07.02.2018 Newsletter

Apiti School and District Newsletter 7.2.2018
Welcome to Week 1 of Term 1 2018.  We hope you all had a fabulous break and it’s great to see everyone back
here looking ready for another busy year as we look forward to a great year of learning for life.  We have many new
exciting opportunities for students this year.


Our focus for 2018 is Matatau -  to know, know well, be proficient, expert at, competent, fluent.


2018 Term Dates : Term 1 2018 : 7th Feb - 13th April.  30th April - 6th July.  23rd July - 28th Sept.  15th Oct - 18th
Dec.
Welcome
Welcome to all students and their families. A special welcome to Darren Hodder who is the new teacher in the
senior room.
Hello, I am excited to be a teacher at Apiti School. The Apiti School's Whanau Group Video impressed me and
I’m looking forward to learning more and developing these this year. I have been teaching at Mangatainoka School
in their senior classroom for the past 1.5 years and have been teaching for 5 years. Before this I was in Banking
and Finance for 20 years.
I am married to Hayley, who is also a teacher and I have three sons: Billy (18), Elliot (15) and Alfie (12).
We live in Feilding. My sons all enjoy football and play in both winter and summer leagues. I enjoy just about
any sport and over the last few years I have played football and tennis and coached various sports.
 I am looking forward to meeting the students and their whanau, come and pop in for a chat!
Darren Hodder     
We would also like to welcome Jake and his family to Apiti School.  
We would also like to welcome Willow who is a sister of Boston, Skaife and Meiah. Both Willow and Jake join us
as brand new 5 year old students.  We know Willow and Jake will enjoy learning at our school.
We have started the new school year with 26 students, 16 in the senior room, 10 in the junior room.
We look forward to another new entrant starting in the near future.
Farewell
At the end of 2017, we said farewell to our Year 8 students - Genny and Fisher.  We wish those students all the
very best for their future schooling and we look forward to hearing all about their learning experiences.




Calendar of Events
7th Feb   : School starts for 2018.
8th Feb : Health nurse visiting to inform Year 7/8 students about upcoming vaccinations.
12th Feb : Technicraft every Monday for our Year 7/8 students.
15th -16th Feb : Senior Y7/8 Leadership Camp to Sixtus Lodge.
16th Feb : Meet the teacher and ASSA meeting 7.30 (see below for more details).
19th Feb : BOT meeting at 7pm. All welcome.
24th Feb : Apiti Show.
2nd March : Oroua Triathlon at Apiti School (pp 5th March).
9th March : Oroua Swimming Sports.
Please note: The above dates are updated as required. The school also keeps you updated with all community
news. Check this link http://bit.ly/2pvsJzf or the tab on the right hand side of the blogspot.  
Please email anything you would like to add to community notices to christinedigby@apiti.school.nz
STAFF MEMBERS
Mrs Mary Cuming - Principal / Junior Room Teacher.
Mr Darren Hodder - Senior Room Teacher.
Mrs Mary Burton - Principal Release Teacher.
Mrs Linda Penfold - Relieving Teacher (junior room).
Mary Cuming is due to have an ankle replacement on 12th March, Linda will be acting principal during this time.
Mrs Pat Prince - Teachers’ Aide mornings 9 - 12.
Mrs Christine Digby - Secretary in office and for the BOT, at school only Monday and Wednesdays.
Mrs Christine Lowe - Caretaker / Cleaner.
Toni Tibbitts -In charge of the Pool.
Pat Lambert - School Bus driver.


SCHOOL TIMES
Class time : 9.00 - 10.30.
Morning tea : 10.30 - 11.00 (sit and eat for first 10 minutes).
Class time : 11.00 - 12.30
Lunch time : 12.30 - 1.15 (sit and eat for first 10 minutes).
Class time : 1.15 - 2.45.
Home time : 2.45.
BUS
If you have any queries about the bus please ring Mary.  Please contact Pat 063282820 if there are any changes.
As the Year 7 and 8 students have technology on Monday’s, the bus will run 10min earlier every Monday
during Term 1 and Term 2.  


BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Our Board members are :
Mr Ben Pratt - BOT Chairperson.
Mr Tim Field - Treasurer.
Mrs Christine Digby - BOT Secretary / Staff Rep.
Mr Dave Holdaway - Property officer.
Mrs Fiona Stephenson - Personnel officer.
Mr Dave Stewart - Health and Safety.


CELEBRATING OUR SUCCESSES :
CONGRATULATIONS
Sumdog Maths : Top Students over the holidays were  : Questions answered: Lucas 383, Kadin 262, Bently 94,
Sarah 73 and Summer 69.
Sumdog Reading : Top student over the holidays : Savannah 27.


