1. education
2. school

Longitude Place, Whitby,
PORIRUA 5024
Tel: 04 234-7220, Fax: 04 234-7113
office@adventure.school.nz
www.adventure.school.nz
Newsletter No 1 – Thursday 12th February 2015
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Dear Parents / Caregivers
Welcome
Welcome back to everyone for 2015. I hope you have all had a great holiday, are rested and relaxed and looking forward to
the new school year. We were treated to some unusually consistent hot, still and sunny weather for about three weeks in the
New Year, across the whole country; so it is great to be starting back at school, for once, not feeling that we have been
cheated out of a summer. Psychologically and emotionally we should all be in a very good space. As we are one of the
schools that break up on the last day available in December and therefore start on the last day allowable in February it must
have seemed like the Christmas holidays were never ending. I certainly got that feeling as I wandered along a Wellington
waterfront festooned with school uniforms for several days before we started; however, now we are back.
We start the year with three new teachers in our school. In Totara syndicate we have Michelle Kevern (Rm 15) who comes to
us from Southland Girls High and in Rimu we have Anna Bullock (Rm 14) who is the syndicate leader and comes to us from
Maidstone Intermediate and Jennifer Dee (Rm 12) who comes by way of Scots Preparatory School and Porirua College.
Although not new to the school, this is Amy Churchill’s (Rm 2) first full time teaching appointment. I am delighted with our
appointments and the very positive start to the 2015 school year. Our new teachers bring with them a range of high end skill,
underpinned by a history of good practise and experience. I am excited about what lies ahead of us this year.
Needless to say, it was difficult to locate an unhappy face among parents last Thursday, or the children I must say. There was
a great atmosphere in the hall as we welcomed our new staff, pupils and parents at the Powhiri; it has made for a very
positive and feel - good start.
A special welcome to these new students and their families: Keira Robertson, Zoe Grant-Fargie, Connor Alderdice-Sole, Stella
and Ollie McLean, Lukas Wengrzik, Amelia Tricker, Patrick Bower, Georgia Lawrence, Breanna McGregor, Andrew Aristarkov,
Eilidh and Caelan Davidson, Max Walker, Stevie Bowyer, Lucy Katene, Henry and Joseph McCulloch, Brylee Browne, Cody
Russell, Logan Bennett, Damon and Erika Rowe, Sydney Lambert, Zuleika Isaako and Lucas Billingham.
Philosophy
As the ancient Roman philosopher Seneca observed, "If a man knows not what harbour he seeks, any wind is the right wind."
If we don't have an agreed upon goal or focus for our efforts, then as individuals within a group, we are left to our own
devices, to make our own direction and eventually believe that the path taken is the only right and true one.
Education in the 21st century is a complex proposition. We are essentially preparing individuals for a future that hasn't yet
been imagined. We are also presented with a multitude of different routes to take to achieve this goal. We are constantly
being reminded by consultants and experts that the directions taken only a few years ago are now unsuitable for the needs
of our children. This can be confusing for teachers, students and parents alike, but it is something that we as professionals
have to navigate if, as Seneca observed, we are to find the right harbour.
Our holistic philosophy supports the education of the whole child through offering as many learning experiences and
opportunities that we can. A major part of educating for the future requires us to equip our students with the knowledge,
understanding and skills they will need to be lifelong learners, in an increasingly digital society. We strive to provide a
learning environment that engages all students and accelerates their learning. We do this by providing the tools and
underpinning pedagogy and opportunities that sustain continual improvement in teacher capability and practice.
We also believe that there is much to be gained by holding on to some of the older traditions in teaching and learning for life.
Instilling in our children from the day they start school a belief in our values of respect, integrity, personal excellence,
participation, empathy and resilience means they are expected to live these values every day; therefore RIPPER is an organic
living thing not just a catchy acronym. We want our students to become active and positive members of their local, national
and global communities. These ethics are sustained then by the RIPPER values that pervade everything we do at school.
But we still keep an eye to both the present and future. Over the past year we have done much to improve our digital
infrastructure and we are now integrating more eLearning tools into our daily practice. iPads have already become useful
tools for bringing concepts alive in a number of curriculum areas. They are also providing many new and exciting avenues
through which students can express and record their ideas. Chromebooks were useful additions to our senior pilot classes
last year. We are now geared to roll this pilot out across the remaining classes. The chromebooks have proved to be
invaluable tools for researching, collaborating and sharing work. They provide a great portal to a myriad of eLearning tools,
with many also offering parents opportunities to directly support and encourage their child's learning.
