Where have the last 6 weeks gone. I am always so amazed, regardless the size of a school, they are such busy places.

This week we welcome Seth, Jordy and Oakley; all new entrants joining Kā Pūtahi. Miss Perkins is really looking forward to having new students and I love seeing our neat school growing. We continue to have lots of inquires about our kura.

With King's birthday weekend, I hope you all got to spend some time sleeping in and a day off from making lunches and all things mundane! Last Friday we had a teacher only day with Miss Perkins, Mrs Fraser and I. We were really fortunate to have Mrs Fraser share with us some tricks and tips linked to Literacy. This was a great support, considering Miss Perkins and I have been on a Literacy 3 day workshop the week before. Now it is important we make the time to embed our new knowledge. Miss Perkins is already going to make some small changes around some of her literacy times and the programme to support all of our new learning. Practise makes permanent was my 'takeaway'. Lisa was on site too clearing out some resources and making some room for more learning spaces.

Thank you to all our staff who keep our day going with 'business as usual' when I am off site. We all like routines and our students thrive on this. Predictable is key! Tuesday, tomorrow is our staff development meeting and we will be looking at 'reporting to our parents/whānau and all the changes. We will be moderating some writing samples we have to support all the new changes in our curriculum and we look forward to sharing these and some links with you in our next newsletter.

Last week our PTA (parent teacher association) group met on an evening to look at the 'constitution' which is an agreement between the members; giving our school and PTA group a purpose and guidelines by which our group abides to and a 'code of conduct'. I wish to thank our small group for coming out in the evening, in the dark for connecting. Your support is valued and appreciated.

I am really lucky that I get to pop in and out of classes regularly. I have missed doing this, these past couple of weeks with workshops, meetings and other events off site. When I was visiting during a literacy lesson this week, Miss Perkins had a literacy group using clay/ modelling to manipulate and record their name. Practise and review all our learning. Clementine knew her letters and sounds. I must say, I also like playing with this clay. I also found Luca on the way to class with Mrs Fraser working hard on his gross motor skills; with lots of success.

Kapa Haka last week and I can't wait to hear our small rōpu practise again. Matua Rihari is really enjoying the connections with our students. I will upload one for review and ask your child/ren to teach you. Practise makes permanent... remember! This one our students are really doing well and we are onto a new waiata already. I will share this with you via Hero.

We welcome a new staff member Ariana Eady. Ariana's auntie Colleen used to work in our school, some time ago as a teacher. Ariana is working with a young person we have in our school and she will be away this week, but back to start in week 8. Her role is fixed term as a teacher aide. Please if you see Ariana around school (she is only part-time), say hi.

Thursday 4th June OWN Clothes Day - this week on Thursday we have a Community own clothes day. This means we're saying your child can wear their own clothes OR clothes that show a member of the community - could be your OWN community group - sports, scouts, girl guides, ballet, gym wear - what group are you a member of! Please bring along a food item or two where (non-perishable) when we can give to our local food bank. Do not go out any buy anything! Mrs S will also bring along some extra non-perishable items to donate.

Lastly, I am very aware that sickness in our small school can cause a lot of stress around attendance. I understand that we all have roles and responsibilities around attendance as does our school; in line with our Attendance Management Plan. I also want to share that your health is a priority to me and being at school when you are unwell is not helpful. We all have a responsibility for self-care and when we are caring for our children, we all know how quickly those bugs can spread. Thank you everyone. I am really pleased to see the number of our families using Hero as the connecting platform to inform us of absences.

Community - what about our lovely donation this week from a lovely lady who follows our posts; all the way from Australia. Connections; you'll always hear me talk about this.

Have a wonderful week whānau.

Thursday 4th June - Own Clothes Day

Friday 5th - Year 8 technology Off site - RBS (Mrs S teaching in Waimakriri)

Wednesday 10th - Kapa Haka with Matua Rihari

Monday 15th June- Community connection Firewise - a visit from chief educator (learning programme connection for our juniors and senior school).

Thursday 25th - Friday 26th June Mrs Shepherd offsite for some professional development linked to principalship.