  • Facebook- please follow us on facebook.

  • Radio - announcements will also be made on local radio stations.  

Our primary concern is the safety of our students and this will always be paramount in our decision making. If parents are on the roads please ensure that vehicles are equipped for winter driving conditions. 

 

Matt Leach 

Acting Principal

Health and Safety Coordinator


ICAS INFORMATION

We are delighted to inform you that Queenstown Primary School will be participating in the world-renowned ICAS AssessmentsTM this year.

ICAS is designed to target students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee and Digital Technologies.

CLICK HERE to access information on ICAS for 2022.
 

SCHOOL SKI PROGRAMME

This year NZSki is taking bookings for the upcoming school ski programme.  You will be able to click on the links below to register your child for the relevant camp for your child’s year level, as set out below, and purchase the ski pass.  Please ensure you register your child for the correct dates.

Please book your child in for these camps as soon as possible as NZSki only has a certain amount of spaces available for each camp on the dates that we require you to sign up for.

This is run as an optional activity, with all students that are participating leaving and returning to school on the relevant days.  

We encourage all our Year 3 - 8 students to take advantage of this opportunity to experience skiing/snowboarding, whether it is their first time or they are seasoned skiers/snowboarders.

Dates for Camps to sign up are -

Year 3 & 4 Date for Camp:

12-14 September 2022 at Coronet Peak
 

Year 5 & 6 Date for Camp:

19-21 September at Coronet Peak
 

Year 7 & 8 Date for Camp:

26-28 September at Remarkables

NZSki 3 Day Camp Registration and Purchase Ski Passes


Positive Behaviour For Learning (PB4L)

Kia ora QPS Whānau,

I hope you had a chance to look at the video link we shared last week about Positive Behaviour For Learning (PB4L).  We have a five step implementation process that we are working our way though. Once each step is in the final draft we will be sharing with you all for feedback.  
  1. Values- These are already well established and we are working on ways to promote Care, Respect and Integrity in every area of our school. 
  2. Embedding our values by teaching them and ensuring every student is familiar with expectations in all areas of the school
  3. Acknowledging and rewarding- reviewing our house point, token , certificate and reward systems to ensure that there is consistency for acknowledging all students
  4. Consequences- reviewing and updating our school wide processes for supporting students to make good choices and that consequences are well understood and consistent for everyone. 
  5. behaviour data- reviewing how we record and track our data . Ensure the data is reviewed regularly to identify any patterns, trends and problem solve what other supports might be required.  
One each step is finalised we will be ready to launch PB4L and will be looking to have a fun day and inviting you all in to see PB4L in action.  We are hoping to be ready to do this in Term 2. 

Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.  

Nga mihi,

--
Jo Bell


Room 21 Class Teacher
Team Leader Year 5/6
Queenstown Primary School
Fantastic Fundraising!
Around the School
Thanks so much for supporting Pink Shirt Day!
WELCOME

My name is Sally and you will find me looking after reception at Queenstown Primary School. I am a Mum of 3 amazing children and my original fur baby, Bailey the boxer dog.

I have been blessed to be living in our beautiful community for 16 years and I love all the Queenstown district has to offer. I look forward to meeting you and your whanau.

The Year 1 students love Wednesdays because they have their specialist subjects.  This week in PE they were working on developing balance, strength and agility. In Science this week they explored duck habitats. They always come back very excited about these subjects. 
Wakatipu Rippa Tournament
On Tuesday many students went and played in the Wakatipu Rippa Tournament at the Frankton Events Centre. Some students were veterans and for others, it was their first time ever playing the support. A huge thank you to the parents that came along to coach and cheer on the teams!

SCIENCE
Here are the Year 2 students in Science. We are learning about Water. Here they are measuring water in many different ways.

 

As part of Science Week, Year 3 students got to make potions. There are 2 competitions running in the school as part of Science Week


Honouring the ANZACS

Year 6 students had a special moment listening to Siena's war hero research about her great grandfather as we visited the 4 war graves at the cemetery.
Enviroschools Student Hui

Six QPS Enviro Leaders attended the Enviroschools Student Hui titled "Be the Changemakers - making a difference to our greenhouse gas footprint" and took our first steps by travelling by Go Bus.
Student Success
Please email any success articles to newsletter@queenstown.school.nz
Situations Vacant
Please email newsletter@queenstown.school.nz if you have a position available that you would like to advertise.
Salvation Army Support
 
School parents and increase rent and mortgage rates
Many of you will be experiencing increased food and transport costs. Also, with mortgage interest rates on the rise, many people will have less money in their pockets. Although a lot of people do not own their own homes, the flow-on effect of mortgage interest rate rises will result in increased rents. If you are concerned about how you will afford these increased costs, you may be interested in speaking to our financial mentor. This is a free service run by The Salvation Army. Our service provides support to those struggling with their finances. We can provide skills that will improve your future financial well-being. This service is for people who wish to learn how to manage their money, keep debt under control and plan for future financial success.
  
If you have any parents who may need our help, please do not hesitate to contact me on 0211955534.
Thanks.
 
