Our Newsletters

Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Welcome to another fun filled 2 weeks here at Kamo Intermediate - Best Intermediate in the World.

We have settled into the first of the winter terms with a fair amountof “gusto”. The Hockey, Netball and Basketball teams representing theschool are doing their thing in the local competitions plus the sportsclubs running the rugby, soccer and rugby league are also occupying thesporting lives of so many of our students and of course your lives aswell.

The doom and gloom merchants in the media thrust the picture ofoverweight, obese children at us constantly and I have trouble relatingthat to the student population here at KIS where over 90% of studentsare actively involved in organised sport and ALL but a handful takepart in daily fitness and sport skills programmes here at school. Thefew who don’t are in 3 categories - ill, physically unable to and thosethat have sweet talked their parents into writing a note to excuse them- usually these are the overweight ones but not necessarily so.
With this newsletter is the canteen price list. You will see that we have a healthy food selection available to purchase.

This week sees the end of our T-Ball interclass competition with NikauA/Room 9 & Nikau B/Room 6 facing off in the bid the be KamoIntermediate and perhaps “World “ Champion. In the Plate CompetitionRoom 18/Room 3 & Room 10/Room 8 are battling it out for tophonours. Matai this year are putting a very spirited bid to be topSyndicate and are at the moment the ones to beat.

Those students planning to be part of the Science Fair are gearingthemselves up. Mr. Kivell and Mr. Epskamp have been promoting thisevent vigourously. Mr. Kivell has been taking appointments to helpindividual project while Mr. Epskamp has been visiting classes givingguidance. The science fair takes place week 1 of Term 3.

The big team involved with this years Stage Challenge have begun therehearsals in the lead up to the event in the last week of this term -only 7 weeks away. Teachers, Renee Procter and Hayley Clark, areworking hard with the     students involved in this venture.

While mentioning  stage performers - a reminder - we are going to beauditioning for the Roadshow in 4 weeks time. Those wanting to be inRoadshow 2008 need to start thinking / practising / preparing for theseauditions. While the Roadshow doesn’t hit the “Road” until the last 2weeks of term 3 it takes time to prepare SO want to be in? Start yourpreparation NOW!

Last week we presented our first ever CHANNEL “K” stripes and certificates.
Channel “K” has been part of KIS for 10 years and the staff thoughtthat having this recognised would continue to promote it. EachSyndicate was asked to put forward the names of 4 students who theyfelt epitomised the spirit of Channel “K”. 20 students were thereforethe first but not the last to receive the stripe. We plan to have 3more rounds of Channel “K” presentations during the year.

The first in  the world to receive Channel “K” stripes were: Tawa -Antony C, Ruby T, Charl C, Mikaela L : Matai - Lauren T, Ashleigh D,Emily H, Selena L: Kowhai - Rosie Pr, Toni P-B, Flynn R, Saylor O’M:Nikau - Jade S, Irihaapeti TW, Sean C, Honehau C-H : Rimu - Hannah R,Te Rewa M, Troy D, Hannah T

This week we have 2 experiences that the students are involved in.
On Thursday afternoon the Minstrel Show will be held here at school.The Minstrel is an entertainer who performs to schools around NewZealand. While he also performs at Primary Schools his show forIntermediate students is different. The cost for this show is $2.00pert student.

On Friday we have the annual Winter Sports event at Kensington Park.All students take part in this with a combined school total in excessof 2000 students taking part in Netball, Rugby, Hockey, Basketball,Table Tennis, Rugby League, Soccer, Ripper Rugby. Notices have gone outabout this and we are looking for help with team management.
The cost for this day is $1.00.
The all up cost for both days is $3.00. Could this please be sent to your child’s class teacher by Thursday. Thanks

An event for Parents is happening this Thursday evening.
I have been advertising this event as an Annual General Meeting BUT it isn’t.
I was wrong!!
What it is is an invitation to parents to come along to Room 12  atKamo Intermediate this Thursday night 22nd May to hear the teachersresponsible for our E-Team talk about how our Enrichment, Enhancement,Extension Programmes work here at school for your child. The set up ofthis team is unique here in New Zealand.
REMEMBER  7.00pm in Room 12 here at Kamo Int.
The presentation will last about 45 minutes.

