Tēnā Koutou, Talofa Lava, Malo e Lelei, Namaste, Ni sa bula, Noaia’e mauri, Fakalofa lahi atu, Kia Orana, Ni Hao, An Nyung Ha Sai Yo, Nay Ho, Hej, Hallo, Sawat Dee, Cześć, Goeie Dag, សួស្តី, Здравствуйте, hola. Greetings to our school families.

When I was a kid I figured we’d all be flying around in spaceships by 2021, so it was a little disappointing to start driving my, not flash but functional, car back to school again this year. It felt like a long break, but one which was so desperately needed after the chaos of 2020. It has been great to be getting back into our groove, and welcoming so many new faces to our SBS family! Once again our school has started bigger than ever before.

School Wide Focus 2021 – Kaitiakitanga

This year as a school our main focus will be the concept of Kaitiakitanga. This means guardianship and protection. It is a way of managing the environment, based on the Māori world view. A kaitiaki is a guardian. This can be a person or group that cares for an area such as a lake or forest. They are given that role by the local iwi. In the Māori world view, people are closely connected to the land and nature. Kaitiakitanga is based on this idea of humans as part of the natural world.

We are delighted to team up with one of our local, and ex SBS families, the Hathaways, to join their Young Ocean Explorers, 21 Day Challenge, to restore our oceans. The concept is simple – every little bit helps! Kids might be little but they can still be powerful through their actions. Here at SBS we enjoy doing things as a whole school, with big kids working alongside little kids. We would encourage parents who are interested to come along to Riley’s presentation (see the School Diary below), and check out the Young Ocean Explorers website https://www.youngoceanexplorers.com for more details.

Value Focus Term 1 – Mahi Ngatahi Co-operation

At SBS we believe in building character, as well as well rounded learners. Our values programme is at the heart of everything we do. We focus on a value for a whole term to ensure deep understanding. We teach about “living our values”, or walking the talk. This term we are focussing on Mahi Ngatahi, Co-operation. It can be great for parents to be building this idea into conversations and contexts in your own home. We often talk about values not being something that we just “do at school”, so your support with this would be wonderful.

Thank you all for such a smooth start to the year, and looking forward to catching up at out “Meet and Greet” (details out shortly, date below).

Ngā mihi,

Kathryn Ramel

Principal

Welcome to our new students – we hope you enjoy your time at our school!

Kobe B, Marley B, Rupert B, Mateia B, JJ C, William D, Fynn G, Clara G, Leo G, Luke G, Sean G, Xavier G, Oscar G, Teddy H, Maggie H, Empria H, Jack H, Andres J, Sophie M, Axel M, Cianna-Nicole M, Pipi M, Alex M, Simon M, Daniel M, Marnie M, Harvey P, Summer SC, Owen T, Kalo T, Jesse W, Alaylah W, Angie Z

School Diary

Week 2: 10 15 Feb – 19 Feb (swimming week)

  • Mon 15.2 Young Ocean Explorers 21 Day Challenge starts, Senior Swimming (leave school ~10.30am, return ~1.45pm), Junior Swimming (leave school ~9.50am, return ~11.50am)
  • Tues 16.2 Year 3 to visit Godwits at Snells Beach, Senior Swimming (leave school ~11.10am, return ~2.00pm), Junior Swimming (leave school ~10.30am, return ~12.30pm)
  • Weds 17.2 Senior Swimming (leave school ~11.30am, return ~2.10pm), Yr 5 Camp Meeting 5pm
  • Thurs 18.2 Senior Swimming (leave school ~12.00pm, return ~2.40pm), Junior Swimming (leave school ~11.50am, return ~1.50pm)
  • Fri 19.2 Senior Swimming SAVE DAY (leave school ~12.00pm, return ~2.40pm)

Week 3: 22 Feb – 26 Feb

  • Weds 24.2 Riley Hathaway – Young Ocean Explorers 9:15 in the hall (whole school & parents welcome), Meet & Greet 5pm-7pm at Snells Beach (details to come), BOT Meeting 7pm
  • Fri 26.2 Beach Ed – Senior School at Omaha, Full School Assembly 2:10pm in the hall.

Week 4: 1 Mar – 5 Mar  (swimming week – Juniors)

  • Mon 1.3 Junior Swimming (leave school ~9.00am, return ~11.00pm)
  • Tues 2.3  Junior Swimming (leave school ~9.30am, return ~11.30pm)
  • Weds 3.3 Yr 5 Camp Mangawhai Depart
  • Thurs 4.3 Yr 5 Camp Mangawhai, Junior Swimming (leave school ~11.00am, return ~1.00pm)
  • Fri 5.3 Yr 5 Camp Mangawhai Return

Keeping in touch with what’s happening at SBS

Schools are busy places – especially in Term 1. The weather is warm, and classes are often out and about with events on. We strongly encourage parents to make sure they are in our communication loop by:

  • ensuring that you are in our email database. You will receive the newsletter and other important notices direct to your inbox. This normally happens at enrolment, but sometimes only one parent’s email is used. We are happy to add parents and whanāu – please email us at admin@snellsbeach.school.nz and we can add you in.
  • following us on our school Facebook page
  • downloading our free school app. You will be sent notifications and reminders as necessary. To do this simply go to App Store (Apple) or Play Store (Android) and download the “Skool Loop” app. Once this is installed, use the drop down box to select “Snells Beach School”.
  • please also update us if your phone number or emergency contacts have changed. There is honestly nothing worse than sitting with a sick or unwell child in the sickbay, and not being able to contact parents.

