Room 9 Students and Miss Smaill
Dear Parents & Caregivers
Tēnā koutou katoa. Tēnei te mihi atu ki a koutou. Welcome to the following students who have joined us recently: Ayden P, Jenna Y and Indi W.
Principal's Summary
- Learning Conferences
- Property Update
- Policy Review
- Aupaki Teacher Only Day 29 March
- Mufti Day on Tuesday
Thank you to the parents and children who attended this week’s Learning Conferences. This was a great opportunity for our teachers to connect with families and set learning goals for the year.
Our school-wide theme for Term 1 is related to our school motto Per ardua ad alta, which roughly translates to “through difficulties to heights.” This motto was adopted by the school in 1915 when the Principal at that time Mr G F Allen selected it to remember the landing at Gallipoli, a battle in which many of our ex-pupils took part. Mr Allen felt that the motto was applicable “equally to the rocky crags about the district as to the physical and intellectual achievement through sustained effort.”
These sentiments are equally as relevant to today and I hope that our students have used the Learning Conferences to help set some lofty challenges for themselves that they will strive to achieve in 2018.
Property Update
Our Board of Trustees continues to work closely with the Ministry of Education on our property developments as part of the Christchurch Schools Rebuild Programme.The remainder of the programme will see over five million dollars invested in upgrading the school buildings and follows on from last year’s refurbishment of the Senior Hub. This level of property development is unprecedented in the school’s history and will result in a complete modernisation of our learning spaces to create a school campus that we can all be very proud of.
Planning for a building programme of this scale is a long, and at times complex task but we are making pleasing progress. Currently, we are working with the architects at OPUS International to complete the developed design. The developed design is very similar to the preliminary design of the buildings that was shared with our community in August, with a few minor modifications based on the feedback we received from our parents via an online survey.
The next phase of development will see the removal of Te Manawa and a new two-storey block built in its place. This will eventually house our Years 5-8 students.
Attached to the two-story block will be a new Library/Wellbeing Centre. Due to significant weather tightness issues, the Administration Block will be demolished and replaced with a new Admin and Reception. The main entranceway off Colenso Street will also be remodeled to accommodate the new design. Part of this will involve relocating the Caretaker’s compound and PE shed.
The final stage of the process will see refurbishments to the Years 3&4 Team (Rooms 9-12) and a light refurbishment of the current Library and Hardwicke Room.
As I’m sure you will appreciate, a project of this scale needs to be carefully staged to maximise the budget and minimise any disruption to teaching and learning. Planning for this is well underway. We are currently working on a timeline that will see detailed designs of the buildings completed over the next couple of months with the project going to tender in May. All things going well, we are working towards a construction timeline as follows:
- Removal of Te Manawa, relocation of caretaker’s compound and construction of the Years 5-8 two-storey block in the July holidays (construction time estimated at one year).
- Demolition of the Administration Block and rebuild of a new Admin and Reception in the September/October holidays (construction time estimated at nine months).
- Refurbishment of the Years 3&4 Team (Rooms 9-12), the current Library and Hardwicke Room in the July holidays 2019 (construction time estimated at six months).
- Completion of all property works by the end of 2019.
Please note that this rough timeline is subject to many variables and, as our experience with the Canterbury Block (Senior Hub) demonstrated, there may be significant delays to the programme along the way. We will keep you updated as this progresses.
Finally, in property related news, you will have noticed that one of the large gum trees bordering the junior netball courts was removed over the weekend. It is never an easy decision to remove trees from the grounds, particularly when they are as well established as this one was, but unfortunately we had no choice as it was becoming quite brittle which had resulted in a couple of large branches unexpectedly falling off over the holidays (see picture below). On a positive note, it does give us the opportunity to improve the landscaping of this area as part of our overall property developments.
Policy Review
This term we have the following SchoolDocs policies now open for review:
- Home Learning
- Visit http://sumner.schooldocs.co.nz/
- Enter the username sumner and the password wakefield.
- Follow the link to each policy in the table.
- Read the policy.
- Click the red Policy Review icon at the right-hand top corner of the page. A new screen will appear.
- Select parent from the drop-down list.
- Enter your name (optional).
- Submit your ratings and comments.
