Term 3 No 6 - 8 September 2011
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Dear Parents
On returning to my desk last Thursday afternoon the first thing I noticed was a particularly inviting chocolate ‘treat’ that had apparently been left for me (Hurrah!) On closer inspection I saw that sitting unobtrusively underneath was a small card, with the phrase “you’ve been RAK’d – pass it on”. I was blissfully unaware that September 1st was National RAK Day. (RAK – Random Acts of Kindness)
Well the result of this pleasant surprise was threefold. Firstly (I’m sure you will understand it had been a tough day) I sat down and enjoyed afternoon tea! Secondly – I did indeed pass it on (not the chocolate bar but the sentiment and action) and thirdly it made me reflect on some previous related readings and actions.
In a previous newsletter, a few years ago, I discussed the similar message in two quite separate readings. In the first, noted brain research expert Eric Jensen discussed recent research findings about the connection between stress and gratitude. Whilst it is well known that exercise can reduce stress, so can many other things, including cultivating an attitude of gratitude. It is, according to UC Davis scientist Dr. Emmons, a "chosen attitude." He says we must be willing to recognize and acknowledge our blessings, wherever they come from. If we roll up our sleeves and commit ourselves to becoming grateful, we will see that with gratitude comes greater happiness and less stress.
The other reading was from the book "The Power of Small: Why little things make all the difference" by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval. They state that: ‘Getting noticed in a meaningful way is less about the grand gesture and more about the small, thoughtful things we do every day. There’s often a pay-it-forward beauty to going that extra inch. It can be as easy as writing a thank-you note that isn’t expected, or asking after your colleagues’ children by name. Too often in our elbows-out world, it’s assumed that being considerate and being competitive are mutually exclusive. The opposite is true.’
The idea of Pay It Forward is something that our current Year 5 and 6 children focused on back when they were Middle Syndicate students. I believe it is more than just a ‘nice gesture’ there are many powerful social and emotional benefits to this that can having a positive effect on learning.
New insights from many different fields are converging to create a new science of learning that may transform educational practices. One of the key principles, across a range of areas and ages, that arise from the new learning research is that learning is social. People, even infants, learn better through social cues. We most readily learn and re-enact an event when a person produces it. Social factors also play a role in life-long learning — new social technologies (for example, text messaging, Facebook, and Twitter) tap humans' drive for social communication.
The young learn best from people in human social interaction. The goal for educators is to create teaching tools to harness the benefits of such cooperative learning. The reason that Social networking technology is so popular today is that it allows people to tap a 'distributed knowledge base'. They can engage in collaborative learning and inform each other, even work in groups, at great distances. This is great preparation for the 'real world' in the 21st Century, because the 'real world' now includes technology.
Of course, very young children learn socially and need people, not technology to thrive. After infancy however the world of technology opens up and they expand their learning experiences to use the new tools. The use of technology is one of our key strategic goals at VAS. We are endeavouring to provide a school ICT environment that enhances opportunities for inquiry and learning in addition to facilitating the sort of collaboration that is such a powerful learning tool for our children.
However, back to National RAK Day - If you missed it, no matter, random acts of kindness are well received any day of the year. If you remembered and passed it on then “Thank you” – my Curly Wurly was yum!
Kind regards
Allan Short
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AFTERSCHOOL and HOLIDAY PROGRAMMES ETC
Community based groups have approached us to inform parents of various activities available locally.
