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

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

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,

• Send an email to kade.forsyth@bellblock.school.nz
• Attend our Whānau Hui in Term 3.