Ardmore School Newsletter Clevedon Road, RD 2, Papakura, Auckland 2582

ph 09-299-6228

[email protected]

www.ardmore.school.nz

#5

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S LAPTOP Tēnā koutou katoa Welcome back to Term 2.

We especially welcome any new children to the school.

I’m happy to announce that Mrs Torie Muir and her husband are now the proud parents of Maisie Louise Muir. The family are all well and happily ensconced at home. Mrs Kate Martin who is teaching in Room 10 has been appointed as the Junior Team Leader to replace Mrs Muir. ICT INFORMATION EVENING: On Wednesday 22 April from 7pm - 8pm in the school hall, there will be an information evening in relation to Bring Your Own Devices (BYOD), and the introduction of Google Docs to the school. While this is of major interest for Year 3 to Year 8 children and their families, everyone is encouraged to attend this evening as it outlines the future direction of the school in relation to computers as a tool for learning. ANZAC REMEMBRANCE ASSEMBLY: - On Friday 24th April at 9am in the School Hall the school is holding an ANZAC Remembrance Assembly. As part of the assembly (weather permitting), the school will be walking down to the Ardmore District Hall to the Ardmore District War Memorial. Classes will be laying wreaths at the memorial. This assembly is open to anyone from the community who would like to attend. The school has “poppies “ available for a gold coin donation. FIELDS OF REMEMBRANCE TRUST: - The next four years mark the centenary of World War I. This war had a huge impact on our society with 18,200 New Zealanders dead and a further 41,000 wounded. The Fields of Remembrance Trust has been established to honour those who served and fought for our nation during World War I. The Trust is supporting communities to establish Fields of Remembrance throughout New Zealand and to learn, value and retain this part of our nation's history. The Fields of Remembrance Trust is made up of the Passchendaele Society, the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association New Zealand (RSA) which represents all the local RSAs, and the Auckland RSA. The Ministry of Education is partnering with the trust to support schools to set up their own Field of Remembrance in time for Anzac Day 2015 so that young New Zealanders have the opportunity to honour, value and learn about the service and sacrifice of so many during World War 1. Each school and kura has been given 30 white crosses to commemorate the men and women who died for New Zealand, so that

students can establish their own Field of Remembrance. The crosses bear the names of 30 local men and women from the Auckland region that served and died during the war. Watch out for Ardmore School’ s Field of Remembrance which is being installed on the grass area above Room 5. You can find more information about the Trust on its website: www.fieldsofremembrance.org.nz FUTURE PROJECT: - The stand of trees in the playground area by the Junior classrooms was planted for each soldier from the Ardmore District who died in World War 1. Towards the end of last year and at the beginning of this year the school undertook health and safety pruning, and unfortunately some culling of the trees, to ensure the safety of the children and the longevity of the remaining trees. With New Zealand marking the centenary of World War I over the next four years, the school is planning to undertake a landscaping project, which will support the life of the trees, reflect the historical significance and provide the junior children with an improved play area. Later in the year we will be asking for parent support for working bees to help us in the revitalisation of this area. WAI CARE GROUP: - Ardmore School's WaiCare Group have entered the "March Monitoring Month Competition". There are entries from all over Auckland. Check them out and ‘like’ your favourite - hopefully that's Ardmore School's entry. To view the entries and vote, go to the Wai Care Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/waicarenz VOTING CLOSES 27th April at 5pm and winners will be announced on April the 28th. STUDENT SUCCESSES: Congratulations to these Room 7 children who have been involved in events over the holidays: Nakoia who qualified for the New Zealand Junior Swimming Champs in 3 different events Joshua who participated in the Halberg Disability Games in Cambridge. He came first in three events, third in one event and received a trophy for badminton. Brooke who competed in the Under 18s Series 1 on Taekwondo. She received a first and two third placings. Please let us know if your child has successes outside of school. It is wonderful to be able to share these. Nga mihi nui Brigid Peterson Principal

BOARD OF TRUSTEES NEWS Mrs Samantha Heath has been appointed as a board member to replace Mr Doug Black who resigned at the end of the year. We are very grateful to Samantha who has two children at Ardmore School; Korenza and Malachy. This term the Board will be consulting with the school community in relation to the Health and Physical Education programmes currently in place. Please watch out for further information in relation to this consultation process.

ARDMORE PARENT SUPPORT GROUP Term 2 2015 Meeting Dates Wednesday 6 May

Wednesday 3 June

Wednesday 1 July

All meetings are held in the school staffroom at 7.30pm. We would love to see some new faces. They are an informal, friendly gathering where parents get together and discuss what fundraising activities happen within the school and how these funds are spent. There is no obligation to join the PSG, but we welcome everyone's feedback, help and support in assisting the school to provide resources which will benefit all our children.

ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS Order your new Entertainment™ Membership from us today, and 20% of your Membership goes towards our fundraising for Ardmore School. Entertainment™ Memberships are packed with hundreds of up to 50% off and 2-for-1 offers for the best local restaurants, cafés, attractions, hotel accommodation, travel, and much more! Plus enjoy new offers from Lone Star, Red Shed Palazzo, The Blacksmith, The Sugarloaf, Stampede Bar & Grill, Bounce and Beyond, Texture Café, Euro, Columbus Coffee, Jervois Steak House, AA Auto Service & Repair Centre’s, Riverhead Tavern, Flying Burrito Brothers, De Fontein Belgian Beer Café and MANY MORE!! Available as a traditional Entertainment™ Book -or- Digital Membership on your smartphone, your Membership gives you over $20,000 worth of valuable offers valid through to 1 June 2016! PRE-ORDER YOUR NEW 2015 I 2016 ENTERTAINMENT MEMBERSHIP BEOFRE 31st MARCH AND RECEIVE AN EXTRA $160 WORTH OF VOUCHERS THAT YOU CAN START USING RIGHT AWAY! (Due to the popularity of the NEW Digital Membership physical Books will be very limited this year so don’t miss out and preorder today. Please note: Pre-ordered Books will receive a sheet of 6 x vouchers and pre-ordered Digital Books will have their “early bird” vouchers downloaded onto their phones!) CLICK HERE from 16th March 2015 to order yours today! http://www.entbook.co.nz/990q84

Kelly Sports is coming to Ardmore School Kelly Sports is NZ’s leading independent children’s sports programme provider and is coming to Ardmore School with an awesome programme in term 2 for year 0 – 4 students. Kelly Sports is a fun filled action packed way for kids to keep fit, develop new skills and give sport a go. The term 2 programme will give kids the opportunity to play Rippa Rugby, Hockey, Netball and Football (Soccer). Look out for a notice coming home soon. Website; www.kellysports.co.nz E-mail; [email protected]

School Calendar Please be aware that the new school website is now up and running. You will find a calendar on the front page that details all school events.

VOLUNTEER VACANCY: Would you like to "give back" to your community and support an organization that supports mothers with postnatal depression? Perhaps you are a stay-at-home mum wanting to gain confidence and a great reference before returning to the workforce? Do you have skills/experience in administration? Do you have 8 hours per week to volunteer your time (1-2hrs per day) that you can work from home? Did you know that there is little or no recovery or support programmes for mothers with mild-moderate Postnatal Depression for most of New Zealand? Mothers Helpers is looking for someone who would be enthusiastic to start something in their area. We are seeking an "Area Manager" in your local area who can commit to volunteering with us for a minimum of three months. Full training and support is given. If you're interested, email your CV and Cover Letter by 26th April to: [email protected]

HORSE GRAZING AVAILABLE Hamlin Road $25 p/w Txt / call Mary 021-067-8201