LBP Newsletter – Term 2, Week 10

Term 2, Week 10 – Friday 30 June 2023

Principal’s Chat

Kia ora Parents/Caregivers

I spent the start of this week at a Legal and Governance Essentials conference. There were 12 lawyers who gave updates and information on a wide range of issues from privacy and employment law to AI content in schools and how to manage disagreements. Sitting at the same table for 2 days had a serious impact on my 10,000 steps a day streak on my watch but was very educational.

While learning new things myself was interesting I realised on Wednesday morning as I moved around Tōtara speaking to the students exactly why being a teacher is such a great profession. These students spent the last three weeks learning about a notable person. They worked on how to ask meaningful questions, research from a range of sources, write the answers to their questions in their own words and present their information in a creative way. Then they had the opportunity to share with other classes. I must admit I went off script. Rather than listening to what they had prepared I asked questions. 

One of the workshops I attended was about the role of AI generation tools in schools. Nothing exists yet that can 100% confirm if a piece of content was generated by a person, or by AI. One easy way to check is to ask, rather than be told. 

I was not asking questions of our students to see if they had used AI, but to clarify what they knew about their person and the extent of their research – answering questions rather than reading from a presentation is an easy way to find out. 

Answer they did. I felt certain that I could catch them out – “what was the original name of David Bowie?” (I had googled it first) David Robert Jones was the reply. How did Jojo Siwa get her big break?  Being on Dance Mums was the answer.

The chance to wander about asking our students about their learning, seeing their creativity in action and hearing what they had been doing was a brilliant way to end the term. It must be said – a whole lot better than hearing about the legal responsibilites of a Principal (no matter how important that is).

Enjoy the break, hopefully the weather comes to the party and if you are travelling be safe. We look forward to seeing everyone back for the start of Term 3.

Rob Hutton
Tumuaki/Principal

2023 Term Dates and What’s On

Health and Physical Education Survey

We have prepared a survey to help Long Bay Primary identify the needs of our community. It is our legal responsibility to consult with our caregivers every two years so that you, our community, have input into this important aspect of your child’s education. As part of this consultation process we are also seeking feedback about the swimming programme as well.

You can complete the survey by clicking here.

What is Health Education about?

In health and physical education, the focus is on the well-being of the students themselves, of other people, and of society through learning in health-related and movement contexts.

Four underlying and interdependent concepts are at the heart of this learning area:

• Hauora – a Māori philosophy of well-being that includes the dimensions taha wairua (spiritual well-being), taha hinengaro (mental and emotional well-being), taha tinana (physical well-being), and taha whānau (social well-being), each one influencing and supporting the others.
• Attitudes and values – a positive, responsible attitude on the part of students to their own well-being; respect, care, and concern for other people and the environment; and a sense of social justice.
• The socio-ecological perspective – a way of viewing and understanding the interrelationships that exist between the individual, others, and society.
• Health promotion – a process that helps to develop and maintain supportive physical and emotional environments and that involves students in personal and collective action.

Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey.

The survey closes early next week – please be in to win!

Donation Receipts via Kindo

Accessing your donation receipts on Kindo

You can view all your purchases, top-ups, refunds, cancelled orders and donation receipts using the ‘my orders’ option.

From the record type, you can select donation receipts, and choose to download individual receipts or download a summary of all your donation receipts.

More detailed instructions can also be found on the Kindo online support pages.

Click here for more detailed instructions.

Important School Reminders – Please Read

We Need Your Help

In July we have five 2 metre tall pohutukawa trees being extracted from a local apartment building garden. We have said we would love to add them to our school grounds. There is a catch, we need to collect them. If there is anyone out there with a HIAB truck or similar that could give us a hand in July please contact John Underwood our property manager. 

Absences

We are seeing an increasing amount of unexplained absences lately. If your child/children are going to be absent from school, then you must let the Office and class teacher know. This is to avoid your child/children being marked as truant.

