School Newsletter - Devonport Primary School

Devonport Primary School
18 Kerr Street, Devonport, Phone: 445 0183
Newsletter
9th April 2013
Week 10 - Term 1
Dear Parents
I was asked recently about how our school is staffed and whether we should fundraise
for extra teachers.
First of all schools are allocated funding and a number of staff based on the projected
roll. We have special counts on the 1st March and 1st July whereby the number of staff is
adjusted to match the actual roll. For schools with a falling roll this can mean needing to
shed teachers.
The task is then to develop classes within the number of rooms available. You may
therefore understand that should we have 30 year ones, 48 Year 2,s and so on that we
can easily create classes to match the allocation. However real life is not that easy.
If for example we have 55 Y2s we can’t ask 7 to stand outside all day until there is a
vacancy. So we do things like creating some classes with two year levels. In addition the
actual numbers of students per class varies. You may be aware of John Hattie’s research
that showed the results of many studies indicated that class size was not a significant
indicator of student achievement. However we want to keep our classes as low as
possible. To this end we enforce our zone.
Our other variable is the number of rooms. School rooms are based on a total square
meter age and according to MOE we have sufficient even though on the staffing formula
we need 3 more rooms! As a result we utilise some staff to work across classrooms and
release senior staff to coach teachers.
The above may give you some idea as to the difficulty surrounding class composition
and placement of children for the following year as we not only need to consider all of
the variables outlined above as well taking your wishes into account. It is always a relief
to hand our organisation to the Board for their approval!
In regard to fundraising, it is my understanding that fundraising for a salary is not
acceptable practice. Apart from this, as a teacher might be earning $65,000 pa, it would
need a considerable amount of fundraising. Our great Fair raised $48,000 and took a
huge effort from everyone….anyone for another next term?
Having said this you may not know that the Board does set money aside in the budget to
pay for an extra New Entrant teacher. They do this because schools can only be
allocated staff by MOE on the basis of numbers of students actually at school. In
practice this would mean the teacher would be allocated after 15 to 20 students have
already arrived at school. So the Board funds the teacher while the roll grows to the
point when the next lot of MOE funding allocation is triggered (by which time we need
to start this again with the next class).
I hope this is helpful. I am happy to answer your questions on this and other matters.
Shirley Hardcastle
Principal
PS Thank you to parents for accommodating our need to hold a Teacher Only day last
week. It was a useful opportunity for staff to discuss the Teacher’s Council Registered
Teacher’s Criteria and be introduced to an on-line journal for collecting evidence of
good practice.
Term
Dates
Term 1
17th April
Years 1 to 3
Conferences
Term 2
8th May:
Kite Day
22nd May
Open Day
11th June: School
Cross Country
26th June:
Peninsula Cross
Country
Scooter Day - 10th April – Years 1 to 4
St Aubyn Street Crossing
Students need to bring their helmet and have closed in
shoes…no jandals please.
This crossing is not a mandatory crossing,
therefore we rely solely are parents
volunteering to supervise before and after
school. We do not have cover for Monday
mornings, Wednesday afternoons, Thursday
mornings and Friday mornings. If you do
have 15 minutes spare once a week, and can
supervise at any of these times, please let the
office know. We have cover for all other
times. Thank you.
Each class will get a turn to weave through the course
and have their scooter checked.
Successful participants will get a “scooter agreement”
which they will bring home for you to sign. This
agreement is about safe scooting. It does not imply that
the school or the Police have certified the scooter or
rider as safe to ride. This remains the responsibility of
parents.
Term 2 preview
Bike Day - 15th April - Years 3 to 6
As for scooters, except that if we can find a parent with
a trailer we can pick up some special ramps to add to
the course. Please let me know if you can help with this.
If wet, both events will happen in the Hall.
Years 3 and 4 can choose either scooter day or bike day.
New Teacher appointed
We are delighted to announce the appointment of
Heather Nicholson as the new teacher for Room 1.
Heather is an experienced teacher, currently working in
Hamilton. Her current school is sad to lose her.
On the other side of the coin we are sad to lose Andy
Brown, but we do need to farewell him, and part of our
final assembly on Thursday 18th 2.20pm will be a part
of that. All welcome.
