A BIG welcome to Term 2, Important Dates, Staffing and other Things

Kia ora koutou

I trust you all had a wonderful break and are looking forward to the new term ahead. Please see below the dates that we have so far for term 2.

This term looks like it will be another busy term especially with the Education Review Office visit in week 5. Every new school has a full review about a year and a term into operation. We are looking forward to working with ERO to identify some next steps for our development as a school. It is always useful to get outside perspectives because they often help us to see things that we are, perhaps, too close to see.

Please keep 12 June free for the Pio Terei visit. Kelly Sport will be providing activities for your children so that you can enjoy this evening of fun as Pio presents his take on parenthood.

STAFFING: A BIG welcome to Jeanelle Ymker who will be joining Koru Hub for the term. She is an experienced reading recovery teacher so we look forward to her input into our reading and other programmes. Crisanna will only be here on Mondays and Fridays this term until she goes off on full  maternity leave later in the term. Welcome to Merrick Keenan who will be working in Harakeke Hub four days per week throughout the term. Merrick began working last term as our football coach on Mondays. He is professional coach, however, he is also a teacher. This term Merrick will be working in Harakeke Hub in the full range of curriculum areas. We are currently in the process of appointing a permanent teacher to begin in term 3.
And....just in case you have not noticed.... Lisa is pregnant and will be going off on maternity leave later in the year.
Finally, we wish to offer our sincere condolences to Navy Ny and her family, Corey's wonderful teacher aide, who has been working at Amesbury School for the last year and one term. Her husband, Hong, passed away during the holidays after a very brief illness. It was a privilege to attend the funeral and hear about the exceptional man that Hong was. He worked very hard to provide his immediate and extended family (back in Cambodia) the best educational and other opportunities. He was a humble, self-sacrificing man with a great sense of humour, who was very obviously very much loved by all who knew him. I was really touched by the tributes paid to him.

TERM 2 DATES: The following is the link to the google doc on which we keep an updated record of the dates for the year
https://docs.google.com/a/amesbury.school.nz/document/d/139v9Lj_IZxDpchS6zltZPt91_3RU2Zws7Shdrpf9wPI/edit

Another way to access the dates is to check out the calendar on our Website - http://www.amesbury.school.nz

IMPORTANT DATES FOR TERM 2

Note: Queen's Birthday is Monday, 3rd June and school will be closed.

Term 2: 6 May – 12 July
6 May	ICAS Computer Skills Prep session	3.30pm - 4.30pm, Urs
13 May	ICAS Computer Skills Prep session	3.30pm - 4.30pm, Matt
16 May	Nomination close for BOT Elections
20 May	ICAS Science Prep session	3.30pm - 4.30pm, Fiona
21 May	ICAS Computer Test
22 May	Board of Trustees’ meeting	Meeting room 5.30 – 7.30
24 May	Amesbury School Cross Country Champs  Lisa	11.30 – 1pm
24 May	Noho marae - whole school, Hangi dinner	Whole school Māori Tikanga experience- Hall and school grounds Koha
27 May	ICAS Science Prep session	3.30pm - 4.30pm, Fiona
30 May	Board of Trustees Elections
4 - 6 June	Education Review Office Visit
4 June	Northern Zone Cross Country    Lisa	Nairnville (pp day 11 June)
5 June	ICAS Science Test
10 June	ICAS Writing Prep session	3.30pm - 4.30pm, Urs
12 June	Community Evening – An evening with Pio Terei	5.30 – 7.30pm
14 June	Amesbury Invitational Junior Cross country - LIsa	11.30 – 1pm
17 June	ICAS Writing Prep session	3.30 - 4.30pm, Urs
18 June	ICAS Spelling Test	Urs
19 June	ICAS Writing Test	Urs
21 June	Year 6 transition visit to Raroa
25 June	Interzone Cross Country  - Lisa	TBC (PP day 27 June)
26 June	Board of Trustees’ meeting	Meeting room 5.30 – 7.30
4 July	Harakeke Swimming Sports
5 July	ICAS English Prep session	Lesley
9 July	Regional Cross Country - Lisa	Rathkeale College Masterton (PP day 11 July)
10 July	Reporting to Parents on Achievement - Written Reports emailed
Week 10	Swimming selections for northern zone  - 1 session at pool - Angela and Urs
12 July	Learning Celebration	1.45pm