Kia ora koutou

What a wonderful start we have had to 2024.  Everyone is settled into their hubs, learning is vibrant, meeting whānau at the W.A.T.P (Waihangatia ngā Ākonga Tino Pai Building the Best Learners) Hui was fabulous, seeing smiling faces and cheery mōrena first thing in the morning is a great start to every day. 

We have had some cases of COVID to start the year.  The guidelines state that it is recommended that you isolate for at least five days, even if you only have mild symptoms.  Day 0 is when your symptoms started or when you first tested positive.  You should still report your positive test.  After your five days of isolation, you can return to normal activities if you are well enough.  You do not need a negative test result (you do not need to test again after your positive test). More information is here on the COVID website https://covid19.govt.nz/testing-and-isolation/if-you-have-covid-19/  Please keep your tamariki home if they are unwell.

It is important that you let the office know if tamariki will be absent, and the reason for the absence.  You can call and leave a message on (04)939 9112, email kathy@lyallbay.school.nz or write a note on HERO.  We ask you to let the office know, not the kaiako, as sometimes there is a reliever in the room who won't have the information and kaiako cannot be expected to remember every message given to them, especially if it is verbal!  We do apologise if you feel you have told us of any absences and you still get an absent message, but we prefer to be safe rather than sorry!  Please respond to the absence message as this is to keep all our tamariki safe.  If you have changed your phone number (work or home), emergency contacts or address, please let us know so we can update our records. 

We already have a large amount of lost property, 44 unnamed items in the Lost Property bin near the office and I am sure there are just as many in the bin in Maranui.  The items are mostly sweatshirts (a few expensive ones too!)  Please name all clothing that comes to school, including hats, towels, togs, goggles and lunch boxes.  We can return them to you if they are named, if not it is impossible.  The Lost Property bins are emptied at the end of each term and the items are donated to charity.  Please come and check to see if there is anything that belongs to you. 

Cellphones have never been allowed in class at Lyall Bay School, so we are continuing with our usual processes around this.  All cellphones, iPads, smart watches, etc, need to be handed in at the office on arrival at school, where they are put securely away, and can be picked up from the office at 3pm.  If you wish to read any of our policies you can through SchoolDocs. 

1. Go to www.schooldocs.co.nz 

2. Click 'Search for your school' 

3. Start typing the school’s name and then select it from the dropdown list

4. Enter the community username (lyallbay) and password (maranui) 

Then type in which policy you are looking for. 

Lyall Bay School staff for 2024 were shared with you in the first newsletter that went out on HERO in week 2.  We would like to welcome Deanna Young and Cristina Ahrendt to Lyall Bay School.  You will find Deanna in Eke Ngaru.  Deanna grew up in Lyall Bay and knows the area well.  Cristina is with our newest Lyall Bay members in Ahu.  Cristina hails from the United States of America and is loving living in New Zealand.  Please pop in and introduce yourself to them.  Here are all the names and emails of staff, as well as the Board of Trustees Members:

Board of Trustees  bot@lyallbay.school.nz 

Lloyd Percival, Presiding Member

Julia Blackburn, Deputy Presiding Member

Vito Lo Iacono, Elected Parent Member

Karl Emson, Elected Parent Member

Matt Hunt, Elected Parent Member

Amanda Luxford, Elected Staff Member

Melanie Dean, Principal

Kathy Dempsey, Board Secretary

Huetepara Team Yr 0-2

Kiri Koning kiri.koning@lyallbay.school.nz Ahu Hub 

Cristina Ahrendt cristina.ahrendt@lyallbay.school.nz Ahu Hub 

Kirsten Isbister kirsten.isbister@lyallbay.school.nz Au Hāro Hub 

Brogan Coburn brogan.coburn@lyallbay.school.nz Au Hāro Hub (Huetepara team associate leader)

Rosalie Hill rosalie.hill@lyallbay.school.nz Au Hāro Hub

Alex McLeay alex.mcleay@lyallbay.school.nz Eke Ngaru Hub 

Deanna Young deanna.young@lyallbay.school.nz Eke Ngaru Hub 

Marina Lewis, Kaimahi  Eke Ngaru Hub 

Amanda Luxford amandaw@lyallbay.school.nz Deputy Principal, SENCO (Huetepara team leader)

