Quote - “Two rights don’t equal a left.” - Roald Dahl, The BFG

WELCOME everyone to the 2015 school year! Thank you for helping to make the term begin so smoothly. Children are well prepared, organised and are getting on with their learning straight away! Your support with correct uniform and stationery are especially appreciated. A special welcome to our new families and our new teachers. It is with mixed emotions that I welcome back families, students and staff for the last time! Term 1 is short but packed with many highlights including the gala, Outdoor Education Day, swimming sports and much more! - Paul Drummond

WELCOME to the following students and their families. Diego Rees Aston R15 Allie Mitchell R7 Davina Brown R12 Jade Brown-Roach R5 Oska Pearce-Reeves R4 Fletcher Patrick R2 Samantha Cheyne R2 Ella Dickson R2 Florence Wright R2 Mason Hyland R2 Simon Albert R2 Tyler Sargisson R2 Welcome back Judd Gordon-Medhurst Tamaki Maiya Gordon-Medhurst Rui

OUTDOOR EDUCATION DAY 2015 This will be held at Tahunanui Beach this Friday 13

February (pp day Monday 15 February) for the whole school. Notices were sent home last week providing details of student requirements. This is a fun day when

students can take part in a range of outdoor activities with other students at all levels of the school. Thank you for your assistance preparing your child for this special day. Please note the bell will

ring at 8.50am on that day. The cost of $1.00 per student will appear on your invoice. - Andrea Schwass, Coordinator

MEET AND GREET TUESDAY 17 FEBRUARY 5.30-6.30PM You are warmly invited to accompany your child/ren to visit school next Wednesday. This is an opportunity to meet and hear from your child’s teacher about routines, expectations, major events, to answer questions you may have, and for your son or daughter to show you their room. There will be 3 x 20 minutes sessions to enable visits to other rooms. You should receive a personal invitation later this week. This is a change from the formal interview time and is in response to your feed-back. See you there!

SCHOOL WIDE POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR FOR LEARNING Staff and Board were introduced to a framework that will further strengthen our school climate and student learning. It includes affirming our school values, setting high behaviour expectations and consistent behaviour management. Families are part of this too. Firstly, we will be asking you what your dream is for our school. There will be an opportunity to put your ideas on a ‘graffiti wall’ during the meet the parent and teacher event on February 17. More information to come.

School and Community Newsletter No 1 10 February 2015

Tahunanui School N

ews

I can – I will Ka tāea – ka tutuki

Our New Entrants in Rooms 2 have had an exciting start to their first day at school

NEW ENTRANTS’ FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL

WELCOME TO OUR NEW 2015 STAFF MEMBERS

YEAR 3 - 6 SWIMMING SPORTS The Swimming Sports will be held in the

school pool on the morning of Wednesday 25 February

starting 9.15am. Parents are invited to attend this event. The Interschool Swimming Sports are on Wednesday 11 March at Nayland Pool. - Aidan Barnett Sports Coordinator

WEETBIX TRYATHLON SUNDAY 8 MARCH 2015 Entry forms can be collected from the school office.

All entry fees are $35.00. School closing date is Wednesday 18 February. Any queries please contact Mel Harvey on 021 045 2784 or email melinda.craig@xtra.co.nz. - Melinda Harvey, Parent Coordinator

TAHUNANUI SCHOOL GALA SUNDAY 15 MARCH 2015

11am-2.00pm Be sure to mark this day on your calendars, so you don’t miss out

on the biggest event of the year in our community. Preparations are well under way with the gala team having had its first meeting. Proceeds from this gala will go towards our major playground redevelopment.

We desperately need helpers before and on the day. If you can help please contact Mel Harvey 0210452784 or Ferne Walton 0273441213.

White Elephant - There is a large container at school so that you can drop off items for the white elephant stall.

Note !!!!!!!!!! No electronic equipment, this includes televisions, computers, hard drives, monitors etc. It costs the school to dispose of this equipment as no one buys it.

Clothing - Please, only clothing of saleable value. The clothing must be clean, of good quality and in good repair. Again it costs the school to try and dispose of large quantities of clothing that does not sell.

Books - Tania our school librarian is currently organising the book stall. Please deliver books to the library counter with your child’s name and room number on the plastic bags (as the classes are running a book collecting competition). Once again only good quality sellable books please.

Wanted - Clean banana boxes with lids. Please deliver to the library. Thank you.

We are also looking for donations from local businesses and artists for the art and leisure auction and for prizes on the chocolate wheel. So if you know a business or somebody that can donate goods please contact Lee 5486440, Mel 0210452784, Annette 0212976973 or donations can be dropped at the school office. If you need donations of goods to be uplifted please leave a message at the school Office.

