During the year we have been very lucky to have had our local Te Roro o Te Rangi Iwi group, Acceler8, working with some of our students. They have been busy building trolleys for our PE Shed. All of the school will benefit as the children can take these out to play on at lunch time. The boys did all of the work and could tell us about their safe use of power tools, paint colour selection and working together to achieve. They have diaries explaining each step they took to succeed. We are very grateful for the volunteer work of Ralph Mosen and the team. Let the derbies begin!

Kia ora whanau, please see draw for Wednesday 14 November *****Please note Rotokawa Seniors have 2 games this week 4:00pm - Year 1-2 - Pool B - Field 8a - Rotokawa Junior Mixed vs Kawaha Blues 4:00pm - Year 1-2 - Pool C - Field 1a - Rotokawa Junior Mixed Blue vs Te Pu Ruamata 4:00pm - Year 1-2 - Pool D - Field 3a - Rotokawa Junior Mixed Yellow vs Te Koutu Mako 5:00pm - Year 3-4 - Pool C - Field 10 - Rotokawa Middle Mixed vs Horohoro Black Panthers 5:30pm - Year 5-6 - Pool C - Field 10 - Rotokawa Senior Mixed vs Owhata Seniors 6:00pm - Year 5-6 - Pool C - Field 4 - Rotokawa Senior Mixed vs St Marys Robins Nga mihi, Matua Regan

Thank you to all of the drivers who are so very careful in Rotokawa Rd at the end of the school day. We have some children dashing across the road to waiting cars and we are doing our best to educate those children. The ideal is that those adults get out of their cars, cross the road and collect the children at the gate, then walk them safely back to their car.  However, we appreciate your careful driving at this time of the day and being on the look out for those few dashing kids.

We have completed and confirmed the bus and hot pools bookings.  A letter is coming home today with full details. The cost is $20 per child.  Please make your payments to the office or into the ASB Bank account (details at end of the newsletter) with your childs name and room number clearly referenced. You are welcome to join us for the day and preschoolers are welcome, however you will need to arrange your own transport in this case too. We will do our best to cover the transport with the use of our school van as well of course.

We had a wonderful day yesterday with the children having a go at all of the disciplines in Athletics. The children really put in some keen effort.  we finished the day with the Paretns vs Teachers vs Year 6 students. It was a hard fought race and the children made the finish line first under pressure. Representative children will be notified by Matua Regan. The selection is dependent upon a range of success across disciplines for 9 years and over. They will compete at the Rotorua International Stadium # 2 on  Tuesday 20th November. Children at camp will be taken along to compete.

We are planning for our 2019 year. If you have a New Entrant child beginning  school at the start of next year,  we would love to start their transition mornings on Wednesdays 9am - 10:45 am in Room 4. Please phone the office  07 3456 129 and let us know. Any other children transitioning from other schools may like to spend a morning with us as well a bit later in the year also, so they start their year with a sense of belonging to Rotokawa School over the term break. They will be most welcome.

This term one of our sponsors, Pita Pit, has a great competition for one lucky Rotorua Child. Each order adds an entry to the competition. We thanks Pita Pit for their continued support each week for our sports teams Player of the Day. Our kids love to receive their certificate for playing hard and fair. Attached is the entry information and prize details which will make for a fantastic Summer Holiday for the family full of activities..

File Download: Term_4_Pita_Pit_Competition_10_2018.pdf

Wednesday the Royal Visitors are in town. If you plan to collect your children for part of the day, please let the teacher and office know thanks.

This week we would like to thank our Sponsors from Motion. Each week we celebrate our values focus for the week in our assembly. These children have been lucky draw winners and have been so pleased with their voucher to go to Motion. The children love to have the opportunity to win this prize each week. We love having our children know and use our school values daily in all of their work and play.

It is Term 4 and across Aotearoa New Zealand we are coming into the worst time for our sun being dangerous to us all. Your children must have full brimmed hats for school. Caps are not accepted. Thanks for your support and it is so helpful when they are well named.

As we all know the impact of technology on our lives has been really positive in the main, however, it is really important to keep teaching our children how to be safe users of the apps and  tools they use. Life Education have an expert presenter planned at Harvest Centre on 7th December at 7pm. Check out the information on the attached flyer.

File Download: Cyber_Safety_for_newsletter.pdf

Through your Facebook accounts you can enter the "Love my Shade" competition for our school. Shade Systems are the company who built our wonderful canopy. Your support for our school is appreciated. Follow the link https://www.shadesystems.co.nz/competition/  to enter as we would love the sports gear of course.

Our Term 4 Disco and Fireworks Night is going to be held on Thursday 15th November 4:30pm to 6:30pm. We would love to see as many of you and your children along as the Year 6 children will be raising funds for the End of Year Graduation trip up to the top of Mt Tarawera.  Details are on the poster created by Moana-Rose and her team of organisers - note there has been a date change as advertised on the poster due to a clash with Mokoia Int..

File Download: Poster_for_Disco_Fireworks_15th_Nov.pdf

We have had a huge term of teams competing in Hockey, Netball, and Mini Ball. The children are only able to take part due to your commitment to get them to the games and practices each week. Thank you especially to our coaches and managers that made it every week for all of the kids. You are awesome! Our Senior Mini Ball team was so well coached they took out the winning spot for the season. Well done team! We are very proud of you all.

The children have been working hard on a range of art creations for our annual fundraising Art on the Porch. The Art work is for sale for $5.00 each (or a larger donation is welcome of course). Funds raised are going towards our swimming pool activities and running costs this year. Every child at our school benefits from this donation.  There are also sausages and icecreams or Juicies available for purchase while you are here.  Thank you to our Local Mad Butcher Todd Hughes for your ongoing support for our school. Parents and caregivers - thank you in advance for your support of your children and their learning..