The Dargaville Primary School Newsletter is sent home most Wednesdays. The online version is usually posted on the same day. If you would like a paper copy please call in at the Dargaville Primary School Office, Portland St, Dargaville.

Wednesday, 28 July 2004

COMING EVENTS
28th July—PTA Meeting
20th August—Sports Challenge
6th September—DPS Cross Country
DPS NEWS

DPS NETBALL
Draw for Saturday 31st July
High School Courts
Tasmanian Devils—9am—Court 6
Flames— 9am—Court 5
Intermediate Courts
BNE—9am—Court 4
Waves—9am—Court 2
Pink Panthers—9.50am—Court 1
Bluebirds—9.50am—Court 1

LIBRARY
Lucky book orders close 3rd August
BIBLE
Bible on Thursday from 12 —12.30pm in the school hall for the Senior Syndicate..

FAREWELL
It is with great sadness we have to say farewell to Mr Smith who has been at the school for 18 years. We wish him all the best. Friends and family of the school are invited to an afternoon tea on Monday 2nd August, 3.30pm in the staffroom for Mr Smith’s farewell.

MENINGITIS
NZ has one of the highest rates of group b meningococcal disease in the developed world.
It is a disease that can be difficult to distinguish from other illness but can kill or permanently disable a previously healthy child in a matter of hours or days.
The Ministry of Health has advised that the vaccine to give protection from the most common strain of meningococcal disease in New Zealand has been approved and licensed.
An immunisation programme has begun in Counties Manukau and some eastern suburbs of Auckland this month. The vaccine will gradually become available throughout the country with other schools likely to begin vaccinations in early to mid 2005.
The vaccine is free to all 0-19 year olds.
Once the vaccine is available in our area, public health nurses will visit our school and distribute consent forms that parents need to sign before their child can be vaccinated.
More information will be supplied at that time.
The vaccine is free to all 0-19 year olds. School students are to be vaccinated in schools, and under fives and young people who have left school, will be vaccinated by their doctor or practice nurse.
The Public Health Nurse has advised that no date has been set for this yet, but they think it will be possibly start in Northern Wairoa in March.
They advised that there is a definite time frame in which these must be done. This means that the series of three injections must take place at certain times. If this is not done within the timeframe the vaccine will be ineffective. Also all three vaccinations must be administered. Children can only be vaccinated if they are well, as it does not work on sick children. Your consent will be required before any vaccinations can be done. We have had no information sent to us yet, but we will keep you advised.

MAINLAND CHEESE STICKERS
Please send your Hoiho Penguin stickers to Room 16 to assist them in winning a trip to Dunedin.

OTHER NEWS AND EVENTS.

MOBILE EAR SPECIALIST CLINIC
The clinic will be outside Woolworths on the 16th August from 9.00am to 3pm. No appointment necessary just call in for all glue ear assessments, treatment of discharging ears, grommet checks, wax and foreign body removal.

TELECOM SCHOOL CONNECTION
Your support for this over the years has seen a massive $39,200 come the school’s way. We have used this to set up our networking system, allowing use of computers in all of our classrooms. We have also used this to purchase new computers and other IT equipment. We are currently in the process of setting up a new server for the school, and an intranet that will allow children to go on line. The Intranet is a form of internet, whereby we can select and restrict certain sites, allowing for safe internet use for your children. We have also just installed Jetstream.
Recently we sent home more Telecom Connection forms, thank you for your terrific response to this. We are again sending forms home, asking that you pass these on to your extended families, ie, grandparents, aunts, uncles even your neighbors. Your child will receive a free pencil for every new person that signs up.

From the Board Meeting
Sourcing bi-lingual signs for school
Meningitis immunisations – coming to NW – tentatively set for March (see further information in the newsletter)
Mr Schwamm is in hospital recovering from an operation. Mrs Russell and Mrs Matheson are sharing his classroom duties until his return. (possibly another 2 weeks)
Parent helpers needed for putting math’s resources together
NZEI meeting re: teacher salary round. Their concerns are workload, qualifications recognition and student loans for Beginning Teachers. Board will write to NZEI and STA to support them.
ACC workshops attended by Board members.
Greg Smiths (DP) resignation regretfully accepted.
Alicia Whata appointed acting DP – will remain teaching in R16
Janice McLean appointed acting AP.
Seeking applicants for DP position.
Whanau Support Group Meeting – from their minutes
Treaty of Waitangi staff development workshops to take place possibly next year.
Seeking notice board to display children’s work.
Minutes are available at office – also to be displayed on website at a later date.

WAREHOUSE COMPETITION
When Dargaville’s own Warehouse opened they ran a competition to draw the Red Shed. You may have seen these on display. Prizes of $50.00 vouchers were available to winning entrants. They found it too difficult to choose winners so one voucher was awarded per school.

Dargaville Primary School 2005 School Newsletters:

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