Sandra McClennan
Financial Mentor
General Information

SCHOOL HOURS

School commences at 8.55am and ends at 3.00pm.

Brain Break 10am to 10.10 am
Morning tea break 11.00 am to 11.30 am
Lunch break 12.40 pm to 1.30 pm. 

It is recommended that your child arrives at school no later than 8.45 am.
 
Clipart - <strong>Traffic</strong> <strong>Light</strong>

 QPS School Checklist

 

 GOT TO DO!

 

LINKS

 

SchoolAppsNZ APP: Download the SchoolAppsNZ from your App Store or Google Play for FREE or click on the links opposite.  

Please download now to keep up to date with all school information.

APP - ANDROID  

 

APP -APPLE

 

 

BUS:  If riding the bus, determine route and register via the QPS Website - You can also update any changes to your student's bus route and days throughout the year via this link.  Use the link opposite or go to http://www.queenstown.school.nz/index.php/bus-information

BUS REGO

 

UNIFORM:  Order your school uniform via the QPS Website - a uniform shop is open Tuesdays 8:30-9:00am in the School Hall with sample sizes to try on and some second hand uniforms to purchase.  Use the link opposite or go to http://www.queenstown.school.nz/index.php/uniforms

UNIFORM ORDERS

 

SCHOOL SHOP: Create a School Shop Account - this is essential - it allows you to order school lunches, sign up for sports events, fundraising events etc.  No more having to find cash for your child to take part in school activities. Use the link opposite or go to https://shop.tgcl.co.nz/shop and choose Queenstown Primary School

SCHOOL SHOP

GOT TO KNOW!

 

 

ABSENCES:  If your child is going to be absent from school you must advise the SCHOOL OFFICE prior to 9am by phone - 442 9120 (press 1 to leave message 24/7), via the School App or via email absences@queenstown.school.nz   For planned absences during term time complete the Absence form on the QPS website and submit.

 

 

MESSAGES: Any urgent messages for students need to be phoned through to the SCHOOL OFFICE 442 9120 not later than 2pm. 

 

 

SCHOOL HOURS:  School commences at 8.55am and ends at 3.00pm. There is a Brain Break 10am - 10.10 am, morning tea break is 11.00 am to 11.30 am and lunch break is 12.40 pm to 1.30 pm.  It is recommended that your child arrives at school no later than 8.45 am.

 

 

PLAN YOUR DAY:  Please ensure that your child knows what they are doing after school each day

 

 

LATE TO SCHOOL:  If your child arrives after the 8:55am bell has rung then they MUST go to the SCHOOL Office to sign in on the tablet.

 

 

BUSES:  Please advise the SCHOOL OFFICE 442 9120 if your child is NOT travelling home on the bus on a day you have registered them to be on the bus.  Please respect this request as it can delay bus departures. To register your child for the bus, please see the information and link above in the “Got to Do” section.

 

 

TAKING STUDENT OUT FROM CLASS:  Should you need to take your child out of school for ANY reason please sign them out on the tablet at the School Office and sign them back in on your return.  

 

 

CARPARKING: Weather dependent, Terms 1 and 4 will have the lower field open for parents to park when dropping off and collecting students after school.  If you park in the School carpark AT ANY TIME you must collect a visitor pass from the School Office - failure to do so will incur towing costs.

 

 

EMAIL: Please ensure you are receiving our school newsletter via email and emails from your child's classroom teacher.  Check your Spam or Junk folder initially

 

 

LOST PROPERTY: Lost property bins are located outside the caretaker’s office in the upper courtyard.  Please ensure you label all items of clothing.

 

 

CHANGE OF DETAILS: It is imperative that we have up-to-date contact information for all parent/caregivers so as to be able to contact you in an emergency or illness situation concerning your child.  Please keep the School Office informed of any changes.

 

 

SCHOOL LUNCHES:  Tired of making sandwiches!  Take a break and order your child Sushi on a Wednesday (order cut-off 8pm Tuesdays) and Pie & Juicy (order on a Friday.  School lunch orders are ONLY accepted through our SCHOOL SHOP. Set up your account if you haven't already, pop funds on your School Shop account ready to order

SCHOOL SHOP

 

ACCOUNTS: Please direct any finance queries to Carly in accounts at accounts@queenstown.school.nz.  You will receive student statements throughout the year.

 

GOOD TO GO!

 

 

WELCOME ABOARD!  We hope you and your child are excited about all that QPS has to offer.  Please pop in to the office to see our friendly admin team if you have any queries - happy to assist.

 


Uniform Reminder - Uniform Shop CLOSED temporarily

You will find all your uniform requirements on the front page of our website with a full sizing guide.  The Uniform Shop is open every Tuesday of a school term in the school hall 8.30-9.00am sharp if you are unsure of size.  At the uniform shop, we have a small amount of secondhand uniform for sale.  If you would like to donate any uniform, please drop in to the school office.  NOTE:  School Hoodie can have your child's name on the back, cost $10, no nicknames allowed.