Absences can be reported by calling the school on 09 473 6077, select option 1. Emailing the class teacher and admin@longbayprimary.ac.nz or through the school website ‘Report an Absence’.

All absences from school must have a reason so your child/children can be coded accordingly on their student record. Thank you for your co-operation.

Late Passes

We give out late passes at the school date each day to students who arrive at school after the bell has rung. This is because by the time these students get to class it is likely the teacher will have already marked the roll for the day. The late pass indicates to the teacher that we know your child is at school and it means we do not call you because they have been marked as absent on the roll.

Arrival at School

Our doors at school open at 8.30am. The time until then is invaluable for our staff to prepare for the day. While we appreciate the closure of Glenvar Road has increased travel times and traffic in general at the moment is rather appalling, the closer to 8.30am that students can arrive at school makes it easier for us to deliver the best we can for your children. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.  

Contact Details

If your personal contact or emergency contact details need updating, please email admin@longbayprimary.ac.nz It is very important that we have correct details on our student records.

Enrolments

If you have a child turning 5 in the near future, please can you complete an online enrolment application form as soon as possible. This is to assist us with classroom planning. For all enrolments enquiries, please email enrolments@longbayprimary.ac.nz

Oneroa Kāhui Ako Cultural Festival

In Term 3, we look forward to celebrating the different cultures represented in our schools.

The Oneroa Kāhui Ako Cultural Celebration is on Thursday 31 August at Sherwood School. 

Each school is allocated 15 minutes for their performance(s) which can include two or three items. We are reaching out to our Long Bay Primary community to see if we have any parents/contacts who would be interested in taking a group of students to learn an item for the performance. For example: Chinese fan dance, Bollywood dance etc. We already have a Pasifika group going. 

If you are keen to work with us, please get in touch with Tiffany Krstev at tiffanyk@longbayprimary.ac.nz 

Year 5 and Year 6 Camp Payment Information

Year 6 Camp at Camp Bentzon on Kawau Island on 16-20 October.
Year 5 Camp at Kiwanis Lodge and Huia Lodge in the Waitakere Ranges on 15-17 November.
Payment options are now available on Kindo for these two camps.

Room 10

Room 10 went on a technology trip to MOTAT this week, along with the whole Year 2 Team. It was a great time to explore so many different aspects of technology through the ages to understand the beginning of some technology compared to what it looks like today, especially the old brick mobile phones! Imagine carrying that around all day! We saw planes, went on a tram ride and listened to a talk on a variety of old household technology items that we were able to touch and experiment with. I think one of the favourites is the Whisper Dish that makes their voice carry over a long distance. I enjoyed my conversations over the old phones at MOTAT with so many students – a novel experience for them! 

Sports Buzz – Term 2, Week 10

• Vivienne finished 2nd place
• Declan finished 3rd place
• Oliver finished 4th place
• Rueben finished 5th place

PTA News

The Glow Disco was a great success, the children had a wonderful time. Thank you to everyone who supported this school fundraising event. Special thanks to the PTA members, Friends of The PTA, teachers, and all the parents that jumped in to help. ‘It’s My Party’ brought the disco vibes, they are a parent owned company who really know how to get a party started. These events are only possible when our whole school community gets involved, THANK YOU!

For term 3 we are working on a Donut Day, and the School Mud Fun Run. More info to come.

We have a special treat on the first Friday of term 3 – donuts! Place your orders via Kindo 

Kelly Club

Bricks 4 Kidz

Community Notices and Events

North Harbour Hockey
Looking for something fun to do these holidays? Join us at North Harbour Hockey – registration still open! Starting 11 July 2023

Hit ‘Em Up – https://www.harbourhockey.co.nz/programmes/hit-em-up-term-2-2023/

Hooked on Hockey – https://www.harbourhockey.co.nz/programmes/hooked-on-hockey-term-2-2023/