*’Peter Pan’* at Waihi Drama Society Theatre, Boyd Road, Waihi. Opens Friday 21st August for 7 performances. $15 for adults $10 (under 12) 4 afternoon matinees ideal for the family! Saturday 22nd, Sunday 23rd, Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th August at 2pm. Evening shows Friday 21st, Thursday 27th, and Friday 28th August at 7pm. Please note earlier start. This is expected to be a very popular show; tickets available from United Video, Waihi from August 10th. Sorry no phone bookings.

Kia ora

This week we have included our community report from the Educational Review Office. We are delighted with ERO’s report. This report celebrates our successes and gives the school new direction to develop. The Leadership Team are working with Andrea Ford, a Leadership consultant to help develop our strengths as a Leadership Team, The BOT are in the process of reviewing all policies and staff are continuing to develop their practice with advisors. ERO has visited Waihi East School numerous times since 2004. This is our first report since this date that we have been placed on the normal three year cycle. This shows our commitment to change.

This week we said goodbye to Wendy and Phina, Taiwanese students who have been based at our school for the last week. Zavier continues at our school for another week, with two senior students Jennifer and Kevin also studying until the 7th of August. This programme is a great exchange of learning. We enjoy having overseas students based at our school. My thanks to Sharon who coordinates a programme of learning during this exchange, and Lynette, Paul, Tania and Karen who have billeted our children.

I would appreciate hearing your views on our plan to fund Phil Gurnick’s position next year. Anne Marie Spicer is coordinating all funding applications. We are hopeful that the majority of money required will come from this source. Lynette and I have visited all pre-school centres this week. Golly there are a lot of four year olds in our community! We would love to enrol them!! Please help us promote our school as a great place of learning. With your help, our roll will grow.

My thanks to Bonnie and Sasha for organizing Tuesday after school soccer. The season has now finished for the Year 3/4 teams. What an awesome season.

Harold, Rachael and the Life Education van are now on site. Lessons start tomorrow. You are welcome to join us in the caravan. Parent session is on Tuesday 4th August at 2.30pm.

Ka kite ano
Emily

This week’s Habit of Mind is “Listening with Empathy and Understanding”. Successful people listen to others with their ears, minds and their feelings.

Here are some slides from Room 6’s Assembly on Thursday 30th July.

Rooms 1, 2 and 3 went to Paeroa College on Thursday 30th July to the Fonterra Technology Roadshow here are some slides from the Roadshow.

Room 5 had their assembly on Thursday 23 July, here are some slides from it.

Kia ora

Welcome back to school. I hope you all had a restful break and are ready for the fantastic activities planned for this term. I have included this terms dates in this newsletter. I hope you find this useful.

Changes on our Board of Trustees

Thank you for voting in our by-election last term. We were pleased with the number of voting papers received. Congratulations to Seton Frew who has been elected to our Board of Trustees filling Brendon Spargo’s position on the Board. We look forward to Seton’s involvement on the Board. Congratulations to the Jones family -winning the chocolate draw.

This week Mark Samson stood down from our Board of Trustees. Mark has been a visionary member of our Board for 7 years and has effectively Chaired our meetings for the last 5 years. On behalf of the school community I would like to thank Mark for his contribution to our school. With this resignation, the BOT have decided to ‘select’ Board Members to fill Mark’s position and a further position on the Board. Information on this in included in this weeks newsletter.

Other news

This is a very full newsletter. Particular emphasis is placed on our aim to fund Phil Gurnick’s position next year. The Ministry of Education will not fund this position as our roll is declining with 37 students heading to College in 2010. I look forward to hearing your ideas in the next few weeks.

Next Friday we are holding a Big breakfast. We welcome all families to come along and have breakfast at school. Thank you to our breakfast club team who provide daily breakfast to our students.

Lastly we are holding a Ministry of Education Teacher-Only-Day on Friday 21st of August. On this day staff will be working with Anne Roska (Advisor-Waikato University) and Judith Woodham (Resource Teacher of Literacy) on implementation plans of the Revised NZ Curriculum.

Ka kite ano

Emily

The Hearing & Vision tester will be at our school on Tuesday 18th August at 9.00am, She is primarily here to test the new 5 year olds, but will test other children’s hearing and vision if required. Please talk to class teachers if you think your child needs to be checked.

The next visit to Waihi for the Free Ear Caravan is Wednesday 29th July from 10.00 – 2.30pm at Central School. [Closed for lunch 12.30 - 1.30pm].

Waihi East Primary School is having the ‘Life Education Caravan’ at East School from Friday 31st July until Wednesday 5th August. The teacher who works in the caravan is Rachel J, the children receive workbooks that go with their topic within the “Life Education’ programme.

Room 1 and 7’s theme is ‘Happy and Healthy’, Rooms 2 and 3 learn about ‘Friends’, Rooms 5 and 6 are doing ‘All Together’. There is a special parents session (so families can find out the types of things their children will be learning at ‘Life Education’) that will be on Tuesday 4th August at 2.30 p.m. in the ‘Life Education’ van.

We know East School pupils will love meeting up with Harold again. The cost for children is $3 each. To assist with payment please fill in the form below with your details and put the return slip and $3.00 in an envelope that can be handed in at the office.