| Thursday 20th October 2022 | Term 4 Week 1  |
Kia ora e te whānau,
Welcome back to Term 4! We’ve had a bumpy start to the term with continued staff leave and sickness as well as some vandalism outside and inside the school during the holidays. We continue to work in the best way we can to meet everybody’s needs, but please have an awareness that teaching and support staff are stretched at the moment. That being said, we’re looking forward to a learning-packed term with greater opportunities to gather together.
This week commenced with Teaching Staff and Teacher Aide Training from our PB4L (Positive Behaviour for Learning) expert, John Taylor. The sessions were fantastic. The focus for our Teacher Aides was active playground supervision with positive reinforcements. The focus for our Teaching Staff is linked to brain development research and acknowledging appropriate behaviours. This links to the work we are undertaking to strengthen our school values and the development of our graduate profile.
Yesterday and today, all staff had the opportunity to engage with our architecture team for the second phase of our Design process. Our mahi concentrated on ‘adjacencies’ e.g. what needs to be next to what - so we can ensure flow through the building. I’m feeling excited as we work through the decision-making processes. I’m looking forward to a future sign-off of our Master Plan so that we can share our plans with the community. As you know, this is currently under negotiation with the Ministry of Education regarding facility provision.
Earlier this week, a notification was sent to parents of students in Years 1-6 regarding the Junior Assembly time for this term. The Junior Assembly continues to be held in the Community Theatre and will remain on Friday, the time will now be 12-12.30 pm.
Please note that this term there are three mandated events in the calendar, two for NCEA (Teacher Only Days - no classes - 1st and 2nd December), and a PPTA Paid Union Meeting where students in Years 7-13 will end their day at 12.30 pm on 28th November (buses will run at the normal time).
I’m pleased to announce our new Student Representative on the Board of Trustees as Ariki Curtis. Ariki completes training with NZSTA this week, and then joins the team for his first meeting in November. Congratulations Ariki!
I’m also pleased to share the news that Louie Skinner, our Head Student, has been awarded an Otago University Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship to undertake study in 2023. Congratulations Louie!
Tomorrow (Friday), there will be a Community Kapa Haka Session at Te Whare Mahana from 4 - 5 pm, feel free to come along and join in.
Next week, Clare Frost is at the helm of Arts in Action Week - look out for some exciting works in the making, as well as new learning in Dance…. Thank you to Clare for the work that has gone into the organisation of this event!
He waka eke noa,
Kate Staniford
Tumuaki | Principal
Head students, Louie and Lily were selected to take part in the National Schools Shakespeare Performance for 2022 in Dunedin during the school holidays. They joined students from all over New Zealand in a week-long intensive course, studying aspects of Shakespeare’s works and three of his plays in particular…
Arts in Action returns to Twizel Area School next week with a timetable full, including dance, printmaking, painting and more. 💃 🎨 🎭 There are also several performances the school community is invited to watch.
Our school is aligned with three other area schools in the southern region (Lawrence, Maniototo and Roxburgh) in a group known as a Kāhui Ako or Community of Learning. This is primarily for teacher networking and shared professional learning. We also aim to build student connections. This year, post-Covid,…
In preparation for 2023, Year 10, 11 and 12 students returning in 2023 are invited to the Course Information Evening with their parents/caregivers on Wednesday 2nd November at 6 pm.
Ākonga in Room 13 have started their Term 4 Antarctic topic in icy fashion this week. ❄️ ⛴ 🐧 They learned about the Endurance shipwreck that was found in Antarctica in March this year and created some fantastic shipwreck artwork!
A new NZ Uniforms store is coming to Timaru, opening on 31st October. This will certainly make things a little easier for us in Twizel with the Twizel Area School uniform stock being moved closer, if you wish to purchase from a physical store rather than online.
The Mackenzie District Council have a fantastic opportunity for senior students who are interested in applying for the Mackenzie County Scholarship & Bruce Scott Memorial Prize. The closing date for applications is Wednesday 2nd November.
In preparation for this year's Prizegiving ceremony, can any student who was awarded a trophy last year, please return it to school by Friday, 18th November?
StudyIt forums for NCEA students are now open. If you have students preparing for end-of-year exams in NCEA Levels 1-3 English, Maths or Science, the StudyIt forums have reopened.
We have had a report of Hand, Foot and Mouth symptoms within our community, please look out for symptoms with your tamariki. It is most common in children under 10 years old, and in most cases it is mild. Click the link here for more information. 🤒
A reminder that Technology company Cyclone have an online ordering portal to make it easier for parents and caregivers to purchase BYOD devices for rangatahi heading into 2023.
Don't forget your sunhat! They are a compulsory item for students in years 1-6 during Terms 1 & 4.
We have had a report of Chicken Pox in the Middle School. If your child has symptoms, please keep them away from school. For more information about symptoms and treatment, click the link. 🤒
Just a reminder that Monday, 24th October is Labour Day, meaning that school will be closed. Enjoy your long weekend, good luck to the Twizel Hard Labour Weekend competitors, and let's hope for some nice weather. 🚴♀️ 🌞 We will see everyone back at school on Tuesday!
Here are some Term 4 dates for your diary...
There are lots of reasons why kids (and teens) lie. From creative imaginations to embarrassment to covering themselves, but when should you actually believe them and when does a white lie become something more?
→ Monday, 24th October — Labour Day
→ Tuesday, 25th to Friday, 28th October — Arts in Action
→ Wednesday, 26th October — Year 11 NCEA Art Folios final day
→ Monday, 31st October to Tuesday, 1st November — St Johns in Schools - Year 1-10
→ Wednesday, 2nd November 6:00pm — Senior Course Information Evening
→ Wednesday, 2nd November — Year 12 NCEA Art Folios final day
→ Friday, 4th November — UW Athletics
→ Monday, 7th to Thursday, 10th November — M1/M2 Camps (specific days tbc)
→ Monday, 7th November — NCEA Exams begin
→ Thursday, 10th November — Year 13 NCEA Art Folios final day
→ Thursday, 10th November — Brainwave - Yr 9/10
→ Friday, 11th November — South Canterbury Anniversary Day
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