Payment reminder for Bus Students:

Bus payments are required to be paid to the office for Terms 1 and 2.
Once payments or part/payments are made a bus pass will be given toyour child. Bus drivers will be asking to site these. If you need tomake arrangements for paying off these fees, please contact Ms Kini @the office.

 

 

 
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
This Term has gone extremely well and I would like to thank the Parentsfor their support during the term. This support is much appreciated. Itis not only the camps  that we have had support for but the otherfacets that make up the busy life here at school. Later in thenewsletter I talk about  uniforms computer use and anger. These last 2items are separate issues or  not depending on your view .

 

 

Dear Parents and Caregivers
     We have had a successful couple of weeks. We held on to theWIS/KIS Shield in the Whangarei swimming competition. This is thesecond year running we have done this. Our record isn’t great in theswimming area. 1999, 2003 and now 2 years in a row. We are on a roll,not just in swimming but in the participation in other events AND theintense competition at lunchtime sports. Room 15 took out the finalagainst Room 6 and Room 10 won the plate competition over Room 7.
This week we are beginning the T-Ball competition just after the teachers beat the student in the scatterball challenge!!!!!!

Many of our students are high achievers and we like to recognise themHOWEVER we do need to know about them. If your child, or someone youknow, achieved something of note please let us know by contacting theteacher, Peter Nicholson or myself. Last week I was informed that AlanaA of Nikau B has been selected in the New Zealand Under 16 BMX team tocompete in Sydney against the Australian and United States teams andthen in Beijing just prior to the Olympics.
While most often the high achievers are sport related this does notnecessarily have to be so. We are interested in academic or culturalevents.

This week at assembly we are distributing the first of the 2008 Tauira Awards.
Tauira  - an example, someone to follow or model yourself on.
Teachers are asked to nominate children who, in their opinion, are worthy of this award.
At this stage of the year ONLY  YEAR  8 STUDENTS  may be nominated.   
The criteria for selection for the award are as follows:
(a)    not already be a holder of a Tauira Award.
(b)    have shown themselves to be conscientious and industrious; a reliable and consistent pupil.  
(c)    by nature of their attitude, effort, behaviour, dress, deportment and general participationin school life; have impressed as a worthwhile, co-operative anddependable pupil, bringing credit to themselves, their class and theschool. Teachers are asked to nominate up to 2  students for the award.

ABSENCES:  Many thanks to all parents who phone or e-mailabsences in daily.   This saves so much time at the office.  It is ourschool procedure to check on absent students and with up to at times 80students  absent.  We sincerely appreciate your phone calls as it makesour job much easier. e.g. today there are 41 absences / late students.

If your child is late to school for any reason, they should come to theoffice first for a late pass, as the class roll is marked between 8.40and 8.50am each morning.

Application forms for the term 2 positions will be going out to theclassrooms THIS Wednesday. The closing date is the last Friday of thisterm 18th April.     We had a huge response for term 1 and it iswonderful to see the talent in the school being developed.

