In this week's newsletter
- PTA funding
- House Leaders
- 2010 Board of Trustee Elections
- Central Otago Swimming Results
- Jan Hellriegel Performance
- Touch Rugby Draw
- Special Education Review Workshop
News » Latest News
-
Newsletter 05 March 5th 2010
-
Newsletter 04 February 26 2010
In this week's newsletter:
- No Primary Teacher Union Meeting on Wednesday 18 March
- Staff Vests
- Manuka Poles for Year 7 Camp
- Powhiri
- Welcome to New Families
- Accurate Contact Details
- Student Achievement
- PTA Meeting re School Fair
- Year 3 Swimming
- Go By Bike Day
-
Newsletter 03 February 19 2010
In this week's newsletter
- Welcome to our Deputy Principal - Jim Turrell
- Fence behind Year 7 Block
- Important Safety Issues
- Paid Union Meeting for Teachers
- New Parents' Afternoon Tea
- Powhiri
- Spare Clothes
- School Fair
- BOT Elections - reminder
- Thank You to Mitre 10
- Festival of Female's Football
-
Senior Rooms 20, 21 and 22
Welcome to our Team
This year your child is part of a Year 5/6 Team made up of Rooms 20, 21 and 22.
During the year we will be working very closely together and we hope to promote some fun, inter-class rivalry as well as working together and sharing our learning.
We have already started to combine for activities, including our popular Thursday sports afternoon. Our three classes have been split into four mixed sports teams and will compete against each other in a variety of sports each week. We also hope to combine together during our Inquiry time to share our ideas and knowledge.
Our Team is lucky to have three fun, energetic and extremely talented teachers. Miss Toni McIntyre has moved up from the Juniors to Room 20. Mr Brown is in Room 21 and Ms Ferguson continues to be in Room 22. We are looking forward to establishing an enthusiastic team spirit between our three rooms.
Stewart Island Camp
Rooms 20, 21 and 22 will be on Camp 1 from Sunday 25 April to Friday 30 April.
Thank you to those parents who attended the "Stewart Island Parent Evening" this week. This is such a big event for the Year 6 students and one they have been looking forward to and will remember for a long time. If you couldn't come, Newsletter No 1 will be distributed shortly and this will outline the programme, equipment needed and costs. In the meantime if you have any questions please contact a parent you know attended or your class teacher.
Team Trip
As part of our Term 1 Inquiry - "Does It Make Sense?" we have arranged a team trip to visit Ivan Clarke's "Lonely Dog Exhibition" at Alveridge Hall, followed by a "sensory awareness" afternoon at 12 Mile Delta.
- When: Tuesday 23 February
- Time : Leaving School at 9am and returning by 3pm
- Cost : The cost of the bus will be covered by the Activity Fee included with your stationery order
You will need:
- Morning tea and lunch
- drink
- warm top
- sunhat and sunscrreen
- sensible walking shoes
- a blindfold and ear plugs (if you have any)
- your ears, eyes, tongue, nose and hands
Of course we will need parent helpers to make this trip possible and we would appreciate if you could return the permission slip sent home with this notice by Friday. 19 February.
We look forward to a busy but fun year. If you have any problems or queries please contact your class teacher and we will do what we can to help.
-
Newsletter 02 February 12 2010
In this week's newsletter...
- Back to School Night
- Respect - Whakaute
- Deputy Principal
- Go Bike Day
- Cycle Skills & Safety Course
- BOT Elections
- PTA Annual General Meeting
-
Newsletter 01 February 05 2010
In this week's newsletter.....
- Welcome Back
- Farewell "Wicky"
- Junior School Swimming
- Reminders
- New Staff
- Dates for your Diary
- Outdoor Education
-
Term 4 Commentary
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Welcome to our Term 4 Commentary.
On one level this has been a very challenging year for a number of families and individuals within our School community. We all hope that 2010 will be a lot better.
Our teaching and learning has gone from strength to strength this year and we are very proud of our achievements. As teachers, we are continually reflecting on what we do and strive to achieve the best possible for our students. Later in this Commentary we share with you some of our student achievement.
