**UPDATE** The triathlon has been postponed until Tuesday 28 March.

Friday 17 March sees the return of our school triathlon and a great opportunity to encourage your child to be a part of this event.  There are both team and individual events for Year 3-8 students and it’s a chance to get involved and have a go.  Events start at the Bell Block Aquatic Centre and finish on the school field.  Competitors are required to bring togs and a towel, a bike, helmet, shoes, socks, a shirt and appropriate clothing.

We need three parent helpers to volunteer as safety marshalls on the road.  If you would like to volunteer, please email alicia.venter@bellblock.school.nz .

Events and Times:
Team Events
09:40am – Year 3/4 teams race briefing
10:00am – Years 3/4 start
10:20am – Year 5/6 assemble and race briefing
10:40am – Years 5/6 start
11:00am – Year 7/8 assemble and race  briefing
11:20am – Years 7/8 start

Individual Competitors
12:45pm – Individual competitors race briefing
1:00pm – Year 3 boys & girls
1:10pm – Year 4 boys & girls
1:20pm – Year 5 boys & girls
1:30pm – Year 6 boys & girls
1:40pm – Year 7 boys & girls
1:50pm – Year 8 boys & girls

Distances:
Years 3/4
25m / 1 length swim
2 km bike (1 lap)
1.5 km run
Years 5/6
75m  / 3 lengths swim
4 km bike (2 laps)
3 km run (2 laps)
Years 7/8
125m / 5 lengths swim
6.0 km bike (3 laps)
4.5 km run (3 laps)

In support of the East Coast families and schools, we will be having a Black and White Mufti Day on Wednesday 1 March. Bring a gold coin donation, or more if you would like, and all the funds raised will be donated to schools in the Hawkes Bay and Gisborne areas most affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. After seeing the devastation so many are facing, let’s show our support and do what we can to help out just a little. Many other Taranaki schools will also be having a Black and White Day in support.

Caregivers are invited to attend our Final Prizegiving on Tuesday 13 December at 7pm in the hall.

Would all students attending the prizegiving please meet in their classroom at 6:30pm.  Parents are then welcome to move to the hall and find a seat.

At the conclusion of the prizegiving the students will return to their classrooms and parents can pick them up from there.

We are proud to be sharing the learning of the Intermediate students with the school community at the Intermediate Technology Showcase on Thursday 1 December at 6pm. The Showcase will be held in the Technology classrooms and 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 performances and a presentation in the hall.

The schedule of events is as follows:
6pm – 6:45pm Technology Walk Through

• Manufacturing                           ROOM 18
• Digital Technology                    ROOM 19
• The Arts Display                        BREAKOUT ROOM
• The Arts Display                        ROOM 20
• Hospitality                                  TECH ROOM
• Music                                            MUSIC ROOM (ROOM 15)
• Dance & Drama and Music      HALL

6:45pm – 7:30pm Showcase Performances

• Music
• Arts
• Dance & Drama
• Awards presentation

We hope to see you there to support the Intermediate students and to experience what the Intermediate Team has to offer to Year 7 and 8 students.

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!