2nd July 2020
Kia ora koutou
With one day to go until the holidays, I can sense the tiredness around the school...not just
from the students, but amongst the staff. I often hear in the wider community and on
social media comments like “why do teachers need a holiday? They just had one”, and “you
guys are always on holiday”. This is so detrimental to the hard work and commitment the
teachers put in, and to them as professionals. This year, in particular, has had it’s obvious
challenges, and I am very proud of the way the team has pulled together and continued
to develop programmes of work throughout such unprecedented times. None of us takes
for granted the jobs we have, or how lucky we are to have secure employment in these
times...but now it is time for a well-deserved break...so that they can come back fresh and
ready for an action-packed term. I know that in this community you value and support
them.
It was fantastic to have so many of you engage in the Learning Plan Meetings earlier this
week. I think this would be the highest uptake we have had for these. Listening to the
teachers come in at tea time on Monday and talk so positively about the discussions they
were having was both refreshing and a testament to the value they all place on building
these connections.
I would welcome some feedback on how you found these sessions in comparison to how
we have run them in the last few years. Advantages and disadvantages of both? Just
send me an eMail at
Dates to mark in your diary
Fun Run: Year 1-4 3rd July at 11.30 am This is also the day of the PTA mufti day and
sausage sizzle. Please come along and support your child...and join in with our sausage
sizzle.
Sausages are $2 and mufti day is a gold coin donation. Please have your child bring
their money to the classroom teacher, or PTA helper in each space first thing Friday
morning.
3rd July 2-3 pm Craig’s farewell assembly. I imagine it may be quite a full assembly and
so there will not be seating for all but we still hope you will come along as we
remember Craig’s time with us and wish him well in his new role in the rugby world.
5th August: 9-9.45am “Keeping Ourselves Safe” programme parent session with Constable
Ken Terry. This is an in-school programme that is used from Year 1-13. Keeping Ourselves
Safe [KOS] consists of a comprehensive range of child protection resources to help students
learn and apply a range of safety skills that they can use when interacting with others.
3rd August: Teacher Only Day
The PTA needs you!!
On the 18th July Taggarts will be kindly delivering, and donating, new sand for our
sandpit. The PTA needs some helpers to come and move it into place. If you can spare
an hour and have a shovel and a wheelbarrow, then please contact the PTA at
as they are coordinating this.
Getting to know…the Korimako Team
Year 1 and 2
My name is Gill Robinson. I
have been associated with
Ashley School since 1997.
During this time I have been
Deputy Principal and Acting
Principal. Since retiring from
full time teaching I have
worked in a part time
capacity at Ashley.
We lived on 20 acres here in
Ashley, however when the
kids finally fled the nest, we
designed and built a house
in Rangiora. The design is
such that we can lock up
and
leave to enjoy travelling.
My husband and I have a
daughter, who lives in
Pegasus, and a son in
Wellington with
his wife and three children.
We have two cats that we
adopted from Cat’s
Protection
last year.
When I am not at school I
volunteer for Citizen’s
Advice, garden and drink
coffee.
Kia ora, my name is Karen
Daly. I am delighted to
have the opportunity to join
the wonderful team of
tamariki and kaiako at
Ashley School. I am
teaching our Year 1 and 2
lovelies in Teina Nui with
the wonderful Mrs Robinson.
I live in Kaiapoi with my
husband Steve and teenage
daughter, Sophie. I have
always taught in North
Canterbury and the majority
of my teaching experience
has been in the Junior
School. Up until a few years
ago I thoroughly enjoyed
playing football. In recent
years I have started giving
some yoga classes a try
which I am thoroughly
enjoying.
Tena Koutou Katoa
I arrived for a permanent
position at Ashley School
about 6 years ago. Prior to
that I had an association
with the school through
productions, dance and
drama and time in the “
down the back of the field”
Star room.
I now have another role in
education across our
Puketeraki Kahui Ako, which
has me 3 days with the
darlings of Korimako Tēina
Iti and 2 days out and
about.
Life outside school means
time(not that I will actually
be ON time!!!) with whānau
and hoa (friends) My baby
turned 18 recently so my 4
daughters are no longer
tamariki, but adults creating
their own narratives.
Of course I do have my fur
baby Vino (a great friend of
Ashley Kura)
It’s been said that I am a
coffee snob.
Hi! My name is Julie
McDonald. This is my first
year at Ashley School and
I’m loving it. I am the
Tuakana teacher in
Korimako and this is my first
year working with the
juniors. This is my 3rd year
as a teacher and have
previously taught years 4-6
in Taranaki.
I grew up in Kaikoura
where I still love to visit my
Mum and Dad.
I moved back to Canterbury
to be closer to my friends
and family. I have two older
brothers who also live in
Christchurch, Dave; who is a
builder and Ross, a physio.
I spent 6 years in Dunedin
studying and working, which
means Mum is very happy
having me just down the
road.
I love my sport, going to
performances and shows,
the ocean, visiting new
places and just being
around good mates.
Kia ora, I’m Rochelle
Standen and I’ve now been
a part of the Ashley School
team for the past ten years,
initially, full time teaching
but the past few years I’ve
been teaching part-time. I
love teaching at Ashley
School and like being able
to go teach in every class in
the school and catch up
with all the children.
My husband Mike works at
the ‘cloud factory’ in Sefton
and I have two sons one
about to finish his high
school journey and one
about to start school. We
also have a rather spoiled
but totally loved and
indulged labrador - Melly.
I love reading, gardening,
craftwork - especially
scrapbooking and going on
adventures in the outdoors
with my family.
School Reo Focus for the Week
I have enlisted the help of Hunter Kerr to help find our focus for the week and to make
sure that we are on track with our pronunciation and translations. Hunter is one of our
Year 7 students who are passionate about his Maori heritage, and about helping students
and staff alike to learn.
Have a go at using these this week.
I hope you all enjoy the holidays with your whanau and that we can all actually get out
and about this time.
If you have any questions then please feel free to get in touch.
Linda Horne
Acting Principal