Despite our best efforts to try and accommodate the swimming sports, after consultation with the BP Principals and Council, we are cancelling the BP Swimming Sports for Term One. This event will be put forward to Term Four and parents advised of the date as soon as it is available. We regret having to make this decision but with the Level 4 Water restrictions in place as well as an increasingly full school calendar, we have had no choice but to cancel. Thank you for your understanding

This is now scheduled for Friday 6 March
This date is also the postponement date for the Lincoln Zone swimming which takes place on Monday 2 March. If the Lincoln Zones do not go ahead and are pushed out to Friday 6 March, the BP event will be postponed again as Lincoln Zones takes priority.
Apologies for the constantly changing dates but we are subject to Council restrictions and the weather.

CCHS swimming
Good luck to our students who are competing in CCHS swimming tomorrow (Tuesday).

Camps
Well done to all staff and students who participated in camps last week, the feedback overall was very positive. A wee reminder that we are still accepting contributions at the office or by bank transfer.

BP Swimming
After consulting with the other BP Principals and in light of the water restrictions, the following decisions have been made:

Year 1-4 event
This will now be an ‘in school’ event, with each school hosting their own event for their Year 1-4 students. Akaroa Area School will have ours in Term 4.

Years 5-8
This is now scheduled for Friday 28 February SUBJECT TO COUNCIL RESTRICTIONS.
The postponement date is Friday 6 March. This date is also the postponement date for the Lincoln Zone swimming which takes place on Monday 2 March. If the Lincoln Zones do not go ahead and are pushed out to Friday 6 March, the BP event will be postponed again as Lincoln Zones takes priority.
Apologies for the constantly changing dates but we are subject to Council restrictions and the weather.

Mufti
This Friday 28 February is a mufti day – gold coin donation.

Teacher Only Days
We would like to remind you that we have 2 days this term where staff will be undertaking staff training and the school will be closed on Monday 2 March (next Monday) and Friday 13 March.

We have been asked to pass on the following messages:

Seeking house to rent
WANTED TO RENT 3 bedroom house for a family with 2 school aged children in or around akaroa. Please call 0277538035.

School based Vaccination programme
Please see attached notice re HPV vaccination (Year 8).

Community HUI #2
Providing a platform for constructive conversation.
Thursday 27th February
6-8pm @ The Gaiety
Please see attached notice

Messy Church
Family fun and Fish’n’Chips. ‘Messy Church’ will be hosting an afternoon for families at the Main Beach in Akaroa on Sunday 1st March from 4-6pm. Kayaks, boats, boogie boards, build a sand castle, swim or join in with some ball games on the beach. All welcome. Alternative activities will be held at the Trinity Church Hall if the weather is unsuitable.

Junior Assembly Tuesday 18 February
There will be a Junior Hub sharing assembly on Tuesday 18th February at 9 am. It will be a great chance for Pohatu and Hinewai to share their Outside the Classroom Experiences from week 2. All welcome.

BP Swimming Sports
In consultation with the Council, in order to conserve water, we have decided to postpone the BP Swimming sports Years 1-4 this Friday.
We are going to roll over dates so they will look like this:
Friday 28 February: Years 1-4
Friday 6 March: Years 5-8

Camps
Year 9 and 10 have departed this morning for Craigieburn camp.
Years 7 and 8 go to Onuku on Wednesday. Please make sure your child brings items from the gear list and food to the classroom on Wednesday morning.

La Grande Swim
This sea swimming event takes place in Akaroa on 22 February. As well as adult competitions, children from age 7 can take part. See here for more information: https://oceanswim.co.nz/events/la-grande-swim/

Junior Hub Assembly
We would like to invite you to a Junior Hub sharing assembly on Tuesday 18th February at 9 am. It will be a great chance for Pohatu and Hinewai to share their Outside the Classroom Experiences from week 2. We look forward to seeing you next week.

Hinewai Camp
Thanks for a successful Camp Wainui 2020! The students had a great time and enjoyed their experience of staying in Wainui and sleeping in cabins. They all worked together as a team and thrived on camp. 
A big thank you to those parents that helped out on camp, Chris McLaughlin, Brent Robertson and Charlotte Oborne, we couldn’t have done it without you.
The pupils loved doing the Flying Kiwi, Flying Fox, Raft building and Coasteering. Please check the school’s Facebook page for the latest photos.
A gentle reminder that some student’s contributions of $100 are still outstanding. Can you please pay at the office.

