SCHOOL NEWSLETTER: 28th July 2022

IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS

Torbay School Learning Powers – RIC

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Tēnā koutou e te whānau

Whakatau – What a wonderful way to start the term! On Monday we held a Whakatau to welcome children, whānau and staff who have joined the school this term. We also invited students who joined the school some time ago but who have not gone through this ceremony. Our Kapa Haka group welcomed our new Whānau into the hall, and I had the privilege of welcoming them in front of the whole school. This has become our practice over the last couple of years and I thank the parents for coming along, joining with us, sharing Kai and having a chat with us after the event. We thank Blair Arona, one of our new parents and a former pupil of Torbay School for speaking on behalf of the Manuhiri (Guests or New Parents). I would also like to thank Our Deputy Principal Susan Ye for all the time and effort she puts in to ensure this event happens each term.

Red Nose Day – The energy and excitement around the School for Red Nose Day is wonderful to be a part of.

This opportunity to give back to a cause like Cure Kids provides terrific opportunities for our children to learn. Our CARE values and Learner Powers are reflected in the act of giving and supporting those around us. Cure Kids provides funding to researchers to develop cures for diseases that impact our children and their families.

Lucca Holecliffe, one of our Year 3 students has benefited directly from research partly funded by Cure Kids and Lucca is an Ambassador for Cure Kids. John and Jo Beattie support Cure Kids and Red Nose Day following the tragic passing of Hollie earlier in the year. We as a school want to celebrate Hollie’s life and support the Holecliffe family by raising as much money as we can tomorrow and in true Hollie style have as much fun as we can while we do it. We thank you for whatever support you can give.

If you wish to donate directly please go to https://rednoseday.curekids.org.nz/torbay-school

I look forward to tomorrow and all we have planned and thank you for your support. The day will start with a Whakatau and Welcome for the Cure Kids Team and their guests at 7am. This part of the day is for children and staff only. Parents are invited into the school for the fundraising event at morning tea time between 10.30am and 11.30am.

Staff Changes – It gives me a great deal of pleasure to welcome Penny Smeed to our staff. Penny has taken up the position of Learning Assistant and for this term will be working in the Tiritiri, Year 1 Team.

Book Fair – Our annual Book Fair starts today. It is so pleasing to see the expectation this event is met with by the children. The love of books is something we need to hold onto in our technological world and it is clearly alive and well at Torbay School. We thank you for your support of the Book Fair as every book sold provides funds for us to help stock our library.

Teacher Only Day – I would like to remind you that on the Friday the 26th of August we will be holding a Teacher Only Day. This day will be spent by our staff completing our Biannual First Aid course, an essential part of our ongoing professional development. I thank you for your support in finding alternative care for your children on that day.

Whānau Feedback – Bookings for our Whānau Feedback evenings in week 2 are progressing well and I urge you to make your booking now so that you are not disappointed that your preferred time slot is not available. This year we are offering a mixture of Face to Face (Tuesday) and Online (Wednesday) meetings.

Please take advantage of our crèche on Tuesday and leave your child’s siblings in the library with our staff so that you have an uninterrupted session with your child’s teacher. It is optional as to whether you meet with your child present or not.

Masks – I want to give a huge Shout Out to our senior children for the way they have returned to school wearing masks. Thank you to you all for ensuring that we are minimising the transmission of Covid at Torbay School and thank you to you as parents and caregivers for supporting this change in our protocols.

It’s great to be back and I look forward to a wonderful term ahead.

Ngā mihi nui
Gary O’Brien
Principal

SCHOOL NOTICES

WELCOME TO TORBAY A warm welcome to all of our new learners and their families who have joined Torbay School in Terms 2 & 3.

MEETINGS – The next B.O.T Meeting will be held on Wednesday 10th August @ 7pm in the Staffroom. The next New Parent Meeting will be held on Monday 29 August at 9.15am in the Staffroom.

TEACHER ONLY DAY – The school will be closed for learners on Friday 26th August. Fun Club will be open on this day.

2023 ENROLMENTS – If your child or someone you know has a child who lives in the Torbay School zone and who is turning 5 next year please urgently complete an enrolment application (available from our website or at the school office).

