News from the Principal - Week 5
Kia ora te whānau
Our school is such a happy, exciting place of learning with so many amazing extra curricular learning opportunities for our students well underway now for 2023. These activities are all additional to our expected NZ Curriculum and make learning for our Whītau School local curriculum come alive for our students.
These include:
- Weekly Cultural hour of Kapahaka and Pasifika for both the Junior and Senior School
- School Kapahaka and Pasifika Performance Groups for Years 3 - 6
- School Choir with Ms Walsh for Years 4 - 6
- School Junior Choir with Ms Gold for Years 3 - 4
- Gifted and Talented Extension Group with Mr Turner for Years 3 - 6
- Visual Art Extension Group with Miss Collins for Years 3 - 6
- Weekly Recorder and Ukulele lessons with CSM Tutors Janet and James for Years 3 - 6
- School Jump Jam Team with Ms Laird for both the Junior and Senior School
- Taiaha with Mr Betts for selected Karawhā and Kōrari boys
- Kids Edible Garden with Mrs Cox for both the Junior and Senior School
- Class Sport Lessons with Epic Sports: Rooms 10 and 11
- Class Digital Lessons with Wilj from ImpactED: Whole School
- Tamai Sports: Whole School
- Children's University: 30 students from Years 4 - 6
- Our School Library with the Library Den and outdoor deck is open daily at lunchtime.
If your child is fortunate to be participating in one or more of these amazing opportunities please support them by ensuring they attend school every day so they don't miss out on their sessions. We are busy organising our School Sports teams for Basketball and Mini Ball teams. These sports are the only activities that incur a cost for families and subs will need to be paid so your child can participate. More information will be coming from Mrs Heads about this.
Te Ahi Ora
The students and staff loved hosting the Ahi Ora Fire Performance this week. Thanks to Miss Collins, we were able to host this new community activity. It is an exciting discipline that engages the mind, activates the body and aims to re-ignite passion for learning and community in a fun and highly engaging setting. I was delighted to watch Room 14's lesson and the amazing focus they showed.
The Te Ahi Ora goals are``
- Encourage students to participate in physically challenging and satisfying activities
- Boost self-confidence, encourage experimentation and foster creativity
- Provide opportunities for personal growth and development
- Build a sense of community through shared celebration and performance
- Counter the negative effects of excessive screen time and digital addiction
Our sincere apologies that last evening's performance was cancelled with such short notice due to the wind and staffing shortages. This was out of our school's control and we have been promised another evening session at a later date for families to enjoy. I was so glad to hear that families still enjoyed being at school and having time together with their children playing in the school playground.
Thank you sincerely from the teaching staff for your amazing support of the closure of our school this afternoon for the NZEI Paid Union Meeting. We understand how challenging schools closing early can be for families and working parents and we all appreciate your support.
Nga mihi nui
Sandra Dentice
Principal | Tumuaki
sandra@whitau.school.nz
