From the Principal
Welcome back to the 2020 academic year!
We hope that all the families in our community had an enjoyable holiday break and have returned with recharged batteries, enthusiastic about everything 2020 has to offer!
Our first week has passed successfully, and we are excited about the rest of the year! The start of all new terms are a great chance to revisit our school values- being in new classrooms, with new teachers and new classmates are perfect opportunities to show our values of RESPECT, RESILIENCE, RESPONSIBILITY and EXCELLENCE.
We are holding our pōwhiri for new students and teachers this coming Monday 10th February during our Monday morning Values’ assembly. This is a simple ceremony to welcome new members to our community, and if you are in school at this time, you are very welcome to join us to celebrate our new arrivals.
Dates for your Diary- 2020
11 February – Family picnic from 5.30pm
21 February – New Parent Meeting 2pm
TERM DATES 2020
Term 1 Ends- Wednesday 8th April
Teacher Only Day- Thursday 9th April
ANZAC Day Public Holiday- Monday 27th April
Term 2 Tuesday 28th April to Thursday 2nd July
Teacher Only Day- Friday 3rd July
Term 3 Starts- Monday 20th July to Thursday 24th September
Term 3 Ends- Teacher Only Day- Friday 25th September
Term 4 Starts- Monday 12th October to Tuesday 15 December
Mark this page in your web bookmarks; https://www.pigeon-mountain.school.nz/school-hours-and-term-dates-2020/
ABSENCES
Please inform the school office if your child is going to be absent from school.
You can do this through our school website, Skoolbag or phoning the office on 534 9765 and leaving a message. Please state clearly your child’s name, class and the reason for absence. Please note that you should do this for each day your child is away from school.
FAMILY PICNIC
Our family picnic will be on Tuesday 11 February from 5.30pm.
Please come along and join in the fun, meet other families. Bring along your picnic blanket and your dinner.
SCHOOL DONATION
The Board of Trustees have set the school donation for 2020, at $230.00 per student. This remains unchanged from last year. Donation tax credits are also available from Inland Revenue. Please keep your donation receipts if you are wanting to make a claim from 31st March 2020.
There are several options to pay –
* Online when purchasing student stationery from OfficeMax – www.myschool.co.nz
* Online through your Kindo account – www.kindo.co.nz
* Direct credit a/c 02 0168 0210765 00 (please use student name as a reference)
* At the school office by eft-pos, cheque or cash
KINDO
Due to risks associated with cash at the school and teacher administration time our preferred payment option from 2020 is Kindo. Your Kindo account can be used to book, pay and provide permissions for trips, sports teams, camp, donations and PTA fundraisers.
Visit www.mykindo.co.nz to create an account or see links on the school website home page. Any queries please see the school office or email hello@mykindo.co.nz.
SCHOOL UNIFORM
A reminder that students should be wearing their summer uniform including hats outside, these can be purchased from the office for $12. No trousers or long sleeved polo shirts to be worn this term please.
New uniforms are available from John Russell Schoolwear, 9 Moore Street, Howick.
Secondhand uniforms are available at the school office every school day 8.30-9.00am.
OFF TO A GOOD START
Our popular preschool programme will start again on Wednesday 19 February 1.45 – 2.45pm.
PLAYGROUNDS
For safety reasons, please remember children are not allowed on the school playgrounds before school commences at 8.50am . After school play is only allowed if supervised by an adult. We are noticing many students being collected from the playgrounds after 3pm. School staff are responsible for supervision on the playgrounds during school hours. Please obey signage on the playground and ask your child to come off the playground outside these hours.
START OF DAY ROUTINES
Please ensure you are not dropping your child at school before 8.15am in the morning. Some days we have a number of children who are on site before 8am- please be aware, it is unsafe for unsupervised children to be here too early!
WELCOME TO
New Teachers: Alice Kemp Room 21, Sarah Tallack Room 18, Laura Setefano Room 7, Stephanie Van Wijk Room 21 (Thursdays), Hayley Sanileva Room 9 (Thursdays)
We also congratulate Samantha Jonson on the arrival of her son River in the holidays! Mum, dad and son are all doing well!
New Students: Devon Wills, Annabelle Steele, Araxea Luo, Brooke Irving, Ava Hill, Vincent Yam, Lydia Liu, Paul Gao, Zena Kim, Hayley and Zackary Pui, Elena Ma, Tenuja De Silva, Johnny Xi, Abbie Liu, Kaite Gao, Sophie Qiu, Diego Wang, Kathleen Smartt, Yixuan He, Jonny Bao, Ellie Ma, Abdullah Mansour, Evan and Eva Ding, Josh and Ethan Setefano, Coco Li, Eric Min, Elina Feng, Blake Cheng, Laura Cui, Lily Mulder, Nathan Yang, Clarissa Kleinhans, Skye and Keanu Wilson, Zain Abbas, Aoife Chen, Xin Xin Chen, Ivy Gao, Simon Su, Aaryan Zaman, Clara Kang, Chloe Lin, Florence Peng.
BOT News
Next meeting – Wednesday 19 February 7pm
PTA News
Thank you to Heulwen Dixon for her commitment to the PTA last year. Unfortunately Heulwen has relocated back to Australia.
Next Meeting – Wednesday 12 February 7.30pm
Road Patrol
We are looking for any parents who are able to assist with road patrol supervision either in the morning or the afternoons. If you can help us out please get in touch with the office.
Community Notices
Chess
Playing chess develops self-confidence, concentration and problem-solving skills.
We are really pleased to start a Chess Coaching Programme at our school and look forward to bringing the excitement, competition and educational benefits of chess to our children.
If your child would like to be part of this please visit our website. Both registration and payment can be done online. Classes start Thursday 13th February 12.45-1.45pm in Room 25 (Music room), $110 per term.
Netball
Mellons Bay Netball Club are holding trials for Year 5 & 6 girls to play Saturday morning netball this year. Please register at www.mbnc.co.nz or contact Jo Young 021 2544468
Pakuranga United Netball registrations are open online www.purc.co.nz . Teams from Year 5. Trials are this Sunday 16th February at 9am-11am for juniors, at the Howick Pakuranga Netball Centre.
STEAM
After school STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) programmes commence this term for Year 3 – 6 students. For more info and to register see www.makerstudionz@gmail.com or contact Ted 021 08442516
