2 February 2015

Facebook Page
Please remember that we have a facebook page that anyone can view whether you have your own facebook
page or not. We put wee bits and bobs on there quite regularly.
www.facebook.com/bluffschool

It is awesome to have all the kids back bouncing around

keen and eager to get on with the year!
We love hearing all the holiday stories (and tall tales ha!)
2015 Dates
Term 1 - Tuesday 27 January Thursday 2 April
Term 2 - Monday 20 April Friday 3 July
Term 3 Monday 20 July Friday 25 September
Term 4 Monday 12 October Thursday 10 Dec
(at this stage)
Please remember that this Friday is Waitangi Day so there
is no school.

Thought to begin the year:

As I was staring down the barrel of another school year during the holidays, and having conversations with other
people who work in schools over the holidays etc, you really realise how lucky we have it here. We are supported by
our whanau to develop our own unique character as a school with trust and backing from the whole community.
We are lucky that there can be a mix of formal and casual, serious and fun, and where we can have amazing
experiences with our kids. We have a fantastic group of kids who support each other, fight like siblings, but who
overall will have each others backs. Bring on another year with all of this going for us!

Swimming
School swimming starts next week for everyone.
Mondays Pukeko and Kereru
Tuesdays Weka and Tui
Wednesdays Takahe and Kakapo
All the classes walk to the pool after lunch (weather permitting) and the goal is to be in the pool at 2.00pm. Children
are then dismissed from the pool at 3.00 to go home.
Homework Centre and Art Class at the marae
Both of these start up next week
Art Classes
These run Mondays for Years 1-4 students, and Wednesdays for Years 5-8 students.
Anyone is welcome you sign up by turning up and filling in a registration form.
Homework Centre
This runs Tuesdays and Thursdays.
This is funded by the ministry of education,
but has an axe over its head as the numbers attending mean that there is a very real chance that they will not fund
it anymore. This is an invaluable resource and the kids that go really benefit. We are incredibly fortunate that Elena
and Nanny Fran run it as they know how our flashcards, spelling etc work, so it is a great chance for your child to
have their homework done with supervision saves you a job so send them along! It is intended to target students in
Years 4 up although the ladies do a fantastic job with the younger ones that also rock along.
Some photos from Weka:
Oral Language Who am I

In the new writing cave

A heap of beginning of the year reminders:

Contacts
Please make sure we have up-to-date contact details it is really important we can get hold of you at any time
should something happen. It is often at the times of most need that we discover we do not have correct
information. This includes for your emergency contacts please.
Absences
We can waste a lot time in a day chasing up missing kids. Please ring or text if your child is going to away for any
reason. You can do this at any time of the day or night as there is an answer phone on the phone.
Phone 2128523
Text 027 566 7878
Open door policy
Please all remember that you are more than welcome to come in and talk to anyone at any time if you are
concerned about anything (feel free to also let staff know if you are happy with something!)
Fees
We DO NOT charge fees. Fees are money just to gather money resources. We try to keep costs to an absolute
minimum and charge only for actual costs. Each student pays $20 for stationery we provide pens, pencils, rulers,
felts, rubbers etc; and $30 for the bus trips throughout the year. Bus trips from here are really expensive and this helps
us cover these.
Homework
We endeavour to keep this as stress-free as possible as we really believe kids should be out playing and
experiencing lots of things not tied to school work at home. All students will have spelling words Tues/ Wed/ Thurs
nights, a set of flashcards at all times, and are expected to read each night younger learners will have a book sent
home but older ones can read anything as long as it increasing mileage.
Dont be bored!
There are always heaps of jobs that can be done at school so I would hate to think of any of you sitting at home
bored! We always value help with reading with kids, or doing flashcards or sorting resources etc. Next newsletter we
will also be outlining other jobs you could volunteer for.

Staffing Change:
The sad reality of any workplace is you cant keep people forever (no matter how much you try and guilt them into
staying!). This year Daphne Lindsay has accepted a job working for the University of Otago, Southland Campus as a
Literacy Advisor this means she will be going out into other school helping them with their teaching of reading and
writing. This shows just how amazingly skilled she is in this area and how fortunate we are to have had her expertise
for as long as we have.
She has not left us completely she will in from time to time and will continue to work with our teachers this year on
and off. (This will allow us to wean ourselves off her ha!).
We hope she loves the new job and realise we are lucky to be able to keep her for any time at all this year.
We will be sorting anew Reading Recovery person as soon as we can and keep you up dated if this affects your
child.
Have a great week everybody!!
Alison