News 12 - THE GREYTOWN SCHOOL WEBSITE

Greytown School
Newsletter
Issue 12
28 July 2016
From the Principal’s Desk
A term certainly goes quickly. It has been a
privilege to be able to take advantage of a
Principal’s sabbatical during Term 2. It was
an opportunity to undertake some interesting
research and an opportunity to refresh and
relax a little.
work would be possible without the work of
Teacher Aides. Our TAs are vital to making
school a success for many students. TAs
are no longer there to mix the paint and do
photocopying. Their work with children is
very valuable and makes the teacher’s work
more effective for all children.
During the term I spent some time in 14
other schools in Wellington, Taranaki,
Manawatu and the Wairarapa. Although my
focus was on the provision of learning
opportunities for children with special
learning needs, it was a chance to have a
general look at other schools and an
opportunity to spend an hour or so with other
Principals.
What
a
committed
and
passionate group of people they are. Being
a Principal is a highly complex job but these
Principals were obviously very committed to
their schools and the children in their care.
Even though it was what I expected it was
refreshing to see. It is easy to sit back and
see the negatives but all of these Principals
were committed to making the most of the
resources available to them. Yes all of them
could do better things with more money,
more staff and more community involvement
but they accept that not every wish is
possible. I saw some great things happening
with children with special learning needs but
my visits also highlighted how big the issue
is. All schools regardless of decile rating
have to top up Ministry funding to allow the
successful programmes they have in place
to occur. This has an impact on all other
children in the school. As a result it is not all
positive and there are some major issues
but it’s clear that there is a commitment to
provide
the
best
possible
learning
environment for these children. What also
became very clear was that none of this
It is clear that change is a constant in our
lives. While I have been away Leigh Perry
secured a well-deserved opportunity to be
Assistant Principal in a large school. I am
sure Peterhead school will benefit from her
input. Teacher Aides Anna O’Connell and
Mia Wilson also left for new prospects and I
thank them for their effort in working with our
children with special learning needs. I
welcome Hayden Ray as DP release
teacher in R12, Stacey Aspinall working as a
TA in classrooms and Donna Field working
as a TA for a child with specific needs. Later
in the year I will fill the vacancy left by Leigh.
In the meantime I thank Ali Morgan for
acting as Syndicate Leader for the Kowhai
Syndicate, Dorreen Mackenzie for taking the
leaders role in the New Entrant hub, and
Sally Morch for relieving in R5 until the new
appointment is made.
The grounds also changed during my
absence and the new gardens look great.
Thanks to Janelle Cheshire for her input and
Rachel Gawith for coordinating the working
bees. Thanks to everyone who came along
to help. Just a bit of bark left to spread I
understand.
We’re looking forward to a successful and
productive term and a reminder that this
term we have a teacher only day on Monday
22nd August.
Kevin Mackay
DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR
3rd Aug
4th Aug
22nd Aug
23rd Sept
10th Oct
Kuranui Open Day
Kuranui Open Evening
Teacher Only Day
Last Day of Term 3
First Day of Term 4
…………..……..…………….…….....…..…....
WE LOVE TO READ AT GREYTOWN SCHOOL
School librarian Linda Kirkland is running the
theme, ‘We Love To Read At Greytown School’
in the library this term. Children in our school are
asked to email a photo to Mrs Kirkland of
themselves reading a favourite book in a place
that they love to read in. The photos will then be
printed and displayed in the library. It is hoped
that the library will have many fabulous photos to
inspire children to read. Please email photos to
Linda (library@greytown.school.nz).
…………..……..……………..…......…..…...
GREYTOWN 3 BASKETBALL TEAM
WINNERS OF THE SOUTH WAIRARAPA
BASKETBALL COMPETITION.
I have just returned from visiting my sponsored
child in Uganda. I assisted in
getting a projector working in her
school but they lack any resources
to play on their laptop. Do you have
any DVD's for educational
purposes I could send them?
Regards, Chris Engel, 06 379 8560
…………..……..…………….……......…..….
