Newsletter Term 4 Week 6: Friday 17 November 2023

Term 4 Week 6: Friday 17 November 2023

Important Dates
Thursday 23 November – Interschool Athletics at Takapuna, 9:00 am – 12:30 pm, 
Monday 4 December – Sports Prizegiving in the Hall, 3:15 – 4:15 pm
Tuesday 12 December – Year 6 Leavers Celebration & Prizegiving in the Hall 5:30 pm
Wednesday 13 December – Final Assembly in the Hall, 11:15 am – 12:30 pm followed by a Family Picnic on the Covered Turf & Field, 12:30 – 1:30 pm
Thursday 14 December – End of Term 4 at 12:30 pm

IN THIS ISSUE:
Positive Behaviour for Learning
Spotlight on Year 5 and 6
Hero –  Our new school app
Students Turning 5
Library Book Return
After School Pick Ups
Homestay Families Needed for Intermediate Students
Lucky Book Club
PTA Update: Parent Survey, Purchases by the PTA
Community Notices

The PB4L focus for next week will be on: 
Cooperation: Everywhere Play safely, Keep hands and feet to ourselves

Constable Harwood Bike Training 
Last week, we went on the road with our bikes with the help of a Police Officer by the name of Constable Harwood. It was a normal day full of cars driving and parked cars on the road well, not in the middle, but on the side of the road. Constable Harwood made sure we didn’t get hit by a car and also helped us learn how to be safe when biking. He showed us hand signals and how to stop in the ‘POW’ position on the curb. After that, he showed us how to go from road to road at the intersection, and it was a bit interesting how you cross it. He also told us some rules, like you can’t really ride on the footpath in some places in the world, as it is actually illegal.
After the session, he was talking about getting a bike license so we could ride on the road. He also said something that is now stuck in my head! He said that if they catch you without a helmet, it is a $55 dollar fine!
By Zander Room 20

Alicia Hoskin – Canoeist Olympian
Last week, an Olympian visited our school. Her name is Alicia Hoskin. Alicia has competed in Women’s K4 500m and also Women’s K2 500m with Lisa Carrington. Alicia was born in Gisborne in 2000, which makes her 23 years old. She is 163 cm in height. Alicia showed us her medals and some people were lucky enough to even wear them! She shared with us a story of her journey to becoming an Olympian. Alicia made her debut in June 2021 in Tokyo. In 2017, she was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which can cause rapid heartbeats or even heart failure. But, she had a successful surgery for her condition and was able to compete and represent New Zealand.
By Aglaia Room 20

HERO – Student Management System
Thank you to all the parents who have signed up for Hero and are starting to communicate with the school via the app.
Sunnybrae Parent feedback has been positive:

“I used Hero for the first time today and it was SO much easier to report an absence.” Justine

Year 2 parent. “What a great app – I love how everything about school is in the one place and so easy find things.” Lucy, Year 5 parent.

Hero allows schools to build an online environment that reflects our unique context. It enables teachers, students, and whānau to view and share content anytime, anywhere, on any device. The software is secure, easy to use and brings together all school-related information in one place. 

We are excited about the features that Hero has to offer our families. These include the ability for parents and caregivers to:

• read and comment on school notices sent to your child’s class or groups
• respond to school notices such as surveys and trip permission requests
• view school term dates
• view a school calendar of events
• notify the school if your child is absent or late
• navigate to other school-related webpages
• customise your account by adding a profile image
• select how you wish to receive notifications

Sunnybrae’s goal is to use the Hero platform for all of our communication from Term 1 in 2024. We are, therefore, asking that our school whānau go through the process of signing up to Hero this year so that we can test it out and iron out any issues early. Please follow the steps below and give it a go.

For information about Hero, including how to log in, go to Hero or contact Jane Sharpe, Deputy Principal (jsharpe@sunnybrae.school.nz).
Click here to download step-by-step instructions for how to get started. 

If you need further support, these drop-in sessions are available in the school library.
2:30 pm 17th November
2:30 pm 20th November

Students Turning 5 Year Old in 2024
If you know of a child turning 5 who is keen to attend Sunnybrae, please encourage the family to enrol them so that we have accurate numbers of 5 year olds attending our school in 2024. Thank you for your support.

Library Book Return
Library Stocktake will be getting underway over the next couple of weeks.  Please can we have a good check under beds, couches and wardrobes to locate and return all books?  This is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your help.

