Tēnā koutou katoa. Tēnei te mihi atu ki a koutou
A special welcome to students Sam and Ollie S who have joined Room 2 this week and also to returning student Manon F.
The past two weeks have again sped past in a busy blur and suddenly we find ourselves at the end of week 7! In normal Sumner fashion, we have had an action packed fortnight with students representing Sumner School in a range of activities including; South East Zone Swimming Sports, Te Onepoto Girl’s Cricket, Awaroa Boys’ Cricket and Aupaki Top Team. I am very aware that these events do not happen by accident and would like to again acknowledge and thank our dedicated teachers and the small army of community members who work incredibly hard to provide opportunities and experiences that give breadth and depth to our curriculum, in line with our students’ interests, abilities, passions and needs.
Learning Conferences… Last Tuesday and Thursday we also had our first set of Learning Conferences. Thank you to those of you who took the time to come into school to join the learning conversation alongside your child(ren) and their teacher(s). These type of opportunities really are invaluable and provide a great starting point for sharing your child’s progress and achievements this year. I have been really impressed during my visits to classrooms with how well our students have been able to articulate their learning goals for the start of the year. This, alongside a strong home-school partnership, provides an incredibly strong platform for learning. As a teaching staff we believe that home-school partnerships are essential and we believe that these are most effective when whanau and teachers are partners in children’s learning. I encourage you to come into school whenever you can to share in your child’s learning. A reminder that our whole school Identity concept sharing afternoon is Thursday 4 April from 1.45-2.45pm. Everyone is welcome, and I know that preparations are already underway with learning that will be shared with you.
Build update… As I am sure you have seen, our build is continuing to progress well and earlier this week we reached another milestone when the roof went onto our new two storey block. Over the next week you will also see the roof of our new Administration and Library/Wellbeing Centre being completed, followed shortly afterwards by the cladding for the 2 storey block. I have again had the opportunity to don my hard hat and head onsite to explore our new spaces. Each time I walk through our new buildings I get really excited about the opportunities and flexibility that these spaces will give us in how we can deliver our curriculum. They will also have the latest acoustics, lighting, technology, heating and air quality to support learning.
Our new flexible learning spaces… Our new spaces will allow us to easily configure our classrooms in a variety of ways to support and enable a range of teaching and learning approaches on any given day, or at any time of the day. This includes creating spaces which support the ‘traditional’ model of a single teacher working with a whole class, through to a fully open learning space that will enable teaching teams space to connect and work together.
At present we only have one purpose built space at school which is currently home to Awaroa (Years 7 and 8). Later this year this space will become home to our Rapanui (Years 0-2) learners, although in a slightly different formation to the way it looks now. If you haven’t already seen this space and are interested in having a look around, you are warmly invited to make a time do this with myself or Rebecca Power our Deputy Principal - this is an ongoing and open invitation.
Spotlight on national and global connections… Part of our current vision for teaching and learning centres around providing national and global connections for our learners. Over the next week we will have two opportunities to develop these connections.
On Monday we have a Teacher Only Day which will enable our teachers to work with our colleagues within Aupaki Kahui Ako at Rapaki Marae to continue our professional development around Culturally Responsive Practice. As a school we are continuing to develop the way in which the bicultural nature of New Zealand is woven authentically throughout our classrooms, programmes and communications throughout the school. At the heart of this are our relationships with our students and our ability to provide effective teaching and learning programmes that celebrate, nurture and reflect our student’s unique cultural identity, and which promote all of our student’s sense of self worth and understanding about their cultural place in the world. A reminder that school will be closed on Monday to allow us time to complete this learning.
On Wednesday we welcome ten students and two teachers from Glendal School in Melbourne to stay with us. We are now entering our sixth year of a successful sister school relationship with Glendal School, which gives our Years 7 and 8 students the opportunity to take part in a week long exchange. Glendal is a large multicultural Primary school in Glen Waverley, an eastern residential suburb of Melbourne. This year it is our turn to host the exchange and I know that you will join me in welcoming the representatives from Glendal into our school community.
And Finally… I would like to wish Ms Kathryn Blunn the very best of luck as she embarks on her maternity leave. I am sure you will join me in wishing Kathryn and her husband Matt the very best of luck as they embark on their next very exciting adventure. We can’t wait to meet the newest addition to the Sumner School whanau. Kia Kaha Kathryn!
Have a wonderful weekend with your families and I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday next week.
