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Principal’sMessageIhopeyouhaveenjoyedthefirstthreeweeksofyour2017PonsonbyExperience. It is importantwe establish school culture quickly; youare only here for two years. Events such as theMeet the TeacherEvening, EOTC and the Events Expo are designed to immersestudentsandwhānauintothePonsonbyExperience.Lastweek IattendedtheCouncillors’LeadershipCampbasedatmyfamilybachinTinopai.Oneoftheeveningactivitieswastomapoutsomeofthemajorstudentevents.Thistermwewillbeorganisingaschool Market Day on Friday 24 March and a school-wide TalentQuestwiththefinalstakingplaceonThursday6April.Lastweeksawushost40ChinesestudentsfromoursisterschoolinNingbo; it was a fabulous cultural exchange. In late Septemberwewill return the visit to their school. More information about thisyear’sChinaExchangetripwillbeavailablelaterintheterm.Perhapsthebestadvice IcangiveournewYear7students isthis–Listentothedailynotices,makenotesabouttheevents/activitiesonofferinyourhomeworkdairyandgetinvolvedinasmanyactivitiesasyoucan.InthisnewsletteryouwillfindinformationontheupcomingStudent-LedConferencesandSwimmingSports.Inaseparateattachmentwehave included our CurriculumMap for the term – all the plannedLearningIntentionsschool-wide.Finally,checkoutthisphotoofLeaTischwholivesinBirkenheadonherwaytoschoolforthefirstdaythisyear!NickWilsonPrincipal

10 November 2016

14FebruaryBOTMeeting–6:00pm21FebruarySwimmingSports–Pt.ErinPools28FebruaryBoysSoftballEcoWarriorsCamp2MarchGirlsSoftball7MarchStudentLedConferences3:30pm–8pm(CoreSubjects)8MarchCheerleadingTrials3:30pm9MarchSchoolPhotosCoreConferences16MarchModularConferencesCentralZoneOrienteering17MarchSamScottProductionWorkshops22MarchCentralZoneGirlsCricket23MarchCoreConferences

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SwimmingSports

OurSchoolSwimmingSportswillbeheldatPointErinPoolTuesday21February.Year7Classes AssembleontheBasketballCourts8.35am–walktoPointErinPoolswherethe

programmebeginsat9.00am.Year7studentswillfinishtheprogrammeat12:00pm,havelunchatPointErinParkandwaituntilYear8’shaveenteredthepool.

Year8Classes Assemble on the Basketball Courts 11:05am at the end of interval.Walk to

PointErinPoolswheretheprogrammestartsat12:15pm.Finishat2.30pmandwalkbacktoschool.

Studentswillneed: Swimmingtogs,Towel,SweaterorRainjacket,Sunhat,Sunscreen,Lunchanda

Drink(inaplasticcontainer).ChampionshipswillbeheldinBackstroke,Breaststroke,FreestyleandButterfly.Alleventsare33metresinlength,apartfrom100mFreestyle.Thereare2funraces.Allstudentsshouldenteratleast2events,andwillaccumulateHousePoints.ThereisnouseofthePointErinTuckshop,noChewingGum,andnoGlassBottlestobetaken.Parentsareverywelcometoattend.AfullSwimProgrammeisattachedtotheendofthisNewsletter.

SchoolProductionWehavecommencedworkshopauditionsthisweektofindour30coreactorsfortheproduction.Wehavebeenoverwhelmedbytheresponsefromstudents.Over200studentshaveshownaninterestinbeingpartoftheproduction.Oncethecorecasthasbeenchosen,studentswillbeabletoparticipateinsinging,danceandchorusauditions.Thesewilltakeplaceoverthenextfewweeks.Manystudentshavealsoexpressedaninterestinworkingbackstageandbeinginvolvedinthetechnicalsideofproduction.Wearealsorunningjamsessionswithaviewtofindingmusiciansfortheproductionbutalsofornumerousmusicgroupsthroughouttheyear.Itiswonderfultoseetheamazingtalentthroughouttheschoolandwelookforwardtoworkingwiththesestudents.Pleaseremindyourchildtolistentothedailynoticessotheycanstayinformedofauditionsandmeetings.