Oroua Senior Leadership camp to Sixtus Lodge
This year there is a leadership programme planned for the Oroua Year 7/8 students on the 15th/16th of February.
Parents of these students should have received information about this programme. Please let me know if you
haven’t received this
Apiti Show
We are working towards the Apiti Show exhibits. Students need to bring items for their sculpture ASAP.
Thanks to those who have brought them to school already. We are employing relievers to help students with
these but they will need their ideas and equipment to make their sculpture.
TOPIC : Te Ao - Environment
All entries are about nature
Kaitiaki a poster about an enviro issue.
2. Charcoal Sketch An aspect of nature.
3. Pastel and dye -  Te Ao.       
4. Sculpture.
Sculpture Festival at Kimbolton 28th April 2018. Check this link for more details  https://www.ruralart.nz/


SWIMMING and TRIATHLON TRAINING
We will be swimming and training for the triathlon everyday, please bring appropriate clothing and equipment.
If your child is unable to participate on any day or needs a bike, or you have a spare bike, please contact the
school. We will be training daily for this.  Could all students please ensure they bring suitable gear, including a
well fitting bike helmet and covered shoes, for running and biking. Students are encouraged to bring their bikes
to school for training. They should be parked in the bike shed on arrival at school and may be stored in the
locked PE shed overnight if required. Please bring a bike lock if you have one. Remember it is the responsibility
of the student to make sure these are in the PE shed each night. We would really appreciate hearing from
anyone who would like to help with training eg spotting for safety, biking or running with the students, please let
us know.


We are organising this Oroua group event for the 2nd March. We will need all hands on board for this event, so
please note it on your calendar. It will be discussed further at the next ASSA meeting which is on the 16th of
February.


Training Day for Oroua Swimming Sports - 23rd Feb
This will be held at the Makino Pool in Feilding and we will need transport please. All students - junior and senior,
will need to attend this training session which will be held on the 23rd Feb. This is to finalise events and to
practise events that they will enter into in the Oroua Group of Schools Swimming Sports being held on Friday
the 9th of March.


Oroua Group of Schools Swimming Sports - Friday 9th March
This event is happening at the Makino Aquatic Centre in Feilding.  The postponement date is the 16th of March,
but the weather would need to be really bad for the sports to be postponed, so please come prepared.  This event
is for the whole school, but the juniors will have a programme in the shallow pool.  Entry to the pool is free.  
Children require their togs, 2 towels, goggles, their lunch, a drink, warm clothes, a hat and sunscreen.
Kimbolton will sell food and drink. Students are required to wear their school uniform please.
Cup age groups :- Junior = 8 years and under. Intermediate = 9 and 10 year olds. Senior = 11 years and over.  
Parents are asked to arrange transport for their own children on this day. It is a great Oroua day and a chance to
see your children’s swimming confidence and ability. There is no stand so parents will have to bring their own
seating and shade. If you are able to take the school gazebo down to the pool for the day, that would be very
much appreciated.  
The programme for the seniors should conclude at about 2.00 and juniors earlier, but this time could vary so if
you are leaving the pool please be back by 1.30.  This is a good date to make all those appointments e.g haircuts.


Oroua Schools Triathlon - Friday 2nd March
We are organising this Oroua group event. We will need ALL hands on board for this event. Please talk to Darren,
Mary or Maryann (Chairperson of ASSA)  if you have any questions. Everyone will be expected to help in some
areas, either marshaling or selling food during the day.
Students are required to wear their school uniform for this event please.  Students will need to run in their green
sports top - please talk to Pat if there are any problems with your child's uniform asap please.  
All members of the public are most welcome to come along and help or support our students.
Thank you to the Apiti Fire Brigade and Police for your help in the past and we look forward to your help this year.  


JUNIOR - Oral language
We are learning how to speak clearly to an audience.
Monday : What you did at the weekend? For recount writing.
Tuesday : Bring your favourite book to share. Junior Spelling tested.
Wednesday : Impromptu speech. Talk about a given topic e.g red, dreams, sport.
Thursday : Talk about family and friends and pets with a partner.  The partner shares your news.
Friday : Poetry - Read a poem.  Share the poem together.


HOMEWORK
All  students are expected to read either to their parents or themselves every night, and some juniors will have
words to learn to read or word building. The juniors will have a homework notebook which sets this out. Please
sign it and add comments as necessary.  Most students will have weekly spelling to learn for their weekly test,
juniors on Tuesday and seniors on a Thursday.
STATIONERY
Students will continue to use exercise books they already have, if they are in good condition and are less than
half full. As in past years, we bulk buy stationery for the students and supply it to students as required. An
account will come out to you about twice a year.  We encourage parents to cover their student's’ books with
duraseal as this keeps them looking good throughout the year.  


