Kia ora koutou
Welcome back everyone! Can you believe that it has been a whole year since we had to close the school for the flooding? Quite a contrast to the last few days, and I know the garden at home could do with a bit of rain on it. There’s been a lot of water under the bridge since then both metaphorically and literally. 2020 had some challenges we could have done without, that’s for sure. Here’s hoping 2021 will see smoother sailing.
I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Kate Wilson who is teaching our Year 6 students in Room 1 this year. We’re lucky to have her and already Room 1 is off to a great start. That can be said for each of our classes. There’s a real buzz of excitement around the school this week. It has been just wonderful to see everyone again and catch up about what’s been happening since the end of last year.
A school has many moving parts to it and it is a team effort to have it running smoothly. You are part of that team. We are grateful to everyone that has helped get the school up and running for the new year. Jeff Keen and Jacob Priergaard-Petersen have installed our shade sails which have been put to good use this week. We are grateful to the families that took home hats and vests to wash over the break, these were able to be handed out fresh and clean on the first day of school. Thank you too, to the families that have kept the lawns tidy over the break and done some grounds maintenance. My grandson begins school later this year and the school chosen for him was the one that had tidy lawns out the front, so it does make a difference.
If you’d like to help out in some way but are not sure how please just ask. The saying that many hands makes light work is very true when it comes to the successful running of a school.
We have a few events coming up that you need to put in your diary. The first is our Meet and Greet, Thursday 18 February beginning at 5:00. The Meet and Greet is a chance to meet and chat informally with your child's teacher. It will also be a chance to meet other parents and our BOT. There will be some games on the field run by our student leaders. You are welcome to bring a picnic tea or grab a sausage from the BBQ. It was a great event last time around, low key and relaxed. I’m looking forward to seeing you there.
The following week we have our Dome Athletics which will be held at NSC. The exact date won’t be confirmed until after the weekend but it will either be the Wednesday or Thursday of that week. Northern Athletics will be two weeks later.
On Tuesday 2 March and Wednesday 3 March we will have our Learning Hui. Last year we had these the week after reports came out at the end of terms 2 and 4. Feedback we received suggested it would be more useful to have these at different times. This year, we will keep the reports at the same time but move our Learning Hui to terms 1 and 3. There will be a notice home about these for you to book in a time next week.
We appear to have a large number of library books that have not been returned and a few that seem not to have been checked out correctly. These are a valuable resource for us. If you have any at home can you please return them so we can get them back into circulation.
The school buses in our district are managed by the Dome School Transport Network. The Network maintains a website where you can find information on bus routes and schedules. The site contains some handy tools that you can use to offer your ideas on improvements to bus routes, and to provide feedback when a service doesn’t operate as expected. From time to time there are changes to the bus routes. The best way to keep up to date with these changes is to visit their website and sign up to the newsletter. You can find the site at www.dome.easybus.nz
I hope everyone is able to enjoy the long weekend and make the most of it.
Ka kite ano
Callum Tytler
Principal
Welcome to Lumsden School!
Great to have Miss (Kate) Wilson, Miss (Tarryn) Lines (Student Teacher), Bonnie Stevenson, Kaylee Shirley, King Angeles, Maryjane Clark, King Angeles, and Phoenix Clark aboard at our school.
Staffing
Teachers will be teaching in the following areas:
· Lana Stevens New Entrant/Year 1 Room 4
· Judi McMillan Year 1/2/3 Room 5
· Sarah Falconer Year 4/5 Room 2
· Kate Wilson Year 6 Room 1
· Tracey Watson Release Teacher
Support staff will be working with individual students as well as providing groups of students with extra learning opportunities as needs arise.
School Bus Families
A reminder that there is a website through which you can access information about your bus route and contact our bus transport manager directly if you have any questions or concerns about the service you are provided with. Please check this out at www.dome.easybus.nz and enter your name and email address to register for information updates.
Term 1 Swimming
Children will be swimming on Wednesday afternoons. Parent help will be required in order to provide a safe adult:child ratio for supervision. Please contact the school if you are able to help – Thank you.
Buddy Reading
Most Tuesday mornings for the last decade or so, Lumsden School children have benefitted from the time and dedication of community members who have come into school to sit down and read with them. It would be great to hear from anyone who would be interested in joining this buddy reading team – Please let myself, or Ethel Barnes (co-ordinator) know ph 248 7216 – Thank you!
