Kia ora!

Congratulations to Alayna Wright Rawle who recently competed for the first time in a Level 2 competition where she was placed second overall. This is a fantastic result, and Alayna has also been selected to join the North Harbour Junior Squad to compete in a competition in Melbourne this October. Congratulations Alayna!

Our new Te Reo tutor, Matua Maru, is proving a hit with the classes and teachers. The Year 3, 4 and 6 classes who have him, are learning so much in a very quick amount of time. I have sat in on some sessions and the level of student engagement is fantastic. Yesterday he also started the Whanau Group, a lunchtime group for our Māori students.

In Week 8 of this term, we have both Te Wiki o te Reo Māori Week, and Literacy Week. During this week, our children will take part in a Te Reo Hurahi event on the Tuesday. Organised by Te Reo Tuatahi, this event aims to celebrate and showcase Te Reo Māori within our community. It sees school students standing just outside their school gate joining in waiata led by their Kapa Haka group. We did this last year and it really did raise awareness of the place of Te Reo as an official New Zealand language.

For Literacy Week, we have visits from authors, a book swap and a character parade. More details are further in this newsletter, so please read them. The book character day is Thursday the 12th of September, and the children come to school dressed in a costume that depicts a character from a book. This is an exciting day with a parade and lots of photos taken. In my office hangs a montage of photos from one held in 2015 so I am keen to update this!

On our school calendar, Student Led Conferences were due to be held later this term. These have now been postponed until Term 4 and will be held on Friday 8 November. More information about these will come home nearer the time, however please mark this date on your calendars as children will only come to school that day for their conference time. The conference is a 30 minute timeslot in the classroom where your children share their learning with you in the different curriculum learning areas. There is also time before and after the classroom time, to see what they do in the specialist areas of PE and Performing Arts. Other areas of the school, such as the Library, are also open for you to visit. Student Led Conferences focus on the philosophy that reflection is an important and constructive part of the learning process and this opportunity gives your child an active and meaningful role in reviewing and reflecting on their own learning. Self-efficacy and self-esteem are enhanced as students share with you their strengths and the progress they have made over the year.

Well done to everyone for answering so many questions about New Zealand in the great Kiwi Quiz-a-thon. I was amazed at how much the children learned and remembered when they were tested. Now it’s time to bring the sponsorship money to the office. All money received by Friday 13 September (two weeks time) will be eligible for the great prizes on offer.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Ngā mihi nui

Sue Cattell

Principal