Term Dates for 2021

Term 1             4 February - 16 April

Term 2             3 May – 9 July

Term 3             26 July – 1 October

Term 4             18 October – 16 December

The Final Countdown…

During our last few days of the school year we would all hope to be winding down but in fact, as you might have noticed, we are winding up!  Our amazing office staff have been preparing reports, class placements notices and final parent accounts. The teaching staff are organising this Friday’s Final Assembly and also preparing for Prizegiving next Wednesday 16th Dec.  

If we have missed something, we apologise.   Term 4 is the very busiest time of year in any school and the stresses are many and various. Throughout this time, we are tremendously grateful to everyone who has supported us in a classroom, with a trip, or in the staffroom with some Christmas sustenance.  Thank you for the many ways you support our school!

School Accounts

You will have received your school accounts last week.  In preparation for our end-of-year procedures it is tremendously helpful if you could pay outstanding amounts prior to the end of the school term. This allows us to complete the work required of us by the Ministry of Education in relation to preparation for our school audit.  Your help and cooperation are much appreciated at this busy time of year. 

End of Year Arrangements – Please Read This Bit Carefully (Timings have changed a little)

The culmination of our school year will soon be upon us.  THIS Friday, 11 December we will be holding our final assembly which will begin at 1:15pm.  The following Wednesday, 16th Dec, we will be holding our Prizegiving which will begin at 10:30am.  School closes for the year at 1:00pm on Thursday 17th December.

1.  FINAL SCHOOL ASSEMBLY  Years 2-8: Friday 11 December 1:15pm, Community Hall (School Uniform NOT Required)

The students who have been participating in the William Pike Challenge Award will be hosting our final assembly for 2020. They will be sharing the amazing experiences they have had this year and will be presented with their awards. We will also have an item from the guitar and kapa haka groups. HDS service awards will be presented to librarians, enviro team members, jump jam leaders, house captains and student councillors. Place-getters from EWCS Athletics sports will be acknowledged along with the age group champions from HDS Senior Athletic Sports. Please join us as we celebrate a successful year .

2.  PRIZEGIVING ASSEMBLY – Wednesday 16 December 10:30am, Community Hall (School Uniform IS Required) 

Our prizegiving assembly will be an opportunity to celebrate success and acknowledge those students who have excelled at our school this year.  Please remember to send your child/ren to school in their HDS uniform.

3.  LAST DAY OF SCHOOL THURSDAY 17 DECEMBER 

School will still be open on 17th Dec until 1:00pm to allow time for moving of classrooms and furniture in preparation for the 2021 school year.  YMCA after-school-care will be available from 1:00pm onward for those families who are registered. Other students should be picked up between 12.30pm and 1:00pm.  

Acknowledging Staff Leaving Us This Year

Mrs Sharon Cunningham will be leaving us at the end of this term having served our community for 18 years.  Sharon’s roles in the school have allowed her to work with the tiny children in New Entrants to the very biggest and oldest at the senior end of our school.  Her patience and empathy for learners have made her an essential part of the Horsham Downs Team here.  We will miss her as she moves away for other challenges.

Mrs Sarah Chrystall has had a very special role in our school and a place in our hearts.  She has worked closely with one particular student over that time but also helped many others in classrooms across the school.  Sarah’s knowledge and assistance has often gotten us out of trouble in the sick-bay where her expertise has proven invaluable.  Thank you, Sarah and best wishes for next year.

Mrs Kayla Mayo joined us this year and won us over with her bubbly personality and positive outlook on life.  Working closely with Sarah they made a great team.   Although we were only just really getting to know you, we also realise that wherever you land in 2021 you will make a great success of life.  Thank you, Kayla.

We also look forward to Mrs Filipo re-joining our teaching staff after Easter next year as the class numbers in New Entrants begin to grow.

CAMP VOLUNTEER LETTERS

Once again, we have been blown away by the response to our request for camp parents in 2021. We had close on 110 mums or dads, caregivers and whānau offering to help out at our camps early next year and unfortunately, we simply cannot take everyone.  Letters will go home with students soon, letting parents know whether their offer has been accepted or not.  We know that some of you may be disappointed.  Please know that there are many factors involved in the decision-making process and we hope that you will apply again next year if you haven’t been chosen.  If you did miss out, we will keep your name on file and if for some reason one of the camp volunteers has to pull out, we may contact you.

School Production Flash Drives.

Most of the copies of the school production have now been distributed with just a few more to go. There have been some formatting issues with a few though.  If you have any trouble (or have accidentally re-formatted the drive when you plugged it in!) please pop it back into the office and we will knock up another copy.  Thanks to all who have invested in this keepsake.

Candy Canes!  

It’s the season again for sharing joy and good cheer.  However…  we request that you don’t share candy canes and sweets around the school.  Many families prefer to limit sweet treats at this time of year so please keep this kind of enjoyment for home, not school. 

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WAIKATO WESTPAC RESCUE HELICOPTER OPEN DAY.

When:  Sunday 14 February 2021

Where: Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter hangar, (Waikato Hospital), Pembroke Street

Time: 10.00am – 2.00pm

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Care Bags for Charity

We are collecting goods on behalf of Rainbow Place using Care Bags for Charity.  The drive for your support has started in our school, so please donate what you can to support this very worthy cause through the school office. 

https://www.carebagsforcharity.co.nz/