Ze’ev, Noah and Logan outside Fyffe House, Kaikōura.

Kia ora koutou

In the last couple of weeks we have had four students represent Omihi and our Kowai zone in the North Canterbury Swimming Sports, and the Canterbury Swimming Sports. This is the most students that we have had qualify. Such a proud moment! Well done Lily, Jack, Jonty and Ruby-Grace.

I was privileged to attend the NZ Principals Association Moot on Friday 21st March in Wellington. As President of our North Canterbury Association I met with Presidents from across the country to discuss the ‘opportunities and challenges’ in Education right now. The Minister of Education addressed a number of questions we had, and it’s now up to us as a sector to work together with the Ministry to ensure the best outcomes for our students. This is not always easy, especially with a change of government, but what unites us all is our number one priority- our tamariki.

This will be my last newsletter for the term. A reminder that Adrienne Simpson will be Acting Principal for the last week of this term, and the first two weeks of next term. She will be using the Principal email address, and will be at school on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Feel free to pop in and meet her, she is looking forward to getting to know our community. After this week, I will see you again in week 3 next term.

Ngā mihi

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

School Notices

Principal Award
Congratulations to the following students who received a Principal’s Award - Delia, Jessica and Noah.

Strategic Initiatives:
Cultural Responsiveness update from Georgie:
A big focus for us as teachers, not only in school but in our lives is ensuring that we are culturally inclusive. This means we reflect on our practice and look at ways that we can continue to grow and learn. A document that we have been using to support this is "Habits of a Valued Treaty Partner". These are 17 habits we can practice as Te Tiriti o Waitangi partners to honour and role model positive Treaty partner relationships with Māori.

Year 5-8 Camp
A big thanks to Kelly and Georgie for organising our school camp. They have headed off to Kaikōura this morning, and I look forward to joining them tomorrow.

Uniform
We are going to be offering another option for school jumpers.  We will still have the merino, and now also a polar fleece option. It will be a navy polar fleece with our school logo, and the cost will be $40. If you would like to order one, please email Trudy to put an order in by Wednesday 10th April. They should then arrive early term 2. The sizes will be - size 4-6, 6-8, 8-10, 10-12, 12-14.

ANZAC Day
We welcome you to our ANZAC day service across the road from school on Thursday 25th April at 9.00am, run by the RSA. Please let Maree know if you are coming, as we will be asking some of our students to speak or lay a wreath on the day. We ask our students to please wear school uniform. We are going to have a shared morning tea afterwards, and there will be a coffee cart. If you would like to, please bring a small plate to share.

Mufti Day
We have a mufti day on Friday 12th April, raising money for the ‘Special Friends Sports Trust’. Please send along a gold coin donation, and our senior leaders ask everyone to dress as their favourite sports person.

Omihi Bus - term 2
The bus order will be - Reeces Rd, South, then North. Please note there will be no bus on Wednesday 5th June due to a school trip.

Reports
Next week you will receive report comments for Maths, Social Sciences and PE. These will be sent home via Hero on Friday 12th April. If you don’t receive them, please contact your child’s teacher.

Tipu Māia Kāhui Ako Newsletter
As part of the Tipu Māia Kāhui, it means we have great access to Professional Learning, Leadership opportunities, sharing and learning from other schools - all to help us improve our own student’s achievement. Here is the term 1 newsletter for you to see what’s been happening so far in 2024.

Wednesday - Sushi Maru Lunches
We have been informed that Sushi Maru is closing down and will no longer be available for school lunches affective immediately. At this stage we will just have Subway fortnightly, we’ll let you know if that changes.

Community Notices

Free craft Classes in the school holidays!

Paper Crafts Art Class with Sue Kemp at the Amberley Library

Wednesday 17th April 1.30pm –3.30pm

and repeated on

Friday 19th April 10am – 12noon

Open for children ages 8-13 years old

Limited places – bookings essential

03 314 8980 or in person at the Amberley Library.

Kia ora koutou,

Jase Williams speaking on Trauma Informed Practice.