We also hope to farewell Dani Reydon-Danzey at this
assembly, but we are not sure yet if she can attend.
Lost Property
At the end of the term, all lost property will be given to
a charity. Please check the lost property in sick bay
before then. There are lots of towels and goggles left at
the swimming pool.
8th May: Kite Day….today we are making
kites and hopefully flying them as part of our
Technology programme. If you want to help
fly kites, come along. More info coming later
22nd May Open Day: We would like to
invite you into our classrooms between 9.30
and 11.00 to watch us in action. Please visit
several classrooms and be a fly on the wall.
11th June: School Cross Country
26th June: Peninsula Cross Country
Extra-Curricular Activities
at Devonport School
(More information is available on the school website)
skids Devonport
Skids Devonport is now open for Before School Care, After School Care and Holiday Programmes
at the Devonport Primary School Hall. For more info, please contact Sybells Yu on 021 1584 836,
Cel on 022 109 8976 or Site Phone (Rose) on 021 819 474. Alternatively, please email us on
[email protected] or visit our website: www.skids.co.nz/location/aucklandnorth/devonport
GUITAR LESSONS AT DEVONPORT SCHOOL:
Guitar Lessons are available on Fridays at Devonport School, through Dave Gatman from Musiqhub School of Music.
If you would like to enrol your child to start Guitar Lessons in Term 2, please contact Dave on 021 2221456
or [email protected]. Or for more information, please visit www.musiqhub.co.nz. Thank you.
Individual Tuition on Piano/keyboard; Guitar; Flute and Violin.
Many parents wish they had learned to play a musical instrument when they were young. Your school
places great importance on allowing your child to develop their musical skills. Specialist music teachers
from the Music Education Centre http://www.musiceducation.co.nz are available to teach Guitar; Violin;
Flute and Piano/Keyboard at school during the school day.
See below for an enrolment form. Enrolments close on 18 February. Please make sure the form is
returned to the school office by this date. Give your child the opportunity to develop a life long
skill.
Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0 and K’NEX.
Lego Mindstorms allows children to build and programme robots to do what you want! Create thousands of
robotic inventions. Each child will learn about the basic mindstorm components in this 5 week course and
how to programme a talking shooter bot .K'NEX will also be used to develop children’s understanding of
structures, forces and simple machines similar to the way that Meccano educated an earlier generation.
K'NEX will help develop skills useful to build mindstorm robots. The club is aimed at boys and girls Yr 3 to
6. If you want to learn more, just go on my website; www.roboclub.co.nz
Any queries please contact Kevin Alexander [email protected] or call me on 0220 480512
When:
Monday 3.15 to 4.15
Starting:
Starting 25th of Feb
Where:
In the Library Devonport Primary School
Cost:
First 5 weeks are $50 per child as an introductory special, normally $15/wk
Places will be limited to 14 Children and allocated on a first come first serve basis.
To Reserve your child’s place please register on
www.roboclub.co.nz
Classes each Tuesday after school in the Devonport School Library.
Peaches and Pickles Performing Arts are a local popular Children’s Performing
Arts/Theatre Company. We teach singing, dancing, acting, voice recording, special
FX makeup + heaps more! Please contact Sophia 09 4280559 for more information
or check out our website to enrol on line www.peachesandpickles.net You don 't
want your child to miss out - these classes are great fun and an amazing
experience!!
Peaches and Pickles also offer children's parties! Interactive story telling, face painting, or even
music video parties! From fairies and mermaids, pirates and princes to favourite characters from books and
movies. We will tailor a party for your child today! We even come to you!
For more details on parties, performing arts classes and school holiday programmes visit our website, phone
Paige 021659993 or email; [email protected]"
School lunches. ezlunch provides quality, freshly prepared meals on Mondays and Fridays, for our
school, delivered in time for lunch. Order online at www.ezlunch.co.nz before 9am. For assistance, phone
the helpdesk 09-475 5287 or email [email protected], on school days, 8am-4pm.
