Kia Kitea ToikakaNothing But The Best

Raising Achievement; Realising Potential; Encouraging Excellence

Phone: 03 315 8233Email: principal@amuri.school.nzNEWSLETTER NO 2

Fax: 03 315 8476Web: www.amuri.school.nz

Week Ending 12th February 2016

Tena koutou

The end of a short week and I hope you had a wonderful long weekend. Next long weekend to look forward to is Easter from 25th to 29th March gifting us a very long 5 day weekend. Let us hope this wonderful weather continues until then.

Following up from last weeks news, Casey Smith has won the NZ National show hunter championship title as part of the Canterbury Team. This is a wonderful achievement for both Casey and her club and we wish her all the best at the Horse of the Year competition.

On Wednesday this week we had two records broken in the 100m freestyle swimming event:

New Time Old Time

Devon Clarke

- Primary Open Boys

81.52s 90.19s

Madacin Archbold

- Primary Open Girls

82.72s 96.68s

Well done to both Devon and Madacin, what a great achievement.

Next week on Monday we have David Garb coming in to school to run a workshop for year 11-13 students based around leadership and being positive role models. This workshop is being delivered in collaboration with the HYP Hurunui Youth Project and fits well with our strategic focus on our school values for 2016. On the same day

the Hurunui Primary Schools triathlon will take place in Hanmer Springs. On Friday I am taking some Amuri representatives to the official opening of the new teaching space at Hanmer Springs school. It is great to see these great facilities coming into our area.

Last week my Principal awards were presented for 2 young men who had demonstrated our school values.

Ma’son Simpson for showing excellent work skills and application to work over the summer period.

Francis Mones Cazon for showing true courage and delivering the final karakia at our end of year prize giving.

The exciting news for the primary school is that our pod of 10 HP Streambooks have arrived and are being configured for student use. These will be used predominantly in year 4-6 to allow access to online content and learning in a supervised space in conjunction with the new mobile flat screen set up to project student work onto the big screen. Huge thanks again to the RATA foundation for funding these for our school.

The Amuri show is fast approaching and the organisers are keen to see as many entries into the wearable art section as possible. It would be great to see some Amuri students taking out the top honours.

Have a wonderful week

Nga mihi

James Griggs Principal

DATES FOR YOUR DIARYICAS International Competitions and

Assessments for SchoolsHPSSA Hurunui Primary Schools Sports

AssociationCCHS Canterbury Country High SchoolsCASA Canterbury Area Schools AssociationFEB8 Waitangi Day Observed School Closed15 Y11-13 Workshop with David Garb16 School Swimming Sports

PTA 7.30pm17 Assembly 8.45am22 BOT 5.30pm23 CCHS Swimming24 Primary Swimming DisplayMAR1 HPSSA Swimming2 CCHS Athletic Champs

Primary School NewsDear Parents and CarersWelcome back to the new school year! It was wonderful to see all the Year 1-6 children returning to school last Monday, happy to be back to routine and their friends. Then on Tuesday we welcomed Year 7 and 8 and the Senior students. There are a large number of new children joining us for 2016 and we welcome them to our school.It was my privilege to attend the final party for the Summer Reading Programme run by the Hurunui Libraries at the end of January. This is a very worthwhile programme run over the summer holidays that involves the Year 1-8 participants visiting the library and discussing a book they have read with the librarian. There are small ‘incentives’ to visit four times and then a party to celebrate for everyone who completes their four visits. I’m very proud to say that there was a huge crowd of Amuri kids participating and thank you to our librarians, Pam and JJ, for supporting our students in their summer reading. This programme will be offered again next summer so look for the advertising closer to that time. This term Year 1-8 students are looking at the Social Studies curriculum and our big question: ‘What does it mean to be a New Zealander?” Classes are looking at various aspects of this with their teachers. Ask your children what they are looking at in Topic and prepare to be tested on your knowledge of all things ‘Kiwi’!Despite the weather being a bit unreliable, it is compulsory for all Year 1-6 children to have hats at school to wear in the playground at break times. This is to protect our children from the harsh sun as they spend over an hour a day in the playground. If your child doesn’t have a hat then they must sit in the shade under the pergolas. Most children leave their hats at school so they always have one on hand. It is a good idea to apply sunscreen in the morning before school starts. Teachers do have a supply of sunscreen that children can reapply during the day. If you are sending a hat to school, please make sure it is named. Named items, when lost, always find their way back to their owner eventually!The children are enjoying their swimming at the moment, so please also make sure they are bringing their named togs to school each day. The school swimming sports are next week and the primary swimming display the week after. Please check the newsletter for dates and times. We look forward to showcasing our skills for you all.A reminder about keeping the gate closed during the school day. I have spoken to Year 1-6 about the importance of keeping the gate closed to keep everyone safe. I have asked them not to swing on the gate as it causes the gate’s magnets not to meet and therefore not close properly. If you arrive at school after the bell has gone, please make sure the gate is closed. Thank you for your co operation.Finally, please check your children for head lice. We have been notified that they are about so being vigilent is key. If you find lice please notify the school and do not send your children until they have had one treatment.Naku noa, na.Kylee Habgood and the Year 1-8 Team

BUS LOADINGS - EARLY NOTIFICATION

1) Please be aware that 4 of our buses are really full!

