It has been fantastic to walk around the school in the last week and see our students and teachers so excited to start the year together. We will be trying hard to make this year our best year yet. If there is anything we can be doing to help or support you and your child, please let us know.

LEARNING ASSISTANTS - Meeting tomorrow

For the last two and a half years our school has invested in a fabulous group of community members to help our students and teachers. They are called Learning Assistants. (LA’s). Our LA’s this year will work Monday to Thursday mornings and Friday afternoons. Their job is to be like an apprentice teacher and support learning in the classroom. An LA works between two classes and they do receive onsite support to help them be effective in their job. Applications for LA positions this year close on Monday, February 17. Anyone who may be interested to know more about being an LA, can meet in the staffroom on Friday, February 14 at 9am. To apply you need a brief CV and letter explaining why you think you would be ideal for the job, as well as 3 referees. Applicants who have been an LA before only need to submit a brief letter, explaining why you would like to do it again. ** Please note, this year you do need to be available on Friday afternoons. The position will start in week 6 of term 1, and finish in week 4 of term 4.

CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL

Tomorrow, February 14, students across the school will be invited to try out kapahaka in block 1, and Hibiscus Tuakana (Pasifika culture) in block 2. If your child is keen to have a go and see what it would be like, we invite them to attend. After 2 weeks we ask that they make a decision to commit or not. There is no cost to be involved.

PERFORMING ARTS OPPORTUNITIES

Take advantage of our Performing Art specialists that are going to offer students tuition during school on Fridays.

We have:

GLORIA - from Music Hub who will do a "have a go" session with a range of instruments on the 21st February 8-9 am, and 2.45 to 3.45 pm

RHYS - From Chunky Monkey who has created some exciting sessions for Y1-2's and drumming for Y3-6 

JUDE - Ruby Jude's Art Journaling - for all you budding artists 

See the advertisements below for more information and contact details.

School Choir

Sophia Pedersen takes our junior choir on Mondays at 12.30, and our senior choir on Wednesdays at 12.30. Any child who is keen to sing and learn is welcome to attend. There is no cost. 

I listened to our juniors on Monday and they sounded awesome. We have one more week where children can come along and try, then they will make a decision to commit or not.

GRIT CAMP

Next Tuesday, February 18 in the staffroom at 7pm there is a meeting for Year 6 students and parents who would like to know more about Grit Camp. This is a Year 6 optional camp that takes place at Aongatete Lodge in the Kaimais. Students are challenged in many ways including how they will earn the money to go. If you want to find out more, please come to the meeting.

COMMITMENT

Can I encourage talking to children about committing to an activity, and what that means. Too often when things get hard, or not what they like, or something better comes along, our children want to quit. Commitment means dedicating yourself to something for a period of time and giving it your best effort until that time is up. It often means thinking of others so you don’t let them down. As parents we can help by making sure children are informed when they are asked to commit, committing to the activity with them and not missing it when something special comes up, and also working through the tough times with them. (not giving in). These are life lessons.

E-Learning information -  Can all parents please read the following link