COMING EVENTS

Tuesday 11 February Open Day 9am - 10.30am

Tuesday 11 February Class 10 Parent Meeting

Thursday 13 February Kindy New Parent Induction

18-21 February Class 10 Camp

Tuesday 18 February Class 9 Parent Meeting

Wednesday 19 February Class 5 Parent Meeting

Thursday 20 February Class 3 Parent Meeting

Tuesday 25 February Class 9 Parent Meeting

Tuesday 25 February Kindy Parent Evening

Wednesday 26 February Class 1 Parent Meeting

Wednesday 26 February Class 12 Play ‘Peer Gynt’

Thursday 27 February Class 12 Play ‘Peer Gynt’

FRIDAY FLYER 7 February 2020

Newsletter 2

Kia ora tatou

The first week of school is a time to

renew friendships and re-establish

rhythms and routines. This began with

our well-attended Pōwhiri where we

welcomed new students (including our

new Class 1) and staff into our family.

In the most recent issue of Waldorf Today is an article guiding

parents through the process of building a play loft. The article is

archived in an excellent website called screen free parenting.

More articles and a sign up can be found at https://

www.screenfreeparenting.com/

Next Tuesday we will host an Open Day tour at 9am starting in

the library. This is our only tour until August and so I encourage

any of you who have family or friends interested in the school

to consider joining us. On the same evening we will host the

class 10 parents evening, prior to camp, starting at 7pm.

Mark your diaries for our first class play of the year. On

Thursday 27th and Friday 28th February class 12 will be

performing Peter Gynt in the auditorium. More information in

this flyer and in the weeks to come.

For the second year running, a number of staff have attended

AUT to study for a post-graduate certificate in Steiner

education. Our congratulations go out to Adam Driver, Donna

Bainbridge, Michelle Mullany, Tanya Meek, Karen Affleck and

Andrea Gordine.

Finally, coronavirus remains on our radar. As per the

government advice, staff have now implemented either an

enhanced hand washing routine and/or hand sanitiser is

available throughout the school. My thanks to the families who

have indicated their travel plans included visits to or transit

through China and have chosen to keep their children at home

as requested.

Government advice states “Everybody should follow the

following basic principles to reduce the risk of getting an acute

respiratory infection or passing it on to others:

• regularly washing hands (for at least 20 seconds with warm

water and soap and dry thoroughly)

• covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze

• staying home if you are sick

• avoiding close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like

symptoms

• if you feel unwell you should avoid public gatherings and

events

• cleaning surfaces regularly (when infection is suspected).”

More information can be found on the Ministry website at

http://www.education.govt.nz/news/novel-coronavirus/

Terry Storer

Principal

EOTC BLANKET CONSENT FORM

At the beginning of every school year we need to update our

EOTC (Education outside of the Classroom) forms. This week we

sent home a Blanket Consent Form with your son/daughter and

we would appreciate you completing the form and sending it

back to your class teacher / kaitiaki by next week. The form is

also attached at the end of this Friday Flyer.

sufficient parking spaces to cater for them as it is (40 spaces,

but 75 staff members!)

When other people use the carpark, even just for a few

minutes, staff may be forced to look for street parking and risk

being late for classes or appointments. Please be respectful of

our car park constraints.

NEW 2.15PM FINISH FOR CLASSES 1-7 ON FRIDAYS

School finishes at 2.15pm each Friday for classes 1-7. Please

ensure your children are collected promptly as we are unable

to supervise children after 2.15pm.

CHILDREN AT SCHOOL AFTER HOURS

With the weather becoming warmer and the evenings getting

longer there has been an alarming increase in the numbers of

young students hanging around after school hours.

The school is responsible for all students on our grounds and

we do not have the means to supervise these young students

after hours.

We are also committed to honouring our undertakings to

minimise noise to neighbours.

Please ensure you collect your child on time and that they are

off site by 3.15 pm when duties finish.

CELL PHONES

Please be aware that students are not to use cell phones

during school hours.

