Tena Koutou

It's been a busy and exciting two weeks at Omihi. We have seen a number of new initiatives, such as our new website, Instagram and the children have loved their new online programmes - RAZ Reading and Banqer.co. We have also visiting the Hurunui library, watched 'The Hungry Caterpillar' and picked up some delights from the Community Chest in Amberley, as well as fit in a bunch of learning in the classroom!

I have truly loved my first two weeks at Omihi and have had a great time getting to know the gorgeous children we have here. The parents I have met so far have been very supportive and I look forward to meeting more of you as time goes on.

Please remember my door is always open if you want to pop in and have a chat.

Ngā mihi

Maree Lucas
Principal
P: 0 3 314 5857 E: principal@omihi.school.nz

Reading to dogs programme

I'm sure your children have all told you about Sam. Sam is our gorgeous Omihi dog from 9-3pm each week day. He comes to school with Isobel and Eva and is a real treat for the children to read to throughout the day. Reading to dogs is something the Canterbury public libraries started. It's a great opportunity for children to read to someone who is a good listener, doesn't answer back and loves a good cuddle. I've loved seeing the excitement on the children's face to read this week.

Parent Help - Fridays

On Fridays we have the whole school together. This is a great opportunity for the children to work collaboratively and encourage each other, which they are very good at. We would love to have some parent support on these mornings to help with groups. It could be listening to a reading group, playing maths games, helping the juniors put together a puzzle, etc. If you have any Fridays this term that you are available to come in for the morning, please add your name to this document. If you have trouble opening it, feel free to email me the dates you are available.

Lunchtime Clubs

We are going to start having a range of lunchtime clubs. This is a chance for children to try new things and develop new skills. My Mum is kicking it off by coming in during the next couple of weeks to teach knitting. If you have a skill or something that you think the children would be interested in, please let me know. We would love to have you come in and teach a group of students.

Friday Lunches

Fossil Point have offered to provide Friday lunches for us. This is an optional lunch that you can order and they will deliver every Friday. Here is an order form if you would like to print it at home, or children can get an order form off their teacher. Orders need to be into the office by Thursday at 3pm in an envelope with the correct money. They have a range of options - pizza, smoked chicken sandwich, fish and chips, sausage rolls, etc.

School of Rock

School of Rock are available to come into school to teach private music lessons. They have a range of instruments - vocal, drums, guitar, bass, clarinet, piano, ukulele, flute, saxophone, trumpet. They offer individual and group lessons ranging from $18 - $32 per 30mins. This is to be paid directly to School of Rock. Your child needs to have an instrument at home so they can practise. If you would be interested in this, please email me this week and if we have enough interest I will coordinate with them.

School House

If you know of a lovely family that might like to rent our school house and come to our wonderful school, please let me know. If we can't find anyone we know, then we will be advertising it this week.

Website

I'm sure by now you have all seen this. But a huge thank you to Logan and Sade from Snorkel who have created our awesome, new website - www.omihi.school.nz. It's a great reflection of our school and a real asset when new families are looking up Omihi.

Daffodil Day

On Friday 25th August Omihi School are supporting Daffodil Day. Children can come to school to yellow and green and we ask that everyone brings a gold coin donation for the Cancer Society.

Permission for trips

We will be sending home a blanket permission form this week for all local trips. This will be for any local class trips and any low risk trips. For any class trips that are higher risk or we travel further to, we will send home a permission form each time. We will do this at the start of each year. I apologise if you have done this already this year, but I would like to have the documentation myself.

Newsletter Monday 7th August, 2017