The document provides information for parents/caregivers of junior school students at Ascot School. It welcomes a new teacher, Mr. Shane Ripley, and informs parents about upcoming parent-teacher meetings, swimming lessons, and important dates. It also summarizes the specialized subject offerings for senior students in years 7-8, including technology, science, Japanese, leadership programs, and mathematics.

1. JUNIOR SCHOOL STUDENTS
Please put an extra set of clothes in your
child’s bag if possible. Some children
are needing an extra set with the wet
weather.
Dear Parents/Caregivers
I hope you all managed to keep warm over the
holidays and had a wonderful time with your family.
Many of our students enjoyed the wonderful
Kidzone in the holidays, sponsored by the ILT.
We warmly welcome Mr Shane Ripley to our school.
Shane is an experienced Year 7 and 8 teacher who
has taught at both Southland Girls High and
Woodlands Primary School in this age group. I know
the Room 4 children are enjoying having him
teaching them already.
This week sees the beginning of the Open Night
season for Year 8 students. Schools have the
opportunity to show their communities the wide
range of curriculum, sporting and academic
activities that are undertaken each day.
We believe we have a unique situation at our school
where our Year 7 & 8 children are encouraged and
developed as School Leaders. Due to our size and
nature, students have the opportunity to have real
individual attention and represent the school in
both cultural and sporting activities. They may not
be able to do this in a larger school where spaces in
these teams are keenly contested by a large
number of students.
We are happy to show you around our Senior
School area and show you the Specialist subjects
on offer such as Science, Japanese, Food, Fabrics
and Hard Materials Technologies, Youth Leadership
etc.
Just ring the School Office, 217-5196, for an
appointment to do this.
Kind Regards
Wendy Ryan
Principal
IMPORTANT DATES
TERM DATES
01 Aug Swimming – Rooms 1, 4 & 7
12-13 Aug: Parent Teacher Meetings for
Rms 1, 4, 5, 8, 9 & 10
13 Aug: ICAS Mathematics Exam
14 Aug: Ski Trip – Coronet Peak
30 Aug: Dream Weaver Visit
27 Sept: Last day of Term 3
Term 4: Monday 14 October – Friday 13
December (depends on Teacher Only
Day/s)
SWIMMING
Term 3 swimming began this week from 10 – 11am at Splash Palace.
On Tuesdays, children from Rooms 2 & 5 attend with those from Rooms 1, 4 & 7 on Thursdays.
Please ensure that your child has their swimming gear at school on those days. If they are to be excused from swimming,
for any reason, please send a note to school, or contact the School Office.
GOAL REVIEW INTERVIEWS
On Monday and Tuesday there will be Parent Teacher
Meetings to review the goals set at the start of the
year for Rooms 1, 4, 5, 8, 9 & 10.
Room 4 parents will be able to use this as an
opportunity to meet Mr Ripley. Rooms 2 & 7 will have
interviews at a later date. A separate notice will come
home soon.
WELCOME
A warm welcome to the following students and their
families who have started at Ascot on Monday. We wish
you all a long and happy association with us all:
RJ Sherborne – Jade Thomas – Siobhan Sullivan

2. SENIOR SCHOOL SPECIALISATION
WEBSITE
Our School Website looks fantastic with
plenty of student work to view.
To visit the website, go to:
http://www.ascot.school.nz
TECHNOLOGY
Mr Wayne Hawken and Mrs Anya Bowman are our
specialist Technology teachers, working out of
the Technology Centre.
Our Yr 7 & 8 students receive tuition for one
afternoon per week throughout the year. They
work with hard materials (wood & metal) and
electronics with Mr Hawken. Mrs Bowman teaches
food and fabrics technology.
The Centre also provides Technology for four
other schools that send students on a weekly
basis.
SCIENCE
Specialist Science teaching is provided to groups of
Year 7 & 8 students each week by Mrs Rachel Russell.
She is able to delve more deeply into areas of science
that help students preparing for High School,
especially in Physics and chemistry.
Mrs Russell also works closely with students helping
them with their scientific investigations for the Annual
Science Fair.
JAPANESE
Japanese language tuition is given to our Yr 7 & 8
students on a weekly basis by our Tutor, Mr
Tatsuya Fukuda. Aspects of Japanese culture and
ceremonies are also covered.
This is enjoyed by the students and gives a great
head-start to those who continue with the
subject at High School.
LEADERSHIP
Our senior students get a variety of opportunities to
develop leadership skills. These include running our
school and syndicate assemblies and being involved in
the Ascot School Academy and PAL’s programme,
where the older students organise and run
recreational activities for our younger children during
lunch-times.
MATHEMATICS
Our Seniors benefit from specialist, small group
teaching in Mathematics, also provided by Mrs Russell.
The Year 7 & 8 part of the school is very important to us. We are proud
of our students and what the school is able to offer them.
SCHOOL COUNCIL
Senior students play an important leadership role
in our School Council, sharing responsibility for
the organisation of fundraising and special events
involving the school students.