2012 Learning Theme: Together We Are Strong
Ehara toku i te toa takitahi
Engari toku toa i te toa takitini
My strength comes not from myself alone,
But from the strength of all the people
Kia Ora Tatou, Greetings to all
Dear Parents
I hope that you and your children had a restful Easter break and enjoyed the sunshine.
A very warm welcome to our new students and parents. We hope that you quickly feel part of the ENPS community.
Our Learning Programmes.
Our school theme of ‘Together We are Strong’ continues throughout this term as we launch into the new schoolwide topic of ‘I am a Physicist’. For this topic, the big idea across all teams for our students is Energy changes when forces do work. We will focus on the values of Respect and Courage and the Key Competency of Thinking. The Big Questions we will be examining are: How does energy exist? How does energy change? What is energy? What is physics?
Each sector (Junior, Middle and Senior) has selected different strands of physics to focus on and have developed different exciting contexts for study. When planning these units of study, teachers met with student representatives to ensure that we were considering the students’ thoughts and interests as we planned.
In the Junior School plan Fun-tastic Physics, the children will be observing closely to understand Forces and Motion (how things move) and Floating and Sinking (what can float and sink, what will hinder or help this and how floating can have a negative impact upon our environment). The context of Light and Colour involves a trip to the Auckland Stardome Observatory, followed up with learning about Sound, (how different types of sound are made leading to students making their own instruments).
The Middle School topic of Fizz-Ix begins with an introduction to the six areas of physics, followed by Just Roll with it (Forces & Motion), Magic Magnets (Magnetism) and It’s up to our ears in Sound (Sound). An exciting trip to Motat is planned during this unit to demonstrate forces and motion.
The Senior School topic of Let’s Get Physical! will see students diving into Physics by looking at four key areas. Spark It Up (investigating Electricity), May the Force be with You (Forces and Motion), Seeing is Believing (manipulating Light). The students will also be going to the National Science and Technology Roadshow to learn more about physics.
Staffing Update
Shelley Quinlivan, our Deputy Principal of the Junior School is leaving us at the end of Week 2 to take up a role in early childhood education. On behalf of all the students, staff and BOT of ENPS, we would like to thank Shelley for her dedication, energy and commitment she has shown to the school over her time with us. We wish Shelley all the very best in her future career endeavours.
New Staff
We welcome Sarah Jacobs who has started with us this term as our newest Teacher Aide in the Junior School and to Christina Liu who has started in the front office as an Administrative Assistant.
Kindest regards
Jane Cavanagh-Eyre
Principal
INFORMATION UPDATE
Physical Education and Sport
Extra-Curricular Sporting Opportunities for ENPS Students
Extra-Curricular Hockey
In Term 2 there will be a Year 3/4 ENPS Extra-Curricular Hockey Team. Thank you to Louise Sixton for volunteering to coach and manage the team. There has been a lot of student interest in this sport and in order to offer this opportunity to all children, we will need additional parent support. If you are interested in gaining information about supporting this extra-curricular sport, please contact Louise Sixton; .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
School Kitchen
A very big thank you to those parents who have donated wonderful kitchen equipment to our school kitchen as requested last term.
Our small kitchen is used to teach cooking and baking skills to our children. We do still need some basic equipment and if you wish to donate, please leave any donated items at the school office or take them directly to the kitchen. We need saucepans (in good condition), frying pans and bowls in a variety of sizes. Also needed are kitchen utensils such as wooden spoons, spatulas, hand beaters etc. Should you find the above items surplus to your requirements at home and would like to donate them to our kitchen, we would be delighted to have them.
Many thanks
Therese Bakker, Deputy Principal
PTA UPDATE
Sausage Sizzle/Mufti Days
The sausage sizzle and mufti days were held at the end of Term 1 and once again proved to be very popular with the students. It was a beautiful day and a huge thanks go to all the parents and staff who helped out on the day. We raised $2110 to go towards the fundraising for 2012.
The ENPS PTA would like to say a big thank you to Peter Lamb and Frucor Beverages for once again donating all of the Just Juice boxes that were sold. We would also like to thank Hellers Ltd, who in conjunction with their Hellers Sausages for Schools Programme, made a significant donation of sausages that went towards the final tally on the day.
Thanks to all of the ENPS families for once again supporting the sausage sizzle and mufti days. It is a huge contribution to the fundraising for the school this year.
Kind regards
Sue Normanton
ENPS PTA
ADMINISTRATION UPDATE
Front Gates
A reminder that the gates in the front staff carpark are locked each day from 8.45 – 9.15am and 2.45 – 3.15pm. This is a health and safety issue.
Lost Property
A reminder that we are holding watches, reading glasses, jewellery, toys, balls and various other items in the lost property box in the office. Please see the office staff if you would like to check this box.
Kindest regards
Jane Cavanagh-Eyre
PRINCIPAL