Our 2020 Year 8 leaders

Kia ora koutou

The BOT and I are pleased to appoint Penny Vincent as the Acting Principal while I am on maternity leave. Penny will take over when I leave - which will be early-mid term 2, until mid term 4.

Thank you to parents who have been helping with our transport and trips lately, we really appreciate it.

I sent an email home last week regarding the Omihi School Farm Race. We are looking for someone to take over the lead of this for next year. We have one parent keen and are looking to have one more on board so they can work together and share the load. Please let me know if you are available. All the systems are set up, so it is mainly monitoring that things are done. It is our major fundraiser of the year and the reason why we are able to have an extra teacher for our 3rd classroom.

Ngā mihi
Maree Lucas
Tumuaki/Principal

School Notices

3 Way Learning Conferences - Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th March
This is an opportunity to meet with your child and their teacher and talk about their goals for the year. Please book a time on this timetable.

Year 0-4 Triathlon
This is being held at Omihi School on Tuesday 10th March at 2.15pm. We invite parents to come and watch. The children are encouraged to bring their bikes and helmets to school this week to start their practice. This event is designed to give our junior children a taster of what a triathlon is like before they attend the real thing at the Kowai triathlon from Year 5 and up.

Sushi and Pita Pit
Thanks for supporting Sushi and Pita Pit. Last year Julie collected the sushi for us from Amberley every fortnight. If there is someone that is able to take that on this year, please let me know. It would be nice to share it around. Sushi is this Wednesday and Pita Pit is next week.

Mufti Days
The Year 8 senior leaders have organised four mufti days this year. They are for the following:
Term 1 - Heart Kids - Friday 3rd April. Gold coin donation and wear red.
Term 2 - SPCA
Term 3 - DOC Predator free 2050
Term 4 - Amberley Pool

Donation and bus/activity fee
This week Ruth will be sending out letters for our school donation. She will also be invoicing you for the books your child has been issued and asking for a contribution towards an activity fee and bus fee. This covers such experiences as Life Education, class trips, Waiswim, using the bus for school trips.

Omihi School Farm Race
Remember to get your entries in for this. We are looking forward to a great community day! Entry details at www.omihi.school.nz/bikerun. A reminder to send your prize along to school asap if you haven’t already.

Year 4-8 Swimming Sports
Here are the transport details for the day.

Year 0-4 Assembly
We welcome you to our Year 0-4 assembly this Friday 6th March at 2pm in Paemoana.

Waikari Rock Art trip
In Week 7 our tamariki will be going on a trip to the Waikari Rock Art as part of our ongoing 'Our Place, Our People' inquiry investigations. These trips will be taking place over two days. On Tuesday March 17 the year 0-5 children will be going and on Wednesday March 18 the year 6-8 children will be going. We will be taking the bus there, however will require one parent car for transport on each of the days. If you are able to help out please email Penny to let her know. Your support would be greatly appreciated.

School Calendar
Please keep an eye on our school calendar so you can keep on top of what is coming up.

Community Notices

Amberley Rugby Football Club
Please find attached a link for families to complete registration if they would like to be part of the Amberley Rugby Football Club for 2020.

Resilient Hurunui
Dr Nicholas Price, lecturer in Agricultural Systems Management at Lincoln University, will be speaking at the Amberley library on Thursday March 19th at 7.30 p.m. Topic: How farmers and land managers can address social concerns about issues such as water quality and GHG emissions. Gold coin please.

Kia ora Koutou

What an action packed first two weeks of school! This term is full with sports - golf, triathlon, swimming and also The Arts trips - Museum/Art Gallery, Waikari carvings and our sculptor visit. Please keep an eye on the calendar to keep up to date. We really appreciate all the parent support for this, thank you!

This week I am in Hanmer Springs for two days with a group of Canterbury Principals. I have joined the CPPA (Canterbury Primary Principals Association) Executive Committee and we have our first hui for the year and strategic planning meeting. It is a great learning opportunity for me and a chance to connect with other Principals and be part of a support team for Canterbury Principals.

We have had progress on our new multipurpose space. We have confirmed our project manager and In the holidays I met with potential architects and have now confirmed our architect. Ingrid and I met with them both last week and have shared the ideas from teachers and children as to what we want the building for. The next steps are for the architects to come back with ideas on where the building will go and then the initial concepts. These will be shared with the BOT and staff for discussion and we will keep you informed with the progress. My goal is to have the designs confirmed by the time I go on maternity leave. It’s an exciting time!

Ngā mihi

Maree Lucas
Tumuaki/Principal
principal@omihi.school.nz

School Notices

Omihi School Farm Race
This is our major fundraiser of the year. We need as much help as we can on the day of the race and ask all families to be involved. Please enter your name on the volunteers document of where you would like to help on the day. We also ask each family to please donate a prize with a minimum value of $10 and to send it along to school by the 2nd March.

