Kia ora koutou Whānau,

I hope you have all had a fantastic two week break. It has been lovely seeing our Omihi children back at school today and hearing all about their holidays.

I had a lovely break spending time with my three little people and catching up with friends and family. Miss Mickelson had a great trip down to Wanaka with her family and Miss J has enjoyed spending time with Izzy. 

I am really looking forward to the term ahead. We have lots of exciting things planned, the biggest of which is our school production of ‘Eddie the Penguin Saves the World.’ Tomorrow Harold the Giraffe and his Life Education van are visiting and on Wednesday we have the Firewise education programme and their blow up evacuation challenge maze.

I would just like to remind parents that we welcome you all onto our school grounds again this term. Any restrictions around this are now lifted and we are excited to see you all on school trips and at assemblies again.

Ngā mihi
Penny Vincen
Acting Tumuaki/Principal

School Notices

Online Lunch Orders
Online lunch orders are available again starting this week.  If you would like to order your child sushi for lunch this Wednesday all you need to do is login or register at www.lunchonline.co.nz and follow the easy steps to order.  A reminder that the cut off time for ordering is 8.30am on Wednesday morning. 

Ski Trip
Our 2020 ski trip is coming up in Week 3.  Everyone should have received the Ski Trip document that I shared with you last week.  Thank you to those of you who have let me know of anything that was missing or needed amending in the document.  Could I please ask that THIS WEEK you all go to the bottom of the document and fill in the Driver and Vehicles transportation section. 

Assemblies
We are looking forward to being able to hold normal assemblies again this term.  We will be having two assemblies, one junior and one senior.  Our celebration of learning assembly at the end of the term will be our Production.  The junior (Year 0-4) assembly is on Friday 14th August at 2pm and the senior (Year 5-8) assembly is on Friday 11th September at 2pm. 

Preschooler Morning
This term we will be having a preschooler morning on Wednesday 19th August from 9-10.30am. If you have a preschooler at home we would love for you to come and join us in Paemoana for the morning. 

Kowai Cross Country
Next Tuesday is the Kowai Cross Country event in Amberley.  We wish all our runners luck for this event and I know you will be running with our Omihi school values of Pride and Excellence on the day.

Camp
Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on our camp survey at the end of last term.  The majority of parents would like to see camp happen in Term 4.  We have discussed this as a staff and BOT and can confirm that camp will be happening in Term 4 from 25-27th November. The cost per child will be $225. 

ICAS Assessments
ICAS assessments are now open for registrations before being completed next month.  ICAS assessments are online assessments designed to recognise and award academic excellence.  If you are interested in your child sitting one of these please get in touch with me and I can give you some more information about the registration process.

Uniform
Just a reminder to start the term that everyone needs to be wearing the correct school uniform to school please.  Children should be wearing the school shirt and/or jersey, navy bottoms and navy or white socks.

Community Notices

Casual farm worker wanted in Greta Valley
We are looking for someone to move breaks and feed out baleage for 2-3 hours a day over the next couple of months. Having your own dogs would be helpful. Please contact Maree on 021-776-864.

Pilates

Three Pilates classes are now available at the Waipara Pavilion.  Joseph Pilates developed  these exercise classes in the 1920's as a way to improve flexibility, strength, balance and  well being.

Tuesday, 10.30am - General
Wednesday, 10.00am - Advanced
Wednesday, 5.30pm - Intermediate

Do come and join us. First session is free. Ring Sarah 021-159-8246

RESILIENT HURUNUI presents Dr Nicholas Cradock-Henry, Senior Scientist from Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research. He will be discussing the tools and processes that are used for climate change adaption planning in new Zealand.

Thursday August 20th, 7.30 p.m Amberley School Hall

Kia ora koutou Whānau,

Here we are in our last week of Term 2! I would like to express our thanks for your support during what has been a unique and challenging term. We are very grateful to be part of such a wonderful community and are incredibly proud of how well our children have transitioned through all of the changes they have experienced over the last few months.

