School Photos

School photos will be coming home later this week. If you would like to purchase them please follow the instructions on the envelope, and online payment would be preferred if possible. Orders and payment are required by Friday 10 June.  

If you require more photo orders for family members who do not live together, please organise this among yourselves as we have only been sent one pack per child. If this is an issue please contact school by Thursday 12 noon.

Thank you

Bullying-Free NZ Week 2022 & Pink Shirt Day – This Friday 20 May

This year’s theme is He Kōtuinga mahi iti, he hua pai-ā rau – Small ripples create big waves. The small actions we take to help prevent bullying will together create a wave of change.

We will be having a pink shirt day this Friday 20 May. Children are encouraged to wear pink to support this cause. Please note this is optional and there is no donation required.

For more information Click HERE

Scholastic Bookclub closes this Thursday 19th May at 9am

Matariki Celebrations – Whānau Involvement – Thurs 23 June

Kia ora Whitney Whānau,

We here at Whitney Street are getting very excited about Matariki which is being celebrated this year at the end of June. With Friday 24th June being a public holiday, we are planning on a kura Matariki celebration the day before, Thursday 23rd June.

We are going to have an open morning from 7am to 8:30am on Thursday 23 June where whānau will be able to enjoy Matariki-based activities. We will also be holding a community breakfast for our school families between 7:30am and 8:30am in the school hall.

We would absolutely love to have whānau involved in our open morning and we are putting a call out to anybody who may have skills to share with our tamariki and kaiako. This could include flax weaving, telling of local legends/stories, string games, arts or crafts, etc.

Please pop in and see Helen (R9) or Andy (R3), or alternatively you can email them at:

Helen – macfarlane@whitneystreet.school.nz

Andy – facer@whitneystreet.school.nz

Thank you, we look forward to hearing from you, preferably by the end of next week (20 May) so we can begin organising the activities.

Reminder: Tomorrow is SCHOOL PHOTO’s

Mufti Day Tomorrow – Gold Coin Donation

50 Cent Milo’s in the mornings (Weeks 1,2,3)

Mufti Day – This Friday 6 May

Returning to school under Orange Level

Kia ora koutou – hello everyone,

We hope you have all had a relaxing holiday break with your families, and that you have managed to stay well. With over a third of our students being affected by COVID last term, we hope that the worst is over for our school and we can return to some sense of normality in the new term.

As we are now operating in the Orange level, we wanted to give you an update on what this means for our school.  Please refer to this document and give Cheryl a call on 027 321 8022 for any queries you may have.

We look forward to seeing the students again on Monday.

Ngā mihi – kind regards,

Cheryl and the WSS Staff

Silent Auction at Comedy for a Cause

The Clubs of Marlborough and Marlborough Comedy are proud to be supporting the 2022 Drop for Youth Blenheim skydivers with a comedy night! The line-up of comedians includes: Alan McElroy, Jerome Chandrahasen, Glenn Kirby, Chris Lippiatt and Glenn Cousins. 

Our Whitney Street Team is currently $1618 away from their goal of $3000, which needs to be raised before jumping in four weeks! We are hoping our community can help. We are needing quite urgently, items/experiences that perhaps you or your business would be able to donate for the silent auction happening at ‘Comedy for a Cause’. 

All funds raised from these items/experiences would go directly into our Give-A-Little fund-raising funds for the Graeme Dingle Foundation which underpins our Kiwi Can programme. If you have an item/experience you think you, or your business could donate, please email Jade – lee@whitneystreet.school.nz  

If you are unable to donate an item or experience, please remember we also have our Give-A-Little page – every little bit counts! 

Thank you so much for your continued support. Every donation makes jumping that little bit easier!

Jade, Adam and Mary-Anne

Cyber Safety Warning: Huggy Wuggy

Kia ora everyone,

This notice is to alert you to a razor-toothed teddy bear character, known as Huggy Wuggy, who has been appearing in videos that could upset younger children. While there is no need for panic, police have been warning parents and schools to be vigilant of younger children engaging with the now-viral social media character. Please be vigilant and know what your children are accessing on digital platforms over the holiday break.

Kind regards,

Whitney St School 

Please keep those sports shirts coming back to school. We still have a number missing and there are winter sports coming up. Thank you!

Our PSG meeting will be an Annual General Meeting (AGM) this Wednesday 13 April at 6pm, in the staffroom. We would love to see you there.

Parent Support Group (PSG) Meeting – Wed 13 April

The PSG (Parent Support Group) do an amazing job of raising money for the school, primarily through organising our annual ‘Lights Over Marlborough’ event. They contribute funds to the school and over recent years have helped pay for such things as devices, kapa haka uniforms, Archgolas over Blocks B and C, new pathways, and scooter stands. They have recently offered to contribute to the costs of the All-Weather Surface.

The next PSG meeting will be an Annual General Meeting (AGM) this Wednesday 13 April at 6pm, in the staffroom. We would love to see you there.

School Photos – Please add the date to your calendar and let us know if you would like whānau/group/sibling shots. (Info in image).

