Newsletters

Term 1  Week 5

Wednesday 6th March 2024

Welcome – Nau mai haere mai

Tena koutou katoa

The board select their Presiding Member ( previously known as Board Chair) at the first meeting of each year. David England was elected by the meeting to lead the board for the next 12 months. I would like to congratulate Dave while at the same time offering sincere thanks to outgoing Presiding member, Stacey Clough, who still remains on the board. 

Dave shared a little about himself:

“Along with Hollie and our three girls, we have been farming in the Ngaere area for the last 10 years. One of our daughters is still at Ngaere School. My interests include motorbikes, mountain biking and enjoying family time. I was elected to the board 5 years ago and in that time have held the Property portfolio, being responsible for prioritising the upgrading and maintenance work with the Ministry of Education and more recently, replacing the turf. I was elected to lead our dedicated and hard working team to support Megan and her great team of staff going forward to do the best we can for all our children.

Thank you, Dave England.”

Moving forwards this year, the board would like to tidy up the school hall and seek suggestions as to what an upgrade may look like. If you have an opinion or idea, please feel free to email Karen in the office or call in and fill in one of our ‘Hall Upgrade’ suggestion slips in the office. As the hall is owned by the school the cost of this must be met by the school rather than through the Ministry. We are lucky enough to have a starting amount of $48,000 which was gifted to us by the now closed Ngaere Hall Committee. We will keep you posted on this project.

Late last year a small number of families responded to a school survey. While there were no obvious strong themes to emerge, as a board we were reassured that we are meeting the needs of the children at our school.

A reminder that school is closed on Friday (Teacher Only Day) and Monday (Taranaki Anniversary Day)

Nga mihi, Megan

Room 2 children enjoyed a great visit to Beck Helicopters to support their learning about “Things that Move”. A huge thankyou to Beck Helicopters and parents who helped with transport.

School is closed Friday 08th & Monday 11th March

Senior Swimming Sports: Tuesday 12 March

The  Swimming Sports will be held at the Stratford Pool on Tuesday 12 March beginning at 10.10am. This event is for children in Year 5-8 (includes some children from Room 4). Parents are welcome to attend. if available to assist on the day ie. as a time keeper please see Mr Mercer.

All children will travel by bus to this event and will be returning at approx 1pm. Children are to have enough food and water to snack on during the morning – we will not be stopping to eat. Please do not send your child with money – the shop will not be open to us.

WINTER SPORTS COACHES

We still need coaches for the following teams:  Netball Year 3-4 Team and the Hockey Year 3-4 team.  If you are able to help in any way please contact the school office.  Thank you.

SCHOOL SUNHATS: Students are issued their first school sunhat for free when they start at Ngaere.  Children must wear our school sunhats from Labour Weekend until Taranaki Anniversary for outside play. Outside of these months they are not compulsory. It is their responsbility to look after it and to put it somewhere safe after each break.  The cost of these has risen so a replacement hat will now be $18. 

TURNBALL CUP RESULTS: Congratulations to all those who participated in the Turnball Cup Swimming Competition on 21/02/2024.  Results are as follows:

1st Daniel Taunt Year 8 Boys 50m Freestyle, 3rd Olivia Waite Year 8 Girls 50m Freestyle, 3rd Quinn O’Sullivan Year 7 Boys 50m Freestyle, 2nd Riley Otene Year 7 50m Boys Freestyle, 3rd Place in the Centenial Cup Relay, 1st & 3rd in the Small Schools Relay.  Well done!

                          A huge thank you to the                          Stratford St Andrews Op Shop

who have very kindly donated a couple of boxes of stationery to the school.

Room 3 Pictured with the donated stationery

SCHOOL POOL: With the weather turning cooler classes may not be swimming every day. The pool will remain open to the public until after Easter weekend. If you no longer require a key, please return it to the office. We will be changing the lock at the end of this swimming season.

TENDERS FOR MAIZE

The maize is looking amazing! The PTA are asking anyone who may be keen to purchase the maize to send their tender in to the school office (in an envelope with price, name and contact details) by Tuesday 19th March. The crop covers just over 1ha. 

