Bayfield School Newsletter - Wednesday 2nd of December
Bayfield School Newsletter - Wednesday 2nd of December
Inspired Today-Prepared for Tomorrow
December Dates to Remember
Thursday 3rd - Digital Expo
Friday 4th - Diversity Assembly
Friday 11th - Pohutukawa craft day
Tuesday 15th - Pohutukawa at Tree Tops
Wednesday 16th -
Year 6 @ Rainbows End
Year 5 @ Point Erin pools
Kowhai - Brick Pit in the hall
Pohutukawa - Year 3 Kelly Sports on the Field
A word from Kerri
We are fast approaching the end of the year and I know we are all focused on being prepared for our holidays and 2021.
Over the next week you will be informed of our teams for 2021 and are excited to share some of the changes we have made.
We have been working very hard on our curriculum planning, event planning and organisational processes to make sure that teachers, parents and the children can be as organised as possible for the new year.
We have learned so much throughout 2020, especially the importance of transparent communication, review, evaluation and taking action and as we move into 2021 we are keen to ensure that we continue to seek feedback to make sure we are providing the best learning environment possible.
Screen time team - Digital Learnings
As we have moved through lock downs, zoom meetings, online learning and the digital curriculum, we have become increasingly aware of the amount of screen time children and adults experience. It has illuminated the need to support children and adults in monitoring, recognising and learning about the impacts screen time can have on our health.
Whilst we use and enjoy digital tools in our school, and continue to work towards using digital to redefine our learning. We are very aware that the time on screens at school will not always be the only screen time children experience over a day. This can be a real challenge for schools and families, as it is such a significant part of all of our lives
Some interesting guidance below.
SO HOW MUCH SCREEN TIME FOR CHILDREN?
The simple answer: not much and none for children under two. The experts suggest that babies and toddlers are kept away from all screens. Screens aren't really needed for the brain development of very young children under two. They get their needs met through social connection with other loving human beings.
Children aged 2-5 years should have no more than an hour of non-structured leisure-based screen time an hour a day.
The American Academy of Paedistrics goes on to recommend that parents of two-to-five year old children:
- select high- quality programmes
- watch videos with their child
- talk with their child while watching videos
- connect what their child sees to their daily experiences
Lastly, children aged 5-18 years should have no more than two hours a day. That's a tough call for teenagers, especially with homework often requiring computer time. But remember that the real issue is non-educational, leisure screen time, so you may want to discount homework screen time.
https://thechildpsychologyservice.co.nz/screen-time-getting-the-balance-right/
Property Projects 2021:
The school is in the planning stages for its 5 year property plan and school investment package. This means that over the next 12-18 months you will see some property improvements. These projects are funded by the Ministry of Education and allows the school to improve the property with little to no investment from the school.
- Playground Upgrade: Part of our junior playground is in need of replacing and we are using our school investments funds to replace it. Jane Sharpe is leading this project and has engaged a number of playground companies and consulted with some of the junior school children, so that we can get something amazing for our children. We will keep you informed as this project progresses.
- New Perimeter Fence: Our perimeter fence will be replaced and this will include fully fencing the northern slope (Saratoga Avenue end). Design concepts, colour and other details will be shared as soon as confirmed.
- Upgrade to Year 4 block: Our Year 4 block is getting a makeover, we will be replacing carpet, paint, wall covering and creating break out spaces, so that this block is up to the standard of the other class/team spaces. It is our hope that this work will happen over the 2021/2022 holidays.
- Air conditioning - main block: Our main block will have an upgrade of its cooling systems. So in 2021 we will continue to work on options to make sure that we have an environment with temperatures conducive to learning.
Staffing Updates
Bridie Connew who started with us in 2020 and is moving to work at Wilson Special School on the North Shore, this is an admirable move and we know that Bridie will make a real difference working with children with additional needs. We have loved having Bridie at Bayfield and wish her all the best in this next step in her career.
Rose Watson who started in the Titoki team has purchased a house for her family in Te Atatu Peninsula and is moving to work at Peninsula Primary School, which is a 5 minute walk from home. Rose has been an amazing addition to the Bayfield teaching staff and I know the children and teachers in Titoki will miss her very much.