Last Friday the teachers and I were at a hui in Hanmer Springs. Our keynote speaker was Jase Williams, on Trauma Informed Practice. We also looked at the mental health guidelines and resources, and gender diversity. We joined our 12 other schools from our Tipu Māia Kāhui Ako. It’s such a great opportunity to be a part of our kāhui and have all of this professional learning available to us at no cost. Working alongside the other schools, it’s a wonderful networking opportunity as well. The other schools in our kāhui are - Waipara, Greta Valley, Waikari, Waiau, Rotherham, Hanmer Springs, Cheviot Area School, Hurunui College, Amuri Area School, Oxford Area School, Akaroa Area School and Rangiora New Life.

We would like to wish Bryleigh well on her maternity leave. She will be finishing before Easter, and we look forward to hearing her news when bubs arrives. Trudy is currently working every Wednesday, and will start 3 days a week after Easter.

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

School Notices

Omihi bus
If there are any changes on the bus morning or afternoon, please message the bus drivers directly. You can contact myself or the teachers as well, but if an email has been sent in the afternoon we may not see it before the bus run.

Contacting teachers
We work really hard as employers to ensure our staff have a balance between work and their home life. We would appreciate it if you can please avoid sending late night emails/text, or emails/texts in the weekend. Please either send them during the working day, or if you are writing them at night, schedule them to send the next morning.

Fundraising
As a BOT we have decided move our raffle to term 4, so it coincides with our trail ride. Anna Williams has kindly taken on the organisation of this, and she is going to organise prizes, which means we don’t need to ask parents to donate prizes. What we will need support in is selling the tickets. Each child will have 20 x $5 tickets to sell, plus we will be looking for volunteers to sell them at the Amberley A&P Show, our Trail ride and outside Countdown Amberley. The money raised from our trail ride and raffle directly fund us being able to have a third teacher, and ensure small class sizes. If you have any ideas, prizes, or would like to help Anna, please contact her on 022 064 6607 or annawilliams@hotmail.com.

Easter Weekend
Schools are closed on Good Friday, Easter Monday and also on Tuesday 2nd April.

Year 5-8 Camp: 3rd-5th April
We are getting excited about our senior camp. Kelly and Georgie will be attending camp, Kate will be teaching at school on Wednesday and Thursday, and Elizabeth Maddren will be teaching on Friday. I will be at school on Wednesday, and will be at camp on Thursday/Friday. The remaining info for camp will be sent home early next week, or feel free to contact Kelly with any questions.

3 Way Learning Conferences
We look forward to seeing you at 3 Way Learning Conferences this week. Please contact your child’s teacher if you haven’t made a time yet, as there are still a few available spaces.

Paid Union Meetings
The teachers will be attending paid union meetings on Wednesday 20th March.  There are two on that day, so we have managed to send teachers to different ones so we can keep the school open, and just merge classes where needed.

ANZAC Day
We welcome you to our ANZAC day service across the road from school on Thursday 25th April at 9.00am, run by the RSA. Please let Maree know if you are coming, as we will be asking some of our students to speak or lay a wreath on the day. We ask our students to please wear school uniform. We are going to have a shared morning tea afterwards, and we will have a coffee cart. So if you would like to stay afterwards to catch up with everyone, please bring a small plate to share.

School Docs policies to review
We work on a 3 year cycle, and each term we review a number of our policies. These are open for review from our community as well. Please review the following by clicking on this link: http://omihi.schooldocs.co.nz. Username: omihi Password: glenmark

• Te Tiriti o Waitangi

• Board Responsibility

• Parent Involvement

• Communicating with Parents

• Community Conduct Expectations

• Documentation and Self-Review Policy

• School Planning and Reporting

• Reporting to Parents on Student Progress and Achievement

Community Notices

SAVE THE DATE: Glenmark/Cheviot Rugby Club Day
Saturday 11th of May, Omihi Sports Domain.
JAB, Colts, Div 2 & Div 1 games.
Exhibition Game - Alnwick RFC (England) vs Glenmark/Cheviot Rhinos.
Branded BBQ and Matt Hantler music to follow. More information to come. 

Environment Canterbury Long-term Plan 2024-34
A copy of Environment Canterbury’s draft long term plan for 2024-34 and ‘have your say’ submission forms are able to be found in the school office. Submissions close on Sunday 14 April. Please pop into the school office if you would like to view the draft plan and grab a form.

Kia ora koutou,

Just some of the community who came along to Food Truck Friday last week.

We were incredibly proud of how our tamariki swam at the Small School Swimming Sports last week, but also for their sportsmanship and values that they showed throughout the event. Congratulations to our students listed below who have qualified for Kowai Swimming Sports.

