Camps
Please complete start of year form if you haven’t already done so: https://forms.gle/1nsJZyUZmSmBBtPi6
We are still awaiting a couple of forms for the year 4-6 camp to Wainui which starts on Monday. These forms give essential information without which the student will not be able to attend camp. To make sure your child doesn’t miss out please complete the start of year form and consent form tonight (Friday). ht tps://forms.gle/yGLwfQP3rNRWnm7o6
If your child is not attending camp please email aasoffice@akaroa.school.nz and the teacher in charge.
Camp contributions can be paid at the office, online or by direct payment.

Counsellor
As per previous emails, our counsellor, Mr Woods will be on site fortnightly on Wednesdays from 10.00 – 3.00, based in our safe space room, Te Kaika Haumaru, his first visit will be on Wednesday 5 February. The referral procedure is attached.

Dear Members of the Akaroa Area School community,

Happy New Year.

To our new families – welcome – and to our returning families – welcome back.
Welcome also to Mr. Brent Ingram – our Acting Principal for Term I 2020.
We have started the School Year with 106 enrolled students which is above our predicted roll and have got off to a flying start thanks to all the preparation work undertaken by staff and led by the Senior Leadership Team over the summer holiday period.
In terms of school governance activity, during Term I 2020 we will be conducting an in-depth review of our Education Outside the Classroom procedures as well as continuing our focus on implementing student wellbeing initiatives and supporting staff wellbeing and professional development.

Education Outside the Classroom
Our teachers make the most of the Banks Peninsula environment when planning experiential learning activities for students. While many schools have curtailed “outside the classroom” education activities, we consider that accessing and experiencing the outdoors as part of our curriculum delivery is a key ingredient in what makes Akaroa Area School so great.
Of course we want these experiences to be positive and student safety is paramount. There is a lot of work involved in the planning process and we are fortunate to have a staff that is willing to complete all the paperwork – and there is a lot – so that students get to enjoy such wonderful experiences.

Student Wellbeing
Mr Frank Woods will be a regular visitor to the school in his capacity as School Counsellor. Students will be able to meet with Mr Woods by appointment and drop-in sessions will also be run. In urgent situations, the school is able to access counselling through the Medical Centre.
We will continue to meet regularly with students to learn from them what else we can be doing to support their wellbeing.

Professional Development and Learning (PLD)
The school was successful in obtaining funding from the Ministry of Education to support a year long course of professional development for our teachers on digital integration in project-based learning. The school has a good foundation with many examples of successful project-based learning, so this PLD will be building on and developing the concept further.
The Ministry of Education has granted the school four additional Teacher Only Days as follows:
Friday 13 March, Tuesday 28 April, Tuesday 2 June, Monday 10 August.

General Governance Matters:
The Analysis of Variance is being compiled ready to be lodged with the Ministry of Education in March 2020. This document reviews the progress made towards achieving the goals set for 2019 and supports the planning for 2020.
After consultation with staff, the Budget for 2020 has been adopted. The financial position of the school remains healthy. The 2019 Annual Accounts are currently with the Auditor and will be published in May 2020.
Stage One of the Building Project is almost complete and we thank Mr Barry Nuttridge from Hawkins and his team for all the work they have done to get the refurbished classrooms ready for use this term.

Return to Self-Governance.
The school has had a commissioner for nearly twelve months and so the Ministry of Education will be reviewing the intervention to consider what further governance work needs to be done before board elections can be held.
I welcome contact from members of the school community if you have any questions about the intervention or wish to discuss any matters that would normally be raised with a Board Chair. My number is 027 291 0384.

Yours faithfully,
Nicola Hornsey
31 January 2020

Meet the Teacher
We are looking forward to seeing you tomorrow evening in the Junior Hub. Children are welcome but supervision is not provided. We are expecting the talking/question session to last approximately 30 minutes. The BBQ/sausage sizzle is to keep the hunger pangs at bay rather than a full meal. All welcome!
Mufti days are on the last Friday of every month (gold coin donation). Occasionally we have extra mufti days for a cause and we will notify you of these.
There is a music keyboard to give away. Please contact Denis Brittenden at school.

