Newsletter 17 March 2023

Includes important info about our upcoming Emergency Evacuation practice, hub trips and a call for volunteers for our School Art Exhibition. Have a great weekend!

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Reminder: Teacher Strike tomorrow.

We have limited places available at school for childcare, please let us know as soon as possible. Many thanks

Other good options are:

Island Bay Kelly Club – see here

Island Bay United Football programme – see here

Reminder: Teacher Strike on Thursday, no school

If you require childcare, some good options are:

Island Bay Kelly Club – see here

Island Bay United Football programme – see here

Reminder: Home & School AGM – 7.30pm, Mon 13 March, all welcome!

Come and see how H&S works! It’s a great opportunity to be involved with school in a way that really makes a difference to our school environment, as well as a great way to meet other parents.

In accordance with the Home and School Constitution, The Annual General Meeting is set for Monday 13 March 2023 at 7.30pm. We need at least 15 school parents for a quorum. See the agenda here.

Feel free to come along and ask questions or email homeandschool@islandbay.school.nz. 

Newsletter 11 March 2023

Includes important info on Thursday’s Strike (16 March) and about our Emergency Evacuation practice (5 April), also info on basketball registration, Home & School AGM (this coming Monday, all welcome!) and more.

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16 March Strike Information

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Industrial Action – PPTA  and NZEI Teachers’ Strike on Thursday 16 March 2023

The NZEI has advised the Island Bay School Board that its member teachers at our school will be taking strike action on Thursday 16 March 2023.

The Board has carefully considered the availability of non-union teaching staff and unfortunately decided that we can’t provide normal instruction during the strike so the school will officially be closed for instruction during the above date.

If making alternative arrangements for care is difficult, we can still supervise a very small number of students if required. Please contact the school office at admin@islandbay.school.nz if your student(s) will need this. 

Kelly Club Island Bay will also be offering a fun programme on 16 March if that is helpful. See here for more details.

We know that this is inconvenient for parents and students alike. Please be assured that safety is our main concern.

Thank you for your understanding. Please contact Deborah Fenton (principal@islandbay.school.nz) if you have any queries relating to this decision.

Yours sincerely,
Devon Heaphy
Board Presiding Member
on behalf of the Island Bay School Board

Reminder: School photos this week – Tues 7 and Thurs 9 March

Newsletter 3 March 2023

Includes a request for volunteers to help run the school art exhibition in the South Coast Art Trail, and a reminder that school photos will be taken Tues/Thursday next week. Have a great weekend.

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Reminder: Whānau BYO Picnic Dinner from 5.30pm tomorrow (2 March), Learning Space presentations from 6.30pm

Bring your dinner at 5.30pm (picnic, takeaways, whatever you prefer), a picnic rug, and join us at Victory Park (across Thames St, up the hill). It’s a great opportunity for you to meet the other families in your child’s hub/ class, informally chat to the teachers.

At 6.30pm a bell will ring and we invite you to visit your child’s learning space and listen to your child’s kaiako share a plan for Term 1, including; the design for learning, expectations, general important information, the use of technology and much more.

This will give you greater insight into how our kaiako and tamariki work in their classrooms on a day to day basis. We invite questions and it is an opportunity to meet other whānau in your child’s learning space.

We’re looking forward to seeing you all!

Reminder: Movin’ March starts tomorrow! Scoot, walk, bike to school!

Reminder: Early finish tomorrow (1 March) 1.30pm.

Newsletter 25 Feb 2023

Includes info on the Whanau Picnic (2 March), Rimurimu IB Marine Centre trip, Out of Zone ballot and a reminder about the early finish on 1 March. Have a great weekend

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Bring a gold coin today (Fri 24) and let’s show some manaakitanga!

As a school, we are keen to show our support, generosity and kindness to those so badly affected by the devastating Cyclone Gabrielle.

On Friday 24 Feb, we ask that all tamariki bring a coin or donation that we will send to Kids Can.

We will create a human heart together and sing Te Aroha as a school to show our aroha and support.

Bring a gold coin on Friday (24 Feb) and let’s show some manaakitanga!

As a school, we are keen to show our support, generosity and kindness to those so badly affected by the devastating Cyclone Gabrielle.

On Friday, we ask that all tamariki bring a coin or donation that we will send to Kids Can.

We will create a human heart together and sing Te Aroha as a school to show our aroha and support.

Reminder: mihi whakatau (pōwhiri) for new starters tomorrow (22 Feb). All welcome

New children, their whānau meet at 8.55am in the Learning Hub to be briefed by Maria, and have a chance to discuss protocol and practice the waiata (song).

Children in the Kapa haka group should go to class to be marked off the roll, then meet at the hall at 9am to get ready.

