Dear Parents and Friends of the School

LAWRENCE AREA SCHOOL

Community Newsletter

12 June 2014
No 7
Weather, public holidays, teachers only day and sports tournaments have made for a
number of short weeks recently.
Snow, cold and boiler issues saw the closure of school on Monday 26th May. Our endeavour
is always to inform families as promptly as possible generally via a phone call.
Understandably this is a big task and it is always possible to miss someone. On days where
closure is a possibility parents can visit the school website
http://lawrenceareaschool.edublogs.org and/or tune into 107.1FM/93.7FM Bigriver Radio.
Notifications and information will be placed on both of these. We generally man the school
phone from 7am onwards and can be contacted if need be.
Staff took part in a very informative Teacher Only Day which focussed on learning in the
twenty first century. Information Technology has changed how we live and learn. As a
school we are looking at how IT can best support learning, and how devices such as IPads
can best be used in the classroom. This is by no means simple and requires a major re think of
how we deliver the curriculum, what technologies we will need, how we develop modern
learning environments, class structures etc based around our school vision of developing
lifelong learners who are motivated, confident and willing to contribute.
This evolution will take sometime and will be the basis for our school charter and strategic
plan 2015-2018. We will share milestones and progress and invite feedback from students,
parents and community.
The Board of Trustees also have an important part to play in the development . Currently they
are looking at ensuring our school IT network is robust and meeting demands placed on it.
Upgrading our wireless network is one of the first priorities. The Board is also looking at Modern
Learning Environments with a goal of extensively remodelling Rooms 6-9 to transform forty
year old classrooms into classrooms fit for purpose in the twenty first century.
John Auld
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A Fond Farewell
and a
Welcome Back
Welcome back to Lyall Shanks. Mr Shanks is
well known to many of you. Lyall began his
career at Lawrence Area School in 1974
teaching Technology - wood work, metal
craft and tech drawing. Lyall has kindly
come out of retirement to cover our
Technology classes until the end of term.
The Board have appointed Mr Tim Samson to
this position starting at the beginning of Term
3. Tim is well known in South Otago and is
currently teaching at The Catlins Area School.
We look forward to working with Tim next
term.
A Fond Farewell to Kris Watson, Corrine and Lewis.
Mr Watson has been an important part of our
school for just under a decade. Kris and Corrine
showed great courage in travelling from England
to take up a job in Lawrence, New Zealand. Kris
has taught materials technology to all of our
students. In addition he has proved his diversity
teaching: visual arts, physical education,
information technology and outdoor pursuits. Kris
formed a great bond with students and colleagues
alike, having a great sense of humour and fun.
Students took the opportunities offered with the
highlights being: building a mai mai at Phoenix
Dam (winning an award in Invercargill), playing
soccer under lights in Sunderland tops (winning in a
penatly shootout), taking part in outdoor
education with Mr Watson, attending sports
tournaments with Mr Watson. It was therefore
timely that Kriss last days were at Tournament in
Roxburgh. We wish Kris, Corrine and Lewis all the
best in their new ventures in Taupo, where Kris is
HOD Technology at Tauhara College.
Kind Regards
Mr Kris Watson

Mr Lyall Shanks
Works
oF Art
Room 3
Amelia Patterson
Lochie McKenzie
Luca Bell
Angus Broderick
Logan Wither
Caitlyn May
Shannon Coetser
Sofia Hopkins
Maddison Cummings
Kade Thompson
S o u t h e r n A r e a S c h o o l s
S o u t h e r n A r e a S c h o o l s
T o u r n a m e n t R o x b u r g h
T o u r n a m e n t R o x b u r g h
Roxburgh organised and hosted a wonderful
tournament recently. Whilst the focus is on
sport there are cultural and social spin-offs for
our students, Yr 9-13.
At the welcoming ceremony each school
had to perform a dance, song or skit in front
of the large crowed. This breaks the ice, puts
everyone on the same footing and starts
tournament off in a very positive way.
Our students were outstanding from the
outset: great manners, brilliant engagement,
enthusiastic participation, fabulous attitude.
They all were great ambassadors for our
school, competing eagerly, conscious of fair
play, mixing with peers from other schools,
forming friendship and generally having a
great time.
This positive attitude translated effectively on
to the sports field where our teams meet with
unprecedented success. With six schools
taking part competition was tough. We have
every right to be proud of our young sports
people as they gained 1st placings in:
Bowls, Girls Basketball, Netball, Girls Touch,
Girls Volleyball
2nd placings in:
Table Tennis, Claybird Shooting
3rd placings in:
Boys Basketball, Boys Volleyball, Ultimate
Frisbee
Fifteen students have been selected to
represent Southern Area Schools at Nationals
to be held this year in Nelson.
This is absolutely outstanding:
Troi Simonsen-Hogg, Oliver Forbes, Holly Shaw,
Leaha Dickey, Kylie Lyders, Brooke Cameron,
Hannah Blackmore, Merran Casse, Oscar
Goodlet, JJ Houpapa-Barrett, Eloise
McLaughlin, Abby Cameron, Nadia Lyders,
Tyrone Goodlet and Annie McLaughlin.
All of our students are to be congratulated. A
huge thank you goes to billeting families in
Roxburgh, our students were well looked
after, spoiled in fact.
To senior school staff a big thanks for your
contribution to tournament.
We would all like to thank Kate for her great
organisation, her huge enthusiasm, and 100%
support of the students.
Friday 18th July 7pm
$10 entry gives you a card for everyone
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$5 for additional cards
Auction of Promises - at the end of the
night a number of promises will be auctioned
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Raising Funds for - students who are attending
Area Schools Nationals in Nelson 7th July - 10th July
lAWrEnCE ArEA sCHool PtA FunDrAIsEr
Please support our fundraising efforts by purchasing one of our first aid kits.
These large quality first aid kits can be purchased for only $40.
For every kit sold, $13 will go towards our fundraising efforts.
For any more details please contact Sue Wither 485 9039
A kit can be viewed at the Lawrence Area School Office
Huge Congratulations to the following students who have
made South Otago Rep Netball Teams:
Yr 6 Alex Crawford Yr 7 Chaleece Kenealy
Yr 8 Amy Eason U17 Kylie Lyders
U15 Eloise McLaughlin, Abby Cameron, Nadia Lyders