Thanks to everyone who came along to our ‘Food Truck Friday’. It was a great evening to catch up with friends, meet new people, and try some of the delicious food. We hope to make this an annual event.

Thanks to Kelly who organised our first Omihi teams to be a part of Agrikids in the weekend. They had a great time!

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

School Notices

3 Way Learning Conferences
We have these in week eight. Please book your child’s time in here. Paemoana will be on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th March, and Awaawa and Tūpari will be Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th March.

Professional Learning Development (PLD)
As a school we are very proactive and supportive around our staff continuing to learn and upskill. This year, from being a part of the Tipu Māia Kāhui Ako, we are able to access professional learning for literacy and numeracy. All of our teachers will be attending PLD with Dr Helen Walls for literacy and Rob Proffitt-White for numeracy. They will be attending one day a term for each, plus numerous after school Zoom sessions.

We are also all attending a hui day in Hanmer Springs next Friday 15th (teacher only day), focused on Trauma informed practice, the Mental Health Curriculum and resources, and supporting Rainbow youth. All of this is funded through our Kāhui Ako. Included is also Cultural Leadership PLD in which Penny and I will be attending each term.

Last year Georgie completed the Te Ahu o Te Reo Māori course, which consists of 14 weeks of 2.5 hour Zoom sessions after school. Kelly and I are attending these this year.

Whole School Assembly
We welcome you to our whole school assembly this Friday 8th March at 2pm in Kahiwi.

Teacher only day
A reminder of our teacher only day on Friday 15th March.

ICAS Assessments
There is an option for your child to complete ICAS Assessments in August this year. These are completely optional. Some parents like them for their child to practise tests for high school, and some like to get the results to use for applications for high school. The options of assessments are here, and here are the costs. If you would like to enter your child in any of these, please email the office by the 19th May.

School swimming results
Congratulations to the following students who placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd in their races. Everyone swam incredibly well.

1st - Lily, Taylor, Harry, Ava, Ze’ev, Jonty, Fergus, Michael, Arlo, Ruby-Grace, Jack
2nd - Delia, Thomas, Ze’ev, Leo, Arlo, Ruby-Grace, Andy, Zac, Jonty
3rd - Cadence, Noah, Hugo, Fergus, Thomas, Delia, Michael

Congratulations to the following students who have qualified for Kowais, on Tuesday 5th March - Arlo, Andy, Ruby-Grace, Taylor, Zac, Lily, Jonty, Thomas and Jack.

Subway this week
Is there anyone who can please collect the school’s Subway lunch order from Rangiora on their way to school this Wednesday morning? Our lovely family who usually do this for us are away this week. Please let Georgie know if you can do this as soon as possible.

Community Notices

ShareWaste app
ShareWaste is a free app you can download and use to drop off or collect food waste for composting and worm farms, instead of sending it to land fill. There are people on the app in Hanmer springs, Waiau, Parnassus and Amberley. See the council website here for more information.

Rowing for Life Aotearoa
On 11 March, a team of rowers will be arriving at Motunau Beach having rowed from Amberley. The rowers are raising funds for Rowing for Life Aotearoa, as part of a nationwide campaign (more information below).

It would be great for any locals to come along and support them. It is weather dependent, however they are are planning to arrive approximately 4pm on 11 March. Come down and see them!

Kia ora koutou,

The whole school enjoyed our farm walk last week.

We would like to welcome Trudy Sutherland, who is working every Wednesday in the office with Bryleigh until Bryleigh goes on maternity leave after Easter. Then she will be 3 days a week after that. Welcome Rachel Lockwood, who is going to be a student teacher with us this year, and will be in Paemoana on Monday and Tuesdays. Another welcome to Sharryn who has started as our Teacher Aide in Tūpari and Amelia who is turning 5 and starting in Paemoana.

I would like to acknowledge our Year 8 leaders this year - Lily, Jonty, Jack, Delia and Cadence. We look forward to helping these students grow their own leadership skills, demonstrate our Omihi values, and be wonderful role models to their peers.

Last year Georgie completed the Te Ahu o te reo Māori course. This is a 14 week course that is one evening a week. Kelly and I have started it for this year. We are looking forward to sharing our learning with our tamariki.

Congratulations to everyone who competed in our school triathlon last week - it was extremely hot! Results are listed below. The top 3 in each year group from Year 5-8 go through to the Kowai Triathlon this Wednesday.

