Our Tumuaki / Principal
Staffing in COVID: Keeping going as normal, is getting a bit 'touch and go'. Every classroom has children with COVID and we know that it is only a matter of time before members of our staff end up contracting it.
Getting staffing cover and relief is difficult so it may mean some classes are joined together, some classrooms may be shared over several rooms, or if we do get relief cover, it may be different teachers every day for a room.
We are doing our best to stay open and as normal as possible for the children and school community. We are taking each day as it comes.
Children and COVID: So far we have had around 1/3 of our children contract COVID. This means we still have some way to go before we have journeyed right through.
Each day we have around 25% of our roll away and this looks likely to continue for the rest of the term.
When we have children come down with symptoms in class we are ringing parents to collect the children. Be prepared because if your child hasn't had COVID yet, it will be soon. Make sure you have the recommended medications on hand to manage temperatures and coughs.
RATs: We now have a supply of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) that we can provide to you, our parent community, to check an enrolled child at our school who has symptoms to see if they have COVID.
If your child comes down with these symptoms at school and we phone you, we will give you the tests when you pick them up.
If you have an enrolled child/ren isolating due to a positive case in the household, and your child/ren develops symptoms, please contact the school for a testing kit.
Principal's Challenge: The entries are rolling in which is very cool.
For those children and parents isolating, there could be time to take on the Principal's Challenge. They are due on Friday the 8th of April.
Thank You - Team Edendale
- Jack Ramage: Jack has been working with us as our groundsman, After School Care (ASC) support and holiday cleaner assistant. Whilst carrying on with the ASC and holiday cleaning he is now handing over the reins of groundsman as he is a chef's assistant at the Edendale Bistro. Thanks Jack for your work in helping to keep the outside of our school tidy.
Principal's Term One Challenge
Principal's Term One Challenge - Leonardo da Vinci Portrait Artists
My challenge for Term One is to become an artist like Leonardo da Vinci and paint a portrait.
Entry Details
- The portrait is of a person alive today. It can be a self-portrait or of someone else. Maybe even a teacher!
- There will be a filled-in background that places the person in a context.
- The portrait can be by any handcrafted media (e.g. painted, colouring-in pencils, felt tips, pencil sketch, pastel). Not digital.
- Your name, year level and team need to be on the back of the artwork.
- There is an adults section available for any parents or community members who want to submit their work.
- The paper is an A4 orientated portrait (not landscape). We can supply A4 paper if needed for any artist.
- They are due Friday 8th April.
- By submitting a piece of artwork you are agreeing to have the portrait scanned and shared on our social media and website.
Prizes
- Year 1 & 2
- Year 3 & 4
- Year 5 & 6
- Adults
Our Kura News and Information
Enrolment at Edendale Primary School is governed by an enrolment scheme.
The School Board has 20 places available for out of zone students for the 2022 school year. The exact number of places is subject to the number of eligible in-zone enrolments received.
We have enrolment places for the first part of Term Two 2022 from Monday 2nd May to Friday 3rd June.
Applications for this period are due on Monday 2nd May.
Information and application forms can be picked up at the school office. Applications can be made electronically through our website (www.edendaleps.school.nz) under Our School - Enrolments and Attendance. On the digital form, by ticking ‘Out of Zone’, you are deemed to be making an application.
If the number of out of zone applications exceeds the number of places available, students will be selected by ballot. If a ballot for out of zone places is required, it will be held on Tuesday 3rd May.
Parents will be informed of the outcome of the application and/or ballot as early as possible.
Character Values Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L): Term One Respect Manaakitanga
Respect means we honour other people equally as we would honour ourselves and is shown through manners, courtesy, politeness, self-control, co-operation, obedience and participation.
At Edendale Primary School respect is demonstrated when we..
- Use our manners and talk politely to each other.
- Follow rules and instructions.
- Listen actively.
- Are aware of the needs of others and offer to help.
