ST MICHAEL'S SCHOOL NEWSLETTER TERM 1, ISSUE 1

IN BRIEF...
TISSUES-We would like each child to bring a box of tissues to use at school. These will be kept by the class teacher and put aout as needed.
HOMEWORK-Children will be given homework next week. Younger ones will have reading each night. Please make sure the reading folder is returned to school each day.
HATS-Only school uniform sunhats may be worn at school
JEWELRY-Lots of children have come back to school wearing inappropriate jewelry. Children with pierced ears may wear studs or sleepers. Jewelry around the neck is not permitted as it is potentially a safety risk.
TOYS/GAMES ETC- Just to remind parents that children are not supposed to have valuable games, CD's , toys etc at school. These often cause arguments, get broken or stolen.
SCHOOL PICNIC-This will take place in the next couple of weeks as soon as we can organize a venue
BOT MEETING - The first BOT meeting for the year is on Tuesday February 17 at 7pm. God Bless you all
Linda Birch and Staff .

NEWSLETTERS WILL BE SENT OUT EVERY 2ND FRIDAY-PLEASE READ THEM
Talofa lava, Taloha ni, Malo e lelei, Tena koutou katoa and welcome to all our school community, new and old. We have a number of new children who have started this year. We would like to welcome:
Room 1- Peter Taua'a, Afu Nehoa
Room 2- Rosie Tovia, Kafa Nehoa, Kayton Solia-Kappely
Room 3- Afi Lemana, Loisi Manu
Room 7- Alipio Koro, Karamea Preston, David Lefaoseu
Room 8- Tristan Harrison, Oceania Preston, Jayden Webster-Tau and Malili Viliamu.
I would also like to welcome two new staff members-Albert Maka who started as the new caretaker this year and Nicolle Oldham who will be teacher aiding in the morning and supervising the homework centre in the afternoons. I would like to personally thank Albert for all the work he has put in over the holidays-our school looks great!
The organisation of the school this year is:
Room 1, years 6,7,8-Miss Leala
Room 2, years 6,7,8- .Mrs Meiklejohn
Room 3, years 3,4, 5-Mrs Neru
Room 7, years 2 and 3- Mrs Provoost
Room 8, years 0 and 1-Mrs McVey
Room 12, years 1 and 2-Mrs Gyton (Mrs Gyton will be teaching from 9. 30 to 12.30 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)
Mrs Birch is teaching in room 2 every Wednesday morning, until 12.30.
Miss Hanify is in the school for 7 and a half hours a week as our music teacher, Mrs Clinton is taking reading recovery for an hour and a half each day, Mrs Conning is working for 5 hours a week providing learning support for students in rooms 1,2 and 3.
Mrs Coffey is working fulltime this term as teacher aide in room 7, librarian and selling uniform every Wednesday afternoon, Ms Oldham is the teacher aide in room 12 each day from 11 to 12.30 and Mrs Paselio will be in room 8 two hours a day as teacher aide. School secretary/administrator Mrs Rangiwhetu will be in the school from 8.30 to 3.45 each day and the caretaking/cleaning staff, Mr Maka, Mrs Ta'ala and Mrs Martin are employed each afternoon from 2.30 to 4.
PE GEAR-Please ensure that your child brings PE gear to school. Most classes have a short PE session (fitness/skills/games) each day and children MUST have PE gear for this. Just a tee shirt and shorts is fine and they can leave them at school during the week and take them home for a wash on Fridays. With the new school uniform it is even more important that your child has other clothes for physical activity.
UNIFORM-Uniform is on sale in the school library until the end of next week (Feb 5). After this the uniform shop will be open every Wednesday afternoon for parents to purchase new uniform or place orders.

COMING UP THIS TERM:
Swimming starts this Monday and is on February 9, 11, 16,23 and swimming sports on Wednesday 25.
Duffy Theatre-Wednesday February 4
School Liturgy- Thursday February 5 12pm
Waitangi Day-Friday February 6 (school closed) )
BOT meeting-Tuesday February 17
DETENTION
Children who break school rules or waste their time in class may be put on detention. Detention is held twice a week in room 11. A book is kept with the names of children who are on detention . If a child's name appears in the detention book three times in a month a letter will go home. If it appears again parents will be asked to come into school. Half way through the term a mufti day will be held for all children who have not been in the book. A copy of the behaviour plan is on display in the foyer for parents to read.
HOMEWORK CENTRE
The homework centre will start again on Tuesday February 10. Next week registration forms will be sent out. Unfortunately we will be limiting the centre this year to children from year 3 onwards. It will be open from 2.45 until 4.30 Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. More details with the registration forms.
SCHOOL HOURS AND ABSENT CHILDREN
St Michael's School starts at 8.45 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and 9am on Fridays. School finishes at 2.45 every day. If your child is sick or unable to come to school you must ring the school in the morning and let us know. It is very important that we know where children are at all times. Children should not be at school until 8.15. A teacher is on duty from 8.30 each morning. Once at school children may not leave the school grounds. Lunch can be ordered every day from the school tuck shop at 8.30. Lollies, chewing gum, large bags of chippies and fizzy drinks are not allowed at school. It is important that children arrive at school on time. It makes it hard for them and their teacher when they arrive late and miss the start of the day.

St Michael's Catholic Primary School
3 Cooper St, Taita, Lower Hutt City, New Zealand.
Ph (04) 567 1514