ARDMORE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

Newsletter # 5 Term 4 2024

* 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

From the Principal's Laptop

Happy Diwali!

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is a time for celebrating light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. We wish all our students and families a joyous and prosperous Diwali.

Year 7 & 8 School Camp

The Year 7 & 8 tamariki have recently returned from their four day biannual camp - an unforgettable adventure - at the Sir Peter Blake Marine Education Centre at Long Bay. The camp provided sea and land learning experiences which developed teamwork and collaboration skills as well as independence and self-reliance.

A huge thank you to Carol Paterson who organised the camp, the parents who accompanied us to support the children in their outdoor activities, and the day to day running of the camp.

Please check out the article and photos later in this newsletter where the students share their experiences.

Planning for 2025

If your family is planning to move at the end of this year, or if your child will not be returning to Ardmore School next year, please email the office: office@ardmore.school.nz to let us know as soon as possible.

This will help us with the planning for our 2025 school organisation.

School dates for 2025:

Term 1: 3 February - 11 April

Term 2: 28 April - 27 June

Term 3: 14 July - 19 September

Term 4: 6 October - 16 December

Transition Whānau Hui

12 February 2.15pm - 5.30pm

13 February 3.15pm - 7.30pm

Ministry of Education Curriculum Days - The school is closed for instruction on these days

Friday 30 May

Friday 24 October

Heads Up!

Next year we are changing our student management system which will streamline our communications and reporting processes. We will keep you posted.

School dates for 2025:

Term 1: 3 February - 11 April

Term 2: 28 April - 27 June

Term 3: 14 July - 19 September

Term 4: 6 October - 16 December

Transition Whānau Hui

12 February 2.15pm - 5.30pm

13 February 3.15pm - 7.30pm

Ministry of Education Curriculum Days - The school is closed for instruction on these days

Friday 30 May

Friday 24 October

BYOD at Ardmore in 2025

This year we encouraged students to bring only Chromebooks to school for BYOD.

Our digital aim continues to be the health and safety of our students, and to have effective classroom learning environments.

Unfortunately, the use of other devices (laptops, tablets etc) makes it more difficult for our systems to monitor, so in 2025 only Chromebooks will be permitted for BYOD at Ardmore School.

Please note it is not mandatory for students to bring a device. When electronic devices are used to enhance learning in the classroom, students without a personal device will be provided access to an appropriate school owned digital device.

Year 7 & 8 School Camp

Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre

At the beginning of this term all the year 7 and year 8 students went away to camp. We had a very early start on Monday 21 October and travelled by bus to the Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre. Once we arrived at MERC camp we set up our dorms, and then went back down for morning tea. After we had one of our 5 meals a day, we headed off to our first activity with our instructor.

Slathering on sunscreen and out the gate for archery, our helpers during camp, taught us how to aim and shoot to get the perfect bullseye. Hitting the bullseye was not only one of the things we learnt but one of many! For our next activity we learnt how to catch waves safely and still have an enjoyable time, all while on a Boogie board. In between those two activities we did something called abseiling. Some people found abseiling a bit scary but most people confidently did it with ease.

After yet another meal time we went down to the park and did sports of our choice. Once back we stargazed deep into the beautiful sky. The order of activities continued for each wonderful day at MERC camp. Just with different games and skills learnt. Trusting yourself with each activity to try and achieve your goal of trying your best was a skill learnt with every single challenge we did at camp.

On Wednesday night the camp concert was held in the hall. Everyone gave the performance a shot creating an act with all their effort and it turned out amazing. With games, sports, meal times and free time we were all exhausted by the end of the day. Sleeping in the dorms with your friends around you, just made everything already awesome about camp, even better. With making memories, and spending quality time with our school whanau I’m sure everyone has had an amazing time at MERC camp.