ACG Sunderland Newsletter - 24 February 2023

ACG SUNDERLAND WINGS NEWSLETTER

Vol 19, Term One, Week Five, 24 February 2023

Dear Parents and Friends of Sunderland

We had a wonderful assembly on Tuesday afternoon when all the College Scholars were recognized by the school.

Students excelling in Primary and College Checkpoint , IGCSE plus AS & A2 were presented certificates and those students gaining 3 A Grades or better in other AS or A2 also received a scholar's tie.

Our two students who received accolades from the Cambridge Awards were again recognized by the student body. (Cedric Siriwardana and Jessica Liu).

What is most impressive with our scholars assembly is the genuine celebrations that took place when our top academics crossed stage – the student body are part of this process –clapping so enthusiastically.

I reminded the students that most of the scholars who crossed stage Tuesday were just like the rest of the students – certainly able but just applied themselves completely to their studies.

I personally congratulate all our students who sat Cambridge examinations last year, the results were so very pleasing.

Even before the school takes place on Friday afternoon, I wish to thank Mrs Linda Storey our enrolments manager for all the work she has done to make this event so very successful. Photo’s and a write up come next week.

Some sad news everyone. Two of our most experienced Administration team left Sunderland last week.

Debbie Davies our foundation librarian has decided to move on to Rutherford College to take up a sole charge position there. Debbie had been a stalwart of the Sunderland community –overseeing the library for 16 years, setting up book week and each year preparing all the trophies for prizegiving. Debbie was also the attendance officer too.

Debbie’s replacement is Selina Chan. Selina is a highly experienced librarian, has worked at university and school libraries. She has a Masters in Librarianship and multiple certificates and diplomas also.

Selina brings a different skillset to the library, and I personally welcome her to the team

After 14 years at Sunderland, Sonya Eldridge has decided to retire. In fact, Bruce her husband and Sonya are retiring together and as I write these notes they are jetting off to Rarotonga for 5 weeks.

Initially Sonya was a volunteer here at Sunderland and over the years her job title and skill set have adjusted along the way from Receptionist to property manager, to principals PA. Sonya has always put her hand up to help me and the school out.

We will all miss Sonya – her fantastic smile and infectious laugh. I personally wish Bruce and Sonya all the very best in their retirement.

Our new office manager is Mr Gerald Lopez. Gerald comes to us from a business where he was a web designer and photographer.

Gerald has 20 years’ experience in the natural health industry too. Initially trained as a lawyer of the University of London, Gerald come to us with a wide ranging skillset that we are excited to have on board here at Sunderland.

I’m sure that Selina and Gerald will quickly feel at home in the Sunderland family. Have a good weekend and stay safe.

Aspire. Succeed. Respect.

Nathan Villars Campus Principal ACG Sunderland

Value for next week is: Respect

Due regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others.

Early Learning School

Under 2’s Room

“At Under 2 room, music has played an effective and meaningful medium to connect with others, build whanaugatanga/relationship and enhance self-regulations. Our youngest citizens at ACG make sense of their musical world through active exploration and senses."

Junior Room

Family play and exploration is a great way for young children to use their own developing knowledge of how things work. By using safe toys that replicate what they might see at home, such as cutting food and pouring drinks, children are able to practice their own skills in a safe environment. The beautiful wooden food and tea set was a favourite for the Junior room children this week.

6 Waipareira Ave, Henderson, Auckland

Early Learning School

Senior Room

Our tamariki always enjoy dramatic play with their friends! It is a joy to see them expressing their imagination and creativeness! ����

Amy and Sophia pretending to be a train together! ����

Eddie told me he will be baking “Cookies!” �������� Zoe and Ailbhe helping each other prepare dinner for their friends!

6 Waipareira Ave, Henderson, Auckland

Fiona and Skylar feeding their baby dinosaurs! ��������

Early Learning School

Senior Room

We also learned this week to trace and write Capital T, lowercase t and the sound it makes through the Jolly Phonics programme. For the senior tamariki, they were asked to looked around and think about objects or person that they think starts with the sound /t/.

6 Waipareira Ave, Henderson, Auckland

Akshaj colouring “T Ten Teacups in a Teapot”

“T for Taissa!”

