Newsletter 1 February 2012
From the Principal
Welcome back to the 2012 school year at Mangamaire Country School. Our photo shows all the children who were at school today. Welcome back to all our returning staff and students and to new enrolments Anna and Zara in Room 3 (both starting school today after birthdays in the holidays) and Jack and James in Room 5 (both of whom come to us from Eketahuna).
The school has opened today with a roll of 25, 10 in Room 3, 15 in Room 5, and one other five year old pre-enrolled to start in March. In Room 3 Miss Boyack will take the class most of the time with Ms Romp taking the class one day a fortnight when Emma has her release time. Room 5 has Mr Hudson three days each week and Mr Grimmer for the other two days, much the same as last year.
Another year over and a new year starts. I sat down last night and realised this would be the twenty second time I had a ‘first day’ of school. Even after all that practice it is still an exciting and slightly nerve wracking experience every time!
A big thank you to all those parents (and children!) who helped at the working bee over Monday and Tuesday getting the grounds in such fine shape for the start of the year. The trees are trimmed, the bark chips look great and the kids are enjoying having all four swings working again!
School Structure
This year the school will again be run as two classes. Years 1-4 in Room 3 and Years 5-8 in Room 5. Both classes have an interesting feature in that they have a ‘missing’ year group - no Year 3’s in Room 3 and no Year 7’s in Room 5. This gives both classes two quite distinct age/level groups and this will be reflected in the different programmes being offered to each group within each class.
Swimming
Swimming programmes will start tomorrow with all the children being assessed to be put into appropriate groups for instruction. This year the BOT has agreed to fund some professional input into our programmes with a trained coach assisting with the initial assessment, giving on-going input into the content of lessons and taking each group for a lesson once each week.
This initiative should improve the quality of our swimming programmes for the children immediately (particularly those capable swimmers needing extension) and also up-skill our staff who will get to observe and take notes each week, ensuring on-going improvement into the future.
Photography Unit Room 5
This year the students in Room 5 will be starting their art programme with a photography unit. The school has three digital cameras but it would be helpful if at least some of the students could bring their own cameras from home (plus any cable/s needed to download the photos) on Tuesday afternoons.
Cameras should be given to Mr Hudson as soon as the children arrive at school and will be kept in a locked cupboard until needed each day. Students can then either take the camera home again that afternoon or leave it at school for the duration of the unit.
Peter and The Wolf
On Friday 9 March the whole school will be trravellng to Wellington on the train (departing Masterton at 6.50 a.m.!) to see a performance of Peter and the Wolf as part of our music programme this term. More details to come in future newsletters.
Technology - Year 8’s
This year Technology will be on Fridays (see Coming Events page
Click Here). I have been informed that because we have fewer than eight students attending Tech this year the bus normally provided to take the children to Tararua College will not be provided and families will need to transport their children to Tararua College on Technology days. A separate notice will be sent to families of children in Year 8 later this week with more information on this topic.
Other Information
Bush Athletics Open Day
All boys and girls aged 6-13 as at 31st December 2011, are welcome, no need to be a club member and you can enter any or all events. Monday 6th February—9.30am registration at Tararua College grounds via Victoria Street Entrance. All entries receive a ribbon, plus 1st, 2nd and 3rd placings. $2 per athlete. Cancellations: Phone 376 6712 and wait for a message. Club night restarts Monday 13th February 5pm. Enquiries to Rita Petaera 376 6712 or Louise Powick 376 6969
Pahiatua Swimming Club
Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Tararua College. Cost: $30 for the season Starts: Tuesday 7th February. Buckets 5.30pm, Squads 6pm. If you haven’t been to swimming club before, please come at 5pm on Tuesday 7th for an assessment with Maxine Gardner. Please park outside the college grounds as the gates are locked while we are at swimming club. If you would like more information phone Megan Bennett on 376 6278.