School Lawns
Here are the guidelines to follow;
· Pick up the school mower shed key from the Four Square Supermarket
· Check the mower has fuel and fill from can in shed if necessary. Please let the school know if petrol can is low and we will refill
· Check the map attached to the mower showing which areas to mow
· Catcher loads of grass can be emptied around the back of the school next to the sports container. Wheelbarrow next to shed or in vege garden area available if required
· Top mower up with fuel, when finished and return key to Four Square Supermarket.
The roster for the next few weeks is:
6/7 February Bryan Family
13/14 February Baker Family
20/21 February Braithwaite Family
Bus Roll Procedure
At the end of the day, unless the school has been contacted by parents stating alternative arrangements, children will be put on their designated bus. It is important to let us know if you do not require bus transport for your child on certain days or in one-off situations.
NB: If your child is not a bus passenger on a particular bus, they may only travel on a bus with the driver’s permission. It is not a right to be able to hop on any bus at any time. The bus company is happy to help where they can but some buses are full and it is possible that this request will be declined if space/safety become an issue.
Financial Contribution
The Board of Trustees respectfully ask for financial donations from each family to the value of $100 per child for the first two children and $70 for the third per annum.
We ask that you pay $25 per child (for the first two) and $17.50 for the third child for the first term as soon as possible. Alternatively you may wish to pay the full annual donation as a lump sum. Please make payment to Sharon in the office at school or directly into the school bank account 030960-0112624-00 (child/ren’s name as reference).
Please feel free to discuss this with Callum or Amanda Russell (BOT Chairperson 022 088 2265) if you have any other questions or concerns about this request.
Emergency Contacts
While many families have cellphones we still require the name of at least one other person we can contact in the event of an emergency or illness of your child, who could come and collect your child. If your phone number has changed please remember to advise us so we can update our records.
Privacy
Please let us know if you do not wish your child’s photo to be published in any document publically accessible e.g. newsletter, information book, school website, school facebook page.
Dental Clinic
If you need to contact the Dental Nurse please phone 0800 570 300 or alternatively 248 7699 for the Lumsden Clinic.
School Assembly
School Assembly is held each Friday afternoon in Room 3 at 2.30 – 3.00 pm. We welcome parents, grandparents and community members along to share in this time. It is an important part of our week when we all come together to reflect on the week and share in what each class has been doing. We value it as a time to reinforce our values and attitudes programme and acknowledge our students in a positive way.
We would please ask that parents of preschoolers respect that for many children it is their first time in front of a large audience and often hard to hear. Preschoolers are very welcome but we do need them to be quiet please.
Whole School Athletics Practice
The Mid Dome Athletics are going to be held at Northern Southland College on Thursday 25th February (to be confirmed). Your child will be training in the age group they will be competing with on the day (Age as at 31st December 2020).
Please ensure that your child comes to school wearing appropriate running shoes and clothing. Please ensure that your child has footwear that they can put on independently. Jandals and scuffs are not advised as they are not good for running in.
Please contact us if you would be happy to help with coaching athletics on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 1.30 – 2.20 pm.
Launchpad
Launchpad will commence soon on Friday mornings, from 9.00 – 9.30 am (exact date still to be confirmed). Parents need to opt their children into this programme a notice will be sent home next week for this. Please note that school is officially closed during this time and parents are responsible for supervising any children not attending Launchpad. We are able to provide supervision for children who come to school by bus, 9.00 – 9.30 am in the Library.
Brain Food Reminder
A reminder that there is a short break at 10.00 am for the children to have a small, healthy snack (quick and easy to eat- e.g. apple cut up) to keep them energized for their morning’s learning. Good examples are fruit, vege sticks, raisins, natural popcorn (not cake and biscuits!). Given that there are a number of children who have allergies to nuts, we suggest nuts are not brought. We are also a ‘water only’ school and encourage children to bring a full water bottle rather than rely solely on our drinking fountains.
Sunscreen
If your child is allergic to certain brands of sunscreen please send along a named bottle for your child/ren to use.
Music Lessons: Lumsden Area. Piano, singing, up to 2nd year guitar.
Judy A. Blair – Graduate Diploma in Arts, Bachelor of Education (Applied), Diploma in Teaching, ATCL (Musicianship), TCL Grade 8 (Voice).
Taking registrations now, please email judyonspot@gmail.com, or phone 027 260 4415.
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