2023 Newsletter - Week 4, Term 4
Greenmeadows School, 3rd November Newsletter #17: 2023
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Tēnā koutou kātoa,
A huge mihi to our community for supporting our tsunami hīkoi drill two weeks ago. The drill went very well and it would seem that we are getting better at it as we arrived quicker than usual! Despite some sheep appearing in the paddock where we normally gather, we were still able to congregate nearby and the slight change in routine did not affect the overall objective for the drill.
I have been learning a lot in the role of Acting Principal. Recently, I have been able to take some time out from regular principal duties to work with some of our older children. I was lucky enough to go sailing with our Year 6 children a couple of weeks ago - it is always amazing to see how these learners grow in confidence in such a short space of time. This week I have been out at Guthrie Smith Camp with some of our Year 5 children and I will be out there again tomorrow with the remaining Year 5 learners. What an awesome opportunity for these kids to get a little out of their comfort zone! Thank you to our teachers and parent helpers for taking time away from their own families to take our students away for this experience.
I'd also like to say a big thank you to Ally Ross, who has been here this week, juggling the regular demands of a school day, including dealing with some COVID-related absence! I appreciate the way that she, Ali, and the rest of the Greenmeadows staff have been flexible over the past week to keep our learning programmes operating efficiently.
Ka kite anō,
Darren Holloway
Acting Principal
WELCOME TO GREENMEADOWS SCHOOL
We have lots of new faces around school since our last newsletter - a very warm welcome to Luke Neverman, Pippa and Eva Mockford, Sansa Pettagan, Esme & William McGeady, Enzo Marsh, Klara Marinus and Lochie Still.
Our roll at present is 489.
TERM DATES 2024
We still have plenty of 2023 left, but for those of you who like to plan ahead, here are our term dates for next year.
Term 1: 31 January - 12 April (Easter holidays span weeks 9 and 10)
Term 2: 29 April - 5 July
Term 3: 22 July - 27 September
Term 4: 14 October - 17 December
These dates should align with other schools in our area. Please note that we are still in the process of confirming Teacher Only Days for next year.
SCHOOL CAMPS
For the past 2 years, our Year 5 learners have visited Guthrie Smith Camp out at Tutira. They visit for 3 days (2 nights) and get to take part in many activities, including: low ropes, mud run, flying kiwi, Canadian canoeing, night walk, spaghetti tangle, and toasting marshmallows over the campfire! In 2023, the cost was $170 per child. We are incredibly grateful to Leon Hammond, of Bidfood, whose very generous donation of food helped keep this fee as low as possible in 2022 and 2023.
Our Year 6 children will soon go to Wellington, where they will visit such sites as: Te Papa, Wellington Zoo, Capital E, Somes Island (and ferry ride), Jumparama, Parliament, Cable Car, Botanical Gardens. In 2023, the cost of this camp was $325 per child. We are grateful to Pub Charity and Lion Foundation for grants that have helped keep these camp costs as low as possible.
Are you the parent of a child who is presently in Year 4 or 5? If so, we'd love to hear from you regarding the above outdoor programmes that we offer to children in our senior syndicate. Please fill in this very short survey to help us plan for 2024.
ATHLETICS DAY, YEAR 3-6 STUDENTS - WEDNESDAY 8TH NOVEMBER
9.40-10.10am - Sprints - Year 6, Throws - Year 5, High Jump - Year 4, Distance - Yr 3 girls, Long jump - Yr 3 boys
The next four rotations will see each year group move to the next activity at the following times:-
10.10-10.40am - Rotation #2
10.40-11.00am - Morning tea
11.10-11.40am - Rotation #3
11.40-12.10am - Rotation #4
12.15-1.00pm - Lunch
1.05-1.35pm - Rotation #5
1.35-2.35pm - Sprint finals/Relay
SCHOOL PHOTOS - TUESDAY 7TH NOVEMBER
Make sure uniforms are clean and you've brushed your hair!
CHURCH CARPARK
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS PARTNERSHIP
GRAND PARENTS RAISING GRAND CHILDREN
We are looking at starting up a support group for grandparents raising grandchildren. This would be an informal group, meeting possibly once a fortnight in our staffroom, to provide support and friendship. If you would be interested in being part of this group, please contact the office and leave your name and phone number and we will be in contact.
FOOD FOR THE WORMS PLEASE
BOARD OF TRUSTEE ELECTIONS - VOTING CLOSES 15TH NOVEMBER
You should of received your voting papers in the mail by now. Voting papers need to be returned to the school office no later than noon on Wednesday 15th November 2023.
GMS SCHOOL APP
This is how we communicate with the school community any importmant messages or reminders.
Contact Us
Email: admin@gms.school.nz
Website: http://www.gms.school.nz/
Location: Greenmeadows School 45 Osier Road, Greenmeadows, Napier, New Zealand
Phone: +64 06-844 7024
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gmsnapier