TECHNICRAFT
Year 7 and 8 students will attend technicraft starting on Monday 12th Feb. Students will have to be at school by
8.30 to catch the bus to Kimbolton to catch the technicraft bus. They return to school by bus at lunchtime.
At technology they must have their hair tied back and wear fully covered shoes.  Unfortunately if they come in
sandals or jandals they are unable to participate.  Shoes need to be reasonably sturdy so no canvas shoes please.
Students will require a 1B5 book, which they can buy from school.  They will also need pens, ruler, pencil case etc.
If for any reason they are unable to attend, or their transport organisations change, please ring Apiti School so
we can inform FIS.


EOTC
This year the Education Outside the Classroom trip is being planned for 21st - 22nd March to the Hawkes Bay,
more details later.  


Blanket Consent Forms
A Blanket Consent form for all EOTC activities held during 2018, will be sent out to all students.  Please fill this
form in and return it to school as soon as possible.  This form relates to all activities that students participate in
outside the classroom, i.e Triathlon, Oroua events etc. which are not over night or could contain risks.


School Uniforms
These will be issued soon. Please remember to keep them only for the required school events. If you haven't
returned them so the size can be changed please do. Mrs Prince kindly organises these for us, please contact
her if you have any queries. Thank you.
Bikes, scooters and skateboards
While we are happy for students to bring these to school, they are the students responsibility.  Students must
also always wear a helmet and shoes when riding their bikes. It would be a good idea to name helmets and even
the bikes.


Name Clothing
Please name all clothing items so they are easily identified especially as students are getting changed regularly
because of swimming and triathlon training i.e togs, towels, goggles, t shirts, shorts etc.


Student Conferences
Thanks to all those who came to school for student conferences, it was great to catch up with you about your
child's learning. The progress and achievement matrices are being updated on your childs google docs. This
includes their end of year reports. Please view them online. If you need a paper copy please ask.  The next
student conferences will be in March at a date to be announced, but we are always available if you would like
to book an appointment at anytime. As teachers are preparing for the day, before school is not usually the best
time to catch up.
Sun Hats and Sun Screen
This term we are trialling compulsory hat wearing. It is expected all students will bring a named sunhat to school
which they can keep at school and use outside. Everyone must bring their own wide brimmed hat to school
otherwise they are welcome to wear a school hat.  Caps are not suitable as they do not provide enough protection
for the ears or the back of the neck.
We do not provide sunscreen as some children react to certain products, so please apply sunscreen before they
leave for school.  If they are bringing sunscreen to school, so they can re-apply, please name the container.  
They will be reminded to put it on during the day and after swimming. Students need to take responsibility for
being Sunsmart.


Swimming Pool
Students should bring their swimming togs everyday to school. Community members are welcome to use the pool.  
Please remember the pool safety rules :
All children under the age of 14, must be fully supervised at all times.  
No swimming if you have had a tummy bug for 36hours  
No open wounds.
No running, diving/bombing, jumping etc.
Please ensure appropriate swimwear is worn when swimming (no T shirts or clothes).
Please ensure that the pool is securely locked before you leave.  


Concerns
Although we would like to think we can have the perfect school and outcomes, there will be times when you may
become concerned about procedures or activities the Board, staff or pupils are involved in. It is important that
you voice your concerns, following the complaints procedures set by the Board of Trustees, rather than worrying
and becoming unsettled.  Often it is just a matter of discussing the issue with the appropriate person so the matter
can be explained and  clarified.  
It is important when making complaints, that the correct procedures are followed.  Copies of the Complaints
Policy and Procedures are available through the school office and on our website.  


Board of Trustees
The next Board meeting is Monday the 19th of February at 7.00pm.  All welcome. The agenda will be available
to view at a later date.


Thank you
A big thank you to Adam, Nipper and Kesty for cutting and bailing the grass on the school field, it looks great!
The school looks really good on our return to school thanks to Chrissy.
A big thank you to, to Johnny for helping 2 damsels in distress when a big Weta was lounging around in the staff
room during the holidays.  Johnny kindly relocated the Weta outside.


School Photos
These were taken at the end of term 4 by Svendsen Photography.  Please order your photographs directly from
Svendsens. The proofs can be viewed at school.


Regards, Mary, Darren, Linda, Pat, Mary B, Jenni, Ruth and Christine.


