23.06.2014

Welcome to week 8 and the last two weeks of term 2!
Celebrating our Successes
Lochy = Great word knowledge of orange, light blue, purple and gold words and he is only on green. Learning strategies as well as words!
Kirsten has progressed on to Red 3!
Franklin completed all his ‘early words’ (congratulations) and he is working hard on his letter sounds.
Dylan and Tyler – QWT in Maths! Well done.

Oroua Schools Cross Country
Well the weather turned it on and it was great to see all of our students present rising to the occasion. Their commitment and support of one another was awesome to see. Many thanks to you ... our parents ... for your cheering and support both on the course and at the start / finish line!!
Congratulations to our students who performed extremely well and did themselves and our school proud on the day!!
Please click on the image for an enlarged view.
Placings were as follows:
5 year old Girls = 2nd Kirsten.
6 year old boys = 12th Lachlan.
7 year old girls = 1st - Sarah!  5th Lauren.
7 year old boys = 4th Johnny.
8 year old girls = 12th Grace.
8 year old boys = 1st - James!
9 year old boys = 7th Derek.  8th Tyler. 10th Jackson.
10 year old girls = 3rd Brooke.
10 year old boys = 10th David.
11 year old girls = 2nd Hannah.
12+ year old boys = 2nd Huntah.  4th Zahn.
Savannah, Nikki, Travis, Dylan all did well!  Congratulations to Waituna West School on hosting a very successful cross country.

Cross Country Story – by James

I was pumped and ready to race.  I cheered on the others and when it’s my race I’m ready!  “On your marks, get set, Bang!!  Off we go with a yo ho ho.  I’m winning, Ian Morton from Kimbolton behind me and Tie from Waituna West.  I hear my name and I zip past everyone like a rocket.  I jog over the stones and then through a paddock and over a fence where the funny thing happened to me.  It was that there was a line of cow pats and I slipped in them and did the splits until Ian caught up to me.  Then I sped through the creeks and all the way to the finish line and once again I WON!   

Student Led Reporting Conferences
Just a reminder that both teachers have allocated time for this on Wednesday. We have booked only one reliever so if you can book a time that Mary and Nicki are both free,  it would it easier and cheaper for the school. We are trialing offering student led conferences each term this year, as opposed to our normal two for the year. We welcome feedback on this. The goal is to reflect on learning and progress throughout the term and to set goals for term 3 and beyond. Just click on the link on the left hand side of this newsletter to book a time. If you have difficulties or would like to book another time please contact Mary or Nicki directly.

Annual School Production 
When - Next Wednesday the 2nd July at 6.30pm
Where - Senior Room - Apiti School
Who - EVERYONE IS INVITED!!
Why - To present and share orally and showcase learning
Classroom programmes will be modified slightly as we head into the last week of practice for our annual production. Oral, written and visual language, drama, movement and art are emphasised through this. We are also providing a valuable leaning opportunity to develop self management, relating to others and participating in and contributing to our school. We would appreciate it if you could set aside a little time to discuss your child's costume plans with them and support them where required. Students are expected to complete homework as normal. Please talk to Mary or Nicki if you have any questions.  We look forward to seeing you all here on the 2nd of July.

Board of Trustees Meeting
A reminder that this meeting will be next Monday the 30th of June in the school staff room, starting at 7.00pm.  All welcome.  An agenda will be posted on the blog for you to view prior to the meeting.  Minutes of the last meeting have been posted on the blog.

School Holidays
School will close on Friday the 4th of July at 2.30pm for the school holidays and will reopen on Monday the 21st of July at 9.00am.

Sports News  -  Saturday 21st June
Rugby - Zahn and Huntah's team, Feilding Highlanders – 43, played HSOB - 17.
Tyler and Johnny's team - North Harbour - 5, played Auckland 3.  Tyler scored 1 try.
Dylan and James's team, Manawatu - 10, played Canterbury - 1. Dylan scored 1 try.  
Netball - Brooke's team Oroua Gold – lost by 1 goal, played Lytton St. 
Hannah and Zahn's team - Yellow - won, played North St.  The team played really well together.
Hockey - The team had a bye.
Grace, Lauren and Lachlan play hockey every Monday night.
This report is reported to us by the children, so we accept no responsibility for incorrect reporting.  If parents could help us by discussing this with their children or would like to send a report along via email, that would be great. 

Other Education News
Recently Mary has attended the Central Regions Principals meeting in Wanganui and also the Manawatu principals meeting. There is a lot happening in Education at the moment, and it is important we keep up to date, and pass on information to our parents and communities.  Here is an extract from the report which has been sent to all Manawatu Schools from president David Reardon at Russell Street School Palmerston North. It has also been sent to BOT members and will be discussed at the next meeting.
'Earlier this year the Government announced it would invest an extra $359 million over the next four years in a new framework aimed at lifting student achievement.
The Government's stated intention of this 'Investing in Educational Success' initiative was to"Create Communities of Schools as a way of strengthening collaboration between principals, teachers and schools in order to raise student achievement."  Part of this is to introduce three new teacher and principal roles within schools, as well as an extra allowance to attract highly capable principals to schools that have the greatest challenges.
You are quite likely aware that there is very divided opinion on this approach, as it currently stands.  While very much for greater collaboration, school leaders overwhelmingly expressed a lack of confidence in this policy at a forum held recently in Wellington.  At this same forum, the question was also asked how this very significant amount of money could be better deployed.'  

As this is the last newsletter for this term, we would like to wish you all a very happy and safe holiday spending time with your children, and we will see you all again on Monday the 21st of July.