Linden School Website: www.linden.school.nz

Newsletter – 20th August 2014

Kia ora, Talofa lava, hi everyone, johm riab sua, neih hou, kia orana, goeiedag, bula, kumusta, Namaste, malo e lelei, chao anh, kohomada, merhaba, kia orana, fakoalofa atu.

Gosh, already half-way through the term, doesn’t time fly when you are having fun! What wonderful children we have here at Linden. Yesterday all the children in the Gardening club, under the supervision of Liz, cooked all the staff lunch from the garden. They had set up the hall to look like a restaurant, some played the piano, and waited on us. The meal was delicious. They really showed, confidence, competence, consideration and creativity. Ka pai tamariki. It has been great going down and watching our hockey teams on Saturday mornings. I am blown away by their team spirit and resilience. They have huge support from families but mostly from their coaches Gerard and Shane. Gerard has been coaching the teams for a few years now, and coaches teams his own children are not involved with. We are so lucky to have him help the children to develop not only hockey skills but also the skills of team-work, fair play and competitiveness. If you can get down to the games, it is really worthwhile. Next week we will be holding our bi-termly Powhiri, Friday at 10:30 am. We have quite a few new members in our community so please come along and support them. All of the children will be performing and you are invited to take part in the morning tea afterwards as well. We have a great fundraising opportunity on Tuesday 26th August. Tawa Community Theatre is presenting ‘More Murder Please’ a fun play with some audience involvement. They have offered us tickets to the dress rehearsal for $15 each. You will receive dessert and coffee with this payment, a fabulous laugh, and the enjoyment of watching a live play. Linden School receives all of the profits. So gather a group of friends together and join us for this

great night out. Tickets are available at the school office. See more details further on in the newsletter. Thank you to the families that came along to our Whanau Hui last Thursday. It was great to see the families there and we had some informative conversations. If you have anything that you would like to tell us about your child’s education, any questions you would like to ask us, or just a general chat please pop in and see us. We are always really keen to hear your ideas, our teachers are working really hard on raising achievement for all children and talking to you really helps. As part of our strategic aim to create a safe, welcoming and inclusive school, I went on a trip to Wanganui with all the other Tawa School Principals. We met and spoke to different schools about Restorative Practice, as well as Mark Corrigan who is with the Ministry of Education. It was a fascinating trip, and really looks like something that would work well for us. Part of implementing Restorative Practice will mean working with our community so everyone has the same understanding of how to respond. We will be developing these meetings in 2015. We have six of our children chosen to represent Linden School at the Tawa Zone swimming sports. They were chosen by the swimming teachers at their Thursday swimming lessons. We know you will Confident, Competent, and Considerate representing Linden school, we are all looking forward to hearing the results. Melanie Dean Principal

GOTCHA winners from the last

assembly: Byron, Room 2 for being creative when playing hopscotch. Tiare, Room 2 for being and considerate by picking up a friend from the buddy bus stop. Charlotte, Room 8 being competent and considerate by tidying the P.E. shed so beautifully. Elijah, Room 3 for being and considerate by picking rubbish at morning tea. Enya, Room 8 being confident, competent and considerate by saving a defenceless worms life.

Proud Moments … Our confident, competent, considerate and creative students

Some of the eager garden club kitchen hands

questions * practical information * early years to young adults*. The Ministry of Education is working on redeveloping its website and improving its online information for parents, families and whanau. This is in response to parents saying they don’t know where to start when looking for answers to their questions and that all the information available to them is overwhelming. The goal of the website is to provide a central place to give parents information and answers to their commonly asked questions in plain language so they feel well equipped to engage in their children’s education. Go to the MOE’s new Tawa zone swimming education portal at: www.parents.education.govt.nz Bookmarks provided with newsletter with the link to this website.

SWIMMING lessons tomorrow, please remember your togs and towel.

The Garden Club – thank you to Enya Rm 8 for donating celery and spring onion plants.

