Our Tumuaki / Principal
Updates and developments to share with you this week include the following...
2023 School Structure: Last week we learnt our staffing for 2023 and we remain six teachers. From that, we structure the overall picture of our school based on the numbers, weighting our ratios towards slightly smaller junior classrooms. Here are our plans.
- Team Kea: NE - Year One
- Team Kiwi: Year One and Two
- Team Pukeko: Year Two and Three
- Team Tui: Year Three and Four
- Team Kereru: Year Four and Five
- Team Kahu: Year Five and Six
We are now building the lists as to which children go into which rooms. As you see there are multiple levels in every class so year levels will be spread across two rooms. Please contact myself or your child's classroom teacher with any information that we need to be aware of as we do this.
Here's the process from this point:
- Monday 27th September to Thursday 10th November: we draft up class lists taking into account teacher input, parent information, class numbers, social combinations, academic performance, needs distribution.
- Friday 11th: Finalise class lists.
- Monday 21st to Friday 25th November: Share lists with parents and children at school interviews.
- Thursday 8th of December: Bring the 2023 classes together so that they can see who is with them in their next year's room.
Competitive Sports: We are grateful for the many community clubs and organisations in our area that support competitive sports for young people including rugby, soccer, netball, tennis, t-ball and athletics. We also have swimming lessons occurring at the school pool through the Edendale Community Pool Society.
There are some sports that don't have lead bodies in our community yet children may have a desire to play in these. We are happy as a school to be a conduit for information and a venue for practices but it is up to parents to coach, manage and transport children. If there is a sport that you are passionate about and would like to see if other children from our area would like to be part of, please contact the office and we can put information out.
Uniform Polar Fleece Update: The Warehouse was forced to stop stocking our black and white polar fleece due to order minimums from their overseas supplier. We are now working with them on a black polar fleece with our logo incorporated into it. Once this is finalised we will let you know.
Administration Remodel: We will have work starting in our Administration Block to upgrade the area. This includes putting in a new storage unit for the administration area, creating a new principal's office out of the storage room, putting new carpet down throughout the office area and creating a new Learning Support Coordinators office space. The work will begin in the holidays and stretch into the early parts of Term Four. Thank you in advance for your cooperation during what will be a bit of a disruptive project.
Character Values Wall of Fame: Recently two more students, Jada McKinnel and Robson McKenzie, were added to our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) Character Values Wall of Fame joining Nova Barrett (our very first student). These children have earned all four values, spanning multiple years and multiple teachers. It is a significant achievement. Well done to them.
Acknowledging - Team Edendale
- Student Council: I would like to commend again our Student Council who this week organised a soccer tournament for our students, that culminated with a staff versus students soccer game (that ended in a 1:1 score line). Thanks for adding value to our school through your leadership.
Our Events Coming Up
Term Four 2022
Week 2 (of 8)
- Monday 24th October - Labour Day, School Closed
- Tuesday 25th October - Sports Activator
- Wednesday 26th October - LMV Athletics Day
- Thursday 27th October - LMV Athletics Day (Postponement Day)
- Thursday 27th October - Shake Out
Week 3 (of 8)
- Monday 31st October - Home and School Meeting 7.30pm in staffroom
- Tuesday 1st November - Pet Day
- Tuesday 1st November - BOT Meeting 6.30pm tour of school 7pm meeting
- Thursday 3rd November - Year 5 Big Day Out
Week 4 (of 8)
- Thursday 10th November - Bush School Kamahi Reserve
Week 5 (of 8)
- Tuesday 15th November - Sports Activator
- Saturday 19th November - Southland Athletics
Week 6 (of 8)
- Friday 25th November - LMV Swimming Sports
Week 7 (of 8)
- Monday 28th November - Senior Triathlon
- Wednesday 30th November - Levi Goodall Show
Week 8 (of 8)
- Thursday 8th December - Concert Matinee 1pm, Evening 7pm
- Friday 9th December - Year 6 Farewell
Our Kura News and Information
Uniform Tops - Sport Jacket
We have a great uniform that incorporates the colours of our township and province.
As we are moving into summer now the sports jacket is ideal. It is stocked at school and is available for purchase. There are some pre-loved polar fleece tops in school at the office as well.
We would kindly ask for children to be wearing the correct uniform to keep up our value of tohungatanga - excellence.
LMV Science Club PLUS - Term Three
Children from across our Kahui Ako have been enjoying Thursdays after school as they attended the LMV Science Club PLUS experiences, hosted and run at Menzies College by Menzies staff and students. There has been lots of fun learning, getting to know other students from other schools, and getting to know Menzies students and Menzies staff.
Thanks Menzies for your work with this for our students.
