25th March 2021 - Richmond School
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25th March 2021
From the Tumuaki desk this week …
SENIOR SYNDICATE CAMPS
All senior classes have held camps at Pinedale,
Canvastown during Term 1. It is a superb
location. We take children on camp for a
number of reasons – personal development,
social development, physical development and
academic development. Yes, they are there to
learn. It is always terrific to see all the children
enjoying camping, and seeing them achieve
many personal goals and learn so much. Then the learning about the unit of work
continues back at school for a number of weeks.
One of the best outcomes is how the classes gel together into a co-operative, supportive unit. Developing a class culture
was successfully promoted and established on all camps. We also managed to have three teachers who have never been to
Pinedale, attend camps to learn about the camp site and how to take a camp there in the ‘Richmond School way’.
The focus of the camps was on GOLD and EARLY NELSON/MARLBOROUGH. The children receive many varied experiences
such as viewing the historical mural in the Canvastown hall, a tramp to Deep Creek
(where the majority of the 60 million dollars of gold – in
today’s $$$ was found in the 1860s), visited the Deep
Creek cemetery, they panned for gold, they walked
through tunnels and trail races, they looked at ‘problem’
plants, seed dispersal, studied native and exotic plants,
they completed an orienteering course and the majority
managed to abseil.
I would like to thank all the ‘camp parents’. They were absolutely fantastic. They all ‘mucked in’ helping with the tasks and
with humour! They all seemed to enjoy camp and helped make sure the children did too. We were also very fortunate to
have the use of covered trailers owned by Brent Palmer - ex-Board chair and Tall Poppy real estate agent and one from
Bayleys Realty (courtesy of parent Anthony Carppe). Other parents also supplied trailers and took transport. A very big
‘THANK-YOU’ to you all.
14 Cambridge Street Phone: (03) 544 8959 http://www.richmondprimary.school.nz
Richmond, Nelson 7020 Absence Text: 021 135 7891
The Whenua-iti abseiling instructors told me how many schools struggle to get parent help. They
spoke highly of our parents. I have been in communication with a number of principals from
other schools and they have indicated they have or will be scaling back camps to every second
year due to issues getting enough parent help and funding issues. We certainly struggled to get
enough parents to assist on some of the senior camps due to
parents working or if a parent went on camp then their spouses had
to take time off work to look after the rest of the family members.
Certainly trying times for people. The same for teachers and their
own family situations. Other principals indicated the cost of camps
can be a major barrier for some families and we have noted this is
an issue for us this year.
Parents will be aware that our school ‘opted-in’ to the government’s
‘Opt-in donation’ scheme for Decile 1 – 7 schools. The government
supports us financially with $150 per child. This is used by the school
to pay for the cost of swimming at the Aquatic Centre during Term 3, field trips and other school
activities which we would have ask parents to contribute a sum of money in the past. We are only
allowed to seek a donation from parents if camps include overnight stays. Last year 57% of the
parents of senior syndicate children paid the suggested camp donation. 40% of parents of Middle
syndicate pupils did so in 2020. This year the percentage of parents paying the suggested camp
donation has been 32%. We can appreciate the reasons why this significant reduction has
occurred. We now need to consider our options for future
years. These include not opting into the government’s ‘Opt-in donation’ scheme or
only holding camps every second year. We are interested in parents’ views about our
future planning regarding this. Please could parents fill out the tear-off below and
return to the office in an envelope marked ‘CONFIDENTIAL’ AND Attention ‘Tim
Brenton’. These comments can be anonymous if you wish. Many thanks.
TEAR-OFF
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After reading the 25th March 2021 newsletter and the statement about camps here are my views about future planning of
camps and the school opting into the government’s ‘Opt-in donation’ scheme in the future:
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LIBRARY NEWS
Last week we were really lucky to have a delivery of 6 beanbags. They
are a great addition to the library and being well used already.
Every week our Librarian Jane Mitchell, puts new
books out for the children to read. Next week the
latest David Walliams book, Code Name Bananas
will be on shelf. Lochie Wright has already read the
book and did a book review. He gave it a 10/10.
If you still wish to donate
an Easter raffle item, please
do so by Monday, as the
prizes will be made up that
evening.
Tickets are due in by
Tuesday, so please return
any money and sold tickets
as soon as possible.
More tickets are available
if you wish.
Prizes drawn on
Wednesday, in time to
consume over Easter.
Many thanks for your
support.
EASTER HOLIDAY
School is shut Friday 2nd April until Tuesday 6th April.
Back to school on Wednesday 7th.
SWIMMING POOL
The pool is shut for the season.
Please return all keys to the office.
Our neighbours on Oxford Street, Richmond Pre-School, have asked for school parents to please NOT park in
their pick-up/drop-off spaces outside their gate. These are 5-minute parks, designed for pre-school parents,
not school parents.
Please respect our neighbouring businesses, and only park in the correct parks, for the correct time.
DISCLAIMER These are notices we include on request of organisations and individuals.
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