- we also have a range of options offered by local providers in the foyer of the administration area of the school.These are available to view :
http://victoriaave.com/our-people/our-community
The Week Ahead:
Thursday 8 Sept - TONIGHT - Music Concert @ 7pm
Monday 12 Sept
• Year 3 and 4 Netball prizegiving during Middle Syndicate assembly from 2:30-3pm
• Year 5 and 6 Netball prizegiving during Senior Syndicate assembly from 9am
Monday - Friday - Scholastic Book Fair
Tuesday 13 Sept
• Netball Field Day
• Winter Field Day (senior teams)
• PTS Meeting @ 7.30pm
Saturday 17 Sept - Qu?z Nite
School calendar is
on:
http://victoriaave.com/school-calendar
IMPORTANT DATES AND TIMES
School Times
School starts: 8.50am
Interval: 10.40-11.00am
Lunch: 12.30-1.30pm
School finishes: 3.00pm
Stationery Sales
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 8.30-8.45am
Uniform Shop
Fridays only: 8.30-9.00am
Orders and payments for uniform can be made online on our website http://victoriaave.com/school-shop
Lunch Orders
French Lunches: Tues only
Subway: Wed and Fri
Sushi: Thurs only
Order forms/Instructions
http://victoriaave.com/our-school/lunch-orders
School Banking Wednesdays before school in Room 4
Term Dates 2011
Term 3 Mon 1 Aug to Fri 7 Oct 2011
Term 4 Tues 25 Oct to Fri 16 Dec 2011
Term Dates 2012
Term 1 Thur 2 Feb to Thur 5 Apr 2012
Term 2 Mon 23 Apr to Fri 29 Jun 2012
Term 3 Mon 16 Jul to Fri 28 Sept 2012
Term 4 Mon 15 Oct to Tues 18 Dec 2012
URGENT ~ PRE-ENROLMENT FOR THOSE STARTING SCHOOL IN 2012!
SEE BELOW
FOR IN ZONE AND OUT OF ZONE OPTIONS
THOSE WHO ARE
OUT OF ZONE
WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE
DUE TO START SCHOOL
IN 2012
MUST
APPLY FOR THE BALLOT
BY 27 SEPTEMBER!!
IF YOU DON'T APPLY YOUR CHILD
WILL MISS OUT!!
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Thank you to those of you who have already completed pre-enrolment requirements. If you are unsure you have completed the necessary forms please
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Linley
This is an urgent reminder as we are finalising our roll numbers for 2012 and need to know the following:
• If you live IN ZONE and have not yet enrolled your pre-schooler for 2012, please contact the school as soon as possible. You will need to fill in an application for enrolment form - these forms can be requested from the office or can be downloaded from our website. Please return to the school office by Friday 22 September.
• If you live OUT OF ZONE and have not yet pre-enrolled your pre-schooler for 2012 please contact the school immediately. You will need to fill in an OUT OF ZONE application for the Ballot form asap as the ballot for 2012 closes 27 September 2011 - these forms are available from the school office or can be downloaded from our website:
If you live out of zone it is a Ministry requirement for you to be part of the ballot even though you may already have a child at our school. CLOSING DATE FOR OUT OF ZONE BALLOT APPLICATIONS IS 27 SEPTEMBER
• If your school-aged child is NOT RETURNING to Victoria Avenue School in 2012 (Year 6 students excluded) please email Linley on as soon as possible.
Upcoming Events
Music Concert
- Final Reminders/Information for the children taking part in the concert
Thursday 8th - Performance 7pm
The hall will be open from 6.30pm.
Children who are playing an instrument need to be at school from 6.30pm:
- Ukulele in the library
- Woodwind/Brass and Guitars in the Community Room.
- Choir-only children need to be at school from 6.45pm and will meet on the courts in their lines. (If it is wet, we will meet in the office foyer.)
- Children will be in school uniform. Choir badges to be worn please.
- A light meal before the show will help the children to sing and play at their best.
Thank you for your support in making this concert possible.
Please
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if you have any queries.
Kind regards
Alison Laxon
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OPEN MORNING AT KING’S SCHOOL - Tuesday September 20th
Come and experience a typical day at King’s School.
You are invited any time between 9.00am and 11.00am
Tour the school and meet with the Headmaster, Mr Tony Sissons. |
Latest BOT Newsletter is available online. |
On August 28th ten highly enthused Victoria Avenue Students headed down to Whakapapa for the North Island Primary School Ski Championships which was held from the following Monday through Friday. It is the first time we have put together a team and there was much training and time trials before at Snow Planet, Jacob Haycock, Sam and Sophie Grenfell trained with the team also.