ENROLMENT AT NORTHCROSS INTERMEDIATE FOR YEAR 6 CHILDREN: Y6 children will be visiting Northcross on Tuesday 9th August from 9.15am to 1pm for orientation. The students will be travelling by bus to Northcross. Should you not wish for your child to attend this orientation day please email the school office to advise. A Parent Information Evening will take place on Wednesday 24th August starting at 6pm at Northcross Intermediate. A notice will be sent home with the Year 6 children soon giving full details of the enrolment events. In the meantime for further information you can visit the Northcross Intermediate website.

SCHOOL DONATIONS – A reminder that if you are paying off your annual donation – instalment 3 was due on the first day of term.

Donation (1 child) $45 per instalment
Donation (2 children) $80 per instalment
Donation (3 or more children) $107.50 per instalment.

Electronic statements will be sent out next week showing any unpaid amount on your account (the system automatically sends these with the email subject line of Request for Payment). This is a chance to check that our records agree with yours. Please contact [email protected] if you have any queries.

TORBAY SCHOOL SPORTS HOODIE ORDER – If your child plays sports for the school and you would like to purchase one they are available on the online shop under the sports tab. Orders close TOMORROW Friday 29th July @ 3pm. This is the last order for 2022. These hoodies can be worn at any Torbay School sports event (Rippa, Netball Tournaments etc) but not as a replacement for our school uniform.

SCHOLASTIC LUCKY BOOK ORDERS – ISSUE 5 – Lucky Book Club flyers have gone home with your child, these books are a different selection to the Book Fair. In this exciting issue Scholastic are giving away FREE BOOKS to help celebrate and spread the love of reading. You can get up to 3 FREE BOOKS with your order to grow your home library. When you spend $30 you get 1 free book, $50 you get 2 and $70 you receive 3 free books!! Order through the Lucky Book Club Loop.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR – Our annual Scholastic Book Fair is finally here! It will run for one week and is currently set up in the School Office foyer. Opening hours will be Thursday 28th July from 12pm to Thursday 4th August til 10am. During our Whānau Feedback face to face session on Tuesday 2nd August the Book Fair will be open from 2.45pm 7.30pm.

GENERAL REMINDERS

SCHOOL ABSENCES – Please remember to contact the school office if your child is going to be absent from school.

You can do this by one of the following:

Phone: 473 8603 Ext 1
Email: [email protected]
Website: Report an Absence form. Click here

Below are Torbay’s School Uniform items – please ensure that students are following these requirements.

Please note:

Students are permitted to wear any tidy plain black leggings, skirts, skorts, trousers or shorts – NO denim jeans/skirts/shorts.
Plain sensible shoes (such as sneakers or sandals) that the student can put on/take off themselves preferably black or white in colour – No boots, crocs or jandals/thongs.
Socks are to be plain black, blue or white socks – NO long socks.
Students can wear plain black, blue or white short sleeve thermals or singlets under their school polo in winter months.
All uniform items are to be clearly named. Student’s names can be embroidered under the logo (or on the back of hats) in black, yellow or white cotton on school uniforms. Contact the school office for further clarification.
Named items will be returned to the child’s classroom, otherwise unclaimed/unnamed items will be donated to the second hand uniform shop
School bucket hats (Black or Blue) are compulsory Terms 1 and 4.

HEALTH ROOM: Please do not send any children to school who are unwell.

If your child is sick please stay home and follow the guidelines for the illness and stay home for the recommended time frame set by the Ministry of Health. We have had recent cases of tummy bugs and general winter coughs and colds reported. Please remind your children the importance of washing their hands before eating and after using the bathroom to help prevent the spread.

VOMITING/DIARRHOEA: Any children who have had vomiting or diarrhoea must not return to school until 24 hours after the last episode.
SORE THROATS: If your child has a sore throat, please keep them at home. For more information click here
COUGHS & COLDS: If your child has a cough and or a cold please keep your child at home. For more information click on the links coughs and colds .
HEAD LICE: Check your children for head lice. Children with eggs or lice will be sent home for treatment.
COVID: If your child is displaying signs or symptoms of Covid 19, please stay home and get tested. Click here for more information.

PTA NEWS

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