OPUA SCHOOL

7th February 2018

I hope everyone connected with Opua School has had a lovely refreshing holiday. We are all eager to ‘get going’ and the smiles on the children’s faces this week illustrate their happiness to be back at school and their readiness to learn and to enjoy each other’s company again.

A very warm welcome goes out to the many new students who are joining us this year. I know you will very soon feel happy, safe and comfortable at our school and you will work hard and thrive in the classrooms you are in. Finally, welcome back after the break to all the returning staff and students. It is so good to see you all again.

Enjoy the year.

WELCOME! WHAT’S HAPPENING?On the 14th, 21st of February

and the 1st, 7th and 14th

of March, we are very

fortunate to have local

swimming legend Myra

Larcombe coming in to teach

swimming. We endeavour to

go swimming daily so please

make sure your children bring

their togs, caps and goggles!

The OPUA REGATTA is to be held on the 24th March.

The organising committee are asking for donations of soft toys, books, board games and pantry items. The collection boxes are situated in the main office, please feel free to drop off anything you might have to donate.The Annual Opua Regatta is a major fundraiser for Opua School and is also a wonderful community day. If anyone would like to join the committee please feel free to come forward and leave your name at the school office. Thank you!

PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN THE STAFF

CARPARK AT ANY TIME.

We would like to

request that parents /

caregivers always use the 3 gates at the front of the school

for entering and exiting the premises. Please do not

use the fourth gate in the Staff car park area. We want

to discourage pupils coming through the staff car park

as it is a busy area and is potentially hazardous. I would

very much appreciate your co-operation with this. Please

remember to make use of the pedestrian crossing when

dropping off and collecting your children. The road is

always quite busy and we must all lead by example when it

comes to road safety. Thank You.

WANTEDWe are asking for donations of booster seats. We just thought it would be a good idea if we had a couple of spare ones in case of an emergency. If you have a spare one that you could donate to the school we would be very grateful.

As you are aware our school has made a conscious decision not to ask for a “School fee” from parents. Any donations, though, are very gratefully received and are always so valuable to us as they go directly into benefitting the students. Already this year, we have been in receipt of such kind donations from parents / caregivers. I ask, only if you are able to, to consider also making such a donation. It would be most gratefully received.

Our Stationery Packs are $45 this year and remain excellent value for a whole year’s stationery requirements. Please could I urge all parents and caregivers to pay this as soon as possible as we run a significant deficit until we have received all of this money. You can pay by cash or cheque at the Main Office or, more preferably and simply, you could use internet banking and pay the money straight into our ASB account. The number is: 12-3102-0085328-00. Always remember to put your child’s name as the reference. You can pay for uniform items in the same way, if you wish. Thank you in advance for processing this quickly.

RUSSELL FOOTBALL and NETBALL

If you are interested in joining

the RUSSELL FOOTBALL AND

NETBALL CLUB for the 2018 season

then please come into the school

office and collect a form to fill in.

RUSSELL SOCCER FESTIVAL -

SATURDAY 17th FEBRUARY - ALL

WELCOME

We will be hosting Elgregoe and his helpers on the 28th of February at 915am. ALL WELCOME.Elgregoe, an award-winning New Zealand magician, visits primary and intermediate schools nationwide. As he entertains the kids with fast-paced tricks, puppets, music and more, he also shares powerful anti-bullying messages about positive attitudes, respect and acceptance. Elgregoe’s big theme is no bullying and his show has made it real for thousands of NZ children.

MUSIC TUITIONTuition on keyboard or piano available for all ages from 5 yrs to adult. Young

children are taught in small groups with the

addition of singing and rhythm to make it fun. Individual and group (numbers permitting) tuition available for older students. My music studio is situated in Kingston House, Honeheke Rd,

Kerikeri. Tuition may be able to be arranged at Opua School for older students.For enquiries and

enrolment phone Ruth Simpson (09)402 8372 or

027 303 9577

L I B R A R YThe Library is ‘buzzing’ at the

moment with lots of pupils getting books out and showing massive

interest in their reading. The Library is a lovely place for students to

‘hang-out’ and read. Don’t hesitate to pop in and share the excitement of ‘book selection’

with your child.

Please continue to support all of this reading positivity at home

by finding an occasion every day to read with your child or model

yourself as a reader at home. The benefits are immeasurable but

undoubtedly positive.

BOOK AMNESTYPlease bring in any over-due library books and any readers you may have around the house from last year. Please bring them to the school office, or put them in the return bin in the Library.

BAY COSMOS SOCCER MUSTER

Thursday 15th Feb and Thursday 22nd Febat Bay Cosmos Club Rooms @ Bay of Island’s

College back field.We are mustering all interested in Football.

Teams for all ages, from Junior to Adult, Coaches, Referees and HELPERS. :-)

If you are keen please come along or leave your name with Michelle 021 261 8117

A huge thank you on behalf of all our children and teachers to the group of PTA members and parents who expended serious energy over many hot days in the summer to continue the beautiful facelift that our pool area is receiving. If you haven’t yet had a chance to look at what’s been achieved, please pop over to the pool area and have a peek. It will seriously impress. The vibrant colours, newly built benching [that helps with instruction] and all the gardening and painting, together, makes for a fantastic new look.

S c h o o l S h a r i n g - F r i d ay 2 - 3 -

Ko w h a i - A L L W E L C O M E

* * * * * *

2 0 t h F e b r u a r y - fa m i ly o p e n n i g h t

4 - 7 p m - A L L W E L C O M E !

* * * * * *

1 2 3 r d f e b r u a r y - R o c k y S h o r e

T r i p - w h o l e s c h o o l -

* * * * * * *

2 8 t h f e b r u a r y - E L g r e g o e -

y o u ’ v e g o t t h e p o w e r - 9 . 1 5 a m -

1 0 . 1 5 a m

* * * * * * *

5 t h M a r c h - r u s s e l l s w i m m i n g

s p o r t s

* * * * * *

2 4 t h m a r c h o p u a r e g at ta

We have also been fortunate to work through a project funded through the Ministry to extend our outdoor learning spaces and I am sure our lovely new archgola, on the side of Rooms 4 and 5, has not escaped your admiration. The longer term plan is to put sliding doors into Rooms 4 and 5 to open the space up on suitable days and, possibly, to add drop down blinds to each gap in the archgola structure to enclose the area on very poor weather days. It is a real lift to get such positive additions to the school and to follow them all the way from the planning to the completion. The children are already enjoying