Our Tumuaki Principal
COVID and Schools: There are already incidents within New Zealand schools where known COVID cases are popping up causing schools to shut either fully, in classes or an entire year level.
We anticipate that this will happen here as well, most likely during the latter part of Term One.
We anticipate that we will learn about a case most probably from you. We will then ring the Ministry of Education and take advice from them. Currently, this means identifying close contacts and informing their families about health guidelines relating to isolation and testing.
From an educational point of view, we would encourage all families to be ready with...
- Good internet
- Digital devices e.g. iPad, Chromebook, laptop.
- A workspace for children.
We expect that a case/s will require a classroom, classrooms or even the whole school to isolate at home. In that case, we would switch to E-School for those rooms. This does depend on whether the teacher is not the case.
I would encourage families to develop contingency plans in the event that they are required to isolate at very short notice.
COVID School Event Updates - Red Level: The Red Level of the Traffic Light System is causing a rethinking of a whole range of events.
Cancelled
- School Whanau Day
- School Car Boot Sale
Postponed
- Lower Mataura Valley Athletics in now Term Four Wednesday 26th October
- Southland Athletics is now Term Four Saturday 19th of November
Social Media - Not for Primary Children: We do not expect any children in our school to have social media accounts of any type (Facebook, Twitter, Tik Tok, Instagram, Snapchat etc). The age limit for many of these platforms is 13 and so none of our children are that age. They do not have the maturity to deal with it.
Research is clearly indicating that accessing and using social media can 'hypercharge' levels of anxiety and depression, especially amongst young and teenage girls. Sophisticated algorithms can effectively addict children to certain types of ideas and 'rabbit holes' around identity and perception of life.
We prefer, encourage and advise our children to play outside with real people, in real places with real activities. That grows healthy children.
Further, we would advise that any devices be removed from the bedroom when going to sleep so as not to interrupt sleep. Sleep is so important for children as it helps to process learning, repair the body and is the place where growth occurs.
Word Lab - Word Learning: We have reviewed and updated our Learning Partnership work associated with word learning. We are using a programme called Word Lab. You should have received a notice about this on Tuesday.
The biggest difference you will notice at home is that there are fewer words and there will be a variety of activities to do with the use of those words.
Our aim is for high quality transferrable (words get used in reading and writing) learning. More teaching will be occurring in class associated with the words and the learning, with activities at home, as reinforcement of classwork.
Thank You - Team Edendale
- Laura McVicar: Laura is our Assistant Principal and teacher of our new entrant class. Running an organisation, like a school, is about having the right people, in the right places, with the right thinking. Laura is an excellent example of this. We are thrilled to have her with us and she moves from strength to strength, giving everything she touches the 'Laura touch of excellence'.
Our Events Coming Up
TERM ONE 2022
All activities and events are subject to the government's Covid-19 'Traffic Light' settings and local requirements when there is an outbreak within our community.
Week Four (of 11)
- Monday 21st - Friday 25th February - Goal Setting
- Tuesday 22nd February - School Board Meeting One, 7.00pm, staffroom
Week Five (of 11)
- Monday 28th February - Home and School Meeting 7.30pm, School Staffroom
Week Seven (of 11)
- Wednesday 16th March - Kamahi ReserveTrip
Week Eight (of 11)
- Tuesday 22nd - Year 6 Big Day Out
Week Nine (of 11)
- Tuesday 29th March - School Board Meeting Two, 7.00pm, staffroom
- Wednesday 30th March - Student Council, GRIP Leadership Conference
Week Eleven (of 11)
- Friday 15th April - Good Friday. School Closed Easter.
Our Kura News and Information
Meet the Teacher Goal Setting Interviews - Booking Your Time
Bookings are now open for the Meet the Teacher Goal Setting Interviews set down for Monday 21st February to Friday 25th of February after school.
The code is: c2gnj
The link is pasted below.