Ngā mihi nui,
Anna Granger
Principal
A special welcome to students Sam and Ollie S who have joined Room 2 this week and also to returning student Manon F.
The past two weeks have again sped past in a busy blur and suddenly we find ourselves at the end of week 7! In normal Sumner fashion, we have had an action packed fortnight with students representing Sumner School in a range of activities including; South East Zone Swimming Sports, Te Onepoto Girl’s Cricket, Awaroa Boys’ Cricket and Aupaki Top Team. I am very aware that these events do not happen by accident and would like to again acknowledge and thank our dedicated teachers and the small army of community members who work incredibly hard to provide opportunities and experiences that give breadth and depth to our curriculum, in line with our students’ interests, abilities, passions and needs.
Learning Conferences… Last Tuesday and Thursday we also had our first set of Learning Conferences. Thank you to those of you who took the time to come into school to join the learning conversation alongside your child(ren) and their teacher(s). These type of opportunities really are invaluable and provide a great starting point for sharing your child’s progress and achievements this year. I have been really impressed during my visits to classrooms with how well our students have been able to articulate their learning goals for the start of the year. This, alongside a strong home-school partnership, provides an incredibly strong platform for learning. As a teaching staff we believe that home-school partnerships are essential and we believe that these are most effective when whanau and teachers are partners in children’s learning. I encourage you to come into school whenever you can to share in your child’s learning. A reminder that our whole school Identity concept sharing afternoon is Thursday 4 April from 1.45-2.45pm. Everyone is welcome, and I know that preparations are already underway with learning that will be shared with you.
Build update… As I am sure you have seen, our build is continuing to progress well and earlier this week we reached another milestone when the roof went onto our new two storey block. Over the next week you will also see the roof of our new Administration and Library/Wellbeing Centre being completed, followed shortly afterwards by the cladding for the 2 storey block. I have again had the opportunity to don my hard hat and head onsite to explore our new spaces. Each time I walk through our new buildings I get really excited about the opportunities and flexibility that these spaces will give us in how we can deliver our curriculum. They will also have the latest acoustics, lighting, technology, heating and air quality to support learning.
Our new flexible learning spaces… Our new spaces will allow us to easily configure our classrooms in a variety of ways to support and enable a range of teaching and learning approaches on any given day, or at any time of the day. This includes creating spaces which support the ‘traditional’ model of a single teacher working with a whole class, through to a fully open learning space that will enable teaching teams space to connect and work together.
At present we only have one purpose built space at school which is currently home to Awaroa (Years 7 and 8). Later this year this space will become home to our Rapanui (Years 0-2) learners, although in a slightly different formation to the way it looks now. If you haven’t already seen this space and are interested in having a look around, you are warmly invited to make a time do this with myself or Rebecca Power our Deputy Principal - this is an ongoing and open invitation.
Spotlight on national and global connections… Part of our current vision for teaching and learning centres around providing national and global connections for our learners. Over the next week we will have two opportunities to develop these connections.
On Monday we have a Teacher Only Day which will enable our teachers to work with our colleagues within Aupaki Kahui Ako at Rapaki Marae to continue our professional development around Culturally Responsive Practice. As a school we are continuing to develop the way in which the bicultural nature of New Zealand is woven authentically throughout our classrooms, programmes and communications throughout the school. At the heart of this are our relationships with our students and our ability to provide effective teaching and learning programmes that celebrate, nurture and reflect our student’s unique cultural identity, and which promote all of our student’s sense of self worth and understanding about their cultural place in the world. A reminder that school will be closed on Monday to allow us time to complete this learning.
On Wednesday we welcome ten students and two teachers from Glendal School in Melbourne to stay with us. We are now entering our sixth year of a successful sister school relationship with Glendal School, which gives our Years 7 and 8 students the opportunity to take part in a week long exchange. Glendal is a large multicultural Primary school in Glen Waverley, an eastern residential suburb of Melbourne. This year it is our turn to host the exchange and I know that you will join me in welcoming the representatives from Glendal into our school community.
And Finally… I would like to wish Ms Kathryn Blunn the very best of luck as she embarks on her maternity leave. I am sure you will join me in wishing Kathryn and her husband Matt the very best of luck as they embark on their next very exciting adventure. We can’t wait to meet the newest addition to the Sumner School whanau. Kia Kaha Kathryn!
Have a wonderful weekend with your families and I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday next week.