Developing children’s individual talents, creativity and self-esteem are fundamental to our philosophy. The positive
relationship between the staff and pupils is a feature of our school. Children need to be safe, secure and supported so that
they feel confident to take risks in their learning. Our talented and dedicated teachers and support staff are passionate about
improving the learning of all students by providing classroom environments in which they can flourish. We are proud of our
school and our students are our best advocates.
We believe learning should be fun, and should impart a sense of accomplishment and ownership. Our challenge is to ensure
our students retain their motivation to ask questions, and to give them an educational foundation that empowers them to
make sense of their world and control their destiny. We foster life skills, including work and study habits, so our students can
embrace life and learning with a strong degree of agency, independence and self-discipline.
School Satisfaction Survey
During term four last year the BOT provided the opportunity for parents to respond to a school satisfaction survey. We were
provided with very useful feedback and the results tell us that there is a lot that the school can be very proud of. There are
also things within our school environment that we need to look at in order to better serve the needs of our community. I
want to thank all the parents and caregivers who took the time to respond to the survey.
Sun Hats
A reminder that it is our policy to ensure that children wear sun hats during terms one and four. This year there has been
plenty of sun and the prospect is that there will be plenty more to keep our kids safe from. Children without sun hats are
required to stay within the shady areas of the school. We appreciate your co-operation and support in this area. We do
accept that there are days when 150 knot winds, extensive cloud cover and driving rain allow for some discretion, hopefully
there won’t be too many of these in this term.
Severe Food Allergy
We have children with severe and life threatening allergies to nuts attending Adventure School. If these children come into
contact with nuts or nut products, even by touching some nut residue left on surfaces, they can have a life threatening
allergic reaction. The school needs to take every practical precaution to avoid a severe reaction and keep these children safe.
Please do not send nuts or nut products along to school (including peanut butter or Nutella sandwiches). We appreciate your
understanding in this matter. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me directly.
Uniform
We have a school uniform that we are proud of and that our students are very proud to wear and one that they look great in.
It is always good at the start of the year to ensure that variations to the uniform don’t start creeping in. To that end I would
urge vigilance in ensuring that our children are coming to school in correct and proper uniform. This will assist us enable in
maintaining the high standards of dress that we are used to at this school.
Dogs
This is a reminder that dogs are not permitted to be in the school grounds unless they are working dogs, in school to support
specific school programmes (e.g. Police Dogs; Seeing Eye Dogs). This is a protection for all concerned. As a principal, if a child
is attacked or even frightened by a dog while they are at school or leaving the school grounds, I am held responsible. As a dog
owner, if the dog attacks or frightens a pupil there is a possible legal consequence and, of course, at all times the risk to the
safety of our children needs to be mitigated.
Road Safety
Our school road patrol wardens operate outside the school gate and further down Longitude Place at The Mainsail from just
before 3pm until 3.15pm. Our road patrollers are becoming more confident in their role and are applying more authority
when calling parents and children to cross the road. In the interests of the safety of your children and in support of our
wardens, please make sure that you cross at the appointed area and wait to cross until invited by the road patrollers. Outside
the school gate there are two cones to indicate the crossing area. If parents and children are crossing to the other side of
Longitude Place and not getting into parked cars then we ask that you walk right around the loop as there is no patrolled area
beyond the car parks.
Please remember not to park across the school drive or on the bus stops. You are able to drop off and pick up from the bus
stops as long as buses are not in the vicinity. My understanding is that we will lose the drop off and pick up privilege if bus
drivers complain about cars being in the parks when they are trying to park.
The school drive is closed between 2.45pm and 3.15pm and we ask that parents do not park in the school parks or attempt to
use the the drive during this period.
Like most school zones this is a high density traffic area immediately before and after school. We need to be mindful of our
neighbours and not upset them by parking on yellow lines or across driveway's. Lastly, please do not use the school carpark
before or after school as too many children are walking through the area at this time.
We have an issue with cars parking on the grass verges on Longitude Place, particularly in the mornings before school. On the
one hand we are getting complaints from residents but more seriously, when cars manoeuvre to get back on to the road,
children who are walking on the footpath are at risk as are other vehicles as they come around the loop. I know before and
after school it is always a problem with parking. Most schools have these issues but I am going to have to ask you to be
patient and park legally.
The major issue, of course, is the safety of our children on the road before and after school and this is what we are trying to
protect.
