Principal's Blog - Mid T3 2017

Olly with his Grandparents & Greatgrandfather on Grandparents Day @ RVS

Hello RVS Community
I apologise for the lack of blogging lately, a busy term indeed.  I thought I’d make up for it today…  
There are so many good things happening as I make my way around the school, both in and out of classes.  As we near the end of T3, we can reflect on a term full of all sorts of opportunity and learning.  Just some of the events lately include:

 - RVS and Regional Cross Country
 - Grandparents Day
 - Teacher/Student/Parent Conferences
 - Science Fair
 - School photos
 - Junior Fundamental Skills
 - Rugby, tennis & cricket development coaches
 - Snr Technology Challenge Day
 - Enviro group edible garden presentation
 - Road crossing training (New Maxwell Rd crossing island built)
 - Kapa Haka with Carleen Phillips and Bill O’Brien
 - A visit from Seymour Kindy
 - The ongoing awesome Music Academy
 - And more!

It doesn't slow down either with more coming in the last four weeks of term including:

 - The Community of Learning ‘Writers Week’ next week
 - A Cultural Assembly this Friday
 - Science Fair judging
 - Snr Fundamental Skills at the Lines Stadium
 - An election!
 - Another cool Zest Assembly
 - And more!

The list goes on.  I wanted to take the time to pause and acknowledge the people who make all of this happen on a consistent basis.  The teachers, teacher aides, admin staff, BOT, parents, proprietors, extended family and of course, students.  One big family, focussed on the growth and success of our young people.  Thank you!

I wish to highlight Grandparents Day.  I have heard it said that the depth of a society/generation can be seen in the way it treats it young and elderly.  A good thing to be thinking about as we come up to the NZ election.  
It was a pleasure to have so many loved grandparents along, looking through classes and having their photo taken.  It was a day where the experienced and wise amongst us were endorsed and connections made.  Thank you to Julia Galloway for her organisation of this event that will now be an annual date on the calendar.  Thanks also the the RVS Foundation helpers for the scones and help on the day.

I encourage you to look at your child’s writing sometime this week as we celebrate Writers Week.  A magnificent initiative from the Marlborough Community of Learning (Piritahi) that will see some great promotion of writing.
The town shop windows will feature writing (ours is Whitcoulls!), authors will be visiting schools, an authors evening at Springlands School Hall on Thursday, writers competitions, writers reading their work in the forum on Friday.  Thank you Mrs Crossley for your work in promoting this here at RVS

The application for Change of Class continues to move through the processes of the Ministry of Education.  We do believe it is now in its last phase with the Wellington office.  Read more about this and look at the timeline on the ‘RVS Future’ webpage.

RVS is an ever changing place and so I encourage you to continue to make it yours.  To continue to make new parents/students welcome and to keep that all important openness and care that is a hallmark of a Christ centred school.  My door is an open one, as is the metaphorical door to your child’s teacher.  If you wish to get involved via the RVS Foundation, please do, we would love to have you involved, see more here.  

As we head into the last quarter of T3 and into T4, I pray for His blessing over your families and the work of your hands.  
God bless

Dave Pauling - Principal