Shalom

We are already halfway through the term and autumn has started to show its face!  It is that awkward time of year when it is cool in the morning and then warms up, so top layers come off.  Please name the clothes that are being worn to school as it makes it easy for them to be returned to the right person.  

The 1st of March is when schools are required to send their Strategic Plan to the Ministry of Education.  We refreshed our plan last year, gaining feedback from you about different aspects throughout the year.  Our plan can be found on our school website. 

Our targets for the year are for all students to make progress, with target learners making accelerated progress toward the appropriate curriculum level in Reading, Writing and Maths.  Kaiako have emailed whānau of tamariki who will be receiving extra support this term.  These roopu will change throughout the year depending on the needs of tamariki and whānau will be informed. 

The newsletter is published every two weeks on Tuesdays.  The newsletter is available on HERO and on our website.  In each newsletter, some kupu will be shared with you to help with all of our understanding.  This week's kupu is the team names ... Huetepara Yr 0-2 - gourd (the ripe gourd, for the shape of the bay), the first name for Lyall Bay that is noted,  Maranui Yr 3-4 - long sands,  Onepū Yr 5-6 - sandy. 

On Wednesday after school there is an opportunity for all whānau in Huetepara (Yr 0-2) to come and learn about the Structured Literacy programme we are starting (Better Start Literacy Approach - BSLA).  This is a well-researched and written programme that was developed by professors at the University of Canterbury.  It is quite different to how reading has been taught in the past, so it will be interesting to hear.  We have one of the UoC lecturers here to speak and answer any questions you may have.  If you are whānau of Huetepara tamariki you will have received an invitation on HERO (look back and see, it is titled Better Start Literacy Approach) and there you can let us know if you can come along and if you require child care. 

This Sunday is Summer in the Bay.  Rebecca (Chair of Friends) came and spoke at assembly last week and described all the fantastic activities that will be available and reminded us that it is all free!!

Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa

Let us keep close together, not wide apart

 FREE Everything at Summer in the Bay is FREE!  

Come along for a fun afternoon of face painting (1-3pm), bouncy castles (1-3pm), petting Zoo - with pony rides (1-3pm), plus treasure hunt, sports, pump track, races, music, lollie scramble and a disco to end the day!

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

When:  Sunday March 10

Time:    1-5pm

Where:  Evans Bay Intermediate School, 14A Kemp Street, Kilbirnie.

WHAT TO BRING:

WHEELS

Scooters, bikes, skateboards, roller blades, roller skates.  There is a great pump track at EBIS and a bike loop for tamariki to enjoy.  Bring safety gear to protect your precious brain!

BYO PICNIC, WATER and PICNIC BLANKET:

Please bring what you need for your whanau to have a good time.  Kai, water, etc.

HATS & SUNBLOCK:

Slip, slop, slap and wrap.  Always a good idea, but don't panic if you forget sunblock as we will have plenty at the MCs tent.

WASTE FREE EVENT

In an effort to reduce waste on the weekend, please bring water bottles, we will have water on site to re-fill your bottles.  Please place rubbish in bins provided.

NO GLASS, NO DOGS, NO SMOKING/VAPING or ALCOHOL PLEASE:

There is no alcohol or smoking allowed on the Evans Bay Intermediate School (EBIS) grounds please.  Please don’t bring any glass.  No dogs allowed on EBIS ground.

A big thanks to our sponsors - we can’t do an event like this without your support.  Many thanks to Izzi and Pete for their expertise for our sound system!  PaknSave for the ice blocks.

Keep up to date on Friends of Lyall Bay School Facebook page. 

Get ready for a fun packed afternoon with BYO wheels (plus safety gear), BYO picnic, music, sports, activities, petting zoo, bouncy castle, bubbles, whanau and friends for a special day in the Bay.  We can’t wait to see you all there!

Some of you may have heard about 'Beach School'.  This is an initiative we have started this year.  Lyall Bay School Beach School is an extension of our Learning Through Play Programme.  We are incredibly lucky as a school to have the beach so close to our school grounds and located ‘on our doorstep’.  At Lyall Bay School, we believe that the beach provides an excellent learning space for our ākonga, allowing them to develop their skills as communicators, collaborators, critical thinkers and creators.  Our Beach School programme responds to our tamariki by integrating all learning areas of the New Zealand Curriculum, alongside their interests and urges.  Learning in a place-based education setting, our tamariki are provided with an opportunity to discover and develop in a natural environment, sparking curiosity (pākiki) in the world around them.  When it is the turn of your tamaiti you will be informed and information will go home on Hero. 

In terms one and three we hold Learning Conversations with whānau.  This term these are on the 26th and 27th of March.  These conversations are for you to learn more about the learning that is happening for your child, get an insight into their learning and to korero with kaiako.  Times are flexible, but each session runs for 30 mins.  You do not have to stay that long, you can come at the start and stay part of the time, come later and finish at the end time, or be here for the full time - whatever suits you.  You can book a time through this link https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code/jaj47.  Tamariki run the learning conversations and kaiako are there to support and korero with you.  If you have something specific that you wish to speak to kaiako about, please email them and let them know and they will connect with you. 

As you will have heard the government has brought in a policy of 'Phones Away for the Day'.  We already have this policy in place at Lyall Bay School and any child who has a phone, smartwatch, iPad, etc, is to bring it to the office when they arrive at school and pick it up when they leave. 

Some of you may know that I broke my ankle in a very boring way.  I have asked tamariki to write me a much better 'break' story.  They had to make it plausible, with some elements of truth, short, and embellished.  There have been some great stories already... my ankle splitting like a banana, falling and landing in the harbour, chasing a purse thief, bungy jumpy, walking over rocky terrain, looking for a kiwi and tripping, running from a giant whitetail spider, slipping on jellyfish, hallucinating about dancing leaves, history repeating itself, climbing at Ferg's with no harness, being distracted by dolphins, pitbulls attacking me, the wind knocking me over, rollerblading with ice cream, dancing to music, polar bears attacking me, jumping out of planes... such wonderful imaginations.  The three best will be taken to morning tea as a thank you for helping.  Their stories will be published in the next newsletter. 

Kia pai te wiki
Melanie