If your child is unwell, the correct procedure is that the

student tells their teacher they are unwell; the teacher will

assess them and send them to the office. The first aid officer

will then assess and contact a parent/caregiver if required.

It is critical in the case of an emergency that all students are

accounted for and that the correct procedure is followed.

SCHOOL OFFICE HOURS

The school office hours are 8.00am to 3.00pm

Thank you for assisting us in our procedures.

PE UNIFORM

Students in classes 6 to 10 are required to have a PE uniform.

Notices will be going home soon, we need this signed and

returned before an order can be placed.

Students will be advised when samples are available for size

fittings. Until then a change of clothes for PE is recommended.

HOUSEKEEPING/SAFETY MATTERS

NEW SIGNING IN AND OUT PROCEDURE

We have a new sign in and out system at reception, students

will now sign in and out on a tablet which is located on the

reception desk.

If your child is late to school, please make sure they sign in at

the office. If you are taking your child off school grounds during

school hours they must be signed out from the office.

Class 1 - 4 caregivers MUST sign students in and out. Class 5 - 12

a note must be produced and students sign out at Reception.

VISITORS - EMERGENCY PROCEDURE

Every year at Michael Park School we are required to run

various drills for our emergency procedures. When running fire

drills or lockdown drills it is essential that we know who is

onsite so that they can be accounted for.

To this end it is a Health & Safety requirement of all visitors,

parents and itinerant teachers to sign the tablet in reception

when they come into school and sign out when they leave.

ABSENTEES AND MESSAGES BY EMAIL

If you are reporting an absentee or needing a message to get to

a teacher or a student. Please email

reception@michaelpark.school.nz. Please do not send to

admin@ or our personal emails.

Remember you can use School Links for reporting an absence at

www.school-links.org.nz or phone the absentee line 579 3083.

DROP OFF/PICK UP

When dropping children off in the morning please drive as far

around to the auditorium doors as possible. This lessens the

chance of waiting cars being backed up outside the gates

creating a safety hazard. Please drive in and out slowly to help

keep our tamariki safe.

Please do not park in the Bus Parking Area. If you park in that

space then the buses are unable to make the turn and block the

traffic behind them. Also, it allows a parking space for

emergency vehicles that may be needed.

A reminder also that for safety reasons we ask that parents and

students do not cross at the top by the busy main entrance

gate. Please walk around to the crossing.

CAR PARKING

A firm reminder that the staff car park is for staff and those

holding a disability card only. We have staff on varied schedules

coming and going throughout the day, and we do not have

WEETBIX KIDS TRYATHLON Central East Auckland

Pt England Reserve - Pt England

This Sunday - 9th February 2020

We have a small group of a dozen children participating this

weekend. If your child is also registered and would like to join

our school group to cheer each other on please find us in the

schools marquee area.

We will be in a pop up marquee, just look for the Michael Park

School flag.

Emily - 021371330

ROBOTICS COMPETITION TOMORROW

Michael Park School is hosting the Kiwibots VEX Robotics

competition this Saturday in the gym.

The MPS community are welcome to come and watch!

Competition starts at 10am and runs all day with a lunch break

from 12 to 12.45pm.

TE AO MĀORI

Nau mai hoki mai ki te kura, Ngā mihi nui mō te tau hōu

Welcome back to school, Happy New Year.

I am really excited for what we have in store this year in

regards to Te Ao Māori in our school. We had an amazing year

last year achieving many things Making our Matariki festivities

bigger and better and our annual Kapa haka being two major

highlights for me. Keep an eye out for festival committee

updates for details.

COMMUNITY KAPA HAKA

This was a success last year and will be continuing this year

every Tuesday starting next week 11th February at 6pm-7pm

in the whare.

This is for staff, whānau, community, and high school students

primarily but if you are attending your children are welcome to

join in with us as I know how hard it is to get babysitters. Nau

mai hāere mai.

