Newsletter - Friday 19 August

He mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa
Bonjour à toutes nos familles

Cohort Entry

We are looking at changing when students start school to a system of cohort entry from 2023.  Cohort entry is when new entrants start school in groups through the year rather than on their fifth birthday.  In schools which have adopted a policy of cohort entry, new entrants are able to start school in cohorts but only after they have turned five. There are two entry points per term, one on the first day of term, and one at a mid-point during a term.

Cohort entry is about helping children to settle better in school. There is evidence that starting school alongside other children helps them build relationships and supports a smoother entry to school life.  Schools that are already using cohort entry believe it offers their children the best start to their school life. It can also mean less disruption for new entrant teachers who can prepare for groups of children arriving on a specific date rather than on an individual and ad hoc basis through the year.

If you have an opinion on this that you’d like to share, please fill out our form. 

School photos

In a couple of weeks, the photo gallery will go online. This is where whānau can view and order their favourite photos. The first two weeks of the ordering period will be for fundraising. 10% of all sales will go back to our school.

A couple of weeks after this ordering period closes, the orders will be delivered to the school.  The gallery will remain up for one year. 

Fundraising lunches

We made some delicious cheese toasties yesterday.  There was a bit of a miscommunication with the children helping to make these and some children only ended up getting half a toasted sandwich instead of a whole one! If this was your child, can you please email Sarah and we will organise another one for them next week.  Next week, it’s bread rolls with a choice of fillings.  You can order these through https://www.lunchonline.co.nz/. 

Picking up from Kōtare

When picking up from Kōtare at the end of the day, please make sure you aren’t blocking the footpath.  You can wait in the little spot that is outside the staffroom or in the driveway.  At the moment parents are waiting across the footpath which blocks it. This means children need to go on to the road to get passed.  Danger danger!  

Onesie Day

We are fundraising to help keep Wellington Free Ambulance free by supporting their Onesie Appeal. All students are invited to wear their Onesie on Friday 2 September and bring a donation for Wellington Free.   Thank you for your support and helping us to fundraise to keep our ambulance service free and here for all of us.

Calendar Art Orders

Calendar Art orders are due by the end of week 5 (Friday 26th August). If you haven’t had a chance to order any yet, here is the form. These will be ready in Term 4.

Upcoming Events

Term 3: Swimming (Year 1 - 3 Tuesday, Year 4 - 8 Friday)

Thursday 25 August: Bike Monitor Reward Trip

26 August: Orders for Calendar Art due

30 August 6 -  7pm: Supporting your child with anxiety (educational pyschologist session)

31 August - 2 September: Year 5 & 6 Camp at Forest Lakes

2 September: Onesie Day

12 - 15 September: Year 7 & 8 Camp Makahika

Community Page

You can find out more about what’s happening in the community here. 

Ngā mihi.
Sarah Taylor
Deputy Principal
Ridgway School