News from the Principal - Week 2

Kia ora te whānau

It's great to be back at school after our Waitangi Weekend celebration. Despite the challenges of the hot weather and the probable lack of sleep, we are delighted with our children's attitude and efforts both in the classroom and out in the playground. 

On Tuesday morning we held our Mihi Whakatau to welcome our new students and staff to Whītau School. It was an enjoyable ceremony and our students enjoyed singing the waiata and the Whītau School Song. The classes enjoyed kai in the classrooms following the mihi.

Thank you so much to the majority of parents who have already supported the children to 'Be a Learner" by making sure they have their stationery packs to begin using in class this week. Room 11 have had the additional challenge of their classroom heat pump 'dying' after nearly 10 years of use. We are very grateful that the Ministry of Education has given urgent approval for funding for the replacement of all four classroom heat pumps in Karawhā. We are currently awaiting quotes and hope the installation can be completed as soon as possible. Our new grassed areas are growing really well thanks to the regular watering from Darryl Green, our School Caretaker. I have purchased some amazing sandpit toys with the proceeds of the Christmas Scratchy raffle and we are now patiently awaiting the completion of the sandpit!

Practical Tips for Going to School

• School mornings are much easier if you get your uniform, sandwich, morning tea and Homework Folders ready the night before.
• A consistent morning routine will help everyone get out the door on time and be happy.
• Pack a sandwich for 10am and healthy snacks for morning tea to meet your child's energy levels during the morning. We provide lunch and fruit for an afternoon snack.
• If children have problems at school, it's good to talk with teachers as soon as possible. 

Here is a link to the Going to School: Practical Tips article.

Out of Zone Enrolments

Whītau School has become a very popular 'school of choice' and we are now having to closely monitor the growth of our school roll. The Whītau Board is already providing funding for additional teacher staffing to keep our class sizes smaller and optimal for teaching and learning.

• We are expecting huge growth in social housing in our local area eg in Holland Street.
• We cannot accept out of zone enrolments at any level of the school as we have no space.
• We can no longer directly accept enrolments of New Entrant siblings of students who do not live in our school zone, as we have no space.
• The enrolment ballot application process MUST be completed for ALL new entrant siblings of current students for the remainder of 2023.
• Our Room 2 New Entrant/Reception class will open mid Term 2; and our Room 1 New Entrant/Reception class will open in Term 4.
• All students who have enrolled at Whītau School in the last twelve months must still currently reside in our school zone. If your family has moved from in zone to out of zone, sadly you are required to move your tamariki to their new local school.
• If you have a child turning five in the next twelve months, can you please help our planning by enrolling them and completing the paperwork at the School Office as soon as possible. 

Friendly Reminders

• Every child requires a water bottle daily so they can keep hydrated in class.
• To minimise our waste, all sandwich and morning tea wrappers will be sent home with your child.
• All classes have commenced visiting the School Library weekly so please support your child to return their library book every week.
• Please avoid making appointments for your children during school hours if at all possible. Teachers find it very disruptive to have children leave classes early in the afternoons. Learning at school goes right to 3.00pm daily. 
• For Health and Safety, parents of students who are being picked up during the day must come directly to the School Office and sign their children out. Please do not go directly to classrooms.
• Please do not drive into or use the Staff Carpark!

I welcome parents or whānau to drop into the School Office and come and see me to tell me amazing things about your tamariki or to share any concerns you may have with me. 

Nga mihi nui

Sandra Dentice

Principal | Tumuaki

sandra@whitau.school.nz