Website and Facebook
We would just like to remind you that the school website www.akaroa.school.nz is a great resource for parents. All weekly notices are saved in the “Events and Reminders” section under “Events” and the school calendar is also in the same section. See also the Whanau info section for practical information. 
Our Facebook page also has a good following and photos of events and classroom activities are posted regularly. 

Contacting the office
When emailing the office, please make sure to use aasoffice@akaroa.school.nz. The .kiwi addresses are not regularly monitored. 

School Closures: Strike day and Queen’s Birthday 3 June
Just a reminder that school will be closed for instruction on Wednesday (29 May). It will be open for supervision for those who have contacted us to make arrangements. School will also be closed next Monday 3 June for Queen’s Birthday.

Fundraising 
Our food stall at the Lumiere d’Akaroa event raised $647. Well done everybody! 
Grocery items are being collected for the TOSI raffle – just drop into the office. Raffle tickets will be on sale soon. 
Sports Mufti and cake sale were very successful raising a total of $377. 
Entertainment books are still available (book format or the handy phone app) There are a number of local businesses included with some great offers: The Trading Rooms, Sweet As Bakery, The Bach, Little River Diner, Cine Café, Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruises, Blue Pearls Gallery, Akaroa Dolphins, Swimming with Dolphins, Akaroa Jet, Akaroa Adventure Centre, French Peak Wines. To purchase please go to https://www.entertainmentbook.co.nz/orderbooks/134q186

If you purchase items at Warehouse Stationery please mention our school at the checkout and we will get 5% of your purchase as a donation. 

Soft drinks bottles
1.5l soft drinks bottles are still in demand for the year 10 plastic bottle greenhouse project. Please drop off at the gym turnaround (Selwyn Avenue). No lids required. 

Open day and CASA Kapahaka date switch. 
Open day will now take place on 19 June as the CASA Kapahaka day is 12 June.

Rarotonga meeting 
Rarotonga meeting this evening, Monday 20 May, at 5pm in room 10. All students intending to go plus a parent should attend. 

Year 7-13 Cross Country 
House Year 7-13 Cross Country Wednesday 22 May (rescheduled date) 1.30pm All welcome.

Lumiere d’Akaroa
Thanks for all the fabulous support and help given to make this event a success. It was a great event and our fundraising food stall was very successful.

Sport Mufti/Cake Bake/BBQ
Friday 24 May is going to be a special mufti day where you can come dressed as your favourite sports hero or sports team and the cost will be $2. The students will run a BBQ and there will be some fabulous baking for sale so bring your pocket money!

Multi Raffle 
The students are currently putting together a multi raffle which will be drawn at the end of the term. To help support them in their fundraising efforts we are asking all students if they could please donate one grocery item that could make up a grocery hamper – one prize of the multi raffle. This item can be brought to the school office.

Rent A Student
Do you need firewood stacking, the garden needs a tidy, house cleaned or a day on the farm? Hire a student for the day from 8.30am – 3.00pm for $100. No job too big or too small! If you have a job for our students then please contact Akaroa Area School through – Email – office@akaroa.school.nz or Phone – 03 304 7108.

Student Newspaper (Echo)
In case you missed last term’s edition of the Echo it is now on the website under “Events and reminders”

Tena koutou parents and caregivers,

Yesterday the Teacher Unions, NZEI Te Rui Roa and PPTA, confirmed that Area School Teachers will be joining the combined strike action in the form of a full day strike on Wednesday 29th May 2019.  All teachers who are union members are required to take strike action.  We apologise for the late notice but this was out of our control.

As a gesture of good will to our school community the school will endeavour to provide supervision for students whose parents will really struggle to look after them next Wednesday. Student safety is paramount so this provision will be dependent upon a safe staff to student ratio. This provision also relies upon the availability of non union teacher relievers, learning support staff and non union teaching staff.

Can parents and families who need supervision of their children next Wednesday during normal school hours please contact the school office by 9.00am Monday 27 May so that we can confirm arrangements later that day.

 Nga mihi mahana,                                                                                           
Warm greetings,
Akaroa Area School Commissioner and Staff  

Akaroa Area School Fundraiser – 
New Zealand Area Schools Sports Tournament

Four of our senior students have been selected to participate in the NZ Area Schools Sports Tournament and will be travelling to Rotorua in July as part of the Top of The South Island Team (TOSI). Over the next few months, our students will be involved in several fundraising initiatives.

1)Lumiere d’Akaroa
Look for the AAS Food Stall on Saturday night and treat yourself to Seafood Chowder, Pulled Pork Sliders, Passionate Pumpkin Soup and Vegetarian Sliders.

2)Sport Mufti/Cake Bake/BBQ
Friday 24 May is going to be a special mufti day where you can come dressed as your favourite sports hero or sports team and the cost will be $2. The students will run a BBQ and there will be some fabulous baking for sale so bring your pocket money!

3)Multi Raffle 
The students are currently putting together a multi raffle which will be drawn at the end of the term. To help support them in their fundraising efforts we are asking all students if they could please donate one grocery item that could make up a grocery hamper – one prize of the multi raffle. This item can be brought to the school office.