Parents Association First Meeting Invite
The Akaroa Area School parents association is holding its first meeting for 2020 on Wednesday 19 February at 2pm, at school. If you would like to get involved with this small but enthusiastic group, please do come along!  
There will be no expectation of work, commitment or responsibilities. We’d love to hear your ideas for fundraising and social events and any other areas that we can assist to strengthen the school community to help make sure our children are happy and thriving at school.
If you’re keen but can’t make it to this meeting, please contact Charlotte Helps or send an email to the school office.

School Jackets
We are putting a list together for a school jacket order so can you please let the office know if you would like to order one.

Headphones
The school has a small stock of Moki headphones for sale for only $10. Please contact the office if you are interested.

House T Shirts
We are missing a number of these tops, can you please return them if they have come home by mistake.

Out of cellphone range
Could you please let the school office know if your usual daytime location is out of cellphone range so that we can keep a record of this in our emergency box.

House Swimming Postponed
Due to the water restrictions in Akaroa we want to conserve water as much as possible so house swimming sports due to take place on Friday have been postponed (date TBC).

Start of year and camp forms
We are still awaiting completion of start of year forms for a number of students. We need this to be completed ASAP to ensure all our records are up to date. Camp forms need to be completed in advance if your child is on year 7-8 camp/ year 9-10 camp or diving course. Contributions for camps can be made at the office/ direct transfer/ automatic payment.

Payments
Information went out at the start of year detailing expected contributions throughout the year. If you are concerned about payments please talk to the office or teachers as there are ways in which we can support you.

Counsellor
Frank Woods will be here again on Wednesday. Please follow the process outlined last week to make an appointment.

We have been asked to forward the following information:

React to Plastic – Jeremy Buchanan
See attached flyer for “RRR-React to Plastic” workshop on Tuesday 3 March. 7-9pm

Community Hui – Kerry Little
Just a wee reminder around the next Community Hui.  The data from November has been collated and will be presented.  Your input is valuable and your voice important in greater strengthening our Community and exploring ways to work cohesively for the betterment of all.
This is Community driven…. for and by Community. Thursday 27th Feb, 6-8pm

Gaiety Players Perform Classes 2020 – Brigid Rennell
The Gaiety Players Perform classes start for 2020 next week on Mon 10th. Check out our newsletter (attached) for all the details. Come along and have loads of fun with drama, singing and movement.

Waitangi Day – Thursday
School will be closed on Thursday (6 February) for Waitangi day.

Athletics Day – Friday
House athletics (years 7 – 13) will take place at the Rec Ground on Friday & February from 9.30am. Everyone is welcome to come and watch. There will not be any lunch passes so all students should bring a substantial, healthy packed lunch and waterbottle. Students can wear their PE gear to school. Remember to bring sunscreen and a hat.

Start of year, camp consent forms and contributions
All students need to have a start of year form completed by caregiver. Without this we may not be aware of current medical info, contact details and your child will not be able to attend camps and trips.
Please complete here if not already done: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdH1IHGa-r1u1c3Xtltuk-pq0YJvFpnq-e00eNJxID6tJtu4A/viewform
We still need some consent forms to be filled for camps (year 7&8, 9&10, diving course. Please fill these in as soon as possible if not already completed. The form links are on the website under events/ start of year.
Contributions for camp can be paid at the office (cash/card – no credit) or to school bank account. If you would like to set up an automatic payment but not sure how much to pay please contact Sharon and she can help predict the level of payment to meet requested contributions through the year.

House Swimming sports – next week
The house swimming sports for years 7-13 are on the calendar for next Tuesday (11 February). Due to water restrictions in Akaroa we need to monitor the pool water level and will confirm on Monday.

Teacher only Days
The following is a list of planned Teacher only Days for 2020 (to be confirmed). We will inform you of any changes:
· 2 March (Tipu Maia Community of Learning)
· Friday 13 March (Centrally funded Professional Learning Development)
· Tuesday 28 April (Centrally funded Professional Learning Development)
· Tuesday 2 June (Centrally funded Professional Learning Development)
· Thursday 6 August (Canterbury Cluster)
· Monday 10 August (Centrally funded Professional Learning Development)
· Friday 25 September (internal planning) TBC
· Tuesday 27 October (internal planning) TBC
· Thursday 19 November (Canterbury Cluster)

Parents Association
The parents association will be having their first meeting of 2020 he week after next. They are a small group but have had a very successful first year organising many social and fundraising events for the school community. They would welcome more people to either become members or to assist with individual social or fundraising events. If you want to help please email the office or contact the members through the Akaroa Area School Family and Friends Facebook page.