Attendance update

The Ministry of Education states that "A student is considered to be attending regularly if they were present at school for more than 90% of all half days"

The following charts show recent information for the Bay Academy. In term 3 almost 2/3rds of the student group attended school less than 90%. In term 4 to date this is down to approximately a quarter.

We understand this has been an unusual year, with lots of reasons why attendance has been down. We share this information with you as part of ongoing updates about key statistics from school.

We also share it as a reminder that regular attendance is encouraged and beneficial for your children.

I am excited to say that year to date we have one student who is running at 100% attendance.

Rooms 1 and 2 re-opening

Tēnā koutou katoa. 

We conducted a brief karakia and waiata Wednesday morning at 9am to re-open the renovated classrooms. 

We are proud to have retained the bones of this whare that travelled up to the school site in 1958. It is rewarding to have been able to breath new life into this very special building. 

In a short time, from this ...

To this ...

The original building was cut into two pieces and transported up from Te Tii village during 1958 for a 1959 opening. During the renovation this year, when the building interior cladding was stripped back, most of the original timber framing was in such good condition we were able to reuse it.

Kerikeri Primary Monster Mash

 

Surf Holiday Programme

 

Important Dates - Term 4

        Term 4 important dates for parents, caregivers and whānau,

• Tuesday 27th October - Rooms 4 - 5, trip to Kororipo Pā

• Wednesday 28th October, 8.45am - Official re-opening of  junior block (all welcome) - TO BE CONFIRMED
  
  
• Friday 30th October - Rooms 1 -3 Camp at school
  
  
• Monday 2nd November - TEACHER ONLY DAY (closed for students)
  
  
• Monday 2nd November - Board of Trustees meeting 4.30 - 6.30pm
  
  
• Tuesday 10th November - Whole school ATHLETICS DAY (parents welcome)
  
  
• Tuesday 24th November - Rooms 4-5, Marine Reserves trip
  
  
• Friday 27th November - School Leaders day camp
  
  
• Thursday 3rd December - Ki-o-Rahi festival at BOIIA (parents welcome)
  
  
• Monday 7th December - Year 8 Exhibition (parents welcome)
  
  
• Tuesday 8th December - Rooms 4-5 trip to Maitai Bay, Marine Environments
  
  
• Wednesday 9th December - Year 8 Graduation Dinner (students and parents)
  
  
• Friday 11th December - END OF YEAR celebration assembly (whole school community)
  
  
• Monday 14th December - Whole School BEACH DAY (parents and families welcome)

• Monday 14th December - Board of Trustees meeting 4.30 - 6.30pm
  
  
• Tuesday 15th December - SCHOOL CLOSES for 2020, 12pm

New Sun-hats for Terms 1 and 4

We have ordered new sun hats for the school, that will be arriving soon. We are seeking to have all students wearing the school sun hat as soon as possible this term. They will be available at a price of $10 each.

The orange version is for students in Rooms 1-3. The black version is for students in Rooms 4-5. Some flexibility will be offered as students transition between rooms 3-4.

Until they arrive we are still requiring students to be wearing hats while exposed to the sun, either at play times OR for any other outside class activities, including after school. All staff will be consistent in requiring students to follow this rule.

Year 8 students are welcome to purchase the new hats but this will not be compulsory due to them leaving at the end of the term. They must though have their own alternative hat.

Taupo Bay Summer Surf Academy

 The surf academy is taking enrolments for the summer break over December/January. You can use the following link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOBAA74VH0vpryMxH4sQncQUNrSMetbuQk2-4TElGzYgebsQ/viewform?gxids=7628

Mental Health Awareness Week

Kia ora parents, whānau and caregivers,

It's well worth considering that this is mental health awareness week in Aotearoa New Zealand. We know that emotional wellbeing is essential to a healthy and happy life. We also know that our children are not immune to mental health issues and concerns.

We at school are vigilant with all the children, monitoring their outward appearance and seeking to be aware of changes or signs that may reveal underlying worries or concerns. We will always talk to parents and/or whānau where we detect anything that may be a concern.