Parent Meet and Greet
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This will take place on Wednesday the 25 February starting at 6pm in the school hall. The purpose of this meeting is to put
names to faces, introduce each syndicate and to impart some information about important school strategies for 2015. More
specific details will follow.
Term Dates 2015
Term 1
Term 2
Term 3
Term 4
Thursday 5th Feb – Thursday 2nd April (9 weeks)
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Monday 20 April – Friday 3 July (11 weeks)
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Monday 20 July – Friday 25 September (10 weeks)
Monday 12 October – Thursday 17th December (10 weeks)
Important Events Term 1
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Friday 13 Feb
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Monday 16 Feb
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Wednesday 18 Feb
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Thursday19 Feb
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Wednesday 25 Feb
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Wednesday 25 Feb
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Friday 27 Feb
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Tuesday 3 – Friday 6 March
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Tuesday 3 March
Wednesday 4th March
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Friday 13 March
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Monday 16 March
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Tuesday 17 March
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Wednesday 18 March
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Wednesday 18 March
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Friday 20 March
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Friday 20 March
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Monday 23 March
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Tuesday 24 March
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Wednesday 25 March
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Thursday 26 March
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Friday 27 March
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Tuesday 31 March
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Tuesday 31 March
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Wednesday 1 April
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Wednesday 1 April
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Thursday 2 April
Assembly 2pm (Totara)
BOT meeting 7pm
PTNi meeting 7.30pm
House Captain elections
Year 8 girls Gardasil injections
Parent / Teacher Meet and Greet 6pm
Assembly 2pm (Kowhai)
Rimu Camp
RIPPA Rugby Year 3-4 girls
Island Bay Marine trip (Nikau)
Assembly 2pm (Nikau)
Year 5-8 Athletic Sports
RIPPA Rugby Year 5-6
RIPPA Rugby Year 5-6 pp
Capital E Arts Festival (Totara)
Year 5-8 Athletic Sports pp
Duathlon 5pm
Parumoana Athletics
Year 1-4 Athletic Sports
Parumoana Athletics pp
Year 1-4 Athletic Sports pp
Assembly 2pm (Rimu)
Parumoana Athletics pp
RIPPA Rugby Year 7-8 girls
RIPPA Rugby Year 7-8 girls pp
Kowhai New Parents Information evening 7pm
First Reports sent home
Staffing 2015
Principal
John Wootton
Deputy Principal Tania Cox
Assistant Principal Diane Pepperell (Kowhai Syndicate Leader)
Kowhai Syndicate (Years 1 – 2)
Rm 1
Rm 2
Rm 4
R9
Rm 10
Y1 Toni Bennett
Y1 Amy Churchill
Y1 Cathy Marshall
Y2 Diane Pepperell / Vanessa Clarke
Y2 Barbara Watson
Nikau Syndicate (Years 3 – 4)
Room 5 Y3/4 Rosalie Anso
Room 6 Y3/4 Elizabeth Chater
Room 7 Y3/4 Pippa Barrett
Room 8 Y3/4 Keren Matthews
Room 19 Y3/4 Zita Mckendry – Nikau Senior Teacher
Rimu Syndicate (Years 5 – 6)
Room 11
Room 12
Room 13
Room 14
Y5/6 Carl McManaway
Y5/6 Jennifer Dee
Y5/6 Adam Williamson
Y5/6 Anna Bullock – Rimu Senior Teacher
Totara Syndicate (Years 7 – 8)
Room 15 Y7/8 Michelle Kevern
Room 16 Y7/8 Mark Hughes - Totara Senior Teacher
Room 17 Y7/8 Jacqui Watts-Pointer
Library
Room 18 Catherine Day
Part Time Teaching Staff
Diane Dutch, Nicola Smith, Vanessa Clark
Teacher Aides Support Programmes
Sharyn Woodmass, Catherine Day, Denise Strachan, Jackie Johnson, Andrea Matheson
Clerical Staff
Financial Officer/BOT Secretary
Office Manager
Clerical Assistant
- Jean Hutchinson
-Sharon Arrell
- Sally Rose (Fridays)
Custodian Services (Mikaele Pule)
Caretaker 8.15am – 12.30pm, Cleaner 1.30 – 6.30pm
Adventure School Board of Trustees
John Wootton - Principal
Tania Cox (acting)- Staff Representative
Jenny Miller
- Chair
Mark Harris
- Deputy Chair
Rob Old
- Parent Rep
Shona Elgar
- Parent Rep
Darryl Pollard
- Parent Rep
Julian Smith
- Parent Rep
Community Notices
ANZ WHITBY FAMILY FUN DAY 2015
Sunday February 22nd, 12pm till 4pm. Adventure Park, Whitby
Come along for an afternoon of family activities.