Don Neill is moving on to work at Kowhai Intermediate, again closer to home and a great opportunity to work with older children. Don has been a valuable addition to the Bayfield team and we will miss his humour and teaching style! We wish him all the best in this career step. Kowhai will love having Don as a part of the team.
Victoria Caughey, who has been teaching in Titoki iti for the last 2 terms will not be returning in 2021, as she is due to have her baby in late February. We wish her all the best.
Other staff news
Airini Turner who has been a casual cleaner, learning assistant, ESOL tutor, netball coach and taonga has decided to retire and spend more time with her family. Airini has been a special part of our school for over 30 years and we will miss her smile and lovely manner with our children and staff. Airini did not want a big fuss and wanted to leave quietly. We gave her a beautiful kowhai flower necklace to remember us and her time at Bayfield. We hope to see her next year and we know she is planning to come and share her knowledge and understanding of Tikanga with us.
Ellen Legge who has worked as a Learning Assistant in Year 3 and 4 this year, has decided to go and train as a teacher, we wish her well and hope that we will see her back at our school! She will make a great teacher and we have loved the work she has done with our children this year.
Return of Library Books
A reminder to return all guided reading books please! Also, if you are available to help with the stocktake let Jane know (janes@bayfield.school.nz).
Library End of Year Reminder
This week we are asking for all library books to be returned ready for next week’s stocktake. Please encourage your children to hunt at home and around the classroom for any issues that might be hiding there.
Dates to be aware of:
Monday 7 December, the library will be CLOSED for tidying and shelf checking. During this time (and through stocktake), a bin will be placed outside the library for returns.
Final week- Library reopens.
This year, the incentive for the first class who bring all their books back will be “Where’s Wally” bookmarks. If they find Wally on their bookmark, they can see me for a prize J.
Thanks, Isa Rive
ezlunch / Kindo school shop - important info for families leaving Bayfield
If your family is leaving our school and moving to another school that does not use ezlunch or Kindo for school payments, you need to close your account. If you’re not sure about the new school, log in, go to My Details and click on the list of schools, scrolling to find your new school.
If your new school is NOT on the list, use the 'close account' button on that screen. You can choose to donate your balance to school or have it paid out to your nominated bank account.
Digital Technology Week
This week Bayfield students have been taking part in the international celebration of the Hour of Code. This one-hour introduction to digital technology is designed to demystify "code", to show that anybody can learn the basics, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science.
Each team will spend an hour during the week taking part in coding and unplugged challenges led by Digital Ambassadors (Michaela, Nat, Sarah, Trish and Ash). Please feel free to come and participate with students and witness first hand the skills, engagement and creativity that are encouraged by creative digital activities.
Path of the People
It’s all action on path construction and the fun bits have started! The amazing time capsule was buried yesterday by the Year 6 ambassadors, with the rest of the school watching on which was very exciting.
The engraved bricks are being placed, ready for the concrete later this week or early next week.
The garden from our One Billion Trees Fund grant will be started with the planting of a small selection of native plants and seedlings once path construction is finished. Due to drought conditions and the high cost of an irrigation system, we will plant the remaining plants and seedlings in the 2021 planting season (April/May).
Because of this, we are postponing the planting working bee scheduled for 6 December until next year. It is likely that this will tie in with a school-wide working bee - Kerri has some exciting ideas.
The path has raised a total of $59,500 for the school. Thank you to the Bayfield community for your incredible support!
We hope to have a short opening ceremony for the path one morning in the last week of term.
Yesterday we buried the time capsule yesterday and it was very exciting! Was great to see this great project completed and the children really enjoyed the ceremony and are curious to see how we will contact them in 2040! We assured them that we will track them down.
The Bayfield EcoWarriors
We hosted a celebratory pizza lunch on Tuesday to thank this team of dedicated environmental advocates for all their hard work this year. They have helped organise Wheels Days, Funky Feet Day, Ecostore Bottle Drives, Garden Projects and initiatives around encouraging waste -free lunches. Thanks to Auckland Council’s Travelwise Programme for their support!
Annette
4 of our amazing children have had their artwork selected to decorate our local bus station. The competition called Art in the Hood was run by oOH! And there is a special ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday- so if you are free pop by JUK :)
Donate a Book Collection
Thanks to those families who have dropped books off for this collection. Last day to donate is Friday 11 December.
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