Ardmore School Newsletter

* Hello * Kia ora * Namaste * Malo e lelei * Talofa lava * Kia orana * Guten Tag* Nǐ hǎo * Sat sree akaal * Hola * Chào bạn * Bula * Hallo *As-salamu ‘Alakum

And so we come to the last newsletter and almost the end of the 2021 school year.

‘Tough times don’t last; tough teams do’

This is certainly the case at Ardmore School this year. From the students who moved so suddenly, and from appearances so easily, to learning on-line, regularly turning up for their Google Meets with their teachers and classmates; to their teachers who adapted to on-line learning mode overnight, to the families at home who tried to juggle work commitments, family life and taking on a support teaching role. You all made up the ‘tough team’ who gave everything a go and tried to make the best of everything. Thank you all for everything you did.

To the PSG, Ardmore School’s Parent Support Group, our thanks for the on-going funding of resources and activities and for providing a way for families new to Ardmore to become involved with the school. Thank you especially to Christy Harvey, the Chairperson, and her amazing team of helpers. Without this superb group of people activities such as the school disco held earlier this year would not occur.

To the Board; Presiding Member Simon Goodall, Treasurer Bruce Smith, Ben Diack, Priya Singh, Steve Harvey and the Staff Representative, Shirley Stananought, thank you for your on-going commitment to the school, your efforts and input underpin everything we do. The school is very fortunate to have a Board who work closely with staff to ensure the very best for the children.

To all of the Ardmore staff – thank you ALL, for your dedication, drive, fortitude and desire to achieve the very best for our Ardmore Learners in what has been a very trying year.

To the Year 8 students who will very shortly finish their time at Ardmore School; thank you for everything you have contributed to the school. We are grateful for each one of you, for who you have been and who you are becoming, for the many talents you have shared with us, for your energy and commitment, your creativity and the countless ways you have learnt the lessons here for the learning.

To those children at other levels who are leaving Ardmore School at the end of the year

We are also farewelling three of our staff:

Tiarnān Quinn Kaiarahi Whānau / Team Leader of Tui who is leaving us to join the staff of Waterlea School.

Shara Syme who has been part time providing classroom release for teachers, as well as being the guiding hand behind our school Showquest performances.

Sheryl Miller who has been part time providing classroom release for teachers

We wish all of you well, for all that the future holds for you.

Finally, on behalf of all of the staff, I wish all our Ardmore pupils & families a restful, relaxing and safe holiday break; a happy Christmas and a wonderful 2022 year ahead.

Kia manawanui, kia manaakinui, kia aroha
Stay strong, take care of yourselves and each other

Ngā mihi

Brigid Peterson

Principal / Tumuaki Ardmore School

Over the next few days each class will have a final Google Meet with their teacher to say their farewells and finish the year. Please look out for an email or Seesaw message for the day and time.

On Thursday 9th December and Friday 10 December families and whānau of tamariki learning offsite need to return all school resources to school and collect their children's books, belongings, End of Year Report, information about their class placement for 2022 and start of year information.

Returns can be made to the external office near the staff carpark between 9.30am and 2.00pm each day and between 5pm and 7pm on Thursday 9 December only. Children's items can then be collected from outside the office. The items will be in bags in class order. Please wear a mask and practise social distancing.

Childrens' items will not be available for collection after 2pm Friday 10 December. They will be stored until school resumes in 2022.

Please be aware our normal reporting information has been affected by the COVID lockdown.

For tamariki who are learning onsite, End of Year Reports, information about class placement for 2022 and start of year information will be sent home with them today, Thursday 9th December.

Please ensure that all school resources you may have at home are returned by Friday 10th December at the latest.

Please be aware our normal reporting information has been affected by the COVID lockdown.

This project, originally due to be completed by our return to school at the beginning of this year, will finally begin on Monday 13th December. The expected completion of the project is the end of Term 1, 2022.

For Term 1, Room 2 will be the school library and Rooms 1 and 3's learning space will be in the Hall.

MCQUARRIE HOUSE SHIELD

Awarded to Burnside House

GOLDSBURY FAMILY CUP: SPORTSMANSHIP

An award for positive attitude to sport / physical activity;

Awarded to Joshua Emslie- Wood

BURTON FAMILY CUP: CITIZENSHIP

For demonstrating all the right attitudes to school and to others.

Awarded to Piper Morby & Jayden Sardelich

JUNIOR SPORTS PERSON:

For involvement in / achievement in a range of sports

Awarded to Levi Donaldson

MCKENZIE FAMILY CUP FOR DILIGENCE

Recognising consistent application in all things, a hard working person.

Awarded to Savannah Viall

BELL FAMILY CUP FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN

THE ARTS IN THE JUNIOR SCHOOL:

Awarded to Bailey Murray

ARDMORE PER ARDUA AD ASTRA

Through Adversity to the Stars Gifted by the Jury / Betts Family. For meeting a challenge and not allowing it to limit involvement in school life.