Student Accounts

If you would like to set up a payment plan for your child's account, please get in touch with Carly at 
accounts@queenstown.school.nz.  If you already have an automatic payment in place but are unsure if it will be enough to cover the items on your statement by the end of the year, do get in touch.  Likewise, if you think you may be paying too much, let her know and she can recalculate the amount for you!

Carly is here to help with any payment or statement queries you may have.

Student Absences

CLICK HERE to submit an absence.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

$5 TRIAL DANCE CLASSES from May 16th - May 31st

Does your child love to dance and perform? At Dance Evolution Studios (DEVOS) we love dancing and performing! 

Bring your son/daughter along for a trial class at Te Atamira in Remarkables Park, Frankton.

Trial classes are offered for the entire month of May for school aged students, because we believe that our dance classes are truly inspirational. At a discount of more than 65% off a normal class cost you can check out what all the hype is about. $5 for Hip Hop and Dance Fusion Classes. $8 For Dance Fusion + Extension Classes. Starting May 16th. Can't wait to see you there!

DEVOS TRIAL CLASSES AVAILABLE FROM MAY 16th – MAY 31st
https://devos.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/DEVOS-QUEENSTOWN-TIMETABLE-TERM-2-2022.pdf
(note link to enrol in a trial class is on last page) 😀
Queenstown Snow Sports Club (Formerly Remarkables Snow Sports Academy) is proud to announce Dr Craig Harrison, internationally recognised expert in youth athlete development and host of the popular podcast “The Athlete Development Show", is presenting his talk to our community.

About Craig's talk: 
Right now, more kids are dropping out of sport by their 13th birthday than ever before. For the athletes who remain, the youth sport culture is putting their mental and physical health at great risk and limiting their potential. Drawing from the latest research and more than 10 years of experience coaching kids, Craig explains where we’re going wrong, with practical tips to help your child be happy, healthy and achieve more in the sports that they love!

A thought-provoking and entertaining evening with Craig, this event is a ‘must see’ for parents/caregivers with kids who love their sport and for coaches working with youth athletes.

About Craig: 
Craig works with sports parents, coaches and organisations to develop more creative, confident and resilient young athletes. He holds a PhD in athlete development and supervises a number of postgraduate students at AUT University. Craig is the husband of International Netball and Beach Volleyball player Anna Harrison and dad to Isaac, Georgia and Benjamin.

What people are saying about Craig's talk: 
"We were fortunate to host Craig for two days at New Plymouth Boys' High School. During the evening he presented to over 100 parents in our community and it was exceptionally well-received by all. Craig comes with extensive knowledge and experience in the Youth Sport and Athlete Development space and provided a powerful, insightful and thought-provoking seminar to our parent community. We will certainly be getting him back early next year." - Matt Cleaver, Assistant Headmaster. 

https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2022/the-developing-athlete/queenstown

Phil Hartshorn's Dunedin School of Music

Guitar, Drums and Bass Tuition

Full Time Professional Music Teaching.

Phil Hartshorn BA (HONS) PGDip Tching

Web: dunedinschoolofmusic.nz

Phone: 021 075 0927

I want to make you an awesome player, fast.

COMMUNITY NOTICES
 
 
2022 Local Schools Season Passes for Coronet Peak, The Remarkables or Mt Hutt are available online now

$109 -  Local Primary School 3 Peak Season Pass (available anytime)
$179 – Local Secondary School 3 Peak Season Pass (available anytime)
$699 – Adult Super Earlybird 3 Peak Season Pass renewal (only until Nov 11)
$799 – Adult Super Earlybird 3 Peak Season Pass (only until Nov 11)
 
Kids 7 & under ski free at all 3 mountains. All Season Passes available with $50 deposit now and the rest in 2022.
For your peace of mind our no questions asked refund policy is back for 2022 NQA refund policy 2022

To contact the team at NZSki:
Website: www.nzski.com Phone: 0800697547 Email: info@nzski.com
 
 
Slow Down Near School Buses

A reminder to parents/caregivers to take extra care around school bus stops. Please park on the same side as the bus stop wherever possible. But if you do need to park on the opposite side, cross to your children first instead of having them cross to you. Please never call to your child from the other side of the road – yes it does happen - and it can put children in great danger! 

Parents please remember that the maximum speed when passing a stationary school bus stopped to pick up or drop off children is 20km/h regardless of which side the bus is on.  Please take extra care around school bus stops and provide supervision for children needing to cross.

 

 
ADVERTISING

FREE DENTAL CARE 

Children in New Zealand are entitled to free basic oral health care services until 17 years of age. If you would like your child to receive this free service please click on the following link to complete the online enrolment form: 

https://www.southernhealth.nz/getting-help-you-need/oral-and-dental-health/free-oral-health-service-children/southern-district 

Or telephone the clinic – 034509370 or Freephone 0800 570 300 – we are located at 19A Douglas Street, Frankton, Queenstown

If you are not a New Zealand resident there is a criteria to be met in order to receive free care, please ask the dental staff before enrolling.

Facebook
Facebook
Website
Website
Email
Email
Copyright © 2022 Queenstown Primary School, All rights reserved.


unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences 

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp