Week 6, Term 1, Newsletter

Week 6 – Friday 6th March, 

In this newsletter:

1.  A message from the Principal
2. Welcome to new whānau and ākonga
3. Fundraising Committee
4. Important Dates and Reminders
5. School Events
6. From the classrooms – Room 10
7. Writer’s Corner
8. Sport at DSS
9. Community Noticeboard

As we move into Week 7, it is fantastic to reflect on the rich learning experiences our tamariki have engaged in recently, from collaborative whānau house group sessions designing new logos, to EOTC trips for Ako Nui exploring the Petone Settlers Museum last week, and for Ako Iti –  Te Awa Kairangi coming up on Monday. A recent highlight was Thursday’s visit from local MP Chris Hipkins, who spent the morning observing classes and engaging with staff. The atmosphere was positive at kura as students in Room 11 eagerly sought autographs, and our resident superfan, Marta, finally met her idol.  Having the former Education Minister on-site allowed for a candid discussion regarding his time in charge of the education portfolio, specifically the unique hurdles faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, sharing the unique strengths that make Dyer Street special while also highlighting the specific pressures our school community faces in the current climate. We look forward to further interactions with Chris in the future. 

On Tuesday, 17th March and Thursday, 19th March, we will hold our Mana hui, which provides a chance for students, whānau, and kaiako to connect. We believe that working together with whānau is essential to providing the best learning experiences for our tamariki. Through this hui, we hope to develop strong relationships between kaiako and whānau, and gain a deeper understanding of our tamariki’s individual needs, interests, and strengths. It also provides a chance to collaboratively set goals for what we want to achieve over the year. Just to clarify, this is not an academic progress meeting; these will be held later in the year. You will also receive a Mana hui sheet to fill in prior to the hui, which will help guide the conversation. If you don’t get time to complete this, we will talk through this form at the hui. Interview booking times will go live on Monday through the Hero app. 

Looking ahead to the end of March, we are excited to announce the final stage of the Ngā Iti Kahurangi project: the installation of new carpet tiles for Rooms 1 through 8. This upgrade will ensure our classroom spaces are equipped with modern, high-quality flooring that is truly fit for purpose. We anticipate this work being fully completed before the start of Term 2, providing a refreshed and comfortable environment for our tamariki to return to. In addition to this, we have recently made a significant purchase of new furniture for the junior school – Ako Iti, with over 70 new chairs purchased, teaching tables, and some additional furniture for Room 6. A huge thanks to our Board of Trustees for supporting this purchase. 

Finally, we continue to receive a steady stream of enrolments, which is greatly appreciated. If you are intending on enrolling your child or know someone who might be interested, then please use the link on the school website to enrol. 

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone. 

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou,

Lee Ewington, Tumuaki (Principal)

Week 6 Principal’s Award Winners

Welcome to our new students:

Room 1 – Alvie, Elise

Room 2 – Van

We are so happy to have you join our school community.

Dyer Street School has a small but friendly fundraising committee that works together to raise funds and put on fun events. We are in need of some more people to come on board this year. There is an active Facebook group as well as a mailing list to receive posts on Hero. The committee has plans for more online hui this year to make sure those who can’t attend in-person meetings can be more involved.

The next meeting is Monday May 4th at 7:30 p.m. in the school library. We’d love anyone who would like to be involved to come along. If you can’t make it but have ideas or would like to be kept in mind as a volunteer, please email megw@dyerstreet.school.nz or join the Facebook group: Fundraising Facebook Group

Week 7

Monday 9th March – Ako Iti Trip to Avalon Park and Te Awa Kairangi

Tuesday 10th March – Wednesday 11th March – Wellington Regional Primary Principal’s Conference

Wednesday 11th March – Assembly (Room 9 hosting, Room 3 sharing)

Thursday 12th March – Festival of Cricket – Year 5/6 (selected students0

Friday 13th March – Holi event, Hoop Club Basketball sessions

Week 8 

Tuesday 17th March – Mana Hui (Whānau/Parent conferences) 1:15 – 7:00 p.m.

Thursday 19th March – Mana Hui (Whānau/Parent conferences) 3:15 – 5:15 p.m.

                                     – Year 3-6 Girls Futsal Event (selected students)

Week 9 

Wednesday 25th March – Assembly (Room 6 hosting, Room 4 sharing)

Week 10 

Thursday 2nd April – Whole School Easter Egg Hunt 

                                   – Last day of Term 1                               

Friday 3rd April – Good Friday (Public Holiday, School closed)

Important Reminders from the School Office – 

Sunhats – we started the year with about 50 spare hats around the school, collected by staff for students who forget theirs. We now have almost none and are spending a huge amount of duty time reminding children to wear their hat. Please ask your child if they know where their hat is, and if any unfamiliar hats have come home, send them back to school. Hats are compulsory for all of Term 1 – the UV level is still classed as dangerous between 10:30 and 4 p.m.

If you have any spare wide brim or bucket hats at home that you do not need we will gladly add them to our spare hats. 

Pants – we are running low on pants to change children who have accidents. We will gladly take any spares and ask that any school spares that come home are washed and returned promptly. All junior children should have spare pants and underwear in their bags. When we run out of spare pants at school we end up having to ring parents to come and change wet and soiled children.

It was interesting to welcome former Prime Minister, MP and leader of the opposition Chris Hipkins to our kura on Thursday for a casual walk-through. The electorate boundaries have recently changed, so our school is now in Chris Hipkins’ electorate of Remutaka. 

Room 10

After listening to a chapter of their class novel, Watership Down, Room 10 worked to create legends based on how animals developed certain features. 

Cheetah

Once there was a cheetah who had short, weak legs. It was very, very slow but really smart. He was also not eating much. One day, when the cheetah was drinking water from a pond, he suddenly fainted. Then, one animal, a fox, spotted the fainted cheetah. So, the fox went to the animal god of the jungle, named the lion. During that time, every animal in the kingdom believed the lion was their religion. So, anyway, the lion said, bring the fainting cheetah. So the fox did. Then the lion changed the cheetah’s weak, short legs into strong, long legs. After the cheetah woke up, he found out that the lion made his legs stronger. So he was happy.  

By Darsh (Room 10)

Please send any contributions for Writer’s Corner to megw@dyerstreet.school.nz – this can be work created at home or at school, and from any year level.

Term 2 & 3 2024

Registrations are open now and close on Friday, 27 March

We are taking registrations for Year 5 & 6 students to play Netball. Netball is played on a Monday afternoon during Term 2 & Term 3 from 4 pm. They play 6-a-side format under the FutureFerns programmes. Boys are encouraged to play as each team is allowed up to two boys on court at any one time. 

This season, the students will play in positions but still 6 aside – GK, GS, GA, GD, WA, C.

Season Dates

The season runs from Monday, 4 May through to Monday, 24 August with a reserve day on Monday, 31 August. They do not play over the school holidays and also Monday, 1 June and Monday, 22 June there is no play.

It is important to remember that if you register your child/ren as part of a team, they need to be committed for all weeks in Term 2 & 3. It is expected that your child will attend all training sessions organised by your team’s adult helper and turn up to all games unless they are sick.

Coaches, Managers & Umpires.

Each team is required to provide a coach and an umpire for the duration of the season. Coaches are encouraged to attend FUNdamental workshops to assist in your development and understanding of netball specific movements skills and technical aspects of the game. These are run at Netball Hutt Valley and information will come out in due course.

If you agree to coach a team you will be contacted with the team information. It is your prerogative to have a (weekly) practise with your team, at a time that suits you and your players, this is not a requirement.

Umpires must attend the schools training delivered by Netball Hutt Valley & Netball Umpires Association. They must be confident in calling obstruction, contact and stepping. This could be a college student who has completed the Whistlers Programme.

Uniforms

Your child will need to wear sneakers and their Dyer Street School t-shirt. 

If your child does not have a sports top, you will need to order this from the school office ($40.00). 

Please note that all jewellery must be removed before the games, and nails are to be cut short.  

Costs and Payments:

The cost for netball will be invoiced by the school and will be required to be paid prior to the first round of games. 

Sporty Form

This year we are using the sporty form to register for Netball. This form registers your child directly with Netball Hutt Valley and Dyer Street School, providing the necessary information that we require.

Please complete the form for your child via the following link – 

https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/474469

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Ranchod anandr@dyerstreet.school.nz .

Year 1- 6 Basketball at Walter Nash Term 2

Registrations are open and close on Monday, 16 March

We are looking at registering teams for the upcoming Hutt Valley Basketball League at Walter Nash starting in Term 2. We are going to offer teams for Year 1 & 2, Year 3 & 4 and Year 5 & 6.

Games are played at Walter Nash Stadium from 3:45 pm. Teams will consist of 5 players on the court at a time. Games are 10 minutes a half, with a 1-minute half-time. 

Game days are as follows:

• Year 3 & 4 on Monday

• Year 5 & 6 on Thursday

• Year 1 & 2 on Friday

Please note: we are limited to entering a maximum of 2 teams per grade. This may mean that we have larger teams.

The basketball season runs in Term 2 and Term 3, however, we are taking registrations for Term 2 only at this stage.

Coaches/Managers

For each team, we need to register at least one contact person – either a Coach or Manager. If you are willing to help with coaching/managing a team, please indicate on the Google Form, and you will be contacted as soon as teams are finalised. If we do not get a manager or a coach for the team, we WILL NOT be able to field a team.

Uniforms

Year 1 & 2, Year 3 & 4 and Year 5 & 6 will need to wear their Dyer Street School Sports top and black shorts to games. Sport tops are available from the School Office for $47. 

All players are required to remove all jewellery for games and are not allowed to wear cargo shorts. 

Payments:

You will be sent an invoice for your child’s registration fee once teams are confirmed in the basketball league. Payments can be made by via online banking or Eftpos at the school office. 

Google form:  https://forms.gle/x76E45wiymMmTTnBA

Remember the Google Form closes by 3pm Monday, 16 March.

If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Ranchod anandr@dyerstreet.school.nz

We are looking forward to another fun season of basketball.