We have had a very successful year at School. We are a large and complex organisation and rely on everyone doing their part to make QPS the school it is. Our Board of Trustees has provided strong governance for our School. Our Teachers have worked extremely hard and delivered quality programmes. Our Teacher Aides have supported teachers and students effectively. Our Office staff are always calm under relentless pressure and efficiently complete their duties. Our grounds, property and cleaning team keep our school looking tidy and working well. Our PTA has raised considerable money for our school and run events that have assisted our community greatly. To everyone, thank you for your contributions; they are all highly valued.
Welcome to Year 7’s in 2010.
Our new block is just about completed and we wait with great enthusiasm for the arrival of Year 7’s. At our recent Year 7 information evening I spoke about what I often think of when a child starts school. I wonder about how they will grow up and who they will be as adults. Attributes such as being life-long learners, being able to work independently and with others, care and want to give back to their community, have moral courage, speak well, write well and work well with numbers are just some examples. But most importantly truly enjoy their life and work. For more information on Year 7 visit our website and look under ‘Teaching and Learning’ or to find out more about the design of our new block look under building projects.
School Mission Statement and Vision
Over the year we have been developing our new Mission statement, Vision and Values as part of developing the New Zealand Curriculum. Next year we will be developing this further, creating a visual metaphor for this and sharing in more detail what this means.
Vision:
QPS: Quality, Perseverance, Success
Mission Statement
Queenstown Primary School promotes quality learning, encourages perseverance and empowers students to create their own pathways to success.
National Standards are currently being hotly debated within the both education and wider community. While this is happening we are happy to share with you our student achievement against the suggested National Standards. This data is for students in our School including the very large number of children we have who speak English as a second language (8% of student body). While this achievement is of a very high standard we already closely monitor all student’s achievement and provide all possible support to assist them to move forward.
Percentage of students reaching or Exceeding Reading National Standard
Year
1
2
3
4
5
6
Percentage
74%
67%
74%
88%
70%
85%
Percentage of students reaching or exceeding Writing National Standard
Year
1
2
3
4
5
6
Percentage
96%
92%
93%
82%
75%
71%
Deputy Principal
We look forward to welcoming Mr Jim Turrell to our School next year. Jim is joining our team from Heddon Bush School where he is currently their Principal. Jim has a number of strengths and abilities that will assist us all on our learning journeys.
School Uniform in 2010
Further to the community survey we sent out to parents earlier in the year, 69% of parents who completed the survey were in favour of a compulsory uniform. The Board feel that with the Year 7 and 8's now becoming part of the Primary School, and with the opening of the Remarkables School, that this is the ideal time to introduce a uniform. The Board is proposing that a school uniform be introduced at the beginning of Term 2, 2010, and thereafter phased in over the next 2 years, becoming compulsory at the start of the 2012 school year. The Board is currently investigating uniform options that are both practical and affordable and will be displaying the preferred uniform choice at the ‘Back to School Night’ on 23 February 2010. Any comments or queries are welcome and should be sent to the following email address with uniform in the subject line: uniform@queenstown.school.nz
Thank you to all our fantastic staff
We are very fortunate to have a dedicated and hard-working group of staff committed to our school and your children. We greatly appreciate all they do and the way they care about the school and their duties. We wish them all a very well deserved holiday. This year we have a number of staff that at this time will not be with us in 2010. Thank you to Mrs Lorraine Woodward, Mrs Lara Moss, Mrs Nikki Martin, Miss Kim Mead, Mr Jamie Barrance, Mrs Miffany Saxon, Miss Sarah Jane Knowles, Mrs Monica Parker, Mrs Nicky Fisher, Mrs Robynne Stevens and Miss Juliette Taylor for the contributions they have made to our School and we wish them all the very best.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPORT
Another fantastic year has come to an end. At this time it is worth reflecting on a few of the highlights of the year and decisions the Board has been involved in.
Positive results around teaching and learning are very pleasing. Student achievement is in a large part a reflection of John and all the teachers efforts throughout the year. As a Board we greatly appreciate the time and effort all staff have given to our School.
It is great to see the new learning block completed and it certainly will be a wonderful place for our Year 7's as we welcome them in 2010.
The Board has been very busy with property over the past three years. There has been a large amount of infrastructure work completed; heating, plumbing, computer cabling, drainage, seating and drinking fountains as well as landscaping and maintenance work. We are about to start a library and resource room upgrade and we are at the initial discussion stage on a major hall upgrade.