After School Pick-ups
There has been an increase in students unable to find their parents/caregivers at the end of the day for pick-up. Also, there is an increase in the number of parents unable to locate their children after school. 
We have experienced instances of students going home with friends and their family without making previous arrangements. As you can imagine, this is a scary situation for both the parents and the school staff who are desperately trying to locate the child.

We ask for your assistance in the following ways:

• Be on time to collect your child, no later than 3:10 pm.
• Contact the Office on 09 443 5058 if you are going to be late for pick up. 
• Please do not take home another student unless you have contacted their parents to obtain permission. 
• If you see a student not accompanied by a parent/caregiver just outside of our school grounds and you are concerned, direct the student to return to the School Office to wait for their parents to collect them. You may wish to walk the student back to the office. The Office Staff will call the parents.
• Ensure your child knows what gate they will be picked up from and by whom.
• Clarify each morning if your child will be attending After School Care or not.
• If you have booked your child into the YMCA After School Care, but you decide to collect your child personally, please let the YMCA know in advance.
• If there are any changes to pick-up plans during the day, please call the office on 443 5058.

It would be most helpful if all students knew at least one parent’s phone number or had the number(s) written down and stored in their school bag in case of these situations.

By ensuring that these processes are followed, it makes for a safer and stress-free pickup for your child.

Homestay Families Needed for TNIS
Be a Homestay Parent and Make a Difference
We have Korean learners arriving to study at TNIS for Term 1, 2024.  Homestay compensation is $400 per student per week. Police vetting of anyone over 18 in the home will be required. A homestay learner is a great chance to share different cultures and widen your child’s worldview. Any families interested in hosting the visitors, please contact Vincent on 021 0272 2746.

Lucky Book Club
Our school has chosen to participate in the final issue of the exciting Scholastic Lucky Book Club.  However, we have chosen not send home flyers for this issue.  
To order any of the exciting titles, click on the link below – note down the 3 numbers highlighted in black below each title and proceed to place your order via LOOP…  Enjoy shopping with your children from home… and remember the GIFT option is available on issue 8 should you wish to gift a surprise for Christmas.   
Click here to order online
We are participating with online orders only, so please do not send cash orders to our school.  
Please have your orders placed by Wednesday 22 November.  All orders will be delivered to our school approximately 10 days later.  If you place an order outside of the recommended date, the books will be delivered to your home with a freight fee of $7.50. 
For help at any time you may call 0800 266 525 and chat to the friendly customer care team, click on the help button on the Book Club platform or email bookclub@scholastic.co.nz  

PTA UPDATE:

PTA Parent Survey – Feedback Wanted
The PTA would appreciate a few minutes of your time to complete a survey on Fundraising activities at Sunnybrae.
Your feedback on events and any new ideas you have would be welcome. We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.
Click here complete the survey 

Cash Contributions  
Thank you to all who purchased a Sausage and Iceblock as part of our Fundraiser today.  We have raised over $800. 
Please also consider making a cash contribution to the PTA by clicking on this link.  All funds will be greatly received and used to fund some exciting projects in 2024.
Click here to contribute.

Kind regards
Lorene Hurd, Principal
SUNNYBRAE NORMAL SCHOOL

REMINDER:
Please note that all children are to be collected from school by 3.00pm. If you are unable to collect before this time, you may be interested in booking your child into the YMCA after-school club held in the School Hall.  

CLICK HERE TO BOOK 

COMMUNITY NOTICES:

Book in one full paying adult cut or colour plus 2 children’s cuts and go in draw to win either A Stationery Pack for 2 children or 1 School Uniform
for the 2024 school year. You get to choose what option you’d like. 
Book online hairidentity.co.nz or phone 09 443 5077

Hair Identity, 41 Sunnybrae Road, Hillcrest 
Open from 1 September – 30 November.  Drawn 1 December 2023.
T&C’s apply – see instore for details. This prize is for primary/intermediate aged children. 

Brain Play is thrilled to offer an incredible lineup of after-school activities designed to ignite the curiosity and creativity of Kiwi kids aged 5 to 13. Join us all over Auckland and online forMinecraft adventures and STEM programmes! Our engaging classes cater to various interests, fostering a love for science and technology. With free trials online and in-person available, there’s something for everyone. We also have lots of free events all over Auckland, think 3D design, STEM, robotics and more. Book your child’s spot today at https://www.brainplay.co.nz and unlock their limitless potential!