Newsletter Term 1 No 3 - 16 February 2012

Term 1 No 3 - 16 February 2012
"Promise little and do much." Hebrew Proverb We are just five weeks away from our major school fundraiser of the year, the Flings and Tartan evening, and I hope that all parents will participate in what is sure to be a wonderful event. As the proverb above says you don’t have to promise much in order to make a big difference, so just promise to come along! Please make sure that you keep Friday 23rd March, 7pm till 11pm, free in your diaries so that you can attend this evening of fun, food and entertainment but also fundraising. The evening is designed to have an informal party atmosphere. The Scottish theme to our evening will be reflected at various points including a traditional Address to a Haggis. Kilts and tartan aren’t compulsory but feel free to dress for the occasion should you wish! Alongside food, music and dancing there will also be a silent auction and we will have the assistance of an Auctioneer to run a live auction at some point during the evening. Tickets are due to go on sale in two weeks time and we warmly welcome friends and family from outside of the school community to join us too. So gather a group and make it a night to remember – a fitting celebration of Victoria Avenue School’s 60th Anniversary! The PTS, and in particular the Flings and Tartan Committee, have worked incredibly hard to make this a very special event. Please consider doing your bit to support our school with the event. You can: • Offer a Auction Item • Purchase a ticket for the event • Promote the event outside of our immediate school family – The team is working hard to secure corporate sponsorship for the event including several large auction items. Encourage family and friends to participate both by donating an item and purchasing tickets for the evening. Perhaps your workplace may wish to offer an item for auction or become involved in another form of sponsorship. • Support our Mufti Day on March 12th – The committee will provide further details over the coming weeks but rather than a gold coin everyone will be requested to bring in particular items that we can combine to make small specialist hampers to be sold. Every single donation will count, and most of all every dollar will really make a difference to the children at VAS. • Buy an item – Either an Auction item on the night or a hamper (which will also be available to purchase prior to the event) or look out for items that will be available for sale via a “Buy Now” auction in the days prior to the big night. If you require any further information or think you may have an auction item to offer please contact the coordinator of the committee Liz Schellekens - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 021 209 7278 Bubbledome The two Bubbledome courses Robotics and Electronics and Computer Animation both start after-school next week (21st and 22nd Feb) and places are still available. For further details of these and all other after-school clubs and enrolment details please see here. Dogs at School Over the first couple of weeks of school we have had a couple of unpleasant incidents involving dogs at school. I would please ask all dog owners to carefully consider the wisdom of bringing their dogs on site. I have repeated below the advice given to families last year in the newsletter. We are certainly not ‘anti-dog’ but you can understand that if such incidents persist the school may have to reconsider its attitude towards animals on site. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. “We have been asked to clarify the position with regard to having dogs at school. We know that there are a few families who chose to bring their dogs to school, particularly on the walking school buses. We understand that this can be a really enjoyable experience for many children but do ask families to be aware of certain issues that have arisen. We have a small number of children with allergies to animals and in particular dogs; likewise we have a number of children with a phobia, particularly of larger dogs. Please be aware of this and respect others. On more than one occasion we have had dogs attack each other on school grounds. This can be distressing for those children witnessing this. Although it would be easiest to keep dogs off the school grounds during school time at present we are stopping short of this. Please can you ensure that: No dogs enter the school buildings If you do bring your dog on the school grounds must be on a lead and in your control, not a child’s If you are walking with your dog on a school bus make yourself aware of which children have dog allergies and/or phobias and respond accordingly” Kind regards Allan Short Principal		LATEST SCHOOL VIDEOS on the SENIORVAS Channel Produced and directed by our senior students - please check it out!! 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 What's Ahead? •Fri 10th Feb Principal’s Assembly 9.00am •Tue 21 Feb Year 3 trip to Auckland Zoo (9 - 3.00) Resource Making - Rooms 16 & 20 •Wed 22 Feb Year 4 trip to Auckland Zoo (9 - 3.00) School 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 for 2012 ezLUNCH: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 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 at 8.30am 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 2012 Syndicate Newsletters for Term 1 Senior Syndicate Newsletter: Click here Middle Syndicate Newsletter: Click here Junior Syndicate Newsletter: Click here HOUSEKEEPING: DROP OFF AND PICK UP: Our neighbours are struggling with parents parking across and even into private driveways before and after school. Please ensure you arrive early enough to park in a legal and safe manner and arrange a meeting place where you can walk to pick your children up from school. TEACHERS' DRIVEWAY Please do not use this driveway to deliver your children to and from school. It is reserved for Vehicular traffic only as it is a dangerous place for pedestrians. This driveway is for staff and delivery vehicles only! ABSENCES please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call the school if your child is absent or likely to be late. APPOINTMENTS DURING SCHOOL TIME Please ensure you pick up your child from the classroom or school office and sign them out or, if you are returning from an appointment, sign them back in. Please sign in the orange book on the front desk in the school office. Under no circumstances are your children to meet you at the gate or car during school hours. LAST YEAR'S END OF YEAR REPORTS There are still a number of reports awaiting collection at the school office.
Ukulele Registration for Years 2 to 6 students wanting to play this year. The Ukulele group will be starting up again in Term 2. All children need their own ukulele (around $50 at music shops such as KBB and Mainline Music) and there will be a fee to cover the cost of the music, bus trips and registration for the Ukulele Festival. This should be around $25 - 30, but is dependent on how many children are involved. The Festival will take place at the Trusts Stadium in Henderson (the same as last year) on Saturday 1st December. The group is open for children from Year 2 - Year 6. I hope to include all the children who respond but numbers and ability levels will need to be taken into acount when putting the group/s together. If you think your child would be interested in being part of this group could you please fill in the form below and send it back to the school office (either in paper form or via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) by Friday 2nd March. This includes children who were in the group last year. Regards Alison Laxon This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Click here to download the registration form Community Notice: OPTIMAL HEALTH FOR YOUR CHILD A talk by Naturopath Rosanne Sullivan and Nutritionist Sarah La Touche Learn about: • The role nutrition plays in learning, concentration and behaviour and how to assist a child with learning difficulties • Nutritional support for children with eczema, asthma, allergies or poor immunity • Special nutrients such as omega 3 fish oils, zinc and probiotics • Food additives and other toxins you should know about • Ideas for healthy breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks with recipes, samples and handouts 7pm Tuesday 28th February 2012, St Heliers Community Centre, 100 St Heliers Bay Rd Bookings preferable but not essential. To reserve a seat contact Rosanne on 630 5442 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Click here and here for more information.

SPORTS NEWS FOR YOUR INFORMATION: Fun Football Centre This is a Fun Programme from the Auckland Football Federation SPORTS PROGRAMME FOR 2012 Click Here for a Printer Friendly Copy which also includes Summer Field Day information for our senior students