Kia ora whanau

I love this time of year. It is so busy with wonderful experiences for our tamariki and lots of fun learning going on. I want to acknowledge the hard work that our teachers are putting in right now. As well as teaching everyday and planning for camp, they are all busy assessing and writing reports on your children. This is such an important and valued process, but also time consuming, so I want to thank them for all of their hard work.

Miss Mickleson relieved in the juniors today.

We are looking forward to our camp next week, especially having the whole school join us on day one!

Ngā mihi
Maree Lucas, Principal
principal@omihi.school.nz

School Notices

Principal’s Award
Congratulations to Lucy Macefield who received the latest Principal Award.

Athletics
Congratulations to George Steel, India Wilkie, Sylvia Brown, Tom Hazeldine, Billy Esler, Christian Esler, Alice Pennell, Alice Barnes and Georgie Macefield who represented Omihi at the Kowai Athletics.

Congratulations to George Steel, Alice Barnes and Billy Esler who will be representing Kowai in the Canterbury Athletics.

Camp Payments
A reminder that these need to be sorted out before we go on camp. Please get in touch with myself or Ruth if there are any problems.

New Playhouse
We have our new playhouse that has been built and it looks fantastic. Before the children can use it the inside needs to have boards on it as it is currently building paper. Is there any of our building/handy parents that could do this for us?

Raffle Ticket Money
Please send this back to school by the 3rd December - preferably before camp if possible. There are still tickets available on www.givealittle.co.nz/org/omihischool. The draw is Monday 3rd December.

Enviroschool
We are very excited to announce that in 2019 we are committing to becoming an Enviroschool. More info can be found here - www.enviroschools.org.nz. We will keep you informed of our journey along the way.

Library Books
Please send all library books back by the 3rd December.

Pool Keys
We have pool keys available to purchase. Please contact Ruth if you would like to have one for the summer.

Community Notices

Pegasus Dental
Your year 8 child, transitioning to secondary school in 2019, is eligible of free dental care until they reach the age of 18.  You have a choice where they can be seen.

PAG Pegasus Dental is conveniently located in Pegasus town and offers a comprehensive range of professional dental service to North Canterbury including; Dentists, Oral Therapists, Hygienists, Oral Medicine Specialist. Phone 03 9204003  www.pagpegasusdental@gmail.com.

Amberley Swimming Club
We welcome back previous club members and new ones for an Open Night on Tuesday 27th November, 6pm. This will be an opportunity to find out more about how the club operates.

Session times will be, Juniors: 6:30 – 7 pm and Seniors swim 6:30 – 7:30 pm. We look forward to seeing you all there.

Tena Koutou Whanau

What an amazing day we had last Wednesday at pet day! We did get the pick of the week for weather. A huge thank you to Leighton for organising the Agri Sports, Nicholas for adding in the vineyard category and Julie for organising pet day. We really are lucky that our tamariki get to be a part of these rich experiences. It is lovely watching them work in their mixed age groups and how they work so well as a team and help each other out. We feel lucky to be teaching such a wonderful group of children. The other thing I love about events such as pet day is how many parents and grandparents come down to watch. I say in all seriousness that we really are #onebigwhanau.

Nga mihi
Maree Lucas, principal@omihi.school.nz

School Notices

Welcome to new students
We welcome Xsara who has joined our senior class and also Thomas and Michael who have started their preschool visits in the juniors.

Teacher Strike
As you have probably seen in the media, there is going to be another teacher strike on Wednesday 14th November. The BOT have made the decision to close the school on that day. We really appreciate your support on this. The teachers and principals are working hard to negotiate with the government to make improvements for your children. Not only to increase pay and try to bring more teachers into the sector, but also to gain funding for extra staff in schools, which is a huge benefit to small schools such as Omihi.

Mana Ake
Mana Ake, Stronger for Tomorrow, is a new initiative to promote wellbeing and positive mental health for children in primary schools across Canterbury. We have been allocated two Mana Ake workers for our Community of Learning. I met with them both last week.

The initiative aims to provide early intervention and support for teachers and whanau when children are experiencing ongoing issues that are impacting on their wellbeing. Kaimahi can also support individual children and groups of children.

The Mana Ake Kaimahi for your school are Katie Thomas and Rachael Meese. Katie has a background in counselling and Rachael, a background in social work.

Please talk to your child’s teacher or myself if you feel that your child could benefit from their support. This is a free service.

Mana ake kaimahi - Katie and Rachael.

School Photos
Please get your photo order into Ruth by Friday 9th November.