SURVEY

To our Māori whānau please remember to fill in the google

forms survey before 3pm Friday 14th February. If you didn't

receive the email and identify as NZ Māori please email me on

andreag@michaelpark.school.nz and I will send you the link.

Ngā mihi nui o te wā

Andrea

HIGH SCHOOL NEWS

A very warm welcome (in more ways than one) to the new

High School academic year at Michael Park.

Here are a few reminders that I need to share with you to

support us all in terms of student and school wellbeing. Please

also refer to the Student Handbooks that students will bring

home.

Students leaving the school campus.

• Class 12 students are the only class that have the privilege

of leaving the school campus during the school day, and only

at lunchtime; they must sign out and in at Reception. High

School students in Classes 8 - 11 are to remain on-site during

the whole school day.

• All High School students wishing to leave during the school

day must have written parental consent handed into Reception

VACANCY AT MICHAEL PARK KINDY

Kindergarten Teacher - Full time, fixed term

Start Date: 16/03/2020, End Date: 12/03/2021 (Maternity

leave)

Our ideal applicant is creative, positive and collaborative.

Teacher registration and a commitment to working with our

philosophy is essential. The role is full time. Part time hours

are open for discussion. The position begins Mid-March

2020. Remuneration as per the ASCA http://ppta.org.nz/

collective-agreements/area-school-teachers-collective-

agreement-astca/

For further information please contact centre manager Karen

Affleck on 09 525 8996.

To apply, please complete this application form and send it

with your cover letter and CV

to admin@michaelpark.school.nz

Student handbook for details.

• Wearing a sun hat outside, for sun safety and modelling

this to younger students, is compulsory this term. Please

remind your young person to bring a sun hat and to use

sunscreen protection.

Student drivers

• If your young person wants to drive or ride a motor vehicle

to school, then they will need to see me for a blanket

permission form so that you as their parent or caregiver may

granted permission for them to use motor transport to and

from school and / or extra-curricular sporting or arts activities

for the current academic year only.

• For approved applicants, we also hold details of the

vehicle, the student’s licence, and so on. Students park off-site

and may not use the staff carpark or elsewhere on campus.

• The only circumstances in which the school will agree to

students driving other students is in situations where we have

written consent from the caregivers of the student driver and

the passenger.

• Student drivers to school events must provide the school

with a record of which passengers are travelling in their

vehicle. This can be cross-checked with permissions held on

file and discourages spontaneous decisions about carrying

student passengers.

• For school trips separate permission must be granted for

each trip as part of the trip application pack. Student drivers

on school trips – whether driving alone or transporting others

must be clearly noted on the trip application forms submitted

for approval.

Parent Meetings:

The Parent Meeting for Class 10 will be held by Ms Quick on

Tuesday 11th February.

The Parent Meeting for Class 9 will be held by Ms Valyashko

and Mr Mitchell on Tuesday 18th February.

The Parent Meeting for Class 8 will be held by Ms Barretto on

Tuesday 25th February.

This is the time to meet with your child’s kaitikai to scope out

the year ahead.

All meetings start at 7:00 p.m. and finish at 8:30 p.m. and are

held by the kaitiaki in their room.

Kaitiaki will be in touch with more details and will be

welcoming new families to the class Google group and other

ways of staying in touch!

Adam Driver

High School Deputy Principal

HIGH SCHOOL NEWS CONT...

on the day. They may sign out using the tablet in Reception and

then leave only after they have been seen at Reception by the

person staffing Reception, who may also make a verification

phone call. If students arrive at Reception and no staff member

is present, then they must ring the bell and wait to be seen.

• If a student becomes unwell during the day, then they are

referred to Reception by a teacher who provides a note. If

students have no note, then they will be sent back to class to

get one.

• Students caught breaking our rules regarding remaining on

Campus will have consequences to put matters right and I will

be in touch with parents and caregivers - we may need to meet.

The new school day

Students will go to their subject teacher for an 8:30 start to

their day. If they arrive at school after 8:30 a.m. they are late

and will need to sign in at Reception. It is vital that our High

School students are in period 1 no later than 8:30 so that they

do not miss valuable learning time.

