Newsletter

August 24 2018 Term 3 No.2

From the Desk of the Principal

Kia Ora Koutou Sara Cohen Whanau,

As we approach the end of winter our classes are nice and warm. I would like to

thank the Ministry of Education for their prompt response to our recent boiler

crisis. At the end of last term our boiler that had heated the school for many

years, breathed its last breath. The cost of installation of a new one was going to

be prohibitive so the MOE has installed heat pumps in all our classrooms. We

would like to thank Mr Alan Chalmers who has faithfully looked after the boiler

every day for the past 20 years.

Thank you to our parent community for your understanding and support during

last week teachers strike. We hope that these industrial issues can be sorted out

in the coming weeks so that teachers and principals do not have to go down this

track again.

We are busy practising for the 2018 Polyfest. Our time is yet to be confirmed but

the Polyfest starts from September the 10th and goes for the whole week. Once

the time has been confirmed an email will go out to parents. It’s important to

note that not all students will be performing. As this is the first time that Sara

Cohen School has participated, we will have only some students from the senior

school taking part.

Teachers’ Only Day

We are having a teachers’ only day on, the last day of term 3, the 28th of

September. The teachers’ only day is a course around supporting and meeting

the needs of our Autistic children. We will have a guest presenter come and

work with teachers, therapists and support staff. By providing this professional

development to all staff we will be able to have a shared understanding and

approach of what works well for our young people. Aspire Kids will offer full day

care on that day for all parents who wish to utilise their service.

We have just completed our Collaborative Learning Plan meetings. Thank you to

all the parents and staff who made this new format run smoothly. It was great to

get the meeting/planning part of the CLP’s done so that we can now focus on

meeting the new goals for our students. If you have not completed your CLP

then your students teacher will be in touch with you to organise a time.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend.

PS don’t forget that there is ‘Big Rigs for Special Kids’ this Sunday at the Edgar

Centre. Registration is at 8:30 am. Should be a great day!!

Nga mihi nui,

Matt.

SCHOOL OFFICE - Julie 03 455 8347 – 2

027 3538 244 julie.williamson@saracohen.

school.nz

ABSENCES - ALL CLASSES

– Please phone the office by 9.00am

455 0347 – 1 absence line

Text 027 3538 244 Please leave your student’s name and a reason for the absence.

WHAT’S COMING UP . . .

Term 3 Jul 23 – Sept 28

Sep 10-14 Polyfest Week

Sept 25 Tuesday - Whole School Tramp and Clean up the Environment Day at Woodhaugh Gardens Sep 28 Friday Teacher Only Day SCHOOL CLOSED

Term 4 Oct 15 – Dec 18 Oct 22 LABOUR DAY

Mike Hammond -Public Health Nurse

Visits the Sara Cohen School on a regular basis

Mike is available to talk With Parents/Caregivers & Whanau

about their young person’s health & wellbeing.

It’s FREE & confidential

Contact: 027 454 6996 DD: 476 9881

mike.hammond@southerndhb.govt.nz

Monday-Friday 8.30am-

4.30am (or by prior arrangement)

Gloria, Jazz and Tyryn at the Toitu Laura visiting the Chinese Gardens Early Settlers house.

Brooke touring Toitu All smiles from Liam & Jazz

Rebecca loves the playground Tyryn in Kew Park

The Kowhai kids have enjoyed visits to Toitu, The Chinese Garden and the Otago Museum. They all

enjoying looking at the interesting displays. Tyryn’s smile is as big as the leopard seals!

The raffle was drawn on Monday at Sara Cohen school by Jordan Gilmour, our student leader. The winner was Jane

Smallfield, librarian at OGHS. Two runner up prizes went to Leah Harper & Sue Stephenson of Sara Cohen School. Thank you

everyone who took a chance. Carol Clarkson.

These are going well. Out of stock at the moment. More available September. If you would like to buy some marmalade

please either write your name on the sheet in the staffroom at Sara Cohen School or phone Carol 467 9899. Fresh batches

available early September. Prices will range from $3 - $5 jar.

Stop Texting – Let’s Go Fishing!

Otago Fish & Game Council is running two FREE Take-a-kid-fishing days at the Southern Reservoir (located off Reservoir Road) on Sat 22nd and Sat 29th September 2018. Registrations for the event start on Monday 27th August and are essential. To register, visit https://fishandgame.org.nz/otago/freshwater-fishing-in-new-zealand/fishing-news-and-events/otago-take-a-kid-fishing-days-2018/ Alternatively, come into the Fish & Game office on the corner of Hanover & Harrow St, Dunedin. Registrations are limited to 130 kids per session. Spare fishing rods will be available along with experts to help kids get started. Parents or care givers must be present to supervise children. A quote from Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder “We have such a brief opportunity to pass on to our children our love for this Earth, and to tell our stories. These are the

moments when the world is made whole. In my children's memories, the adventures we've had together in nature will always exist”

Steven Dixon – Fish & Game Officer Otago Fish & Game Council (A not for profit organisation charged with managing sports fish and gamebirds on behalf of Otago residents) E sdixon@fishandgame.org.nz | W www.fishandgame.org.nz

SPECIAL RIGS FOR SPECIAL

KIDS

This year’s fun day is to be held on Sunday

the 26th August 2018. Hosted by the local

transport industry to provide children with

special needs a chance to get close to the

big rigs they see on the roads.

Drivers and Special needs children arrive

at Edgar centre Teviot street from

8.30am. Drivers Briefing 10.45am. Lead

truck leaves at 11.00am. Trucks arrive

back at approximately 12.30pm.

Private Function for Special needs

Children and Drivers.

Recently Totara visited the Dunedin Botanical Gardens. Everyone enjoyed feeding the ducks and pigeons. Levi and Jordan G. made a few new friends too.