The work of the Board of Trustees – Boards and Legislation – National Education Guidelines A board is required to implement regulations called the National Education Guidelines. The National Education Guidelines are defined by section 60A Education Act 1989 and given effect by sections 61 and 62. The guidelines have five components: National Education goals (NEGs). Foundation Curriculum Policy Statements National Curriculum Statements National Standards National Administration Guidelines (NAGs)

A website about online information for parents and carers. *Answers to your

Notices and Reminders…

Mrs Dean enjoying her lunch

PARENTS & FRIENDS GROUP - ICON PHOTOGRAPHY FUNDRAISER – 20th Sept (same day as the general election). A reminder to please your orders in for this wonderful photo opportunity. This is a great fundraising opportunity as Linden School will receive the entire $10 sitting fee as well as 10% of any other photographs sold. The photographer will advise of the photo packages available at the shoot and organize the viewing time with you. The photographer will be at the school between 9am and 1pm and each sitting takes 10 minutes. We need to have a minimum of 25 bookings and payments. This offer is available to anyone, so please tell your family, friends and neighbours. All you have to do is return the voucher, along with $10 to the school office. Everyone who books will go into a draw to win a $259 photography package. An example of the photo and additional vouchers can be found in the Parents Hub. Once we have the required number of bookings we will advise times, so please indicate the times you are available on the voucher.

CLASSROOM HAPPENINGS …

Room 1 In Rūma Tahi, we have been learning about halves and quarters. In week 3, we made toast and had to ask what shape we would like it in and how we wanted in cut! Now, we are moving back into Number, working on counting forwards to 100 and counting backwards from 20! We are also working very hard in our different maths groups. We love to sing and dance our way through our maths learning!

Room 2 Room 2 are having a great time swimming this term. We are getting better all the time, we listen to our instructions and we are doing great arm circles and you should see us floating like starfish. Our art is great too, we are learning about festivals and celebrations in other cultures. This week we have learnt about Diwali and we are making Rangoli patterns, they will be very beautiful.

Room 3 Room 3 have been thinking creatively this term when learning about cultures. Here are some questions we have come up with: Is the England legend of Robin Hood real? What are some myths and legends from other countries? By Keira. What celebrations do they have in Tuvalu? By Romy and Catherine. What do people sleep on in England and Scotland? By Sophie and Flynn.

Room 8 In Room 8, we have been writing about Kiwiana culture. We have been confidently researching information to explain what Kiwiana is. Kiwiana is New Zealand stuff like pavlova, L&P, gumboots, flip flops, flag and buzzy bee toy. Kiwiana is important because only New Zealand has it and it represents us. It’s the best parts of New Zealand culture.

Room 9 Every day, for fifteen minutes from quarter to eleven we have Feed and Read, where the students drink their milk, have their morning tea, and listen to a story. We are currently reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis. The students can show they are considerate by having ‘quiet’ food (not in packets) and competent by listening to the text and discussing what it is about. Asking questions about interesting vocabulary shows the students are building confidence and creativity when they use some of the vocabulary and structures used in the text in their own writing.

Check out our blogs at www.linden.school.nz

COMMUNITY NOTICES 2014 Term dates Term 3: Mon 21 July to Fri 26 Sept Term 4: Mon 13 Oct to Wed 17 Dec

* Tawa-Lyndhurst Tennis Club Junior Tennis Registration Wednesday 3 September 3.30 -- 5.30pm Sunday 7 September 1 – 3pm · Meet the Club Coaches · Bring along your racquet and have a hit · Registration for Junior Club Night, Interclub and Coaching Junior Club Nights starts Week 1 Term 4. Year 1 - 3: Fridays 3.30 – 4.30pm Year 4 – Year 6: Fridays 4.30 – 5.30pm Year 7 – Year 13: Wednesdays 4.30 – 6.30pm Interclub team coaching: Wednesdays 4.30 - 7.30pm Junior Interclub ·Interclub is available on Saturdays and Sundays (depending upon grade) ·Team entry is due on 14thSeptember Tawa Hot Shots Tournament A new initiative this season this that we are going to run two Tawa based graded tournaments open to Tawa students and club members only. Entry is a gold coin donation and the club is sponsoring prizes. Our first torunament is being held on Sunday 21 September. Details to come via schools at the start of September. Contact: Julie Roberts Phone: 232 9301 Email: [email protected]

