Dear Baverstock Oaks School Community,

Kia ora, Tenā koutou, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Bula vinaka, Malo e lelei, Talofa lava, Taloha, Kia orana, Ni hao, Buenos días, Chao, Malo ni, Habari dobar dan, Namaste, Salam.

I am delighted to be back after a rewarding 10-week sabbatical, during which I had the opportunity to visit schools in Canada. This experience reaffirmed my confidence in the exceptional quality of education and resources available in New Zealand schools. I am grateful for the warm welcome I have received upon my return and extend my thanks to our dedicated Associate Principals, Andrew Flanagan, Holly Skipper, and Kristie Campbell, who adeptly led our school in my absence.

Yvette Yu, our Year 2 teacher and Whānau Leader in Room 12 has secured a position at Glendowie Primary as her family are relocating to Central Auckland.  She begins her new role on the 9th of September.  I thank Yvette for all she has contributed to Baverstock Oaks School over the years.  She is an exemplary teacher and dedicated leader.  She works incredibly hard and children who have been lucky enough to be in her class over the years have had a top quality education.  Glendowie Primary is very fortunate to have appointed an educator of such a high calibre.  We are extremely fortunate to have appointed a very experienced teacher to replace Yvette, Miss Kate Paul.  She will begin in Term 4 and Room 12 will be covered by one of our wonderful part-time teachers, Mrs Ali Robberts, for the remaining 3 weeks of this term.

Additionally, Mia Hellesoe, one of our dedicated Attendance Advisors from South East Attendance Services, has resigned. Mia has been instrumental in fostering strong connections with schools and families to ensure regular student attendance. We extend our sincere thanks to Mia for her commitment and contributions.

We also extend a warm welcome to Stacey Visser, our new Learning Assistant.

I would like to extend my gratitude to those families who supported our recent fundraising initiatives. I am acutely aware of the financial pressures many are facing due to the rising cost of living. Schools, too, are grappling with increased costs, including support staff salaries, utilities, and maintenance.

I commend the parents who adhered to the deadlines for our recent pizza/mufti day fundraiser. Adhering to these deadlines ensures that we can manage orders efficiently. Unfortunately, some parents who missed the deadline resorted to ordering Uber Eats for delivery to the school. This practice creates additional work for our staff and can lead to unnecessary disruptions. We kindly ask that you respect the established deadlines and stay updated through our communication channels to ensure a smooth process for future events.

Over the past two and a half years, a group of retired volunteers has generously dedicated their time teaching stitching skills to some of our Year 5 and 6 students. Their work will be showcased at an exhibition held at Uxbridge Arts and Culture Centre, Howick, open 10 a.m until 4pm. on the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th of September (not open on Sunday, the 8th of September).

There is no charge but gold coin donations can be made.  East Auckland Embroiderers' Guild Exhibition is held every two years and displays members' work (amateur to more experienced stitchers).

My sincere thanks go to Isabel Browne, Anne Haack, Carol Scott, Noreen Cross, and Kay Williams for their invaluable contributions. I also appreciate the support provided by staff members Bo Ahn and Liz Stone. The students have truly embraced this opportunity, and we commend them for their enthusiasm and commitment.

Upcoming Parenting Evening

I encourage you to attend our Parenting Evening this evening from 5.00 - 6:00 pm in the school hall on Wednesday the 4th of September, where you will gain valuable insights into building confidence and resilience in your child.

As we approach the end of the term, please ensure your child attends school regularly. We are striving to meet the Ministry of Education's target of 70% regular attendance by the end of the year. Consistent attendance is crucial for achieving this goal. Please plan vacations after the school year ends on December 17th.

Should you have any questions or wish to provide feedback on the excellent work being done by our teachers, please feel free to email them directly.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Noho ora mai,
Genee Crowley
Principal/Tumuaki

Bubbles, bubbles everywhere as Baverstock celebrated 100 Days of School! 
There were many exciting activities, and Y2 learned what life would be like 100 years from now.  We took photos of ourselves, used a filter to age our faces, and drew 100-year-old pictures! Learning is so much fun when you have been at school for 100 days!   
Room 11 is looking forward to another 100 days of school ahead of us.

The Year 2 whānau was fortunate to watch the live musical The Lion King at the Due Drop Centre. The show was vibrant, filled with colorful animal props, stunning backdrops, and famous music like "Hakuna Matata" and "I Just Can't Wait to Be King." The Year 2 whānau displayed wonderful theatre manners—well done, everyone!

Lexi: "My favourite part was when Simba ate the beetle for the first time and said, 'slimy yet satisfying.'"

Aara: "I loved the scene when Mufasa fought with the hyenas and chased them away, keeping Simba and Nala safe. It was my first time riding in the school van, and I enjoyed having a nap on the way."