1. Create a smooth takeoff each day. Get organised the night before. Tellyour children how proud you are of them. Your children’sself-confidence and sense of security will help them do well both inschool and in life. A positive, happy start is the best foundation forthe day at school.
2. Prepare for a happy reunion at the end of the day. Createpredictable rituals such as 10-20 minutes listening to your childrentalk about their day over an after-school snack. This is truly qualitytime when your children know your attention is focused on them and theycan count on you every day after school.
3. Fill your child’s lunch box with healthy snacks and lunches. Havedinner as a family, preferably round the table, at a reasonable hour.In the morning provide a healthy breakfast with whole grains, proteinand fruit. A well-balanced diet maximises your children’s learningpotential and helps them stay alert throughout the day.
4. Include peaceful times in your children’s afternoons and evenings.Maintain a schedule of regular bedtimes that allows them to go toschool rested, and if they are sick, have a system in place so they areable to stay home. Adolescent children need plenty of sleep for healthyphysical and mental development and success at school.
5. Remember it’s your children’s homework, not yours. Create ahomework space that’s clutter-free and quiet. Encourage editing anddouble-checking work, but allow your children to make mistakes, as it’sthe way teachers can gauge if they understand the material. It’s alsohow children learn responsibility for the quality of their work.
6. Fill your children’s lives with a love for learning by showing them your own curiosity, respecting their questions, and encouraging their efforts.
7. Fill your home with books to read, books simply to look at, and books that provide answers to life’s many questions. Public libraries are an excellent resource.
8. Be a partner with your child’s teacher. When you need tospeak to the teacher in reference to a specific issue with your child,do it privately, not in front of your child. Never criticise yourchild’s teacher in front of your child. Keep adult disagreements amongthe adults concerned.
9. Set up a system where routine items are easily located – such as backpacks, shoes, signed notices. Createa central calendar for upcoming events to make sure everyone isprepared. Boys in particular can benefit from learning how to organisethemselves.
10. Become involved in school activities.  Teachers appreciate the practical support of parents – and children whose parents are involved do better at school.

Have you any electric frying pans no longer needed because you have gota new one in the appliance sales? The nutrition room would be glad touse them or any other similar equipment you no longer wish to keep.Please contact Noelene Nisbet at school if you need any moreinformation.

As you will be aware the school donation for 2008 is $90.00 per child($22.50 per term) or $70.00 per child for those who have more than oneat this school ($17.50 per term ).
This fee is a donation but is tax deductible.               
The money is used by the BOT to subsidise school visiting performers,assist with the extra programmes in our extension and enrichment  room,develop and extend our cultural activities to give your child as manyopportunities as we can as they move through their pre-adolesent years.
There are compulsory materials fees for specialist programmes of $10.00per subject. Articles produced by the children in those programmesbecome their own property.
There is a 10% discount if these fees / donations are paid by the endof Term one. Please contact our office if you wish to make specialarrangements for payments.

Thanks to all those considerate people who stop at our school crossingin the afternernoons and enable our diligent patrollers to put theirsigns out on a very busy road. Your help is greatly appreciated andmake s the job much easier.
Noelene Nisbet

To help children and their parents develop skills and strategies toensure the safety and well being of children, St. John has developedthe Child safety Handbook.
It is free to Year 8 students and addresses the issues of safety in thehome, on the street, outdoors, at school, personal safety and drugawareness. Its aim is to help parents and caregivers understand issuessurrounding the safety of children and to help the children learn howto make their  own environment safe and accident free.

*  Old towels    * Spoons (table, desert or serving)
*  Polystyrene chips
Please send any contributions along to the art room.
thanks  Rhonda Phyn and Jo Nicholson. A.T.E.

Heritage Park Bike Show, Whangarei, 6 April 2008
Family Fun
A great day out for the whole family.
Drag bikes, road bikes, Harley's and vintage bikes will be on display as well as a few hot rods.
Fun rides for the kids – quad bike rides, train rides, bullock sled rides and tractor rides.
There will also be a fairy to entertain the small kids and a beer tent to quench Dad’s thirst.
Entry includes admission to the museum and kiwi house.
Admission for children is FREE.
 When: Sunday, 6 April 2008
Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Where: Whangarei Museum and Kiwi House, State Highway 14, Maunu, Whangarei,
 
Cost: Adult $12.00

Junior club nights at the Kamo Squash Club are Mondays 3.30 to 6.00pm for secondary and Intermediate age group.
Club nights for Primary and beginner Intermediate are on Thursdays 3.15 to 5.30 during terms 2 and 3.
Contact Jill 4355224  or e-mail turketo@igrin.co.nz for more information.