Is that a new face round the place?

Mrs Jen Sands

We are delighted to have had Jen Sands join our teaching team this year. Many of you will know Jen through our parent and wider community, and we were lucky to have her two boys go through our school. Jen is teaching a Year 5 class in Nikau 2 this year, so starts off with a hiss and a roar with swimming and Year 5 Camp Mangawhai. Given that Jen, as a parent helper last year, held the record for most trips on the hydro slide at Parakai, we reckon she’ll fit right in at camp. Have a great year Jen!

Mrs Nicola Kerr

We were so lucky to have Nicola Kerr join our staff mid year last year, at that stage in Year 5. She liked it so much, she has decided to stay on, and this year moves to Year 4 in Puriri 2. Nicola brings with her a wealth of special needs and leadership experience, and fitted right in with both our kids and staff. We realise that some parents may not have met her last year, so wanted to make sure she felt welcomed properly to our SBS 2021 crew.

Mrs Mel Fergusson

Mel is making all the staff a little jealous, with her very cool electric scooter parked outside Mr Morley’s office (in fact, we’re picking it’s only a matter of time until he, or Mr Port, “borrow” it for a spin!). Mel is a very experienced teacher, joining our Senior School, and she will be teaching in Nikau 2 on Wednesdays. Many of our students will recognise her from relieving work she has already been doing here at SBS.

Mrs Gemma Giffard

Gemma also started with us last year, joining the crew later in 2020. Many of you will recognise Gemma from our parent community, having had 2 kids through our school. Gemma has joined our Teacher Aide team, working mostly in the Senior School. We are lucky to have her.

For a full list of who is teaching, where, in our school this year, along with their contact details, see our website.

What’s the deal with those new classes?

Those of you who have been onsite will have noticed new classes going in behind Rimu block. These will become Rātā 1 & 2, and will be completed and in use as New Entrant classes by next term. These are “prefabs”, although they are being completely refurbished and will come with a full covered deck, and adjoining toilet block. The BOT have fought long and hard to keep prefabs out of our school, but the reality is that we either had to accept these, for a limited time, or continue to go without a Library, and possibly lose our hall to classes too.

SBS is growing by approximately 2 classes a year,  has done for the last 3 years, and will do so again this year. With time, we will have to have double storied blocks built, in our same style. Rather than a shade structure in front of the classes, shade will come from the deck of the classroom above. The prefabs will be used until the longer build process can be completed.

New Dawson Rd Crossing – an update
Well, there is some good news, and some bad news. Many of you will know that we have been campaigning to have a new pedestrian crossing built closer to the school on Dawson Rd, to cater for the growing number of families who either live in, or park in at pickup times, the new sub-division over the road. The good news is we have had confirmation that the crossing will definitely be installed this year. The not so good news is, probably not until September.
In the meantime, a reminder that the school runs a NZ Police managed “Kea Crossing” outside the school from 8:30am – 8:50am and 3:00pm – 3:20pm. Please if you as parents are parking over the road, use the crossing. If parents run across the road with kids, kids will do that when you are not there, and frankly it’s a disaster waiting to happen. Please model the right thing to do.
Some of our (mainly Senior) students arrive at school before the Kea Crossing starts at 8:30am. If this is the case, please remind students to use the existing painted crossing, closer to Mahurangi East Rd.
Thank you to our Washing Fairy!
Destri Head has been our school “Washing Fairy” for many years now, collecting our linen from the Sick Bay and office block weekly, whisking it away, and bringing it back good as new. We are so thankful to her for her tireless work, always with a smile. Destry will no longer be available to help us out in this way – if you are happy to help, we’d love to hear from you!
Snells Beach Hockey
Snells Beach School are urgently needing a parent to take over the Hockey co-ordinator role as well as a coach for the Senior hockey team (Year 5’s and 6’s). Last years’ parents have had their children move on to college now. Hockey is played by all ages, Year 1 – 6. Please contact Emma Hart if you are interested, on 021653662 or emmahart78@gmail.com
Secondhand School Jumpers
We have a large selection of secondhand jumpers  in many sizes available for $10, please see Marissa in the uniform shop if you need one. This is also a reminder to clearly name your child’s jumper, and continue to rename it over the year. If you are still missing a jumper from last year please see Marissa for assistance.
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