رَمَضان مُبارَك Ramadan Mubarak.  Have a blessed Ramadan

Next week is Learning Conversations.  These are important aspects of our strategic plan of Āwhinatia - Building Connections, and Tupu - Growing.  The Learning Conversations are a time for you to connect with the learning that is happening for your tamaiti, for kaiako and whānau to connect with each other and share about the learning, to support growth of learning of your tamaiti by working together.  Times for these conversations are flexible as we know how busy everyone is and we want to make sure there is every opportunity for you to come along.  Each session runs for 30 minutes.  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.  Bookings are filling up so book as soon as you can. 

If you missed the Better Start Literacy information session earlier in the term, we are running two more at 4:45 - 5:15 on Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th March.  All whānau in Huetepara (Yr 0-2) are invited.  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, so you may want to learn more so you can support your child at home.  If you are keen to attend please fill out the survey on HERO. 

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 us all to develop our te reo Māori.  This week's kupu is seasons and weather ... Raumati  - Summer,  Ngahuru - Autumn, Hōtoke - Winter, Kōanga - Spring, Kei te aha te huarere? - What's the weather doing?, Te āhua nei ka paki - It looks like it is going to be fine, Tōna tikanga ka ua - It's meant to rain, Kei te pupuhi te hau - It's windy, He rangi wera tēnei - It's hot today. 

The tamariki have been very busy writing 'Better break stories'.  I was so impressed with all that were sent to me.  They had to make it plausible, with some elements of truth, short, and embellished.  I was going to choose three winners but ended up with eight!  Their ideas, language and creativity pākiki were amazing!  Congratulations to Nina R, Kayden, Jojo, Kawiti, Poppy W, Theo F, Eleanor E, and Lucas.  Seven of us went for morning tea on Friday.  We had a wonderful time and they have decided it would be good idea to have something similar each term, so they are my 'Think Tank'.  Here is their writing...

It was raining cats and dogs on a Thursday.  Me and my friend decided to climb Mt Victoria.  The air was ice cold.  My legs were frozen.  Suddenly a big gust of wind hit me and I fell down.

I felt like I would never hit the ground until I felt a rage of pain.  I fell on my leg and it felt like the world was over.  It all went pitch black. 

I was rushed to hospital.  I woke up in a bed, the doctor said I had broken my ankle!

'Noooooooo!'

Author:  Kawiti

Melanie was walking along the street.  She slipped on a banana peel and then she had broken her ankle!

Author:  Lucas

When Melanie was walking past Ferg's with her friend M.A., M.A. pulled out her phone and put on some jazzy pizazz music then Melanie and M.A. both started grooving to the tunes, but then Melanie's foot stood on a funny angle while she was dancing and CRACK!  But she kept walking after that which made it swell up even more.  She was stubborn, but when she finally got home, and David told her to go to the hospital, she gave in even though she thought he was wrong.  

Author:  Nina R

You were swinging on the monkey bars but your hands were too slippery, you fell to the ground and broke your ankle.

Author:  Eleanor E

Melanie was walking to her car, her car wasn't there.  She remembered she had forgotten to lock her car.  She started running to her car but twisted her ankle. 

Author:  Theo

As I walked around the waterfront, the water shimmered in the afternoon sun.  M.A. and I talked as we neared Ferg’s rock climbing.  I saw a busker playing some jazzy tunes, I couldn’t help starting to tap my foot to the beat.  Suddenly my hips started to wiggle, I couldn't help it anymore!  I started to groove the music engulfed me then, CRACK!  M.A quickly ran over “Are you okay?  I heard a crack!” she asked, “Don't make a fuss I'm fine!” I replied defensively.  

Author:  Jojo

I was walking along the habour near Fergs Rock Climbing center with my friend M.A. (Mary-Angela).  I was watching some graceful dolphins glide across the smooth dark water.  I was so focussed on that, that I didn't see the massive rock in front of me.  SMACK.  The next thing I know I'm on the ground and man my ankle hurts!  Just as I start to get up two middle aged men try to help me up.  Once I get up, M.A. and I keep walking. 

