Welcome

Thank you for your ongoing support throughout term 3. It has been a vibrant term with robust learning opportunities, detailed assessments to inform learning and progress, creative art and active PE and sports, Artsplash, the Cultural Festival, the Wonder Project, the Speech Competition, and more!

Special Thanks!

• To the PSL team and volunteer helpers for such a wonderful Quiz night! There was a huge amount of planning to arrange this event, with fantastic items for raffle and silent auction. I am sure that all of those who attended enjoyed a great night out for the adults, while raising much-needed funds to support our school.

• To Usha Stewart for teaching art so wonderfully and for arranging the Art Exhibition. To Fran, Suzanne and Mary Direen for helping out. A big thank you  to all the people who supported the school in this year's South Coast Arts Trail. We had a positive response to all the wonderful art works created by the students. We look forward to your support next year!!

• To our staff team of Sandra, Chris, Usha, Anita and Michael, along with Michael and Jeanene from SKIDS, who all shared information about education in New Zealand for our Indian Families. Special thanks also to Dipa - your support was invaluable.

• To Summer, Joel and James for organising the Talanoa, and arranging for a new Poly Group for our Pasifika learners for term 4. Parents of these learners have been sent a Hero notice to share information and seek permission (needed for participation).

• To our winter sports coaches, managers and supporters for your continued support for the health and wellbeing of your tamariki. 

• To our many volunteers for the term 3 excursions and events.

Staff Updates

We are making some changes to our Office team. Our wonderful Office Manager, Suzanne, is keen to cut back her hours and reduce her workload and responsibilities going forward. Therefore, from the beginning of Term 4 Suzanne will be working reduced hours, with a shift in responsibilities. In the meantime, Fran has agreed to pick up many of Suzanne's roles and increase her hours to allow for this so that our school can keep ticking along smoothly. 

The permanent position of Office Manager will be advertised during Term 4. 

Cell phones / Smart Watches at School

A reminder that student cell phones and smart watches are not to be used at school for communicating with anyone, including you as parents. If your child is upset about something - they should always speak with their classroom teacher. Please ensure that smart watches are switched to airplane mode, or left in the device cupboard if your child brings one to school. If your child brings a cellphone to school, it would be helpful if you could let their kaiako know, as these devices should be handed in each morning. Thank you for your support with this. 

Family Wedding

I will be away for the first 3 weeks of Term 4, as I am off to Mexico for our son Ben's wedding to his fiancé Anika Willner.  As both of the happy couple are winemakers, I am sure we will be in for a great family fiesta! I look forward to returning to school after Labour Weekend, to spend my final weeks at SFDS. Sarah Fountain will be Acting Principal in my absence. Take care and God bless over the school holidays - Mary-Angela Tombs

Board Election Results

We warmly congratulate the newly elected members of the Board, and acknowledge those who put themselves forward as candidates. It’s great to see people willing to stand, and we’re thankful for the support and interest from all involved.

The official results are now available, and following is the certified count for your reference. The entire Board also includes 3 Proprietor's Appointees, Sarah Fountain as the elected Staff Representative, and the Principal. 

While our new board will officially take office today, the Board only exists as a collective - when they meet, and not as individuals. The new Board will have their first meeting on Monday 10 November. As usual, any questions about school should be addressed to your child's teacher, team leader, Deputy Principal, or Principal. If you want to contact the Board you can email bot.chair@sfds.school.nz. 

A huge thank you also to previous Board members, who have given a great deal of themselves and their time to the role of the past 3 years or more! I am sure that I can speak on behalf the parent community that you have been a representative of, and the staff, in saying that we are very grateful for your service. 

Learning Updates

Parents as First Teachers

It is time for our tamariki to spend more time over the next two weeks with their most important teachers - their whānau. Recently I attended the NZ Principals' Federation annual conference here in Wellington. One of the speakers was Barbara Coloroso. Barbara is an international bestselling author and for the past 54 years an internationally recognised educator, speaker and consultant on parenting, teaching, school discipline, positive school climate, bullying, grieving, nonviolent conflict resolution, restorative justice, and genocide. 

Barbara spoke about different styles of parenting, and the long term impact of each style. She gave some examples in a school context. For example, when a child calls their parent from the school office, upset because they have forgotten to wear their PE gear and it is PE day. Using Barbara Coloroso's definitions - the following are examples of responses by their parent:

1. A 'Brick-wall Parent' might say, "too bad - this will teach you. You are always leaving it up to other people to remember your stuff. It's not good enough. I am really busy at work today. You have to be more responsible or you will always have this problem."

2. A 'Backbone Parent' might say, "Well that's annoying for you. Have you spoken with your teacher about it? You have? Your teacher has told you that your gear is important today because you are doing high jump practice? OK - I'll help you out there. I will be able to drop it off to school later this morning. I'll leave it in the office with Fran -  try to remember to go and pick it up before PE. 

3. A 'Jellyfish Parent' might say, I'll drop it in straight away. Fran will be able to take it up to your classroom. 

Which parenting style do you have? What will your child learn about life?

Sports

Netball

We had a lovely celebration of the winter netball season last week, celebrating our three teams who all had great seasons. Congratulations to the players who received awards:

Year 5/6 South Coast Stars, Players' Player: Saoirse HK, Most Valuable Player: Arija J, Most Improved Player: Harriet M

Year 7/8 Flames, Players' Player: Lily M, Most Valuable Player: Bella RR, Most Improved Player: Ashlyn K

Year 7/8 Comets, Players' Player: Shreya CB, Most Valuable Player: Valentina DG, Most Improved Player: Victoria M

Year 3/4 Miniball

Well done to our Hoopsters miniball team who won their final yesterday! It was such an exciting game and closely fought. It was a great display of the skills the team has developed and real enjoyment for the game. Congratulations Hoopsters! Thank you to Mary D and Freddie H for coaching and supporting the team.