Snow, snow, snow!

What a day! Off the ski field early today to shelter from the snow storm outside! Year 6 children are just about to hit the road to beat having to put our chains on to get down the mountain! We will be home a little earlier than expected, see you all at approximately 4.30pm. Looks like its going to be a boomer day tomorrow with lots of fresh snow for the year 5 children to ski on.

Ski Camp

Room 4 are having an amazing time at Coronet Peak! The year 6 children head home today after a great 3 days and the year 5 children have arrived today for their first day of camp! Here they are taking a break this afternoon to escape the snow that is now falling outside! 

Rooms 4 & 6 Swimming

Swimming will be on Tuesday and Friday mornings.  Room 4: 11 – 11:30 and Room 6:  11:30 – 12:00.  Unfortunately with such short notice we have been unable to plan other activities around the swimming programme and the pool has not been able to accommodate Room 6 on any other day than the Friday, which clashes every fortnight with their technology programme at The Terrace.

Room 4: Tuesday 27^th – those not on camp or attending the Central Otago Cross Country will swim at 11am along with the Room 6 students who are not at the Cross Country. You will walk with Ms Moeke.

Friday 30^th: Year 6 will swim at 11am – Mrs Eastwood will arrange this.

For the last 4 weeks of term we will swim Tuesday & Friday at 11am.

We will travel by car leaving the church carpark at 10:45am and return to school about 11:40am.  If you are available to assist with transport please complete the slip below.  Thank you.

Room 6: Tuesday 27^th – as for Room 4. Tuesdays 3, 10, 17, 24 September at 11:30am.

Fridays 30^th August and 27^th September at 11:30 am.

Room 6 will walk to and from the pool with Ms Moeke.

This year we are pleased that the programme being offered will have components of both the Swimsafe – learn to swim programme and the Riversafe programmes, and that we have 10 lessons compared to the 5 in past years.

Camp Costs

Thank you to the travelling parents who met in Room 4 last night and especially to Mark Hutton and Jimmy Martin who have arranged to check that chains fit over the weekend. Mark will be our tail end Charlie for the Year 6 group and Phillip Lord will travel in the tail end vehicle for Year 5.

Thank you also to Mary and Robyn who met again following that meeting to finalise the food, and a huge thank you to everyone else for their generosity with donations.

The costs for camp are: $300 for children and $200 for parents who are skiing. Thank you Selena and Michelle for working with Mrs Eastwood to sort out the distribution of the fundraising.  What an enormous amount has been raised, thank you to everyone who organised this. Mrs Eastwood has this on a spreadsheet and will contact people as to how much they need to pay.  It would be appreciated if this could be attended to by Friday.  Please remember that if anyone has difficulty with this that Mrs Eastwood or myself can be contacted.

If there is anyone still unable to find ski pants etc please let me know so that we can all look around for you.  Several people indicated yesterday that they do not have these essential items.

On the day of departure the driver of each vehicle will check their children's day packs for the items that must be carried for the day on the snow. Please check that everything from the list is in there and not packed with other gear, as we are not unpacking bags at the hut on arrival.

Hoping for beautiful days but snowy or snow making nights.

Central Otago Cross Country

Congratulations to the wonderful competition at our school cross country last week.  All that training paid off.  I felt very proud of everyone's efforts on the day.  Thank you too, to the parents who came and assisted as marshals - without your support we would not be able to run this event at such a great location.

Today Mrs Williams have given those selected for the Central Otago event information to take home.  Please be sure to get any return slips back to her as soon as possible. Will is the only year 6 student competing in this event this year, along with a good group of year 5's.  Good luck to you all.  we will be thinking of you from the hill above and hope to get text information about how you are going on the day.

Camp Notices

Thank you so much to those people who have attended to getting the notices back by the dates on the forms.  Organising a camp such as this is quite time consuming over and above keeping the programmes running in the classroom.

Mary and Robyn have met 3 times to sort the food, and even today, there are notices that were due back last Thursday, arriving on my table.  Thank you so much to everyone for their generosity, Mary or Robyn will contact you.  We will be well fed.

A reminder that baking for the year 5 days needs to be at school next Tuesday rather than this Friday - this way it will be fresher.

Tonight I am collating all the health information in preparation for completing the paperwork required, thank you to the 20 people who have brought their information back on time. If yours is still on the bench or perhaps in a back pack could you please get this to school tomorrow.

