Term 1 5th Feb – 1st April.
Term 2 19th April – 2nd July.
Term 3 19th July – 24th Sept.
Term 4 11th Oct – Mid Dec.
Event Dates for your Calendar
26th March - Weed-buster Day.
29th March - B.O.T
1st April - Assembly.
Term 1 ends.
19th April - Term 2 begins.
Celebrating our Learning at Apiti School
Students of the Week: –
Junior Rm – Wk 6 – Travis / Ben! Reading with great strategies like sounding out and re-reading for meaning.
Wk 7 – David! – Independent at camp, tried new things confidently and listened to others really well.
Reading – Derek – reading Magenta 2. He now knows 8 basic words and lots more alphabet - Keep it up!
Story Writing – Hannah & Charlotte very expressive story writing. Numeracy – Keanu very quick basic facts.
Senior Rm – Wk 6 – Caleb K! For his co-operative skills, leadership and excellent teamwork.
Wk 7 – Cole! For taking excellent responsibility for responsibility. Excellent improvement in all areas, especially maths & literacy.
These students have demonstrated excellent progress and attitude in the following Curriculum and Key Competency Areas:-
Handwriting – Cole.
Numeracy / Problem Solving – Huntah, Travis, Hannah, Charlotte & Logan.
Handwriting – Caleb J.
Reading Comprehension – Jacob, Caleb J, Chevelle & Tom.
Appreciation box
In the Senior Room we have an appreciation box. It is one way that we celebrate our Key Competencies. We commend our school members on the way they Manage themselves, Relate to others or Participate and Contribute. Well done to the following students whose names have been placed in the Appreciation box :- Ashleigh x 2 & Emma.
Farewell
Unfortunately we have had to say farewell to Jacob MacDonald who recently left our school. We would like to wish Jacob all the very best at his new school.
Our School Pool
The swimming pool is now closed. Keys need be returned to the office anytime from now on please. Once again, we would like to thank Sheree for the fantastic way in which the pool was kept looking lovely and clean and also a big thank you to Nipper for attending to any minor repairs (like the pool cover roller). We hope everyone who used the pool found it most inviting and enjoyable and we thank you for using our pool with respect to the rules.
Oroua Group of Schools Swimming Sports
This event was held on Friday the 12th of March at the Makino Aquatic Centre in Feilding. Thank you to all parents for transporting and supporting their children at this event and those who went to the library with the juniors. Students seemed extremely motivated to do their best at this event. Students in the Championship events trained at the Makino each Thursday for five weeks before the Oroua Sports. Many thanks to Sonya for her help with this. The improvement in skills and fitness was evident. Our students all competed extremely well. Congratulations to the following top 10 placings:-
Width races: One width Flutterboard – 1st – Anastaisia, 2nd Brooke, 3rd= Ethan.
One width Medley – 1st – Charlotte, 2nd – Tom, 3rd= Cole / Ethan.
One width Freestyle – 1st= Huntah / Ethan, 2nd – Anastaisia.
One width Running Race – 1st – Anastaisia, 2nd= Charlotte / Huntah, 3rd – Brooke.
Dolphin Dive – 1st – Tom, 2nd – Ethan, 3rd – Logan.
2 widths Freestyle – 1st – Tom, 2nd – Cole, 3rd – Charlotte.
One width Flutterboard on back – 1st – Tom, 2nd Anastiasia, 3rd – Huntah.
One width Backstroke – 1st – Ethan, 3rd= – Brooke, Charlotte & Tom.
One width Breaststroke – 2nd= - Charlotte / Anastaisia, 3rd – Ethan.
Championship Events:
Junior Girls : Hannah = 4th – 50m Breaststroke. 5th - 3 x 1 Medley. 6th - 50m Freestyle. 7th - 50m Backstroke. 9th – Width Fly.
Intermediate Girls : Ashleigh = 4th – 50m Butterfly. 6th – 4 x 1 Medley. 6th – 50 m Breaststroke. 7th 50m Freestyle.
Intermediate Boys : Jacob = 4th – 50m Breaststroke. 6th – 4 x 1 Medley. 6th – 50m Butterfly. 10th – 50m Backstroke. Caleb J = 7th – 50m Butterfly.
Senior Girls : Emma = 5th – 50m Butterfly. 5th – 50m Backstroke. 7th – 4 x 1 Medley. 8th – 50m Freestyle. 9th – 50 m Breaststroke.
Senior Boys : Caleb K = 6th – 50m Butterfly. 7th – 50m Breaststroke. 9th – 50m Freestyle. 9th – 4 x 1 Medley.
There was a high standard this year with many records being broken. Many of the students who were successful are committed swimmers at Swim Clubs in Feilding. The value of these was evident.
Students own words
Yah! It’s swimming sports! I was excited, it was in Feilding at the Makino. Bang! There I go. When I stepped out of the water I came 5th. I was frozen and shivering and cold. Bang! for the others – go Apiti go!! Yah my turn now. Bang, everyone yelling at their teams. I tried hard. - By Logan.
