Newsletter 202029 - 4 November 2020

Welcome

A special welcome to our new tamariki and their whānau: Flame Pihama-Coleman, Ariki and Kahurangi Darling and Chelsey Reihana.

Do you have any 5 year olds starting this year?

Over the next few weeks teachers will be discussing classes for next year. It would be extremely helpful if we knew now about any children turning 5 years old between now and the end of April/May. Please send us your child’s name and date of birth if you think that your 4 year old will be starting at our school. 

If you have any questions or queries please ask by phoning, emailing or coming in to see us.

2021 Class Organisation

By the end of the term we hope to have all our current children who are enrolled with us organised into their class for 2021. 

If whānau have any preference for what room their child/children are in please feel free to come and talk to Whaea Chicky or your child’s class teacher. 

 If it is possible to have your child placed in a preferred class we are happy to do this if we can.

If you want your child to be in a bilingual class please let us know also, they should have come from a Kōhanga Reo or have very secure Te Reo Māori learning at home for this placement. 

If you have any questions or queries please ask by phoning, emailing or coming in to see us.

Teacher Only Day

We have a planned Teacher Only day on Monday 16th November, there will be no school for children on this day however all staff will be involved in professional development on this day. Buses will run for other schools.

Christmas Holidays

Term 4 started on Monday 12th October and ends on Wednesday 9th December. Term 1, 2021 commences on Tuesday 2nd February, Northland Anniversary day is Monday 1st February.

Christmas Parade at Pioneer Village

Our Kaikohe Christmas Parade will be at the Pioneer Village on Thursday 3rd December, start time 5.30pm. Kaikohe East Float is underway. 

School Photos

Our photos have arrived and are ready to be picked up from the office.

We will not be sending them home with children unless requested by whānau.

Whānau Day

We will be having a Whānau Day on Friday 27th November! We want to have a hāngi on this day but need some dry wood please. If there are any whānau members that can help with providing wood please contact us. Hāngi will be on sale for $10 from the office.

Swimming Timetable Term 4

Our pool is now open! Please see below for our schoolwide weekly timetable. Ensure that your child/ren have their swimming gear on their swimming day/s.

Monday: Rooms 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15 and 16

Tuesday: Rooms 1 & 2, 7, 8, 9, 12 and 17

Wednesday: Rooms 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15 and 16

Thursday: Rooms 1 & 2, 7, 8, 9, 12 and 17

Friday: All classes

Te Arahura Kāhui Ako

Our school belongs to a Kāhui Ako (Community of Learning) called Te Arahura. Te Arahura Kāhui Ako involves 13 schools. We have planned a Teacher Only Day for all staff from our schools to attend on January 27th, 2021 at Northland College. We have a special guest “Russell Bishop” who is an educationalist and author of a book called Teaching to the North East. This book is about improving outcomes for marginalised students. We also have a big focus on Ngapuhitanga and what that means at our hui. We look forward to other presenters at our hui from our local schools and Te Rūnanga-ā-iwi o Ngāpuhi.

Tuia 250 Roadshow

Rooms 7,12,14,15,16,17 will be walking to Tuia 250 Roadshow at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa campus on Broadway to learn about how our ancestors migrated to Aotearoa on Tuesday 17th November 2020 provided the weather allows. 

Tamariki will need to bring: A hat and raincoat and Walking shoes. Please can your child wear their school uniform on this day so it is easy to identify them.

Whiria Trip Middle Syndicate

The middle syndicate classes enjoyed their trip to Te Ahu Ahu yesterday. 

Next Tuesday 10th November we are going to climb Whiria at Pākanae. Permission slips for this second trip are coming home with this newsletter. Please sign and return these as soon as possible.

T Ball and Slow Pitch

All players are welcome to wait at school and change into uniforms by 3.15pm to be at Lindvart Park by 3.30pm for the start of their games. Anne Stillwell is the coach for Slowpitch Years 5/6, Lorene Maihi/ Claire Edmonds for Tball 5/4, Crystal Harris for Tball  Years 3/4.

The draw will be available on Wednesdays at the games. Please make sure your child is wearing sneakers or sandshoes and have a water bottle during their game.

Under 9s and 11s Touch

Our U11 and U9 teams have now been finalised and we are unable to accept any more players due to such high numbers. Please be aware that some players may only have half games on the day. Thank you to all whānau for your support last week. Games will start approximately at 3.45pm at Lindvart Park and finish at 4.45pm. Students are welcome to wait and change at school and then walk over to Lindvart Park. Please make sure that your child has a water bottle for the games.

Room 14 Trip to Waitangi

As part of our Term 1 Inquiry into Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Room 14 is visiting the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Our original trip was postponed due to Lockdown. 

Date and Time: Thursday 5th November   9.20 a.m. - 2.00 p.m.

There is no cost to students, as the trip is fully funded by the school.   

Please return your child's permission slip to Whaea Sandy and let Whaea Sandy know if you are able to help on the day.

Nau mai, tautoko mai!

Term 4 Topics

Junior Topic for Term 4

Our topic is ‘Design and produce for others’. This is a Technologies based focus. We will be looking at ways products are made, what materials are used and how we can make products of similar designs using different materials that can be given as gifts for others.

Middle Topic for Term 4

The middle syndicate classes will be working on a variety of visual art pieces this term. This work will be displayed in the hall on whānau day.

As part of our determination to localise our learning, we will be climbing maunga in the area. This will help our tamariki make links to the places and stories we have studied this year. This will happen in November but more information closer to the time.

Senior Topic for Term 4

This term the seniors will be working on interest projects around making this term "Fun and enjoyable". We are excited to see what they come up with. They will be developing skills around self-management, collaboration, and communication.   

Term 4 Board Meetings

The final Board meeting will be held on the 30th November. All welcome!