Address: 282 Victoria Avenue, Remuera, Auckland | Telephone: (09) 520 0602
E-mail: [email protected] | web: www.victoriaave.com
Dear Parents
I was in a carpark earlier this week and was sitting in my car. The owner of the car beside me returned to his car and opened his car door, not once, but twice (!) hitting the side of my car. I was annoyed at his thoughtlessness about any possible damage to my car, so spoke to him, telling him that he had hit my car with his door and I hoped he hadn’t damaged it. Oh I am so sorry these carparks are so small was his response. I said to him that actually it wasn’t the carpark that had made the choice to hit my car with his door, it was him. Oh, he said you’re right and apologised again. I graciously said thank you for your apology (but I still checked for damage before he drove away! None!)
The choices we make are just that – our choices, no one else’s. Often, when we talk to a child about his or her choice that has resulted in hurting someone or damaging property, they will say oh I did it because my friend had told me to. Or a parent will tell us that their child’s choice to do something inappropriate was not their fault because another child made them do it, or provoked them first.
Nobody can make us do anything we don’t want to. Our behaviours, comments, action are all results of a choice we have made. If we choose to speak rudely to someone because they have annoyed us, it is our choice to do that. We cannot blame the other person’s annoying behaviour for our choice. We have a range of choices immediately available to us if we are annoyed – move away, say nothing, speak rudely, stay calm, respond reasonably, suggest a conversation later. Which of the choices we choose has nothing to do with the other person, but is solely our choice to make.
At school we do a lot of work with children around choices and how there are other choices they could have made which might have had a better outcome. We say “what else could you have done?” When they are asked that simple question, they are reflecting on alternate choices and they always suggest something which would have resulted in a more favourable outcome. I recently spoke with a child who had gotten themselves into a bit of bother. After we discussed the action, the choice they made and the outcome, I commented that the only person who could change their behaviour was themselves and that could happen through thinking of other choices when responding to aggravation.
All of this is important for children to know, but it is also very important that they make the less appropriate choice from time to time. It is through the consequences of these inappropriate choices made, that the most powerful learning happens. Nobody is perfect, but we can learn from our mistakes and wrong choices.
Kind Regards
Janice Adamson
Book Character Parade and Readathon
You know that feeling when you arrive at a function and you are horribly underdressed? That’s how I felt today when I made the choice to not wear a book character costume. OK, mitigating circumstances are that all our ‘stuff’, including our dress up box, is in storage while we sell our house (but following on from the theme above, it was my choice to not try to manufacture something at 10pm last night!). And the reason I felt so underdressed was because most of the children looked fantastic in their costumes. It was so great to see them all turned out in fancy dress, many carrying the books that were their inspiration. The Read-a-thon and accompanying activities are been a huge success. Now all you need to do is send back your sponsorship money.
Mathex
Two teams, one year 5 and one year 6 participated in the annual Mathex competition at St Kentigerns last Thursday night. It is such a fun competition and our two teams acquitted themselves very well.
VAS Chess Championship
After school chess is very popular and the VAS championship is keenly contested.
Congratulations to Jet Cheung, 1st and Oscar Preuss and Rex Hu 2nd equal.
Pizza Day
A very popular PTS initiative, well organised and the children love it. Thanks to the parents for their organisation.
PRE-ENROLMENT FOR 2017
URGENT ~ PRE-ENROLMENT FOR THOSE STARTING SCHOOL AT VICTORIA AVENUE SCHOOL IN 2017!
FOR IN ZONE AND OUT OF ZONE OPTIONS
For more information please go to our website or email Linley as soon as possible.
THOSE WHO ARE OUT OF ZONE
WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE DUE TO START SCHOOL IN 2017
MUST APPLY FOR THE BALLOT BY WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER 2016!!
IF YOU DON’T APPLY YOUR CHILD WILL MISS OUT!!
Uniform Shop CLOSED on FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER (Last day of term).
Online orders placed by Tuesday 20 September and will be delivered on 21st September.
The shop will be opened on 10 October from 8:15 to 8:45am. and then as usual.
Everyone will need a hat for next term. No hat no play!!!
LOTS OF LOST PROPERTY!!
Our thanks to Janeen de Zoysa for her ongoing work in sorting out your children’s lost property!
Please note that we have FIVE events coming up:
- Friday 16 September: Quiz Night – See the list below of fabulous auction items – you can bid on without attending the event!
- Monday 19 September: Maths Information Session at 7pm. CLICK HERE link to tell us your are coming!
- Tuesday 18 October: Brainwave Trust talk at 7pm – cost is $12:00 Tickets on sale soon in our online shop.
- Wednesday 12 October: Closing date for Out of Zone Ballot applications.
- Wednesday 19 October: Out of Zone Ballot is drawn.
Click Here to view our BLOG PAGE.
DRAMA/SPEECH LESSONS: Click here for information
MUSIC LESSONS: Click here for information on Musiqhub music lessons
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES:
FOR TERM 3 2016
Click here for details on these activities.
Also:
Click here for After School and Holiday Community Based Programmes and Activities for 2016
What’s Ahead?
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR ONLINE CALENDAR
IMPORTANT DATES AND TIMES
School Times
School starts: 8.50am
Interval: 10.30-10.50am
Lunch: 12.30-1.25pm
School finishes: 3.00pm
Term Dates for 2016
Term 3: Monday 25 July to Friday 23 Sept ’16
Term 4: Monday 10 October to Friday 16 December ’16
~ Labour Day Mon 24 October ’16
Term Dates for 2017
Term 1: Wednesday 1 February ( This could change to Tuesday 31 January) to Thursday 13 April 2017
~ Waitangi Day Monday 6 February ’17
~ Good Friday 14 April
Term 2: Monday 1 May to Friday 7 July 2017
~ Queen’s Birthday Monday 5 June ’17
Term 3: Monday 24 July to Friday 29 Sept 2017
Term 4: Monday 16 October to Friday 15 December 2017
~ Labour Day Mon 23 October ’17
Stationery Sales
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 8.30-8.45am
Uniform Shop
– half way up dragon drive in the old dental clinic
OPEN FRIDAYS only: 8.15-8.45am
Orders and payments for uniform can be made online on our website ~ Click hereSave
Lunch Orders
1. ‘Daily Lunch and Catering’ ordered through ezLUNCH: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays – ONLINE ORDERS ONLY
Join ezlunch today and Place an order
2. Pita Pit: ordered through ezLUNCH: Thursdays – ONLINE ORDERS ONLY – NEW!!
Join ezlunch today and Place an order
3. Subway: Wed and Fri – ONLINE ORDERS ONLY
Register to order online at www.subwayrialto.co.nz
4. Fusion Sushi on Tuesdays and Fridays – ORDERING AT SCHOOL OFFICE – NEW!!
Click Here for order forms/instructions
School Dental Service
8b Ngaio St Orakei Ph5200603.
The dental team will be posting letters to all new entrants to our school as required.
Remember to ‘like’ Victoria Avenue School on Facebook.
NIT NIGHT TONIGHT!!
PLEASE, PLEASE CHECK FOR NITS – a number of classes have reported nits and if your infected child is not treated then many others will be!
Here is a link from NZ Health for info and treatment.
http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/diseases-and-illnesses/head-lice
Reminder school Banking is on every Wednesday
To join go to the ASB display/banking box in the foyer.
To download the app for free on iPhone or Android click this link. http://is.gd/3ffmjc

Book Character Parade