Ngā mihi nui,
Anna Granger
Principal
Upcoming Dates For Your Diary
Term 1 Activities
Details of Term 1 activities were emailed to parents last week. We would be very grateful to receive payment before the end of term. Thanks to the many people who have settled these already. If you did not receive the information please email me.
A reminder you can view your child's financial and contact details through the Parent Portal. We would be grateful if you could check your child/ren's contact details are current for this year. Please email if you require details regarding the Parent Portal.
Sue Stevens – sstevens@sumner.school.nz
- Monday 18 March - Teacher Only Day - School Closed
- Thursday 4 April 1.45pm - 2.45pm - Whole school Identity inquiry sharing afternoon, all welcome.
Term 1 Activities
Details of Term 1 activities were emailed to parents last week. We would be very grateful to receive payment before the end of term. Thanks to the many people who have settled these already. If you did not receive the information please email me.
A reminder you can view your child's financial and contact details through the Parent Portal. We would be grateful if you could check your child/ren's contact details are current for this year. Please email if you require details regarding the Parent Portal.
Sue Stevens – sstevens@sumner.school.nz
Measles
As I am sure you are aware, there is currently a measles outbreak in Christchurch affecting unimmunised or partially immunised infants, children and adults.
Measles is a highly infectious disease and is more serious than many people realise. Symptoms include fever, cough, red eyes and a runny nose, and then a rash which develops after about 3 days. About one in ten people with measles needs to be hospitalised and 30% will develop complications. The best measles prevention is two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine which is free for all New Zealand children.
Attached here is information from the Canterbury District Health Board. If you have any questions regarding the information within this advisory please contact your GP.
As I am sure you are aware, there is currently a measles outbreak in Christchurch affecting unimmunised or partially immunised infants, children and adults.
Measles is a highly infectious disease and is more serious than many people realise. Symptoms include fever, cough, red eyes and a runny nose, and then a rash which develops after about 3 days. About one in ten people with measles needs to be hospitalised and 30% will develop complications. The best measles prevention is two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine which is free for all New Zealand children.
Attached here is information from the Canterbury District Health Board. If you have any questions regarding the information within this advisory please contact your GP.
Spot Light on Excellence
Sincerity: Charlotte H for being an engaged and thoughtful member of Room 13 and Te Onepoto.
Sincerity: Kate S for showing a true love of school life, taking on every new opportunity available in Te Onepoto and putting in a super effort at Swimming Sports.
Unity: Ryder T for demonstrating great teamwork and leadership skills so far this year. Keep it up Ryder!
Respect: Bella R for making a great start to 2019. You consistently demonstrate respect towards everyone by listening, showing care and consideration, and kindness at all times!
Respect: Darby K-R for a fantastic start to the year in Te Onepoto. You show respect to everyone and are always willing to lend a helping hand. Thanks for the awesome work Darby, keep it up!
Respect: Mitchell D for showing a love of learning, role model behaviour in Te Onepoto and presenting his mihimihi superbly at his Learning Conference.
Resilience: Daniel M for making a great start to 2019 and has already showed resilience by trying something new that he finds challenging! Well done Daniel!
Resilience: Charlie S for making a great start to this year. You show resilience by giving everything a go even when you find it challenging. Keep going with this attitude and you will be sure to achieve!
Kids Lit Quiz Achievement
Congratulations to Sumner School Kids Lit Quiz team (Brooklyn, Charlie T, Anneke L and Joel B) who placed 12th out of 54 teams competing on Wednesday this week. Well done!
Sincerity: Charlotte H for being an engaged and thoughtful member of Room 13 and Te Onepoto.
Sincerity: Kate S for showing a true love of school life, taking on every new opportunity available in Te Onepoto and putting in a super effort at Swimming Sports.
Unity: Ryder T for demonstrating great teamwork and leadership skills so far this year. Keep it up Ryder!
Respect: Bella R for making a great start to 2019. You consistently demonstrate respect towards everyone by listening, showing care and consideration, and kindness at all times!
Respect: Darby K-R for a fantastic start to the year in Te Onepoto. You show respect to everyone and are always willing to lend a helping hand. Thanks for the awesome work Darby, keep it up!
Respect: Mitchell D for showing a love of learning, role model behaviour in Te Onepoto and presenting his mihimihi superbly at his Learning Conference.
Resilience: Daniel M for making a great start to 2019 and has already showed resilience by trying something new that he finds challenging! Well done Daniel!
