Ahakoa he iti, he Pounamu

Although they are small, children are precious.

Welcome to the

Te Awa Team

Dear Parents/Caregivers

Welcome back to the new school year for 2023! We hope you all had a wonderful break and that the children are ready for a great year of learning in the Te Awa Team. The teachers have been busy preparing our learning spaces and activities and fun experiences ready for their return. We are super excited to see you all and can not wait to begin the next stage of your child’s learning journey!

We will see you on our first day of school on Wednesday 1st February. The Te Awa teachers will be ready to greet you on your first day and guide you to your pākeke class if you are unsure where to go. The following newsletter contains some information that will help you as you return to school or begin your journey in the Te Awa team.

Our Learning Environment

Te Awa (The river) represents the gaining of strength, purpose and direction in learning. As the akonga continue along their education journey they move nutrients (academic, physical and social skills) and gain momentum. Te Awa is a place of community coming together.

The Te Awa team is made up of 4 teachers, Louise Hayes (Team Leader), Brooke Purves, Lagan Gardyne and Alissa Hutton. Alissa will be with the Te Awa team for Term 1, Roz Ellis will be returning from maternity leave in Term 2. Each child has been given a pākeke who is their caring adult. Your child’s pākeke is the point of contact for them when needed. A number of the Te Awa teachers will work with your child in a variety of curriculum areas throughout the year. It is our vision that students will feel comfortable enough with the teachers they work with to engage in learning and to express their needs to any one of them. The teachers in Te Awa are focused on each child’s individual learning journey and continued progress. We are looking forward to getting to know you all and working with your children throughout the year.

A short introduction from each teacher is included at the end of this newsletter.

Our Learning Spaces

In Te Awa we have a number of learning spaces which are named after local rivers and waterways. The names of these spaces are:

Waimakariri - Learning space and Pākeke room for Miss Gardyne

Rakahuri - Learning Space and Pākeke room for Mrs Hayes and Te Awa Whanau meeting area

Hurunui - Learning Space and Pākeke room for Miss Purves

Ruataniwha - Learning Space and Pākeke room for Ms Hutton / Miss Ellis

Waimakariri and Rakahuri are located in the building next to the senior playground. Hurunui and Ruataniwha are adjacent to the quad.

General Information

We will start the year getting to know your child and settling them into their new learning spaces. In the first two weeks we will be introducing a number of activities to get to know your child a little better and introduce our classroom expectations. These will have a focus on our ‘O Tatou Pou’ (values) with creativity and team playing skills at the forefront. Our Literacy and Numeracy learning programmes will begin in Week 3. Please be aware that we are constantly reassessing our groups and moving children if this is required to ensure learning is a best fit for their individual needs.

Stationery

Please send all named stationery to school on Wednesday in a named bag for the teacher to monitor. Please send a pencil case with your child, as in Te Awa children store the majority of their writing equipment in their tote tray, with the extras being kept safe by the teachers.

Sun Hats

As part of our Sun Safety we require all children to wear a brimmed sun hat throughout Terms 1 and 4 or they will need to play under the sails. These can be kept in the child's cubby or tote tray but please ensure they are clearly named.

Clothing

Please remember to name all clothing. If your child loses an item, lost property is kept in the classrooms however it is not named it will be sent to the office. Please note that jandals are not part of our school uniform. Please make sure long hair is tied back.

Drink Bottle Please encourage your children to have a named drink bottle of water in the class.

Lunch Boxes and Eating Breaks

Healthy food is vital for our busy children. Each child needs at least 6 separate items in their lunchbox. This is because we have 3 different eating times throughout the day. They are likely to eat more, if their lunches are cut into smaller pieces. Sweet treats such as ‘fruit’ snakes are discouraged. We are encouraging the children to take home all rubbish, so that you can monitor what your child is eating or not eating.

Fitness and Cross Country

Te Awa children will break for physical activities at 11:30am every day. The focus will be on gross and fine motor skills, including small/large ball activities, team games, follow up from North Canterbury Sports sessions and Cross Country. Cross Country will be held later in Term 1 and we will notify you when the date has been confirmed. Sensible running shoes will be required at this time.

Timetable

It is very important that children are at school before the bell. This way they are starting with all of the children and hear all of the messages to help make their day successful.

Te Awa - Timetable -

8.30 - 8.55: Children will head to their learning space and put their stationery into their named tote tray and put their bag into their named cubby hole. They can then find an activity in the classroom or play on the playground until the bell goes.

8.55 - 9.15: Whanau Time

9.15 - 10.00: Learning and Team Playing Activities

10.00 - 10.30 Play and MORNING TEA (eating from 10.20 )

10.30 - 11.30: Learning and Team Playing Activities

11.30 -11.50 TEAM WOODEND WORKOUT - Water, Fruit and Shared Reading

11.50 - 12.50: Learning and Team Playing Activities

12.50 - 1.20: Play

1.20 - 1.40 Eating Lunch

1.40 - 2.30: Roll- Learning and Team Playing Activities

2.45 - 3.00: Pack up followed by Whanau Time to complete the day.

Morning Routines

It is important that children are at school before the 8.55 am bell.

Please note that children are not permitted in the school grounds before 8.30am.

A great way to start the day is to check in with a teacher and say hello and then unpack their bag. It is important that these have been completed before the 8.55am bell rings. Children may play outside until the first bell after unpacking.

Sports

The Tutors from North Canterbury Sport are here every fortnight and will be focussing on fundamental sport skills.

Toys at School

Please remember that toys need to stay at home. We cannot be responsible for lost or broken toys. Each child will be invited to share a toy by their teacher at some point during the year and this needs to be given to the teacher before school.

Cell Phones

Cell phones and devices that are internet capable such as smart watches, need to be handed in at the school office before school by students and can be collected at the end of the day. They will be placed in named bags and kept in a locked cupboard during the day.

Assembly

Due to the growing size of our junior school, certificate assemblies will be year 3 and 4 team gatherings. We will let you know when our first assembly is coming up.

Communication

Communication from our team will be done electronically (Hail or Hero) so it is important that we have the correct details for all parents and caregivers of our children. If your details have changed, please contact the office. You will need to use the Hero app to receive notifications. If you are unable to receive electronic notices please let us know.

If you need to talk to your child’s Pakeke, we are available most days from 8.30-8.50am and 3.00-3.15pm. If either of these times don’t suit you please email us to arrange another time.

Check out and bookmark our Blogs which will hold all our newsletters

We hope this has explained a few things as you and your child enter a year of learning in the Te Awa team. You may always contact us by email if you have any questions

l.hayes@woodend.school.nz

b.purves@woodend.school.nz

a.hutton@woodend.school.nz

l.gardyne@woodend.school.nz

We look forward to working with you and your child closely during the year.

Kind regards,

Louise, Alissa, Brooke and Lagan.

Introducing Te Awa 2022.