Have a look at the menu at : https://shop.tgcl.co.nz/pdf/school/devonport_primary_school/menu.pdf]
Phone (09) 480 8914
These advertisers support our school, please support them
Local Community Notices
Come and play Girls only soccer in 2013! North Shore United has a
number of girls only teams through the grades. We play against other girls only teams on the
North Shore - Football for the girls is very active and a whole lot of fun. We are short of a
few numbers in some grades to make up full teams. We especially need a few 8, 9, and 10
year olds. No experience necessary! If you want to be part of the fastest growing girls sport
in the world......please send me an email, give me a ring or drop me a text. I can discuss
what’s involved if you wish. Look forward to hearing from you. Darryl Petherick - 021
2351000 [email protected]
School holidays April/May.
Belmont Park Racquets Club
(www.belmontracquets.co.nz Ph 445-8077)
School holiday programmes. For more information
(Squash) Frist week 23/25 April @ second week 30/2 May: Tue/Thurs 1-4pm $85 (4 days)
Contact Manu 021-886-583 [email protected]
(Tennis) 22April - 3rdMay: Mon-Fri 9am-12noon. $30on the day or $25 if you
book online at www.smashtennis.co.nz Contact Cathy or Mark [email protected]. Ph 0274-276-274
FOOTBALL HOLIDAY PROGRAMME APRIL/MAY 2013
For all football fanatics - Kick off the new season with fun football games, skills, competitions,
tournaments, prizes and much more. Boys and girls aged 5-12yrs of all ability levels are welcome to join in
the fun. We have a great team of qualified coaches and experienced players to help develop individual skills
and improve your game, in a fun, safe and positive environment.
Venue - Takapuna Grammar School Fields, Hall and Astro turf from 22nd April – 3rd May (9am - 1pm).
For more info contact Chris Bryson on 021 0676700, (09) 446 1115 or email
[email protected]
All About Languages - French, Spanish and English tutors.
Private tuition and group classes - pre-school, primary, secondary and adult.
Holiday programmes, fun conversation and crammer courses - all tailored to suit.
email [email protected] or contact:
French - Catherine 0273270868
Spanish and English - Anna 0210318043
Spanish - Noli 0211357341
Invitation to Military Fathers
Fathers working in the NZ Defence Force are invited to participate in a study investigating fathers’ views on
parenting and raising children. Your contribution will provide valuable insight into fathering in the military
context. If you are keen to take part in an interview and you have children between 0 – 18 years please
contact Kelly Skipper, University of Auckland, email [email protected]
APPROVED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND HUMAN PARTICIPANTS ETHICS
COMMITTEE on 04/02//2013 for 3 years. Reference 2013/9063
Devonport Community Harvest Fair Sun 21 April 12-3pm
Featuring entertainment, Farmer Paul's mobile petting farm, Devonport's 1st Downhill Apple Roll, bouncy castle, fire
truck, face painting, kids craft zone with cupcake decorating and Harvest Fair competitions including giant pumpkin,
scarecrow, home produce and baking, flowers from your garden, decorated egg, flower pot person and more.
Download the competition flyer from our website www.devonportcomhouse.co.nz or facebook page.
Does your child need to learn how to swim or improve their stroke technique?
The Millennium Swim School is running Intensive Swimming Lessons over the April School Holidays.
These lessons are suitable for children over 7.5 years of age.
Dates are:
Week One:
22nd April – 26th April
Cost: $54.00 (Four days only)
th
rd
Week Two:
29 April – 3 May Cost: $67.50
Please call 477 2074 or visit www.mish.org.nz/intensives for more information.
On at The Edge in the School Holidays
Birthday Party coming up?
Have your birthday at North Harbour Gymnastics (Glenfield) where children love our gym games, equipment
and foam pit. Fun, healthy and non weather-dependent! Party room available if you wish to self-cater. Party
invitations and a t-shirt for the birthday child included. www.nhgym.co.nz or 021 067 5647
Bubble Dome April School Holiday Courses - Don’t miss out - Book Now! For
students aged 6 to 18 years.
Learn the latest in Minecraft on one of Bubble Dome’s three exciting Minecraft courses: Minecraft Inventions & Challenges,
Minecraft Tekkit and Ultra Minecraft Mods & Java! Take part in extreme Lego challenges with our Lego Engineering & Robotics
course, develop expertise in the realm of Games Design and learn to create your own Apps for your ipad & ipod.