Maranui Team Yr 3-4

Nikki Oates nikki.oates@lyallbay.school.nz Te Wheke Hub 

Lily Calvert, Kaimahi Te Wheke Hub 

Caitlin Hunter, Kaimahi Te Wheke

Christine Cowan christinec@lyallbay.school.nz Te Wheke Hub (Maranui team associate leader)

Rekha Tiwari rekha.tiwari@lyallbay.school.nz Te Wheke Hub

Annie Ruddock annie.ruddock@lyallbay.school.nz Te Wheke Hub 

Arielle Fillipo arielle.filippo@lyallbay.school.nz Taniwha Hub 

Izzy Newman isabelle.newman@lyallbay.school.nz Taniwha Hub 

Jyoti Jina Riches, Kaimahi Taniwha Hub 

Onepū Team yr 5-6

Mel James mel.james@lyallbay.school.nz Hauraki Hub

Jo Carter jo.carter@lyallbay.school.nz Hauraki Hub

Kelly Wallace kelly.wallace@lyallbay.school.nz Hauraki Hub

Jo Mahon, Kaimahi Hauraki Hub

Janine Kerr janine.kerr@lyallbay.school.nz Hautonga Hub (Onepū associate team leader)

Kate Millner kate.millner@lyallbay.school.nz Hautonga Hub

Debbie Limpus debbie@lyallbay.school.nz Hautonga Hub

Jo Graham jo.graham@lyallbay.school.nz Deputy Principal (Maranui and Onepū team leader)

ESOL Kaiako

Leenah Hafiz leenah.hafiz@lyaollbay.school.nz 

Katarina Sundberg Carson katarina@lyallbay.school.nz  Librarian and Kaimahi

John Rauhihi, Caretaker

Kathy Dempsey kathy@lyallbay.school.nz Office Manager

Melanie Dean principal@lyallbay.school.nz Principal

Our school logo design has significance for our team and hub names.  Geoff Popham designed the logo for us and it represents our area.  The globe shape of the design signifies the multicultural nature of Lyall Bay School with ākonga welcomed into the school and community from all over the world. 

Huetepara is the first name of Lyall Bay and this is the first team that tamariki enter.  It is represented by the bay - the design represents the wave, a connection to the sea, Tangaroa and his tamariki (Au Hāro and Eke Ngaru).  It locates our place in Wellington and the sandy bay, a place to gather and collectively share.  Many enjoy this special place.  Like the bay, Lyall Bay School shares with all, shows manaaki respect for others and is a safe haven in the community (Ahu). 

The word Maranui means 'long sands' and was used by Māori to describe an abundance of sand and sea.  At the turn of the 20th century, the entire sandy isthmus between Evans Bay and Lyall Bay was known as Maranui, a name that is still used on maps to denote the hilly area west of Lyall Bay.  The land, earth, Papatuanuku, the surrounding hills and the flat area of Lyall Bay represent our place on the land.  Those who have lived here past, present and future, it connects to show respect for Tangatawhenua.  Te Wheke is the name of the octopus that Kupu chased through the sea, and Taniwha is for the taniwha who broke through the land to make Wellington Harbour.  This is the centre of the logo. 

Onepū is depicted by the ever-present wind in our city and Lyall Bay.  The design portrays balance, the northerly (Hauraki) and the southerly (Hautonga) winds. 

The logo as a whole represents the strength and mana of Māori Art and design. 

Thanks to Danny at Watermark Designs who designed our school map.  It shows where the hubs are, as well as how to get to the office.  There are two of these at the gates on Freyberg St, one set at the bike entrance and one at the hall entrance. 

Our W.A.T.P Hui was so well attended and we had such positive feedback from whānau that attended.  If you weren't able to make it but would like more information about Pūmanawa-ā-ākonga ('The Beating Heart of the Leaner', our graduate profile), 2024 Āwhinatia (our programmes and connections for 2024), our values and expectations, Learning Through Play, FoLBS (Friends of Lyall Bay School), Board of Trustees, or BSLA (Structured Literacy, there will be an in-depth meeting for all Yr 0-2 whānau later in the term), please just let us know.  It was great opportunity to meet kaiako and whānau, see Ahu in action and connect with each other.  Thank you to FoLBS (Friends of Lyall Bay School) for supplying the sausages and supervising the pool.  Thanks, also, to the volunteer sausage cookers. 