Thank you to your responses on the Parent Survey.It was great to see such a high level of satisfaction in our school. The Board spent quite some time analysing these after consultation with the staff and much internal discussion. The Board is keen to move forward on a number of points raised. The most prominent of these being the intention to introduce a uniform over the next 3 years, delaying of the introduction of donation and continuation of Bible in Schools. We will send out details regarding uniform ideas next year, all of which were voted on by the Board in late November.
Finally I wish to welcome Jim Turrell who will be joining us as Deputy Principal next year. We look forward to the strengths he will bring to our School.
Best wishes for the holidays and New Year. Noel Saxon, Board Chair.DRAMA CLUB
This term a small number of junior, middle and seniors have enjoyed lunchtime mini classes learning drama techniques and theatre sports as part of Drama Club. We are hoping to continue next year if the children show interest.
TERM 4 DISCOVERY
Discovery classes went art crazy during Term 4. We worked hard learning and developing a variety of skills and techniques.
We collected ideas in sketchbooks, experimented with pencil and charcoal, explored collage, made print-blocks and monoprints, and used both watercolour and acrylic paints.
We also visited the ArtBay and Ivan Clarke Galleries, where we looked at and discussed the art on show and sketched our favourite pieces.
JUNIOR SCHOOL END-OF-YEAR SUMMER HOLIDAY PRESENTATION
In Week 9 of this term the entire Junior School gave two performances in our school hall for the parents. Each class presented a song or dance to celebrate Summer Holidays and Christmas. The children really enjoyed being a "star on stage to shine". Judging by the faces of the many parents who came on one or both of the afternoons, they were feeling very proud of their young ones. The teachers in the Junior School wish all parents and their families a wonderful festive season.
If you are going to be away from the area, travel safe and we look forward to seeing you next year.
ATHLETICS
QPS has had a very successful year in all Athletics Competitions, gaining some outstanding results and there has been fantastic participation from students in all competitions. Our school athletics was held on Tuesday 27 October. The sun was shining, the students were keen, the events were organised and the competition began.
There were some great results with almost 50 students heading to Alexandra to compete in the Central Otago Athletics Competition. The students achieved some excellent results and nine students qualified to compete at the Otago Athletics Championship that was held in Dunedin. The Girls U10 relay team made it into the Otago finals, Meg Jolly leaped over a 1.26m bar to place 3rd overall in the U12 High Jump and Olivia Tutty leaped into the sand to get placed 3rd in the U10 Long Jump.
Congratulations to all students who competed in the Central Otago and the Otago Championships. The students represented the school with dedication, passion and motivation while displaying outstanding skills in their events.
The participation in all the Athletics events this year was fantastic, especially our whole school athletics day. Thank you to all the parents for supporting our Athletics competitions. We look forward more great events next year!
TERM 4 HEALTH
This term for health all year 0-4 classes learned in varying degrees about the 4 major elements of 'Sunsmart' behaviour. They are:
- wear a sun hat (ask your child which ones are best and why?),
- use sunscreen, seek shade and wear appropriate clothing.
Children were exposed to a variety of learning experiences about these strategies to keep themselves safe in the summer sun. Year 5 and 6 classes learned about the necessity for daily hygiene, becoming more obvious as summer temperatures increase. We looked at the role of sweat, how to get rid of it (using soap and water daily as well as regularly washing clothes) and a brief introductory activity to deodorants and their role was completed. A stinky time was had by all!
PMP - PERCEPTUAL MOTOR PROGRAMME
2009 has been another wonderful year for PMP in our Junior School. We are very lucky to have Liz La Roche as a trained PMP Co-ordinator this year. Liz and Nicky Fisher are doing a wonderful job sharing this role and this has helped maintain continuity in the ever-changing school environment.
We wish to thank the Board of Trustees, Teachers and especially the Parents who have helped make this programme so successful. We have seen such encouraging and positive development in our students and can see successful changes in their confidence, ability to listen and follow instructions. This development is also evident in the student’s ability to focus and respond to challenges in the classroom programmes.
A special thank you to all the awesome volunteers, who have so enthusiastically given their valuable time to help make this programme so successful. The students just love having their Whanau involved with them at school.
