Week 3, Term 1 Newsletter

Westmere Office — February 13th, 2025

In this week's newsletter:

School Life

School Trips
Attendance Goals for 2025
Middle School Breakfast
Our Kids Online: Online Safety Expert FREE Parents Talk

Extracurricular Activities

Weetbix Tryathlon
Year 5 Boys Touch Team - Player Required

Other Opportunities

Skids Flavour Detectives
Skills of Soccer with ex All White Billy Harris
Dilworth School Open Day
Programming & Mathematics Classes in Grey Lynn
Piano Lessons
Prosford Studio After School Classes
Swim School
Japanz Market
Marist College Open Day
Artz On Show School Holiday Workshop
Babysitting on Demand

School Life

School Trips

This week we've had lots of exciting trips. The Juniors and Middles have been off to the Museum and Pukekawa. While the Seniors have been out at Muriwai for Beach Ed.

Every now and again we have a few children who miss out on these trips because they are feeling uncertain or unsure about doing something different so they opt out. We try our best to give tamariki as much information as possible to make any new experiences easier for them to navigate and feel like they can take a safe risk and get out of their comfort zones. But we don't always know if your child is feeling uncomfortable, sometimes that's information they keep close to their chest and only tell you (often right at bedtime!). Please get in touch with your child's teacher if your child is ever feeling this way. We are happy to provide advice, and any further details or make a plan alongside you to make any school trip successful for your child. We don't want them to have regrets about missing out and we want to support them to recognise that school is a place where they can take safe risks.

Attendance Goals for 2025

This year we will be communicating with you when your child's attendance drops below certain thresholds, i.e. 90%., 80% etc. This is part of the Ministry's new STAR initiative (Stepped Attendance Response) to increase regular student attendance. Regular attendance is 90% - this equates to children missing no more than 5 days of school per term.

Our regular attendance statistics for 2024 were:

Term 1 77% Regular Attendance
Term 2 62% Regular Attendance
Term 3 51% Regular Attendance
Term 4 68% Regular Attendance

The majority of our absences are due to illness. These are closely followed by holidays during term time.

Illness is a legitimate reason for absence and we always encourage children who are unwell to stay at home.

Holidays during term time are classified as unjustified absences by the Ministry. While you are required to email the principal to notify us of a sustained absence, I cannot grant 'permission' for any holidays during term time. If you are thinking about a holiday during the school term this year please consider minimising its impact on your child's attendance as much as possible.

Middle School Breakfast

Last week's Middle School breakfast was a huge success!

We raised $100 for the Starship Foundation which is amazing.

The kids wrote lots of lovely Valentine's Day messages for their friends and loved ones on our wall of love, and they enjoyed sharing stickers and blowing bubbles with their friends.

Kane and his team from Ray White joined in the fun, providing free coffees for all the parents, and kindly donating $1,000 to the school. It's always great to have Kane and his team join us for the breakfasts, as every parents loves a good coffee first thing in the morning!

Our Kids Online: Online Safety Expert FREE Parents Talk

Extracurricular Opportunities

Weetbix Tryathlon

Sunday 8am March 30
Point England Reserve

Distances are approximate and are as follows;

6 year olds 50m swim / 1.5km run
7 year olds 50m swim / 4km cycle / 1.5km run
8 – 10 year olds 75 – 100m swim / 4km cycle / 1.5km run
11 – 15 year olds 150 – 200m swim / 8km cycle / 1.5 km run

You can sign up to be part of the school team here -

https://raceroster.com/registration/93895/dxc7qyynavgepag3/registrant/1

Touch - Player Required

One of our Year 5 touch teams requires 1-2 more players. If you would like to play on Tuesday nights, please email sport@westmere.school.nz.

Other Opportunities

sKids - Flavour Detectives

Skids are running an initiative next week at St Ignatius called “Flavour detectives” which will run every Wednesday from next week until week 5.

Calling all young food explorers!

Join us for Flavour Detectives and discover the secrets of your favorite cuisines!

Feb 19 – Italian
Feb 26 – Indian
March 5 – Mexican

Your little chef will chop, mix, and taste their way through delicious recipes while learning essential cooking skills.

Limited spots available - Book Now!

Skills of Soccer with ex All White Billy Harris

Billy is a professional coach and has been coaching in our school for twenty years. His classes will help your child's coordination, confidence and skills, and are for boys and girls of all ages and abilities. They are held in the school on Mondays 8-8.45am. Text him to arrange a free trial class on 0272799042.

Check out his website www.billyharris.co.nz.