Aupaki Teacher Only Day
A reminder to please diary Thursday 29 March as a Teacher Only day. This is the Thursday leading into the Easter Break. Our staff will be involved in a day of professional learning at Rapaki Mārae along with all the teachers from the Aupaki Kāhui Ako (Community of Learning).
Finally, thank you to our Student Leaders and Media Team who have organised a mufti day on Tuesday (20 February) to help raise funds for Samoa following the devastation from Cyclone Gita. As many of you will be aware we have a close connection with our Pacific Island neighbours with several of our senior students having spent time there in recent years as part of our Overseas Learning Experience programme. I have been in contact with the schools we have visited and wished them all the best for the challenging times ahead. I’m sure that the funds collected on Tuesday will help them with their recovery.
Thank you for your support. Have a great weekend.
Kind regards
Stuart Cameron
Principal
Spotlight on Excellence
Congratulations to the following students who received Surfer Awards at Monday's assembly:
Unity - Tessa L for being a great team player who always considers everyone's ideas and feelings. She has made a great start to the year.
Resilience - Briar B for showing resilience at swimming and having a positive attitude.
Resilience - Adam D for showing resilience with swimming and really pushing himself to new levels each day.
Empathy - Joel B for a fantastic start to 2018. He is always looking out for others and is willing to help anyone in need. A fantastic role model in class.
Respect - Charlie O for demonstrating respect to her learning environment, peers and teachers and an excellent start to the term.
Respect - Alexandra G for consistently displaying respect in the classroom towards her peers and her teacher. A fantastic start to the year!
Sincerity - Amelie W for demonstrating a high standard of work ethic and diligence in the Senior Hub.
Term 1 Activities
Statements for Term 1 activities have been posted to parents today. We would be very grateful if these could be paid before the end of Term 1. The statements also include a letter regarding the school donation, for which there is a discount if it is paid in full before the last day of term.
If you received statements to both parents and wish to change this, or if you did not receive a statement, please email me. If you need to update your contact details please email the office admin@sumner.school.nz.
A Message from the Student Council
Gardening Team
Our gardening team consists of only one or two members at present and we would love to have some volunteers who are able to contribute in any way to help keep the grounds looking good. Please contact the Office phone: 326 6546 or email: admin@sumner.school.nz
Hotdogs
The PTA hotdog lunches begin this term on Tuesday next week, 20 February. If you would like your child to have a hotdog for lunch each Tuesday this term please complete a form at the Office and pay $20 by eftpos or cash. Thank you for supporting this great fundraiser.
Big Book Buy Up 2018
Many thanks to all the families that supported the event this year.
Through your generosity over 100 new books have been purchased for the library. This is a great opportunity to have input into what goes into the library and get the books that your child wants to read. The books are being processed and will be available to issue shortly.
Thank you to Greer Miller, Amanda Price and the wonderful PTA team for assisting with the Big Book Buy Up. If you have chosen a book and didn't pay on the night, please stop by the office to pay with EFTPOS, cash or cheque as soon as possible.
*If you missed out, it’s not too late! You can help us reach our goal of 120 books by stopping by the office and purchasing one of the remaining books.
Our gardening team consists of only one or two members at present and we would love to have some volunteers who are able to contribute in any way to help keep the grounds looking good. Please contact the Office phone: 326 6546 or email: admin@sumner.school.nz
Hotdogs
The PTA hotdog lunches begin this term on Tuesday next week, 20 February. If you would like your child to have a hotdog for lunch each Tuesday this term please complete a form at the Office and pay $20 by eftpos or cash. Thank you for supporting this great fundraiser.
Big Book Buy Up 2018
Many thanks to all the families that supported the event this year.
Through your generosity over 100 new books have been purchased for the library. This is a great opportunity to have input into what goes into the library and get the books that your child wants to read. The books are being processed and will be available to issue shortly.
Thank you to Greer Miller, Amanda Price and the wonderful PTA team for assisting with the Big Book Buy Up. If you have chosen a book and didn't pay on the night, please stop by the office to pay with EFTPOS, cash or cheque as soon as possible.