It was a fantastic week on the mountain and on Monday, in somewhat poor visibility "Bruno"; a ski instructor, took both the teams on a training hour through a slalom course. While the weather had it's somewhat usual vagaries the children managed to complete the Giant Slalom race on Wednesday on a beautiful sunny day. It was rather icy to start and with the high temperatures during the day, very soft snow at the end. Both teams coped with the courses extremely well with no one missing any gates and everyone completing their races. The times were extremely good too given all the skiers raced for the very first time this season. Victoria Avenue A ( Alex McNaught, Timon Tasker, Jackson Kane, Zach Manthel, Toby Tasker) came 11th out of 25 teams (Yrs 0 to 6) and Victoria Avenue B (Jenna Johnson, India Manthel, Olivia Bennison, Ruby Cotter, Rory Greer) came 14th out of the 25 teams. Well done to you all, this was a fantastic achievement and you should all be very proud of your results. Bad weather then saw the dual slalom and the Ski-a-X cancelled (for the 4th year in a row!)on the following day. Full results available on http://ruapehusnowsports.webs.com/nipssc.htm.
We look forward to repeating the event next year so for all you gun skiers out there watch out early next year in the school newsletter and be in for the training and time trials at Snow Planet. This year a snowboarding race was held for the very first time also but the information came through too late for us to enter a team, but if there are enough snowboarders next year we can add in a team there also as well as the two ski teams.
Alana de Bruyn (Event Organiser)
"On Sunday, mum and Chelsea(sister) and I went in the car and drove to the National Park by Mt Ruapehu. It took us 4 hours. When we got there I could not keep my eyes open. Then the next day I couldn't wait to get up there. When we went up the mountain on Wednesday I put my skis on and I went up the chair lift. When I was at the top I started to ski down, I realized the snow was so icy and the next run really slushy but it was still so much fun, it was heaps of fun!!!!!!!!! I was really nervous but once I got going it was great." By Jenna Johnson (Yr 4)
I thought the North Island Primary School ski champs was great fun, and I think you should trial for it next year! It's a shame I don't get to ski for VAS again next year. Good luck next year, Jackson Kane (Yr 6)
"I think that the North island Primary School ski champs was a great experience for racing. I learnt a lot from it. The night we got there we had to walk half way up the mountain to our lodge “Christiana” in the snow! India, Olivia and I made two new friends at the lodge. They are our pen pals now." From Ruby Cotter (Yr 6)
"The VAS ski trip was incredible. The Christiana lodge was fun. The bunks were high and wobbly. Even though we did chores every day, there were many fun times scrubbing dishes, vacuuming floors, cleaning windows or serving dinner! Every day we would spend as much time as possible skiing on the slopes trying out challenging runs. One day the weather was so bad that we could hardly see each other! The race day was perfect sunshine. It was really nerve-racking. I was truly nervous for my first race because there were so many people watching us--- down the slopes, to the side and the children behind us who were waiting to go, not to mention all the people up in the cafe. I was keen to get a good time but I was also desperate to make it down without falling over on the ice! Once I was over the start blocks, my fear disappeared and I was surprised how much I enjoyed the race. I did OK and I didn't crash and burn! I couldn't wait until I had another chance to do the run and try and beat my first time, which we all did I think." From Olivia Bennison (Yr 6)
"On Sunday the 28th, me and Rory Greer went down to National Park hotel. On Monday 29th was practice day, our teacher's name was Bruno, we did Slalom practice. On Tuesday 30th the race was cancelled, so we went to Ohakune to stroll around. Wednesday 31st the race was not cancelled so the race was on. My first race took 29.23 seconds so I wanted to get a better time. So my second lap I got 24.9 and got my best time. On the next day the race was cancelled again so we went home." (Zac, Timon and everyone else were staying on the mountain) From Alex McNaught (Yr 4)
"The racing was the coolest thing in the world! I had fun. We stayed on an active volcano. I liked being with the big kids because they are nice." From Toby Tasker (YR 2)
"It was great. I give it a 9.5 out of 10. Just a shame that we could only race one day." From Timon Tasker (Yr 4)
“I thought the trip was awesome. I loved all of the skiing, especially the racing. I felt a bit sick on the trip but I still raced and it felt fine afterwards”. By Rory Greer (Yr 4)
"I loved our lodge and racing with my friends. Ruby, Olivia and I made coke slushies with the snow." India Manthel (Yr 6)
"I liked staying in the lodge and racing with our team. It was fun! We came 11th." Zach Manthel (Yr 4)
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QUIZ N?GHT
FORMS FOR:
- TICKET ORDERS
- OFFERS OF HELP
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