End of Term 3. Well what a funny term it has been. Thankyou for all of your support this term, especially during the lockdown - a real team effort. School ends at 3pm tomorrow 1 Oct and will resume on Monday 18 October at 8:55. Should we then be in Level 1, we will be back to normal school entry and exits, otherwise we will still continue with the 2 door entry and no parents on site.

Year 5&6 Camp

At this stage this is going ahead and planning is well underway for the Term 4 Week 2 camp.  Information has been sent to parents about the programme and the gear the children need.

Hats for Sun Protection 

Term 4 is a 'must wear hats' in the playground.  Please hunt out your school hat ready for use on the first day of term.  After week one we will be implementing the 'no hat, no play' rule.  Those without a hat will be restricted to the covered, shaded verandah areas.

Hats are available for sale through the school Office at a cost of $7.  Our school hat is a blue bucket hat.  Wearing of sunscreen is a parent choice and often parents make sure the child has sunscreen on prior to leaving home.  Some children have sunscreen in their bag and apply it during the day.  We do notice there is a lot of sharing of sunscreen by the child bring some to school.  Please talk to your child about how you want them to use the cream, and when, and about the sharing of it.  Don't be surprised if it does not last long.

Commercial Food Packaging

Prepackaged goods are often a great lunchbox filler.  However we are finding an issue with the number of children who cannot open their packages and require teacher assistance.  Teachers are noticing this is taking a large amount of their lunch duty time.  One teacher is supervising about 90 children during this eating time and if half of them need support it means the teacher is not focussing on children eating their lunch and lunch behaviour.

Challenge : Please take the time over the school holidays to teach your child how to open their packages.  This may mean that before it goes in the lunchbox a corner is already clipped for easier opening.  This also applies to some fruit that children struggle to start to peel - oranges and bananas especially.    Some parents cut the fruit up and it is so much easier for children to manage and they are much less wasteful.  (You would be amazed how many half eaten pieces for fruit get thrown out!!!!!)  Starting it at home, or peeling it first is a great option to support their independence.

Your support with this is much appreciated.  Some of those packets are really hard to open - even for adults.

Term 3 Student Learning Celebration Reports

These will be live on Hero from approx 4:30pm today.  Please contact the school office tomorrow if you have any issues getting the report.  Those children who have been with us for just a short time may not receive a report.

Mihi Whakatau

On Wednesday 20 October the whole school will be involved in this welcoming ceremony.  It begins at 9:15 and runs for about 15 mins.  It gives us the opportunity to formally welcome new students and families to the school.  Hopefully, Level 1 permitting, Parents welcome.  Watch this space.

From us all at Wigram Primary School - Have a wonderful holiday with you children over the break.

Heather Walkinshaw

Principal