Tena koutou e te Whānau,
Welcome to Term 4! We have begun the term with a bang and Week One has seen Te Onepoto head away to camp, an Aupaki Cantamaths competition for some of our Awaroa Learners, 21 students competing at the Canterbury Swimming Championships and a successful Pink Shirt Day today.
Term 4 is always a busy term, but this year it is set to be busier than most with some events that were scheduled for earlier in the term being moved into Term 4 due to Covid-19. I would urge you to keep a close eye on our Calendar of Events (available on the website here and within the School App) so that you are aware of everything that is happening this term.
During Week 2 we will be celebrating our annual Book Week under the theme ‘One World, Many Stories’ with the focus of celebrating great stories from around the globe. There are a number of fantastic learning opportunities that our fantastic Librarian Yvonne Hall has organised for the week including a visit from guest author James Russell. Please check the Team Newsletters that were sent out at the start of the week with events related to your child(ren)’s Team. Our book week will again culminate with our Book Parade in the school Hall at 9.15am on Friday 23 October. Huge thanks to Yvonne for her hard work and continued enthusiasm, creativity and dedication that she shows our school in her role as Librarian - the kids simply LOVE it.
Welcome to Term 4! We have begun the term with a bang and Week One has seen Te Onepoto head away to camp, an Aupaki Cantamaths competition for some of our Awaroa Learners, 21 students competing at the Canterbury Swimming Championships and a successful Pink Shirt Day today.
Term 4 is always a busy term, but this year it is set to be busier than most with some events that were scheduled for earlier in the term being moved into Term 4 due to Covid-19. I would urge you to keep a close eye on our Calendar of Events (available on the website here and within the School App) so that you are aware of everything that is happening this term.
During Week 2 we will be celebrating our annual Book Week under the theme ‘One World, Many Stories’ with the focus of celebrating great stories from around the globe. There are a number of fantastic learning opportunities that our fantastic Librarian Yvonne Hall has organised for the week including a visit from guest author James Russell. Please check the Team Newsletters that were sent out at the start of the week with events related to your child(ren)’s Team. Our book week will again culminate with our Book Parade in the school Hall at 9.15am on Friday 23 October. Huge thanks to Yvonne for her hard work and continued enthusiasm, creativity and dedication that she shows our school in her role as Librarian - the kids simply LOVE it.
This morning we also held our first full school assembly (minus Te Onepoto who are away at camp at Living Springs). It was fantastic to see the majority of the school all in one place together. During assembly we shared the latest Sneak Peek from the Media Team and a very special song written by Bridget Scoular and learned and performed by Rooms 1, 2 and 3 that was used to help the children understand the concept of Social Distancing. The children did so well at learning this song that Ms Scoular and Miss Bennion decided that it had to be shared with Jacinda Ardern and Dr Ashleigh Bloomfield. Click here to listen to The Healthy Distance Song and have a look at the reply that Rooms 1,2 and 3 received from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Spotlight on Pink Shirt Day… Today we encouraged our school whānau to support Pink Shirt Day and our school value of whanaungatanga. Our value of whanaungatanga is a really important one for us as it is all about relationships. I truly believe that building positive, open and trusting relationships needs to be at the very heart of everything we do at school as it underpins not only high quality teaching and learning, but also grows children who are respectful, empathetic and understanding of the value of positive relationships. |
Pink Shirt Day is a national day throwing a spotlight on bullying with the message Kōrero Mai, Kōrero Atu, Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora – Speak Up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying. This provides a great opportunity to reiterate our school wide messages related to bullying and the language we use with the children around ‘THINKing’; before we speak or act and using our ‘WITS’ (see below). While I believe we have wonderful students and an inclusive and caring culture, it would be incredibly naive of me to say that bullying does not occur at times in our school. What I can say though is that it will absolutely not be tolerated. I believe that by raising the mana of our school values and using the language of Character Strengths throughout our school and creating lots of learning opportunities that encourage respect, value opinions, celebrate difference, and promote positive relationships we will continue to grow a school culture which makes it incredibly difficult for bullying behaviour to thrive or be tolerated. To achieve this, it needs everyone – school staff, students, trustees, parents, whānau and communities – supporting diversity, talking about bullying and working together.