$60.00 Mtr.  $120 - 2 Mtrs.
Plus also starter wood $25.00 ute load
For every 2 mtrs. sold $5.00 goes to Kamo Int.
Phone Terry 9460078  /  0211346292

A few “thoughts” below as to how you can continue
to support your child’s learning. (courtesy of Principals’ Digest Volume 13, No 18).
*     Keep your expectations high but realistic.
*     Good behaviour and manners, a positive
attitude and conscientious work habits will help
most children do well at school and in life.
*    Reassure your children that they can’t be good at everything. Then give them the space to
discover and develop their own strengths.
*    Admire the achievements of other people’s
children without trying to make your children
emulate them – or feel inadequate if they can’t.
*    Avoid living vicariously though your children. Be proud of thembut resist the temptation to boast or to pull strings. Let yourchildren be
themselves, not the perfect child you wish you
had been yourself. You can’t relive your life
through them.
*     Discipline is vital but doesn’t just mean
punishment. Be consistent – that helps children develop self-control. Live according to the values you preach to them.
*     Stand back a step. Support, applaud, assist,
but don’t hover anxiously like a ‘helicopter’ parent. Parents don’t need to become over involved
to the point of obsession in their children’s academic or sporting performance.
*    Never be tempted into doing their schoolwork yourself.
*    Don’t damage their self-esteem by criticising their efforts toooften. Insecure adults, however successful, often had parents who were
controlling, competitive and judgemental.
*     Respect their individuality, especially those
characteristics that make your children different from you. Don’t reject them but support them.
*     Spend time together. Eat your evening meal together as often as possible. Involve your
children in as many rituals as possible – sports, visits to grandparents, birthday    celebrations, family get-togethers.
*     Appreciate your children as they are and for
who they are.

Each class has 2 school council members. On Thursday 17th April we willbe holding a leadership day for these students to help set them up forthe rest of the year. The class reps will be getting more informationlater this week.

Dear Parents and Caregivers,
     Our Year Seven students have settled extremely well into school this term. With 310  new students joining 300 Year 8 students there will be the occasional hiccup but this year we have had fewer than usual. The attitude of the Year 7s arriving at Kamo Int. has been very good and their acceptance of the expectations here has been the best we have had. The tone of the school and the attitude of the students is very positive and we are all working at being “Be The Best That We Can Be”.  “If It Is To Be It Is Up To Me.” and “Be The You You Want To Be”.  These are the messages that underpin the culture here at Kamo Intermediate and this year we have noticed a readiness for the new year sevens to hold onto this culture  and be part of KIS Community. Each year we are pleased with the readiness of the students to settle into the “routine” but as mentioned this appears to be the best yet. A good positive vibe out in the playground. This has been reflected in the camps that I , Peter and Rick have attended.

One of the facts that we have to deal with is the negative reaction that   comes from some people.  As I point out to the children often “being negative and putting people down is easy and to most people is the accepted norm”. This does not have to be so and I thank those of you that are supportive of our drive to be the “Best We Can Be.’ There will be some whoops! attacks along the way but we do try. Pleasing all 610 pupils, their attendant families and the staff makes for some  interesting times. It is great therefore when we are able to talk about the awesome camping experiences that we having this term. I would like to thank ALL concerned for the way they treated any disruptions as adventures and not as an opportunity to complain. Great attitude everyone.

Besides the camping experience other great things have happened here during the term. Lunchtime sports competitions in tug-of-war, scatterball,  beach to basin fun run/walk, Triathlon, netball and hockey trials, music tuition, cricket against WIS and probably some I have left out, as well as interesting classroom programmes. Next term it only gets better. There are some children that say they have nothing to do  and that is the nature of some people, however putting colour  into their life is easy here at Kamo Intermediate. Please encourage your child to do that.

Last week: Rooms 13 and 7 were out. Rm.13 at Ngunguru and Rm.7 at Whananaki. This week: Rm. 8 is at Lonsdale Park up by Matauri Bay  and next week - After Easter - Rm.3 will be at Tangihua, Rm9 at Lonsdale Park and Rm. 4 is off to Auckland, staying at Youth Town.

