| Thursday 10th November 2022 | Term 4 Week 4  |
Kia ora e te whānau,
Thank you to the parents that turned up en masse to help with Athletics and special thanks to the Home and School Team who put on a fantastic sausage sizzle!! It was a great day with many Twizel achievements. I was situated at the high jump, and enjoyed watching our Year 4-6 students soar over the bar. It was great to have the assistance of our Year 10 students on the day too - thank you for your awhinataka when assisting the younger students. We have the upcoming Y1-3 Mini Athletics on November 24th from 9 am, we’re looking forward to seeing you there! Our amazing Home and School team are also organising a Disco on the 24th of November (Years 1-3, 5-6.30pm and Years 4-6, 6.30-8pm). Come along for a dance - venue TBC!
Late last week, I received some very persuasive writing from Room 7. Have a look at the article later in this newsletter which shows the interesting things they were persuading me to consider. Thanks, Room 7, you’re fabulous!
The Ministry of Education is conducting a bus route review in our region. This is due to new roading and subdivisions. Our service has not been reviewed since 2015, so you can imagine that a lot has changed since then. Once we have received any information about the outcome of this review, the Board will share it with families.
We’re at the point in the year where we have received our funding notice and staffing agreement from the Ministry of Education for 2023. This allows us to start to consider the composition of the timetable for 2023, and the class allocations. Just like last year, we will aim to notify you of class placements towards the end of this term. Our staffing has confirmed that we are only able to sustain three middle school classes next year as our smaller ‘bubble’ moves through the school. The Board have met and confirmed the decision to reduce the middle school to three classes. This will mean there will be a mixed Y7/8 (M1), Y8/9 (M2) and Y9/10 (M3).
For clarity, here is our school policy for placing students in classes:
- Students are allocated places in classes based on age.
Using age:- allows leaders to create classes that most closely resemble those of single-year groups
- is a clear and transparent criteria that can be easily understood
- is objective
In exceptional circumstances, the principal, in consultation with parents, takes into account the specific needs of individual students, including additional support needs, and social, emotional, or behavioural considerations. Friendship groups or preferred teachers are not on their own considered as exceptional factors, but may be taken into account alongside specific needs. The placement of siblings within the year group is discussed with parents, and their views are taken into account where possible. It may be necessary for siblings to be in the same composite class.
Of course, change is inevitable in any large system, so I also need to let you know of leaving staff at the end of this year. Mr and Mrs Potter have both tendered their resignations, they plan to leave Twizel at the end of the school year. Miss McAuley has secured a position in the bright lights of Wellington City, Miss Haanen has accepted a permanent position in Wyndham and Mrs McGifford finishes her contract in the middle school and, of course, leaves to have her baby in early 2023. We wish them all well, and hope to hear plenty about their new adventures! The Board is in the process of advertising the necessary positions.
I can confirm two upcoming dates for your diary that have shifted slightly since they were first brought to your attention. Friday 25th November is the NZEI Paid Union Meeting for all Primary Teachers, as such, school will finish straight after the Junior Assembly for our Y1-6 students. Please arrange to collect your Y1-6 child at 12.35 on Friday 25th November.
Tuesday 29th November is the PPTA Paid Union Meeting for all Secondary Teachers, as such, school will finish at the start of lunchtime for our Y7-10 students. Please arrange to collect your Y7-10 child at 12.35 on Tuesday 29th November. If you are unable to supervise your child on either afternoon, please call the school office, we may be able to provide supervision for the afternoon.
Enjoy your belated South Canterbury Anniversary day, and we’ll see you on Monday!
He waka eke noa,
Kate Staniford
Tumuaki | Principal
Read about Year 12 student, Monique's experience this year with the Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) and how she faired in the end-of-year awards. 🏆
Room 5 students took advantage of a perfect Twizel spring day yesterday afternoon with a spontaneous trip to the river with Mr Metcalfe! 😎
This week, Mrs Staniford received some persuasive writing letters from Room 7 ākonga. They ranged from wishing for a school disco, and bringing your 'wheels' to school, to wearing your slippers in class! 🪩 🛴 🥿 However, Mrs Staniford's reply surprised everyone!