*If you missed out, it’s not too late! You can help us reach our goal of 120 books by stopping by the office and purchasing one of the remaining books.
|
Vanuatu Fundraiser My name is Ruby A and I’m fundraising for our Year 8 School Trip to Vanuatu in September. I am selling commercial grade glad wrap, baking paper and tin foil, so if you would like to purchase any of these items, I would really appreciate your support. If you are interested, please email my Mum (Kate) at katearmstrong@xtra.co.nz with your order and I will get back to you with payment & delivery details. |
Senior School PD - Cyclone Digital Instruction
|
|
Sumner Redcliffs Netball Trials 2018
Sumner School
Sunday March 18
Pre register your interest: www.sporty.co.nz/srnc before 11 March
Year 6 9.30 – 10.30am
Year 7 – Under 12 10.45 – 11.45am
Year 8 – Under 13 12.00 – 1.00pm
Intermediate & Seniors 1.00pm onwards
Uniform Pick Up Day Saturday 7 April: 11.00am – 1.00pm
11D Settlers Crescent, Ferrymead
Sumner Skate Ramp
Sumner Skate and Green are delighted that the Sumner temporary skate ramp will be reopening at its new home on the corner of Nayland and Wakefield. The ramp has been checked and signed off as fully compliant by Christchurch City Council and the team are working to put it all back together over the next week. We are hoping to have an opening party before the end of the month - we will put up signs on the ramp to let you know when. Below are a few rules and guidelines to follow to keep it an awesome addition to our village.
Also don’t forget to go online and vote on where you would like to see your permanent skate park in the bays area. Voting closes at 5pm, 26 February 2018. www.ccc.govt/haveyoursay
Sumner Green and Skate (SG&S)
SG&S have been working with the CCC to establish a skate park in Sumner/Bays area. We are now at the site selection/submission stage.
SG&S agree all four sites selected by Opus have merit, but feel only the two Sumner sites would serve the local skaters well. These sites would both suit a small to medium sized skate park, perfect for this community and reflect what users have told us they want.
The other two sites; Redcliffs School and Scotts Park - may well be suited to a skate park, however they don’t tick the boxes for Sumner skaters due to location. Our local skaters have told us, and Council they want a park they can skate to before and after school. Something for them in their own community.
SG&S continue to support the proposed skate park at 26 Nayland St as it neighbours the site for the proposed Sumner village green at 20 and 24 Nayland St. This combined area fulfils the aims of the group to bring life, vitality and recreation back to the centre of the village, allowing different age groups to interact in one area. This area will recreate an outdoor village centre, missing since Matuku Takotako: Sumner Centre was built on the site of the temporary village green in 2017.
The benefits of a skate park at 26 Nayland St:
- central to a bus stop, retail, public toilets
- environmental benefits; sheltered, no wind blown sand, trees for shade, attractive backdrop
- links well to village green and the Sumner Centre
- great visibility
- distance from neighbours exceeds the required 40 metres
- acoustics for this site are excellent, with minimal impact for local residents and businesses
Can I please encourage you to complete the following submission online, it only takes a minute to have your say.
https://ccc.govt.nz/the-council/consultations-and-submissions/haveyoursay/show/53#form-message
With two Sumner sites to choose from SG&S, not wanting to split the vote and end up with no skate park in Sumner have ranked the sites as:
- 1st 26 Nayland St
- 2nd Sumner Beach
Thanks in advance for supporting youth recreation in our area.
|
|
|
|
Vacancy
Community Development Coordinator
Mt Pleasant Memorial Community Centre & Residents’ Association
Part Time 25 hours/week
Mt Pleasant Memorial Community Centre & Residents’ Association (MPMCCRA) is seeking to recruit
a professional, experienced, enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our team and to support Community Development in Mt Pleasant. This will include working to support the MPMCCRA Committee with the coordination of a range of social, cultural and recreational activities to keep the community connected.
Responsibilities will include (but not limited to):
- Coordination of community development events
- Management of the weekly Farmers’ Market and monthly Arts & Craft Market
- Communication with residents
- Community representation
- Supporting applications for grants
You will have:
- Experience in community development and an understanding of community issues
- Proven experience in event coordination
- Excellent relationship management skills
- Excellent written & oral communication skills
- Experience in working with volunteers
Applications close on 19th February 2018
Thank you to our newsletter sponsors