I was late for the swimming sports because I had to go to the dentist and get a fence around my tooth and a filling. I got last in the running race. I did flutterboard on my back and the dolphin dive. I was like an ice-block when I got out of the pool. In the weekend I got a Lego Star wars and my brother got a lego pirate. - By Travis.
We drove to the swimming sports. I was proud of myself because I won five times. - By Ben.
Education Outside The Classroom
My favourite part was going to the Wai-o-tapu geothermal springs because we got to see the geyser blow. I really liked the walk and devil’s ink holes. The rainbow crater was interesting because it was named after sulphur crystals and the coloured minerals. The other place that I liked was when we went out fishing on Chris Jolly’s boat. That was cool! I really liked it when we saw the carvings. They were awesome and looked older than they were. My favourite carving was the lizard carved out of the rock. - By 
Ashleigh.
I enjoyed the hangi especially the chicken. It tasted fantastic because it was so different to the chicken we have from the oven. The steam pit food tastes better, cooks faster and it doesn’t use any electricity. I couldn’t believe the incredibly short time to cook. The corn took only a few minutes! If we put it in the crockpot it would take the whole day. - By Ethan. 
I really enjoyed the ZORB with the warm water and the bumpy exhilarating ride to the bottom. It was amazing the way the water stuck to the walls as we sped up. The g-force pinned it to the wall as we raced down the hill. The screaming from the girls deafened me as we swayed backward and forwards. - By Caleb K.
Bike Ramp
We love the bike ramp that the council built for us in the year 2000/01. Scooters, bikes and skate boards are allowed on it. But now its getting a little bit too old and is breaking down. We have written a letter to the council to
ask them if they can help us rebuild it. - By Tom and Cole.
Bible In Schools
Each Thursday afternoon Sonya Dearlove takes the Junior Class for Bible In Schools. This Thursday 25th March Sonya has asked the senior room to join in as she has a special ‘end of term’ programme being taken by Mr & Mrs Lind. If you don’t want your child to participate please let Mrs Cuming know. Some students will be working on the school EOTC magazine at this time.
School Hours
Thank you to those who have returned their survey form regarding a change in school hours. We would appreciate if every school family would return this form. Your opinion is valuable. If you choose not to return your form, we will assume that you are supporting the decision School Management makes. A decision will be made at the BOT meeting next Monday and notification will be sent out following this. If you would like another survey form, please contact the school and we will send one home to you.
Board of Trustee Meeting
The next Board of Trustee meeting will be on Monday the 29th of March, starting at 7.00p.m in the staff room. We would love to see parents attend these board meetings. Please find the agenda attached.
Bon Apiti 2010
We will continue to cook wraps on Mondays and filled rolls on Wednesdays. These will be on sale for $1.50 each. If anyone has any ingredients that would be suitable e.g. mince, lettuce, tortilla wraps, to fill the wraps with it would be very much appreciated! Thanks - The Bon Apiti Committee.
Bush Visit – Friday 26th March
This Friday, the whole school (depending on the weather for the junior students), will be travelling up to our native bush area with the aim to re establish the tracks and clear weeds as the bush has become really over-grown with weeds. We will head up there at 12 noon with lunch. Students will need to wear warm protective clothing / shower proof jacket / leggings and suitable footwear e.g. gumboots, work-boots. If we could have your help it would be really appreciated, as we will need at least 1 parent per group for 5 groups. We will also need supplied please, several tools for cutting down low lying branches and tools for pulling out the weeds. Students may also like to wear thick gardening gloves in case of prickly weeds. We will be back for the bus.
Are there any Blue Ducks out there?
On Tuesday the 9th March, we walked up the Oroua river in search of the blue duck. The blue duck is nearly extinct and we are working with DOC to try to replenish the population. Mark and his dog Snoopy are contracted by D.O.C to help with their search for and monitoring of the blue duck.
The 8 people who went in search of the blue duck were Mark Casey, Jock, Vaughan Dearlove, Jim Warren, Caleb K, Jacob, Ethan and Caleb J. Caleb, Jacob, Ethan and Caleb are all kids from Apiti School. We are studying the blue duck and are trying to make a significant decrease in stoat numbers and all other pests to the ducks. We began our trek at the first bridge past Apiti and continued following the river until we got to the Irongates Gorge. We then headed up a steep bank. The river was a lot narrower here! The reason that we follow the river is that this is their natural habitat.
We learnt that the Blue Duck likes little insects in the river and tiny little pieces of sand.
The signs that there are Blue Duck are poo and feathers, but we didn’t find any of these.
Snoopy and Mark’s role is quite important. They are the ones that can sniff out the Blue Duck even when they are not visible to humans.
Snoopy did not catch the scent of any Blue Ducks in the area where we walked. This tells us that there could be quite a few stoats and other pests around.
Our next step is to continue placing our 500 stoat traps on the farmland that runs between the ranges and river. We are hoping to this will get rid of stoats, rats, cats and dogs and other pests.
Written by Caleb K, Ethan, Jacob and Caleb J.
As this is the last newsletter for term 1, we would like to wish you all a very safe and happy holiday period and we will see you all back here on Monday the 19th of April at 9.00a.m.
