News
TRIATHLON 14 March
On Thursday 14 March we will be holding our school triathlon for Years 3-8 students.
Please talk to your child about whether they wish to enter as an individual or part of a team (or both). Any students who choose to participate in this event must ensure they have the correct gear to compete safely. It is a good idea to check bikes thoroughly before the day to ensure they are safe. Please note that cyclists must have a helmet, shirt and shoes. We need parent helpers to volunteer as marshalls on the road. Your job will be to ensure students are safe and cycling in the right direction. If you would like to put your name forward, please email abby.piercy@bellblock.school.nz
Triathlon Team Events
10:00am Years 3/4
10:40am Years 5/6
11:20am Years 7/8
Triathlon Individual Events
1:00pm Year 3 boys and girls
1:10pm Year 4 boys and girls
1:20pm Year 5 boys and girls
1:30pm Year 6 boys and girls
1:40pm Year 7 boys and girls
1:50pm Year 8 boys and girls
Distances
Years 3/4 25m (1 length) swim 2km (1 lap) bike ride 1.5km run
Years 5/6 75m (3 lengths) swim 4km (2 laps) bike ride 3.0km run
Years 7/8 125m (5 lengths) swim 6km (3 laps) bike ride 4.5km run
SWIMMING SPORTS 6-7 March
During Week 6 we have our first major school sports event for the year – Swimming Sports.
We expect all students to take part either in the participation events or the finals as they earn points for their whānau with every event they participate in. Students and staff will be dressed up in their whānau colours showing their whānau spirit. It is always a great day of students giving things a go and ends with the hotly contested class, whānau and Staff vs Students relay. All our families are invited to come along to support the students in action at the Junior event on Wednesday and the rest of the school on Thursday. Please know it can get very loud, particularly in the Thursday afternoon session!
Wednesday 6 March – Junior Swimming Sports (Outdoor Pool)
11:30 Years 1-2 Participation Events
Thursday 7 March – Years 3-8 Swimming Sports (Indoor Pool)
11:30am Years 3-4 Width Participation Events
Years 3-4 25m Participation Freestyle, 25m Participation Backstroke followed by finals
12:15pm Years 5-6 25m Freestyle, 25m Backstroke, 25m Breaststroke, 75m 3 Stroke Medley
1:15pm Years 7-8 25m Freestyle, 25m Backstroke, 25m Breaststroke, 50m Freestyle, 75m 3 Stroke Medley
2:00pm Relays
Preliminary heats to determine the finalists have been recorded during class time. The heats swum on Swimming Sports day are participation events only.
OUT OF ZONE ENROLMENT APPLICATIONS 2024
The Board invites applications from parents who wish to enrol their children at Bell Block School for next year.
Enrolment at the school is governed by an enrolment scheme, details of which are available from the school office.
To apply for a place for your child please download an enrolment form from the Enrolments page of our website and provide your child’s birth certificate and immunisation record to the school office. Enrolment packs are also available from the school office.
Applications for out of zone enrolments for 2024 must be received by 3:30pm on Wednesday 11 October 2023 (please see the timeline below for further information). Parents of students who live within the home zone should also apply by this date to assist the school to plan appropriately for next year. Please note that children with siblings currently enrolled who live outside of the school zone must apply as an out of zone student.
The exact number of places available will depend on the number of applications received from students who live within the school’s home zone.
If the number of out of zone applications exceeds the number of places available, students will be selected by ballot. If a ballot is required it will be held on 12 October 2023. Parents will be informed of the outcome of the ballot within three school days of the ballot being held.
An Open Morning is scheduled for Thursday 14 September from 9am – 10am for families and children who are interested in seeing what our school has to offer. Please sign in at the office and meet in the staffroom. No reservations required.
Should you have any questions regarding enrolments, please contact Kim Thomas in the office on 06 755 0838 or email office@bellblock.school.nz.
LET’S GO SCOOTER/CYCLE SKILLS TRAINING
We have enjoyed hosting the NPDC led Scooter/Cycle Skills training sessions at school during Term 3. The Junior and Middle Team students took part in scooter skills and the Senior and Intermediate Team students took part in cycle skills.
Although the weather hasn’t always played its part, it was great to see the Intermediate students growing in confidence while completing the Grade 1 training before taking on the Grade 2 training. There has been a noticeable increase in students biking and scootering to school over the past few weeks which is very positive.
Thank you to Mrs Piercy who has co-ordinated this opportunity with the Let’s Go team.
YUMMY APPLE STICKERS FOR NEW SPORTS GEAR
You can support the school to receive FREE sports gear by collecting stickers from individual Yummy apples or bags of Yummy apples.
Collect your Yummy stickers during Term 2 and Term 3 and place the Yummy stickers on Sticker Collection Sheets and the cut-out labels on Cut-Out Label Collection Sheets (available to download from the school app, collect from the school office or see below).
Yummy apples can be purchased from your local New World, Pak’n Save and participating Four Square stores. You can collect either individual apples with Yummy stickers or bags with cut-out labels. One cut-out label is worth 10 apple stickers.
Hand in completed sticker sheets to the school office before the end of Term 3.
Your Yummy stickers will then be converted into FREE sports gear for the school! The more support we have, the more sports gear we can receive for all to enjoy!
ANZAC ASSEMBLY 2023
BELL BLOCK SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS
Parent & Staff Elections Results Declaration
Parent representative votes:
Hunter, Nicola | 42 |
Korff, Stephanie | 66 |
Lee, Matthew | 77 |
Paris, Rebecca | 82 |
Pignéguy, Michelle | 42 |
Stephens, Nicky | 101 |
Stretton, Kevin | 111 |
Walden, Paul | 99 |
Invalid Votes | 0 |
I hereby declare the following duly elected:
- Lee, Matthew
- Paris, Rebecca
- Stephens, Nicky
- Stretton, Kevin
- Walden, Paul
Staff representative votes:
Hill, Danielle | 8 |
Thomas, Kim | 12 |
Invalid Votes | 0 |
I hereby declare Kim Thomas duly elected.
Signed
Gayle Davis
Returning Officer
ICAS INTERNATIONAL EXAM OPPORTUNITIES
Each year, we offer the opportunity for our Year 3-8 students to take part in the ICAS International test series. This programme is run by the University of New South Wales in Australia and consists of separate exams in Digital Technologies, Science, Writing, Spelling, English and Mathematics in August and September. This year exams are online. Because of this, we won’t be able to run the practice tests as we have in the past. There are practice tests available online which we strongly encourage all participants to have a go at in preparation for the exam day. Learn more about ICAS here: https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas.
These tests are quite challenging and suitable for children achieving above the expected level. They are not compulsory and are often chosen by parents and children as a learning extension challenge. All entrants receive a breakdown of their results as well as a certificate. There is a cost to parents for each exam. The costs and dates of tests are outlined below. There are online preparation tips and tests, which students can try at http://www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/icas/preparatio
Subject | Test Date | Cost |
Digital Technologies | Tuesday 9 August at 9:30am | $20.70 |
Writing | Thursday 11 August at 9:30am | $27.03 |
English | Tuesday 16 August at 9:30am | $20.70 |
Science | Tuesday 23 August at 9:30am | $20.70 |
Spelling Bee | Thursday 25 August at 9:30am | $20.70 |
Mathematics | Thursday 1 September at 9:30am | $20.70 |
To enter, simply visit the Parent Payment Portal (PPP). Through this system parents can pay for ICAS directly online. Simply go to the portal at https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps and enter the access code ABZ264 (by 1 August).