Our cross country last week was a wonderful example of this Omihi Community Spirit. It is something very special to be in a school where every child had someone there to support and watch them take part in the race! Our tamariki definitely showed our Omihi School Values of Pride, Unity, Respect and Excellence while racing around our fantastic course. A big thank you to Pete and Emma Dormer for allowing us to run the race over their property. 

I would like to say a very fond farewell to our amazing cleaner, Thalia Pugh. Thalia has done a fantastic job of cleaning at our school for the last 18 months and will be missed very much. Luckily, we have found another wonderful person to fill this position. Welcome to our Omihi School whānau, Sharryn Pugh. I would also like to welcome Pete Murphy. Pete is coming on board as our gardener. We are looking forward to having you on the team.

Ngā mihi
Penny Vincent
Acting Tumuaki/Principal

School Notices

Reporting
At the end of this week you will be able to view a general comment, a science comment and maths, reading and writing progress charts for your child on Hero.  You should receive a notification once this information has been published and shared with you.  If you have any questions please contact your child’s teacher.

Matariki
This week we will be celebrating Matariki, the Māori New Year.  Each child will be creating a Matariki lantern and we will be having shared kai for lunch on Thursday.  We will be supplying potatoes, however each child will need to bring their own toppings.  If your child would like kumara instead of potato they are welcome to bring this along too.

Cross Country
Congratulations to all the place getters and participants in our cross country last week.  Well done to those of you that will now compete at the Kowai Zones event.  Remember to keep up that training over the holidays!

Bus Run
Next term the bus run will change.  The bus run for Term 3 is as follows.  First north, then south and then Reeces Road.

Ski Trip
Hopefully you have all received a Ski Trip Notice.  If you have not already returned these, please can you do so this week. The children and staff are all looking forward to heading out for a day outside the classroom!

Camp
This week a short online survey about camp will be sent home to parents of senior children.  We would really appreciate your feedback so please keep an eye out for this and fill it in when you receive it.

Online Lunches
Online lunch orders start up again next term.  Every Wednesday you will be able to place an order for either Sushi or Subway.  Attached to the bottom of this newsletter is a flyer with all the details about how and when to order.  Your child/ren will also be given a flyer to bring home.

Life Education
In week 1 of next term we are looking forward to welcoming Harold the Giraffe, Louise and their Life Education van to school.  This is always a highlight for the children and will be a great way to start off our term.

Farm Race
Planning for our rescheduled Farm Race is well underway.  A reminder that Early Bird Entries close on the 30th June. The link to purchase tickets is www.omihi.school.nz/bikerun.

Keeping it Real Online
Netsafe and The Department of Internal Affairs have recently developed the following website as part of their Keeping it Real Online campaign.  As parents it can be very hard to know how to support our children as they navigate their way through the online world of today.  This website is full of tips for parents and caregivers on how to create a safe online environment for kids and young people.  Please check it out at www.keepitrealonline.govt.nz

Community Notices

Pilates

Three Pilates classes are now available at the Waipara Pavilion.  Joseph Pilates developed  these exercise classes in the 1920's as a way to improve flexibility, strength, balance and  well being.

Tuesday, 10.30am - General
Wednesday, 10.00am - Advanced
Wednesday, 5.30pm - Intermediate

Do come and join us. First session is free. Ring Sarah 021-159-8246

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AliceArcherYoga

Dynamic & fun yoga sessions accessibly to all abilities. Developing strength, balance & flexibility. 

Using the breath to cultivate mindfulness & connection, & to encourage deep relaxation.  

Alice is starting a class at Omihi Hall on Thursdays 5.30-6.30. It’s $10 a class plus a gold coin donation to cover the cost of the hall. Please text or phone Alice for further information on 027 225 5851

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Election Day, 19 September - The Electorate Commission need over 20,000 staff to work for them, both on the day and in the weeks before and after at headquarters.  They want to ensure that they have paid staff that represent our communities. Anyone interested is to register here: https://elections.nz/jobs/work-at-the-2020-general-election/ 

 A reminder for everyone to check their enrolment details – which can be done here: https://enrol.vote.nz/app/enrol/#/check-online , and of course to vote on (or before) Saturday 19 September!

