Term 3 Updates 28.7.22

He mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa - Warm greetings to you all

Welcome to Term 3! The weather has certainly provided us with some challenges and many talking points. I have enjoyed listening to many holiday adventures as I have wandered around the school this week. A special welcome to new families, whose children have started at Ilam this term.

As advised in an email sent on Monday 25 July, the Ministry of Education has advised all schools that mask wearing is a requirement for learners in Year 4 and above. This is due to COVID-19 and winter illnesses being prevalent in the wider community. While we have not seen large numbers of COVID-19 illness at Ilam, we have had steady case numbers of both students and teachers affected. We know that mask wearing is one of the factors that limits the spread of COVID and other airborne illnesses. While this is not a big shift in our current policy at the Orange setting of the Covid Protection Framework, we know mask wearing may cause some learners concern. As we have done throughout the year we will take individual needs into consideration and ensure mask breaks are a regular occurance. We are well stocked with child and adult masks, they are readily available from classrooms and the office. Thank you for your continued support with these requirements.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to get in touch with me.

Have a lovely remainder of the week. We hope you are managing to stay dry!

Belinda Kennedy and the Ilam School Team

Please find the following information in this Update:

• Friday Winter Sport Cancelled for Friday 29 July

• Mr Dolan - Leaving assembly 12 August 9.30am

• Student Learning Conferences

• Mihi Whakatau

• Kapa Haka

• Board of Trustees information regarding the upcoming elections

• PTA information

• Book Club

• Term dates

We have received this message from Primary Sport Canterbury regarding Friday Winter Sport for tomorrow:

Unfortunately, we have to CANCEL Winter Weekly Sport on Friday 29 July due to ground closures. CCC has informed us that the grounds will definitely not be open before Saturday.

A farewell assembly has been planned for Friday 12 August at 9.30am. We look forward to celebrating Mr Dolan’s wonderful leadership during his time at Ilam. Please note we will start the assembly at 9.30am so if you wish to attend please come a little early to ensure a seat.

If you would like to write Mr Dolan a card or note we have a box just inside the office foyer for collection.

WEDNESDAY 3 AUGUST 2022 3.15 pm – 6:15 pm & 6:45 pm - 8.00 pm

THURSDAY 4 AUGUST 2022 3.15 pm – 6.00 pm

Learning Conferences are scheduled for next Wednesday, 3 August and Thursday, 4 August. Positive, open relationships between parents and teachers are paramount in achieving success for children. The children’s mid-year reports will be the basis of the discussion at the conferences. By the end of each learning conference we want parents to have a clear understanding of the following:

• How children are in class from a social/emotional perspective.

• Where children are achieving at on the New Zealand Curriculum for the areas reported on.

• How this achievement compares to the ‘Ilam End-of-Year Expectations’ for their year group.

• What progress children have made this year.

• What children's next learning steps/goals are.

• How you can help with your child’s learning at home.

To book your Learning Conference, go to www.schoolinterviews.co.nz

• Enter the school code 6f3ck and press ‘GO’.

• You will be guided through three steps. A few moments later you will get an email confirming your Learning Conference time. You can return to the site and change your conference time whenever you wish.

• Bookings will close TUESDAY 2 AUGUST at 4pm

Welcome to New Whānau and tamariki,

Our whole School will be formally welcoming our new learners and their whānau joining the Ilam School Team. At the Mihi Whakatau any new tamariki and their whānau who have joined us from the 20th May until Thursday 18th August 2022 will be welcomed.

Our new families will collect their child/children from their classes, then meet in the wharepukapuka (library) at 9.45am.

Following both Mihi Whakatau we invite families to stay and enjoy some refreshments in the hall.

Any questions or queries please contact teresa.johnston@ilam.school.nz

Kapa Haka Practise

If your child is part of Ilam School’s Kapa Haka group we would like tamariki to practise the waiata and movements at home. The programme for them to practise from is available on our Ilam School website under the Learning tab.

Click here to go directly to the Kapa Haka site

Thank you for supporting your child to practise at home.

Ngā mihi nui

Teresa Johnston

If you would like to attend a Board meeting you are welcome to come along on Monday 1 August 6pm in the Staffroom.

Please see the timeline for Triennial Elections here:

The next PTA meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 9 August starting at 7:30pm in the school staffroom. All parents are welcome to attend. If you, like a number of our parents, cannot attend PTA meetings but would like to be informed about PTA events, where you might be able to help out, please email pta@ilam.school.nz and you will be added to the ‘friends of the PTA’ email list.

PTA events this term

• Second Hand Uniform Sale - TOMORROW, Friday 29 July - A reminder that the Term 3 Second Hand Uniform Sale is TOMORROW, Friday 29 July, 8.30am - 9.00am in the Hall. EFTPOS available.

• Hot Chocolate Morning -Friday 26 August - 8:30am
  To celebrate the end of Winter, the Ilam School PTA is holding a HOT CHOCOLATE morning on Friday 26 August. Bring along a KEEP CUP and $1 for your Hot Chocolate. (CASH ONLY) Come to the Science and Tech Room from 8.30am.

A BIG SHOUT OUT and THANK YOU to MEADOWFRESH who have kindly donated the milk.

• Calendar Art - We are in the process of creating our amazing calendar art for this year. More information will be sent out closer to the time of ordering. Calendar Art is where your children’s class art work can be ordered on calendars, cards, diaries and notebooks. A fabulous gift for friends and family and a great opportunity to show your support for our wonderful school. You will be able to view your child’s art in the coming weeks.

• School Disco - Friday 9 September - We hope to bring our Famous Disco’s back! We will continue to monitor guidance from the Ministry of Education regarding events. More detail to follow!

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A really BIG ‘Thank you” to all our PTA Team! Your support and everything you do for our school is greatly appreciated.

Issue 5 Book club flyers came out today, please order online only by Friday 12 August.

• Start of Term 3 - Monday 25 July

• Swim Programme at King’s Swim School - Monday 25 July to Friday 19 August

• PTA second-hand uniform sale - Friday 29 July 8.30 - 9am in the hall

• BOT Meeting Monday 1 August 6pm in the staffroom

• Student Learning Conferences Wednesday 3 August and Thursday 4 August

• ICAS Writing Tuesday 9 August

• PTA Meeting Tuesday 9 August 7.30pm in the staffroom

• ICAS Digital Tech Thursday 11 August

• Farewell Assembly for Mr Dolan - Friday 12 August 9.30am in the hall

• Hot Chocolate Morning -Friday 26 August - 8:30am

• School Disco - Friday 9 September

• Teachers Only Day - Friday 16 September

• Last day of Term 3 - Friday 30 September -School closes at 3pm