Awarded to Nivriti Deo

COOPER FAMILY CUP

For upholding the Ardmore School Values

Awarded to William Boreham

WALSH FAMILY CUP:

For Sportsmanship: Fully involved – committed- good sporting attitude. Inclusive of others

Awarded to Clifford Welman

STOTT FAMILY CUP

Best All-Round Sportsperson: Involved and achieving well in a range of sports; at school and E.C.C.S. and Counties level

Awarded to Hazel McGhie

OUDSHOORN FAMILY CUP: Citizenship

For demonstration of qualities important in school and life – responsible, reliable person who does things without fuss or looking for recognition, an example to others.

Awarded to Molly Quinn & Arshpreet Singh

ARDMORE AD ARDUA AWARD

Goes to someone who has met a challenge and then succeeded

Awarded to Ashleigh Vegar

LAING CUP FOR MATHEMATICS

Awarded to Lee-Ara Parker

CHURCH FAMILY TROPHY FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SWIMMING

Awarded to Eva Emslie-Wood

BEST ALL ROUNDER YEAR 7 & 8

Awarded to Vienna Syme

CORNISH FAMILY CUP FOR DILIGENCE

Hard working, reliable – a good Ardmore person

Awarded to Ayla Clark & Ishika Kapadia

GEOFFREY BURNSIDE CUP FOR ENGLISH

Awarded to Eva Emslie-Wood

THE SMILE AWARD (PRINCIPAL’S AWARD)
For a positive outlook on all aspects of school life

Awarded to Vienna Syme

RUNNER-UP TO DUX

Awarded to Lee-Ara Parker

SCHOOL DUX

Awarded to Eva Emslie-Wood

Well what a rollercoaster of a year !! Covid Lockdowns have come with its highs and lows but despite Covid, the PSG has had a very successful year fundraising. We have contributed to our school community, created some great social events for the kids and raised a great wad of cash. This has been due to having such great parental support from our school community. A huge thank you to all the PSG members and parents who have helped out through the year.

A recap on all that has happened in the year 2021. We started with our Easter Raffle which was a great success this year raising close to $2000. Next was our Selini Wine Tasting Evening with its grazing table. It was attended by 30 people, and was held in April, at The Farmhouse. This fundraiser helped us sell over $3000 worth of wine, making the school over $800. It was a fun event held in a great setting.

We have continued our school lunches this year and added in ice block sales during the hotter months. The children have loved this and we have enjoyed their excitement when receiving these treats. We had a great team of parent helpers in the kitchen and the Kindo app has made this so much easier to order and pay for everything online. Food sales were also available at the School Concert which added to the atmosphere of a very successful evening. In total we made $3000 from all our food sales this year.

Our Second Hand Uniform Shop has been doing a great business this year with approx $1700 in sales. A big thank you to Dana Owens who initiated and set up this concept. It is a great asset to the school community. The uniform shop will remain open for the holidays and you can purchase items through kindo. Purchased items can be collected when school resumes next year.

Our Cookie Dough Fundraiser blew us out of the water by selling over $10,000 worth of cookie dough. This raised nearly $3000. Who would have thought that cookies were so popular? Next was our Oxford Pie Fundraiser, another successful event raising close to $800. Hopefully the Wine, Pies and Cookie dough sales helped you all get through lockdown and made life a little easier.

The Letz Glow Disco was definitely the highlight in the social calendar for the year. We purchased black UV lights and hired a DJ for the night. We had a wonderful array of glow in the dark activities and prizes. Glow in the dark toys and jewellery were for sale and glow food was devoured from the cafeteria. We were overwhelmed with volunteers and had a great turn out of families on the night.

My goal was to raise $20,000 this year and we exceeded that despite having to cancel a number of events like our Movie Night, Jack n Jill photos and Calendar Art due to lockdown. In total we raised over $21,500.

We also collected 3766 Yummy stickers this year which means that the school will receive over $400 worth of new sporting equipment. Scholastic books have earnt the school over $800 worth of new books for the library So over $1200 of products that goes to our school as well.

The PSG have funded two new Basket Swings for the children's playground and we have also started building a huge sandpit next to the school pool. These will delight the children for many years to come.

I would like to take this time to acknowledge our wonderful staff at Ardmore School who managed the many changes according to government guidelines and restructuring our tamariki’s learning. You were all exceptional before but have done us proud by putting on a bright smiling face and continuing to teach during this adversity. Special acknowledgement to Brigid, Shirley and the office and management team you have done well navigating through the Covid storm of constant change. On behalf of our school community we wish you a very happy, safe and restful Christmas.

I would like to also take this chance to wish you all a very Happy and Safe Christmas.

Christy Harvey

PSG Chairperson

ardmorepsg@gmail.com

Email: office@ardmore.school.nz
Website: https://www.ardmore.school.nz/
Location: 599 Papakura-Clevedon Road, Ardmore, New Zealand
Phone: 09 299 6228