13 November 2014
NEWSLETTER NUMBER 18
Dear Parents
As some of you may be aware we have some very distressing news about the
health of Mr Lander at St Paul's Collegiate School. He has lymphonic cancer
and begins treatment in the next few days. We express our best wishes to Mr
Lander, his family and the whole St Paul's community at this time.
We never know what's around the corner and as the saying goes - there goes
us but by the Grace of God.
It is with this in mind that it is rather fortuitous that we are going to be visited
by Professor Con Stough from Swinburne University to talk to us about Emotional Intelligence. He is a world leader in this field and presents at conferences all over the world. He is spending a day at St Paul's and then spending a
day at Southwell. This field is relatively new and there is a great deal of research in this area being undertaken. The key concepts are resilience and grit.
I am sure you have heard us talk about resilience, after all it is one of our values, but perhaps not so much about grit.
Grit is more than just being resilient, the ability to bounce back from a knock
back, it is more about ability to be responsive and adapt. This is best described by Charles Darwin " It is not the strongest of the species that will survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change". According to Angela Duckworth in a TED 2013 presentation the number one determinant in a persons success is "grit". This presentation is worth looking at
and can be found at www.ted.com
Professor Stough will be spending the day with me discussing Grit and Emotional Intelligence and its relevance to primary education. I am looking forward to hearing what he has to say and bringing to you the latest research
and learning so that we can continue to provide the best education for the
children of Southwell.
SCHOOL CAMPS AND POLICY VETTING FORMS
School camp information is coming your way. Those parents who are selected to
be a Parent helper will be required to be Police Vetted. Acceptance onto a camp
will be dependent on having a clean Police Vet. However, it takes twenty days to
clear so we will process the camp applications from parents as we receive them.
Should there be a problem with the Police Vet we will contact parents discretely
and confidentially.
Forms can be downloaded from our website. The Police Vet form needs to be
completed and hand delivered by the applicant into the School office and meet
with Gloria Archer.
When returning the form you will need to bring two forms of identification. One
must have a photograph on it. (e.g.: Passport, Driver’s Licence, Firearms Licence.)
The identification and the completed form can only be brought to the school office by the parent making the request to join camp. (ie. You cannot send the form
to school with a student).
The form can only be checked and verified by Gloria Archer in the office, she will
be available the week of the 17th November from 8:00am until 4:30pm.
FROM THE CHAPEL
At this time of year our thoughts turn to the needs of those less fortunate than
ourselves, especially as people prepare to celebrate Christmas. Southwell has a
tradition of the children bringing a gift for a boy or girl (please indicate gender
and age on the outside of the gift) who may miss
out on a Christmas present. This is brought to the
Chapel for collection. We also give gifts of festive
food (non-perishable) to the city’s food banks so
people might have a Christmas dinner which is
special, which is also brought to School by the
children and offered at the daily services. Gifts and
food can be brought along up to, and including, the
time of the Carol Services.
Thank you all very much as you extend your good
will to others in this happy season. The offertories
from the Carol Services will this year be donated to ‘Hope – Build hope for tomorrow’ a project from Christian World Services. Please give generously.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations to the following STUDENTS who have done very well.
Emma Baker has been selected for the Hamilton Districts Girls Under 15
Cricket team. This is the 4th year she has been selected.
Teri MacDonald has been named in the Waikato U14A team to play this
December at the NZ Waterpolo Nationals in Wellington.
SOUTHWELL ICAS RESULTS
Science—1 High Distinction, 27 Distinctions
English—6 High Distinctions, 22 Distinctions
Mathematics, 6 High Distinctions, 21 Distinctions
Here are the details regarding the names for the high distinctions gained:
Science High Distinction: Eleanor MacGillivray (Year 6)
English High Distinction: Hannah Jacobsen (Year 4), William Jacobsen (Year
4), Ellena Wood (Year 4), Max Fletcher (Year 5), Eleanor MacGillivray (Year 6),
Siobhan Dolan (Year 8).
Maths High Distinction: James MacGillivray (Year 4), Max Fletcher (Year 5),
Morgan Gardiner (Year 6), Eleanor MacGillivray (Year 6), Tanika Naidoo (Year
6), Harrison Neil (Year 6).
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR STAFF ACHIEVING GREAT THINGS
Rebecca Wright competed over the weekend in the Battle of the Fittest
Crossfit competition and out of 150 competitors, she was placed an incredible
13th!
Lynette Horn is the recipient of the Erin Baker Award and the Cameron Brown
Award in recognition of her commitment for competing in a number of
triathlon inspired events and will receive her award at the Taupo District
Sports Awards evening tomorrow night.
And well done to Glen McKay and Anna Nesbit for completing the Auckland
Marathon under 4 hours. Awesome effort!
FROM THE SPORTS DEPARTMENT
Exchange vs Kings - Wednesday 12 November: We had our annual summer
exchange with Kings. Great day had by all in Hamilton and Auckland, despite
the inclement weather.
School Athletics Day—Friday 21 November
Children are to come to school at usual time—before 8.25am.
Uniform for the day: house polo, blue sport shorts, hat, white socks, sneakers.
Extras: Lunch, morning/afternoon tea, drink bottle, sunscreen, tracksuit top.