Live music, Kelly Sports, Iron man, food, Police dogs, emergency vehicles, bouncy castles and so much more.
Call Becky Mitchell if you would like to be involved. Phone 234 7875
Western Suburbs Football Club 2015 Registration Days
Mighty Midgets, Juniors and Seniors (all grades):
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Monday 9 February
5.30pm – 8.00pm at Endeavour Park Clubrooms, Whitby
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Tuesday 10 February
5.30pm - 8.00pm
at Endeavour Park Clubrooms, Whitby
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Thursday 12 February 5.30pm – 8.00pm
at Endeavour Park Clubrooms, Whitby
For further information about our Club, please visit our website at www.westernsuburbs.co.nz
Forms for online registration will be available on our website just prior to the above dates
Please note that fees must be paid at the time of registration.
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Junior grades 9 to 14 need to have registered and paid by Thursday 12 February in order to take part in trials.
MANA MUSIC CENTRE
Instrument Tuition for Primary/Intermediate Children
Enrolment Day Saturday 14th February 2015 10.30 am – 12 pm at Discovery School and Maraeroa School
Instruments include: Recorder, Piano/Keyboard, Clarinet, Saxophone, Flute, Violin, Guitar,
Music Appreciation is also taught. (Age restrictions do apply to some instruments.) Lessons are $15 per Term
For further information please phone 0226466503
Mana Montessori Fair 28 February
Mana Montessori would like to invite you to their annual Fair on Saturday 28th February between 12 noon and 2pm in
Albatross Close, Whitby. There will be a cafe with some fantastic baked items, some great craft stalls, pre-loved toys and fun
activities for the kids. Check out 'Mana Montessori Fair' on Facebook for all the details and we look forward to seeing you
there.
Fencing at Tawa Swords Club
For students aged 9 and older as after-school classes. Holiday sessions are also offered.
Contact Susan Tel: 04-9383090, Mob: 021-0276 1922, Email: comgt@paradise.net.nz
Susan is an experienced teacher and fencing coach. The sessions are fun and participants always achieve growth in personal
development while developing excellent fencing skills.
Kids Triathlon on Sunday March 15th 2015
Plimmerton School will be organising a Kids Triathlon on Sunday March 15th 2015. They will be sending out entry forms soon
if uou would like to enter.
Cheerleading term starts this week at 10 Manchester St Parapraumu
A really fun way of gaining for co ordination, fitness strength team work and discipline .
The best free trial times at the moment are Friday afternoons or for the very young Saturday mornings,
Contact us on allstarvictory@gmail.com or call /text Julie 02765626021 , 044773107
Arts a Go Go! Performing Arts School for Kids
Award winning classes running at the Redwood Club in Tawa. “Introduction to Arts a Go Go!” - A one hour class of dance,
drama and singing for 4 and 5 year olds. “Performing Arts Combo Class” - A two hour class of dance, drama and singing for
students aged 6 to teens. (Wait list may apply) For more details, please see www.artsagogo.co.nz, find us on
Facebook www.facebook.com/artsagogo, email Rachel@artsagogo.co.nz or text or ring021 144 1641.
The 15th annual Photo Competition run by The Guardians of Pauatahanui Inlet (GOPI), is now under way.
To encourage young photographers to enter the competition, a free photography workshop is being offered on Sunday 22nd
February. The workshop is open to anyone under the age of 18 years who is planning to enter the competition.
Please talk to your children about this wonderful chance to improve their photography skills. All they need to bring is a
camera, appropriate clothes and a bottle of water. We will gather at Stout Cottage, in Pauatahanui Wildlife Reserve,
(entrance in Pauatahanui Village) at4.30pm. The workshop lasts about three hours. Registration is essential.
You will find the registration form on the website www.gopi.org.nz/photo-competition/
Should you need to contact a member of GOPI you could phone 04 233 2557 and leave a message, or
email pauainlet@gmail.com.
Art /Craft Classes for 9-12 year olds. All skill levels welcome. Various media and techniques will be explored.
Sessions: Wednesdays or Thursdays, 3..30 - 5pm at my home studio in Porirua.. Cost: $15.00 per session (includes all
materials). Limited spaces!!! For more info Contact: Denise 0272377042