News and Notices 

From the Principal

After a somewhat tumultuous start to the year, we are finally settling down to our more regular routine.

It might be slightly ironic that we had our annual Summer Picnic right before we were hit by Cyclone Gabrielle. It was lovely to see all our families relaxing and chatting together.

We had a great turnout for our Goal Setting Conferences. The staff, children and I appreciate you input into your children's learning. Thank you to everyone who contributed to our consultation either by writing things down or by chatting to me. It helps us to set our strategic goals if we know what you like about our school and what else you would like to see us doing. The summary of your ideas is further along on this page.

School Readers

Please could you look at home for any of the school reading books. At some levels of Structured Literacy, we don't have any books! This is not fair to those children who are moving on to these levels.

Red Cross Disaster Fund

A huge thank you to everyone for your contributions to The Red Cross Disaster Fund to help support those people so badly affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. In the end we contributed $240.40 to the fund. So many children told me that they had done jobs at home to get the money or had taken the money from their savings or birthday money, which just made it all so much more meaningful. 

Swimming 

Please note that swimming is part of our curriculum and all children are expected to take part the same as any other subject in school.

Children will be swimming on the following days:

Wāhi Koru - Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Wāhi Pitau - Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Wāhi Pakari - Tuesday, Thursday and Friday

Trip to Auckland Zoo

As part of our Inquiry into the Living World, we are taking the whole school to the zoo. The notice and permission slip will be sent home on Wednesday.

Hapori Friday

As part of developing our local curriculum and encouraging our students to follow their interests, we will be learning in a different way on a Friday. On this day, the children will learn in their interest groups rather than their class groups.

The first part of the day will focus on being good kaitiakitanga (guardians) within our community. The second part of the day will focus on learning things that interest the children.

This term we have groups working on sewing, cooking, and building.

Assembly

This Friday (3 March 2023) we are having whole school assembly. We would love you to join us for half an hour while your children share their learning with you.

There will be tea, coffee and biscuits for anyone who would like a cuppa and a chat after the assembly.

Community use of Swimming Pool

The school pool continues to be open on Monday to Friday 3pm - 5pm for a gold coin donation. The key is available from the office. If you are only going to come later in the afternoon, please email me so that I can arrange to have the pool open.

The pool will also be available over the weekends for children's parties for $28.75 ($25 plus GST) per hour for a maximum of three hours. This will need to be booked and paid for at the office.

Results of Community Consultation

Question 1

What is your preferred mode of communication?

17 Responses

Question 2

How can you help our school? What are your talents/skills?

23 Responses

We have started a Talent/Skills Register based on the answers.

Question 3

What things do we do at RidgeView that you would like to see more of?

I obviously did not word this question correctly as I was hoping that the parents would tell me all the things they like about the school. 

The parents told me that they love:

• The school community
• The opportunities that their children have to be involved in school activities
• That their children are happy to come to school

They would like to see:

• More school sports teams
• More school trips
• More discos
• More Inquiry
• Fundraising (Quiz Nights, Raffles etc)
• Tuakana/Teina
• Social interactions and events
• Robotics/Hands on technical projects
• Country school values
• Drama, music and explorative art opportunities
• Nature based play
• More large loose parts for play

Question 4

What are the learning aspirations that most reflect your whanau values? What would you like to see your child learn and how?

• Ability to assess risk and talk about safety
• EOTC opportunities
• Social and emotional skills – empathy, listening, conflict resolution
• Interacting with other children (particularly for those who speak another language)
• Sensory support equipment/areas/processes
• Positive relationships
• Respect
• Small group trips to support project based learning (eg. Visit animal rescue centre)
• Hands on project based learning 
• Nature based play

Old Mobile Phones and iPads

We are still on the lookout for old phones and iPads. 

New Telephone Number

Our new telephone number is 027 593 5963.