StudentLedConferencesStudent-ledconferencesareruneverytermatPonsonbyIntermediate.Coresubjects(EnglishandMathematics)holdconferencestwiceayearinTerm1andTerm3.Modularconferenceshappeneveryterm(asstudentsare involved intwodifferentmodularsubjectseachterm).

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OnLineConferenceBookingBookingscanbemadeathttp://www.schoolinterviews.co.nzusingtheschoolcode.CoreSubjectsTuesday7thMarch,3:30pm-8:00pm(CORE:Code7uwzr)Thursday9thMarch,3:30pm-8:00pm(CORE:Codeff6qq)Thursday23rdMarch,3:30pm-8:00pm(CORE:Codermf6e)ModularConferencesThursday16thMarch3:30pm-8:00pm(MODULE:Codeccv84)Belowarethelistofteachersandtheclassestheyteachtomakebookingeasier.Thanks,CobeySweetmancobeys@ponsint.school.nzCoreTeachers:English:KatieMuller:TeachingRooms11,15OliviaFreeman:TeachingRooms3,8,13SarahHowie:TeachingRooms1,9,25PenelopeDunn:TeachingRooms6,18,23GeorginaThomas:TeachingRooms21,26,30AngelaLangton:TeachingRooms12,16,28AngelaLane:TeachingRooms17,20,22Maths:CherieBolesworth:TeachingRooms11,17,22,and26KellyThomas:TeachingRooms1,12,21,and25KimEdwards:TeachingRooms8,13,15,and30KatherineBusch:TeachingRooms9,16,20,and28AlisonTripp:TeachingRooms3,6,18,and23ModuleTeachers:DesignandTextiles:CobeySweetmanTeachingRooms3,20,22,28,30Art:LisaStephensonMiss Stephensonwill be available from 3:30-5:30. You arewelcome to email andmake arrangements tomeetoutsideofthesetimesiftheydonotsuityoulisas@ponsint.school.nzTeachingRooms20,22Art:StephanieElliottMissElliottwillbeavailablefrom6:00-8:00pm.Youarewelcometoemailandmakearrangementstomeetoutsideofthesetimesiftheydonotsuityoustephaniee@ponsint.school.nz

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TeachingRooms3,28,30PerformingArts:ChristineCullenTeachingRooms:8,9,12,15,and21Music:PaulCurtisTeachingRooms:8,9,12,15,and21Health&P.E:SophieGibbonsTeachingRooms:26,28,3,30,11,16,6,13,18,and22Health&P.E:SamJardineTeachingRooms:15,12,17,23,8,21,9,21,20,and25HomeEconomics:JodyHartTeachingRooms:1,11,17,1825Science:MargaretMarsickTeachingRooms:1,11,17,1825Science:JessPhillipsTeachingRooms:6,13,16,23,and26ExploringTechnology:AndyWilsonTeachingRooms:6,13,16,23,and26SocialSciences:JoMcCullaghTeachingRooms:1,3,8,11,13,15,17,20,23,and30LearningLanguages:TriciaOrrTeachingRooms:6,9,12,16,18,21,22,25,26,and28

SportsTrialsTermoneatPonsonbyIntermediateisalwaysabusytime.Lunchtimesport,sportstrials,andvariousotherclubsandactivitiesstartingupfortheyearkeepthestudentsontheirtoes.Inorderforstudentstobeawareofwhatiscomingupandtoensuretheyareorganised,theyneedtokeepacloseeyeonthedailynoticeseachmorning. This iswhereall upandcoming sports trialswill beadvertised.Thesedailynotices canbeaccessedfromanydevicebyloggingintoyourchild'sPonsonbyGoogleaccount.SporttrialsarekickingoffinweekthreethisyearwithYear7SoftballTrialsonMondaythe13th,andyear8Softball Trials on Wednesday the 15th. There will be more trials to follow so please listen to the dailynotices.Boys11aside20/20crickettrialswillcommenceonTuesdaythe12thwith6asidecentralzonecricketteamtrialscommencinginweekfour.

