ARDMORE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

* Hello * Kia ora * Malo e lelei * Namaste * Talofa lava

* Kia orana * Guten Tag * Nǐ hǎo * Sat sri akal * Hola

* Chào bạn * Bula * Hallo *As-salamu ‘Alakum

Much has happened this term with events, trips and fantastic learning experiences for our tamariki. There are still a few things to fit in before we head toward the end of term and a well deserved break.

Reports will be sent home next week. Please check your childs bag for these. We will also include information about student interviews which will be held early next term. Please read the information carefully. Information will also be on our school website.

We also encourage you to read the Ag Day booklet thoroughly so you will be ready for this important annual event at the end of next term. A hard copy of the booklet was sent home with children earlier this term. It was also emailed and is on the school website for your convenience.

Congratulations to all our school leaders who received their badges at our recent School Leader Assmembly. Presiding Member of our Board, Ben Diack, presented badges to students who have taken up positions of responsibility and leadership this year.

What a great variety of cultural attire was on display on Mufti Day earlier this term. Another great PSG initiative combined with a Hot Dog lunch.

Twice a term we hold a pōwhiri to welcome new students and sometimes new staff members to our Ardmore School community. Our tamariki recite the school karakia, perform our own school haka and sing to our guests.

As part of the Term 2 Science topic, Tūī Whānau visited Auckland Zoo recently. Animal habitats were the focus and the children enjoyed a fantastic learning experience thanks to the dynamic zoo staff. A big thank you to Ms Sangster for organising this trip and thanks to our parent helpers for their assistance on the day.

Ruru Whānau had a wonderful day exploring Auckland Zoo and learning about animals, and their adaptations that help them survive in their natural habitats. The visit was part of Ruru's Science topic. Thank you to all of the wonderful parent helpers who helped make our day so successful.

On Sunday 28 May, thirteen keen students participated in the Barbarians Rugby Fun Day held at Bruce Pulman Park. The team played three games, improving with confidence with each game. A big "Thank You" to our coach Jade Newport for his time in taking the team this year. Thanks also go to Mrs Carleen Ashford who organised our participation in the event and supported Jade with training our team.

Over a period of time the sand in our sandpits has diminished so through the generosity of Stevensons Aggregates Ltd. we have received a large donation of fresh sand to top up the large sandpit, the junior sandpit and the long jump sandpit.

Although a call for help was sent out to our school community only a few parent helpers were available to help Mr Kotze, our Property Manager, move the sand. A big thank you to Julian Nonu, Charles Briggs, Lorraine Harvey and Prishen John our tireless PSG helpers, and Lucas, Ashwal and Khyrin who along with Mr Kotze moved approximately 32 tonnes of sand.

We also need to acknowledge Stevensons for their ongoing generosity to Ardmore School.

A big welcome to Mrs Megan McCann to the Ardmore School Board. Already a hard working member of our PSG, Megan has agreed to fill a vacancy on our board, and joins with our other board members to support the school.

School starts at 9am. Please endeavour to have your tamariki here on time. The start of the day contains very important routines to help tamariki settle for a day of learning.

The Ministry of Education track attendance and we are alarmed at the number of Ardmore children arriving late regularly every morning.

Please keep sick children at home. If your child has a vomiting bug we ask that you keep them home for 48 hours after their last vomit. Covid is still out there. People with Covid must remain home for 7 days. If there is Covid in the house children may attend school as long as they test negative and are not symptomatic.

We want to keep everyone safe.

Entries close on Friday 28th July. All entries are online. No late entries will be accepted and no entries will be accepted on the day. Please read the information booklet carefully before making your entry.

To find a copy of the AG Day Information Booklet click on the link Ag Day Information Booklet Scroll to the bottom of the last page of the booklet and click on the red box to enter.

Last day to order Chicks for Ag Day is Thursday 29th June. All orders are through KINDO. Minimum order of 2 Chicks.

Increasingly, we are noticing that many of our students are grappling with personal issues which have a direct impact on their mental, social and academic well being. These issues may include - friendship, conflict, change, resilience, growth mindset or anxiety.

Teachers are not trained to provide professional counselling support we are, however, fortunate to have Auckland University of Technology (AUT) student, Zak, working within our school. Zak is on practicum here whilst studying and therefore receives support and professional supervision from AUT. He will be on practicum at Ardmore School until the end of the year and will possibly continue into 2024. Zak will be able to offer support for our children one day a week. Children can be referred by

• parents who have a concern with their child
• teachers and parents who have discussed concerns together
• Older students who can self refer with permission from their parents

Parental consent will always be needed before any contact is made with your child. Consent forms are available from the school office or your child may ask their classroom teacher. We have also included a consent form below.

If you vape and have these devices in your home please consider that the bright colours and shape of this product can be attractive to children. Our younger tamariki are not always aware of what these things are and can easily bring them to school to show their friends. Older students, who know exactly what they are, may also think it's ok to bring one to school. Talking to our kids about things like vaping is tricky. We need to open a dialogue, and explain to them why this isn’t for them. The dangers of vaping as a child or teen are higher than for adults, as the chemicals and additives can affect their growth and development. Thank you for your support with this issue.

Thank you to everyone who sent in their Bobby Banana wrappers to school when we were collecting them a while ago. Your contribution helped Ardmore School win the big $5000.00 prize and also helped highlight the soft plastic collection scheme. On hand to receive the big cheque were PSG Chair Julian Nonu and PSG member Helen Walton along with Ms Peterson and Mrs Stananought. A big thank you to Dole for the prize which was presented by Bobby Banana who surprised our unsuspecting tamariki when they assembled on the court.

Our Cookie Dough fundraiser was once again a great success with sales that provided the PSG with $1719.90 funds as a result of the large amount of sales.

Room 11, the class that sold the most, enjoyed chippies and iceblocks as a treat. Mason in Room 11 who sold 93 packs received a $50 Whitcoulls voucher. Well done Mason and his family.

Dear whānau,

We are supporting Stats NZ to encourage everyone to complete the 2023 Census.

So, this is a reminder that you need to return your census forms if you have not done so already.

Census data is used to make important decisions that affect us all. The census is the official count of people living in Aotearoa New Zealand, and everyone who was in the country on Census Day, 7 March 2023, is required by law to complete a census form.

Your participation will help ensure that our community receives funding for services for the number of people that live in our community. That includes education, health, and social services.

To complete the census, you can do it online at www.census.govt.nz using one of the access codes provided in the letters sent to your household. Or you can fill out paper census forms if you have them. To request a new access code or paper forms, freephone 0800 236 787 (0800 CENSUS) or order online at www.census.govt.nz.

The 2023 Census closes on 30 June, so you should do them online now or as soon as practicable. Ensure your paper forms are posted so they arrive with Stats NZ by 30 June.

Census collectors are no longer visiting households providing help to complete census forms (except in the cyclone-impacted areas of the Far North, Te Tairāwhiti, and Hawke’s Bay). If you need assistance or more information:

· You can attend a census support event and get face-to-face help to complete forms (for more information go to www.census.govt.nz/census-support).

· We encourage you to help whānau, friends, and neighbours complete their forms.

· There is information in New Zealand Sign Language, Braille, Easy Read, Large Print, and Audio formats, as well as in 29 different languages at www.census.govt.nz.

· The 0800 CENSUS (0800 236 787) helpline will be open until 30 June.

Thank you for your support in making sure our community is accurately represented in the census.

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Public Notices are places in the school newsletter by request. Notices are in no way endorsed by, or reflect opinions or interests of those at Ardmore School