Year 1-8 Meet the Teacher Evening
Lisa ,Rachel and Deb are looking forward to seeing you at our
“Meet the Teacher” evening- 5.30pm, Thursday, January 30, 2020.
There will be an information session followed by a simple BBQ. 

New Parent Welcome Morning Tea
The Parents’ Association has organized a welcome morning tea for new parents on Friday 31 January at 11.00am in the Food Tech room. All parents are welcome to come along, catch up and meet our new parents. This gives new parents an opportunity to make contact with other parents and feel welcome here. Please bring a plate to share. We would like an indication of numbers so please confirm with the office or Charlotte Helps.

Parent and Friends Facebook Page
Another Parents’ Association initiative is the Akaroa Area School Parents and Friends closed Facebook group. This is another way for parents to connect and keep up to date with events etc.

Start of Year Details and Camp Consent forms
Thanks to everyone who has completed their start of year details form and camp forms. If you haven’t done so please complete as soon as possible.

Email Address
To email the office please use aasoffice@akaroa.school.nz. Do not reply to these (KAMAR / .Kiwi ) emails as replies are not monitored.

As you will have seen in the media the situation is rapidly evolving internationally concerning the coronavirus. This is a new virus and its specific nature is currently unclear, however it appears that you can have the virus at an early stage and not be showing any symptoms.  This incubation period is currently considered to be 14 days. 

We have an update from the Ministry of Education regarding the Coronavirus outbreak and we have been requested to err on the side of caution.

We request that any students who have recently been to China or have been in close contact with someone confirmed with the virus, for that student to remain at home for two weeks (14 days) from the arrival date back into New Zealand.

We ask that parents/caregivers call the student office to inform us of any student that will be absent due to having been in China or having had contact with someone confirmed with the virus.

As always, anyone who is unwell should not be at school.  If you have a particular concern about your child please contact Healthline at 0800 611 116 or their GP for medical advice. Healthline has translators and interpreters available 24/7 in 150 languages and they do have Mandarin and Cantonese speaking staff available.

Year 1-8 Meet the Teacher Evening
Lisa ,Rachel and Deb are looking forward to seeing you at our
“Meet the Teacher” evening- 5.30pm, Thursday, January 30, 2020.
There will be an information session followed by a simple BBQ. 

New Parent Welcome Morning Tea
The Parents’ Association has organized a welcome morning tea for new parents on Friday 31 January at 11.00am in the Food Tech room. All parents are welcome to come along, catch up and meet our new parents. This gives new parents an opportunity to make contact with other parents and feel welcome here. Please bring a plate to share. We would like an indication of numbers so please confirm with the office or Charlotte Helps.

Parent and Friends Facebook Page
Another Parents’ Association initiative is the Akaroa Area School Parents and Friends closed Facebook group. This is another way for parents to connect and keep up to date with events etc

Start of Year Details and Camp Consent forms
Thanks to everyone who has completed their start of year details form and camp forms. If you haven’t done so please complete as soon as possible.

Email Address
To email the office please use aasoffice@akaroa.school.nz. Do not reply to these (KAMAR / .Kiwi ) emails as replies are not monitored.

Please find attached the following information:

There are some forms for parent/caregiver to complete: distance learning, year 13 dress code, and for parents of students driving to school or being transported to school by another student.

• Parent of Year 13 – Dress Code: https://goo.gl/forms/HlgoPV6JF0GEGkbC2
• Parent of Student driver: https://goo.gl/forms/p975GVf783MWSEPE3
• Parent of Passenger: https://goo.gl/forms/WwO7uiE1iaIXMQYz2
• Parent of Distance Learning Student: https://goo.gl/forms/m45p3faG0PtHA72x1

Distance learning students will also need to complete this form:
• Distance Learning Student: https://goo.gl/forms/N1TRPZPzk4SfwUe53