Mufti Day
There is a mufti day this Friday to raise money for SPCA. Please send along a gold coin donation.

Waikuku Bus
The parents who have a contract with Go-Bus to run a school route from Waikuku are getting plans in place for next year – if you’re interested in a potential seat(s), please contact Amy Kay on 021 169 7377 or amy.kay@nttourism.co.nz.  The bus route starts at Waikuku and travels down the highway to school; there are various pick-up/drop-off points currently but it’s really easy to add new spots, or a bigger bus, if needed.  It’s operated using a standard weekly fee per family (not by child or location) and the higher the number of families, the lower the cost.

Camp fees
These need to be paid by the week before camp. Please come and see me if you would like to pay these off in instalments. Please note there will be no school bus run during camp.

Omihi Raffle
The draw for the raffle is on December 3rd. Tickets are still available from our students, our office or on the Givealittle page (https://givealittle.co.nz/org/omihischool). They are $10 each. Check out our website to see all the wonderful prizes. Please send all the tickets and money back to the office by Friday 30th November.

Omihi School Farm Race
This is happening again on Sunday 24th March, 2019. Entries open December 1st at 9am. All details on the poster and on our website. We would love your support and your entries! :)

A couple of important dates:
Wed 12th Dec - Whanau day @ Motonau Beach. All families are invited for a day of fun at the beach and a picnic lunch.
Fri 14th Dec - Prize giving will be at 1pm for the whole school. We welcome our whole community. We will also be farewelling our Year 8’s and staff/students who won’t be at Omihi in 2019.

Community Notices

Omihi Community and Sports Hall
Omihi Community and Sports Hall will be holding a Special General Meeting on Monday 19 November at 7:30pm at the hall to elect a new committee now that the building is complete.  Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. For any more information please contact Nick Hamilton on 0275466434. 

Tena Koutou

I hope everyone had a lovely break over the holidays. George and I certainly found some beautiful spots in Hawaii and had a fantastic break away. I am going to Wellington this afternoon for the New Zealand Principal’s Conference until Friday, so I look forward to reporting back with my learnings when I return.

We have a lot going on this term, so please keep up to date with the calendar. We look forward to seeing our community at our upcoming events, such as pet day.

Ngā mihi
Maree Lucas, Principal - principal@omihi.school.nz

School Notices

Principal’s Award
The last Principal’s award went to……India Wilkie!

Omihi Raffle
Our raffle is back for 2018. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on https://givealittle.co.nz/org/omihischool or at our school office or from any of our students. Each student is asked to sell 10 tickets. There are more tickets if they want to sell more than 10. Thank you to our wonderful sponsors who have donated all of our prizes. Prizes will be drawn on the 3/12/18 at our final BOT meeting.

Pet Day - Wednesday 31st October
Please have entry forms back by Friday 26th October. We invite our whole community to be a part of this event. We still need one more cake for the judges. Please let me know if you can make one. This is the timetable for the day:
9.30 - 11.30am - Agri Sports (morning tea in the middle)
11.30am - Early lunch
12.00pm - Pets arrive
12.30pm - Judging begins
1.30pm - Lamb drinking race
1.45pm - Fancy Dress competition
2.30pm - Prize giving

Mainpower Community Funding
We are very excited and grateful to Mainpower for giving us $1,000 from their Community Funding. This will go towards our outdoor play equipment.

Cups and Trophies
If your child received a cup or trophy last year, can you please send it back to school.

Sun hats
A reminder that our school sun hats must be worn everyday.

Bus run
Please can you make sure you let either myself or the classroom teacher know if your child is not going to be on the bus. Last week there were a lot of children staying at school for tennis, but we hadn’t heard from any parents.

Teachers for 2019
I would like to firstly acknowledge the fantastic work that Jane and Kathy have done this year by stepping up and creating such a successful classroom in Year 3-5.  They did not apply for 2019, but we hope to see them back relieving here next year.

The teachers for 2019 are:
Year 0-2 - Jennie Manson (3.5 days a week)
Year 3-5 - Sally Mickleson (5 days a week)
Year 6-8 - Kat Hanna (4 days a week)

The BOT and I really value having 3 classrooms and have put considerable money into making this happen again for 2019.  Our bike race and raffle are a big part of making this happen. I will be working in the senior and middle class each week and will also be covering release across all three classes. 

Here is a note from Sally:
Kia ora. 

I am very excited about joining the Omihi whānau and becoming part of the team.  

I recently graduated from Lincoln University with a Bachelor of Environment and Society, Majoring in Water Management and I am currently at Canterbury University completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Primary Teaching.