Years 0/1 to 4 pupils will meet in their classrooms at 8.25am
Years 5 to 8 pupils will meet in classrooms at 8.25am for roll call / then to
house meetings at 8.30am
Years 5 to 8: athletics for them will run from 8.50am to 3.45pm
Year 4: athletics for them will run from 9.45am to 3.45pm
Year 3: athletics for them will run from 10.30am to 3.45pm
Years 0 to 2: athletics for them will run from 10.30am to 12.45pm - prize giving
for these children will be held
then.
This is a FAMILY DAY, and we
encourage you to come along,
bring a picnic, and spend the day
supporting your child. Also bring
some spare coins for the Prefects’
Raffle.
There will be PARKING on the
Top Field (behind the Library). If
the weather looks doubtful on the
day, please check our website/facebook for an update.
If postponed, the Athletic Sports will be held on Monday 24 November, and
Friday will assume a normal school day.
On Athletics day—there is no After School care, no Dining Room
Dinner and no Bus Service leaving Southwell for home at the end of
athletics day.
Torpedo 7 Evening
A REMINDER that Torpedo 7 are hosting a parent evening
on Thursday 20 November at 7pm. Check out the attached
flier for more information.
FROM THE NURSE
There have been 2 new cases of chickenpox in the
school. The incubation period is 21 days so please be
aware that your child may still develop chickenpox.
A reminder that the sickness policy applies regardless of what happens in the
school, for example if your child has been vomiting or had diarrhoea —they
are not to come to school until at least 24 hours after their last bout.
SCHOOL ACCOUNTS
As the end of year is only a few weeks away, please ensure that you have
cleared all fees and incidentals for 2014. If you are paying your fees by automatic payment, please contact [email protected] to obtain your new
monthly or fortnightly deduction amounts for 2015 fees.
SOUTHWELL BUS SERVICE
The final day for the afternoon bus service leaving Southwell for Tamahere
and Hamilton North will be Wednesday 10 December. The buses will run on
the morning of the Senior Prizegiving to the school Thursday 11 December,
but not home. Children need to be collected after prizegiving finishes.
The bus service will recommence on Friday 30 January 2014.
Due to the roading construction happening out in the Tamahere area,
there will be no immediate changes to the Tamahere Bus Route. If we are
informed of any changes before the end of Term 4, we will let you know.
And a reminder that there is no bus service on the afternoon of athletics day
leaving Southwell for home, Friday 21 November.
SSA
The next SSA meeting is this Sunday 16 November at 7.30pm in the Dining
Room. There is a Fete meeting prior to this at 7pm which we would love to see
you all at.
SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT OUR UPCOMING OPEN DAY
THIS SATURDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 2014. 1.30pm start
LIBRARY NEWS - VISITING AUTHORS—David Elliot and Stacy Gregg
Over the past week we have been extremely fortunate to be visited by New Zealand author/
illustrator David Elliot, who was the winner of the 2014 Margaret Mahy Medal, and Stacy
Gregg who is the author of such popular series as Pony Club Secrets and Pony Club Rivals.
One of Stacy’s most recent books, The Princess and the Foal, was an award winner in this
year’s Children’s Book Awards. Both David and Stacy held their audiences entranced.
They shared wonderful writing tips and drawing techniques and they left our students motivated and inspired!
Finally, to all drivers coming in to the school— the maximum speed limit is
5km. There are numerous children moving around the school, particularly
between the Junior School and Chapel, and often children don’t take notice of
vehicles moving.
R A Helm
Headmaster
t. +64 (07) 855 2089 f: (07) 855 9023 (office)
200 Peachgrove Road, PO Box 14015, Five Cross Roads, Hamilton 3252
www.southwell.school.nz
House Mother’s telephone:
(07) 855 7834 or 027 242 9996
Boarders’ fax: (07) 855 1956
SOUTHWELL FETE: ONLY TWO WEEKS TO GO! Saturday 29th
November, 10.30am—4pm
White elephant/jumble sale stall – ready and waiting for your spring clean treasures! The container is hard to miss…it’s in the junior carpark and we are ready to receive your pre-loved, well sorted, clean hand me downs. Books, clothes, toys, household items…anything useful and still in working order. Please no junk! We will send
you home with it if you drop it off and it is not in suitable condition.
Drop off times:
Every Wednesday 3.15pm – 4.15pm
Sunday 16 November 10am—12noon
We need.....




Ice cream containers
Jam makers/ Lemonade juice squeezers could you please
make contact with Alex Bedford so we are aware of quantities etc for labelling.
Deer Antlers, for 7JB reindeer hoop throw. If you have any we could borrow
please let us know.
SOUTH AFRICAN parents and friends WANTED to help man the Boerewors
Rolls stall in the International Food area, please contact Celeste Pon at
[email protected] if you can give an hour.
Please join us for coffee and a fete working bee in the dining room…
Monday 17th Nov 8.10am… or straight after dropping off the kids. We will have a few
light jobs to get done like packing lolly bags/ cutting out labels etc. Many hands make
light work! We’ll provide a cuppa!
Thank you for all the jandals you have sent in…we don’t require any more.
Raffle Tickets for sale in the school office
from Monday 17 November for the children’s ride on tractor and a separate
boxed toy tractor.
Raffle to be draw at 2pm on Fete Day.
Tickets $5 each. Tractors will be on
display in the school office.
The Fete Committee
Ali Mallett
[email protected]
Alex Bedford
[email protected]
Karen O’Meeghan [email protected]
Thank you all for the help and support you have shown us this fete year….it’s going to
be a fabulous family day out and we are looking forward to sharing it with you all.