Tel: 09 622 0672 Email: [email protected] or Book Online: www.bubbledome.co.nz
Do you need someone to feed and care for your cat or small pets and/or
water plants for weekends or longer holidays? I’m an ex Devonport Primary pupil who will
be happy to take casual jobs. References can be supplied. Phone Frank on 445 2309 or
email: [email protected]
North Shore Rugby – Buck’s Boot Camp – April School Holidays
Rugby development programme.. Open to registered NSRFC junior players J1-J6.
Mon 22 and Tue 23 April, 9-2pm.
$85 individual or $125 a family.
Register at www.northshorerugby.co.nz
For more info call Iain McIntyre 021416568 or Di Bird 021725073
DEVONPORT MUSEUM OPENING HOURS
We are now open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings 10 a.m. - noon
as well as Saturday and Sundays 2 -4 pm.
Entry is free to all, but donations always happily accepted!
33a Vauxhall Road, behind the kindergarten
Yoga By The Sea: Mondays 6.30 – 7.30pm at Devonport Primary School Hall with Barbara Dawson.
Contact Kim on 022 546 9642 or visit www.yogabythesea.co.nz for more information and full timetable
UPCOMING EVENTS FOR KIDS AT THE VIC
TO BOOK Call 0210639312
FILM MAKING FOR KIDS with Nichola Jones
Holiday Course, 29 April – 3 May
Actress and filmmaker Nichola Jones (BA Directing and Writing for Screen and Theatre) takes young participants through a week long
programme from the inception of an idea to the finished product and presenting their work at The Vic.
Cost: $300
Time: 10am - 4pm Monday – Friday
ACTING FOR CHILDREN with Elena Stejko
Participants expand their knowledge about themselves and their own creative abilities, connect with creative power within, and discover
new ways of expressing themselves in character. Various stage / film projects will be offered for participants at the end of the course.
For enrolment enquiries, prices, times and dates please contact [email protected]
FILM MAKING FOR TEENS with Robin Kewell
Holiday Course, 22 – 26 April
Award winning cameraman, director and filmmaker Robin Kewell provides a week long programme with hands on experience. Participants
will handle equipment, assign roles, film, edit, promote and present their work at The Vic.
Costs: $300
Time: 10am - 4pm Monday - Friday
ILLUSTRATION SCHOOL - 2013 PROGRAMME - TERM 2
14th MAY - 2nd JUL - 8 wks - COST $200 per child
Mini Movie Makers: Part One
Illustration designing, character, setting and storyboarding
14th MAY - 4th JUN - 4 wks - COST $100 per child
Silhouette Animation: Part Two
Animate your Jan Švankmajer’s ‘Wings’ to screen at The Vic
DEVONPORT SQUASH CLUB - HOLIDAY SQUASH PROGRAMME:
APRIL / MAY - 2013
WHEN: Wed & Fri 1 – 4 pm ( 3 Hours ) 24 / 26 April & 1 / 3 May (12 hours)
WHO: Open to all juniors of all levels / ages. Fun Games, Prizes , Raffles , Giveaways
Learn / Improve your game. All Welcome (boys/girls)
COST: $85 PER PERSON / 4 days or ($25 / day). Bookings Essential
CONTACT: Manu on 021 886 583 or email to [email protected]
Dance School in Devonport – L’Ecole de Danse
Ballet, Jazz and Hip-Hop classes for all ages. Boys Hip Hop (over 5 years old).
Fairy Ballet Class (over 2 years old)
Pre-School Ballet (over 3 years old)
Contact: Eriko Finlay, L’Ecole de Danse on 445 4344 or 021 455 106 or email:
[email protected]
Karate for Kids (Shotkan)
Age: 7 years and older. Learn self-defence/boost confidence/enhance concentration. Places available for
Term 2 at Devonport Community House, Mondays and Wednesday, Phone: Sensei David: 446 6400.
Primary and Intermediate School Golf Fun Days.
This is a team competition and which can include new players to the game as well as those more seasonal
players.
http://www.harbourgolf.co.nz/harbour-school-golf.html
The dates are:
16th April
14th May
4th June
Venue: Northridge Golf Course - Silverdale
House to Rent Wanted
We are looking for a house long term rental up to 660pw (3 or 2 large bedrooms). It can be from Devonport
up to Takapuna. We are a 4 people family (children: 8 and 4 years old). Please call Ana: 0220695116 or
email [email protected]. Many thanks"