I grew up on a sheep and beef farm in the Central North Island and after completing my primary school years, I finished my education at Woodford House in the Hawkes Bay.  A mix of both farming and urban lifestyles has been beneficial to me and I feel most at home in a rural environment.

I enjoy fly-fishing, skiing and hiking and I have a real passion for teaching and learning. 

I have always aspired to secure a teaching position at a rural school and after working in the district last summer, I was thrilled to learn that a position had become available at Omihi.

I have no doubt I will be joining a highly motivated team and I look forward to becoming a part of your community and meeting you all soon. 

Ngā mihi, 
Sally 

Small School Athletics - Year 4-8
This is on Thursday 1st November at Waipara School. Kat will forward you the timetable and I will share the transport info later this week.

School Policies
Our term 4 policy to review is - Improving Educational Outcomes for Māori Students. We would love your feedback on this.
Please go to http://omihi.schooldocs.co.nz/. Username: omihi. Password: glenmark

Field of Remembrance Day - Tuesday 30th October
The Year 6-8 children will attend this in Amberley and will visit the library while they are there. We will leave school at 9.10am and return around 11.30am. We need one extra car for transport. If you are available, please let me know.

Tennis Lessons
Cath wasn’t able to start tennis lessons today, so they are starting next week and will be on Mondays, not Tuesday.

Community Notices

Tena Koutou Katoa

This is the last newsletter of the term. It has been such a wonderful term with so many amazing opportunities for our students and so much learning going on. We are looking forward to our last two weeks of school and our Celebration of Learning on our last day of school. We welcome all of the community to come along to it. It is on Friday, 28th September at 2pm.

So much fun at Top Team Challenge!

As you probably know, staff and student wellbeing is very important to us at Omihi. I want to share an incredible resource with you - www.sparklers.org.nz. This has a number of resources, activities and ideas for parents and teachers around our tamariki’s wellbeing. We would love you to have a look.

I am heading up to Auckland for a conference for Beginning Principals for the first 4 days of the holidays and then George and I are heading away to get some sunshine and find some adventures. I look forward to hearing about everyone’s holidays and hope there is some time for you to just relax and enjoy time with your children without the busyness of school activities.

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

School Notices

Principal’s Award
The last Principal’s award went to….Tom Hazeldine!

The Omihi Mega Job
We are looking for a bus driver, cleaner and gardener! Hours are:
Bus driver - 10 hours per week (part time in term 4, then full time in 2019)
Cleaner - 7 hours per week (start 2019)
Gardener - 2 hours per week (start immediately)
This could be one person or three people. If you are interested, please let me know.

Wonderful learning during Te wiki o te reo Maori.

Working bee
We are holding a working bee on Saturday 29th September from 9-11am. I will send out a google doc this week so you can put your name down if you are available. If you aren’t available on that day, we are happy for you to come in anytime. We need a good spruce up of the gardens before our new gardener starts.

Kiwisport Day - Tuesday 18th September
Here is the transport info for Tuesday. All parents are very welcome to come along and watch. We are leaving school at 9.45am to Scargill Domain and will be finishing about 1pm. Children need to have their school hat and please apply sunscreen in the morning. We will have some with us as well. The school bus will run as normal.

Greta Valley School Production
Greta Valley School have kindly asked us along to their production dress rehearsal on Wednesday 19th September. Our Year 5-8 children will be going along to this during the day.

Amberley Library and Preschool
On Thursday 20th September the year 0-2 children will be visiting Amberley library and also Little Oaks Preschool. On Friday 21st September year 3-5 children will be visiting the library and visiting Amberley Preschool to share their picture books they have written.

Mindfulness Workshop
The second workshop for staff, parents and community is on Tuesday 25th September from 3.30-5.30pm.

Kapahaka Festival - Year 3-8
We are very excited to be participating in our first Kapahaka Festival with Greta Valley School on Thursday 27th September at 10.20am. We would love support for this in the audience, so if you haven’t got a ticket yet, please send along $5 to school. If you can’t go, maybe a grandparent or friend might like to go. I will send out transport info for this later in the week.

School Photos
School photos will be taken in the morning of the last day of term. There will be a photo of each class and a whole school photo. We will also be getting photos taken in the classes that day of children working to update our website photos. The class and school photos will be for sale at the beginning of term 4.

Dates for 2019
School starts - Tuesday 29th January
School finishes - Friday 13th December

Raffle Prizes
Thank you for the support with this so far! Please send along any raffle prizes to school by the end of term.

Community Notices

Waiau Pig Hunt - 19th, 20th, 21st October. For more information, click here.