Basketball Notice

Kia ora koutou,

Thank you to everybody who has already returned their basketball notices to Room 1. If you still need to hand this in, please get it to me before Wednesday 13th April (next week). Once the notice is returned, please click the link below and fill in the registration form. This is a really important step as in order for your child to be placed in a team they will need to be registered online. 

Register Here

Would anyone be interested in sharing Road Patrol Supervision on Eltham Rd, in the afternoon’s, every 2nd Wednesday?

If so, please contact Christee. 

Many thanks! 

dalzell@whitneystreet.school.nz

or text on 0212115638

Scholastic Bookclub (Issue 2) closes this Thursday 31st March at 9am

URGENTLY REQUIRED! Please check around your home for any sport shirts and return them to school, room 15 please. A large number are missing.

WINTER HOCKEY. Notices went home today. If your child is interested but away sick, please email dikmans@whitneystreet.school.nz for info.

Board News

Morena koutou,

The summary of our latest Board meeting is here.

Have a nice day and take care.

Cheryl and the WSS Board

Summer hockey opening night is on 21/3/22 Slick sticks (year 3/4) 4.30pm. Turf B Super sticks (year 5/6) 5.15pm. Turf B Have fun!

Incredible Years Parenting Programme – A free parenting course

The purpose of the course is to resource parents/carers with the tools to understand their children’s behaviour and development and promote positive parenting, improved relationships, routines, and healthy communication within the family. This is done through group activities as well as practice at home. Weekly resources and the Incredible Years book is provided for each parent.

Barnardos next programme now starts on Wednesday 6 April 2022. This course is suitable for parents/carers of children aged 3-8 years.

All applicants must complete a referral form and attend a pre-course meeting with the facilitator before acceptance of a place on the programme is confirmed. Whitney Street School are more than happy to help you complete the referral form if needed. 

The programme runs for a total of 14 weeks and as such it is important to ascertain the suitability and commitment of parents/carers interested in attending.

The pre-course meeting is scheduled for 10.00am to 12.30pm on Wednesday 30 March. If you can’t attend this, another time/date can be agreed.

All meetings will be held at The Salvation Army Building, Cnr Arthur and George St, Blenheim. Vaccine certificates are not required.

Each class will run from 10am – 12.30pm

The group consists of 14-18 participants and two trained facilitators.

It is preferable to arrange your own transport and childcare during this time, however if this is a barrier for you please let the team at Barnardos know. Childminding while you attend the programme is also available. 

An information pack is available from the school office or you can contact Barnardos at blenheim.office.barnardos.org.nz or call them on 035786491.  

This parenting programme is highly recommended. 

Have a great day!

The Whitney Street School Team

PSG Meeting (AGM) – Wednesday 13 April, 6 pm (Please click for more details)

COVID Update

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

As COVID is now impacting quite widely across the school with both students and staff members becoming household contacts or confirmed cases, we will not be sending any more alerts out to classes affected. Please continue to monitor your child/ren’s health carefully and watch for symptoms. If they become unwell please keep them home and get them tested for COVID-19, then inform school if they are positive.

Common Symptoms of COVID-19 

       * A new or worsening cough
       * Sneezing and runny nose
       * A fever
       * Temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste
       * Sore throat
       * Shortness of breath

For more information, go to https://covid19.govt.nz/health-and-wellbeing/about-covid-19/covid-19-symptoms/, or feel free to call me on 027 321 8022.

Also thank you for your understanding when school is affected with staff members being away and us having to be flexible and inventive when covering staff absences. Hopefully we will be through the worst of the outbreak in the next few weeks and can then return to some sort of normality.

Please note that if you would like some home learning for your child/ren, it is available on our school website under ‘The Way We Learn’ tab, and then Online/Home Learning. 

Take care and hopefully stay well.

Ngā mihi nui,

Cheryl

Whitney St Teachers Participating in Drop for Youth Marlborough

Whitney JAM are Jade, Adam, Mary-Anne, all teachers at Whitney Street School. They are dropping for Youth as it is an exciting and challenging way of fundraising for Kiwi Can – a really important part of our school! 

See the link here if you would like to support/sponsor them which we would greatly appreciate.

Swimming Pool Keys Returned Please

Kia ora,

Today is the last day of swimming instruction at school for the season. If you are a pool keyholder, please return your keys to the office by the end of next week at the latest. Please note the pool will be unavailable to use from Monday onwards.

Thank you.

Please have your Scholastic Book Club orders in by 9 am this Thursday 3 March 2022

Please have your Scholastic Book Club orders in the office by 9 am, this Thursday 3 March 2022. 

Phase 3 Frequently Asked Questions Flowchart / Infographics

Kia ora again everyone,

As per my previous letter please see here for a simplified version of the Phase 3 information.

Have a lovely weekend.

Cheryl

Phase 3 Letter

Kia ora koutou,

Please see this letter for an update on Phase 3 of the COVID-19 Red Traffic Light System. 

We will also send out some simple flowcharts/infographics for you to refer to with any questions you may have.

Enjoy the weekend.

Cheryl

Mufti Day this Friday 25 Feb