Every time our values are shown they make our school a great place to be for children and adults.
Principal's Values Award
This week the Principal/Tumuaki would like to acknowledge Reuben Alksne for being a strong contributor, living out our school values every day.
Most Valuable Pupil: Team Kereru
This week’s MVP for Manaakitanga Respect, in Team Kereru, is Halle Barrett.
Halle is a respectful student inside and outside of the classroom. When asked to do tasks, she will put in her best effort and give everything a go.
Halle always says good morning when coming in and good afternoon when she leaves. In the afternoon, you can always see her help tidy up the classroom, even if she didn’t make the mess.
She asks if I need any help or if I need a job done if she has finished her work early. She is also kind and considerate with her peers.
Halle is able to do tasks the first time she is asked and takes advice on if she needs to change something. She works well independently and with others.
We are lucky to have you in Team Kereru, Halle. I look forward to seeing what the year brings with you!
Most Valuable Pupil: Team Kiwi
This week’s MVP for Manaakitanga Respect, in Team Kiwi, is Baz Hoekstra.
Baz has had a wonderful start in Team Kiwi, displaying this term’s value on a daily basis.
Baz comes into the classroom in the morning and always says good morning to his teachers and goes about doing his morning jobs without needing to be asked.
Baz is an active listener on the mat - showing respect to the person speaking. He knows to raise his hand if he wants to speak. We often use Baz as a role model to show how to sit on the mat.
Baz is a respectful and kind young man who uses his manners and always says thank you. He speaks politely to his teammates and teachers and always lends a hand where needed. Baz is always quick to notice something that needs to be done and he shows his initiative and gets the job done!
Baz is able to work independently and quietly on classroom tasks which shows respect to the teachers and other students around him. He completes tasks to a high standard and tries his best.
You are a great role model in Team Kiwi and we can’t wait to see what you achieve this year. Ka pai Baz!
Our Kaitiaki School Board
March 29th - General BOT Meeting
The School Board met via Google Meets on Tuesday 29th of March. Here's a summary of the meeting.
- The Principal presented his Annual Plan Progress Report and Compliance Report.
- The Deputy Principal presented a comprehensive curriculum report on how our children have done with their writing as of December 2021.
- The Health and Safety Team presented their meeting report.
- The Minutes of the recent Lower Mataura Valley Community of Learning Kahui Ako were tabled.
- Solutions and Services tabled their draft annual accounts for 2021.
- Solutions and Service provided the financial reports for January-February.
- The School Board would like to commend the work of: Mrs Jenny Coyle who was acting Principal whilst the principal was away with COVID; Mrs Abby Duffy who has been working really hard to seek resourcing for our children with special needs; and Mrs Liz Pask who stepped up and covered the office for a week.
- There are four property projects in the preparatory planning phases working their way through finalising plans, tendering etc. These include the pool and junior veranda recladding, the replacement of the boiler, the reconfiguration of the administration block to include a Learning Support Coordinator space and the remodelling of several classrooms to include large sliding doors.
Next School Board Meeting - 2022
The next School Board meeting is to be held on Tuesday 17th May at 6.00pm in the school staffroom. All material for this needs to be in the week before so that it can be sent out to the School Board members before the meeting.
Situations Vacant - After School Care Job-Share Coordinator
The position of an After School Care (Job-Share) Coordinator has come up.
If you are interested please send a CV with all your details to the principal at principal@edendaleps.school.nz. Include references, referees and evidence of identity (copy of your passport and driver's licence).
Employment is conditional on vaccination and a clear police vet. An up to date First Aid certificate would be helpful. Training will be required around child safety procedures.
Our Contact Information
Email: admin@edendaleps.school.nz
Website: https://sites.google.com/edendaleps.school.nz/edendale-primary-school
Location: Edendale Primary School, 24 Salford Street, Edendale 9825, New Zealand
Phone: 03 206 6959
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdendalePrimarySchool
Twitter: @EdendaleSchool