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Other sports this term include Central Zone swimming and orienteering. If your child has a particularinterestinthese,tellthemtokeepaneyeonthedailynoticesformoreinformation.SamJardineSportsCoordinatorsamj@ponsint.school.nz

BasketballAtourPonsonbyExpoonFridaytherewasa lotof interestexpressedforbasketballwhich isgreattosee.Thisyear,basketballwillnotcommenceuntilweek4term3.Thecompetitionrunsfor15weeksattheNorthShoreEventsCentreand theAUTNorth ShoreCampus. Trialswill commence towards theendof Term2when production has finished so keep checking those daily notices. To prepare the students for thebasketballseason,wewillbeplayingBasketballasalunchtimesportandwillbepractisingandplayingitinPhysicalEducation.Wewillalsobeorganisingacouncillors3on3tournamentduringterm2.

NetballEven though the year has just commenced, netball season is fast approaching! By now, all studentsinterested in playing for the school should have received a permission slip to take homewith importantinformationregardingthetrialdates.Year7’s:17thand24thofFebruaryYear8’s:3rdand10thofMarchAlltrialsgofrom3.20untilapproximately5pm.Fromhere,thestudentsneedtokeepaneyeonthedailynoticesfornotificationofwhenandwheretheteamswillbeposted.Moreinformationwillbedistributedtoboththestudentsandtohomeoncetheteamshavebeenfinalised.

WaterpoloLast week a group of 30 students started the Term 1 water polo option. There was a large number ofstudents interested in taking place, however due to safety and productivity, we can only take a limitednumberof students. InformationaboutPonsonbywaterpolo, including trial information,will comehomelater in the term. Studentswhoare interested inplaying for the schoolneed tobeavailable forTuesdayeveningtrainingsandFridayeveninggamesoutatWestwavePoolsinHenderson.

CheerleadingCheerleadingtrialswillbetakingplaceafterschoolonWednesday8thMarchinweek6.Studentsthatareinterestedincheerleadingwillbecalledtoameetingnextweektogetanoticeandallinformationrequiredfortrials.

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EducationOutsideTheClassroom(E.O.T.C)Allyear8classeshavenowhadtheirfirsttripforthePonsonbyEOTCexperience. Theyear7classeswillbegoingontheirfirsttriptoday.Our5tripsfor2017are:AucklandZoo,Circability,UptownBounce,AwatahaMaraeandParnellBaths.Classeswill also receive3 sports lessonorganisedbyKellySportthatfocusonparticipation,movementandteamwork. Ifyouareavailabletohelponanyofthesetripspleasecontactyourchild’sformteacher.AlltheinformationaboutEOTCandwhenthetripsarewillbeinyourchild’sHomeworkdiary(WorkinProgressbook).

ICAS-ExamsThis year the following Australasian Schools’ Competitions are available: Science, English,Writing, DigitalTechnologies,SpellingandMathematics. TheAustralasianSchools’Competitionsprovideanopportunity forall students togainameasureof theirownachievementinanexternalassessmentsituation.Theycanalsobeusedtomonitorindividualprogressinarangeofsubject-relatedskillsandtorecogniseandrewardachievementatall levels. Ifyourchildhasstrengthsinanysubjectofferedweencouragetheirparticipation. Students who participate will each receive a Certificate and a detailed results letter indicating whichquestionstheyansweredcorrectly,identifyingtheskilltestedineachquestionandindicatingthepercentageofstudentsacrossNewZealandwhoansweredeachquestioncorrectly.Theresultsletterisalsousefulforhighlightingstudentstrengthsandweaknesses.Thedocumentsaresuitableforinclusioninaportfolio. Theentry fees areoutlinedbelow. The Spelling andWriting entry fees arehigherdue to them requiringhandmarking. WerequiretheentryfeebyThursday23March2017.Weareunabletotakelateentries. Theactualtestdatesareasfollows:

DigitalTechnologies $9.50 Tuesday23May2017

Science $9.50 Tuesday30May2017

Writing $20.50 Tuesday13June2017

Spelling $11.50 Wednesday14June2017

English $9.50 Tuesday1August2017

Mathematics $9.50 Tuesday15August2017

Total $70.00

EachtestmustbesatontheabovedaysastheCompetitionsareexternalexams.PracticeOnlineisavailableforuseathome.PracticeOnlineisavailableforEnglish,MathematicsandScience.https://www.eaa.unsw.edu.au Therewillbeameetingforthestudentswhoareinterestednextweekwheretheywillreceiveaformtofillinidentifyingthecompetitionstheywishtoparticipateinandmoredetailsaboutpayment.