The mihi whakatau (pōwhiri) starts around 9.15am and takes around 40 minutes. It is customary to share kai (food) afterwards, so new families and staff are invited to stay for morning tea in the staffroom.

Reminder: Please fill in your child’s Freedom Friday options ASAP

Our first Freedom Friday for this year will start on Friday 3 March.

Please discuss the options with your child/ren to ensure they are aware of the choices they have selected and enter them in the digital form ASAP.

Your child/ren will be placed into one of their four choices. Please fill out one form per child.

Freedom Friday Form

Newsletter 17 Feb 2023

Includes reminders about the Teacher Only Days on Mon & Tues next week (no school) and the mihi whakatau (pōwhiri) on Wednesday 22 Feb, updates from the School Board and on the building work, and more!

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Reminder: No School Mon 20/Tues 21 Feb for Teacher Only Days

Clarification – Teacher Only Days – Monday 20 to Tuesday 21 February

Island Bay Kelly Club are offering childcare – Come along to Kelly Club for a fun-filled day! Where we will become defenders of the galaxy, with our theme ‘Galaxy Guardians’ Dress up as your favorite Marvel or Star Wars Character as we fight aliens, make spaceships, make yummy defender treats, and more… You can also bring you’re own Nerf Guns too, for our awesome alien battle. We can’t wait!

Book your place now at https://kellyclub.co.nz/kelly_events/view/15400; for more information, email us at islandbay@kellyclub.co.nz or contact us at 022 198 6316

Note: New starter’s Term 1 Pōwhiri is now POSTPONED to 9.15am, Wed 22 Feb. Apologies for any inconvenience.

2023 Freedom Friday option for Term 1+2

Our first Freedom Friday for this year will start on Friday 3 March.

Please discuss the options with your child/ren to ensure they are aware of the choices they have selected and enter them in the digital form no later than 10am, Monday 20 February.

Your child/ren will be placed into one of their four choices. Please fill out one form per child.

Freedom Friday Form

Newsletter 10 Feb 2023

Includes info on this weekend’s Island Bay Festival (including our own kapa haka!), Home & School AGM invite, Teacher Only Day info and more.

Have a great weekend

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Reminder: Opening whakatau (powhiri) at 9.15am tomorrow (Thurs 9 Feb) of Te Māpunga (Bilingual programme). All welcome

Reminder: Waitangi Day tomorrow (Monday 6 Feb), no school

Call for Kapa Haka kids to represent Island Bay School at the Island Bay Festival

Island Bay School will be participating in the Island Bay Festival – both in the parade and supporting the opening ceremony with waiata. If your child is able to be involved, please remind them to go to a kapa haka meeting for a practice and to collect their uniform at school this week coming. Please let Maria know if your child can participate – maria@islandbay.school.nz

Children will need to meet Maria at 9.30am on Sunday 12 February, outside 6 Avon St. The parade will be finished at Shorland Park by 10.30am and you will be able to collect your child and enjoy the rest of the festival!

See festival programme here

Newsletter 3 Feb 2023

Includes info on:

The opening of our bilingual programme, Te Māpunga, a call for kapa haka kids for the Island Bay Festival, School picnic & coffee connections dates, info on signing up to class contact lists, and Term 1 sports registrations.

Just a reminder there is no school on Monday. See you next week!

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Reminder: Our Kids Online Cyber Safety session tomorrow night (Thurs 2 Feb) – now plus child minding!

7-9pm in the School Hall.

We’re now offering a child-minding movie in the school library for families who require it.

Come and hear practical solutions for keeping your kids safe online.

Reminder: School starts at 8.55am tomorrow (Tues 31 Jan)

A reminder to wear sunscreen and bring a sun hat to school.

Please make sure all belongings are named.

Bring your stationery (name one of each kind of book – just name not subject).

Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow!

Reminder: Our Kids Online Cyber Safety Parent Info Evening, this Thursday 2 Feb, 7-9pm in the school hall. All welcome

Newsletter 26 Jan 2023

Welcome to Term 1, 2023!

This newsletter includes info on Whānau Connections this coming Monday, reminder about school starting on Tues 31 Jan, link to stationery lists, enrolling for Floorball and Touch Rugby, and more. Also, remember to update your app alerts with your child’s 2023 hub. See you next week! 

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Happy New Year! Some reminders for the start of school

Welcome to 2023!

Reminder to book your Whanau connection time for Monday 30 Jan (https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code/dmds4) order your child’s stationery (http://www.myschool.co.nz/) and update your child’s year group and hub in the SchoolApp subscription lists (see the menu bar in the app).

School starts properly on Tuesday 31 Jan at 8.55am. See you all in a few weeks time!