Spotlight on School Donations… Many thanks to those of you who have been checking your child(ren)’s statements via Hero and using the new online payment system to pay your Term costs and the annual Donation to the school. As we are nearing the end of the year I thought it would be timely to share how the school is utilising your support this year. If you haven’t yet got round to checking your statements and paying your costs or donations it’s not too late! Please log onto Hero, select the 3 line ‘hamburger’ menu in the top right corner and select the finance icon.
Spotlight on looking ahead to 2021… As a school we are beginning our planning for the 2021 school year. As part of this I am working with the Board and Leadership Team to gain an accurate picture of what class compositions look like for 2021 so that we are able to staff our school appropriately. If you have children turning 5 next year who you would like to join our school but have not yet officially enrolled, we would appreciate you popping into the School Office and grabbing and Enrolment Form. Equally, we appreciate that from time to time families move or parents make different choices about their child’s education, so if you know that your child(ren) will not be returning to us in 2021, we would really appreciate the advanced notice via email to the School Office. I know it seems early, but this information significantly impacts our staffing, class compositions and the wider school organisation. If you have any questions about this, please contact your child’s teacher or the School Office. admin@sumner5.school.nz Finally, I would like to take the opportunity to wish Miss Hannah Smaill (Tuawera Team Leader and Room 9 Class Teacher) the very best of luck as she heads away on maternity leave next Friday. I know that you will all join me in wishing Hannah and her partner Tom the very best of luck as they prepare for the arrival of their first child. Hannah’s position will be covered by Mrs Jo Covell-Burger (Mrs CB) until the end of the year. Have a wonderful weekend with your whānau. Ngā mihi nui, Anna Granger Principal |
Spotlight on Excellence
Isaac B placed first in the Canterbury Champs 11's in singles and doubles competition. He also came runner-up in the doubles for the 12's in Timaru Tier 2. Congratulations!
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Canterbury Primary Schools Tennis Competition
Sumner School Boys Year 5&6 Tennis Team placed 1st in the recent competition at Wilding Park. Congratulations Paddy, Austin, Lennox, Oscar & Max. Congratulations also to the Sumner School Girls Year 6 Team who placed 3rd overall: Lily, Kate, Miriam & Oak G. |
Canterbury Regional Football tournament
A number of Year 5 & 6 girls and boys competed in the Canterbury Regional 10th Grade Football Tournament in the school holidays representing Ferrymead Bays Football Club and were very successful.
The girls won the gold medal for their division coming first in the 10th Grade Girls Tournament, undefeated over 6 games all weekend. Congratulations!
Girls from Sumner School:
Lily C, Zaela P, Millie C and Illiane P (Year 4)
The boys Tier 2 Team won the silver medal in the boys tournament.
From Sumner School:
Jett B (most valuable player), Louis S, Joe O, Evan C, Callum B and Luke M
A number of Year 5 & 6 girls and boys competed in the Canterbury Regional 10th Grade Football Tournament in the school holidays representing Ferrymead Bays Football Club and were very successful.
The girls won the gold medal for their division coming first in the 10th Grade Girls Tournament, undefeated over 6 games all weekend. Congratulations!
Girls from Sumner School:
Lily C, Zaela P, Millie C and Illiane P (Year 4)
The boys Tier 2 Team won the silver medal in the boys tournament.
From Sumner School:
Jett B (most valuable player), Louis S, Joe O, Evan C, Callum B and Luke M
New Zealand Primary School Surfing Championships Year 6 student Benji L placed 1st in the recent National Surf Competition. Team results - 3rd place to Ryder T, Benji L, Amelie C and Tessa L 2020 South Island Grom Series Under 12 boys 2nd Benji L & 4th Ryder T Under 12 girls 2nd Amelie C & 4th Tessa L Under 14 boys & girls Benji and Amelie both 3rd Congratulations! |
Hapori fundraiser
We are having a Bikkie Bake sale to raise money for the Aotearoa Shoebox Christmas next week. The Hapori Group will be selling biscuits for $2 each or you can swap a NEW packet of pencils, erasers or a small gift for a biscuit. You can buy biscuits at lunchtime Monday-Friday next week (19-24 October).