HomeworkClub

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HomeworkClubstartingnextweekonWednesday22ndFebruary.Thisagreatplaceforstudentstogethelpif needed and a quiet space to do their homework. See Rachel Maitland-Smith for a letter rachelm-s@ponsint.school.nz

LearningCentreOpenMorningIfyourstudentisreceivingextrasupportthroughtheLearningCentrewewouldlovetomeetyou.Wewilldiscusstheprogrammeswehaveonofferandhowwecanworktogethertobestsupportyourchild.Openmorning is nextWednesday22ndof February from9.15-12.35. Let rachelm-s@ponsint.school.nz know ifyoucanmakeit.Alightmorningteawillbeprovided.CometoRoom2.

NorthShoreBusItappearsBirkenheadTransporthaveputonanewschoolbuswhichfollowsthe966routespeciallyforPonsonbyIntermediatestudents.ItiscalledtheP66.ItarrivesatBirkenheadPrimarySchoolat7:40am.

PhotosfromtheEventsExpo

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CouncillorsCommentHiPonsonby!WehopeyouhaveallsettledwellintoyourclassesandareenjoyingyourtimehereatPonsonby.WehadafabuloustimeatCouncillorsCampandhavecomeupwithsomegreatideasfortheschoolyear.SomeimportantdatestorememberareSwimmingSportswhichisonTuesday21stofFebruaryandalsotheProductionsignupsandjamsessionswhichwillbehappeningoverthenextfewweeks.Wearelookingforwardtoagreattermwithmanyexcitingactivitiesplanned.

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SwimmingSportsProgramme8.35am Allyear7studentsmeetonBasketballcourt.8:40am WalktoPtErinPools9:00am Programmebegins.

HeatsforYear7StudentsEvent

1. 100mFREESTYLE BOYS 2. 100mFREESTYLE GIRLS 3. 33m BACKSTROKE BOYS 4. “ “ GIRLS 7. 33M FREESTYLE BOYS 8. “ “ GIRLS 11. 33M BREASTROKE BOYS 12. “ “ GIRLS 15. 33m BUTTERFLY(final) BOYS 16. “ “ GIRLS 17. 33m RUNNINGRACE(timeallowing) BOYS 18. “ “ GIRLS

Finals19. 33m BACKSTROKE BOYS 20. “ “ GIRLS 21. “ FREESTYLE BOYS 22. “ “ GIRLS 23. 33m BREASTROKE BOYS 24. “ “ GIRLS 25. 100mFREESTYLE (ifneeded) BOYS 26. “ “ GIRLS 27. LONGDISTANCEUNDERWATER COMPETITION (timeallowing) BOYS 28. LONGDISTANCEUNDERWATER COMPETITION (timeallowing) GIRLS29.ClassRelayTeam =2boysand2girls1lengtheach 11:40amYear7studentslineupoutsidepools(inthepark),waittillyear8’shaveenteredthepoolsandthenreturntoschoolforlunchtime,SSR&Formtime(periods5&6).11:45pm:Year8swimmingProgrammestarts

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HeatsforYear8Students

Event1. 100mFREESTYLE BOYS 2. 100mFREESTYLE GIRLS 3. 33m BACKSTROKE BOYS 4. “ “ GIRLS 7. 33M FREESTYLE BOYS 8. “ “ GIRLS 11. 33M BREASTROKE BOYS 12. “ “ GIRLS 15. 33m BUTTERFLY(final) BOYS 16. “ “ GIRLS 17. 33m RUNNINGRACE BOYS 18. “ “ (timeallowing) GIRLS Finals19. 33m BACKSTROKE BOYS 20. “ “ GIRLS 21. “ FREESTYLE BOYS 22. “ “ GIRLS 23. 33m BREASTROKE BOYS 24. “ “ GIRLS 25. 100mFREESTYLE (ifneeded) BOYS 26. “ “ GIRLS 27. LONGDISTANCEUNDERWATER COMPETITION(timeallowing) BOYS 28. LONGDISTANCEUNDERWATER COMPETITION (timeallowing) GIRLS29.ClassRelayTeam = 2boysand2girls1lengtheach