Week 5 Assembly

1HOC - Clarise-Anne Farmer

1BTR - Aiden Tao-Li

1AND - Pedro Onodera Menezes

2CAR - Jasmine Cheng

2SHA - Olivia Tian

2GLC - Kelvin Hu

3ZOU - Hanna Xia

3RIC - Marco Zhao

4SMI - Lleyton Ling

4RYN -Yannis Lee

5CHE - AnnaSophia Hu (Yutong)

5TRE - Luca Wang

5KIM - Jayden Zhang

6PIR - Knox Xu

6HAS - Melody Bai

6 Waipareira Ave, Henderson, Auckland

This weeks Lower Primary Trophy Winner is: Mila Cheng – 4RYN

This weeks Lower Primary Trophy Winner is: Mikaele Parry – 2CAR

Primary House Shield Fleming

'Sooner Than You Think'

The Future is Scary

The future is scary. This is a fact that no one can dispute. The future is absolutely terrifying because we have no way of knowing what's going to happen in a year, month, week, day or even in the next minute. It's frightening because with time comes change, and change is possibly even scarier than the future.

The future is scary because we can't stay here forever; we aren't going to be in school for the rest of our lives, waiting in the annoyingly long café line or mindlessly laughing with friends in the library after school, or struggling to find a charging plug for our dying laptop or running around the entire school looking for our dean to get a uniform pass when you've accidently put on the wrong pair of socks in the morning. It doesn't matter if you're in year 13 or have just joined the kindergarten, one day we're all going to leave school and move on to other things in our lives.

The future is scary, I think I've established this in my last two paragraphs of morbid sentiments, but I promise you I did not put all this in just to scare you. No, the reason I've been droning on about how scary the future is, is because I also want to tell you that despite how unpredictable and terrifying it may be, it's also something to look forward to. The future is opportunity for change, and change is an opportunity to meet new people, see new places and experience new things. Change lets us grow as people, the things we go through shaping us. Of course, change is not always pretty, there are too many examples of bad, truly scary change which I could never try find a silver lining for, but there are also examples of scary change which come with opportunity. Graduation is something I know many people are worried about as it is a massive change. To have a last day of school and not come back for Term 1 the next year is something I don't want to think about, but it is a prime example of bittersweet change. We leave behind this chapter in our lives and move on to the next, filled with new experiences and often new people. I would be lying to you if I told you that I won’t be sad at leaving the school behind, and am not at all worried about moving on to a new chapter - hence the first two paragraphs detailing how scary the future is - but I also know that this is a part of life none of us can opt out of, and even if I have to part ways with my friends: the memories that we’ve made will stay with us no matter where we go.

The future is scary, but also inevitable. It’s going to be heart breaking to one day have to say goodbye to a place filled with so many good memories, but all we can do is think about all the good things to come.

By Anya Thurner, Year 11

Arrival at School

Please be reminded that school starts at 8.30am. Students must arrive by 8.15am and they will be marked absent if they are not in class by 8.30am.

Lost Property

We are accumulating an awful lot of lost property – uniforms, drink bottles, lunch boxes, shoes etc.

Please ensure that ALL your child’s belongings are labelled with their name.

Sundry Purchases

If you are purchasing sundry items from Reception like calculators, badges etc, can you please ensure your child has the correct money as we do not have change at reception. We are unable to put these on your school account.

2nd Hand Uniform Shop

A reminder that the 2nd hand uniform shop is no longer sending cheques out or able to pay into your school account for uniform items sold on behalf. If you know you have uniform items in the shop to sell, please go to reception or ring the school with a bank account number to deposit the funds. No bank account number – no payment

School Lunches – Ordered from Libelle

When placing your order via our website for the student café – please ensure that you have update the class and room for 2023..

School Socks

We have available in the 2nd hand uniform shop, a range of brand new boys socks in a variety of sizes. Price is $14 per pair.

School Badges

House Badges $5, Sunderland Badges $8.50, Speciality Badges $12. Please ensure your child has the correct money as we cannot charge these to your school account. These can be purchased from Reception.

Dropping Off Items to Children

Reminder – when you are dropping off items or collecting your children from school for appointments – you MUST report to reception and NOT go directly to their classroom.

Parents and Friends Committee

Dear Parents and Friends of ACG Sunderland, ACG Sunderland is an independent school whose students are of incredibly diverse ethnicity. From pre-school to senior college the school strives to help their students achieve their full potential. The Parents and Friends Committee works alongside this aim of the school.

Parents and Friends is a committee run by volunteers all, unsurprisingly, are friends or families of the school! The committee raises funds to cover items of benefit to the students that are not covered by school fees. In the past this has included such things as donations to the school ball, shade sails over playgrounds, cricket nets, and the planting of a hedge for privacy at the front of the primary playground.

