Newsletter Friday 7 August 2020

He mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa - warm greetings to all.

Thanks to everyone for supporting our fundraising efforts with school lunches. Next week is dumplings! Here is the lunch pre-order form if you still wish to order.

Relationship and Sexuality Education

We are starting this topic over the next few weeks across the school. You will get information in your weekly pānui about what topics the class are covering the following week. We are using resources from the health curriculum and the 'Navigating the Journey' resources from Family Planning for these lessons. Those of you who attended our health consultation evening last year will be familiar with these resources.

Here is a broad overview of this at each level:

Year 1-2: focuses on learning about the growth and development of the human body, respecting others, friendships, family relationships, communication, and dealing with bullying and harassment.

Year 3-4: focuses on personal identity, relationships, growth and development of the human body, including human reproduction, strategies to cope with bullying and harassment, and staying safe online.

Year 5-6: focuses on sexuality and diversity; critical thinking about gender; individual rights; dealing with social messages and stereotypes; friendships; supporting self and others; pubertal change; body image; risks and issues; and how to access health care.

Year 7-8: focuses on respectful relationships; diverse gender and sexual identities; pubertal change; body image; intimate relationships and sexual attraction; conception and contraception; bullying and discrimination; influences of the media; communication and decision-making skills; consent; being safe online; support people and community organisations; celebrating diversity.

If you have any questions about this or wish to discuss it further, please contact either the teacher or sarah@ridgway.school.nz.

Premier Event

Looking forward to seeing you at our Premier Event starting at 5.30 on Thursday (August 13) next week. We are starting with our kapa haka performing outside te wharenui so head there once you get into school. We have been practising our singing so are hoping to wow you all with our waiata. We will have a sausage sizzle and dumplings available to buy during the evening.

Any good samaritans with a ute / truck?

We are being gifted a BBQ that we would like to use at our Premier Event. However, it is currently living in Houghton Bay awaiting a kind samaritan with the means to collect it. If you wouldn't mind making a trip to Houghton Bay then up to school to bring it up that would be much appreciated! Please let Sarah know (sarah@ridgway.school.nz).

Planting at Tawatawa Reserve

Our Year 6, 7 and 8s headed to Tawatawa Reserve and our 'adopt-a-spot' part of the reserve to plant over 100 trees on Thursday. We had some lovely feedback about our students and their work ethic. Thanks to the parents who came too!

Nathan Wallis: Change Your Brain, Change Your Life

Nathan Wallis is speaking at Island Bay School. If you are interested in attending you can find out more here.

Ngā mihi

Sarah Taylor

Deputy Principal

Ridgway School