Sunnyhills School
Learning for Life
Learning for Life through our Sunnyhills GEMS
What's on Top?
Welcome to Term 2, Week 10:
Just 3 school days left of Term 2. I would like to thank our staff and learners for a fantastic art exhibition this year. All classes really embraced the theme diversity and it was great to see the variety of medium used.
Monday 1st July:
- We welcome the NZ Playhouse Theatre performers. If you would like your child to participate please ensure you've paid via kindo or bring cash to school first thing in the morning please.
- 12.40pm French lessons for those learners registered in Room 4
Tuesday 2nd July:
- Good luck to our netball teams playing today!
- Optional before school gymnastic practice
- 12.40pm French lessons in room 4.
- Lunchtime gymnastics for the Y3/4 team
Wednesday 3rd July:
- Last day of term 3 for our learners.
- 8.30am PTA 2nd hand Uniform sale in the uniform shop!
- Good luck to our Rugby team playing today.
- 2pm Whole School Assembly where we will be hosting the prize draws for the PTA Wheelathon!
Thursday & Friday:
- School Closed
- Have a safe holiday as Matariki guides you
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Matariki - they eyes of good (mata ariki) or little eyes (mata riki)
Matariki hunga, Matariki ahunga nui
Matariki has many admirers, Matariki brings us together.
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Wheelathon Payments due now please!
If you haven't got your donations in for the Wheelathon please do so no later than Monday - on Tuesday all the names will be entered for the prize draw... you don't want to miss out!
Payment options:
CASH - placed in an envelope with “Wheelathon” plus student’s name and room number
ONLINE BANKING: Please pay directly into the Sunnyhills School PTA Bank Account: 12-3056-0656969-00 and include the following reference details: Child’s Name - Room Number - Wheelathon
Every $10 returned gets an entry into the prize draw 🌟
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Our Curriculum Portal
We've recently made 'live' our curriculum portal from our website. Have you explored it already? Here's the link https://sites.google.com/sunnyhills.school.nz/sunnyhillslearningportal/home
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Travelwise: Y3-6 Biking or scootering Permission
If you believe your child is capable of biking or scootering to school please fill out this form. https://goo.gl/forms/pWirpkxNkbwCDEu03
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NZEI Principal Industrial Action:
- While I am very happy that our teachers were able to settle their collective agreement, I stood in solidarity with my principal colleagues to rejected what was on offer for principals. This has primarily been because our offer did not change at all! Action for principals won't cause our school to close or for strikes, however please note there will action in order to stand with my fellow principals for a better deal.
We are highly concerned that the Government has been unwilling to make an offer for settlement that addresses our key issues. Principals have voted to reject the latest Ministry offer for settlement because it is inherently unfair and inequitable and, if ratified, would only have served to deepen the challenges with recruiting and retaining skilled and experienced professionals to principals’ roles.
As professional leaders we are committed to ensuring that on a day to day basis our schools are safe places for students and staff and that teaching and learning continues. We are no longer prepared to extend our goodwill beyond this to contributing to any education system operation, review or change. Therefore, until such time as our issues are addressed satisfactorily as principals we will no longer be engaging with the Ministry of Education on any of the following activities:
● Workgroups, task forces, panels or any other work process contributing to system operation, review or change
● Written reports or evaluations for the Ministry of Education or its contractors including PLD Assessment reports
● Collection, collation or reporting of data external to school processes
● Introduction of new initiatives, including implementation of the new digital curriculum
● Engagement with Ministry of Education staff visiting or contacting the school unless at the request of the school
● Participation in PLD either online or face to face for new curriculum initiatives
● Meetings or conversations initiated by the Ministry
● Community of learning activities unless obliged to as the result of an employment agreement
Many of the items on this list represent work that principals value and to which we would ordinarily be willing to contribute. We have not taken the decision lightly to withdraw from this work. Our decision to do so is an indication of the depth of our concern about our negotiations.
We remain optimistic that the Government will make an offer that addresses our issues and we can resume our involvement in work with the Ministry.
I'll keep you posted in my weekly emails on progress/actions principals will take towards settlement.
Ngā mihi nui
Justine Driver, Principal.
What makes Sunnyhills such a unique school?
Mrs Justine Driver, Principal
It is a place where children are articulate, caring and respectful, displaying a strong sense of citizenship; a place endorsed by a safe and nurturing community. Our parents have high expectations of their children, matched by unconditional support. At Sunnyhills we strive to unlock the potential in every child as we grow lifelong learners.
Our business first and foremost is children’s learning; preparing our young people with the skills they need for the future. The Sunnyhills’ ‘Learning for life’ philosophy fosters independence, curiosity and critical thinking. Students are engaged, and lead their own learning pathways through inquiry based topics. They display a ‘have a go’ attitude and are not afraid to take responsible risks.
Opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom are plentiful and diverse. Children’s learning is supported by high quality teaching, well resourced classrooms, a music and environmental educational specialist teachers and we have learning assistants in all of our junior classrooms. The Arts, sports and culture are valued and are an integral part of our varied programme.
Have you downloaded our app?
A great portal for you to keep connected with daily notices from each whanau, report an absence or lateness, direct links to Facebook (so you don't need to be a member to view our page), links to the website and Kindo/Our Shop for payments and lunches. Get it on your device today!
So here's the link: https://bit.ly/sunnyhillsapp
To add the app as a “Home Screen” do the following:
iOS Devices (iPads, iPhones) – Open Safari first: enter address, select the share box, and select “Add to Home Screen.”
Android Devices – Open Chrome: enter address, click three dots on the top right, and select “Add to Home Screen.”