Kaitiaki time is now 10:20 to 10:30. Break is 10:30 to 10:50.

Lunch is 12:40 to 1:30. School still finishes at 3 p.m.

Electronic devices

• No cell phones are to be visible or audible on campus,

anywhere and at any time - including before school starts and

ends.

• Ear buds, headphones, etc. for cell phones (and other

portable devices) not to be used or visible when on campus,

including before school starts and ends.

• Personal laptops for Class 11 and Class 12 are acceptable

for learning purposes; I will be clarifying this with those classes

soon.

• Class 10 students who want to bring a personal laptop are

to see me first. For students timetabled to do online learning,

for example, this may be desirable.

• Some students from Class 8 upwards may have laptops as

part of their Individual Education Plans.

• When in the classroom, students in Class 9 – 12 may

request to use their cell phones for strictly limited learning

purposes that I will share with you later. The teacher will decide

whether they may use their phone or not.

• Class 8 are not to use cell phones under any circumstances.

• Listening to music on a device with earphones is a privilege

restricted to Class 10 – 12 art students for when they are

working independently.

Dress code and sun safety

• Dress code will be reviewed this term, but at present the

existing expectations around dress remain. Please see the

Class 12 Presents

Peer Gynt

Have you ever dreamed of doing something great? Traveling to exotic places? Owning a multi-million-dollar

enterprise with the power to run the world? Having a story to tell? If you dare taste what life has to offer,

come immerse yourself in the highly imaginative world of Peter Gynt for a night.

In 1867, Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen composed Peer Gynt. From this, David Hare has drawn inspiration

and formed his new comical and contemporary script. Hare has spun a series of adventures that twist and

twine through the mundane and mystical worlds of the 21st century.

Forget about your worries and the dirty laundry that has been piling up, and lose yourself for an hour or two.

Dance with the king of the mountain trolls alongside Peter, have a deep conversation with the sphinx of Egypt,

crash a wedding, steal a bride and do it all within the comfort of the school auditorium.

Follow Peter on his quest to

create a legacy that will outlive

him through the stories that

reside with the people he

knew. Throughout his journey

he comes to the profound

realisation that what matters

does not always sit in your

bank account, and that the

value of life lies with the

people you love.

On the 26th and 27th of

February find us in the school

auditorium at 6pm for food

and drink and join us for the

play at 7pm.

Contact

raewynw@michaelpark.school.nz

for tickets, which are priced at

$15 for adults, $12 for

students and $40 for a family

of four.

Peer Gynt is recommended for

middle school and up.

Written by Ruby Legg

‘Creating the Future out of the Political and Social Challenges of our Time’

by Gerald Häfner

7.30pm Thursday 13th February, at Rudolf Steiner House, 104 Michaels Avenue, Ellerslie, Auckland

Gerald Haefner is the Leader of the Social Sciences Section in Dornach’s Goetheanum. He studied Waldorf education, was one of the founders of the Green Party in Germany and party Chairman in Bavaria, a MP in the Bundestag (German Parliament, 1987-90, 94-98, 2001-02) and a MEP in the European Parliament 2009 - 20014. He is also the co-founder of ‘Mehr Demokratie’ a successful grass roots organisation that started in Germany and has now spread all over the globe - and of other NGOs like “Petra-Kelly-Stiftung”, “Stiftung Aufarbeitung” and “Democracy International”.

Door charges: $20 A company is not a commodity

An excerpt out of a Newspaper: - 'Responsibility in ownership' should be easier to implement. More and more entrepreneurs are wanting to rethink property. Small and large companies, as well as start-ups, have drafted a bill for ‘Responsibility in Ownership’ with the participation of Gerald Häfner, head of the Social Sciences Section at the Goetheanum.