New parents are welcomed with open arms to join the gala team. Meetings are short, informative and fun. Our

next meeting is this Thursday 12 February 2pm in the school staffroom. Thank you for your help. - Lee Corlett, Convenor

SUPPORTING FAMILIES Many will be aware that several of our families are experiencing tough times right now due to serious health events. It is with gratitude and pride that I see the Tahunanui School Community rally and support each other. The charity walk / run last week was a wonderful reflection of that caring. It probably doesn't seem much but knowing that you have people thinking about you during hardship or sad times does help. - Paul Drummond SECOND HAND UNIFORM SALE Thursday 19 February - Please note change of date. All donations of uniforms to be dropped off at the school office no later than Monday 17 February please. SCHOOL LUNCHES There will be NO school lunches this Friday due to the Outdoor Education Day. Lunches resume Friday 20 February. A menu will be sent home next week. - Fundraising Group

Tahunanui School News

Elise Hubbard

Tamaki Hi, my name is Elise Hubbard and I'm very excited about joining the Burrell team in Tamaki this year! This will be my fourth year teaching but my first year teaching here in sunny Nelson. I grew up in the Manawatu and taught in Feilding before moving here a year ago to complete further study. My background is in Graphic Design and Photography, so I am particularly passionate about Visual Art but I also have a soft spot for Maths. I enjoy music, am a keen swimmer and have enjoyed making the most of the beautiful beaches since I've been here. I feel blessed to be a part of Tahunanui School and am looking forward to playing my part in inspiring our young people and enjoying the rewarding times ahead.

Annika Horn

Orakei Kia Ora, Guten Tag! My name is Annika Horn. I am the new teacher in Year 5/6. My family and I moved from Germany when I was seven years old. I grew up on a farm in the Riwaka Valley where my dream of having a wide range of animals came true. I currently live in Motueka with my two dogs Jess and Jay. This is my fifth year of teaching and my second year of teaching Year 5. Last year I was living in Auckland and taught in a modern learning environment. I am so happy to be living back in beautiful and sunny Nelson. I have a particular passion for teaching reading, writing and the arts. In my spare time I like to take my dogs for walks/ swims, spend time with family and friends and enjoying all that this region has to offer. I am excited to be a part of Tahunanui School and I am really looking forward to meeting you all.

School and Community Newsletter 10 February 2015

ZERO WASTE AT TAHUNANUI SCHOOL We have had a positive response to our Zero Waste trial last year so will begin by continuing to cover our bins. If your child’s lunch box is returning home a bit messy please remind them we recycle food waste and yoghurt containers. This term we aim to continue to provide information about how to maintain a Zero Waste lunch. If you have any great lunch box recipes or ideas please drop these into Room 11 or into our school office so these can be shared. Thank you.

- Heidi Newland, Enviro School Facilitator

SOMETHING TO SMILE

ABOUT

I would really put my wife on a pedestal if she wasn’t so afraid of heights! I’m reading a book about anti-gravity. I can’t put it down! What does a clock do when it’s hungry? It goes back four seconds!

NEW SCHOOL GARDENS Our junior and middle school students arrived back at school this year to a nice surprise. During the school holidays a small team of helpers gathered to complete our junior and middle school gardens.

Last term all pupils had the opportunity to paint a colour-ful image of what school and being an enviroschool meant to them. These were to be used to form the edges of the gardens.

One day in January 7m3 of soil arrived at our school and we gathered as many people as we could who had a few hours to spare.

We would like to say a huge thank you to the Varricchio

and Konelio families and the staff who gave up their time

to help with this project.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW 2015 STAFF MEMBERS

STATIONERY Once again the pre-purchasing of student stationery

by parents has enabled a quick and efficient start to the term. Thank you. It is great to see many exercise books covered. It protects them and makes them extra special.

PIANO/KEYBOARD LESSONS Liz Buchanan has a few spaces available for a half hour piano lesson during school hours. You can contact her on 542 3219 after 6pm, or 021 61 7261 for more details.

Amber Thompson

Room 1 Hi, I am Amber Thompson. I am teaching in Room 1 with Year 2 children this year. I am in my fifth year of teaching but this is the first year that I have my own classroom. I was born and bred in nelson and have relieved in most of the schools in this region. In my spare time I enjoy photography, four -wheel driving, baking and metal detecting! I am excited to be part of Tahunanui School this year and look forward to becoming a familiar face to all!

Murray McMillan

Room 4 Hi everyone my name is Murray McMillan and I am the new teacher in room 4. I grew up in Porirua, which is just north of Wellington, and for the past seven years I have taught in Wellington at two different schools. In the classroom I love teaching maths, science, technology and art. I am a big fan of many sports particularly basket-ball and football. I also enjoy listening to and collecting music and spending time with my young family. I am delighted to be teaching at Tahunanui School and look forward to meeting you all.