We hope to see you at our Food Truck Friday event next week.

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

School Notices

Strategic plan
Please see our strategic plan with our main initiatives for the year ahead. Please also see below our info regarding the Government’s new policies in their 100 day plan.

School triathlon results, congratulations to the following students:
Year 1: 1st - Arly 2nd - Eddie
Year 2: 1st - Freddie 2nd - Jack 3rd - Arty
Year 3: 1st - Hugh 2nd - Mackenzie 3rd - Stanley
Year 4: 1st - Harry 2nd - Theo 3rd - Alex
Year 5: 1st - Fergus 2nd - Andy 3rd - Noah
Year 6: 1st - Hugo 2nd - Thomas 3rd - Michael
Year 7: 1st - Taylor 2nd - Zac
Year 8: 1st - Jack 2nd - Jonty 3rd - Lily

Small School Swimming Sports
The small school swimming sports will be held at the Amberley pool on the 27th of February, starting at 9.30am. All of the details, including the timetable, are here. We need two parent helpers, please let me know if you are available. Thanks Aimee for being our lifeguard again! If your child needs transport on the bus, please let Kelly know, otherwise we will meet you there.

Sabbatical
I have split my sabbatical into 2 blocks. The first one starts in the last week of this term, and I will be back week 3 in term 2. Adrienne Simpson will be Acting Principal while I am away, and she will be at school 3 days a week. The focus of my sabbatical is ‘Growing leaders in rural schools’. I will attend the ‘Dare to Lead’ course that is based on Brene Brown’s work, visit other rural schools, and have refreshment time with my family during my 10 weeks. I look forward to sharing my findings with you.

Food Truck Friday
We look forward to seeing you on the 1st March at the Omihi Community Hall. The following vendors are coming along to serve up delicious dinners. There will be non-alcoholic drinks for sale, BYO alcoholic drinks.

• Sabaya - Israeli Cuisine (cash/bank transfer)

• Pam's Coffee Cart (eftpos/credit card/cash)

• Woodfired Pizza (eftpos/credit card/cash)

• Bloom Catering (cash/bank transfer)

• Big B’s Tucka (eftpos/credit card/cash)

2024 Precision Yamaha Trailride
The date for this years’ trailride fundraiser is Saturday 9 November, with a postponement date of Sunday 10 November. Mark the date in your calendars! Registrations will open in September.

Requirements from the new Government

• Phones away for the day - All state schools | kura are required to implement a phone rule that has student phones ‘away for the day’ as soon as possible in Term 1 2024 and no later than the start of Term 2 2024.

  This is not applicable to us, as we don’t have any children bringing phones to school.

• ‘One hour a day’ teaching requirement - From Term 1 2024 schools | kura with students | ākonga in Years 0 to 8 will spend an average of at least an hour a day teaching reading, writing and maths, or pānui, tuhituhi and pāngarau. 

  This is already happening in our school.  The timetable is different on a Friday, but we are confident we still fit in an hour of maths, and two hours of literacy on Friday and spread across the afternoons during inquiry time. So much of our learning is integrated.

• Ministerial Advisory Group - The Minister has established a Ministerial Advisory Group to provide advice on the refreshed English and mathematics learning areas, the common practice model and phase-by-phase guidance. Initial findings from this independent group of experts are expected in the coming months and will inform future decisions. The target is to deliver the refresh of the New Zealand Curriculum to the same timeframe. You will have an opportunity to review changes before they are finalised in 2024 and you are still required to use the refreshed mathematics and statistics and English learning areas from the start of 2025. More information will be available on our website. Ministerial Advisory Group – Ministry of Education

  We will continue our PLD on the Curriculum Refresh as required, and will take guidance from the MOE as it comes in.

• Attendance and engagement - New attendance resources, including for parents, are available to use from Term 1. Student attendance: Guide for parents and caregivers – Ministry of Education. Parents and caregivers are required to have their children attend school, and to develop habits of regular attendance. Schools and kura support that effort with a strong attendance ethic along with an engaging curriculum and a safe environment. The resources include guidance for you to review attendance processes, an e-learning module to build staff knowledge, content for newsletters and presentations to provide clear and consistent messaging to parents. 

  We have a process to follow up with our students who are absent. Letters go out each term for any children with attendance that is lower than 90%. 

Community Notices