'Man that was embarrassing,' I think in my head.

I get home and I tell David (my husband) all about what happened.  He thought we should rush to the hospital, so we did and sadly had to be that it was broken.

Author:  Poppy

One day Melanie was going for a walk with her friend Mary Angela, or M.A. for short.  They were coming across Fergs Rock climbing and Melanie thought it was a good idea to do a bit of rock climbing.  Melanie went into Fergs and did the hardest rock climb in the building.  She got to the top.  When she went to get down, Melanie gripped onto the rope so hard, and since Melanie had not cut her finger nails in so long ... the rope snapped and Melanie fell onto her ankle and broke it. 

Author:  Kayden

We are still swimming at school, the pool stays open at the beginning of term 2 as well.  It is great to see tamariki learning water safety and swimming skills in the warm water.  Make sure togs are brought to school for swimming days.  If you can name goggles and clothing it makes it much easier too. 

FoLBS (Friends of Lyall Bay School) put on an amazing Summer in the Bay.  It was enjoyed by all, with so many events and things to do with a wonderful atmosphere of whanaungatanga.  Thank you so much Friends for all that you do to support our school community. 

Friends of Lyall Bay School would like to thanks all those who came along to make Summer in the Bay a great success.  Thanks to all the school staff who help with the organisation, and a big thanks to Kathy for all her help.  A special thanks to all those parents who donated their time, resources and energy to making the day one for the memory banks.  For many of those helpers it was their last, so aroha nui for all that you and your whanau have done for Good in the Hood, and Summer in the Bay events.  Your skills and good humour will be missed.  A shout out to Pak n Save for the yummy ice blocks and NW group for the great sound system.  To EBIS we are truly grateful for the use of your amazing school grounds. 

If you value these events for our school community, please connect with Friends of Lyall Bay to help make sure they can continue.  Many hands make light work. 

Friends next meeting:  If you are keen to learn more about Friends and join the group, please come along to our next meeting on Tuesday, 9 April, at 7pm.  It will be in the school library.  There will be snacks!

The Weetbix Triathlon was on the weekend and a group of 22 of our Lyall Bay School tamariki took part.  They all did very well.  Thank you to Hayden and Ali who organised this. 

The Lyall Bay School gardens have had a facelift and now we are looking to do some plantings once the gardens later in autumn.  Dave and Alex have some native plants ready, from cuttings, seedlings, and donations.  While this is a good start please consider whether you would like to make a donation to the LBS gardens.  We are looking for natives, small trees, shrubs, ground covers, flax and grasses.  We are also preparing a school orchard, so any fruit or nut trees would also be welcome.  Plants can be left at the new garden outside Ahu, in Eke Ngaru, or in the vege garden.  Let Alex, Dave or Melanie know that you have put them there so we can get them safely tucked away.  If you don't have any plants, but would still like to help out, a Bunnings or Garden Centre voucher would be appreciated.  Another way to help is to chat to Dave or Melanie about helping with planting.  We are also landscaping the area behind the dental clinic.  If you have any landscaping skills or are happy to help with digging and moving soil and plants let Dave or Melanie know :)   With Ahu now having ovens, donated by Friends, Alex has investigated the programme 'Garden to Table' and we have signed up.  More information will be coming home when your tamariki are taking part, what an exciting venture we are on with our gardens. 

A reminder for you that once a child is enrolled in school it is a legal obligation to ensure they attend school each day for the whole day.  There are new Ministry of Education processes in place for children who are away for five or more days in a term, or when absences are unexplained.  We will also be following up on children who are regularly picked up early without an explained reason, as they are missing important education.

Next week is the beginning of Easter and there are public holidays on Friday 29th March - Tuesday 2nd April and school is closed.  We hope you have a relaxing and joyous Easter. 

Kia pai te wiki
Melanie