Camp Newsletter

Most things have fallen into place and we can now just hope that the snow and weather are favourable.Thank you to those of you who responded to the food donation request, your generosity will keep the camp costs down. Mary Naylor or Robyn Miller will ring you to confirm the items that can be sent to the box in Room 4.

Parent Helpers:

Year 6: Mary Naylor (not skiing), Mark Hutton, Paul Davidson, Cushla Kelly, Malcolm Bruce (Molly’s Dad) and Jimmy Martin.

Year 5: Robyn Miller (Kahn’s Mum, not skiing), Kathy Kelliher, John Sidon, Charlie O’Neill, Phillip Lord, Maree Denniston and Sam Williams.

As a condition of the approval of this camp the Board of Trustees requires that each driver has practised fitting chains prior to the camp. Mark Hutton who has a NZQA qualification for “fitting and removing vehicle chains” as well other unit standards for driving on snow and ice and operating 4WD vehicles will be used as our expert. Parents attending camp will cover this at our parent meeting. Drivers will be: Paul Davidson, Mark Hutton, Cushla Kelly, Malcolm Bruce, Jimmy Martin, Kathy Kelliher, Sam Williams, Robyn Miller, Maree Denniston and Charlie O’Neill. You will be advised prior to the trip whose vehicle your child will be travelling in.

What to bring:

Below is a list of clothing requirements for the trip.  The weather can be very changeable on our mountains so everyone should come well prepared.  It is suggested that if students do not have all of the following they should beg or borrow it for the trip. Maree Denniston tells me that she purchased ski gear from Trade Me that is too large for Jake that she would be happy to on-sell. Remember, several thin layers are better than one thick layer of clothing.  Please be sure that your child has sunscreen and sunglasses/goggles as the altitude, clear skies (we hope) and facing the snow all day leads to increased exposure of UV rays.

• 2 x polyprop or merino long johns underwear
• Jacket – waterproof AND windproof
• 2 pairs trousers/track pants NO JEANS
• Overtrousers (waterproof) or ski suit with polyprop/lycra or merino leggings
• 2 x Polyprops, skivvies or shirts, jersey (woollen/merino)
• 3 pairs socks, woollen if possible, a pair of thin socks (in the hut)
• 3 changes of undies,
• Hat or balaclava (woollen/polar fleece)
• Helmet
• Hi Visibility vest – I will acquire some for those who have not been issued one.
• Sunglasses and sunscreen factor 15 or above
• Gloves (waterproof) and a spare pair
• Sleeping bag, - sheet to cover the mattress, pillow
• 2 towels
• toilet gear – tooth brush, tooth paste, face cloth, brush/comb
• pyjamas
• slippers or runners for inside the hut
• gumboots or suitable older shoes for outside the hut.
• handkerchiefs/tissues, camera (optional) or i-pod (for photos only), 1 pencil, pen and rubber in a plastic bag – coloured pencils optional, 
• an indoor game to share and a book.
• Separate back pack - packed lunch and two drinks (sturdy drink bottles that will last), food for morning and afternoon snacks, 1 bag scroggin, hat, sun screen, gloves, goggles/sunglasses, hi visibility jacket, helmet attached.

Because of the altitude, cold temperatures and energy expended it is important that the students eat and drink plenty during the day so take plenty of food for the first day as well as those energy snacks to keep in pockets. Plenty of food and fluids are essential when skiing!!  A hearty snack will be provided each day about 4pm on the return to the hut.

Accommodation is at the Vincent Ski Hut, which is on the left just inside car park number 5.  Sleeping facilities are 2 bunkrooms with curtained off cubicles.  Parents will sleep amongst the students.  There is to be no food in the bunkroom area.

To be handed in at school on Friday 23^rd.

2 small named bags of scroggin, ice cream container of home baking (Year6), Year 5 bring your baking on Tuesday – Robyn will organise this.

Items not to be brought:

Radios, cellphones, walkmans, i-pods (for games), hand held computer games, chewing gum, sweets.

Medications:

Those students who indicated on their health forms that they require medication should bring spare supplies in a named plastic bag by Friday 23rd August– it will be carried as part of the 1^st aid kit.  Any medication administered while on camp will be recorded and parents informed on our return.