Kiwi Maths Competition - Results
Last term we had four senior students participate in the Kiwi Maths Competition, run by the University of Canterbury.
Students from all over New Zealand completed the online test for their year level and the results arrived back this week.
Year Five competition: congratulations to:
- Taine Guthrie: ACHIEVED (result in the top 50-75% of participants)
- Charlie Ritani: EXCELLENCE (result in the top 90-99.5% of participants)
Year Six competition: congratulations to:
- Case Dickson: ACHIEVED (result in the top 50-75% of participants)
- Aisha Raluto: MERIT (result in the top 75-90% of participants)
Character Values Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L): Term Three Excellence Tohungatanga
Excellence means we aim for a high standard and continuous improvement and is shown through reliability, consistency, flexibility, reflection, change, innovation, accuracy, completion, dedication, practice, effort and attitude.
Work hard, have a go and do our best.
Leave everything how we would want to find it.
Wear our uniform with pride.
This week's Principal's Values Award goes to:
Most Valuable Pupil: Team Pukeko
Where Our Dreams Begin - Mrs Belinda Knapp, Graduate Teacher
Walt Disney said…
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”
In 2019, Mrs Belinda Knapp had the courage to follow her dream of a change in career, and we here at Edendale Primary School have been very privileged to be a part of that journey with her…and what a journey it has been!
Belinda first began coming into Edendale Primary as a parent help, and was soon roped in as a Teacher Aide due to her authentic interest in helping the children and the wonderful, can-do work ethic that is evident in any task she applies herself to.
During her time here at EPS as a Teacher Aide, Belinda proved herself to be invaluable in the support she provided across many classrooms, for many different children, and so it was a bitter-sweet farewell when she left us three years ago to begin her tertiary education towards gaining a Bachelor of Education and becoming a qualified teacher.
We were delighted to have her back this year! Throughout Terms One, Two and Three, Mrs Coyle and Team Pukeko have had the pleasure of hosting Belinda for her on-going teaching practicums (postings) in this, her final year of study.
Belinda has worked with Team Pukeko for 3-5 week-long postings each term, as well as regular Monday visits. During these postings she has planned and taught group sessions and whole class lessons and units to develop and extend her own teaching skills and classroom management practices, all while being mentored and supported by Mrs Coyle.
This learning journey for Belinda is about to come to an end, with her graduation to occur next term; the job-hunt is already underway and the lucky school that employs Belinda will have a very valuable member of the team joining them.
It has been wonderful to see the professional growth that has occurred for Belinda this year - she fits in extremely well with our staff, has built up fantastic relationships with the children, and she delivers engaging, relevant lessons to cater for their needs and interests across all areas of the curriculum.
Belinda’s enthusiasm and energy are contagious, (as is her laugh), and she is a reflective and astute practitioner who is always willing to try new things to improve her skills or improve the educational experiences for the children. Team Pukeko have loved learning with her and have thrived under her guidance.
Thank you, Belinda, for everything that you have contributed to Team Pukeko this year, and for being part of our EPS team over many previous years - you are a super role-model of a confident, connected, actively-involved, lifelong learner and we are proud to have been part of your path to following your dream!
We wish you all the very best for the next chapter in your adventure of life - and remember, you can come back any time!
“You’re off to great places, today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!”
(Dr. Seuss)
Our Kaitiaki School Board
There are two formal meetings for the School Board in Term Four.
- Tuesday 1st November, starting at 6.30 pm for a tour of the school and then 7.00pm for the formal meeting in the staffroom.
- Tuesday 29th of November, starting at 7.00 pm in the staffroom.
Our Home and School
Next Meeting - Term Four 2022
The Term Four 2022 meeting of the Home and School is scheduled for Monday 31st of October at 7.30 pm in the school staffroom.
Thank You - Cattle Fundraiser
We are very grateful to those farmers who rear calves for us. This is an ongoing and very successful fundraiser for our Home and School. Thank you to...
- Logan and Mel McKenzie
- Tim and Justine McRae
- Bathan and Jane Muir
Whittakers Chocolate Fundraiser
A huge thank you to the school and community in supporting our most successful chocolate fundraiser to date.
There was a dead heat for the top sellers, with the Home and School providing a second tablet. Congratulations to
- Braxdyn Walker
- Jackson Miller
Well done to Iyland Roberts who was our second top seller.
Other children that received spot prizes were
- Piper Johnstone
- Charlie McCauley
- Poppy Laurence
- Quinn Tuhao
- Pippa Clarke
- Charlie Ritani
- Lexie Mainland
- Aria Power
- Reuben Alksne
- Liam Bryson
Thanks for your support.
Louise Duffy, Home and School President
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
