Photo by Rebecca McColgan

Week 9, Term 2 Newsletter

Rebecca McColgan — June 21st, 2023

In this week's newsletter:

School Life

Teresa's Update
Collecting children from school
Junior Playground
Matariki Celebrations: Hautapu & Hākari
Book Fair
Pōwhiri Term 3
Reminder about illnesses
Reminder about after school contingency plan
Westmere Waka Waewae

Other Opportunities

Performance Net
Holy Moly Arts and Crafts
Western Springs College Open Day
Waitematā Libraries School Holiday events
St Paul's College Holiday Basketball Camp
Ray White Westmere School Kickback
Skids Holiday Programme
Jammies in June

School Life

It has been a challenging week at Westmere with a lot of sickness among staff and students. We currently have teachers isolating with COVID-19.

It is still a requirement to isolate for 7 days from the day symptoms start or you took a positive test (whichever came first). Your household contacts do not need to isolate. They should test daily for 5 days. If they test positive, they need to begin 7 days of isolation.

We are fortunate that we have a number of fantastic relieving teachers who know our processes well. This means that we can maintain teaching and learning most of the time. There have been some occasions when classes have had to be split. This means that we keep within our health and safety requirements (as set out in our BCP), but children may not always get the same level of teaching that you would expect.

Please help us all out by continuing to test and letting us know through the absence processes if your child has tested positive.

Teachers are being vigilant about keeping doors and windows open, so this is another reminder about packing an extra layer for your child if they feel the cold.

While we are managing this situation it helps us if children stay away from school if they have any symptoms. Thanks for your support.

Collecting Children from School
If you need to take your child from school early for an appointment please leave enough time to collect them from their studio. This is a change from 2022 when we asked all parents not to enter the school grounds. Thanks

Junior Playground
With the current wet weather, the bark on the junior playground is difficult to manage. Tony is regularly raking to even it out under the flying fox, but if it is used before or after school it quickly banks up under the platform.

If you are a regular user and would be happy to come and grab a rake in the morning or after school to even things out we'd appreciate the help. On Monday there will be a couple of rakes in the umbrella bin by the back door to the office.

Matariki Celebrations: Hautapu & Hākari
Just a reminder next week is our hautapu and hākari.

Children need to attend the hautapu with a parent/caregiver. After the ceremony we ask that all children return home and come back to school at the usual time. There will be no supervision between the hautapu and the usual drop-off time.

During the karakia for Matariki there is a specific karakia for each star. Pohutukawa is one of these stars and is associated with those who have passed on. At the end of the karakia names of those who have passed during the past year are read out so Taramainuku the captain of Te Waka o Rangi can capture their spirits and keep them safe. If you would like the name of anyone in your whānau who has passed to be called out during our Matariki dawn ceremony please let your child's teacher know and we will add them to our list.

Book Fair

Special preview tomorrow 2.30-3.30pm

The Scholastic Book Fair is on next week 26-30th June (Mon-Fri) in our school library!

8.30 am - 9.15 am
2.45 pm - 3.30 pm

Urgent plea: If you have any time please sign up here for our volunteer roster. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Pōwhiri Term 3
If you missed the Term 2 Powhiri, please feel free to join the Term 3 welcome on the 17th of July at 9.15 am.

Meet under the supertop and the Powhiri will be held in the hall, followed by coffee/tea in the staffroom.

After-school contingency plans
Please have a chat with your child about a plan in the event you are late for pick-up. This avoids a rush of messages at 2.50 pm (especially with bad weather or traffic) that teachers are unable to get in time. Waiting at the office is always a good option. Thank you.

Westmere Waka Waewae

National Volunteer Week 18-24 June 2023 honours the collective energies and mana of volunteers in Aotearoa.

This year’s theme is ‘Time to Shine – He wā pīataata.’ It’s a time to recognise and celebrate volunteers, a time to shine – pīataata.

We would love to thank our wonderful Waka Waewae walking school bus volunteers who walk our tamariki safely to school every morning! We appreciate all of their support.

If you would like to join one of our Waka Waewaes we have two running.

One from Garnet Rd and one from Livingstone St.

Please contact westmere.wsb@gmail.com for more information