Zahi: "I liked when Simba realized that his dad still lives within him."

In Room 29 we used the Book Fair theme of pirates to revise some of the things we're learning - Pirate Maths! In small crews we multiplied supplies, divided loot, weighed treasure, measured potions, and counted out money. 

This term in Room 14 we have been looking at the Olympic Games, Paris 2024.  We have learnt about the history of the ancient Olympic Games and compared them to the modern games.  We have learned about perseverance and what it means to have setbacks, to get back up again and achieve those all-important goals. 

The Year 4 whanau participated in a fun mini Olympic Games with a twist, where we competed in some fun games against each other such as javelin, but using a paper straw, relay races, but in a backwards crab crawl, shotput but using a ping pong ball and more.  We had so much with these games, you can check out the winner board on Room 14s sliding door!

We have done Olympic art using warm and cool colours, blending paints and black silhouettes to show a particular sport, We also researched a country that participated in the Olympic games and presented these in a poster.

To integrate with the Olympic games we talked about what makes us strong and how we show empathy in our Mitey lessons and linked this to what makes us a good friend. Check out our friendship kites! 

Room 5 had an exciting day at the Bruce McLaren Hall, where they watched an interactive kids' theatre production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Before the visit, the class learned about William Shakespeare, the famous playwright who wrote the play. They discovered that Shakespeare lived over 400 years ago and wrote many stories that are still loved today. The students also spent time getting to know the characters in "A Midsummer Night's Dream," like the mischievous fairy Puck and the confused characters, so they could better understand the story when they saw it on stage.

In preparation for the big day, Room 5 practiced their drama skills by acting out parts of the play in small groups. This helped them connect with the characters and feel more confident about what they were going to see. When they finally arrived at the Bruce McLaren Hall, the students were excited to see the story come to life with colourful costumes, lively performances, and even a chance to join in the fun. The visit was a fantastic experience, and the students left with a deeper appreciation for Shakespeare and a love for the magic of theatre.

In Room 23 this term we have been taking full advantage of our outside P.E. sessions.  We learned how to play a game called Clock Dribble.  This was great fun and we learned how to focus and cooperate well.  We could only pass the ball around the circle if we were all keeping the same rhythm in our bounces.  Our Mitey skills came into use too, as we shared our feelings and showed patience to support team members who found the task tricky.  We have really enjoyed being outside, learning how to support each other while getting some important physical exercise too.  Our healthy bodies have been helping our minds to stay focused and alert.

At Te Whanau Awhina we learn lots of important life skills and ways to work cooperatively with others.  These lessons take many forms, learning how to grow independence, resilience and building our social skills.

Check out our photos. From our art and yoga sessions to kite flying and cooking - the fun doesn’t stop!

The following are some writing examples from our writing support group students.

Check if there is a car speeding or you might have an accident. If you're seven years old or younger then you should walk to school with your parents. If you speed then you will have to remember that the speed has to be 30km limit around schools.  If you are going to walk across the crossing, then look before you cross the road so you will be safe.  If there is an accident you might lose your licence, then you can't drive your car for a long time. 

You don't cross the road where there is no crossing. You have to go to the crossing otherwise a car might hit you, then you might break your bones and will go to the hospital.  If you're speeding you can get a speeding ticket or go to jail if you hit someone. For example, if you are speeding and you have to stop you might accidentally press on the accelerator when you're going to stop, which means that you are speeding up, not slowing down.

Now you  know why the limit  has to be 30km around schools.  By Rishaan  Jina

Firstly if you drive over 30km speed you might hit someone and injure them and get a dent on your car.

Secondly if you drive too fast you might crash into another car or child.

Thirdly if you drive too fast you might get a fine or lose your licence.

After that people should be aware of the 30k speed limit around schools because they could seriously hurt somebody.  

Wednesday, 4 September 2024 - Parenting Information Evening - Raising Resilient Children ⋅5:00 – 6:00pm
Friday, 6 September 2024           -  Whānau morning (Grandparents day) 9.00am - 11.00am
                                                         - Book Character Parade

Thursday 19 September 2024    - Junior Tough Guy and Gal Challenge
Friday 27 September 2024         - Term 3 Ends 3pm
Monday 16 October 2024           - Term 4 commences

Click on the link to view our full calendar:  https://www.baverstock.school.nz/8/embedded_items/1-calendar

The 2nd hand uniform shop is open fortnightly on a Thursday, weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 from 8.30am - 9.00am on the following days for Term 3:  Thursday 5 September, Thursday 19 September.

Tidy uniform donations are welcome to be dropped off at the school office (no socks or hats please).