It is with much regret we farewell Mrs Nicky Fisher. Her passion and enthusiasm in co-ordinating this programme since it started 3 years ago, have been greatly appreciated by the staff and students of the Junior School. We wish Mrs Fisher every success in her new venture and thank her sincerely for her tireless efforts and organizational skills. Best wishes to you and your family for an exciting future in Dunedin.
We look forward to next year and plan to start PMP in Term 1- Week 3. We very much anticipate continued volunteer support in 2010.
THE PET SHOW
On Friday 27 November, our school did Pet Day. I always love the pet show. I love to see all of the wonderful animals running around on the field.
The first thing I go and see are the mice, rabbits and guinea pigs, by the playground. I like to go into Room 23 and see what types of water pets they have there.
I nearly always make a homemade pet because we can’t bring in our cat, Pumpkin. She might get scared. I also love to hang out with my friends walking round the school looking at the animals. There were two new competitions: pet photos and a sand saucer competition
Olivia WoodhamThe Disastrous Day
On Friday the 27th of November, QPS had their yearly wonderful pet show. There were crazy cats, daft dogs and racing rabbits.
The categories were:
Rodents, hens, dogs, cats, farm animals, unusual pets and even home made pets. Sand saucer and photo competitions were also there.
Disaster struck, for the first year ever it started to …. Rain, rain, rain rain. Just at award time it got …. Heavier, heavier, heavier. Loads of people were disappointed they were wet and it finished early!
But it turned out to be another great year!
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
Year 4 recently took part in operation Christmas Child. The project involved collecting old shoe boxes and filling them with a variety of simple gifts. These gifts were to include; something to love, something for school, something to wear, something to play with, something for personal hygiene and something special.
The children thought carefully about the children of Fiji who would receive the boxes. They understood that for many of these children, this may be their first ever Christmas present. All the children took part in the project and enjoyed helping those children who are less fortunate than themselves. They collected old toys that they no longer played with or some even used their pocket money to buy something for their box. The children decorated and wrapped the boxes in bright Christmas paper. A great project organised by Mrs McIntyre.
GROWING POTATOES
This year we planted Maori potatoes from the Tuhuri Whenua Project for the second year. This year we were able to plant 60 potatoes collected from last year’s seeds.
Each class has planted two potatoes and will watch these grow. We hope to collect even more seeds next year.
The goal of the Tuhuri Whenua Project is to spread the Maori Potato seed and increase awareness of traditional gardening methods.
ENVIRO SCHOOL
This is our first year as an Enviro School. Each team has chosen an area of our school environment to form an Inquiry Unit about. Thursday of Week 9 was an opportunity to share and celebrate our discoveries with others.
- Year 1 have reduced lunch packaging.
- Year 2 have recycled paper.
- Year 3 have reduced rubbish and reused food scraps in a worm farm.
- Year 4 have been beautifying the school.
- Year 5/6 have been looking at our waterways and native trees.
Over the holidays we hope your children can continue to be aware of reducing and reusing their waste.
HOW TO MAKE A WORM FARM
A worm farm is something that recycles food scraps.
First get a milk bottle then cut through the middle of the bottle apart from the handle.
Then you get soil and put it in the milk bottle. Next you put the worms in.
After you put the worms in the bottle, you get a mincer and mince food the size of your thumb.
Next you get some dried leaves and put it on top of the worms.
Then you put layers of soil and dried leaves in your milk bottle.
Next you add lime and shredded paper on top of the layers.
Finally you put the water in the bottle.
By Regan McIntyreKAPA HAKA
The QPS Kapa Haka group has had an awesome year! The students performed several times in Term 4. The first performance was for Maori Health Day, then also at the Enviro Schools sharing day and we will conclude the year by performing at the end of year assembly at the Memorial Hall. The students have been working hard to learn the words and actions, the progress they've made throughout the year is amazing!
Thanks again to Tua, Sheree and Dooley for helping us out. Parents, if you would like to get involved in Kapa Haka in 2010, whether it be regularly or for just for a few weeks, please get in touch.
Kia pai to hararei koutou! (Enjoy your holidays everyone!)
Victoria Lawson
-
Newsletter No 37, December 11 2009
In this issue:
- Thank you to staff, parents and community for support
- 2010 Fee Structure
- Lotto Fundraiser
- Lost property display next Friday
- Cybersafety
- Important dates for 2010
