School checked

I am pleased to report that the school has been thoroughly checked by DD Architects and it all looks good, with just a couple of minor fix-ups; a basin in the boys toilets becoming loose and some repairs to the walkway roof outside the admin block. So that is fantastic news.

Unfortunately there have been a couple of vandalism issues these holidays with deliberate vandalism to our internal pedestrian gate latches (one incident where I caught  four teenage girls deliberately smashing them!), some tagging and a small case of arson.

So, thanks to our neighbours who keep a good look out for us and to many of our families who also come down and check things out. School is already busy though with teachers getting organised for 2012, and of course Mr McKenzie is there everyday and Mary, our cleaner.

Happy New Year

I returned to school after a lovely short new year's break in Sefton, feeling a little jittery after our wee spate of shakes only to be completely 'blown away' and delighted by the efforts of the staff of Tom Thumb Logistics - Aaron Cooper (owner and one of our parents), Lisa Wisse (manager and very talented local artist), Mike McClintock, Mitch Lauder and Noel Garner. Why? because they have donated all of their holiday time over the past week to:

• repair our pool - YES, fix it!                   and
• replace our poolside crumbled block wall with a new wooden fence WITH an awesome hand-painted mural (wow, Lisa!)                                and
• put topsoil all over our field ready for re-sowing

What an awesome surprise......

THANKS SO MUCH TO TOM THUMB LOGISTICS.....Looks like we will be swimming in 2012!!

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone is well and safe after our recent spate of canterbury quakes.

I was actually at school at the time on Lilian's computer and my kids had popped into the hall to say 'hi' to the kidsclub holiday programme. I would like to commend Trudie on how well she and her staff remained calm and looked after all of the children. It was a very hot day so the children  eventually evacuated to the rock area under the shade sails, where it was nice and cool.

School appeared to be very good after the quakes with no liquefaction - yippee. It will be checked carefully over the January period.

So everyone stay strong and enjoy the holiday. I am certainly enjoying the break - reading, shopping, little bit of digging!, taking the kids swimming etc and trying very hard to stick to my 'get fit over the summer project'.....

Thank you

Thank you to all of our parent helpers who made our trip to Spencer Park on Friday possible. We had such a wonderful day. What was your favourite part? The bus ride...making sandcastles on the beach...splashing in the wild surf...playing in the awesome adventure playground...class games... The cooling ice block... So many amazing things to choose from.

Thanks also to Anna and the Salvation Army for bringing the caravan out and for the tea, coffee, water and bikkies.

Your say

It is your 'last minute' chance to have your say about the direction of education in Canterbury. As a result of the earthquakes the Ministry of Education are consulting the community about the future 'look' of education for our children.

What skills, knowledge, values....do our children need to function successfully in the 21st century? Go to http://shapingeducation.minedu.govt.nz/ to share your opinion about the types of schools and learning opportunities our children need.

High quality, well trained teachers...access to e-learning and up to date information and communication technologies, sporting opportunities, swimming pools!, low student ratios, skills and competencies, development of the whole self, collaboration with peers, mentors, being literate and numerate, confident and happy..........irrespective of where you live

Ski Trip TOMORROW

One child's bag packed for skiing tomorrow - towel, change of clothes, sunscreen, gloves, woolly hat, hidden choccy bar.....

I am so excited for our Year 5/6 students who are finally going skiing tomorrow, a much anticipated trip after their camp was cancelled in February after the earthquake.

Huge amounts of preparation and planning have gone into this trip (thanks Mr Sim and the senior teachers) although it is still hard not to have anxious moments as a Mum letting my baby go off up the mountain (well, Porter Heights!) without me. I have read all the notices, approved them in fact and yet I still find myself wanting to slip a juice box in her bag or a tenner just in case she gets into a spot of bother!

I am sure they will have a wonderful trip and the best thing I can now do is set my alarm for 5 a.m. and go to bed....

OPEN THURSDAY

Shirley Primary & Intermediate will be OPEN tomorrow THURSDAY normal hours. Please bring extra socks/slippers/gumboots for children. Travel safely. I will monitor the ice in the parent car-park and may have to close it in the morning depending on how much snow has melted.

See you tomorrow
Sylvia