Notices/Permission Forms

Room 2 and 19 TRIP TO BOTANICAL GARDENS

As you may know, Room 2 and 19 entered a competition painting a beehive. We won! The prize includes a trip to Discovery Pavilion at the Botanical gardens.

On Wednesday the 6th of December, Room 2 and 19 will take a bus to the Botanical gardens and learn about bees. We will be leaving school at 9.10am and returning by 1pm.

There is no cost involved.

Please complete this google form by the 1st of December 2023.

Summerfest Group Performance 30 November

Your child is performing as part of a group at Summerfest which is being held at Rangikura School on Thursday, 30th November.  The performance group will be transported there via bus. Students need to be at school by 8:45am; the bus will be leaving shortly after that and children will return to school by 3pm.

Tamariki need to bring a packed lunch, a full water bottle, a warm hoodie, a sunhat and their school bag. We ask that they leave cellphones at home please. While there will be food trucks at this event, we ask that students don't bring money with them because it it difficult for staff/parents to manage and keep track of them. 

There is no cost to attend this event, bus charges are being funded by a grant from the Ministry of Education. 

We need at least 5 parents to attend this trip and to assist with the supervision throughout the day. We ask that parent helpers meet us at school and then follow the bus to Rangikura as we have limited space on the bus.  Carpooling will be ideal as parking will be limited.  Parent spectators are welcome; Discovery School is expected to be on stage at approximately 12:15pm. 

Can you please check with your child/ren if you are unsure who is in this group (they have been practicing for a while now).

Please complete this form by 9am Friday 24th November.

Camp Makahika - Monday, 19th February to Thursday, 22nd February 2024 (four days)
Activities: The camp focus is primarily one of enhancing personal relationships through the challenge of age-related activities and living co-operatively together.

The activities include; high ropes, high beam and caterpillar (height based activities), confidence course, flying fox, tramping, overnight stay in the bush, building bivouacs, lighting fires, river crossings, river swimming, adventure based learning activities and orienteering.

Camp Makahika’s vision is to “Provide 'children and young adults' with the opportunity to 'challenge themselves mentally and physically' in an environment that is safe, fun and based on 'consequence of action'.”

Transport: Students will travel to and from Camp Makahika by bus.  They need to meet at Discovery school at the bus stop at 7:45am on Monday, 19th February with their gear ready to board the bus - which will depart at 8am. Camp begins at 10am.

Upon returning to school at approximately 3pm on Thursday, students will be released from school upon sight of their parent or caregiver.  If your child is being picked up by another adult or going to After School Care, please notify the school in writing prior to the camp. Please note that there is no cellphone / internet reception at the camp, so teachers won’t receive emails during the week.

Camp Charges: Unfortunately, due to rising food and instructor costs, the camp director at Makahika has had to raise the cost of camps. We are very grateful to the DSPTA who have contributed significant funds to reduce the overall costs per student.  As you know, Exploration teachers have already held a Wacky Hair day and we anticipate further funds will be received next Friday at our Bake Sale fundraiser.

The remaining charge of $380 is due before your child goes on camp, by Friday, 9th February. This donation includes; bus transportation, accommodation, food and activity costs. Note that we completed a survey earlier in the year seeking confirmation from parents they are willing to pay the donation towards camp. A digital receipt will be issued upon payment and each family can claim back 33.33% as a tax rebate through the Inland Revenue Department.

You are welcome to begin making payments towards camp this year so that the full amount is paid by the 9th February. 

Because of continuing increases in camp costs, we have made the decision that from now on, children at Discovery School will only attend one camp in year 5/6 and ONE camp in year 7/8. In previous years, tamariki have gone on camp each year in the senior syndicate. Therefore, if your child is in year 7 in 2024, this will be their only camp during their intermediate years. This is in line with many other New Zealand schools. 

Consent forms:  Please fill in the attached Consent and Medical Information forms by Friday, 10th November. These forms are a legal requirement for children going to camp, and are essential for attending to personal needs as they arise. If there are any changes over the summer break, please let your child’s teacher know early next term.

A full list of clothing/gear will be sent home soon.

Using guidelines from the Ministry of Education, a contract has been established which all children will need to read carefully and sign prior to camp. This will be shared in classes early next year. Please note the following:

“I understand that my parents/caregivers will be contacted and I may be sent home at their expense if;

My actions are considered unacceptable by staff and / or my actions put me or others in any danger.”    

Lunch:  Children must bring a packed morning tea and lunch for the first day of camp.  Please also ensure your child has a drink bottle.

Raincoats:  WATERPROOF Raincoats/Rainproof jackets are an essential item for camp – without one, your child may not be able to participate in an activity. We continue with all activities in the event of wet weather, unless it is too dangerous to do so.

Home baking: We ask that each child provides an ice-cream container of home baking (please, no cakes that are difficult to distribute or may melt). This baking is an important addition for meeting the energy needs of the children and is used to supplement morning and afternoon teas.  Please remember that we are a nut free school.

Camp Contact Details:   Sally Duxfield, Makahika Outdoor Centre, PO Box 1032, Levin www.makahika.co.nz, ph. (06) 368-9347

Communication: As all telephone calls have to go via the owners’ residence, only emergency calls are expected. In the event that you need to contact your child in an emergency only, ring Makahika Camp (06) 368-9347.

FYI in case of emergency - The Centre is located between Palmerston North and Wellington, right in the foothills of the Tararua Ranges, only 12 minutes from the centre of Levin.  Travelling north, you take the SH57 Levin bypass (to Shannon); there is a Makahika Centre signpost pointing the way to our address in Gladstone Road (once on Gladstone Road, continue onto the loose metal road for 700 metres – don’t turn up Makahika Road).

Parent Help: We are able to take 3 parents per class on camp with us. If you are keen/able to help for the duration of the camp, please note this on the attached Google Form. Once class lists have been finalised, we will be able to confirm parent helpers. All parent helpers will be required to fill out a police vetting form. There will be a camp helpers’ meeting early next year to discuss camp roles and expectations.

Note that parent helpers need to be physically able to assist on this camp. i.e. we complete a 6 hour tramp on one of the days. 

Please also be aware that the Year 5&6 camp to El Rancho is happening in the same week as the year 7&8 one. 

Here is the Google Form for you to fill out.

Important - Emergency Contacts/Medical Information - Action required

Can you please check that your emergency contact details are correct and up to date. You do this by opening the Musac edge app or portal, see instructions below.

Also please check that your child/rens doctor and any medical details are correct (to check information on your child you go into REPORTS on your phone and STUDENTS REPORTS from computer to download the info).

If you haven't yet downloaded the Edge App or Edge parent-caregiver portal please click here for instructions.

Please note in an emergency your child/ren will only be released to legal guardians or those people listed as your emergency contacts.

NOTE:

If you have any changes to your contact details please email changes to contactupdates@discovery.school.nz

If you need to update your child/rens medical forms please email contactupdates@discovery.school.nz and request a new medical form.

Thank you for checking your details.