On Thursday 14 March we will be holding our school triathlon for Years 3-8 students.

Please talk to your child about whether they wish to enter as an individual or part of a team (or both). Any students who choose to participate in this event must ensure they have the correct gear to compete safely. It is a good idea to check bikes thoroughly before the day to ensure they are safe. Please note that cyclists must have a helmet, shirt and shoes. We need parent helpers to volunteer as marshalls on the road. Your job will be to ensure students are safe and cycling in the right direction. If you would like to put your name forward, please email abby.piercy@bellblock.school.nz

Triathlon Team Events

10:00am        Years 3/4

10:40am        Years 5/6

11:20am        Years 7/8

Triathlon Individual Events

1:00pm          Year 3 boys and girls

1:10pm          Year 4 boys and girls

1:20pm          Year 5 boys and girls

1:30pm          Year 6 boys and girls

1:40pm          Year 7 boys and girls

1:50pm          Year 8 boys and girls

Distances

Years 3/4       25m (1 length) swim            2km (1 lap) bike ride               1.5km run

Years 5/6       75m (3 lengths) swim           4km (2 laps) bike ride             3.0km run

Years 7/8       125m (5 lengths) swim         6km (3 laps) bike ride             4.5km run

During Week 6 we have our first major school sports event for the year – Swimming Sports.

We expect all students to take part either in the participation events or the finals as they earn points for their whānau with every event they participate in. Students and staff will be dressed up in their whānau colours showing their whānau spirit. It is always a great day of students giving things a go and ends with the hotly contested class, whānau and Staff vs Students relay. All our families are invited to come along to support the students in action at the Junior event on Wednesday and the rest of the school on Thursday. Please know it can get very loud, particularly in the Thursday afternoon session!

Wednesday 6 March – Junior Swimming Sports (Outdoor Pool)

11:30             Years 1-2              Participation Events

Thursday 7 March – Years 3-8 Swimming Sports (Indoor Pool)

11:30am        Years 3-4            Width Participation Events

                        Years 3-4            25m Participation Freestyle, 25m Participation Backstroke followed by finals

12:15pm        Years 5-6            25m Freestyle, 25m Backstroke, 25m Breaststroke, 75m 3 Stroke Medley

1:15pm          Years 7-8            25m Freestyle, 25m Backstroke, 25m Breaststroke, 50m Freestyle, 75m 3 Stroke Medley 

2:00pm         Relays                                                                                             

Preliminary heats to determine the finalists have been recorded during class time. The heats swum on Swimming Sports day are participation events only.

The Board invites applications from parents who wish to enrol their children at Bell Block School for next year.

Enrolment at the school is governed by an enrolment scheme, details of which are available from the school office.

To apply for a place for your child please download an enrolment form from the Enrolments page of our website and provide your child’s birth certificate and immunisation record to the school office.  Enrolment packs are also available from the school office.

Applications for out of zone enrolments for 2024 must be received by 3:30pm on Wednesday 11 October 2023 (please see the timeline below for further information).  Parents of students who live within the home zone should also apply by this date to assist the school to plan appropriately for next year.  Please note that children with siblings currently enrolled who live outside of the school zone must apply as an out of zone student.

The exact number of places available will depend on the number of applications received from students who live within the school’s home zone.

If the number of out of zone applications exceeds the number of places available, students will be selected by ballot. If a ballot is required it will be held on 12 October 2023.  Parents will be informed of the outcome of the ballot within three school days of the ballot being held.

An Open Morning is scheduled for Thursday 14 September from 9am – 10am for families and children who are interested in seeing what our school has to offer.  Please sign in at the office and meet in the staffroom.  No reservations required.

Should you have any questions regarding enrolments, please contact Kim Thomas in the office on 06 755 0838 or email office@bellblock.school.nz.

We have enjoyed hosting the NPDC led Scooter/Cycle Skills training sessions at school during Term 3.  The Junior and Middle Team students took part in scooter skills and the Senior and Intermediate Team students took part in cycle skills.

Although the weather hasn’t always played its part, it was great to see the Intermediate students growing in confidence while completing the Grade 1 training before taking on the Grade 2 training.  There has been a noticeable increase in students biking and scootering to school over the past few weeks which is very positive.

Thank you to Mrs Piercy who has co-ordinated this opportunity with the Let’s Go team.

You can support the school to receive FREE sports gear by collecting stickers from individual Yummy apples or bags of Yummy apples.

Collect your Yummy stickers during Term 2 and Term 3 and place the Yummy stickers on Sticker Collection Sheets and the cut-out labels on Cut-Out Label Collection Sheets (available to download from the school app, collect from the school office or see below).

Yummy apples can be purchased from your local New World, Pak’n Save and participating Four Square stores. You can collect either individual apples with Yummy stickers or bags with cut-out labels. One cut-out label is worth 10 apple stickers.

Hand in completed sticker sheets to the school office before the end of Term 3.

Your Yummy stickers will then be converted into FREE sports gear for the school! The more support we have, the more sports gear we can receive for all to enjoy!

Sticker Collection Sheet

Cut-Out Label Collection Sheet

New Variety Sticker Collection Sheet

Parent & Staff Elections Results Declaration

Parent representative votes:

I hereby declare the following duly elected:

• Lee, Matthew
• Paris, Rebecca
• Stephens, Nicky
• Stretton, Kevin
• Walden, Paul

Staff representative votes:

I hereby declare Kim Thomas duly elected.

Signed

Gayle Davis

Returning Officer