2) There can be NO extra students on the Hanmer Bus on Monday afternoons

3) Any students wanting to use a bus MUST put in a REQUEST to the school office the DAY BEFORE a change of bus is wanted. Ideally this should be done with a letter from a parent.

4) Unfortunately Cheddar Valley and Leslie Hills buses are absolutely full and requests may be denied.

5) The reason requests need to be made the previous day is so we can check the bus loadings.

Thank you

Elizabeth TeulonBus Controller

ANZCO Foods - Amuri Area School will receive a payment of $3,877.80 from ANZCO Foods for the Bobby Calf Sponsor a School Promotion.A BIG thank you to all farmers who nominated our school.

TIMEBANK HURUNUI LEARNING EXCHANGE

MAKING SENSE of SCHOOL MATHS

with SUE GRAHAM

Thursday, 6 – 7.30 pm

March 3rd

Amuri Area School, Culverden

This presentation will help you understand the teaching of maths in schools today, so that you can help your children (or grandchildren) and improve your own maths skills.

Sue Graham is a former principal and specialist maths advisor to local schools. She has a passion for helping children learn by reinforcing positive experiences and building on these to increase their confidence, in maths and in all subjects they approach.

Many people, adults and children, have a belief that they are not good at maths, and so it will always be a challenge. This need not be so, in Sue’s experience. The key to successful maths teaching is to help students use what they already know, take their time, recognise patterns, apply their maths understanding to real-life contexts, and to learn from mistakes. Equipping students with a basic grasp of maths concepts and a practical “numbers sense” is the goal.

Once students have gained confidence in maths, they can apply such a “can-do” approach to solving all sorts of problems and to other areas of learning, throughout their lives.

The presentation cost is 1.5 TimeBank Hurunui hours or $10 suggested fee. Please register to confirm your place, by emailing tbhlearningexchange@gmail.com or calling Belinda on 314 3406. For the full Learning Exchange programme, go to http://hurunui.timebanks.org/page/learning-exchange-programme

It is easy to join TimeBank Hurunui, and there is no charge. If you are interested, contact our coordinator on 314 7332 or email: hurunui@community.timebanks.org

I would love to have for ART

1. ice cream containers

2. old rags suitable for painting wipes

3. willow branches

4. newspaper

Please deliver them to The Studio #19 or drop in to the school office. Most appreciated, thank you

denise judson

Kaikoura Suburban School in collaboration with the NZ Rogaining Association invite you to take part in

rogaineA team o� road walking and running event based on navigating around a series of checkpoints marked on a topographical map.

CHALLENGETHE CHARWELL

ROGAINE

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Saturday 19th March 2016‘Surrey Downs’ 2791 Inland Rd

KaikouraTo enter visit

rogaine.org.nzEntries open

early February2016

For any queries please do not hesitate to contact either

Bridget Guerin 03 319 5057bidiguer@xtra.co.nz

Bin Kennedy 03 319 7585binbruerton@farmside.co.nz

LIBRARY NOTICEThere are a lot of library books that were issued at the end of last year that have not been returned. They are now very overdue. We would appreciate if you could all have a look at home for any books belonging to our library and return them ASAP, as if they are not returned the cost to the school to replace them is very high.Many thanks.

Rochelle Gibson School Of Jazz Dance I am interested in coming up to Waiau to teach Jazz Dance classes, so I’m putting this add in to see what my interest would be. - I teach American & Original Jazz - Stretch, Leap & Spin - I provide exams & medal tests - End of year concerts - Ages 3yrs & up If you are interested in this then please phone or txt me on 027 511 0930

FREE STUDENT EXCHANGE INFORMATION EVENING IN CHRISTCHURCH Hear from returned students, find out more about discounts and scholarships available and ask questions. Thursday, 25th February - 7.00pm The Kiwi Family Trust 420 Sainty Asaph Street PHILLIPSTOWN Visit www.studentexchange.org.au or call 1300 135 331 for more information

HORSE RIDING

WEKA PASS HORSE TREKS & RIDING CENTRE

54 Weka Pass Road

WAIKARI

We are again offering after-school riding/horsemanship lessons this term for beginners and upwards. Starting

Tuesday 9 February. Regular rate $35 per lesson.

Ph 0278735797

email: wekapasshorsetreks@xtra.co.nz

website: www. wekapasshorsetreks.co.nz

Above: Room 3 students showing off the Super Capes they could get to wear for doing super work.