ASSA
Apiti School Support Association
(Apiti’s AWESOME School Support Association)
We are super lucky here at Apiti School to have a fantastic Support Association that raises funds for the School
so the children get to do all the amazing things they do.
But more than that I would like it to be a group that all the school families belong to and we have fun events that
provide a sense of community and pride in our school family.
For those who are not aware and for those who do I have outlined below the dates and what is involved with the
Fund Raising events we will be running this year … as well as a few fun things thrown in so we can all get together
and celebrate our hard work and get to know each other.
Friday 16th February 2018 – Welcome back BBQ for ALL families!  Bring your salad / dessert and ASSA will
provide meat.  Let’s kick the year off and get together and catch up … also a quick ASSA meeting about
fundraising options for the year and a quick camp meeting too.
Tuesday 20th February – ASSA Meeting to discuss the final details for the Apiti Show and plan the Triathlon
fund raiser and the 4WD or hunt fundraiser. At the School Staff Room at 8pm please – a representative from each
family please – thanks.
Saturday 24th February – Apiti Show – ASSA provides the judges lunches so we need everyone to provide a
salad and some cooked meat/baked item (i.e. bacon and egg pie or quiche).  We also need helpers from each
family on board this day to lay the food out and be in the kitchen etc. We also run some activities such as “Hole in
one Golf” and we need parents on board to help supervise the children’s Whanau Group activities they run.  We
will ring around and find out when you are available on the day to help and what food goodies you will be
providing – thanks.
Friday 2th March – Oroua Schools Triathlon – Apiti School hosts the Oroua cluster Triathlon and we need to man
the BBQ and food stall as well as have marshals out on the track to keep all the children safe and on the right
track.
Tuesday 6th March – ASSA meeting – Show & Triathlon debrief … and planning for next fundraiser – either
4WD or Hunt (see below).
OUR MAJOR FUNDRAISING OPTIONS FOR 2018
Friday 16th/Saturday 17th/ Sunday 18th March – we have been offered the opportunity to fundraise by providing a
BBQ meal on the night of the 17th March to approx. 120 – 150 people who will be staying overnight on the school
grounds from the 4WD club and they will be doing some 4x4 tracks on Hopkins farms over the weekend
(if anyone has an exciting 4WD paddock too they can do that would be appreciated too!). And also a cooked
breakfast the next morning.  I did wonder too if we offered something for the Friday night (i.e. Claybird shooting
and Beef Burgers on Pratt’s farm at an extra cost and optional activity for those coming on the Friday night.)
If this goes ahead and we commit to doing it we can then cancel the Possum Hunt.  This fundraiser involves
basically some food prep, setting up the hall on the Saturday, cooking and serving food and dishes both the
Saturday and Sunday.
OR
Friday 15th – Sunday 24th June  – Possum Hunt and Family Fun Event – with the main event Sunday 25th June
at Makoura Lodge – for this we will need all families on board obtaining prizes, promoting the event, helping
during the week collecting and plucking fur and on the massive final day on Sunday 24th all hands on deck for
the final weigh in, catering the lunch and all the family activities that we run at the lodge.  We will need you ALL
for this please!
Tuesday 27th March – ASSA Meeting debrief (if 4WD fundraiser done) and planning for Ball/Dance (if doing).
?? – Mid Autumn / Winter Ball (May 19th ? 26th?) Maybe book a band, book a caterer and get Lions (or similar)
to run a bar, get a bar licence, have some ‘security/bouncers’ and host a Ball / Dance to fundraise.  I have found
out from Colyton School and they have given me all the details – could be worth looking at … makes around
$5000.
Thursday 25th October – Lamb and Calf Day – ASSA provides a shared lunch for the indoor and outdoor judges
and school families.
Other thing we do all year round:
YUMMY STICKERS – please see the attached sheets to put your Yummy Stickers on and we send these off end
of Term 2 and our School is then able to receive $$ credits to purchase new sport equipment!  Easy – please feel
free to give these sheets to extended family and friends so we can maximise this incentive.
Steer Raising – PLEASE we are looking for farmers to have a ‘school’ steer on their farm AND also contacts of
anyone who may have steers/calves we can have donated to this scheme.  At this stage we have one on the
ground for the School and we have two farms wanting steers delivered.  Please can you ask around and let me
know ASAP if you have anything to offer in either of these areas.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about any of these events.  We are extremely lucky that
we do not have any school fees as such and all these fund raising efforts allow our children to enjoy our fantastic
school and the educational experiences it provides.
Our current committee is:
Nicole Philps – Secretary (colephyre@hotmail.com )
Tiff and Lance Angove – Treasurer's (lanceandtiff@inspire.net.nz)
Maryann Pratt – President (maryannp@pismanawatu.co.nz  027 431 7221)