The Athletics Day schedule is as follows:
Tuesday 22 November – Junior/Middle Teams
11:00am-1:00pm Middle Team (Year 3-4)
1:40pm-3:00pm Junior Team (Years 0-2)
Wednesday 23 November – Senior/Intermediate Teams
9:15am-11:00am Senior Team (Years 5-6)
11:30am-1:00pm Intermediate Team (Years 7-8)
2:20pm approx Class and Whānau Relays
Friday 4 November
We are excited to announce that we are able to hold our Grandparents’ Day again! The last time we were able to do this was in 2019. Grandparents’ Day is a great way for Kuia, Koro, Grandmas and Grandads to come into school to have morning tea with their family, spend time in classes and browse our Book Fair. All are welcome to attend!
Grandparents’ Day is held in conjunction with our Book Fair.
Throughout Book Fair week (Thursday 3 November – Monday 7 November) students will have the opportunity to browse through a selection of items on sale – books, posters, stationery – and take part in exciting competitions and giveaways that will be held in the library at break times.
The programme for the day is as follows:
11:00am Morning tea time Grandparents are welcome to arrive at school and head straight to classes to eat morning tea with their grandchildren or take them across to the library to browse the Book Fair.
11:30am The bell will ring and students will go back to their class. Grandparents can head to the hall ready for our parade.
11:40am Parade – Students are encouraged to dress up as their favourite book character. There will be prizes for the best costumes.
Approx 12:15pm After the parade, grandparents are welcome to join us around the school until lunchtime at 1pm. Your tamariki may wish to share some work in their classroom or take you to the Book Fair in the library.
1.40pm Classes resume as normal after lunch.
The amazing ‘Paws for Books’ Scholastic Book Fair returns to our school from Thursday 3 to Monday 7 November. Come to the school Library between 8.30am and 3.30pm and you will be amazed at the wonderful books, stationery, posters (and more) on offer. It is the perfect opportunity and time to start your Christmas shopping. See you at the Book Fair!
Parent & Staff Elections Results Declaration
Parent representative votes:
| Hunter, Nicola | 42 |
| Korff, Stephanie | 66 |
| Lee, Matthew | 77 |
| Paris, Rebecca | 82 |
| Pignéguy, Michelle | 42 |
| Stephens, Nicky | 101 |
| Stretton, Kevin | 111 |
| Walden, Paul | 99 |
| Invalid Votes | 0 |
I hereby declare the following duly elected:
Staff representative votes:
| Hill, Danielle | 8 |
| Thomas, Kim | 12 |
| Invalid Votes | 0 |
I hereby declare Kim Thomas duly elected.
Signed
Gayle Davis
Returning Officer
The Year 6 students in our Senior Team are again very fortunate to be participating in the AWE Water Safety Programme in Week 9 of Term 3. This valuable programme is aimed at students of all swimming abilities and is free of charge. We acknowledge, with much appreciation, that the buses transporting our children to and from the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre are also paid for by the AWE Programme. Last time the programme proved to be very successful. Our children learned important skills to help them stay safe in the water and the timing is perfect given that summer is fast approaching.
This programme includes all Year 6 students and is held during school time. Students will need to bring their togs and towel and footwear to school on Tuesday 20, Wednesday 21 AND Thursday 22 September. (Please ensure your child brings their togs and a towel in a swim bag or plastic bag).
The schedule is as follows:
Rooms 11 & 14 depart school at 10:30am Return to school by 12:30pm
Rooms 12 & 13 depart school at 12:30pm Return to school by 2:30pm
Consent must be given for students to attend the AWE Water Safety Programme. Please ensure that permission has been given via the parent app before the deadline of Friday 9 September.
If permission is not received by the deadline, students will not be permitted to attend.
If you have any questions about the programme, please speak to your child’s teacher.
Many thanks for supporting us to keep your child safe in the water.
In Term 4 our Senior Team students will be going to the Vertical Horizon Camp. This is a two night, fully-catered camp. Vertical Horizon Camp is based 10km from Inglewood. The accommodation consists of lodges and chalets that offer distinct areas for boys and girls.
During the day students move from one activity to the next. At the activity station there is an instructor. The instructors are equipped with radio communication devices, first aid kits and relevant safety equipment. Students will enjoy many action-packed activities which are designed to promote fun through teamwork and provide personal challenges for individuals. It is also an excellent chance to consolidate friendships within the senior team.
If your child does not attend camp then they should be at school as normal. Work will be set and a class allocated for them.
We will leave school at approximately 9:30am on Monday 31 October and return by 2:30pm on Wednesday 2 November.
We are requesting voluntary donations from parents to help towards the cost of the food, activities and accommodation. We are hoping to raise $180.00 per student, we appreciate your help with this, as without parental support the trip will not be able to go ahead. We will also be fundraising and we encourage students to find ways of helping out and fundraising at home as well.
The bank account number for donations is: 15 3956 0057371 02
There is an option to pay smaller weekly voluntary contributions prior to camp. If this would suit you (and you can start straight away, should you wish to do this). If you would like to take this option, please contact the Bell Block School Office (office@bellblock.school.nz).
We will require parent helpers to attend the camp, unfortunately there will be a cost to parent helpers of $120.00 to cover the food and accommodation. We will meet with confirmed parent helpers to discuss their involvement in the camp. Parent helpers will be required to complete a medical form and undertake police vetting. We will provide forms once names of helpers have been confirmed.
The 2022 school Cross Country event is scheduled as follows:
Intermediate Team TUESDAY 30 AUGUST 11:30am start @ Mangati Walkway (Antonio Place) – 11, 12, 13 year olds
Senior Team TUESDAY 30 AUGUST 9:30am start @ Mangati Walkway (Antonio Place) – 9, 10 year olds
Middle Team WEDNESDAY 31 AUGUST 12pm start @ Mangati Walkway (Antonio Place) – 7, 8 year olds
Junior Team WEDNESDAY 31 AUGUST 2pm start @ Bell Block School field – 5, 6, 7 year olds
Distance: 7-9 year olds = 2 laps (2.4km) / 10-13 year olds 3 laps (3.6km)
We are proud to be sharing the learning of the Intermediate students in Technology on Thursday 18 August at 6pm.
The Showcase will be held in the Technology classrooms and the school hall and will conclude at 7:30pm.
Whānau are invited to first walk through the Technology classrooms to see examples of the students’ work, followed by a presentation in the hall.
The schedule of events is as follows:
6pm – 6:45pm Technology Walk Through
6:45pm – 7:30pm Showcase Performances in the hall
We hope to see you there to support the Intermediate students.
The Student Council travelled down to Palmerston North for the National Young Leaders Day on 25 May 2022. It was such a fun and cool experience to listen to some inspiring speakers and hear their amazing stories. One of the quotes I was very inspired by was “Don’t fight like an octopus, fight like a shark” which means that if life is the fishing rod, an octopus would give up the fight straight away but sharks don’t give up, they fight for their freedom. We need to have the inner fight. Overall, it was an awesome day and I enjoyed every second of it. Taj Taogaga, Room 19
