www.ohaupo.school.nz Phone: 07 823 6736 Email: office@ohaupo.school.nz

Term 4, Week 8 Wednesday 3rd December 2014

Our school vision: To provide a platform which launches /

enables students to make their own limitless choices

Tēna koutou katoa /Greetings everyone!

Rātā Tree This morning, Mrs Boyes pointed out our magnificent rātā tree which is now in full flower. The rātā, along with the pohutukawa, belongs in the myrtle family of trees. The Northern Rātā can grow up to 25m tall and tends to flower well only once every few years. This tree often begins life as an epiphyte, or plant perched on a host tree. Its roots grow down to the ground and it finally encloses the host tree. Native birds such as tui, bellbird and kaka all benefit from the presence of rata trees in the forest. If you are coming up to school in the next few weeks, do come and visit our lovely rātā.

Kind regards, Ngā mihi nui

Sue McLocklan, Principal principal@ohaupo.school.nz

Week 8

Room 8 Camp - Hamilton Zoo

Room 6 & 7 Camp - Sleepover

Room 9 Camp - Miranda

Friday 5th December No Assembly

Week 9

Tuesday 9th December 11am Christmas Concert at Christ Church, Ohaupo. All welcome.

Wednesday 10th December 11am Christmas Concert, St Stephens Church, Tamahere. All welcome.

Thursday 11th December Board of Trustees Meeting 6:45pm

Friday 12th December 6:30pm School Disco (The theme is ‘Christmas Time’)

Week 10

Monday 15th December 9:30am Prize Giving. All welcome.

Tuesday 16th December Last day of term

2015 Term 1 starts on Monday 2nd February 2015. Please check myschool.co.nz for stationery lists (available to order from 26th Dec).

Exciting news from the Board of Trustees: We are delighted to announce that we have cleared the final hurdle to gain approval from the Ministry of Education to go ahead with replacement of the junior school block. This has been a true exercise in resilience on the parts of everyone involved, as this has been a complex and at times difficult journey. We appreciate that the old school building is a significant landmark in the hearts of many and so this news may not be so welcomed by some. Having said that, we are so pleased that the new building will offer a warm and dry learning environment for our Ohaupo learners. Since receiving the green light from the Ministry, there’s been a flurry of activity to ensure that things get underway as soon as possible. We anticipate being able to get started during the school holidays – so look out for action on the hill over the break!

IT Tips…

How to limit your child’s screen time

At our recent Cybersafety evening, we had questions from some parents who were asking ‘what is too much device time’? Here are a few ideas which may help you decide what is right for your child.

• Treat screen time as a privilege that children need to earn —

not a right that they're entitled to. Tell them that screen time (including TV viewing) is allowed only after chores and homework are completed.

• Stock the room in which you have your TV or computer with

plenty of other non-screen entertainment (books, kids' mag-azines, toys, puzzles, board games, etc) to encourage them to do something different.

• Keep computers, TVs, iPods and phones out of children’s

bedrooms.

• Turn off all screens and phones during dinner.

• Don't allow your child to watch TV whilst they are supposed

to be doing their homework.

• Have a regular switch-off time and stick to it! Don’t be afraid

to unplug that router!

Our Rātā Tree

There will be NO Guitar lessons and NO Touch games this week due

to Camp. NOTE: The last guitar lessons for the year will be on Thursday 11th December.

The Matt and Andy ENERGY

SHOW!

School Tennis Finals !

On Friday 21st November, Matt and Andy came

to Room 7’s assembly to share a show on saving power. They showed us how to save money by

switching off appliances when we are finished with them. They also taught us a rap, “Switch

turn it off at the wall, switch watch the power

bill fall”. They were very helpful, and Ohaupo School is happily saving.

By Krista and Grace L, Room 7

Community Notices

Swimming lessons at Pirongia School Pool For ages 4 and up-wards, maximum of 4 children per class. 5 day blocks starting 5th, 12th or 19th Jan. $11 per lesson for a 30 minute lesson. Phone Sarah Carmichael on 07 871 9996 or 027 599 1004. Please leave your name and number and I will return your call as soon as I can.

Carols by Candlelight at Albert Park Rugby Stadium, Te Awamutu at 6pm on Friday 12th December. Free of charge. Waipa DC.

