Dear Parents,

This is the last newsletter of the year. Although we still have a couple of significant events happening next week, it is right that we celebrate them in advance.

The end of year events held at VAS are very special. The Leavers’ Dinner is on tonight and there is an excited buzz running through the year 6 classrooms. The leavers’ activity day is next Wednesday at Cornwall Park. The children enjoy dressing up (devising a group chant!!) and participating in all sorts of challenges. Great fun to be had!

The Carol Service is being held on Monday night and will be absolutely wonderful. The singing and readings are being practised and from what I have seen already it will be a lovely evening in a beautiful venue. Huge thanks and congratulations to the organising team of Alison Laxon, Jane Cameron, Ally Young along with all the teachers. Hours of work in preparing, practising and organising have been put into making this a lovely event.

Thank you to the Board of Trustees, Bob Weston Chair, Nicky Hall, Dave Shields, Bridget Snelling, Anna Scott, Alison Laxon, current trustees and Michael Holloway and Katie Williams who resigned during the year. You have all worked very hard to ensure that the school is governed at such a high level. This has ensured that the high standard of education and community involvement has continued.

Huge thanks to everyone on the PTS. Shelley Cunningham continued the tradition of leading a fantastic team of people in organising so many events throughout the year. Everything I have attended has been well organised, fun and always a great fundraiser for the school. I know that many Friends of the PTS have also helped in many ways, so thanks to you too.

There are many VAS families (of year 6 children) for whom this is the last farewell. Their youngest child is leaving VAS, so their time with us is over. Thanks to all of you for your wonderful contributions to the school over many years. To all the families leaving Victoria Avenue School this year, thank you for your support of the school and I am sure you take away many fond memories.

We have some teachers leaving at the end of the year. Amy McGuire is heading overseas for an adventure. Nicole Nelson has won a position closer to her home on the North Shore as the commute is quite significant. Paul Rattenbury is another moving to a school closer to his home. He is going from a 45 minute commute to a 10 minute commute. Lavinia Robyns is leaving the classroom role to take on a position as RTLB (resource teacher of learning and behaviour) working with children with learning or behavioural needs. All four teachers have done an outstanding job and we wish them all the best. Thanks also to Kate Chisholm, Melissa Field and Andy Butler who opened the new entrant classes during this year and have done a fantastic job transitioning the new children into school.

We have appointed new teachers. Brittany Mills who comes to us from Epsom Normal School. Mike Hogg who used to teach at VAS is returning from his position overseas to take up the senior teacher position in the senior syndicate, Judy Chao and Kathy Ngan are both  experienced teachers. The year 4 position is currently advertised so we will be informing parents as soon as an appointment is made.

So to all the staff; teachers, teacher aides and admin staff thank you all for your dedication and hard work with our lovely students.

Please have lovely restful holidays, drive safely and enjoy the precious time with your families.

Kind regards
Janice Adamson

2018 Classes

The class notifications will be sent home in two ways. All parents will get an email with the class their child is in, and you will also get a photo and bio about the new teacher. You will also be given a notice saying which class they are in which will be put in with the report. Children will meet their new teachers tomorrow so you can all have a lovely conversation after school.

You will notice that we will have four year 3 classes. We have a large cohort moving through the school so the board is funding an additional teacher to ensure the class sizes are kept down. All other year levels are staffed at almost exactly the teacher:student ratio as funded by the Ministry of Education. As a state school we have to accept every child who lives in zone regardless of how many we already have in a particular cohort.

Building Work During the Holidays

FINALLY! The work to remediate the subsidence which has affected rooms 15 – 18 will start during the holidays. It won’t be completed until sometime during term 1 so those classes have been moved for term 1. We have had to be very creative!

Room 15 Year 3          Classroom will be on the stage in the hall (yes, it is big enough!)
Room 16 Year 4          Community room
Room 17 Year 4          Library (all children will still be able to take books out)
Room 18 Year 4          Room 23 (large room beside the library with new ventilation system)

These spaces will be set up as proper classrooms with all the usual furniture and resources.

Rooms 7 – 12 are being reroofed during the holidays. No more leaks! Rooms 19 – 21 will be reroofed during the April holidays.

The exterior of the school is being painted during the holidays. Rooms 15 – 18 exterior will be painted during the April holidays after the building work is completed.

So the place will be a hive of activity! Families may still use the grounds as all the buildings will be fenced off.

2018 Staffing

SENIOR SYNDICATE

 MIDDLE SYNDICATE

 JUNIOR SYNDICATE

SPECIALIST TEACHERS

Councillors and House Captains

All the Year 5 students and all the teachers voted for the councillors. Children voted for the house captains. We are delighted to announce the councillors and house captains for 2018 at the leavers’ assembly tomorrow afternoon at 1.30pm. Note the change of time.

Other Events

Leavers’ assembly –  1.30pm – Friday 8 December, parents warmly invited.
Carol service at the cathedral 7pm – Monday 11 December
Prizegiving at Baradene – 1.3en.

Uniform Shop Opening

The second hand uniform sale which was scheduled for Friday 8 December, is cancelled due to the lack of available stock.

The shop will be closed the last Thursday of the term (14 December).

The shop reopens for the new year on the first Thursday of term one (8 February). It will also be open:
– Thursday 1 February 2018 – 4.00-5.30pm
– Friday 2 February 2018 – 9.00-10.30am
– Monday 5 February 2018 – 3.30-5.30pm

Dates for 2018

Term 1: Wednesday 7 February to Friday 13 April 2018
~ Waitangi Day Tuesday 6 February ’18
~ Good Friday 30 March
~ Easter Monday 2 April
~ Easter Tuesday 3 April
Term 2: Monday 30 April to Friday 6 July 2018
~ Queen’s Birthday Monday 4 June ’18
Term 3: Monday 23 July to Friday 28 Sept 2018
Term 4: Monday 15 October to Thursday 20 December 2018
~ Labour Day Mon 22 October ’18