It will come as a huge surprise to you all that we do have students here at school who steal things. I know. I know. We have Channel “K”, we have our mantras, we have so many lovely students but we do mirror society and we do have students that will take what does not belong to them and when caught will have amazing stories about how they found it! How somebody put it in their bag!,  and it is a pure coincidence that it looks the same as the stolen one and that the phone numbers / songs are the same.
Because when your child brings these to school and leaves them in their bags or desks and they get stolen you expect us to spend time and be crime investigators and track them down and when we can’t you get annoyed at us when really you should talk to your child.
 Please, if you want your child to bring their cell phones to school have them hand them in for safe keeping. iPods and MP3 players are best not brought to school at all.

As all schools do, every year, we will be finishing this Thursday and beginning again on Wednesday 26th March. The term will end on Friday 18th April and reopen Monday 5th May.

In the newsletter of 18th February the following was put in.
Children at this age are growing fast, both physically and mentally. They need to have a regular balanced food intake. We are concerned at the lack of enough food a number of students have during the day. Teachers have reported this concern as they see children in their classes not having any lunch. Please make sure that your child has breakfast and something to eat at school during the day.
I know that not everybody reads the news letter and I know that those that do probably do send their child to school with adequate food HOWEVER I am repeating this in the hope that maybe those that don’t will send their child to school with food. We have yet to do a full school survey but I have had 12 instances that we know of, including one child ending up in the sickbay from lack of food, where children haven’t had breakfast or lunch. This is usually brought to our attention when we are investigating stolen food.

A display of work created at Kamo Int. Art  classes by , now, ex pupils has been set up in the Whangarei Library to highlight this “Hot” topic. Do call in and enjoy.

Dear Parents and Caregivers,
   Last week we began our camps programme with Room 10 at Mangawhai andRoom 18 at the farm, Punaruku. This week we have 7 classes out. Nikau(all 3 classes) at Coopers Beach, Room 2 – Lonsdale Park, Room 15 –Taurikura, Room 16 – Trounson Park and Room 17 – Matapouri. As wasmentioned in the last newsletter this is a big undertaking by allinvolved and we do it for the students. This time of year is a goodtime to build the foundations for the rest of the year and forge thoseclass relationships that make the rest of the year a positive one. Nextweek we have 2 classes going out, Room 7 to Whananaki and Room 13 toLonsdale. We use camps all over Northland and try to differentiatebetween places that have been before by primary schools and previousYear-7 classes. However it doesn’t matter if a student has been to thelocation before as the programme and the participants will bedifferent. All the skills developed in the primary schools come tofruition and are used at an Intermediate school camp.

Each term this year has got a particular focus that all the classeswill be centring their programmes around. These headings are theumbrella under which our Learning Areas, [Maths, English, Science,Social Sciences, Technology, Health and P.E, The Arts, LearningLanguages] Key Competencies, Values and Vision are co-ordinated to fitthe needs of the students here at Kamo Intermediate – Best Intermediatein the World!

TERM ONE Theme: My World and I
Focus Question: How do we reach our potential? Thinking about myself and my learning.
TERM TWO Theme: Moving My House
Focus Question: What factors could cause humans to colonise another planet?
TERM THREE Theme: Lean On Me   
Focus Question: Whom do we depend on to maintain and improve our quality of life?
TERM FOUR Theme: My Earth Responsibility
Focus Question: Can tomorrow’s children enjoy today’s living world?

The weather wasn’t all that kind but the day was still a success. Therewere 104 teams from schools around Whangarei. 58 of them were from KamoIntermediate. The other gratifying thing to see is the number ofex-students that enter from the secondary schools. Thanks to Mr.Nicholson and Mr Epskamp for the organising of such a great turnout.

Can all bus students who were given a bus data form to take home to becompleted by parents PLEASE RETURN THEM TO MISS KINI IN THE OFFICE. Ifwe do not receive this by Friday March 14th Multi Service have beeninstructed by the Ministry to assume your child travels 10 trips perweek and will be charged accordingly.

