Kia ora koutou,

We have had another wonderful term here at Heddon Bush School with many highlights.

Room 2 had some refurbishments done during the last school holidays and is looking amazing.

Our admin block also had a spruce up and is now looking very fresh and modern.

Academically we continue to strive hard, our mornings at school are filled with quality Numeracy and Literacy teaching and learning.

We have begun our journey into structured literacy and this is being implemented with groups of children across the school.

Our senior students have attended a leadership course in Gore and a technology week in Winton.

We have welcomed several new students and their families into our school community and we look forward to more starting this year.

We do still have places available at our wonderful wee school so please get in contact for more information.

Nga mihi nui

Nicola Dunn, Narelle Collie, Annabel Anderson and Sarah Guise

We are a proud Bronze Enviro-School on our journey to achieve Silver Enviro-School status in Term 4.

This term our dedicated Enviro Group students have been running Enviro Afternoons once a week.

During these afternoons the whole school splits into their whanau groups and rotates around a variety of environment themed activities.

The Enviro Group students have worked in pairs to design the activities for these afternoons and leading them.

The activities are; animal pest monitoring and control around the school ground, native plant identification, waste audit (checking the correct items are in the correct bins 

and learning to reduce our waste) and a fun enviro themed treasure hunt.

We are really enjoying these activities and are learning lots from our Enviro Group students while helping our environment! 

Our Syndicate Cross Country was held at Waianiwa School and we competed against students from both Waianiwa and Drummond Schools.

Our Heddon Bush children showed determination and perseverance with many children coming in the first six for their age group and qualifying for Central Cross Country at Dipton. 

Those who went on to compete at this level did very well.

In Week One of Term Two our whole school packed up and went to camp in Dunedin!

On our first day we stopped at the Otago Marine Research Centre.

Here the students got to learn all about marine biology, conduct some experiments, study the rocky shore and ‘touch’ some sea creatures in the touch tanks.  

The next day the school split into a Junior camp and a Senior camp.

The juniors had a busy day planned and headed to the Otago Museum where they explored the museum, visited the butterflies and spent time discovering in the Tuhura Centre. 

After lunch they then headed to Inflatable World for a fun filled afternoon! 

Meanwhile, senior students spent the morning at the camp and did a Confidence Course and some orienteering.

After lunch they then headed to the Otago Museum for a Night at the Museum!

Here they explored the Tuhura Centre, learnt about some inventions and also about Egyptian Mummies and then did a Night Walk.

On our final day it was time to pack up and head home, but not before stopping for a swim in Gore and a delicious lunch of Subway!

We all had a fantastic time at camp and the students came back with lots of stories and memories to share with their families.

During the term we had our first ‘Wheels Week’ at Heddon Bush School.

Students brought their bike, scooter or skateboard to school for the week.

We were fortunate enough to have Cycle Southland come along and deliver their ‘Ride Well’ programme with the children.

The programme was brilliant and the kids thoroughly enjoyed it.

The children learnt how to complete helmet and bike checks, brake safely and how to signal when turning on the road.

We had a number of children ride a bike without support for the first time too!

It was very exciting and we were all so proud of these kids for giving it 100%.

At lunchtime we set up a track around the ground for kids to zoom around and had the tennis courts for the scooters and skateboards.

How fortunate we are to have such lovely open spaces here at Heddon Bush.

To conclude our successful ‘Wheels Week’ we spent the afternoon in the sunshine playing games on our bikes!

Heddon Bush School Proudly Supported By Fiordland Escapes