7 February 2025

Tēnā koutou e te whānau

Dear Parents / Caregivers,

Welcome back to term 1.  We hope that you and your families have had a good break and have had some fun times together over the Christmas holiday break as well as Waitangi Day yesterday.

Waitangi Day

The Treaty of Waitangi is New Zealand's founding document. It takes its name from the place in the Bay of Islands where it was first signed, on 6 February 1840. The Treaty is an agreement, in Māori and English, that was made between the British Crown and about 540 Māori rangatira (chiefs).  It is important that our children know the significance of this day and what a treaty or agreement is all about.   You might like to have this discussion with them around the tea table.

Start of Term 1

Our term has started well.  Our children are settled and have made a great start with their learning routines at school.  Our teachers have been in preparation mode for a good number of weeks leading up to the first day back and they, like the children, are looking forward to a most productive year of learning.

Welcome new families:

Welcome to all our new families who have started with us this week.  We have 17 brand new families with 5 year olds going into the Nest Class and 5 new families with children who have come from other schools. We extend a very warm welcome to you all and hope you are settling in well at Queenspark Te Hua Mānuka   We are excited to get to know our new Mums and Dads over the coming weeks and look forward to you getting involved in our school environment.

Whānau Connection Day

Thank you to the many Mums and Dads who took advantage of this day to connect with our teachers and to see classrooms prior to school starting.  The relationships we have with you as parents and our children are pivotal to great learning.  We enjoyed chatting with you and getting to know your children on this day.  For those who have not yet met your child's teacher we encourage you to do so over the coming weeks.

 Home / School - Preparing for Learning

We acknowledge that it can be a bit challenging getting the children back into good routines for school after the relaxing holiday break.  Effective learning at school is reliant on effective parenting at home. Working together in a positive partnership is when we can make a difference for our children.

Please check on the following:

• Regular bedtimes during the week
  

Sleep is important for children's learning and behaviour. Sleep helps to restore physical and mental health and keep our memory and immune system on track. Sleep also helps children's brains grow. Tamariki who do not get enough sleep may not be able to learn as well as their school friends who get enough sleep.

The below times are only a guide; every child’s sleeping pattern is different. If your child is happy and healthy, then it is likely they are getting enough sleep.

Ages 3-5   12 hours of sleep ( 7pm bedtime )

Ages 6-9   11 Hours of sleep ( 7.30 - 8pm bedtime )

Ages 10-14 10 hours of sleep ( 8.30 - 9.00 bedtime )

Some of our children are not getting enough sleep and the impact of this rolls over to learning and behaviour throughout the day.

• NO devices in bedrooms.  ( Some of our children are taking devices to bed with them and are playing on them throughout the night )  Consequently, they are tired and frequently "off task" during the day.

• Regular breakfast before they head to school.  A good number of our children are arriving at school having had no breakfast.  This does not set them up for a good day at school.

• Uniform ready and bags packed the night before. 

• Lunch into bags before your child leaves from home ( remember sunhats )

Structured Literacy 

This year Queenspark Te Hua Mānuka is participating in professional learning in Structured Literacy and as a result, our teaching practices will transition over time to align with this teaching approach in spelling, reading and writing. As previously mentioned our focus at the beginning of this year will be spelling.

 

Structured Literacy is an evidence-based approach that is grounded in the Science of Reading. As a school, we will be accessing the iDeaL platform to ensure our teachers are well supported with this transition and that the approach becomes embedded and is sustainable across our school. 

Some Key takeaways from our recent Curriculum Call Back Day:

• Reading is not a natural process. We previously believed that learning to read was like learning to speak.

• A Structured Literacy approach to learning to read and spell is necessary for all and crucial for some.

• A Structured Literacy approach is the most efficient teaching and learning approach for dyslexic children and those with reading difficulties.

• The teaching of spelling in a systematic and explicit way enables students to become capable readers and writers.

As a parent, you may wish to learn more about this approach and the Science of Reading. If you have questions, please feel free to find further information at:

·   Lifting Literacy Aotearoa

·   Learning MATTERS

·   iDeaL Approach

·   APM Reports – At a Loss for Words.

 

It is important to remember that your child’s teacher and our school are on a learning journey. This transition will take dedicated time and specific resourcing. While we are learning about this specific approach with iDeal some of our students' learning and school procedures may change, others will remain the same until we are at that point of the learning process- please bear with us. Thank you. 

 

You are possibly wondering how this will affect your child’s home learning. Some key aspects are as follows:

• We will be implementing a very explicit approach to the teaching of spelling. You will notice a much more systematic sequence to the practising of spelling words. 

 

• The spelling concept may also align with the reading focus for your child and in time, they may bring home what is known as a ‘decodable reader’. In these books, the letter representations relate to the sounds and letters that your child is learning through a set teaching order. This is likely to happen in the second half of 2025.

Piano/Keyboard Lessons Available:

Ian and Jill Swansbury are piano/keyboard tutors at Queenspark Te Hua Mānuka and offer 30 minute individual lessons weekly throughout the school term during class time.  Ian has written the 10 book reading focused music programme they teach called Foundationz, which guarantees not just the opportunity for students to play songs but also the ability for them to learn how to read piano music.  Lessons are available for students who are in year 3 or above or who have turned seven years of age.  Please direct all enquiries to Ian via the Queenspark School online registration system or to his email <ianandjill.swansbury@gmail.com>.

Ukulele:

Welcome to 2025.  I would like to introduce myself to you.  I am Anne Shute, Queenspark School’s itinerant ukulele Tutor.  I have been tutoring at the school for several years now.

I have spaces for some new pupils who may like to begin ukulele lessons with me.  Ukulele is a fun instrument.  A great beginner instrument for children to learn.  It does not take long to acquire 2 or 3 chord shapes, to play songs they may know.  It is also an instrument that progresses in rhythm and can go as far as playing classical pieces if they wish.  I recommend starting at age 7 years or older.

Please let me know if you are interested in enrolling your child for Term 1.  I am able to give you some advice as to the type of ukulele that is best for beginners and where to purchase these, as well as a little clip on tuner which would be required.

For further information and the cost of lessons either group or one on one, you are welcome to give me a call on 027 4084 067.  To enrol your child, go to the Music area on Queenspark website and fill in a Google Form.

Kind regards, Anne Shute

Singing Lessons:  Claire Coleman is our singing tutor and is offering private lessons for those interested this year.  You can make contact through her via our school website.  

Sun Hats:

A reminder that Term 1 & Term 4 means students are required to wear a navy blue, clearly named sunhat when outside. Students without hats on at break times will have to sit /play in the shadehouse.

Hats need to be left at school each day or securely in your school bag.

There are 2 styles of navy hat available and may be purchased from either Mainland Uniforms or any Warehouse store.

Regards

Ross Willocks

Principal

Queenspark Te Hua Mānuka