2023 Newsletter - Week 10, Term 3
Greenmeadows School, 21st September, Newsletter #15: 2023
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Tēnā koutou kātoa,
Welcome to a bumper newsletter for the end of Term 3.
Greenmeadowsland has been a hive of activity over the past two weeks, which is a fitting end to a very busy term. We've had some fantastic sporting success, winning the Napier Schools Cross Country event outright and enjoying some individual success at the Hawke's Bay Regional Champs on Tuesday. Congratulations to Raef for winning the Year 4 Boys event, and to Emmett for placing third in the Year 6 Boys event. Well done to all of our runners at both events.
Onto the performing arts and it was a truly impressive night at the PGA when we joined other local schools at the Ōtātara Kahui Āko Kapa Haka Festival. The whole event was amazing, but I was particularly impressed with our GMS rōpū who were really well drilled and on point. Who would believe we've only just had a major school production a few weeks ago?
As the term draws to a close I would like to thank all of our staff and parents who work tirelessly to keep these opportunities available for the children at Greenmeadows School. Whether it's Peter Pan, Jump Jam, Kapa Haka or one of our many sports, none of it would happen without a considerable amount of adult support.
On Friday we will be saying farewell (for now) to Mahia Isherwood as she starts a 12-month break for maternity leave. I am sure that Mahia and Rhys will be looking forward to exciting times ahead as they begin a family together.
In related news, I am pleased to inform you that Megan Smyth will be taking over teaching duties in Room 11 for the remainder of the year. Megan is an experienced teacher who has relieved here over the past couple of years. We are excited to welcome her to our teaching team.
We have also recently said goodbye to a number of Candidate Teachers. Bridget and Dannielle both had fantastic final placements with us and we wish them well for getting those last few assignments in. We also said farewell to Hannah, Olivia, Tanisha and Becca who have spent two days a week with us for most of the year but now need to spend time elsewhere. Good luck with the rest of your studies, and thank you to all of you for the contributions you have made to our school.
I wish you all the best for the school break. I will be spending the first weekend up in Gisborne as my children are involved in sports competitions. I hope you all get to spend some time with your families too.
Ka kite anō,
Darren Holloway
Acting Principal
WELCOME TO GREENMEADOWS SCHOOL
We have had just the one new student start with us since the last newsletter - a very warm welcome to Harper Bruin in room 4.
Our roll at present is 464.
2024 OUT OF ZONE ENROLMENTS
Please note that if you wish to submit an application in person at the office, that it will need to be delivered by the end of the term (this Friday). Applications can otherwise be emailed to admin@gms.school.nz or posted before the closing date.
If the number of applications exceeds the number of places available, a ballot will be drawn on 11th October with parents informed of the outcome by Monday 16th October.
INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL ENROLMENTS
Enrolment information for our local schools can be found below:
https://www.taradaleint.school.nz/learn-with-us-ako-1/enrol-with-tis
BOARD OF TRUSTEE ELECTIONS COMING UP
You would have by now received your nomination form by email. You can use this form to nominate yourself or someone else in the community. Nominations have to be returned by midday on Wednesday 11th October. If you havent received a nomination form by email please contact Carolyn or Sara at the school office.
END OF DAY ROUTINES
- 2:50 pm bell - end of school day for Year 0-2, and any of their elder siblings that need to be collected at the same time.
- 3:00 pm bell - end of school day for Year 3+ children.
In pre-COVID19 times we used to finish en masse and had up to 500 children exiting the school at once. This put great pressure on parking, particularly in the church car park, and the excessive traffic made this mass exit feel a little unsafe.
Since then we have been splitting the end of the day which allows for parents of younger children to arrive, park, collect their child and leave before the parents of older children arrive. This has worked very well, but recently we have noticed:
- Some younger children not leaving grounds upon collection, choosing instead to play on the playground or in the sand pit. This does not help release parking space for parents of our older children.
- Some older siblings leave on the 2:50 pm bell but do not actually travel home with their parent and younger sibling. If an older child makes their own way home (e.g. scooter) then they should leave on the 3:00 pm bell.
- Some children have been asked to wait (by parents) at the playground to be collected. Please avoid this. If a parent should be running late and not meet their child on time, we will be unaware that they have not been collected.
Please keep working with us to help keep the end of day routines running smoothly.
LOST PROPERTY
Each afternoon this week we will have it out on display beside the hall. Please come and claim it, there is also a large quantity of non-uniform items. Anything left by the end of the week will find its way to a local clothing bin.
TSUNAMI HīKOI DRILL - THURSDAY 19 OCTOBER
We are also going to hold our tsunami evacuation drill for Greenmeadows School later that afternoon. This is a major exercise, and is part of a New Zealand wide focus on being prepared for an earthquake and tsunami.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The GMS tsunami hikoi to Church Road Winery - Thursday 19th October:
· At 1.15pm we will start our tsunami hikoi – via the crossing at Gloucester Street and up Osier Road
· Our evacuation point is the grassed area immediately north of Church Road Winery
· This is a walk of 1.7km from our school via Osier Road and through Knightsbridge
· As part of the drill we want practice releasing children to their parents, if they are available and want to pick them up. Children will then be released for the remainder of the day and do not need to return to school.
· We anticipate our drill will finish just after 2.00pm on Thursday 22nd October.
· All those children who are not picked up will return to school for the remainder of the afternoon.
If parents are going to pick up their children we ask that you park legally on Church Road. Please do not park in the winery carpark. Be aware that Tironui Drive is very narrow and turning around is very difficult.
SENIOR CAMPS - WELLINGTON & GUTHRIE SMITH
GMS SCHOOL APP
This is how we communicate with the school community any importmant messages or reminders.
Contact Us
Email: admin@gms.school.nz
Website: http://www.gms.school.nz/
Location: Greenmeadows School 45 Osier Road, Greenmeadows, Napier, New Zealand
Phone: +64 06-844 7024
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gmsnapier