| Thursday 2nd June 2022 | Term 2 Week 5  |
Kia ora e te whānau,
The end of this week has been marked by a significant ‘up-tick’ in staff cases of covid and the need for household members to isolate. We are able to keep afloat for the remainder of this week and will update the community if anything changes in this respect. Please be patient with responses to emails, queries and meeting requests. It is likely that these will be deferred until late next week.
Friday afternoon brings forth a much welcomed long weekend for our students who have been working exceptionally hard to meet their learning goals. I’m looking forward in the coming weeks to visiting the Year 1-8 classes engaging in our DMIC (Developing Mathematical Inquiry Communities) work with Massey University and hearing some student stories of the progress they are making, You’ll know that improving Mathematics engagement and achievement forms the bulk of our annual learning goal for the Primary age students. I’ll be looking to collate some feedback from students as we approach the middle of our first year of DMIC and report that in an upcoming newsletter.
As we approach the middle of the school year, the teachers are preparing for Conferences on the 23rd of June. This event is all day from 9 am to 7 pm, there are no classes for students on that day, but they should attend the Conference alongside you. The information from these sessions feeds into the Mid-Year Reports due at the end of the term. This year, bookings for Conferences have moved online. You are welcome to book your slots with teachers as of today. There are instructions for booking later in this newsletter. I would advise getting in early to ensure you are happy with the booking time and can find convenient times for siblings. On the 23rd of June, we encourage you to visit the Middle School foyer to enjoy a display of Matariki learning and enjoy some kai and coffee in the Foods Room.
At around the same time (22nd June from 1-3 pm), we’ll also be inviting parents of new entrants arriving in the second half of the year to a ‘Meet and Greet’ with Brooke Smith (New Entrant Teacher), Kay Potter (Head of the Junior School) and myself. Invitations to those parents will arrive soon. If you missed out at the end of last year due to the inevitable covid cancellation, please give the office a call to be included in this afternoon. Even if your child has already started school, you are very welcome!
On Friday this week, we are pleased to be welcoming Alex Iro from North Otago Netball Development. Their representatives will be running sessions with keen junior netballers throughout the day. Many thanks to Chelsea Lousley and Ansja de Boer for organising these sessions.
Enjoy the long weekend!
He waka eke noa,
Kate Staniford
Tumuaki | Principal
Head Student Louie Skinner has news about the Sheilah Winn competition in Wellington and the National Area Schools Tournament.
We are on the countdown to Wellington! When you read this, we will be on our way. Excitement is mounting!
Mid-year Parent Conference bookings are now open! Instructions on how to book your appointment with your child's teacher/NCEA mentor can be found here.
For the past three weeks Team Bootcampers have been busy in the community stacking wood for anyone who needs a hand.
M1 and M2 ākonga have finished creating their videos! These videos show the procedure that police follow when a crime as been committed, and has taught students some cool new digital skills.
Congratulations to our Star Students from last week's Junior Assemblies. They were presented with their award and WAKA Value card.
Ākonga in M2 are currently working on a unit coding Microbits. Microbits are pocket-sized computers that help introduce students to how software and hardware work together.
We are proud to announce Monique as not only Twizel Area School's first Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) representative, but the sole entry from TAS this year.
The Kai Warmer is now available for the winter. Students can bring their food to be heated for lunchtime during the colder weather months.
Just a reminder that Monday, 6th June is Queen's Birthday, meaning that school will be closed. Enjoy your long weekend and we will see you all on Tuesday!
A casual vacancy has occurred on the school board for an elected parent representative.
During the last year or two, many of us discovered what our children, and especially our teenagers, had known for a long time – technology, and social media in particular, is a great way to stay connected with others and to maintain, and even strengthen, relationships.
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