Omihi bus
The bus is in getting a service and a small repair, so it will be up and running again on Friday.

Museum/Art Gallery trip - Tuesday 25th February
Transport information.

Raffle
Our second fundraiser of the year is our raffle. This raises between $5000-6000 to help us pay for our third teacher. Please click on the survey to give us feedback on ticket price.

Pita Pit and Sushi
Wednesday lunches start again this week. Sushi is this Wednesday and Pita Pit the following Wednesday. Please order online at www.luncheonline.co.nz.

Year 5-8 Triathlon
Wednesday 26th February. All information is here. Parents need to pick children up from school at 12.20pm and take them and their bikes to Amberley Pool, to be ready for the briefing at 1pm. Children go home straight from Amberley at the end of the race.

Contacting teachers
I encourage our teachers to have a work/life balance. We try not to contact parents after hours or in weekends, so we please ask the same from parents to teachers. If you need to contact us after hours, an email is definitely preferable than a text message. The teachers will give out their cell phone numbers if they want to, otherwise please just email them. If your child is away, an email is good so you can then copy me in as well in case I am teaching on that day.

Year 4-8 Swimming Sports
Our swimming sports are on Thursday 5th March at Amberley Pool at 9am. We need two parent helpers. Please let me know if you can help.

Community Notices

Glenmark Netball Club
Registration day for any interested players on Sunday 15th March, 10.00am at Glenmark Netball Courts (opposite Omihi School on Reeces Rd). All ages & abilities welcome. Please contact Katie Croft (all under 14’s) on 021 022 30360 or Milly Croft (seniors) on 027 552 1644 if you have any queries.

Amberley Tennis
Coaching starts this Friday with anyone welcome as outlined below.
3.30pm - 4.30pm : all beginning tennis players who want coaching should attend.
4.30pm - 6.30pm : all intermediate, D,C, B and A grade interclub juniors who want coaching should attend at the times they did last year. Anyone NEW wanting to participate and join in the fun should please turn up at 3.30. Our funding application for this season was successful, so the cost is heavily subsidised by Amberley Tennis Club again this year. Contact Simon - bennetto@xtra.co.nz.

St Andrews College
The St Andrew’s College family wish to extend an invitation to you and your family, and prospective families from your community, to join us for refreshments and hors d’oeuvres for a St Andrew’s College promotional evening. We very much hope you will be able to join us.

Venue:  Waipara Hills, 780 Glasnevin Road, Waipara
Date:  Wednesday 4 March 2020
Time:  5.00pm – 7.00pm
RSVP:  Please click here to register before Friday 28 February

Kia ora koutou whānau

It was so nice to see everyone’s smiling faces this morning and hear about all the lovely memories made over the holidays. I love seeing how excited our students are at seeing their friends and teachers on day one.

George and I had some great camping adventures with Vuk in the holidays and managed to catch up with lots of friends and family. It was a lovely opportunity to have some down time, reflect on our exciting 2019 year and plan ahead to life with a baby. I will be at school until early/mid term 2 and am planning to take 6 months off, so depending on how everything goes, I will be back mid term 4. After our first Board of Trustees meeting in week 4, we will come back to you with information around who is going to be Acting Principal.

We welcome Penny and Megan to our teaching staff this year and also welcome back Tamar as our teaching assistant. I have included Penny and Megan’s introduction again in the newsletter below. We also welcome Kate Dodd who will be relieving in classes when needed. A warm welcome to Fergus and Noah who are starting their school journey in Paemoana today.

We have lots of exciting things coming up this term, so please see all the info below and we will continue to update the school calendar on the website as well. Let me know if you would like me to share the calendar with you so you can have it on your phone.

Ngā mihi
Maree Lucas
Tumuaki/Principal

School Notices

Congratulations to our Prize giving recipients from 2019:
Omihi Values - junior - Lily Banks
Omihi Values - senior - Alice Pennell
Speech cup - Maggie Hamilton
Sportsperson of the Year - Charlie Murphy
Excellence in Arts - Leni Wilkie
Academic - Maggie Hamilton

School trips:
Whole School Beach Ed - Thursday 13th February at Waikuku Beach
We will take the school bus, but will also need parent helpers to make up the ratios in the water. Please let me know asap if you are able to take a car and help out on the day. We ask that no preschoolers come on this trip.

Whole School Canterbury Museum and Art Gallery trip - Tuesday 25th February
To go alongside our inquiry unit this term, we will be going to the Museum and Art Gallery on the 25th February. We will take the school bus and hopefully the Waikuku bus, but will still need more helpers. Please contact Penny asap if you can help on this trip - penny@omihi.school.nz.