All activities run by Parents and Friends are fun, social activities that help to instil a feeling of belonging throughout all families attending the school. Meetings take place on the first Thursday of every month at 8.30am in the staffroom. Please let Mrs Sonya Eldridge know if you are interested in joining the committee by email: sonya.eldridge@acgedu.com

The next meeting is Thursday 2 February 2023.

ACG Sunderland Parents and Friends Committee Scholarship

Parents & Friends Committee would like to let all parents know about this scholarship for 2023.

The purpose of the ACG Sunderland Parents and Friends Scholarship is to assist an individual or group of current students to participate in an activity that extra finances are required to allow the activity to take place. These activities may include (but are not limited to) representative sports, music, the arts, or sponsorship.

Criteria

 The student/s must be currently enrolled at ACG Sunderland

 A full application Form must have been completed and signed

 At the discretion of the Parent and Friends committee a maximum of $1000 may be allocated each academic year.

Application forms can be requested from Linda Storey at linda.storey@acgedu.com

Sunderland on Service at ACG Sunderland

Dear parents and students, as you maybe knowing service is a crucial value that should be practised by all ages. Here at Sunderland we want to recognise those who already do active selfless service at home or in their community, but most importantly we would like those who don’t really do active service to be given a chance and to be educated about service, and this can be reached through Sunderland On Service (S.O.S).

What is our Mission statement?

To develop the values of service and respect by helping others in our school and community.

To actively contribute within our communities, display values of selflessness, enthusiasm and determination.

How to get involved or get your badge?

We will be putting up information about different activities that can be done on our notice board and will be posting more information soon. You can collect a sheet at reception to fill in with your hours or find it on blackboard, and it can be handed back to reception so that we can award you for your outstanding service.

Anything you want to count as your hours should be done as a volunteer, meaning you shouldn’t be paid for doing it. Remember to keep the service age appropriate.

Below is the information for the badges:

Ground Crew

Freedom2Play School Wear Shop

40 Patiki Road

Avondale

Auckland

Tel 09 838 6164

Open

Tuesday, Thursday from 9.00am to 5.00pm Saturday from 9.00am to 1.00pm

Closed

Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Public Holidays

As a reminder all school uniform continues to be available for purchase online on our Freedom2Play website freedom2play.co.nz/collections/schoolwearschools-acg-sunderland-school

Kids at School Care

Kids at School Care operates in G02, Monday to Friday, from 7.00am to 8.20am and 3.10pm to 5.45pm. They also run a Holiday Programme.

Contact Beth Rivero for enrolment and fees information by email beth.rivero@gmail.com or Phone: 022 394 5743.

Staff Emails

Email format for staff is: Firstname.Surname@acgedu.com

Sunderland Second-Hand Uniform Shop

The shop is open. Please ask at reception for access. We are taking good quality uniform items for the second-hand shop. Blazers must be dry cleaned.

Lunch Orders – From Libelle

You can order your child's yummy and healthy lunches at www.lunchorders.co.nz. Cut off time for ordering same day is at 8.30am. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Lunch Orders team via email on lunchorders@libelle.co.nz or flick a message on the Lunch Orders FB Messenger. Happy Lunch Ordering!

No cash-out service available.

6 Waipareira Ave, Henderson, Auckland

Lost Property

All lost property can be found by the Second-Hand Uniform Shop.

For your best interest, please name all clothing, lunch boxes and drink bottles, as we will return all named items to the student’s homeroom teacher.

School Contact Details

School Office: Phone: 838 7070

Address: 6 Waipareira Ave, Henderson

Waitakere 0610

Email: sunderland@acgedu.com

Attendance: sunderlandattendance@acgedu.com

Web: www.acgedu.com

2023 Term Dates

Term 1: 26 January to 6 April

Term 2: 26 April to 30 June

Term 3: 24 July to 22 September

Term 4: 9 October to 8 December

2024 Term Dates

Term 1: 25 January to 12 April

Term 2: 29 April to 27 June

Term 3: 22 July to 27 September

Term 4: 14 October to 3 December

Traffic- Safety

Please note that numbered car parks are for staff. Please do not park in the numbered carparks.

Contacting School Bus Drivers

Please do not ring or text the drivers after 7.15am as they will not be checking their cell phones while they are driving. Thank you for your support.