We will use the proceeds to buy gifts for the shoeboxes to be given to children in the local community, who without our help would not receive a gift this Christmas.
Thank you for your support.
That important time of the year is coming up again – BOOK WEEK!
Next week, the school will be buzzing with all things books and reading! There will be lots of activities in the library and around the school including Grandparents’ Day as well as a school-wide visit from a New Zealand author. The week culminates in our annual Book Parade on Friday October 23rd from 9:15am in the School Hall. All welcome!
This year’s theme is ‘ONE WORLD MANY STORIES: CELEBRATING GREAT STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD’. Students come dressed as a character from their favourite book set in Aotearoa or anywhere around the globe. This can be a picture book, novel, fairytale, traditional story, myth or legend. Please do not think that a lot of money needs to be spent on the costume – it is about having fun and sharing great stories. It’s a chance to get creative with your kids; re-purpose your dress-ups or make use of the $2 Warehouse in Ferrymead. Thank you! Yvonne - Sumner School librarian
Hotdogs - Term 4
The PTA hotdog lunches will begin again next Tuesday 20 October. There are 5 weeks to complete the orders already placed in Term 1 before the Level 4 lockdown but anyone that would like to add their child's name to the existing orders please complete a form at the Office before 3pm Monday 19 October. $12.50 payable in cash or eftpos. Thank you for supporting this PTA fundraiser.
Calendars and Cards
The first order for cards and calendars is currently at the printers and should be delivered soon.
The second order is now open at www.kidsartwork.com and will close on Monday 2 November. Please contact sumnerschoolcalendars@gmail.com if you have misplaced your child’s code.
We have had lots of orders so far but would love to see some more purchases in support of our PTA. Thanks.
Scholastic Books
Children should have brought home a Scholastic brochure this week. Orders for this PTA fundraiser close on 12 November. Please email: natashajlacey@gmail.com or the Office if you have any queries.
Sushi Lunches - Friday each week of Term 4
Please view the updated form below to order sushi for your child's lunch on Fridays this term. Any questions please contact Jan on 021 165 1487.
Please view the updated form below to order sushi for your child's lunch on Fridays this term. Any questions please contact Jan on 021 165 1487.
Monday 2 November in the Well Being Centre, 7-8pm.
All parents are welcome. A great way to meet new parents and be actively involved in your children’s school. Like and join our Facebook page - Sumner School PTA OR email pta@sumner.school.nz with any questions. |

Mana Ake will be visiting on Wednesdays of odd weeks again in Term 4, 8.30-9.30am in the Waiora - Wellbeing Centre. Please drop by if you have any concerns for your child's wellbeing or speak to your child's teacher about getting a referral.
Sunday 1 November 2020 Heathcote Community Centre
Term 4 After School Surfing and Skating Lessons
If you're interested in getting your child or friend into Surfing/Skating we have some awesome opportunities for them in Term 4 at the local Sumner beach.
Here is a google form with all the information. Times, prices and more.
Any questions email hello@stokedsurfschool.co.nz
If you're interested in getting your child or friend into Surfing/Skating we have some awesome opportunities for them in Term 4 at the local Sumner beach.
Here is a google form with all the information. Times, prices and more.
Any questions email hello@stokedsurfschool.co.nz
HAVE FUN, PLAY FOOTBALL
Ferrymead Bays Football Club is running a Girls Only Summer Hub option for 5 weeks in Term 4. $25 for 5 sessions. This is for any primary schoolgirls who wish to try football. Fun activities and small-sided games, 4-5pm at Barnett Park on Tuesdays, 27 Oct - 24 Nov inclusive. To register please contact Club Captain Ren Cameron at ren-dee@xtra.co.nz or on 021-0661294.
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