Reading Books - Check At Home
The school invests a lot of money into the reading books that we provide for children to take home and practice with. Please have a check at home and return anything, no matter how long you've had it, so that it can benefit another learner.
Invoices for missing reading books may be sent home.
Book Club - Issue 1
Scholastic Book Club Issue 1 has gone home.
All orders need to be returned to the office by Friday 25th February. You can also order online.
Edendale Dairy - Thursday Lunch Orders
We are commencing Edendale Dairy lunch orders every Thursday. See the options below.
Orders need to be submitted with the right amount of money in a carefully sealed envelope with your child's name and room on it. These envelopes are then put into your child's team notices box at the start of the day.
Please remind your child if they have a lunch order so that they know to put it in the notices box when they arrive at school.
Character Values Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L): Term One Respect Manaakitanga
Respect means we honour other people equally as we would honour ourselves and is shown through manners, courtesy, politeness, self-control, co-operation, obedience and participation.
At Edendale Primary School respect is demonstrated when we..
- Use our manners and talk politely to each other.
- Follow rules and instructions.
- Listen actively.
- Are aware of the needs of others and offer to help.
Every time our values are shown they make our school a great place to be for children and adults.
Principal's Values Award
This week the Principal/Tumuaki would like to acknowledge Georgia Abbott for being a strong contributor, living out our school values every day.
Most Valuable Pupil: Team Kea
Sully Bayliss is our first MVP in Team Kea for 2022. Sully is a lovely young man who demonstrates our school value of Manaakitanga, Respect.
Sully walks into our classroom with a happy smile and gets himself ready for the day. He knows our daily routines and follows them well. Sully is always organised with the right equipment ready to learn.
Sully is a friendly, kind and caring team member who gets along with everyone. He lets others join in with activities and takes turns.
Sully has stepped up to be one of the leaders in our classroom this year and is very welcoming to new Team Kea children. He is a fantastic role model who I can trust to be doing the right thing.
Sully’s confidence has grown since starting school. He has a positive attitude and is willing to try new things even if they appear hard. Sully tries his best and completes his work to a very high standard.
We are very lucky to have a super friend and learner in Team Kea like you. Keep up the awesome work!
Most Valuable Pupil: Team Tui
Summer Tay is our first MVP in Team Tui for 2022. Summer is a polite young lady who demonstrates our school value of Manaakitanga, Respect.
Summer is a smiley team member who uses her manners towards teachers, parents and her peers. Summer is respectful during learning time by actively listening and following instructions when given. Summer is already striving for excellence by completing her work to the best of her ability and having a can-do attitude when it comes to learning. Summer will ask questions if she is unsure about something.
Summer is a fantastic role model who I can trust to be doing the right thing, even when no-one is looking. She has been a great help with the Year 3’s in the classroom by giving them a helping hand when needed.
Summer has had a great start as a Year Four in Team Tui and her smiling and happy attitude makes her a delight to have in the classroom.
We are very lucky to have a super learner and friend in Team Tui.
Keep aiming high Summer!
Our Kaitiaki School Board
Situations Vacant - After School Care Job-Share Coordinator
The position of an After School Care Job-Share Coordinator has come up.
If you are interested please send a CV with all your details to the principal at principal@edendaleps.school.nz by Friday 14th of January. Include references, referees and evidence of identity (copy of your passport and driver's licence).
Employment is conditional on vaccination and a clear police vet. An up to date First Aid certificate would be helpful. Training will be required around child safety procedures.
Next School Board Meeting - 2022
The next, and first for 2022, School Board meeting is to be held on Tuesday 22nd February at 7.00pm in the school staffroom. All material for this needs to be in the week before so that it can be sent out to the School Board members before the meeting.
Our Contact Information
Email: admin@edendaleps.school.nz
Website: https://sites.google.com/edendaleps.school.nz/edendale-primary-school
Location: Edendale Primary School, 24 Salford Street, Edendale 9825, New Zealand
Phone: 03 206 6959
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdendalePrimarySchool
Twitter: @EdendaleSchool