Timebank Hurunui
Matariki & Maori Navigation, Wednesday 15th July

Join Nukuroa and Heidi Tirikatene-Nash for a korero around the significance of Matariki, the stars and other natural systems, that helped in navigating and wayfinding. Heidi will share about her journey as crew on the traditionally designed Waka Haunui, as part of the 2019 Tuia 250 Flotilla commemorations. Time: 7 – 8.30pm, Amberley School Hall. Cost: 1.5 TimeBank Hurunui credits or koha appreciated. Registrations: 03 3143406, tbhlearningexchange@gmail.com

Berry & Currant Bush Pruning, Sunday 19th July
Clean up your berry and currant bushes with the right thinning and shaping techniques, and enjoy their bountiful fruit come summer. Gary Burgess and Lorna Sandeman are experienced gardeners who will demonstrate then help you try your hand at pruning on a variety of bushes. They’ll also discuss general tips for tending berry and currant beds. BYO secateurs and gloves. Time: 11am – 1pm, Sunday 19 July, Waipara. Cost: 2 TimeBank Hurunui credits or $12 . Registrations: 03 314 3406 or tbhlearningexchange@gmail.com

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Dental Care during the School Holidays
                             

The Community Dental Service will be providing dental care for children enrolled with our service during the upcoming school holidays.  The clinics will offer treatment and relief of pain sessions by appointment only.   To make an appointment please call/email our Contact Centre which operates between the hours of 8am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday throughout the holidays.

 The following Dental Clinics will be open during these school holidays:

 ·       Burnside Clinic, 96A Memorial Avenue, Burnside,
·       Hornby Clinic, 2 Hei Hei Road, Hornby,
·       Lincoln Clinic, 35 James Street, Lincoln,
·       Timaru Clinic, Level 1, 18 Woollcombe Street, Timaru

The clinics will offer appointments between 8.15am and 4.45pm for school-age and preschool children requiring treatment.
If your child has dental pain because of an accident, please contact your dentist in the first instance.
To book an appointment at one of our clinics please: call 0800 846 983 Or email commdental@cdhb.health.nz

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RESILIENT HURUNUI presents... Andrew Lorrey, NIWA Principal Scientist- 
Climate and Environmental Applications, will talk about NIWA regional 
climate change modelling as it relates to North Canterbury.

Date: Thursday July 16th    Venue: Amberley School Hall    Time: 7.30p.m 
Gold Coin entry

_______________________________

Kia ora koutou Whānau,

I hope you have all enjoyed our first week in Level 1. It is exciting to be back to a new normal. 

With the announcement last week that we were moving into Alert Level 1, we are now able to change some of the processes we had in place during Level 2.   We welcome parents back onto our school grounds at the beginning and end of the day.  The drinking fountains are now open, but will continue to be thoroughly cleaned every day.  Hand sanitiser will still be available, however our emphasis at school will be on washing hands regularly and catching coughs and sneezes in our elbows.  It is still very important that if your child is unwell they are kept at home please. We are looking forward to holding school assemblies and taking some trips in Term 3.

As part of their response to Covid 19, the Ministry of Education is collecting a weekly attendance survey from us.  If your child is going to be absent from school for the day, please can you let us know and give us a reason for their absence.  We have special codes that we enter for different reasons which helps to form our weekly attendance data that is sent through.

In other exciting news, we have now been able to reschedule a date for our Omihi School Farm Race. Our new date will be Sunday 8th November.  Please mark it in your calendar.  There will be more details to come about entries and online registration soon.

Ngā mihi
Penny Vincent
Acting Tumuaki/Principal

School Notices

Principal's Award
The latest Principal Awards went to…. Leni Wilkie.  Congratulations Leni!

Cross Country
We are very lucky to have been granted access to the Dormer’s property to run our school cross country.  The course is mapped out and the view from the top for our senior runners is something pretty special! The date for our cross country is 1.30pm Tuesday, June 23 (postponement Wednesday, June 24). We are looking for some parent helpers to act as Marshalls around the course.  If you are able to help out with this, could you please let me know.  We will need Marshalls to arrive at school around 1pm for a briefing before the races begin.  The children will run in three waves. Year 1-2,  Year 3-4 and then Year 5-8.  Although they will be running in groups, they will be competing against children of the same year level and sex for placings.