*ASB SUPPORTING SUCCESS IN OUR SCHOOLS – An opportunity to support Linden School if you are buying a house: For every new ASB home loan over $150,000 taken out before 31 December 2014, nominate Linden School and ASB will donate $500 to our school. Download the voucher from asb.co.nz/schoolbanking .

*Spring into Tawa Market Day is going to be held on Saturday September 13, from 9am12.30pm. Please contact the Tawa Community Centre for an application form, or for any more information. * Please HELP!!!

Volunteer Reader Writers for Students with Special Assessment Conditions (URGENTLY required for mock exams from the 14th August to 22nd August) and beyond if you are available. Tawa College has made a commitment to assist students with specific learning needs. The Learning Support Department requires volunteers to either read or write for students when they sit tests or exams. This role usually takes 70 minutes per test. Volunteers are able to nominate when they are free to assist the students. Training will be given so that all tests align with NZQA guidelines.

* More Murder Please is the Tawa Community Theatre Group's new show. Vote for laughs...Vote for...MMP. Another Dubious reason to head back to the polling booth. 28th-30th Aug 4th-6th Sept at the Linden Social Centre. Tickets $39, includes a 3 course meal. Bookings Essential ph 232 3711 *Storylines Free Family Day Festival, Wellington, Sunday 24th Aug 10-3pm at the Michael Fowler Centre. Celebrate the joy of reading. Come share the excitement of NZ books with your children. Authors, illustrators and performers. Got to: www.storylines.org.nz

*Gifted Child? Here’s your chance to come and try out One Day School, New Zealand’s longest running programme for gifted learners. On Thursday 4th September 2014, Mind Adventure Day (MAD) sessions will be held 9.30am – 12.00pm for children aged 6-8 years, and from 1.00pm 3.30pm for children aged 9-13 years. Sessions will be held in our One Day School classroom at Rangikura School, 95 Conclusion St, Ascot Park, Porirua. The cost is $35 per family and pre-registration is required. Teachers, and parents of children registering, are most welcome. For more information, or to book a place for your child, please phone Shirley on 04 232 3523 or email [email protected]; website: www.giftededucation.org.nz Kids Cross Country Series The next Kids Cross Country Series event for year 1 to year 8 students is at Grenada North Park in Tawa on Sunday 31 August. Get a few friends together and form a team. Team and individual awards. For more information or to enter go to www.athleticshub.co.nz or email [email protected] or phone 021 976116. Enter before 24 August for a personalised race bib on the day.

UPCOMING SCHOOL EVENTS Tues 26 Aug Linden School fundraiser at the Linden Social Centre 7.30pm: More Murder Please! Friday 29 Aug Room 1 Assembly Sausage Sizzle by Parents & Friends Mon 1 Sept Parents and Friends 6pm Friday 12 September Room 9 Assembly Thursday 18 September Last swimming lesson Sat 20 Sept General Election, Linden School polling booth Tuesday 23 September Tawa Goes to Town Fri 26 Sept – last day term 3 Sausage sizzle by Parents & Friends Room 8 Assembly Mon 13 Oct – First day term 4 First day term 4 Mon 20 Oct – Thurs 24 Oct Linden School Production week Friday 31 Oct Sausage sizzle by Parents & Friends Mon 3 Nov Parents and Friends 6pm Friday 28 November Sausage Sizzle by Parents & Friends Mon 1 Dec Parents and Friends 6pm Friday 12 December Sausage Sizzle by Parents & Friends Wed 17 Dec – Last day of school year School finishes at 12.15pm