Regards, Mary, Nicki, Mary B, Pat, and Christine.
Board of Trustee Elections
Every school parent will have received a nomination form in the mail recently. Please read the enclosed cover letter and then think seriously about being nominated for a position on the board, or for who you would like to nominate to have a say in the important decisions regarding your school. Please remember that your nomination form must reach the Returning Officer by 12 noon on Friday the 23rd of April.
Time line for 2010: Nominations close April 23rd. Voting Papers issued April 28th. Voting Day 7th May. Count Votes 13th May. Boards take office 14th May. - C. Digby (Returning Officer).
Letter from PNBHS Cycling – who stayed at our school this last weekend.
Thank you very much for a great weekend! We really enjoyed the school. PNBHS had 28 students there and I think we had over 50 in total from at least 5 different schools. We enjoyed the pool and in the afternoon did bike skill sessions on the field (the track was an extra bonus for us.)
Many parents commented on the wonderful atmosphere we created there for our students and a large part of that can be attributed to the beautiful school you and your staff have created.
On a personal note, I live in ‘Patterson’ House which was transported from the corner of Bryce Street, two sections down from your school. I talked with the Carters for about Dave Patterson who built our house. The first Dave Patterson was a builder in Apiti and was apparently the first woodwork teacher at Apiti school. The house was moved to Colyton in 1995. It was interesting talking to the locals and walking on the old section. Thanks again. - Howard Pinder, PNBHS Cycling.
Community Notices
Hi From the Tavern. I hope everyone enjoyed School camp. I wish that we could have had school camps like that one when I went to school. Pool Club - Our first challenge for the Cameron Cup is on the 31st of March at Chelty. We will be leaving the Tavern at 7.00 pm. Early Closing Saturday the 27th. We will be closing at 7.30 on Saturday night. Sorry for any inconvenience. Easter Weekend Hours - Closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Trading hours for Easter Saturday are from 11.30am till 4.oopm then closed for a private function. We will be open on Easter Monday. Community Dinner - There is no Community Dinner this month. We will only be having them every second month from now on. RSA Meeting - Wednesday 25th at 7.30 to discuss Anzac Day. - Cheers June and Bruce.Thank You – Helen (the High School bus driver), would like to thank Richard, Cody & Daniel for their help changing the flat tyre on her car. Helen really appreciated the way these 3 helped her out.
125th Apiti & Districts Jubilee Meeting – The next meeting is to be held on Monday the 12th of April in the Apiti Tavern starting at 7.30p.m. We would love to see many community members come along to these meetings to have an input into lead-up events and the jubilee week-end celebrations and to show your support for the jubilee. Registrations are now open at $20.00 per adult. Please either contact Christine by post at 1016 Oroua Valley Rd Apiti, R.D 54, Kimbolton 4774, by phone 3284 833, or within the next week you will be able to register on the website at http://www.apiti125.co.nz/ Please don’t hesitate to contact either Hugh, Christine or Duncan if you would like more information. - C. Digby (Jubilee secretary).
Apiti Cemetery Board of Trustees – There is to be a public meeting this Wednesday the 24th of March in the Apiti Hall starting at 7.30p.m. All members of the public are welcome to attend. - C. Digby (Secretary)
Apiti Country Ball - Hi there! A group of us from Apiti have come up with the idea to organise a community ball/dance. We are hoping this will become a fun yearly event for the community, just like the days when every country town held an annual dance! We are not aiming to make a profit, however if any proceeds are made they will be donated to The Cancer Society. Details are: Saturday 22nd May 2010, 6.30pm-late. B.Y.O., non-alcoholic drinks for sale on the night. Live music - Erna Ferry (her music will appeal to all ages). Supper provided. Dress code: semi-formal ('tidy' to as flash as you like!). Tickets $20pp, available from Anita Renes 3284545 or Katherine Gillespie 3284747. - Anita Renes.
Feilding Saturday Morning Rugby – Registration dates are : Tuesday 23rd March 5.00 – 7.00p.m. Thursday 25th March 5.00 – 7.00p.m. in the Feilding Old Boys Rugby Clubrooms. - J. Barnes (S.M.R Secretary).
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Agenda for the Apiti School Board of Trustees Monthly Meeting
DATE : Monday 29th March 2010 @ 7pm.(date to be confirmed).
Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed.
Matters arising :-
1) School house update.
2) School hours and response to survey.
3) Thanks to Mary and Nicky and all the parents that attended the EOTC trip.
4) We have been approached by members of the community wanting to help to fundraise for heating the school
Pool.
5) Bike ramp update.
Correspondence :
Inward / Outward.
BUSINESS :-
1) Principal - Mrs. Mary Cuming: – Principals Report.
2) Self Review (a) Targets = Literacy & Numeracy. (b) ICT.
3) Self Review - Policies to be reviewed :- Personnel (NAG: 3)
1) Personnel Policy (NAG 3:1). 2) Complaints and Concerns Policy (NAG 3:2)
4) Personnel (NAG 3).
5) Finance (NAG 4).
6) Property (NAG 4).
7) Health and Safety (NAG 5).
8) Legislation (NAG 6).
