End of term newsletter

Principal’s Message

Kia ora Koutou

Term 2 has been very busy, with lots of quality teaching and learning evident in all classes, and opportunities for students to enjoy extra sport and trips. Parents have been able to join us on several occasions, and it has been a pleasure to see the community coming together to celebrate our children’s learning. Of particular note was our recent Matariki open morning, Cross Country and the amazing Bee Musical.

If parents have overlooked any of their payments for the extra learning opportunities provided, it would be appreciated if they would check these on Kindo and make the payments. Otherwise, the school covers the shortfall of expenditure, which will make us re-think what we offer in the future.

School Holidays

Over the holidays the community is welcome to use our playground facilities. Please supervise your children carefully while they are here. Workmen will be on site with the fencing project and reinstatement of the upper carpark. If you have concerns about property, please contact caretaking staff on site in Week 1, mornings in Week 2, or email me on principal@cocklebay.school.nz. For serious property issues please ring the Police.

Attendance

This term we have had considerable sickness among both students and teachers. We all want children to attend regularly and arrive on time, but sometimes parents are required to make tricky judgement calls as to whether or not their child should stay home. If they are too sick to learn, or there is the possibility that they are contagious, then they are better off at home. For teachers too, staying home when really unwell is also important. Getting relievers is often impossible and split classes is the only alternative.

You might be interested that in Term 1, 76% of our students attended regularly (i.e. missing fewer than 5 days). The Ministry target is 80% regular attendance. Only 81% of students were on time to class, so there is room for improvement here. Students should aim to be at school by 8:30am daily.

Student Reports and Conferences, 1 August (Students go home 12.30pm)

Written reports on mid year progress and achievement will be sent home on Friday 26 July and conferences are scheduled for Thursday 1 August. Students are asked to go home at 12:30pm on Thursday, 1 August. Separate newsletters about conferences were sent home earlier this week. Please book your conference time this week, and also fill in the form about your children going home at 12.30pm on Thursday 1 August. Thanks.

Change of Times: Morning Tea and Lunch

In Term 3, students will eat morning tea and lunch at the END of the break, rather than at the beginning. Interval will continue 10:40am – 11:00am, and lunch 12:30pm – 1:30pm. However, bells will ring and students will return to their areas to eat at the end of the break, rather than at the beginning. If you think it is a long time from when your child has eaten breakfast, you might like to pack some extra ‘grazing snacks’ that teachers can programme into the early part of the day, around 9:30am or 10:00am.

This is a trial for Term 3. From the research of P.B.4.L. and experiences of other schools, it seems that this is a good way to settle children’s behaviour so that they are feeling positive and can learn. It should also be better for children involved in sport.

Very best wishes for the upcoming break.

Ngā Mihi

Dorothy Bigwood

Class Councillors

Non-Uniform Day – Friday, 5 July

There will be a non-uniform day this Friday – the theme is ‘sports’.  A gold coin donation can be brought into school, or this can be paid on Kindo. The charities we will be supporting are the Cancer Society NZ and SPCA.

Pawfect Pet Photo Competition

Students have until this Friday, 5 July, to enter. Students will need a 6 x 4 photo of a pet (photo or printed) with their name and the pet’s name on the back. It can be your pet, or your extended family or friend’s pet, or even a picture of your favourite stuffed toy. A gold coin donation is required as an entry fee (gold coin to the office). Photos go in the box under the Mahi Pai in the office and coins should be handed in to the office.

The winner will be drawn in Week 1, Term 3.

New Entrants

If your child is turning 5 in Term 4 of this year and you have not completed an enrolment form, please do so now. Forms can be collected from the school office or downloaded from the school website.

PTN

Times Online Fundraiser

We’re excited to introduce an innovative fundraising opportunity that not only supports our school, but also keeps you connected with the most trusted local news and events. Times.co.nz have offered us an opportunity which is a simple and effective way for our school to raise funds, while staying informed and engaged with our community. We see this as a win-win for all.

Our school will receive a generous $1.00 for every sign-up (please note that all signups that unsubscribe within the month following the initiative will not be paid out). This includes sign ups from friends and family too, so share this link far and wide!

Simply click below and sign-up FREE to receive the Times.co.nz digital publication and e-newsletter with all the latest news, updates on local events, and access to fantastic competitions.

https://www.times.co.nz/cockle-bay-school-signup/

Road Patrol Help Needed for Mondays

We need assistance from parents or grandparents with road patrols for Mondays over the next two terms. Please email Amber May if you can help.

Dental Service

Please be aware that district health board dental services use school rolls to cross-check their own records so they can pick up children who might not be enrolled or whose details are out of date. It is standard practice for all New Zealand schools to share this type of information with the national dental service. 

Uniform Shop

Next opening date Monday, 22 July 2024 – 8:15am-9:00am and 2:30pm-3:15pm.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.tgcl.mykindo&pcampaignid=web_share

Collect the Yummy cut-out labels from bags (each cut-out label is worth 10 stickers) and individual Yummy apple stickers for your school’s share of the $200,000 free Sport sports gear prize pool. Yummy apples are available from New World, PAK’nSAVE and participating Four Square stores. The more you collect, the more sports gear you get, so get going and start collecting your Yummy cut-out labels and stickers now!

Sticker Collection Sheet