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Newsletter 17 March 2021

Newsletter 17 March 2021

Talofa lava, Malo e lelei, Kia Orana, Fakalafa lahi atu, Namaste, Ni sa bula vinaka, Konichiwa

I am very happy to inform the community that since we reopened again on Monday 8th of March we as of today have over 89% of the Chapel Downs student population back at school.

I would like to sincerely thank our community for helping to get your children back to school and into familiar school routines, once again. There is a really positive atmosphere around the learning environments as the students and teachers have reconnected again in person and got straight into fun and creative learning activities. All the students have enjoyed seeing their friends again as they have traded lockdown stories and experiences.

Lunch in Schools

Great news, the Government is introducing a free, healthy, daily school lunch programme at Chapel Downs Primary School for all students. We are really excited to let you know that our school will be joining the free lunch programme from Term 2 (3 May 2021).

Lunches will cater for the diet, health and cultural needs of our students, and we will work with suppliers and the Ministry of Education to make sure they are healthy and nutritious. All suppliers will be required to meet New Zealand food safety standards. The lunches will be available for all our students. While we know there are hungry children in every community, we do not always know who they are.

You can find out more about the programme at:www.education.govt.nz/free-and-healthy-school-lunches

Please complete the form below to ensure we cater to all dietary requirements. You will need to complete a separate form for each child in your family at Chapel Downs.

Chapel Downs Pop Up Museum 2021

Recently our staff created a Pop Up Museum to share their interests with the children. Here are some photos of the museum.

Chapel Downs Staff -Pop Up Museum 2021

Its now the children’s turn to create a Pop Up Museum in their classrooms.

On the 7th and 8th of April 2021, the children will be hosting their own Pop Up Museum in their classrooms.

The aim of the Pop Up Museum is to encourage our children to learn more about their classmates and to share their interests with one another.

To help the Pop Up Museum be successful, we ask that each child brings in an item that is special or of interest to them. These items can be related to their culture, to a hobby or to a sport. If the item is valuable, we can store it in a safe place or take a photo of it and return it home.

The classrooms will be open to all whanau members to visit the Pop Up Museum at the following times:

  • Wednesday 7th April - 2.30pm - 3.30pm
  • Thursday 8th April - 8.30am - 9.30am

Thank you for supporting your child and helping to make the Pop Up Museum a success.

We look forward to seeing you enjoy the children's museum.

Kind regards,

Carrie Withers & Nicole York

Project WY

This year we are very excited to have the opportunity for our Year 6 students to join the Project WY programme.

Project Wy is a mentoring programme that has been working with high capacity students in years 6 across 12 selected schools in West, Central, East and South Auckland. The programme will have mentors who will work with the students and their families and aims to raise the leadership skills and the educational aspirations of the student and their families.

Parents of Y6 students are invite to attend a presentation on the Project Wy programme on:

  • DATE: Wednesday 17th March
  • TIME: 6.30pm
  • VENUE: Chapel Downs School Hall

At the presentation you will receive details on the programme, what’s involved and there will be an opportunity to ask questions. Following the presentation you can make a final decision on whether you and your child will participate.

Your child has leadership potential that has been recognised by the school and we support the opportunities your child receives to develop this. We hope you can attend the presentation.

House Captains 2021

Congratulations to our 2021 School Leaders. Our 16 House Captains have displayed all of our school dispositions to become fantastic leaders. They will officially be awarded house captain certificates at assembly on Friday 9th April.

Swimming

A reminder our Field of Dreams swimming programme is still running until the 1st April. We are working with Field of Dreams to try and get a catch up lesson for all the Y3-Y6 classes, this may happen in the last week of term.

  • Lessons Tuesday's for B23/ B16/ B24 / A12
  • Lessons Thursday's for B19/ A15/ A13
  • Lessons Monday's for B25/ B22/ B20/ A14/ B26/ B18/ B27/ B28/ B17

Your child will need to bring these items each :

  • a pair of swimming togs
  • a named towel
  • a waterproof bag or plastic bag to put the wet togs and towel in after the lessons each week

If your child owns a pair of swimming goggles, the Community Swim Programme manager recommends that children bring these along too, as goggles will assist considerably with learning to swim.

All swimming staff are trained through Swimming New Zealand and hold a current First Aid Certificate. They also attend in-house training with Swimsation. Instructors are always upskilling with training workshops and appraisals. The goal is to enable all children to develop the basic skills of swimming to help keep them safe in the water.

Our expectation is that all children in Years 3,4, 5 and 6 will participate in the swimming programme. If your child is medically unfit to participate, a doctor’s certificate must be provided. Thank you for your support.

Easter Holidays

Just a reminder school will be closed on the following days for the Easter Holidays

  • Friday 2nd April - Good Friday Easter Holiday
  • Monday 5th April - Easter Holiday
  • Tuesday 6th April - Easter Holiday

Year 6 Camp Parent Meeting 2021

Our Y6 Camp is always amazing but this year the adventure has gone to a new level. In Term 3 from the 6th to 8th of September 2021 all Year Six students will have the opportunity to attend our Year Six camp. The students will travel to Roturua's Tui Ridge Camp nestled in 170 hectares of beautiful New Zealand forest, with views of Lake Rotorua, Mt. Tarawera, Mokoia Island, and the surrounding countryside.

On Thursday 25 March at 6.30pm we are holding a camp information meeting in the school hall. All Year Six parents and students are welcome to attend the meeting. There will be a short presentation at the meeting outlining the following:

  • Camp activities
  • Transport
  • Camp Costs
  • Camp location and facilities
  • Catering

Following the presentation there will be an opportunity to ask questions. This camp is an important part of the Year Six programme and the camp team is committed to working hard to ensure every student has the opportunity to attend this wonderful outdoor education experience.

Tui Ridge Park

Y6 Rafting 2021

On Monday the 12th April our Year 6 children will have a session at the WERO Whitewater Park . This is to familiarise children with moving water and how to be river safe. The children will get to experience river crossing in a fast flowing river and go whitewater rafting on the Grade 2 Tamariki River, both activities are with a guide. A huge thanks to John Walker Field of Dreams, Community Swim and Vector Whitewater Park for providing this wonderful opportunity for our students.

Important Dates

  • MARCH 17 - Y6 PARENT MEETING PROJECT WY 6.30PM
  • MARCH 25 - YEAR 6 CAMP PARENT INFORMATION MEETING 6.30PM
  • MARCH 25 - NEW PARENT INFORMATION MORNING 9.15AM
  • APRIL 2 - GOOD FRIDAY (HOLIDAY)
  • APRIL 5 - EASTER MONDAY (HOLIDAY)
  • APRIL 6 - EASTER TUESDAY (HOLIDAY)
  • APRIL 9 - SCHOOL ASSEMBLY 1.45PM
  • APRIL 12 - Y6 RAFTING TRIP-VECTOR WHITEWATER PARK
  • APRIL 16 - END OF TERM ONE 2.55PM
  • MAY 3 - TERM TWO STARTS
  • MAY 3 - SCHOOL LUNCHES START FOR ALL CHILDREN
  • JUNE 7 - QUEENS BIRTHDAY (PUBLIC HOLIDAY)
  • JULY 9 - END OF TERM TWO

2021 School Terms

  • Term One - 2 Feb - 16th April
  • Term Two - 3rd May - 9th July
  • Term Three - 26th July - 1st October
  • Term Four - 18th October - 10th December
A4 have been painting these fabulous self portraits
ACHIEVING TOGETHER
Created By
Vaughan van Rensburg
Appreciate