If you are calling the school to get a message to your child regardingpick up times and location, please do not leave this message on theanswer phone. This service is for you to leave details of your child’sabsence and only gets cleared a couple of times a day.

To avoid your child missing an important message, please speak directly to the ladies in the office. Thanks.

It is time to build on the basic protection by having your childimmunised against Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (11-yr-old vaccines).

All students will be given consent forms to take home with informationon this years immunisations. Please read these carefully and return theconsent form back as soon as possible. These forms need to be returnedwhether or not you choose to have your child immunised.

Immunisations will be taking place in Term 2 so all consent forms needto be returned before Thursday 3rd April in order to have the formsprocessed.

Please phone the Public Health Nurse 0800 746 044 option #4 if you have any questions Thanks – Julian Hindle (PHN)

There are a lot of cautionary tales about the use of the internet. Wedeal with some of the fall out fairly regularly where students areupset about what others have said / posted about them. Being aware ofwhat your child is accessing is a first line of defence.

Here are some surfing tips for students. Use this opportunity to have a talk about these to reinforce your own home rules.
•    NEVER give out your full name, address, phone number, school name or any other perennial information on the internet.
•    If someone sends an e-mail or anything else abusive or that makesyou uncomfortable, let your parents or teacher know. NEVER respond toit yourself.
•    DO NOT click on any links that are contained in e-mails fromanyone you don’t know. Such links could lead to inappropriate websitesor allow spewer to be installed.
•    DO NOT give out your internet passwords to anyone (even best friends), other than your parents or guardians.
•    Treat others on the internet the way you want to be treated. They are people NOT computers! – www.aolatschool.com

 

Dear Parents and Caregivers
     Wow! What a great couple of weeks since the last newsletter. It isvery pleasing to see the way that the students have settled into theirworking routines so well.  The uniforms look smart and the friendlystudents around the school make the tone of the school somethingspecial. Well done every body. It always seems a busy time at a schooland now is no exception Having the students here for the Monday andTuesday prior to Waitangi Day meant that we were able to begin ourfirst cycle of specialist classes on the first Thursday. The quickestthat we have ever been “up and running”.
      We are moving into a busy camp time with all classes planning andtaking part in Education Outside the Classroom (E.O.T.C.) The aim ofhaving these at this time of year is to set the rest of the year upsocially and to build relationships so that the children can makeoptimum use of the rest of the year.  The camps are a huge resourcewhich enables us  to help the children learn to develop life skillsoutside the classroom and enables the new students to build theirrelationships with the “old hands” in class. We are aware of thefinancial strain. If your child is not able to take part because offinancial reasons please get in touch and we can work something out sothat your child doesn’t miss out. Your child doesn’t need to know as wecan keep all arrangements strictly confidential.

Do you have some time available? Would you like to have some involvement with The Best INtermediate In THe World?

We are looking for volunteers (parents, caregivers, grandparents,whanau) to work with the E-Team who run our reading support programme -just one of the many “feathers” in the “cap” of the work that’s done inRoom 12. You would need to be available for about an hour, three timesa week, to work with individual students. Of course our exceptionalE-Team will teach you all you need to know to become a wonderfulreading tutor and you will be warmly welcomed as a member of the Team.

Please us a call at school if this sounds like you or you’d like more information. Phn. 4350343 o Room 12 direct 02102499852

Children at this age are growing fast, both physically and mentally.They need to have a regular balanced food intake. We are concerned atthe lack of enough food a number of students have during the day.Teachers have reported this concern as they see children in theirclasses not having any lunch. Please make sure that your child hasbreakfast and something to eat at school during the day.

The first individual interviews will be held on tomorrow and Wednesday Your child will have a notice with them for you to choose the time youwould like to attend.

