Walking School Bus

It is with great regret that I need to inform you that the Walking School Bus that meets every Tuesday and Thursday outside 8 Alec Craig Way, will not be continuing for 2012 - due to my commitment and responsibility in transporting our autistic son to Red Beach Special Care Motoura Unit by 8.45am each morning.

I am very much hoping that someone else would like to take over from my role as Co-Ordinator not only for this Bus Stop, but for the Gulf Harbour School Walking School Bus project in the future.

If you would like to find out more about this role, please contact me anytime, Gaylene Chambers, rangchambers@xtra.co.nz  Phone 424 8032 or 027 615 0783.

The walking school bus is a safe way for your children to get to school without the hassle of carparking or traffic congestion, plus they are getting exercise too.

Hibiscus Coast Writers

The Hibiscus Coast Writers (HCW) would like to congratulate all the Year 5 & 6 children who participated in the annual writing competition aimed at Hibiscus Coast primary schools.  43 children submitted over 100 pieces of writing.  20 Gulf Harbour School students are amongst the 35 successful authors whose work was selected for HCW’s 2011 publication, ‘Kids in Print’.  This is available for purchase from the HCW for $10.  Contact Tanya Gouws on writers@xtra.co.nz.  Info available on HCW website www.hibiscuscoastwriters.weebly.comhttp://hibiscuscoastwriters.weebly.com/.

                                                                                                               

The category winners were:-

Overall winner                  :  Alexandra Wood - Gulf Harbour School

Fiction winner                   :  Angus Wilson - Kingsway Primary School

Non-Fiction winner           :  Estelle Davidson - Whangaparaoa Primary School

Poetry winner                   :  Wendy-Joy Richardson - Red Beach School

Illustration winner            :  Isabella Miller - Kingsway Primary School

HCW would like to convey their thanks to parents and teachers for their support in nurturing and encouraging these young writers and artists.  There will be a 2012 writing / illustration competition aimed once again at the Year 5 & 6’s.  Details of this should be available mid to late Term 2. 

Gulf Harbour Village Markets

Gulf Harbour Village Markets every Sunday between 10.00am - 2.00pm in the Gulf Harbour Town Square.  Many new stalls this week including fresh produce, eggs, cheese, gourmet breads, mediterranean foods, mussel fritters, bacon butties, arts and crafts and so much more with over 50 stalls.  Santa will be back this week due to the high demand between 10.00 & 11.00am in his grotto offering free photos.

Gulf Harbour School's Website features in Interface Magazine!

Our new website has featured in an important educational magazine called 'Interface'. It is one that looks at current digital thinking in schools. Check it out!

WATERWISE @ Manly Beach Rooms 25 & 30

Thank you to all the parents and helpers that made our days down at Manly Beach so enjoyable! We had so much fun learning to sail and kayak, as well as the sand sculptures and beach play that we took part in too. 

We couldn’t have done it without you!

On Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd December we went down to one of our local beaches Big Manly for a waterwise focus of sailing and kayaking. I did sailing first and when my partner and me got out in the optimist (type of boat) we realised that we were pretty good at sailing!

We tacked our way up to the buoy in the distance more than ten times! Ittook us a while but we persevered.  My favourite part of sailing was using the tiller (which is like a steering wheel in a car), because I was really good at it. I nearly got hit by the boom as it was pretty gusty out there, I just had to make sure my partner warned me before taking.. It was so much fun!

Sailing can be quiet hard as it matters if the wind is strong or not. Both days had times where it was rather strong, and we had to make sure we sailed into the wind as it helped us not to capsize. Capsizing is when you tip the boat over and generally you fall out. Although if you get stuck there is always a pocket of air to breathe from.

It was such a fun two days, and was awesome doing this so close to home at one of our local beaches. I’ll definitely be wanting to do again sometime soon.

By Max

Room 30