A Message from Gretchen
Sunday 7 April daylight saving ends.Clocks go back one hour. Don't get caught out !
Thursday 4 April / Rāpare 4 Paenga-whāwhā/ Aso Tofi 4 Aperila/ Huwebe 4 Abril 2024
Tēnā tātou i raro i te maru o Ngāi Tahu, Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa, Hola, Talofa lava,Malo e lelei, Kamusta, Namastee, Namaskāra, Ni sa bula vinaka, Kia orana, Fakatalofa atu, As-salamu Alaikum.
Kia ora e te whānau,
It was certainly lovely to have Easter break. I hope you had a relaxing time.
Today we had a Mihi Whakatau for those tamariki and whānau who joined our kura/school this term.
A Mihi Whakatau is for welcoming new comers. Everyone gathers together. There are speeches of welcome, haka and waiata. There is a morning tea for the guests.It is all about becoming one big whānau.
Kia ora to all whānau who were able to join us.
Special kia ora to Sonny and Tui, our fabulous Kapahaka tutors, and to Whaea Viv for making this happen.
As a tumuaki/principal, it was a very proud moment. I was very proud of our school and the way that they performed the haka, and waiata. Everyone had a part to play, including our guests.
Junior School Re-roofing
There are some developments happening at school and around school over the holiday period.
During the holidays, the junior school is being re roofed so that area will be fenced off.
Slipway
Also at that time, the Christchurch City Council is beginning work on changing the slipway to make the area in front of the school safer for our tamariki. You may remember that some initial work was completed way back in November last year. The slipway is going to become a drop and pick up zone. The work starts on Monday 15th and is to be completed on Friday 26th April.
Next term you will need to use the slipway for only dropping off and picking up at the beginning and end of school.At that time it becomes a 3 minute park which is the same as many other schools. If you want to come into the school to pick up your tamariki at that time, you will need to park on Linwood Avenue or Chelsea Street.
Please name your child's uniform!!
There is a huge amount of unnamed items in the 'Lost Property'. Please have a check at home and see if you are missing something! There are many jackets and sweatshirts.
At the end of the term any unclaimed clothing will go to a clothing bin.
Disco
Tickets are $5- available for purchase at the hall before and after school
Stationery 2024
If you haven't yet paid for your child's Stationery, we would really appreciate if you could do so. This year it is $35 per child in Years 1-6. You can pay by instalments online banking, or by eftpos.
Holiday programmes
Youthtown- Based at Te Waka Uuna
GenZ- 81 Bickerton St
Resources for Family/Whānau
Click on the links
He Waka Tapu is a Kaupapa Maori organisation. Services are therefore delivered using a kaupapa Maori framework encompassing Tinana (physical well-being), Wairua (spiritual well-being), Hinengaro (mental well-being), Whānau (family well-being).
The Loft is a new way for the people of Canterbury to access a wide range of health and wellbeing services. Located on the first floor of the Eastgate Shopping Centre in Christchurch’s eastern suburbs, The Loft is a purpose-built space that is home to a broad range of social and community services which operate alongside an Integrated Family Health Centre.
Need food?If you don’t have enough food for yourself and your family and need a food parcel, please phone 03 365 0635 or 0800 787 855.
Food needs to be picked up from the City Mission on Hereford Street – they do not deliver.
Our social services help to build safer, stronger, more connected families and communities, including supporting older people to maintain their wellbeing and positive social connections as they age
St Vincent de Paul can help with providing food parcels and other practical assistance such as clothing, furniture, bedding, kitchen packs, uniforms and stationery. A key strength of St Vincent de Paul Christchurch is the personalised home delivery of help which makes it unique in its role as a charitable organisation.
To request help you can either:
- Call 03 389 7484 ext 1 and leave your first and last name, address and contact number
- Text 0273589400
- Email welfare@svdpchch.co.nz
A volunteer will contact you within 2 working days to discuss your request and arrange at time to visit you in the home. Our welfare officer works Monday - Friday from 0900 - 1300, no requests are processed over the weekend.
Salvation Army phone: (03) 389 3723
They provide individuals and families with food parcels, budgeting advice, life skills and parenting courses, social work, youth development, and transitional housing.
Social Worker in Schools ( At our school for part of the week)
Sophie Bonnington will work in partnership with children and families/whanau respecting the rights of each family/whanau to participate fully in all aspects of service delivery.
You can self refer - or ring Sophie 0274666494 or talk to Trevor Proctor Deputy Principal/Special Needs Coordinator
End of term
School Disco - Thursday 11 April
School finishes on Friday 12 April at 3pm for the school holidays.
Term 2 :Starts on Monday 29 April.
Tamai Staff only day: Friday May 31 - no school
Have a lovely weekend ! Kia pai tō rā whakakatā! Manuia le faaiuga o le vaiaso umi!
Gretchen Smith
Tumuaki