Bi Annual Whānau Hui 2.45pm 31st October 2023
Kia ora koutou
Our bi - annual face to face Whānau Hui is scheduled for Tuesday 31st October at the school hall. We are as usual excited to invite all of our Māori Community to attend.
Agenda as follows:
2.45pm - Seated in the hall
2.50pm - Kapa haka performance to welcome whānau
3.00pm - Karakia
3.03pm - Principal's welcome
3.05 pm onwards - Open korero, mix and mingle, parent survey, local curriculum links
3.45pm - Pizza
4.00pm - Closing karakia
We understand the 31st is Halloween, but history shows the whānau hui bi - annual meetings are wrapped at 4pm.
Ngā mihi nui
Phil Wheeler
Principal
Ashburton Netherby School
Showcase Community Event – Term 3, 2023
When: Wednesday 13th September
Time: 1:30pm
Where: Netherby School HallNetherby School warmly invites you to come and see what we have been learning in Term 3 as part of our Nga taonga o te Iwi unit. Each class will be performing either a play, dance or song for your entertainment. After the showcase parents will be invited to look at our amazing art. We look forward to showing you what we have come up with!
Netherby School Staff
Netherby School Staff
Whānau Hui and Māori Community Consultation 3.15 Tuesday 29 August
Our next Whānau Hui meeting is to be held on Tuesday 29th August in the staffroom at 3.15pm. We currently have very low attendance at Whānau Hui meetings which is a shame as these termly meetings are designed to encourage and foster partnership with iwi and hapu. It would be grand if you were able to attend to support in directing the school with improving outcomes for Māori students through a Māori lens. An email will be sent out to all families who identify as Māori as well.
Skool Loop Instructions
Kia ora Netherby School Community. Please down load the Skool Loop applications that we will be using more and more to communicate with you. Remember to subscribe to Ashburton Netherby School, the Whole School Group and the classes your child/ren are in. Also select Kapa Haka and Pasifika if your child belongs to these two groups as well.
Children coming in 2024 are welcome. Please let us know so we can plan for it.
Kia ora Netherby School Community.
Although we are still in 2023, we need to start planning for 2024 now to ensure we have teachers in the right places for our expected roll.
It is always very helpful if you let Mrs Duffell in the office or Miss Stirnger in Room 7 know if you have a child coming to Netherby School in 2024 so we can plan for them.
As always, if you know of people in our enrolment zone, we ask for you to promote our school and encourage them to visit us as soon as convenient.
Kindest regards
Phil Wheeler
Principal
Kia ora koutou. Some great opportunities going at the Hakatere Marae. Just follow the links provided.
Kia ora koutou. Some great opportunities going at the Hakatere Marae. Just follow the links provided.
Sunday August 27: Taonga Tākaro https://events.humanitix.com/taonga-takaro-yu51rnnb - Sofia Tuala - 1-4pm
Saturday September 2: Tukutuku Panels https://events.humanitix.com/tukutuku-panels-i7g0125u- Michelle Brett - 8.30am - 6pm
Saturday- Sunday Sept 9 & 10: Oamaru Stone Carving https://events.humanitix.com/oamaru-stone-carving-qfmkmpnk- Peter Green
Nationwide Attendance Goals
Dear Community.
I write this letter with the utmost respect.
In recent times we have all been sent the message of staying home if we are unwell particularly in the COVID 19 pandemic. As we start moving past this time there is a push from our Government to get us back on track again with the aim of improving attendance nationwide.
There is a large body of evidence that shows poor school attendance is directly linked to poor educational outcomes and then less choices in employment as an adult. This is why we are aiming to improve our school attendance from here.
We are aiming to have 70% of our school population attend school 90% of the time. We currently have 51.7% of our school population attending 90% of the time. As you can see there is a shortfall of about 18.3%. A number of children are in the 80% attendance area, meaning with a bit of effort we could achieve this Ministry of Education goal.
We also understand some of you have had genuine reasons for absences. We acknowledge that and do not diminish that and accept parents know what is best for their children.
However, what we ask is for all parents to put a critical lens on their child’s attendance and double check if a day off could well have been a day at school instead.
I will post termly attendance rates from here and ask for your support in trying to reach the Ministry of Education attendance goals for the good of our children’s education.
Kindest regards
Phil Wheeler
Principal
3 Way Conferences set for 15 and 16 August 2023
As usual we have our 3 way conference scheduled for Term 3, though running slightly later in the Term due to other events.
Three way conference will be on;
Tuesday 15 August starting at 1pm, with school closing at 12.20 after lunch. All children leave from 12.20pm.
