Dear Parents

Today we officially opened the new Junior School classrooms. The junior school children, staff and Board of Trustees together with past and present staff members and parents were present as Mrs Sue Slater officially declared the classrooms open.

It was a privilege to welcome everyone to the school but particularly Sue and her husband Keith. They have been at the heart of our school for almost 30 years first as parents and then for Sue as a teacher.

It was also an opportunity to thank parents for their generous and continued support of our school and in particular our BOT, a group of people without whom we wouldn’t have a building to open. They work tirelessly on our behalf to help me, and the staff, run our great school. All of our existing trustees were with us on this very special day and Rob Hamilton, our new Chairman of the Board of Trustees, gave a short speech of thanks to our guests.

Koro Percy, who has been a friend to our school for very many years, gave a welcome, blessing and prayer, which was answered in turn by our children who sang two beautiful songs about family and school.

Mrs Slater then officially cut the ribbon and unveiled a plaque outside of Room 14 and declared the Mrs Sue Slater Junior Rooms open. The honour of having this building named after her was fully deserved as for 23 years she was at the heart of Victoria Avenue School. It was an emotional moment.

Last year the school and children had their own private opportunity to farewell Sue in a very special way. Gifts, songs, speeches, 23 flowers from 23 children to represent each special year of her life that she had dedicated to our school; and one very unique book – ‘Where is Mrs Slater’ written and illustrated by the children. Sue has one copy the other is in our school library; if you haven’t seen it before please have a read.

Today’s ceremony was a public recognition of Sue’s time with us here. We felt that such service and dedication to VAS required a more permanent thank you. It was therefore appropriate, that at a time we were embarking on a new building, dedicated to our youngest children, that it should be permanently associated with one of the junior school’s greatest advocates, Mrs Slater.

Canterbury Earthquake
Like all New Zealand communities we have been shocked this week by the devastating earthquake that hit the Canterbury region on Tuesday. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been touched by these events and particularly for those families who have lost loved ones.

There is an overwhelming sense of sadness at what has happened and helplessness at our inability to ‘do something’ to help. Over the past few days, staff, children and parents have all discussed ‘what can we do?’

I wanted to make you aware of a few of the local and national initiatives that you may be able to contribute to.

1. Children’s Health Camps – These camps, there are seven around the country, are run by The New Zealand Foundation for Child and Family Health and Development. Koro Percy, who is well known to our school, is Kaumatua at the Pakuranga Children’s Health Camp. They are currently asking for donations of items such as children’s clothing and personal toiletries. They are preparing themselves to accept displaced and vulnerable children from Christchurch (their Christchurch Camp has been damaged). If anyone would like to donate items they can be delivered direct to the Pakuranga Camp at 1-9 Pigeon Mountain Road, Half Moon Bay. (Tel 534 4017)

2. Warriors Fundraiser - Sport fans are encouraged to get along to Albany's North Harbour Stadium this Saturday night. The Vodafone Warriors will play the Manly Sea Eagles at 6pm and all profits generated through gate sales will go to relief efforts in the South Island. Red Cross volunteers will also work their way through the crowd collecting donations.

3. New Zealand Red Cross - New Zealand Red Cross has launched the "New Zealand Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Appeal". All funds will be used towards the New Zealand Red Cross response to the disaster, including transport and provision of goods.

Donations to this appeal can be made to:
• Online at www.redcross.org.nz/donate
• By cheque to: New Zealand Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Appeal, Freepost 232690, PO Box 12140, Thorndon, Wellington 6144
• By Direct Credit Transfer to Kiwibank 38-9009-0759479-00 and the account name is RED CROSS.
• By Direct Credit Transfer to the Special Appeals Bank Account: ASB 12-3192-0015998-02
• At any branch of PostShop Kiwibank, ASB and ANZ bank

I am conscious that over the next month we are asking for many donations of goods from families for our Gala. These dates are planned out and advertised weekly in our newsletter, gala flyers and on the calendar. However we also feel that it is appropriate to show our own support for the Earthquake Appeal.

Earlier today the APPA (Auckland Primary Principals Association) recommended that every Auckland school hold a “Red-And-Black Christchurch Support Day” fundraising day on Friday 4 March, with the funds raised to be given to the CPPA (Canterbury Primary Principals' Association) for their use and distribution to Christchurch primary and intermediate schools.

We have decided to support this proposal in the following way:
Over the next week if anyone would like to make any monetary donations through school there will be a collection box in the office area. Next Friday we will then send this money directly to the APPA appeal. Furthermore as we have already organised a gala mufti day (Bring your Sweets!!) on 4th March we will encourage the children to wear Red and Black mufti if possible.
 

A few parents have asked about our school emergency procedures and in particular about arrangements for collection of children. I want to reassure you all that there are plans and procedures in place for emergency situations and that under no circumstances would any child be released to make their own way home. We will always keep children under the supervision of staff until a parent or caregiver was able to collect them.

School Hats
As you are aware at the start of term we had some difficulties with sourcing, sizing and the distribution of the new Sunsafe school hats. The hats have been available to purchase, and try on in your child’s classroom, over the past week.

Originally we had stated that we expected all students to be wearing the hats by the end of February (next Monday) and that after that the old style hats would not be acceptable. It has not yet been possible to arrange for all families to purchase a hat for their child. As we do not want to put undue pressure on families, because of the unforeseen delays, we are relaxing this stipulation for a further week or two.

We would like every family to support the school uniform policy and ensure their child has a new school sunsafe hat, and is wearing it, as soon as possible.

Comments such as “my child won’t wear it” are both unhelpful and unacceptable. Last year when we surveyed parents regarding uniform there was overwhelming support for the introduction of the new hat so we ask that you help us achieve this aim.

At this point orders are up to date and hats in stock and so we ask every family who has not yet done so to please organise your child’s new sunhat as soon as possible. At present we are happy for children to be wearing a school hat, old or new style, however wish to achieve our goal of having every child in a new hat in the near future.

Kind regards
Allan Short
Principal