4)Rent A Student
Do you need firewood stacking, the garden needs a tidy, house cleaned or a day on the farm? Hire a student for the day from 8.30am – 3.00pm for $100. No job too big or too small! If you have a job for our students then please contact Akaroa Area School through – Email – office@akaroa.school.nz or Phone – 03 304 7108.

5)Roller Disco
Keep an eye out for this one – to be held at the end of the term in the AAS Gymnasium.

Junior Hub Assembly Tuesday 14 May
There will be a junior hub assembly in Hinewai at the start of school tomorrow. All welcome. 

Lumiere d’Akaroa – The Akaroa Light festival fundraiser
We are running a tasty fundraiser at the Light Festival on Saturday night at The Garden of Tane.  A variety of food options will be available at extremely reasonable prices which will include: Asian style pork sliders, Falafel sliders with Tzatziki dressing, a stunning seafood chowder and a passionate pumpkin soup.
So come hungry and support our school fundraiser! The Money raised will support our students participating in a variety of events and activities, including those attending the New Zealand Area Schools Sports tournament in Rotorua in July.
We are looking for a few volunteers to help prepare the food on Friday. Please contact Garry Brittenden if you are able to help. 

Pink Shirt Day
Pink Shirt Day this Friday! Wear pink to be an “Upstander”, support anti-bullying messages, celebrate diversity, The Mental Health Foundation and to spread kindness. 
See www.pinkshirtday.org.nz for more information

Parent Drop Off/Pick Up Rue Jolie
We have become quite concerned about the congestion immediately in front of the school on Rue Jolie, particularly at the end of the day when children are being picked up. We have had a few ‘near misses’ with children running out onto the road in front of cars, children running in front of the buses and a general lack of awareness regarding road safety. This situation becomes compounded when parents double park on an already busy road. To avoid this type of behaviour and to make sure our children are safe we strongly encourage parents to utilise the parking spaces on Selwyn Avenue – please make this your primary drop off and pick up zone. There is always plenty of parking to enable parents to come on site to meet children or to wait in your cars – we need to work together for the safety of all children.

Junior Gates
We would like to remind parents that gates on Bruce Terrace are locked from 9am – 3pm. Please use other entrances to the school during these hours. Parents are reminded to sign in at the office when coming into school during the day. 

School Jackets
We are looking at putting in an order for school jackets once we reach a reasonable number (to reduce freight charges). If you are keen to get a jacket please contact the office. Cost is $85 (plus freight if applicable). 

Rarotonga Meeting
Meeting will take place on Monday 20 May at 5pm in room 10. All students intending to go plus a parent should attend. 

Headlice:
These creatures are making an appearance again, particularly in the junior hub. Please make sure to check your child’s hair and treat appropriately. 

Careers Expo: 
Year 11-13 students will be travelling to Christchurch for careers expo on Thursday. Permission forms will follow. 

Rarotonga Trip: 
Reminder: balance payment for Rarotonga is due on Monday 13 May.

Junior hub Assembly
There will be a Junior Hub assembly on Tuesday 14 May.

Entertainment Book
Order your Entertainment book (digital/print edition) here and support Akaroa Area School:www.entbook.co.nz/134q186

We have been asked to pass on the following information: 

Agri Women’s Development Trust
Agri Women’s Development Trust ( and Red Meat Profit Partnership ) programme, Understanding Your Farming Business  commences in Little River in June. 

The programme will be held over 3 x full day Modules on 6 June, 4 July and 1 August, followed by a graduation evening on 29 August 2019.

Please find attached a flyer which sets out the basic course details, content and objectives, as well as a couple of referrals. Women can find further details including dates / locations, and a simple online registering system by visiting  

https://www.awdt.org.nz/programmes/uyfb/

We welcome and typically see women of all ages, stages, and levels of involvement in their sheep and beef farming businesses. Women report increased skill / knowledge, confidence and a new network of like-minded women. Many find they discover or better define their Critical Farming Partner role, and can then strive with their partners / family for better farm performance, for the benefit of all.

Pattie O’Boyle
AWDT – Communication Facilitator
06 372 6859

Junior Hub Letter
Please see notice attached for Junior hub.

Years 1-8 BP Cross Country Race
On Friday June 7, the Years 1-8 will be taking part in the BP Cross Country Race held at the Duvauchelle Showgrounds. Students are required to bring or wear running shoes to school every day, as they will be training for this event. Notices for permission and transportation will be sent via the office in Week 4. We encourage all the students to participate in this event.  On the day, the cross country races will begin with Y8 (boys, then girls), then Y1 (boys, then girls) and Y2 (boys, then girls) progressing through the year groups to Year 7. Some Y8 students will run ahead and behind the Years 1-3 students when they race to guide them through the course. Students will be running in their year groups and the distances are: Year 1,2,3- 1 circuit (approx 600m), Year 4,5,6- 2 circuits (approx 1200m), Years 7,8-3 circuits (approx 1800m).

Whole School assembly – Friday 3 May
There will be a Whole School Assembly on Friday at 8.50am in the Gym. All welcome.

Rarotonga Trip
We would like to remind parents and students that deposit for Rarotonga trip ($150) is due today. Balance of $650 needs to be paid by Monday 13 May. 

Entertainment Book
Order your Entertainment book (digital/print edition) here and support Akaroa Area School:www.entbook.co.nz/134q186
Lots of great offers still only $70.