I would like to congratulate the students for the way that they haveenthusiastically jioned in the tabloids over the past 2 Fridays. Pityabout the bit of rain that cut the rotations short last week. Themature and effective way the Yr. 8s organised and looked after theirteams showed that Channel “K” is alive and well.

Library Books.
We do not have a security system that ‘captures’ children that take abook out without it being registered. We rely on the honesty of theusers but we still had around 300 books taken last year. This is aconsiderable strain on the library budget. Should you have any of thesebooks at home please return, anonymously if necessary, to the libraryor office. Thanks

Mr Epskamp and Mr Nicholson have started looking at KIS hockey for thisseason.  It is necessary to start early with all children being away atschool camps at some stage during the period of organising teams. Sofar it looks like there will be four girls’ team and at least one boys’team. Coaches will be needed for some teams so if you know someone whocan help please get in touch with one of these teachers.

This is an open school. What this means is that we value contact withyou as Parents and Caregivers. You are always welcome here at school.If your child tells you that Parents aren’t allowed to attend a schoolevent you can be sure that it isn’t the “school” that doesn’t want youto attend.

If you want to visit and see how your child is getting on please do so.The only request that I have is for you to make an appointment with theTeacher if you want an in depth interview rather than a brief hellotype talk. An appointment will enable the teacher to be prepared andarrange not to be interrupted.

Some times information gets ‘twisted’ in the retelling. If you have anyqueries the best course of action is to ring the school. We appreciatethis as it often stops confusion and rumours.

We have many parents picking their children up from school . Hailes Rd.is not the best to do this in as those of you trying will know. Thereare two other exits that can be used. Croydon Place off Fisher Tce. andCowley Pl. off Carlton Cres.

Applications close on Wednesday 20th for these lessons. The students have been given notices at school.
First lessons begin this Friday.
Drums are booked out but their is room in Saxophone / Flute; Dance;Drama; Keyboard; Guitar:  Bass Guitar will be offered in Term 2.
Cost: $50.00 per term for lessons.

SUNDAY March 2nd All children have been given information about thisevent. Traditionally we have had huge attendance at this. Last Year wehad 53 teams - 265 participants. The school entries close for this onTHURSDAY  21st Feb. We will be placing our entries on Friday.

To enter through the school costs $4.80 each ($24.00 per team) After Friday it costs $8.80 per child and $17.00 per adult.

It is best to be in a team and we help children form teams. . As wellas giving the team member a chance to win a team prize it is alsocheaper. A team is 5 members - with a minimum of 4 children. (So anadult may be part of a team @ $24.00 per team.
Team members don’t have to actually run or walk together and they don’t have to do the same distance.

This is the first opportunity for a student to get a stripe as they are given out to those who enter in school teams.

SCHOOL  WEB SITE
Have you had the opportunity to visit our Web Site.
You will find more pictures and information about our school at:
www.kamoint.school.nz
the children that helped create this site would love you to visit and leave them a message - preferably of support.

KAMO JUNIOR RUGBY
Weigh In Wednesday 27th Feb. @ 6.00pm    JB 4, 5, &6 at the clubrooms Butler Place Kamo        Phn. 4350793

MARIST  JUNIOR  RUGBY
Rally for players on Thursday 28th February 3.30pm to 5.30pm at the Marist Clubrooms, Park Ave, Kensington
Peter 4346071 or 0274780932
Linda 4372530 or 021300532

GIRL  GUIDE  BISCUITS
These are for sale from 1st March
Plain $2.80; Choc. $3.00; Mini Choc. $3.00
Preorder by email, Free delivery
north_girlguides@yahoo.co.nz
or Phn. 4351141

JUNIOR GOLF @ NORTHLAND GOLF CLUB
2 free supervised introductory days.
Saturday 23rd. Feb. report time 2.00pm
All comers play a 9 hole Ambrose Tournament. Basic instruction on grip, course behaviour, etc.
Sunday 24th Feb. Report time 8.30am
Same format as Saturday.
This is a chance to try out the game before you decide whether to continue or not.
Phn. Bronnie  4351777 for further information.

