Please take a few minutes to catch up on what's been happening at school this week, coming events, or things to plan for with your children.

THANK YOU
Our staff would like to extend a big thank you to parents for helping out with the children on our paid union meeting day last Monday. This situation is not ideal for anyone, it interrupts the children's day, our day as a staff, and your day.

I would like to share that on my sabbatical, I visited six countries and many schools, and what became very obvious to me is that we do not look after and value our teachers in New Zealand. We sit way behind the other countries and when it comes to remuneration, release time, specialist teachers and support for challenging children.

So, as much as we do not enjoy this position, we all need to make a stand so that we can retain and attract the very best teachers for our children.

TOUCH BASE MEETINGS
In Week 5 of Term 2, we are inviting parents to join their child and teacher to have a 15 minute meeting. This meeting is an opportunity to touch base and focus together on the child and their learning. These meetings will be held on Tuesday 28 May from 3.15 to 5.45pm and Thursday 30 May from 1.30 - 7.30pm. 
Please note: parents will be asked to pick their child up at 1.00pm on Thursday 30 May.

We realise this has happened frequently this year, but it enables our teachers to finish their meetings by 7.30pm at night, and not have to go on later in the evening.
Your support is much appreciated.

How to book a Touch Base meeting time?

• Go to the website www.schoolinterviews.co.nz and enter our school code: fm5dg
• You will need your child’s 2019 year level and name of teacher, to complete your booking.
• Enter these details and choose a time that suits you. You will receive an emailed confirmation of your booking.
• If you are unable to complete your booking online, please either:
  • Email pa@wgp.school.nz with child/rens names and preferred times or
  • Call into the school office and fill out a booking sheet.

After School Care
If you have a regular booking on Thursday – your child/ren are automatically booked into After School Care at 1.00pm – please advise asap if you will make other arrangements on the day. There may be a few casual places available, but children will need to be pre-booked - please contact Karen on Ph 021 705 804.

ASSEMBLY CELEBRATION
We had an amazing assembly on Monday morning where we celebrated our national BMX Champion, Dylan Szaszy and our Australian Diving Champion, Kobe Fox. What amazing achievements - congratulations to you both. We were also entertained by our fantastic O1 BAND 'Lecsit'. Lastly we had the chance to try out our signing skills as part of National Sign Language Week. Thanks to our assembly organisers  and parents who joined us.

INTRODUCTION TO SCHOOL DOCS 
Our school has been working with SchoolDocs to create a website for our policies and procedures. We are excited to announce that the site is now live.

SchoolDocs provides us with a comprehensive core set of policies which have been well researched and follow the Ministry of Education National Administration Guidelines. We work alongside them to maintain, update and review our policies. These policies and procedures are tailored to our school, and we have supplied specific information such as our charter, and procedures such as behavior management and reporting to parents.
SchoolDocs updates, modifies, or creates policies in response to changes in legislation or Ministry guidelines, significant events, reviews/requests from schools, and regular reviewing from the SchoolDocs team. Our BOT has the opportunity to view changes / additions and comment on them before they are implemented. We will advise you when policies are up for review and how you can take part in the review.
We invite you to visit the site as http://wgp.schooldocs.co.nz/ (note there is no www). Our username is wgp and password orca.

Have a fantastic week.

DATES TO REMEMBER

• Mufti Day - Tomorrow 10 May
• Bingo Night - Saturday 25 May - more info here - BOOK YOUR SPOT TODAY
• Photolife Term 2 - Monday 27 May & Tuesday 28 May
• Swimming Lessons- Leisure Centre - Y3 to Y6 will be starting  27th May.

MUFTI DAY TOMORROW FRIDAY 10 MAY WESTPAC CHOPPER APPEAL 2019
Tomorrow Friday 10 May we are having a whole school mufti day to support our Chopper School fundraiser to help raise funds for the Westpac Chopper Appeal. Westpac has been supporting the choppers for over 35 years. Please bring a gold coin donation to support this fundraiser.

CAN YOU HELP?
We are a group of Year 5 and 6 students who love to scooter and skateboard. There are holes in our ramps and we get stuck and there are some we can’t use anymore.

We want to fix our ramps and attach wheels so they can be put away on the weekends.

We need:

• donations of wood and equipment to help us fix the old ramps.
• donation of your time to help us fix them.
• donations of money to help us to fix them.
• donations of unused ramps if you have them.

Please contact us in the next week if you think you can help. Email: nstratton@wgp.school.nz

Thank you - The SCAMPS (Scooter and SKate Ramp group). Organisers Robert and Guy.

A MILLION DREAMS

It's time for a wee taste of freedom. It's time to have some laugh's at Bingo, followed by a good dance. So, invite your mates, plans some nibbles and drinks (cause it's BYO), book the baby-sitter, and get ready for a great night out!

We have even picked a dress up theme that we know you are going to love - so dig out those wardrobe treasures and dress up for 'Why do I still own this!'

At $25 a ticket it's a great price for a night out. Follow this link to get your ticket now

Look out for more fundraisers this term:

• Travel Raffle - towards the end of Term 2
• Student Disco - date TBC

STUDENT SUCCESSES

*Sign Language Week at school assembly

*Jump Jam

* Student Writing 'Letters from Gallipoli'