Week 3, Term 3 Newsletter
In this week's newsletter:
School Life
This Week
WSS 2026 School Events
Other Opportunities
Pasadena Enrolment 2027
Friendships and Resilience Skills workshop
Western Springs College – 2027 Enrolments open now
Auckland Cartooning Weekend Program
Auckland Netball
No Limits Netball
Auckland Central Volleyball Club
Ponsonby Intermediate Open Day
Marist College - Enrolments for 2027
Playball for Term 3
School Life
This Week
Recently I've noticed children skipping through the gate, footloose and fancy free. Following up in the rear is often a laden-down parent carrying one or more backpacks, sweaters, jackets, drink bottles, etc.
Why do I keep asking children to carry their own backpacks?
Because I have noticed children have fewer executive functioning skills than they have had previously. These are the skills that help children to be independent, successful learners and eventually successful grown-ups.
As parents, we are often in a rush or just incredibly kind to our kids and do many of the small jobs for them, but it's all those little things that add up to teach children the bigger skills they need for school and as they grow up. Sometimes we don't realise how capable they are.
Helping children to become responsible for their bag teaches them organisational skills and organisational routines - both things that help a school and household run and no doubt help you at your job.
Every step of managing a school bag maps directly to a specific executive functioning domain:
Planning and Prioritisation: Your child must think about the day ahead, decide what items are necessary (e.g., running shoes, gear for training after school), and pack them in a logical order.
Working Memory: Your child needs to hold a mental checklist in their head ("lunch, change of clothes, drink bottle") while physically gathering the items.
Inhibition (Stop-and-Think): At home time, your child must resist the urge to just grab-and-go out the door. They have to pause, curb their excitement, and gather together all their belongings - school bag, shoes, lunchbox, sweater, drink bottle, etc.
Spatial and Material Organisation: Keeping the inside of the bag functional - rather than letting it become a dumping place for leftover lunches, discarded sweaters - requires ongoing categorisation skills.
While teaching those skills, it also helps your child mentally prepare and transition into their school day. They develop a sense of control and ownership. When they don't have these areas of control, we notice some children become anxious.
And very importantly, our children might learn about failure and what to do if they make a mistake. What do I do if I forget my lunch? My book bag? Who can I go to for help? School is a really safe place to make mistakes and work out what to do. This helps to build resiliency and a sense of self-reliance and confidence in themselves that they can sort out problems and that there are people who can help.
All these skills transfer to the classroom, where children need to constantly organise themselves throughout the day, make sure they have the right equipment, listen to instructions and follow through with tasks. When their executive functioning skills are strong, they are then able to free up space to think about other important things like who is best to sit with, what can I do to make this better, am I fulfilling the success criteria, etc.
Quiz and Karaoke - A Night Out for ALL Westmere Parents
WSS 2026 School Events
Other Opportunities
Pasadena Enrolment 2027
Western Springs College – 2027 Enrolments open now
Simple steps to follow:
Go to our website and click on the Western Springs College logo on the left. This takes you to the website opening page.
Click on the Enrolment button and scroll down to: Online enrolment application
Parents – fill in your name (first and last name) in the boxes, add your email address and an enrolment link will be sent to you at that address so that you can begin your application.
Please do this promptly.
If you wish to book in for one of the additional tours, you can register HERE
Friendships and Resilience Skills workshop
Auckland Cartooning Weekend Program
Auckland Netball
After-school and Weekend Netball Skills Clinics
No Limits Netball
No Limits Netball is an inclusive netball programme, designed for individuals with disabilities to give netball a go in a welcoming environment that suits their needs.
These are FREE sessions that are held once a month.
We have a range of adaptive equipment available, including different sizes and textures of balls, adjustable hoops and bell balls.
These sessions are held indoors, in a wheelchair accessible venue.
Address: Auckland Netball Centre, 7 Allison Ferguson Drive
Dates & times:
Friday 24 July, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Friday 21 August, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Sunday 27 September, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Friday 16 October, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Sunday 22 November, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
More information can be found on the Auckland Netball Website.
Auckland Central Volleyball Club
Ponsonby Intermediate Open Day
Marist College - Enrolments for 2027
Playball for Term 3
Playball is so excited to be back at Westmere School for Term 3, 2026!
Playball is a sport and movement program for 2-9 year olds.
The main objective of Playball is not to create superstars, but rather to provide children with the opportunity to develop many necessary physical, social, educational and personal skills. From a child's perspective the most important element of our program is FUN! For many children, their Playball lesson is the highlight of their week!
We will run Playball at Westmere School every Tuesday after-school, 3pm-4pm.
Playball fees for Term 3 are $130 for a 10-week term (inc GST).
To enrol your child/children, sign up online form. You will find 'Westmere School’ under the classes section- Get in quick! Spots are limited.
If you have any queries, contact Tania on 02102895901 or email tania@playball.co.nz