Wednesday 16 August starting at 3.15. A normal school day.
The site to book is: https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code/wx66w, then follow the prompts or scan below.
Power bill support - worth a read.
If you are struggling to pay your power bills or living in a cold home because you can't afford to heat it, then you can get an in-home energy assessment as part of EA Networks & Connecting Mid Canterbury's 'Warm for Winter' initiative. Over 6000 have been done around the country and on average people save $700 per year after an assessment!
One of our friendly energy assessors can visit your home, give you tips and advice for how to save on power and give you lots of free stuff to help keep your whānau warmer and reduce your bills. Contact kate@connectingmc.org with your name, address and phone number if you'd like an assessment at your place.
School Closed at 1.20pm on Wednesday 31st May for the Teachers' Paid Union Meeting.
Kia ora koutou
The teachers of the school are invited to a paid union meeting on Wednesday 31st May. As a result school will close from 1.20 on Wednesday. Please be sure to pick your children up at this time so the teachers can attend this most important meeting.
Thank you for your understanding.
Kind regards
Kia ora koutou. A special fund to support tamariki of Maori decent with costs associated with school and sports is available by following this link.
For your information, a special fund is available for tamariki of Maori decent to support in school and sports associated costs of up to $300 per year. Just follow the link:
Healthy Active Learning Survey
Kia ora koutou Netherby School Community. It would be appreciated if you could find the time to fill in this survey. Thanking you in advance. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1CN7tu9A_2okUJwOYu4lXKLvOWW_RVli-A6iTDqTqjIA/edit
School closed on Thursday 16 March due to the strike.
A note to remind you that Netherby School will be closed on Thursday 16 March for the whole day through industrial action to strike along with most other primary and intermediate schools in New Zealand. We do not make these decisions lightly and apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Teachers will meet at the corners of West and Wills St (by the duckpond of the Botanical Gardens) from 10.30am and invite any community members to join us.
Cancelled Community Invite 2 - 3pm Wednesday 15 March.
The Community Class Invite is cancelled from 2 - 3 pm on Wednesday 15th March. We apologise if this causes any inconvenience, but that date has clashed with other dates that need to take priority. Kind regards.
Strike Action Thursday 16th March 2023
Kia ora Netherby School Community.
Our tamariki need a quality education. And we want to give that to them.
Unfortunately, the funding for our schools is not enough for us to give us the time we would like to support all our kids to thrive.
We need to attract and retain educators by ensuring that teaching is a valued and attractive profession.
Principals and teachers in primary and area schools have considered at length offers from the government to settle our respective collective agreements.
The offers did not meet our expectations, nor make sufficient steps towards the changes we need for our children to succeed.
You may have seen that we voted to take industrial action on 16 March.
It’s the last thing we wanted to do. And the decision was not taken lightly.
We felt that this was the only way the government would listen and recognise that when they support our children to learn and succeed, we are supporting whānau and communities to thrive.
We look forward to another great year in 2023 – and together with your support, building the case for better investment in our tamariki.
Paid Union Meeting
Good morning school community.
Remember, school will be closed for instruction on Wednesday 1st March from 1.30pm as teachers are attending a Paid Union Meeting.
We thank you for your understanding and apologise for any inconvenience this may create.
Reading Together
Just a reminder Reading Together workshops for those concerned starts Tuesday 28 February at 3.15pm in Room 7. It will be great and really useful if you can make it.
Health Survey
Hi. If you have a few moments could you take some time to fill in this survey from Massey University for them and the school. Once filled in you go into the draw to win a $100 grocery voucher. https://massey.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e5SnfFUZmmyyFJb
Thanking you in advance.
3 Way Conferences
Kia ora koutou Netherby School Community.
3 way conferences are upon us again.
These will take place on:
Tuesday 21st February from 1pm - 6pm.
Wednesday 22nd February from 3.15pm - 6pm.
We wish to see all parents. If no booking has been made by the Thursday before, 16th February, we will make a time and send it to you as usual.
Booking can be made here:
Welcome back details
Kia ora koutou Netherby School Community. We trust you are all well and have had a great Christmas and New Year. A reminder that school is open for instruction on Tuesday 31st January from 8.30am. Enrolments welcome from Thursday 26, Friday 27 and Monday 30th January from 10 - 2pm. Enrolments packs are available from the office. The Uniform Shop is open Thursday 26 January 10 - 11.30am and on the Tuesday 31st January from 8.15 - 9am. Breakfast Club is open first day back on the Tuesday from 8.10am.
See you all soon.
Netherby School Staff.
