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
Each year, we offer the opportunity for our Year 3-8 students to take part in the ICAS International test series. This programme is run by the University of New South Wales in Australia and consists of separate exams in Digital Technologies, Science, Writing, Spelling, English and Mathematics in August and September. This year exams are online. Because of this, we won’t be able to run the practice tests as we have in the past. There are practice tests available online which we strongly encourage all participants to have a go at in preparation for the exam day. Learn more about ICAS here: https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas.
These tests are quite challenging and suitable for children achieving above the expected level. They are not compulsory and are often chosen by parents and children as a learning extension challenge. All entrants receive a breakdown of their results as well as a certificate. There is a cost to parents for each exam. The costs and dates of tests are outlined below. There are online preparation tips and tests, which students can try at http://www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/icas/preparatio
| Subject | Test Date | Cost |
| Digital Technologies | Tuesday 9 August at 9:30am | $20.70 |
| Writing | Thursday 11 August at 9:30am | $27.03 |
| English | Tuesday 16 August at 9:30am | $20.70 |
| Science | Tuesday 23 August at 9:30am | $20.70 |
| Spelling Bee | Thursday 25 August at 9:30am | $20.70 |
| Mathematics | Thursday 1 September at 9:30am | $20.70 |
To enter, simply visit the Parent Payment Portal (PPP). Through this system parents can pay for ICAS directly online. Simply go to the portal at https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps and enter the access code ABZ264 (by 1 August).
Parents/caregivers are encouraged to pre-enrol their children now for late 2022 and 2023.
We are currently planning for the new entrants who start during the second half of the year. If you have not yet enrolled and have a child who will be starting school in the second half of the year, would you please enrol as soon as possible. If you know of any other families in zone who are wanting to have a child start this year, please encourage them to make contact with the office. This information is critical to enable us to give the best possible start to our youngest students.
Applications for out of zone enrolments for 2023 must be received by 3:30pm on Monday 26 September 2022 (please see the timeline below for further information) but in zone enrolments are also requested by this date.
To pre-enrol your child please download an enrolment form from the Enrolments page of this website and provide the required documentation.
Should you have any questions regarding enrolments, please contact Kim Thomas in the office on 06 755 0838.
Kia ora,
The Waharoa was installed and blessed on Thursday 18 November. On behalf of the school and community we would like to thank Kenny and Dave Trinder and Morgan Watson for these beautiful taonga. The Waharoa is named Nga kete matauranga, linked to the baskets of knowledge carved on it. At the south gate, on Bell Block Court, facing the mountain, we have Pou o te Raukura, to the east on Wynyard Street is Pou Pukaea and to the north on Murray Street is Pou Tangaroa. Each of these taonga have many stories and teaching points carved into them and we look forward to sharing them with the students and community.
Intermediate Team
16 June 2021
At 5:30am we left school to go to NYLD Hamilton. When we arrived we went in and found our seats. My favourite speaker was Cam. Cam has cerebral palsy. People told him he wouldn’t be able to talk and walk properly but he accomplished something big. He climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, the biggest freestanding mountain in the world. We all wore our new school blazers that the 2020 Student Council fundraised for their legacy project.
by Ollie McCallum
11 June 2021
Last week on Friday we had two new Principals. Miss Buckley (Hannah Room 20) and Mr Harris (Ziggy Room 6) won the Principal for a Day raffle at the gala and took over the Principal’s office.
They were very busy touring the classrooms, presenting awards and organising the assembly. Miss Buckley even took the opportunity to cancel Room 20’s homework for this week. They both did a fantastic job and enjoyed the day.
5 May 2021
On Wednesday 5 May our Librarian, Ms Manukonga took two teams to the Kids’ Lit Quiz held at Sacred Heart Girls College. Both teams had tough competition with 28 other teams entered from around the Whanganui and Taranaki area. Both teams represented the school really well, and while we didn’t place this year we have plenty of reading time between now and the next quiz! Well done to both teams.
Pictured are: Charlize Duncan, Riley Davis, Katie Martin, Maddie Dagger, Merope Amoore, Erin Lim, Benjamin Whiteley
Absent: Delevan Mackey
15 April 2021
To provide the Intermediate students with an audience for their learning this term, and to show what the new Technology Programme looks like at Bell Block School we will be holding a Technology Showcase on Thursday 15 April in the hall from 6:00-7:00pm.
There will be presentations from the Dance and Drama and Music Technology groups and the Wearable Arts groups will be displaying their amazing creations. The event will also feature food prepared and served by the Hospitality groups. You will also be able to see what the Manufacturing, Coding & Robotics, Environmental and Digital Media groups have been doing with demonstrations and displays. The evening will end with the presentation of awards to the students for their efforts in Technology this term. We are very pleased to be able to offer this programme to our students and we would love for you to come and see what the students are capable of doing.
