St Michaels School, Lower Hutt, New Zealand

CHRISTIAN CULTURAL COMMITMENT

Friday February 10, 2006
Term 1 Issue 1

THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR HAS STARTED

A very warm welcome back to all our children and their families and a special welcome to all the new families who have started at St Michael's this year. We have had 17 enrolments and there are new faces in each class. It is great to know that our school is valued and thought highly of in the community.

This year the school has been split into two teams, the junior school with Mrs McVey, Ms Gyton and Mrs Provoost teaching new entrant to year 3, a total of 53 children, and Mrs Neru, Mrs Meiklejohn and Mrs McLeod in the middle /senior school with 81 children. This year Mrs Neru and Mrs Meiklejohn are teaching identical classes of year 4, 5 and 6 children. There were a large number of siblings in this area and a predominance of boys so each year group was split in half with a group going to each room.

Over the coming year we have 12 five year olds that we know of starting. If you have a four year old in your household who will be coming to St Michael's this year, please let us know.

With so many new children starting it seemed like a good idea to welcome half in this newsletter and half in the next. The following children have started in the middle/ senior school. It is wonderful to have you here

Room 1 Room 2
Maniate Angakehe (y7), Kasey Hoani (y8) Kerinah Mangadha (y5), Poni
Maria Faalogo (y7), Jordan Tonise (y7) Atani (y6), Lisa Makiteiaa (y4)

Room 3
Kiave Arato (y6), Elama Atani (y4), Aaliyah Makiteiaa (y5)

UNIFORM
Its great to see almost everyone dressed in the right summer uniform. Roman sandals are also part of the uniform for summer and can be bought quite cheaply from Hannahs, The Warehouse, Number 1 Shoe Warehouse etc. Please make sure your child is wearing sandals as they are part of the uniform.

TRIPS
Both the junior and senior school are going on a trip in the next couple of weeks. Details of these trips will go home closer to the date.
Junior School - Show at Capital E that ties in with our theme of conservation. This is on Thursday February 23. The show is free but the bus will cost $3.50
Senior School - Science Road show at Avalon Intermediate on Friday march 3. No cost for transport, but the show will cost $5 a student

LUNCHES - a detailed Lunch Newsletter will be sent home on Monday.

MASS - The year is starting with a whole school Mass on Wednesday February 15 at 11.30 in the Church. This is an open invitation to all parents, grandparents, friends of the school etc to join us for this.

SWIMMING

The swimming programme has been somewhat shortened due to the fact that we have been unable to get the pool for as much time as we wanted. Swimming will start on Monday February 27 with each class having four one hour lessons and a swimming display/sports day on Tuesday March 14. Because there are only four lessons we expect all children to participate in each one. It is amazing how much children learn during swimming time. Teaching children to be confident in the water might one day save their lives. We will send home more information closer to the time.

ATHLETICS

As swimming is later this year we are spending the first three weeks teaching and practising athletic skills. On Friday February 24 we will be having an Athletics Day where children will display skills and compete in athletic events. Parents you are invited to come to school on that day and watch your child show you what they have learnt.

NEWSLETTERS

A newsletter goes home every 2nd Friday during the term (Feb 10, Feb 24, Mar 10, Mar 24, April 7 in term 1). It is REALLY important that you read it so that you know what is happening at school - trips, parent meetings, events etc. The newsletter is given to the oldest child in each family. On the back page there is a part for parents to sign and send back to school (please make sure you read it before you sign it). The returned slips go into a draw for a free lunch on a Friday for all the school children in that family!

From time to time we need to get information to you before a newsletter is due out and so a briefer newsnote is sent home. These too are important and need to be read.

WANTED - Cardboard boxes of all shapes and sizes for Mrs McVey and Ms Gyton who will be running a very exciting "Discovery Learning" Programme on a Friday morning.

The beginning of the year is a great time to update our records. We would like parents (not those who have just enrolled this year) to fill out the form below so that we can check it against the information we have. It is important that we have the right information for the safety and well being of your chid.

Could you please fill out the following and return it school.

Family Contact Details

Children's Names _______________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________

Home/Mobile Phone Number ______________________________________

Work Phone Number ________________________________mother/father

Email Address __________________________________________________

Emergency Contact Details:

Name ________________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________

Phone Number _________________________________________________

Family Doctor__________________________________________________