Tena Koutou Parents, Caregivers and Whanau.
Hello everyone,
Kia ora e hoa mä.
He aroha whakatō, he aroha ka puta mai.
If kindness is sown, then kindness is what you shall receive.
Waimea Speeches
Waimea Speeches were held yesterday in the Riversdale School Hall. We were very fortunate to have Viv Caughey and Jocelyn McKee judge the cluster competition. Congratulations to the children who presented their speeches. You all did a fantastic job.
Congratulations to the following children who will go on to compete at the Area Finals at NSC on Wednesday 2 September.
Year 7 and 8
1st Amelia Nicholson 2nd Jake Eden Year 5 and 6
1st Aiden McLean from Balfour School
2nd Lincoln McCormack from Waikaia School
Lloyd Esler Visit
The Year 7/8 students were extremely lucky to have Lloyd Esler visit them today. He came out to support their learning about 'Birds' in the local area. He has a wealth of knowledge about birds, including their special features, breeding patterns, feeding habits and nesting boxes.
Room 1 is currently researching information about birds in our local area and ways in which we can attract them, and increase their numbers. Our plan is to create birdhouses or nesting boxes to place in the local area, along with plants and quick growing shrubs and trees to attract more birds.
If you have an interest or passion in this area, and would like to support our learning further, please let the school know.
Does your child experience learning difficulties or do you feel they’re not fulfilling their potential?
You’re warmly invited to attend a Learning Differences Information Evening.
This information evening is open to parents and caregivers of children of all ages, specifically those whose children have not been formally diagnosed with any particular type of learning difficulty.
Educators will also find the information relevant and informative and are welcome to attend.
The evening will be facilitated by learning differences specialist Chris Cole who brings knowledge from her own personal story as a parent of navigating learning difficulties and the types of intervention available.
Some of the areas they will cover include Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Auditory Processing Disorder, Irlen’s Syndrome and Dyspraxia.
Come along and hear what this can mean for your child, your family, school and teachers.
Venue: Room 1, Riversdale School.
Date and Time: 8 September, 6:30pm until 8:00pm.
If you have any questions, please contact the school.
Riversdale School
Teachers-Aide Fixed Term, Part-time Position
The Riversdale School Board of Trustees is looking for a reliable, confidential person who loves working with children to support their learning.
This is a fixed term part-time position Monday to Thursday from 9:00am until 12:30pm, commencing on Monday 7 September and finishing on Friday 18 December 2020.
Please apply with a covering letter stating your strengths, brief Curriculum Vitae and the names of three referees to The Principal, office@riversdale.school.nz
Applications close Friday 28 August at 5:00pm.
Attendance Information for Parents
As per Ministry of Education guidelines, we must inform you when your child's attendance for the term has been below the expected 90%.
At the end of a school year:
Attendance is seen as Percentage Days/Weeks of school missed.
Acceptable 95% 10 days (2 weeks of school missed).
A concern 90% 20 days (4 weeks of school missed).
Critical concern 85% 30 days (6 weeks of school missed).
Very serious 80% 40 days (8 weeks of school missed).
DID YOU KNOW?
If a student misses 5 school days each term, or one day a fortnight, they will miss the equivalent of one year of school over 10 years.
Coming Up This Term …
Monday 24 August - Home and School Meeting, 7.30pm in the School staffroom. All welcome.
Thursday 27 August - Rugby Breakup at the sportsgrounds after school.
Wednesday 2 September - Speeches Area Finals, NSC starting at 6.30pm.
Thursday 3 September - Sarah, Sports Activator, working with all children.
Tuesday 8 September - Chris Cole, Learning Differences meeting at 6:30pm.
Wednesday 16 September - Speeches, Grand Final, Winton, 6.30pm.
Monday 21 September - Board Meeting, 7.30pm.
Thursday 24 September - Community Assembly in the School Hall at 1.30pm (if Level 1). Host Room 7.
Friday 25 September - Last day of Term 3.
Home and School Meeting
There will be a Home and School meeting on Monday 24 August in the School Staff Room. Everyone is welcome. Please come along to support the Home and School and hear about what is happening for the rest of the year.
Covid Level 2 Information
Please ensure you sign in when visiting school using either the sign in sheets located at entrances or the QR code.
This is the most up to date information that has been issued by the Ministry of Education.
All of New Zealand excluding Auckland region Alert Level 2 applies from midday, Wednesday 12 August.
At Alert Level 2 it is safe for all students, children and staff to attend school and early learning. There will be appropriate precautions in place.
Children and staff who are at higher-risk of severe illness are encouraged to take additional precautions when leaving home.
Please be alert to illness and ask anyone who is presenting as unwell to go home, or ask parents and caregivers to come and pick the child up.
Messaging about good hand hygiene and cough and sneeze etiquette to be reinforced.
Soap and water is very appropriate for washing hands, particularly if hand sanitiser stocks are low.
For schools, children, young people and staff should be far enough away from each other so that they are not breathing on or touching each other, coupled with good hygiene practices and regular cleaning of commonly touched surfaces. There does not need to be a specific measurement but where practicable and reasonable 1 metre can be used as a guide, particularly between adults.
In early learning there does not need to be a measurable physical distance between children/ tamariki or children/tamariki and staff. However adults should where practicable use 1 metre as a guide between themselves and other adults.
Physical distancing of 2 metres is recommended for parents and caregivers, from people they don’t know (to align with public health measures outside the school grounds).
School hostels will continue to operate for those boarders who are unable to safely return home. See the Alert Level 2 guidance for hostels as a reminder of what is required.
Support your community by displaying the QR code posters for the NZ COVID Tracer App.
Masks are not required at schools and early learning services at Alert levels 2 and 3.
