The start of the year is an important time to set up routines, expectations and build relationships. Teachers have commented on how well our students have settled into their new environments and how much they have loved getting to know your children better.

Creativity is high in the juniors with classrooms bursting with colours. Children and teachers have enjoyed spending time sketching, painting, collaging to create beautiful self-portraits and artworks. No doubt you have been treated to a snapshot on Seesaw.

At Kaikorai School we have strong school values, KAIK - Kind, Aspiring and Keen. This term our values focus is ‘Kind’. In classrooms, we have been reiterating this through being bucket fillers and creating class treaties. We are so lucky to have awesome KAIK kids!

With the ever changing circumstances, it is important now more than ever to focus on well being. At school, we are doing this through the Zones of Regulation framework. The Zones is an approach used to teach self-regulation by categorising all the different emotions we feel into four coloured zones. At this point in our zones journey, children are able to identify what zone they are in and why they are feeling that way. Children have been taught that it is okay to be in any one of the zones and feel these different emotions and they are now learning strategies to regulate such emotions. Each class has a Zones of Regulation kit which contains a range of tools that children can use to help get them back to a calm space and ready to learn. We encourage you to talk to your child about Zones of Regulation at home.

We would like to extend a big thank you to you all for supporting us in dropping your child at the Tyne Street gate in the mornings. We know this can seem daunting, especially for 5 year olds but we continue to be impressed by their resilience. Know that by doing this your child is developing independence skills that will continue to help them as they move through their schooling lives.

Parent-teacher interviews are on the 1st and 2nd of March and we look forward to catching up with you all then. It is a great time to check in with how your child has settled in, to celebrate successes and to see how you can help at home. As always, if you have any questions or concerns prior to this please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher.

Lastly, we welcome Miss Sian Stephens (Rūma Whitu) and Miss Emma Howell (Rūma Waru) our 3rd Year College of Education students. Both Sian and Emma had placements with us last year and we are thrilled to have them back! Sian and Emma will spend most Tuesdays with us and have a block placement in Term 2 and Term 3. Rūma Whitu and Rūma Waru are lucky to have such enthusiastic student teachers working with them.

Many thanks for your continued support!

Junior Teachers

Reminders:

Sun Hats: There are still a number of children without school hats. It is a requirement that all children have one in Term 1 and 4. Hats are available for purchase from the school office.

Change of clothes: We recommend that all children have a spare change of clothes in their bag.

Road patrol