ATTACHED IS THE LETTER WE SENT TO THE
MEDIA RE POWERCO
Dear Editor
Often our power providers bear the brunt of some
quite tough challenges and sometimes complaints,
as both the weather and a range of unforeseeable
problems interrupt the power supplies we expect
and for the most part need to be constant, or when
our expectations are not met.
Greytown School would like to take the opportunity
to thank Powerco for a recent show of generosity
to our school.
After the fairly substantial trimming and felling of a
number of trees which were becoming a danger as
they neared powerlines, a significant amount of
green waste, trunks and branches was left in our
prized ‘Matariki Garden’. It would have been a very
big job for us to remove all of it, despite a very
willing community of parents, and would likely have
incurred significant and unexpected expense.
Powerco, without prompting, kindly offered to
arrange and pay for the waste to be removed, with
contractors arriving on Saturday morning to do so.
Thank you Powerco and Treescape for your
generosity. Our Matariki Garden can now flourish
anew and the children look forward to returning to
play in it.
Back: Mr Hammond, Teah Aporo, Zach Taylor, Jack Gray
Front: Serenity Wilson, Tamaiki Kaiwai, Ceejay Dennes
Absent: Rheko Hemi
!
!
IS#NOW#ACCEPTING#ENROLMENTS#FOR
!
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!
©
!
Developed!by!Carolyn!Webster2Stratton
!
!
!
A"PROGRAMME"FOR"PARENTS"OF"CHILDREN"AGES"3!8
ARE$YOU$LOOKING$FOR$A$FREE$PARENTING$PROGRAMME$"
THAT$IS$PROVEN$TO$CHANGE$BEHAVIOUR?
!
!
Alistair Plimmer, Chair
Greytown School Board of Trustees
…………..……..…………….……......…..….
SCHOOL GARDEN RE-ENHANCEMENT
FROGS WORKING BEE TO SPREAD BARK. We
need helpers on Sunday 7th August with shovels,
rakes, wheelbarrows and loads of energy to spread
bark on the garden areas. We’ll make sure there is
time to relax with a cuppa and yummy morning tea.
Time: 9.30am–12. Please - we do need as much
help as possible. If you can help (whole families
welcome) please let Rachel Gawith know on either
027 829 5130 or rgawith@xtra.co.nz. Thanks.
!
FUNDRAISING*FOR*GREYTOWN*
SCHOOL*
STARTS:!Thursday)18th!August!2016
9:30AM'–!12#NOON"
AT:$$Carterton$Event’s"Centre,"Carterton"
"
!
!
!
!
!
!
Facilitators:"Susan"Walker"&"Janet"Meehan"
!
!
For"more"information"contact"Janet"Meehan"0272"644"172"
Or"Jane"Dunbier"0274"182"671"jane@edresources.co.nz"
Or"visit"our"website"www.incrediblefamilies.org.nz"
!
Purchase)The)Wairarapa)Book)and)
GREYTOWN)SCHOOL)will)receive)$10)from)
each)sale!))
)
The)Wairarapa)Book)2016H2017)is)a)
WairarapaHexclusive)discount)voucher)book)
that)helps)you)enjoy)a)range)of)wonderful)
local)products)and)services)ranging)from)the)
luxury)to)the)everyday.))With)discounts)on)
cafes,)restaurants,)food)producers,)retail,)
health)and)beauty,)fitness,)gardening,)
accommodation,)photography,)tours)and)
familyHfriendly)activities)and)adventure)there)
is)plenty)of)opportunity)to)save)money,)all)
while)supporting)local)businesses)and)
community.)
)
The)books)will)be)printed)in)early)June)and)
the)singleHuse)discount)vouchers)will)be)valid)
for)one)year)from)1)August)2016.))
Books)are)on)sale)now,)head)to)
thewairarapabook.nz/shop)and)select)
GREYTOWN)SCHOOL)as)your)Fundraising)
Group)at)the)checkout.))
)
Funds)raised)from)this)will)go)towards)
the)costs)for)beautifying)the)school)
grounds.