Year 5-8 Kowai Triathlon - Wednesday 26th February
This is at the Amberley domain and is run in the afternoon. We ask that parents take their own children and bikes to the domain. Further information will be sent out in due course. Usually you need to be there by 12.45pm.

Whānau picnic
We welcome all our families and our community to come along to our whānau picnic on Tuesday 4th February between 5-7pm. BYO picnics. The BBQ will be available to cook on and the pool will be open. This is a great chance to catch up after the holidays and meet new teachers and families.

School closed:
Waitangi day - Thursday 6th February
Kahui Ako teacher only day - Monday 2nd March

Waiswim lessons
We ask that children start bringing their togs everyday as we will use the pool as much as possible. We encourage children to wear rash vests if you have them. This not only protects them from the sun, but it also helps our pool from having all the extra sunscreen going into it every day. Waiswim lessons will be starting in week 3.

Reporting
We will be sharing our reporting schedule for 2020 with you this week. Reports are continuing on Linc ed, but the comments will be spread out during the year, so it is ‘real time’ reporting. You will still receive the general comment and the levels for reading, writing and maths mid and end of year.

3 Way Learning Conferences
These are booked in for Tuesday and Wednesday in week 6. We will send out a timetable nearer the time so you can book in a time to meet with your child and their teacher.

Assemblies this term:
This term there will only be 2 assemblies, as we are starting them later to give the classes time to settle in. From term 2 onwards there will be 3 each term.
Friday 6th March, 2pm - Year 0-4 assembly
Friday 27th March, 2pm - Year 5-8 assembly

School Uniform
A reminder that correct uniform needs to be worn each day and Omihi sunhats are compulsory in terms 1 and 4. Please ensure shorts, trousers or skirts are navy, with navy or white socks.

Bus Parking
When dropping off or picking up your child at the school gate, please don’t park right in front of the gate as that is where the two buses need to park. Either park across the road in the Omihi Hall carpark or closer to Omihi Road. The Omihi bus also needs space to be able to turn around. The children will be involved in bus safety with Constable Ken at the start of this term.

A reminder that the speed limit is 20km when passing a school pass that is stopped. We ask that any children getting on the bus on the main road, please wear a high vis vest. School can provide these if you haven’t got one.

Omihi School Farm Race
Please help us to promote the farm race and raise money for our school. Entries are available online at www.omihi.school.nz/bikerun. If you have anywhere that you can put up one of our posters, please let me know.

School of Rock
Music Lessons 2020 Term 1. One day a week there will be group, individual and or band music lessons available at the school within school time, that are run by School of Rock. In the lessons the students will learn the fundamental techniques associated with their instrument and a "song". The "song" could be anything from new school to old school, classical to rock.  Music Enrolment Form.

Year 5-8 Basketball
Basketball starts up again on the 28th February. Please let Maree know if your child wishes to play again and also if you are available to coach.

Penny Vincent - Paemoana teacher
I have been teaching for the past 11 years. I spent my first four years teaching at Dunsandel Primary School. Whilst there I taught years 3 - 6 and became the senior syndicate leader. My husband and I then moved to North Canterbury to be closer to our families and I spent 6 years at Waikuku/Pegasus School teaching Year 0 - 6. During this time I worked as both the Middle and Junior syndicate leader. Over the last year I have worked at St Patrick’s school in Kaiapoi from 9.15 - 12.30 four mornings a week. Initially I was taking small groups for numeracy and literacy support across the school and for the last two terms I have had a Year 2 and 3 class for the mornings doing intensive numeracy and literacy work. 

I feel very privileged to be in a job where I get to spend time getting to know and help shape little hearts and minds. I have also been lucky enough to previously teach and get to know some of the wonderful children and families that currently attend Omihi school.

My family and I live out in North Loburn and have three children. Jaxon is 4 and will be starting at North Loburn School in the new year, Hudson is 2 (almost 3) and Sadie is 1 (turning 2 in March). My husband Scott and I have been married for six years, he is a spray contractor in North Canterbury and some of you may know him (and his brother Jacob) from when he played rugby for Glenmark. 

I am so looking forward to being a part of a country school and community and look forward to getting to know you all and also catching up with some familiar faces too!! See you soon!

Megan Jacobson - Tūpari teacher
Hi, I’m Megan Jacobson and I’m loving being back in the Hurunui district with my young family. My partner Mike and I have a 7 month old girl Isobel, our dog Tank and cat Mozzy. We are both originally from the North Island where I’ve been teaching at Greytown Primary School for the past 7 years through years 2-6 and before that I was at Gladstone Primary in Years 6-8. 

However I did my degree at Canterbury University and we have family farming in the area. This year I have been relieving around the North Canterbury area and on maternity leave. I have a strong background in sports coordination and have previously been heavily involved in Young Farmers and AgriKids. I enjoy walking, exercising and anything outdoors and that gets me involved with people. I look forward to joining the team at Omihi and meeting you all.