STUDENT  GAZETTE
 We welcome the first edition of the 2008 Gazette. As we have done inthe last few years we have used a piece of writing done by CassieCrayford when she was here in 2002. Cassie has completed high schooland is starting University this year. However what she wrote 6 yearsago holds as true now as it did then.
The Gazette is put together by a team of editors under the guidance ofMrs. Sue Smith. The standard of their writing and, especially, theirediting skills will be evident as the year unfolds. Just one of themany opportunities available for the students here at KamoIntermediate  - the Best Intermediate in the World.
 TIPS FOR PARENTS - From Child Development Foundation
    *    Behaviour is learned and therefore new behaviour can be learned.
    *    Children behave the way they do to try to get their needsmet.  (It has likely proved effective in the past.)  Misbehaviour comesfrom neither a need for attention,  for power,  for revenge or from afeeling of inadequacy.
    *    A child’s behaviour cannot be viewed in isolation from thesetting in which it takes place.  It emerges as a response to thesetting.
    *    Try to catch children doing something right.  Positiveattention for positive behaviours brings around a lot of behaviouralchange.

    *    It is important that children realise anger is a normal human emotion.  It is healthy to express it as long as you:-  
 Don’t hurt people
Don’t hurt yourself
Don’t harm property

Just to make the Students happy I have decided to write sometrhing about a topic dear to their hearts
HOME WORK.
Students at this school are expected to have some homework to do afterschool on most days of the week. Homework is understood to be someschool work to be done at home with or without the assistance of theparents, depending on the nature of the task set.
The nature of homework ranges from reading, learning spelling and basicfacts, to homework sheets that contain a mixture of activities toresearch for in-class topic work.

Home work has four purposes, namely; preparation, practise, extension and creativity.

GETTING IT DONE.
*    It’s generally a mistake to ask “Have you got any homework?” Unless an assignment is due in the next morning,  the answer is likelyto be no,  regardless of the fact that a project is due by Wednesdayand there’s a test on Friday to study for.

*    With homework,  habit is everything.  Having a regular time setaside each evening for homework can reduce some resistance and increasefamily harmony.  “Instead of nagging,      use an alarm in theafternoon to indicate that it’s  time to do homework.  The alarmsignals that “the special hour is here,” advise Drs Cecil and FaithClark (of the US national     Learning Laboratory)  in their bookHassle -Free Homework.

*    Television can be a major obstacle.  Either children are rushingto get through their     assignments before their favourite programmestarts or they don’t want to start until it’s     over - by which timethey may be too tired to concentrate.  Cutting out TV altogether    during the week may meet with some resistance,  but it’s surprisinghow quickly children can     get used to the idea.  “Almost allchildren who we see with learning difficulty have a     TV in     theirbedroom,”  say Drs Clark.

*    Being organised  helps a lot.  Keep a stash of pens,  pencils, felts, rubbers, whiteout,  rulers, etc.  It’s amazing how much timechildren can waste searching for a rubber or ruler.  It’s also    useful to have good home reference material: dictionary,  atlas, encyclopaedia,  etc.  If children have a long-term project to do,  youneed to help them organise the work into             manageablechunks,  otherwise it often won’t be completed until the night before -usually     by you.

*    How much to help children with their homework is a moot point. Heavy parental input into the presentation of work seems to have becomethe norm for projects.  With ordinary homework,  helping children bydoing one or two examples is reasonable.  But it’s in no     one’slong-term interests for parents to complete a child’s homework,  sincethe teacher will assume that they understand the material and they willhave learnt nothing.

*    Motivation, of course is the real key.  “Often a child wants to dohomework,  but he     doesn’t want to do it just because ‘ it’s goodfor you’ or any other adult reasons.  Any     reason a child comes upwith is the right reason.  So the trick is to help him come up with    some reason,  no matter how ridiculous, “advises  Hassle-FreeHomework.  “
(from “Homework hell.  by  Noel O’hare. N.Z. Listener  June 2  2001 )