Online Lunches
I am happy to let you know that we will be able to offer online lunch orders again from next term.  The options will be sushi and subway, alternating fortnightly.  A big thank you to Leighana and Megan M who have taken on the responsibility of collecting and delivering our online lunch orders for next term.

Reporting
The teachers have been busy completing a range of assessments with the children over the last two weeks.  A reminder that at the end of this term the teachers will be reporting on Maths, Writing and Reading by updating the graph on Hero.  They will also write a general comment and a Science comment.

Community Notices

Resilient Hurunui is up and running again, monthly on every third Thursday. We are kicking off with a screening the 2019 film "Milk and Water" at the Amberley School hall at 7.30p.m. on Thurs June 18th.

This film is directed by Ian Spilman and was filmed locally. It attempts to objectively explore and find common ground in the complicated issues of NZ's contaminated waterways and irrigation.

Running time 75 mins. $2.00 entry charge.

This Huruunui Junior Football League will again run in 2020. This league is for kids aged 4 - 8, and runs for all of Term 2. There are two 'competitions': Ages 4 - 5, and ages  6 - 8, although students can move between the two to find a level that suits their ability. In this league the focus is on participation and developing skills. Nine year olds and older should register with our parent club, Hurunui Rangers.
Games will be held at Amberley, Hawarden, and Culverden schools in rotation, on Saturdays at 10am.
We will try to form teams of players who come from the same area, but this will depend on the number of players registered.
Some areas/schools will run mid-week training for their players, depending on the availability of parents or teachers to coach the kids.
The cost for registration is $10 per child for the term - please pay on Day 1 of the competition. Funds will be used to provide equipment for the competition. Players will need to bring boots and shin pads. There are plenty of smaller football boots available for loan on game day. Team jerseys are provided.
Please register your kids well in advance of the competition.

Please register your child using this form. This league is for kids aged 4 - 8. There are two 'competitions': Ages 4 - 5, and ages 6 - 8, although students can move between the two to find a level that suits their ability. In this league the focus is on participation and developing skills.



Kia ora koutou Whānau

I hope you have all enjoyed the long weekend. We have had two great weeks back at school. The kids have been very busy learners with water activities, cooking pizza and performing soundscapes to name just a few!

The most exciting part of our term though has been the arrival of Mrs Lucas and George’s baby girl.  They welcomed Delilah May Lucas on May 23rd. Delilah is absolutely gorgeous and Mrs Lucas and George are enjoying this special time with her. 

This means that Mrs Lucas has officially started her maternity leave and I have taken over the role of Acting Principal until she returns.  I am really looking forward to taking over this role and am lucky that we have a great team and Maree and I had plenty of time for a thorough handover during lockdown. 

While I am Acting Principal I am also teaching in Paemoana.  I am in the classroom all day on a Monday and then until lunchtime on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  This means that I am not always accessible straight away.  Please be assured that I will reply to emails, texts and phone calls as soon as I can during times when I am not busy teaching.

Ngā mihi
Penny Vincent
Acting Tumuaki/Principal

School Notices

Cross Country
With the Government announcement that we are now able to hold gatherings of 100 people, we have decided we will go ahead with our school cross country this term.  The date for this will be Tuesday, June 23rd (Week 11) and the postponement will be the following day Wednesday, June 24th.  This will be held at school, in the afternoon and will involve all ages.  We will let you know more details closer to the time.

Bus
Please make sure to message me and let me know if your child is not on the bus.  If I have not heard from you I will assume that your child is on the bus and put them on.  Maree has shared my contact details with you all, but please let me know if you don’t have them.

Lunches Online
As you all know, Pita Pit closed its doors during lockdown.  Subway are able to take over the school lunches, but they are not able to deliver.  We are looking for someone who is willing to take on the responsibility of collecting and delivering our lunches each week.  Sushi is collected from Amberley and Subway from Rangiora.  If you are able to help out with this, please let me know.  If we are unable to get someone who can commit to this each week, then we will not be able to have school lunch orders any more.