ABSENSES All classes are using an electronic attendance register. To comply with the Ministry of Education’s expectations all student absence must be coded. Any unexplained absence is deemed truancy. Please help us to get it right by providing a note or a phone message by 8.45am explaining why your child is away.

This enables the office staff to know who is not at school by 9.10am and to start checking straight away. This is obviously a safety benefit. Any student who is late, that is after the bell, must report to the office to say they are here.

POOL KEYS We have a limited number of pool keys available $50.00 (includes $10.00 key bond) for the remainder of the swimming season. These can be purchased at the school office.

Reminder - The pool area is smokefree and there is to be NO food in the pool area or changing rooms. Many thanks.

PAYMENTS - trips, performers, donation, camps etc To improve efficiency and record keeping most incidental costs will again be invoiced directly to you. In normal circumstances the invoices will be sent once or twice per term. The intention is to also enable families to pay in instalments and manage the year’s school expenses across the four terms.

The first invoice will be posted shortly. Initially the invoice will look high but hopefully regular and predicable costs will help budgeting at home and school!

Payments can be made electronically (see invoice) or at the office by eftpos or by placing money in an envelope with your child’s name and room number and what it’s for. This can be placed in the payments box and receipts will be issued.

For students to participate in extra curriculum activities eg sports fees, payment must be made prior to your child starting the activity.

If parents/whanau have financial difficulties please talk to the school as we may be able to assist. We really don’t want students being excluded from opportunities but the level of non payment has left the school with no alternative. Thank you for your cooperation. - Board of Trustees

CHANGE OF DETAILS If family situations, addresses, phone numbers or medical conditions have changed please notify the school office so that our records can be updated.

TERM DATES 2015 Term 1 Tuesday 3rd February - Thursday 2 April Good Friday - Friday 3rd April

Term 2 Monday 20th April - Friday 3 July ANZAC Day observance - Monday 27 April

Queen’s Birthday - Monday 1 June

Teacher Only Day - Tuesday 2 June

Term 3 Monday 20 July - Friday 25 September Term 4 Monday 12 October - Friday 18 December Labour Day - Monday 26 October

Teacher Only Day - Tuesday 27 October

HEALTH NEWS

• All students must be wearing bucket style hats when out-doors - caps are not accepted.

• Breakfast Club has started up again. Please don’t let your children arrive at school before 8.15am as Julie is not here until then. Any donations of fruit, marmite, vegemite or peanut butter will be greatly appreciated. If you would like your child to be included, Julie has the forms.

• Walk to School Day is next Wednesday 18 February. Everyone get active!

- Mrs Tambisari, Health Coordinator ALASTAIR COTTERILL TENNIS COACHING TERM 1 2015 Fun sports - tennis - sport for a lifetime

Alastair will be available for tennis coaching at our school and outside school time. All ages, all abilities, boys and girls, individual and group coaching. Great for building confidence. Contact Alastair 548 6984 or email: tigertennisnz@yahoo.com April school holidays tennis available 1st week. 2 day tennis coaching - 2 hours per day.

DRUM LESSONS Will be available again this year on a weekly basis. For further information please contact Andreas on 027 3155 079 or email stixonskinz@ihug.co.nz.

LIBRARY NEWS

The library welcomes all Tahunanui School families to library and e-space after school every Tuesday and Thursday 3.00-3.50pm. Tea and coffee available, a swap-a-book shelf for adults, some toys and colouring activities. Pre-schoolers are also welcome. Children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver (over 16 years).

- Karen Toll and Tania Trewavas

2014 HOUSE WINNERS

UNIFORM All students are in uniform. They look great and I’m sure it helps create a happier house in the morning and

playground at school. Over the next few weeks we will be reminding students and parents about the correct uniform. This means footwear, sneakers or sandals (not crocs, jandals or high heeled shoes). Bottoms must be plain navy blue shorts, skirts or longs, (not denim) The correct garment for warmth is the sweatshirt purchased from The Warehouse Nelson or the polar fleece purchased from Dot Neiman Leisurewear Forest Road Stoke. A brimmed hat must be worn in Terms 1 and 4.

69 Muritai Street Tahunanui Phone (03) 5486167 Email secretary@cloud.tahunanui.school.nz

Term 1 Librarians Congratulations to the new librarians: Zeeta A, Georgia I, Daisy R, Taila K, Ben R, Erwin G, Ashley W, Zoe H, Riley K, Atarina W, Chicchan N. Wade W, James S, Macs C, Isla S, Sam P, Cindy S, Harley H, Julianna W, Vasiliki G. Absent from photo Erwin G, Ashley W.

Congratulations to Whenua house winners for 2014