The attachment here lists a number of support services available should we or you wish to take advantage of them.

We also have a recommendation for counselling services available here in Kerikeri, although there will be others. Please be in touch if you have any questions of concern.

Room 5 - Project Island Song

Room 5 and I went on a trip to Urupukapuka Island which is a part of Ipipiri ( A group of islands, Ipipiri means shelter). We went there on the 22 of September on an Explore boat. I enjoyed the ride and loved going to the bow of the boat where the wind flew into my face. We went there to learn more about a project progressing on that group of islands, Project Island Song. When we got to the bay we listened to the birdsong that they worked on daily, it was so relaxing. The water was beautifully blue and the trees swayed with the wind.

When we arrived at the dock Ria and Debs, volunteers to the project, told us about the island and then we exited the boat. It was a sunny hot day and as my friends and I walked down the dock we arrived at the base, somewhere I had been before 2 years ago. They told us about how they wanted the birdsong to be so loud that you couldn't even hear yourself think and how they would achieve this by trapping all of the pests, planting trees and translocating birds.

After we settled we ate our morning tea and split into groups. I was in group 1 and started my activity of making traps. Bosco, Nate, Vinnie and me got all of the supplies and brought them to the tables. I had made traps before and I was excited to make them again. We screwed all of the screws in (extra tight) and decorated our perfect trap with names, patterns and colourful designs. Then we went for a walk on a track and fed the birds. There were so many pretty birds flying over our heads and landing on the tall trees like rosellas that are from Australia and Tuis that are endemic to New Zealand.

As we sat down to eat our lunch group 2 came from another path and walked slowly towards the eating tables. After eating we all listened to the instructions of Ria as we got our shovels, trees and gloves. We took turns with the GPS marking spots on the island. We came up a hill and as we looked down Ria started talking about how we couldn't run down because of how steep it was and how we had to walk down. We slowly made our way down the hill and we finally reached our destination. We listened intently as Ria taught us how to plant the trees and what they were. As Mia, Shanae and I said our karakia to thank our tree everyone started finishing, putting their gloves away and started to climb back over the fence. None of us wanted to go back up the hill so we took the cliffside track. Ria started talking about how dangerous this track was and everything went eerily silent. We finally started walking and talking about the black scale, a disease brought by the European settlers to kill the trees but it backfired when the Manuka and Kanuka trees were too strong to die of the disease.

As we walked through the flower filled paddock towards the base Shanae, Mia and I chatted happily and made our way to our bags, slouching on the deck. I pulled a green apple out of my lunchbox and bit into it, the juice seeped into my mouth before the flavour hit my taste buds and lit up my face. We pulled our bags onto our back and made our way to the docks but before we could go the teachers wanted a photo. We all bunched up and smiled as the camera took the photo. We all got up and headed to the dock again where we brushed off our feet. We were all getting ready to go when Debs started handing out bread so we could feed the fish. Everyone started chucking bread in but the snapper went to the other side of the dock and me and my friends were getting a bit disappointed when I threw a piece of bread in and a snapper dove up and caught it. My face lit up with a humongous smile, as I tossed small bits of bread in even bigger snappers huddled around it before two of them dove up fighting for it, they flicked water up my legs as my friends and I laughed. I got up and entered the boat as I felt water trickling down my legs, I couldn't hold back my smile.

The ride back was short and calm. Whilst Ria and Debs were talking everyone did their crosswords. When I finished I walked to the bow and let the wind blow in my face. Shanae joined me and a little bit later Mia did. We all talked and laughed when we decided to go to the stern with the boys. The motor was so loud we had to shout to be able to hear people. We were making our way to the bow when we were called back inside, we were coming close to the Paihia wharf. Once we were all seated Ria started giving credit to everyone who helped with the trip before saying goodbye and excusing us. As I stepped off the boat a sudden sadness washed over me like a wave, I was sad we were leaving, I was sad it was all over.

Molly Para

Student Led Conferences

 We look forward to seeing you in week 2 of term 4 for student led conferences.