Namaste

We have had some positive feedback about the new layout of our newsletter.  We welcome any more feedback that you have, so we can keep improving.  

All of Maranui and Onepū took part in a clean-up on Monday as part of their Ocean Explorers Inquiry.  They did an amazing job picking up so much rubbish from our area to "Keep Our Sea Rubbish Free'.  They even had members of the public congratulating them on their efforts to support a clean environment.  Ka pai tamariki.

Hats are required to be worn for terms 4 and 1 of the school year.  This is to protect everyone from the damaging rays of the sun.  If tamariki do not have a hat (not a cap as these do not protect the back of the neck and ears), then they will be asked to stay in the shade when outside.

Kaiako continue to write Timely Report Comments for your tamariki.  These are all on HERO and are linked to celebrating the learning and progress of tamariki. You can add a comment yourself or 'like' the comment that is there.  If you are having trouble accessing these, please let the kaiako know and they will help you. Later this term there will also be a post 

Electives are continuing and started again today.  Thank you to the whānau who are supporting this so we can have a range of opportunities available.  Have a chat with your tamariki and ask them what they are part of on a Tuesday afternoon. 

Congratulations to the tamariki who have been selected to represent Lyall Bay School at Eastern Zone Athletics on Wednesday.  Tino pai, you will be fabulous. 

As it is the beginning of the month there is always the opportunity to have a chat with me on the first Friday.  Apologies that I wasn't available last Friday - it has been postponed until this Friday. 

We continue to have new cases of COVID in our community, so please be vigilant in reminding tamariki about hygiene and getting tested. 

Noho ora mai,

Melanie

Our first Board meeting for term four was last Monday, the 31st October. 

The Alcohol/Drugs and Other Harmful Substances Policy was up for review as part of our regular cycle.  We reviewed and discussed it, and the policy is straightforward.  We use a website called SchoolDocs to manage our school policy documents and to regularly review them.  You can access SchoolDocs through www.schooldocs.co.nz.  The username for the community is lyallbay and the password is maranui.  We encourage you to please visit the site and look at the policies.

School Decile ratings are being removed from 2023 and instead there is an Equity Index number that generates funding for schools.  Our Equity Index number means we are now not eligible to be part of the Donations Scheme that we have opted in to for the past few years.  MoE does not want any school to be disadvantaged by a change that the Equity Index may bring, so we are allowed to opt in to this scheme.  This means we do not have to ask the community for donations, but anyone may make a donation if they wish.  The Board put forward a motion to continue to opt in to the donations scheme and this was passed. 

Melanie shared an item from the ‘Challenging Racism’ course she attended recently and this promoted a discussion regarding Aotearoa history knowledge.

We discussed reports on Gifted and Talented and the Mind Plus Programme (a programme for children who are gifted).  Currently, we have two children attending on Thursday mornings.

Three Board members went along to the recent Teacher Only Day to have a chat with staff.  It was a great way to connect with the teaching team, talk through thoughts and ideas, and everyone appreciated the supplied morning tea.

We then talked about bringing the school community together more regularly.  Good In the Hood is likely to go ahead early next year and/or GITH and FoLBS are considering working together to put on a special family day out in March.

The renovation of Ahu is moving along.  The property team met and toured the build to see the progress that has been made.  The majority of the build is on track, but there are areas on the south and east of the building that could need more work than initially thought.  We are waiting for more information from MoE. 

Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, the 5th of December at 7pm in the staffroom.  Our meetings are open for the public to attend.