Thursday 15th June 2023 | Term 2 Week 8 |
Kia ora e te whānau,
As we approach the end of the term, there are a few updates and acknowledgements that I would like to share with you.
Girls in Hi-Viz Visit to Ōhau
A big thank you goes to Michele O'Carroll for organising last week's Girls in Hi-Viz visit to Ōhau. The students had an incredible experience, and we encourage you to read the article later in this newsletter to learn more about their exciting learning opportunity.
National Area School Tournament Preparation
We thank the dedicated team for preparing our students for the upcoming National Area School Tournament. Their commitment and willingness to sacrifice personal time to take the students to the regional meeting and training earlier this week is commendable. Coming together for these practices gives our students an excellent advantage for the competition in Rangiora over the upcoming holiday period.
Industrial Action Reminder
With the ongoing industrial action, we want to remind you of the home rostering days for the remainder of the term. Please refer to the schedule below:
- Monday 19th June - M3 and M4
- Tuesday 20th June - Years 11 and 12
- Wednesday 21st June - M3 and Year 13
- Thursday 22nd June - M4 and Year 11
- Monday 26th June - Years 12 and 13
- Tuesday 27th June - M3 and M4
- Wednesday 28th June - Years 11 and 12
- Thursday 29th June - M3 and Year 13
Additionally, the PPTA has informed the Board of Trustees about a Paid Union Meeting on June 28th. On this day, all students in Years 7-13 will finish school at 12:55 pm to allow for the contracted meeting to be attended. Buses will run normally, and a study room will be available for students who cannot be collected. If your child will require study supervision on the afternoon of the 28th of June, please inform the office. We understand this can frustrate parents and affected students; the school and board are bound by the PPTA requirements.
Junior Students' Excursion to The Dark Skies Project
Our junior students enjoy trips to The Dark Skies Project in Tekapo this week and in the upcoming weeks. We would like to express our gratitude to the organising teachers for providing this excellent learning opportunity. The visits also serve as a great preparation for our upcoming Matariki Celebration and Hāngī, which you can read more about in the article below. This is an exciting time for our school community, and we look forward to celebrating together.
Work Readiness Programme with Hannah Beer
Lastly, we would like to thank Hannah Beer for her exceptional work with M4 across their Work Readiness Programme. The students have learned much and gained valuable community wisdom from the course. What will we collaborate on next?
He waka eke noa,
Kate Staniford
Tumuaki | Principal
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From the Head Students
Head and Deputy Head students Billy and Fred have a reminder about Home Rostering as we near the end of Term Two, and a look forward to next week's Non-Uniform Day. | |  |
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Hands-on Experience with Annual Girls in Hi-Viz EventIn conjunction with Connexis, Meridian held its annual Girls in Hi-Vis Day last Thursday, allowing female students to gain hands-on experience, and hear from inspirational women in local industry. | |  |
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Model-Making and the story of Aoraki Mount CookJunior classes (with the help of some fabulous Middle Schoolers) have been learning about the purakau (story) of the creation of Aoraki Mount Cook, and other local landscape features. 🏔️ | |  |
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Celebrate Matariki With UsWe will a be hosting a Hāngī for our kura on Wednesday, 19th July and we would love to see you all there.
Click the link for more information! | |  |
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Heads or Tails?Room 9 students' math lessons took an exciting turn this week as they shifted their focus from fractions to the captivating realm of probability! 🧮 | |  |
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Students Wowed by the StarsJunior students had an unforgettable experience in Tekapo this week at the Dark Sky Project, immersing themselves in the fascinating world of space, stars, and Matariki. 🌌 | |  |
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Student Council NewsThe Student Council has news of next week's Non-Uniform Day, as well as their plans for next term, thinking about sustainability and our environment. | |  |
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Tournament Training DayNational Area Schools recently held its highly anticipated training day, a spirited event that brought together students from the Otago region to showcase their athletic ability. 🏀 🏃🏼♂️ | |  |
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School Cleaner VacancyWe are seeking an amazing Cleaner to join our team at Twizel Area School. | |  |
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A BYOD Reminder for 2024A reminder as we look forward to 2024 about the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy for students in years 7-13. 💻 | |  |
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Scholastic Book Club | Issue 4The fourth issue of the Scholastic Book Club for 2023 is now available, orders need to be placed by Friday 7th July. 📚 You can order through the Scholastic website or the Book Club Loop app, available through the App Store and Google Play Store. | |  |
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PPTA Industrial Action ContinuesThe Board of Trustees at Twizel Area School have been informed of the following industrial action affecting students in Years 7-13 for the remainder of Term 2, by the Secondary Teachers' Union (PPTA). | |  |
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How to Talk About: VapingA chat about vaping can help our kids think about addiction while developing empathy for others and some healthy hesitancy of their own. | |  |
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 → Monday, 19th June | M3 and M4 Rostered Home
→ Tuesday, 20th June | Year 11 and 12 Rostered Home
→ Tuesday, 20th June | Room 8 Dark Sky Project Trip, Lake Tekapo
→ Wednesday, 21st June | M3 and Year 13 Rostered Home
→ Wednesday, 21st June | Sausage Sizzle Fundraiser - $3 each
→ Thursday, 22nd June | M4 and Year 11 Rostered Home
→ Thursday, 22nd June | Junior School Disco
→ Friday, 23rd June | Room 7 Dark Sky Project Trip, Lake Tekapo
→ Friday, 23rd June | Non-Uniform Day - Dress as your future job
→ Wednesday, 28th June | PPTA Paid Union Meeting - all students in Years 7-13 will finish school at 12:55 pm
*All dates above are subject to change* |
 Twizel Community Library ClosureThe Twizel Community Library will temporarily close during the last week of term 2 and the first week of the School Holidays due to an upgrade in the management system software. This closure will also provide an opportunity for the Library Staff to undergo the appropriate training. We apologise for the disruption this may cause.
- Last day open: Friday 23rd June
- First day reopening: Monday 10th July
Junior Dark Sky TripsJunior Dark Sky trips continue during the last two weeks of term. If your tamariki have not returned their permission slips, please ensure they do so ASAP. Please note that students cannot participate in the trip unless their permission slip has been returned. National Area Schools Tournament Sausage Sizzle FundraiserA sausage sizzle will be held next Wednesday (June 21st), and the following Monday (June 26th) to raise money for students attending the National Area Schools Tournament in Rangiora during the school holidays.
Those students who wish to buy a sausges (or two), the price is $3 each.
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