Cost:

The accommodation and food cost for parents will be covered within the costs of this camp, parents will pay for their own skiing. If anyone has any difficulties with this please remember that you may contact myself or Mrs Eastwood. As soon as the food budget is confirmed the exact cost for students and parents will be available. The estimate is $300 per student and $200 per skiing parent.  This needs to be paid to the school office by Friday 23^rd August please.

Parent Meeting Wednesday 21^st 7pm in Room 4, for those parents going on camp. Purpose: to share expectations, answer any questions, finalise travel arrangements and address BOT requirements regarding vehicles and chains.

Parental Consent/Emergency Contacts and Health Profile Forms are attached to the hard copy of this note.  Please complete these and hand in to the bag marked ‘camp notices’ no later than Tuesday 20^th August.

Any parents wishing to visit or come and ski for the day with us are welcome.

Camp Food

Mary, Robyn and I met on Friday regarding the food for camp after I had met with Barb from Clyde.  Their menu was very similar to that planned by the ‘food group’ last year for the Rail Trail camp.  Robyn and Mary then met at the weekend and have planned a great menu. We are trying to cater as economically but as nutritiously as possible.  Thank you to those people who offered to join the “food group”, but it was felt that fewer people meeting was easier.  Now is your chance to assist.

Breakfasts: each person is to bring their preferred cereal for breakfasts – perhaps in 2 small bags – a serving for each day.  There will be milk and fruit provided and bread/margarine for toast.  Please bring your own topping if you prefer something other than vegemite, jam or peanut butter.

Lunches: On Monday (year 6) and Wednesday (year 5) children need to bring a good lunch, a small bag of scroggin, nutritious snacks for morning and afternoon teas and a sturdy drink bottle that can be carried without leaking in the backpack.  Children will make their own lunches consisting of bread rolls (they customise their own), baking/muffin and fruit.  We will not be supplying muesli bars, so if your student wants these, please add them to the lunch box.

Evening Meals: Monday & Wednesday – sausages, mashed potatoes, mixed vegies and gravy, followed by dessert. Tuesday & Thursday- pasta with mince, bread rolls and dessert.

To allow us to reduce the food budget we would welcome donations of any of the following items: please don’t send these to school yet, as Mary or Robyn will contact you. That way we don’t end up with 10 jars of vegemite!  Please return the slip by Thursday.

Items that would be appreciated:

Vegemite, peanut butter, jam, multi packs of chippies, nachos, mince, sausages, large pizzas, butter, gladwrap, tin foil, dish cloths, dishwash detergent, pot scrub, tomato sauce, salad dressing or mayonnaise, carrots, potatoes (5kg) bananas, bacon & egg pies, home baking, muffins, popcorn, margarine, belgium (for lunches), eggs, grated cheese.

We are not expecting anyone to go overboard, but if you feel able to supply one or two items it would be much appreciated. 

Next Friday each child needs to bring, an ice cream container of home baking and 2 small named bags of scroggin.  These will be handed out each day as a nutritious snack for the lunch box.

Once these costings are finalised, camp costs will be sent home.  Thank you for considering this request.

School Cross Country

Friday 16th
All children need to wear school sports uniform. Children who have a school tracksuit at home need to wear these over top of their sport uniform. They may wear this to school instead of their school uniform. If your child does not have a school tracksuit they may wear appropriate sports gear. Please bring a drink bottle some extra snacks and lots of warm clothing on this day.

Children will walk back to school with their teachers at the conclusion of the races. If parents wish to take children home directly from the cross country please bring a note prior the event.

The track will be the same as last year as long as the conditions are good. We will not be running along Tucker Hill road this year and the children will be starting and finishing on the Rail Trail just over the Railway Bridge where we started and finished last year. Please park in the car park to your left directly across the Railway Bridge. The school will be congregating and sitting just along from here.

If you are able to help with marshalling please let Mrs Williams know ASAP.

Year 5 – 8 Non Competitive Boys (3 laps)

Year 5 – 8 Non Competitive Girls (3 laps)

Year 5 – 8 Competitive Boys (4 laps)

Year 5 – 8 Competitive Girls (4 laps)

Everyone has decided which race they are going to be competing in.

Competitive

-       Eligible for the cup

-       Must be willing to compete at Central Otago X Country (if not skiing)

-       Will be running a longer race than non – competitive

Non- Competitive

-       Not eligible for the cup

-       Cannot compete at Central Otago X Country

-       Will be running a shorter race than competitive