Trail Ride at Ngutunui 6th February 2015 State Highway 31, 2624 Kawhia Road, registrations 9am. Adults $30, Children under 13years $15. Contact Glenn on 027 222 3207.

Free Farming Seminar Kelly & Bryant ‘Farming in the Cloud’ Free Seminar Friday 12th December, 11am until 1pm at 411 Greenhill Drive, Te Awamutu. Includes a complimentary, delicious lunch! Please email aimee@kb.co.nz or ph 07 871 3176.

42 students entered the Tennis Competition.

The courts were well used every interval and lunchtime by

budding, enthusiastic tennis stars. Luke Kidd won the boys’

final against a determined Tyler Hallam-Doole. The largest rally

was 16 hits.

Jessica Foster won the girls’ final against a very focussed Brooke

Mathieson.

Brass Band – Recall of Instruments Please return all Brass Band instruments

by the end of next week. Students who are playing Carols at Ohaupo and Tamahere

can keep theirs until the playouts have been finished and then hand them in. Thank you, from Mrs Reid.

Disco!! Christmas Time is here!

Friday 12th December

6:30pm ‘til 8:30pm – (everybody)

8:30pm ‘til 9:30pm – (Years 7-8)

Ohaupo School students only

The theme is Christmas Time, so get into the Xmas spirit !

♦ Costumes: Xmas wear if you want to join the fun !

♦ Please bring one plate of food to share per family

♦ The entry fee is $3 each,

as we have arranged a professional DJ

♦ Prizes for the best dressed, etc. Spot prizes too

Lost Property

All lost property is displayed in the porch outside the Music Room / Hall.

Remember to check for any lost items before the holidays, when remaining clothing will be recycled.

Reminder - please Parents, name your child’s clothing!

Terms Start date Finish date

1 Monday 2nd

February 2015

Thursday 2nd April

2 Monday 20th April Friday 3rd July **

3 Monday 20th July Friday 25th Sept

4 Monday 12th Oct Wednesday 16th

December

School will be closed on the following Public Holidays: Waitangi Day 6th Feb, Anzac Day 27th April, Queens Birthday 1st June, Labour Day 26th Oct.

** We have a confirmed Teacher Only Day on Friday 12th June (Fieldays Friday) in line with the Te Awamu-tu School Cluster. Any additional Teacher Only Days will be confirmed in the school newsletter.

Weet-Bix Kids Tryathlon 2015 Registrations are NOW OPEN !

Please register and pay online at

try.weetbix.co.nz before December 19th to get the early bird discount. Remember to click to join

the Ōhaupō School team !

Have you bought a new box of Weet-Bix ?

Look inside the box for your code.

You can enter your code at weetbix.co.nz to enter Ohaupo School for

the $5,000 prize draw!

Summer photography competition launched! Check www.projectcrimson.org.nz for more information

Project Crimson has launched a photography competition that will get your fingers tapping on the shutter of your

camera with a fantastic summer prize pack up for grabs.

“Climbing in, swinging from, and lazing under pohutukawa or rata trees is all part of a classic Kiwi summer. And this

year we would love to see your favourite images of these iconic native Christmas trees. Whether it's a close-up shot

of a bloom, a snap of your kids in your favourite crimson tree, birds feeding from their nectar or an amazing land-

scape shot just send us your favourite shot and you could be in to win!,” says Melanie Seyfort, Project Crimson’s

Marketing Manager.

“The competition is open to everyone, everywhere and you have all summer to take the perfect picture,” she added.

Project Crimson Ambassador Boh Runga, and sponsor Josh Emett will judge the competition along with Ruud

Kleinpaste, a Trustee of Project Crimson. The competition closes on 28 February 2015 with the results to be pub-

lished on Project Crimson’s website.

The winner will receive a Project Crimson prize pack which includes 6 bottles of Ata Rangi ‘Crimson’ Pinot Noir, a

signed copy of Josh Emett’s latest book ‘Josh’s Backyard BBQ’, a Boh Runga jewellery piece, Biolage haircare

products, a beautiful Pohutukawa book plus more.

The Project Crimson Trust assists projects to protect and restore the pohutukawa and rata, New Zealand’s Christ-

mas trees, bringing colour back to our forests and coastlines where these species are under threat.

For further information contact: Melanie Seyfort, Marketing and Communications Manager, Project Crimson

Phone: 021 645 875 melanie@projectcrimson.org.nz