Talks and Workshops with Brian Keats

Stairway to Heaven 7.30pm Friday 21st February, Titirangi Rudolf Steiner School Hall, 5 Helios Place, Titirangi

The beginnings of a journey to rediscover the relationship between the earth and the stars and to sense the beings active

behind everything. Suggested donation: $20

The Human Being, the Cosmos, and the Compost Heap 9 am to 1 pm Saturday 22nd February, Titirangi Rudolf Steiner School Hall, 5 Helios Place, Titirangi

It is said that the human being is a microcosm of the whole universe. If we live into that truth then for any question we may

have of the outer world, there will be an answer inherent in the innate wisdom scribed into the human being. Can we look

at the human being to understand our farm ……. or even the compost heap? Suggested donation: $30

Pythagoras in the Light of the Times of Archangel Michael 3 – 5 pm, Saturday 22nd February, Rudolf Steiner House, 104 Michaels Ave, Ellerslie, Auckland Biographies of the great

pioneers give us an understanding of the unfolding of world evolution. Through the lives of Pythagoras and Hypatia, this talk

will give insight into the beginning and end of an extraordinary era in world history. Admission $20

Evolving Models of the Solar System: From Ptolemy to Steiner 7.30 pm Friday 28th February, Rudolf Steiner House, 104 Michaels Ave, Ellerslie, Auckland Admission $20

Weather Forecasting 9 am to 1 pm Saturday 29th February, Titirangi Rudolf Steiner School Hall, 5 Helios

Place, Titirangi Anthropocene is the new geological era we have entered and is an

appropriate name for it given that human activities have had, still have, and will have

a significant impact on the global environment. Are there any other factors we need

to consider when trying to gauge the future of the Earth and humanity? A bigger

picture can give us an empowering context to right actions. Suggested donation: $30

Brian Keats grew up in Zimbabwe and after leaving Africa travelled extensively. He

arrived in Australia in 1976 and has been compiling and producing the annual

“ANTIPODEAN ASTRO CALENDAR” since 1985. He is a founding member of Biodynamic

Agriculture Australia, has given talks and workshops around the world and taught at

Steiner/Waldorf Schools. His interests range from Pythagoras to weather forecasting

with specialist areas in naked eye astronomy and the science of the spirit.

Come and visit our beautiful school shop, You will find Snapdragon in next to the whare at top left of the turning circle.

Open every Friday 8.15-9 am 1:30-2:30 pm

All proceeds go to our school. Snapdragon is a parent-run fundraising initiative.

Come and shop with us to support our school!

MPS FUTSAL

Futsal training is open to all levels, regardless of whether you're a

seasoned pro or just keen to give it a go for the first time. Most of our players are

from classes 2 to 7.

Trainings are run by professional coach, Leandro, from Brasil.

Registrations are now open for our term 1 programme!

When: Tuesdays 3:15 to 4:15pm

Where: MPS Gym

Cost $65 per term

Term 1 Dates: 11 Feb - 31 Mar 2020 (8 sessions)

To secure your spot for Term 1, please contact João Machado (Mikah and Mateo's father, Class 5) on machado-nz@outlook.com or mobile 0272 950 386.

Hi I’m Joslyn. I am a parent at MPS. I am pleased to have the opportunity to introduce you to one of my passions. A number of years ago my 4 children and I started our journey with Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BCST) which has enabled us to heal deeply, resulting in lasting improvements and resolution of both mind and physical issues. This inspired me to train as a Therapist myself, which has given me an even greater appreciation of the benefits and limitless possibilities of BCST.

BCST is a unique body therapy that uses the intelligent wisdom of one’s own body to remove “blockages” and facilitate greater vitality, health and wellbeing from the inside out.

BCST is natural, extremely gentle, non invasive and safe for all ages and stages of life including pregnant women, babies, children and the elderly. BCST has the potential to greatly improve / resolve both acute and chronic issues of the mind and body.

For more information please visit www.body-wisdom.nz

To book a session with me, phone or text Joslyn at 021 466722

or email me: joslyn@body-wisdom.nz

My clinic room is close to MPS, if you would like to book a time for a free chat to discuss how BCST can support yourself or a loved one, please contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.