Kia ora koutou

The rain this week has been a welcome relief for our very dry grounds and I am sure for our farming families. It has been a little disruptive for our tryathlon/duathlon training however it is supposed to clear for Friday afternoon for the actual event.

Thank you to those parents who came and talked with the teachers last Thursday to find out about the classroom programme and learning routines. We have parent-teacher interviews next week on Monday and Thursday (late night) after school. The purpose of the interview is to touch base with your child’s classroom teacher, to share information and to set some goals for the year. Megan Gallagher will be there with her school review hat on if you have time to catch her either coming or going.

Elgregoe provided his usual mix of magic and messages around anti bullying. He is always entertaining and the message of being helpful, empathetic, resilient and looking for opportunities to do the right thing reinforces our own school values. Next year is his last year of touring schools after 25 years on the road for Elgregoe so hopefully we can have him back for one last time.

We have our annual tryathlon for seniors and duathlon for our juniors tomorrow. A good warm up for those doing the Weet-Bix Tryathlon a week later. Thank you to Chelsey for getting things organised and running it on the day. Hopefully the weather cooperates. Please make sure you pick up your child’s bike after the event so we can keep the activity centre clear for other uses.

At Palmerston Primary we request that no toys or devices, especially phones, come to school. Personal toys are best played with at home and away from any possible damage to them at school. Devices such as phones create a whole different level of complexity around cyber safety. Our own system is restricted as to what can be searched for and websites accessed. Phones with their own data sit outside these safety features. There are times when parents want their child to carry a phone for contact purposes after school. Where this is the case we request that they drop them off at the office when they come to school and pick them up at the end of the day.

Our thoughts are with the family who lost their house in a house fire yesterday. We are extremely relieved the family were unhurt in the fire.

Hei kona mai I roto I nga mihi, Goodbye for now and thanks

Lots happening this term .........

T-BALL - TERM 1

I am gauging to see if there is enough interest to run a 6-a-side and/or 9-aside T-Ball Competition running over 4 Wednesday afternoons this term.
This will be held at the Eastern Rugby Grounds in Waikouaiti for Years 3/4 and Years ⅚ from 3.30pm - 4.30pm.
If there is enough interest and parents are willing to assist we would look to begin this Wednesday 1st March.
Each team will need to supply an umpire and there will be a small fee per player to cover the cost of equipment and prizes.
If this sounds like something your child/children would be interested in please let me know before Friday the 17th February, email [email protected]
Thank you Chelsey

CRICKET SEASON

SMASH PLAY -Started Tuesday 14th Feb, 3:30-4:15pm

Please register using the below links

https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/register/6b18eb?fbclid=IwAR0hLdwbRO5YfMPkMxN7OHV1s46d368JmHGLXALfXYv54kQBdMBJ9CyRsXw
GIRLS SMASH Starting 28th February https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/register/b61299
SUMMER SMASH Starting 28th February https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/register/45c344

MOANA BALL (FLIPPA BALL)

Nikki and Jane of Karitane School are running a 5wk Moana Ball (Flippa Ball) Primary School Competition at Hawksbury Pool in Term 1.

As this is the first time Moana Ball has been played in East Otago, this will not be a schools playing schools competition, this is a ‘Learning by Playing’ Competition. When names from different schools are given to us, we will put children into the same age group teams. We will be building skills to play competitively. Depending on how this competition goes, we’ll discuss how Term 4 will look for the next Moana Ball Competition.

Here are the main points;

Moana Ball will be played on Thursday afternoons starting Thursday, 23rd February, last game Thursday, 30th March 2023.

Game times will be from 3.30 – 5.30pm

Ages groups are (Year 3 & 4) and (Year 5 & 6). This is in line with the Dunedin School Competition.

Teams can be mixed

5 children make a team with up to 3 reserves (8 total)

Games are 20 minutes each (8 minute halves / 2 minute half time)

Waterpolo Swim Caps will be provided with a caps and no caps team

Unsure of cost per child, this will be provided in due course

A Parent / Caregiver / Older Sibling will be required as a Coach (it will be very basic, subs on and off)

Waterpolo / Flippa Ball School Competitions throughout NZ are played in Terms 1 and 4

A further email will follow once names are received with basic game rules

To enter tamariki names, please email Nikki Crossan at [email protected] by Friday, 17th February 2023. You can also email with further questions to this email address.

We look forward to another sport in our local community.

NETBALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Rua Hagan would like to run a Netball development programme for all students Year 1-13 in the East Otago area. The development day would be Mondays from 3.20pm and would loosely follow the timetable below:

Year 1-3 3.20pm - 3.40pm

Year 4-6 3.40pm -4.10pm

Year 7-8 4.10pm - 4.40pm

Year 9-13 4.40pm - 5.30pm

These times may change with number of students participating

Rua will provide the expertise, EOHS will provide the facilities, equipment and some senior students to help with the younger students.

There is no cost for the students with the opportunity intended to be a fun, inclusive, enjoyable way to develop physical and interpersonal skills through Netball.

The start date for this will be Monday the 20th of February and run for the remainder of the Term. Please contact EOHS office 03 4651513 if your child would be interested in this to help with planning of the initial sessions.

Many thanks