All the names of those who attended went in a draw for a double pass to Madagascar the Musical and the winner is ... Cindy Newport!  Congratulations Cindy. Please come to the office to collect your prize. 

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 hub names ... Ahu- to tender, foster, nuture, Au Hāro - calm sea, Eke Ngaru - surf, Te Wheke- octopus, Taniwha - water spirit, powerful water creature, Hautonga - southerly wind, Hauraki - northerly wind. 

You may have noticed some work going on around our grounds, this is all being done by a volunteer.  If you have some time and would like to help with spreading compost or bark, developing pathways, planting (or donating native plants or trees for a proposed orchard), weeding or anything else to do with the gardens we would love your help. Please email principal@lyallbay.school.nz and I will co-ordinate some times. 

We are also looking at a Garden to Table programme.  We will be developing more vegetable gardens for this and will make use of the Ahu kitchen.  If you have skills in the kitchen and would be happy to work with a group of tamariki making something from the garden, please contact Alex alex.mcleay@lyallbay.school.nz, she would love to hear from you.

Last year we held a Cyber Safety evening at school.  The whānau that attended found it enlightening.  If you have not attended one of these, I highly recommend it.  SWIS has sent us information that they are holding one this Thursday at 6.30 pm and you are welcome to attend.  There is no fee.  See the poster below.

FoLBS are holding the annual Summer in the Bay on 10th March.  This is an exciting day with many activities and everything is free!!  See the poster above.  If you would like to help please contact FoLBS friends@lyallbay.school.nz 

Last week we welcomed runners from the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run.  They came from all over the world, Slovakia, Bosnia, Japan, Romania and New Zealand.  The Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run was founded in 1987 by Sri Chinmoy who directed a twice weekly peace program at the United Nations in New York, for delegates and staff, for over 40 years.  The simple message of the Peace Run is non-political and non-denominational, "peace begins with me".  Various Olympians (including Lisa Carrington and John Walker) and New Zealand Prime Ministers(John Key, Jacinda Ardern, Jim Bolger, David Lange) have held the torch or lent their support as well as thousands of school children in its 36 year history.

The Peace runners ran to Lyall Bay School, supported by some of our tamariki carrying the Peace torch.  They then shared with us why they are running and how we can all be more peaceful.  They sang us some songs and we replied with waiata, then each tamaiti was given the opportunity to touch the torch and think of something peaceful. 

Next Friday is a chance to come and chat about anything you would like to talk about with me.  I'll be in the Library (see the map) from 8.30 to 9.00am.  We can discuss anything from the W.A.T.P Hui or any other items you would like to talk about.  There is tea and coffee available.

Kia pai te wiki
Melanie

Message from the Board of Trustees

The board met for the first meeting of the year on Monday 19th February.  The board would like to welcome you all back to school and look forward to another productive year. 

Lloyd Percival was elected as the Presiding Member.

We reviewed our policy on Governance and Management.  The policy is stored in SchoolDocs.  It was approved. 

The current Strategic Plan was shared at the end of 2023 and was approved at this meeting.  This will be shared in the next newsletter. 

The budget for 2024 was approved at the end of 2023.

The Education Review Office contacted the school at the end of last year to inform us that they will be working with us this year.  Information about this visit was shared with the board and can all be found on the ERO website.  Melanie and Lloyd attended a hui for ERO and shared back what they had learnt from this. 

The End of Year data for 2023 was shared with the board.  The data shows that we are trending in the right direction.  Target learner was shared, which showed there had been acceleration for some learners.  Kaiako in Huetepara have started structured literacy (BSLA) which will support our learners even more with reading and writing.  Our Within School Leads will work with Maranui and Onepū on developing literacy and maths and algebra. 

Kaiako took part in Professional Learning at the beginning of the year which focussed on working with Oranga Tamariki, Teaching for Positive Behaviour, Collaborative Teaching and Learning and Hub visions.  The staff were all invited to a team building session where they worked on Wellbeing, then took part in an activity around Wellington that explored The Arts and pūrakau. 

We received the Audit from BDO, everything is approved by the Board.

The Board are booked to complete some professional development in leadership with NZSTA. 

Ahu is now in full use.  Our next property work is from the 5YA and we will be working with IR Group to arrange the next step in this. 

The board appreciated the mahi the kaiako have done with communication to whānau at the beginning of the year.

The next meeting is Monday 18th March at 7pm in the staffroom.