Our Tumuaki Principal
Kia ora koutou.
From the Principal's desk:
- Storytime: As with last year when we went into lockdown I have read a story for our children to watch and listen to. This week's story is Hairy Maclary's Caterwaul Caper, written and illustrated by Lynley Dodd. The link to listen to it is below. All other stories from last year are on our website page under E-School.
- Zoom In Staff Meetings: As a teaching staff we have met twice this week via Zoom. It was good to connect together. I am impressed with how our teachers have moved fast and effectively to set up Seesaw to enable ongoing learning. The lessons and skills learnt last year have flowed directly into this year.
- E-School: The Seesaw platform has been worth its weight in gold, as it has enabled us to stay digitally connected with all our children. The children are doing well getting to their activities and posting their responses back to teachers. We are all so impressed. Check out our Facebook page and below for photos of what our children are doing.
- Being Prepared for Level Three: At some stage, we will move to Level Three. At Level Three school is open for essential workers and we operate what we call Bubble School. In Bubble School families are grouped together, to work on their Seesaw activities, under the supervision of a teacher and teacher assistant. When the step to Level Three is eventually announced we will send out a survey (through Facebook and the App) that we would like all families to fill out. This will give us an indication of who is coming and what staffing we require here at school.
- Playgrounds: A reminder that under Level Four requirements all playgrounds are closed. This includes our school playground.
- Postponed LMV Speech Contest: This has been postponed until further notice.
- Postponed Polyfest: Polyfest has been moved to the last week of this term being Monday 27th September to Friday 1st of October. Our day is Monday 27th September at 11.50am. This will be dependent on an appropriate alert level for large groups.
- Postponed Teacher Only Day: We were to have a Community of Learning Teacher Only Day on Monday 30th of August but this has been postponed until Term One next year.
- Weetbix Stat Attack Cards: The children love collecting different card sets but sometimes it is hard and they get multiples and need to swap. I run a Swap Meet to aid this. If you have spare cards you don't need, when we can reconnect again face to face, drop them into the office so I can swap them with the children.
- Term Three Principal's Challenge: Term Three's Principal's Challenge is below. It is for our creative and artistic children and gives them a chance to have their artwork on public display for years to come. I look forward to seeing the entries. It closes on Friday 10th September. I will accept multiple entries per person. It would be a good activity for lockdown.
Thank Yous - Team Edendale
- Andrea Russell and Liz Pask: Andrea and Liz have been working behind the scenes to ensure that all our school communication, financials and payroll keep ticking over. It is great to have this occurring and it ensures that when we get back to school again, we hit the ground running. Thanks Liz and Andrea.
Ka kite
David McKenzie
Our Events Coming Up
TERM THREE
Please Note: All up and coming events are subject to Covid-19 Pandemic Alert levels.
Week Six (of 10)
- Tuesday 31st August - Sports Activator
Week Eight (of 10)
- Tuesday 14th September - Board of Trustees General Meeting, 7 pm (Staffroom)
Week Nine (of 10)
- Tuesday 21st September - Sports Activator
Week Ten (of 10)
- Tuesday 28th - Thursday 30th September - Life Education
Our Kaitiaki Board of Trustees
From the Chair - Lockdown Update
Covid-19 and current ‘lock down’ restrictions are having a significant impact throughout New Zealand, including on Edendale Primary School and its wider community.
We appreciate that the closure of Edendale Primary School and return to home learning are a disruption to our students and their families. However, we know that actions put in place during ‘lock down’ last year to support our students learning and wellbeing were successful, particularly as we moved through various alert levels.
We have a great group of teachers and senior leadership team at Edendale Primary School who are committed and working hard to ensure similar success again. Key to this is clear communication and understanding between Edendale Primary School, its students and community as to what is happening, when it is happening, why it is happening and how it is happening.
Please keep watching the app, website and Facebook page for new Edendale Primary School communications.
General BOT Meeting - Meeting Six
The next BOT meeting is Tuesday 14th of September starting at 7.00 pm in the school staffroom.
The BOT elections are next year. If you are interested in standing for the BOT and taking a governance role for our school, please contact the BOT chair, Jacob Smyth. It can be helpful to attend a few meetings as an observer to get an idea of what school governance looks like.
Out of Zone Enrolments - Term Four
Enrolment at Edendale Primary School is governed by an enrolment scheme.
The Board has 20 places available for out of zone students for the 2021 school year. The exact number of places is subject to the number of eligible in-zone enrolments received.
Term Four enrolment period - Monday 18th October to Monday 13th December
Out of zone students seeking enrolment within this enrolment period, the deadline for receipt of applications is Monday 18th October.
Information and application forms can be picked up at the school office and are also available on our website www.edendaleps.school.nz.
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 the following Monday from the deadline dates.
Parents will be informed of the outcome of the ballot as early as possible (and within three school days of the ballot being held).
Our Kura News and Information
Student Council - Daffodil Day
Due to the Level Four lockdown, the Cancer Society moved to an online donations portal.
The total that we have raised as a community so far (based on Friday morning) is in excess of $1800. Wow, this is absolutely one of the best Student Council Fundraisers ever.
You can access it here: https://www.daffodilday.org.nz/edendaleprimaryschoolsouth...
Thank you so much for your support of this cause.
Book Club - Issue 5
If you have not yet received your Issue 5 orders, they will be in the Scholastic warehouse. Until Alert Levels drop to Level 2, they are unable to despatch orders to schools.
Home deliveries that are already in the system, will be despatched at Level 3 as will any new orders marked for home delivery.
Character Values (Positive Behaviour for Learning - PB4L): Term Three Excellence Tohungatanga
When we come from so many different families our values draw us together as one big school whanau.
Excellence means we aim for a high standard and continuous improvement and is shown through reliability, consistency, flexibility, reflection, change, innovation, accuracy, completion, dedication, practise, effort and attitude.
We show excellence tohungatanga when we...
- Work hard, have a go and do our best.
- Leave everything how we would want to find it.
- Wear our uniform with pride.
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 Liz Pask and Andrea Russell for being strong contributors, living out our school values every day.
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