Community Notices

KAIAPOI NORTH SCHOOL’S  2020 Memorial Golf Tournament for Robert ( Mr Bob ) Sincock 
WHERE: Kaiapoi Golf Club 
WHEN : Sunday, March 8th with a shotgun start at 10:30am. 
WHY : to raise funds to provide equal opportunities for ALL children at Kaiapoi North School. 
GRADES : Mens and Women’s handicap sections. Stableford. 
Trophy to be presented on day.  Calloway system to support all non-handicappers.  $100:00 for closest to the hole for both men on No 1 and women on No 10. 2’s, longest drives etc all included. 
COST : $30:00 per player which includes refreshments during your round and a wonderful afternoon tea. 
Fantastic raffles for all. Huge Prize Table for all. Over $2000:00 sponsorship.  For inquiries and for registration please contact Jack Oldridge  027 327 6633, or e-mail at jackoldridge5105@gmail.com .

Hi everyone

This is our last newsletter of the year. I want to start by saying a huge thank you to all of our staff for their hard work, dedication, passion and love of our kura. We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful team. Kat and Jen, we wish you all the best for next year and we are going to miss you.

Thank you to our BOT and our community. Everyone is so supportive of our school and that makes a huge difference, and helps us to flourish.

We truly are lucky to have such amazing children to teach. We are one big whānau. We say farewell to Lachie and Isla, but we know you will be back to visit. We look forward to welcoming two new Year 1’s at the start of next year and also our Lucas baby will be joining the whānau mid way through the year!

Have a safe and happy holiday. Meri Kirihimete!

Ngā mihi
Maree Lucas
Tumuaki/Principal
principal@omihi.school.nz

School Notices

Principal Award
Congratulations to our latest Principal award winners…….Ace Evans and Isobel Harris!

Government School Investment Fund
You may have heard about the money the government is putting into schools to assist with projects around the school. We will be receiving $50,000, which is on top of the $400,000 for our new building. We will keep you informed in the new year as to where this will be spent.

Omihi Raffle
Thank you so much for all of your support with our raffle. You helped us raise over $5000 for our school! Winners have been announced on our Facebook page and have been contacted.

Christmas Cards
Some children have been bringing Christmas cards for their friends. We are very happy for this to take place, but we ask for there to please be no chocolates or sweets given as gifts. We are encouraging our students to give ‘acts of kindness’ as gifts instead.

Omihi School Farm Race
Early bird entries have opened! Please help us spread the word. All details are at www.omihi.school.nz/bikerun.

Thank you to our wonderful posties
A big thank you once again to Jan and Mark for delivering our newsletters every fortnight. We really appreciate your support!

New Teachers
Next year we welcome Penny Vincent to Paemoana and Megan Jacobson to Tūpari. We will share their introductions at the start of 2020.

Whānau picnic
We look forward to seeing you at the Waikuku playground at 10am on Wednesday, where we will start the day with some games, lunch and then go over to the surf club for a swim. The day will finish at 2pm. It sounds like all families are sorted to get there, so there will be no Omihi bus on this day. A reminder that Pita pit will be delivered to Waikuku for us.

Omihi bus
There will be no bus on Wednesday and no bus on Friday afternoon.

Prize giving
We look forward to seeing our community on Friday at 12pm for our prize giving. School will be finished for the day after prize giving.

Reports
An email was sent home today regarding reports. They are now live on Linc ed and ready for you to read with your child. A lot of time and thought goes into these, so we hope you enjoy them. A reminder that once you log in, click on your child’s face and then the comments are on the Reading, Writing, Maths pages, and all other comments are on their class page.

Basketball uniforms and library books
Please return these asap.

Community Notices

An Evening With Jake Bailey and Guests.
A couple of local ladies from Amberley, Geraldine and Jennie, are organising a joint fundraiser to support Ronald McDonald House Christchurch and Westpac Rescue Helicopters - we would love you to come along if you can .... this will be an informative and inspirational evening for parents / teenagers / young adults to come along to.

Jake Bailey is coming to Amberley to speak at this fundraiser. Jake is the former Head Boy of Christchurch Boys High School who was diagnosed with cancer just days before his farewell assembly in 2015. He gave an inspirational speech that touched many and went global.

This event will be held on Thursday 19 December, at the Tin Shed, Amberley Domain, Amberley from 7pm.
Ticket Prices ....$25 for adults, $10 for children under 16, Family of 4 for $60 (extra children $10 each)
This price includes supper.

Tickets will be on sale from 16 November from Sally Macs and Arthur Burkes in Amberley and this event will be advertised on Facebook soon. For any questions, or ticket orders please contact. Geraldine Hassall on 027 289 3505 or Jennie McWhannell on 021 987 358 or mcwha@xtra.co.nz.