Room 9 tamariki have been mastering the art of Pétanque with Mrs Mullins and this French game has been a firm favourite for students of late. 🇫🇷 👍
Schools from around the region, including Duntroon, Kurow and Omarama, came together in Twizel on Friday last week for the Upper Waitaki Athletics Day. 🏃🏼♂️ 👟 There were some great results from Twizel Area School students, several of which are going to compete in the NOPSSA Athletics in Oamaru. 👍
How you buy school stationery for your tamariki and rangatahi is changing for 2023. ✏️ 🖇 📚 It's a change that ensures whānau members can take a lot more control of students' stationery needs to start the new school year, and beyond. 😉 Read the details here...
Room 5 ākonga, along with Ms McAuley, Karatī Metcalfe and Bevan Newlands battled the Spring weather last week, but a good time was definitely had by all. 🏕 💨 😎 Even with plans having to be shifted, everyone came back with a story to tell and a smile on their face!
Although we still haven't finished 2022 yet, we thought we'd share our 2023 term dates with you. We will obviously advise you of other dates such as Teacher Only Days once the final details have been ironed out!
Ākonga from Rooms 7 & 8 joined together on Wednesday to celebrate the year and spend some time together. 🥳 They had a blowing-up-a-balloon race, balloon races, running races, shared kai, including popcorn, hot chips and bread, and a wee treat in the afternoon! 🎈 🏃🏼♂️ 🍿
Congratulations to Yug Thapa on his selection for the 2022 Southern Primary Schools Tennis Championship on Friday 14th November in Dunedin. 🎾 This is a tremendous honour with only 6 players (3 boys & 3 girls) per Southern Association selected in each category - plus one wild card. 👍
The 2022 NCEA Exams have started and continue through until December 2nd. Here you can find all the information you require including what to do before, during and after an exam, what to bring to the exams and general exam etiquette.
Here is the 2022 NCEA Exam Timetable. Exams run until Friday 2nd December with two sessions per day, 9.30 am and 2 pm. Be organised, be punctual, and if you have any questions make sure you contact Mrs O'Carroll well in advance of your exam.
Science teacher Denise Arkless is planning to start a group that goes out after school on Thursdays this term and term 1 in 2023 to work on wilding pine removal. 🌲🌲🌲 Check out the details here...
The seventh issue of the Scholastic Book Club for 2022 is now available, orders need to be placed by Monday 5th December. You can order through the Scholastic website https://mybookclub.scholastic.co.nz or the Book Club Loop app.
It’s your first year of NCEA exams, and you’re looking at the stressed-out year 12s, the lifeless Year 13s, and (if you’re a normal, reasonable human being) you’re probably starting to question what the heck you got yourself into. Welcome to the weird world of NCEA. Year 11s… this one's for you!
Just a reminder that tomorrow, Friday 11th November, is the rearranged South Canterbury Anniversary Day, meaning that school will be closed. Enjoy your long weekend, let's hope for some nice weather and we will see you all on Monday!
→ Friday, 11th November — South Canterbury Anniversary Day
→ Tuesday, 15th November — Middle School Marae Day
→ Wednesday, 16th November — New Entrant Welcome Afternoon
→ Wednesday, 16th November — Science Roadshow
→ Thursday, 17th November — BoT Meeting - 5pm
→ Friday, 18th November — Support Staff Day
→ Monday, 21st to Thursday, 24th November — M2/M3 Camp
→ Tuesday, 22nd November — Primary Marae Day
→ Thursday, 24th November — Junior Athletics Morning Year 1-3
→ Thursday, 24th November — Junior Disco
→ Friday, 25th November 12:30pm to 3:00pm — NZEI Paid Union Meeting
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