Resilience: Charlie S for making a great start to this year. You show resilience by giving everything a go even when you find it challenging. Keep going with this attitude and you will be sure to achieve!
Kids Lit Quiz Achievement
Congratulations to Sumner School Kids Lit Quiz team (Brooklyn, Charlie T, Anneke L and Joel B) who placed 12th out of 54 teams competing on Wednesday this week. Well done!
South East Zone swimming champs
On Tuesday, 29 Year 5 - 8 Sumner students competed at the South East Zone swimming champs, help at Jellie Park. The students represented Sumner will pride and passion and the team finished with some fantastic results. It was also great to see that all the year groups came first in the relay races. A special mention to all the parents and teachers that volunteered to help out on the day.
21 students will now move onto competing at the Canterbury swim champs held at Selwyn Aquatic Centre, Thursday 4 April.
A huge thank you to our Sports Coordinator Phillipa Finch for organising this event.
School Photographs – Online viewing and ordering
You should have received information regarding viewing & ordering of this years school photographs from your child recently.
Just a reminder that orders need to be placed today (15 March) to avoid late order delivery charges.
If you have not received this information (after checking your child’s bag), please contact todd@pacificportraits.co.nz with your child’s name, school, and room.
Big Book Buy Up
Thank you so much for your generosity!
Over 100 books were donated to the school library from the Big Book Buy Up which is very exciting! A reminder that you can pay for any unpaid books at the school office between 8:30am - 3:30pm. There is also a trolley of unsold books in the school office if anyone did not have a chance to look at the selection during Learning Conferences. We really appreciate your contribution as it ensures that the library collection can stay vibrant and relevant for all school readers.
Many thanks,
PTA and Sumner School Library
Please note the PTA meeting will now be held in the Senior Hub

Friday 5 April 7.30pm
It’s our Annual Quiz Night. Come check out our new Quiz Master with a team of 4 - 6 people. Make up your team name and register at the school office.
Tickets are $15 per person (available soon). Please bring your own nibbles to share with your team mates. Drinks available at the bar and eftpos available (no credit cards). R18 event. Sorry no children.
The class raffle baskets will also be drawn at this event but you don’t need to attend to win the prizes. This is a great night out to end a school term. See you there.
PTA Quiz Raffle
All students have received a book of 10 raffle tickets, (a total value of $20 which can be paid in cash or eftpos at the Office). We’d love for children to get busy selling these raffles to friends and family or you are more than welcome to purchase the books yourselves. EARN 20 HOUSE POINTS for each book.
Like last year’s raffle we have organised large gift baskets for each class to fill with goodies e.g. chocolates, special drinks, candles or gifts. These were fantastic last year and we hope everyone will support their classes again this year. The money raised from the raffle will go towards landscaping of our new gardens.
If you have tickets you can’t or would rather not sell, please return them to the office as soon as possible so these can be used as extras. Please return the ticket stubs and money to the office by Wednesday 3 April in time for the draw at the Quiz night, Friday 5 April. The Office will also have spare tickets if required.
Thank you for supporting our school.
Sumner School PTA
Lucky Book Orders
Scholastic Book orders are closing today if you would still like to order. Please visit scholastic.co.nz and follow the LOOP to pay by credit card or bring your order form and cash to the Office on Monday at the latest. Thanks for your support with this fundraiser.

Teacher Only Day - March 18
Please contact MASH on 0800 420520 if you require childcare on Monday 18 March for our Teacher Only Day.
Please contact MASH on 0800 420520 if you require childcare on Monday 18 March for our Teacher Only Day.
An invitation to school families to come along and hear Kathryn Berkett speak
Kathryn Berkett is recognised internationally, delivering neuroscience information to a variety of audiences. Neuroscience is a field that increases our understanding of the brain and body, and how they interconnect. She has a Masters in Educational Psychology and is also a certified practitioner of the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics. She has been working in the area of neuroscience, trauma and behaviour for over sixteen years. In her time, she has trained an incredible number and range of organisations, including NZ Police; Military; MSD; Schools; and NZRugby. Her work also involves directly supporting those who work with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma.
Date: Wednesday 27 March 2019
Venue: To be held in the hall at Arahina ki Otautahi, which is the same site as Te Paeroa,19 Pavitt Street, Richmond, Christchurch
Time: 9.00a.m Cuppa and ready for a 9.30am start
12.30 p.m. Finish
RSVP: Sharon at sharonj@rtlb34.school.nz
Thank you to our newsletter sponsors