Forward Planning – Some Dates for your calendar

• Friday 8 March – Teacher Only Day (Kahui Ako wide) School Closed
• Monday 11 March – Taranaki Anniversay Day – School Closed
• Tuesday 12 March – Senior Swimming Sports 
• Monday 25 March – PTA Meeting AGM 7pm – Everyone Welcome
• Wednesday 27 March – Weetbix Tryathlon New Plymouth
• Friday 29 March – Good Friday
• Monday 1 / Tuesday 2 April – Easter Holidays
• Thursday 4 April – Junior Athletics
• Sunday 7 April – Day Light Saving Ends
• Thursday 11 April – Whanau Day / Afternoon
• Friday 12 April – Last Day Term 1

Rest of the Year Please note that some of these dates may change and others may be added

• Monday 29 April – Term 2 begins
• Friday 31 May – Teacher Only Day (school closed)
• Monday 3 June – King’s Birthday (school closed)
• Monday 17 June – Jones Cup (yr 5-8)
• Friday 28 June – Matariki Day (school closed)
• Friday 5 July – Last Day Term 2
• Monday 22 July – Term 3 Begins
• Friday 6 Sept – School Photos
• Wednesday 18 Sept – School Production
• Friday 27 Sept – Last Day Term 3
• Monday 14 October – Term 4 Begins
• Wednesday 16 Oct – Pet Day
• Tuesday 12 – Thursday 13 Nov – Yr 7 & 8 Camp, TOPEC
• Thursday 12 Dec – End of Year Prize Giving 
• Tuesday 17 Dec – Last day 2024

COMMUNITY NOTICES:

Taranaki Diocesan School for Girls – Stratford

An integrated Anglican Year 9 – Year 13 Boarding and Day School

OPEN DAY – Wednesday 20 March 2024 – visit anytime between 10 am – 2 pm

Enrolments: Weekly Boarding, Part Boarding (2/3 nights) and Day Students

Daily transport options from and to New Plymouth and Hawera

Prospectus Packages available 06 765 5333   sandrac@taranakidio.school.nz

Virtual Tours available any time via website  www.taranakidio.school.nz

Term 1  Week 4

Wednesday 28th February 2024

Welcome – Nau mai haere mai

Tena koutou katoa

A very warm welcome to George and Kendall who have joined Room 1 this week!

HEARING AND VISION TESTING AT SCHOOL MONDAY 4TH MARCH

Vison and hearing screening is completed by Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand Vision and Hearing Technicians at our school. The technicians will be visiting our school on Monday 4th March.

Eligible children include:

• New Entrants – for children who are new to school, and/or have not completed their B4 School Check and/or require further testing post B4 School Check.
• Year 7 & 8- Routine vision screening is completed for all Year 7 students and any Year 8 students who have not completed the Year 7 screening and/or students that require further testing.

If you have any queries or concerns, or do not wish for your child to have this screening done, please contact the school office.

REMINDER:

TEACHER ONLY DAY Friday 8th March.

This is a Kahui Ako initiative that allows local schools the opportunity to come together for professional learning and sharing opportunities.

PARENT/TEACHER INTERVIEWS:  Thank you to those families who attended interviews this week. Room 4 / Whaia Mandy will have times available next week to catch up with any parenst needing interviews. Please look for her Seesaw post or arrange a time with her directly.

Although we have Parent / Teacher Interviews twice a year, please do not hesitate to make a time to catch up with your child’s teacher outside of these dates should you have a concern. As teachers have other professional and personal commitments on some days after school, please ensure you make an appointment time.

Senior Swimming Sports: Tuesday 12 March

The Rural Group Cluster Swimming Sports will be held at the Stratford Pool on Tuesday 12 March beginning at 10.10am. This event is for children in Year 5-8 (includes some children from Room 4). Parents are welcome to attend. if available to assist on the day ie. as a time keeper please see Mr Mercer.

All children will travel by bus to this event and will be returning at approx 1pm.

Tennis Coaching: $40.00 for a 30mins for 1 on1. $25.00 each for groups of 2 children or $20.00 each for groups of 4 children. Lessons 30 mins. once a week for next 6 weeks.  May be at lunchtime or during school time depending on the availability of the coach. Please let Karen in the office know if you are interested in one of these options.

Year 7 & 8 Tech: Each Tuesday our Year 7 or 8 learners head to Stratford High School for Tech. This is the second year we have been able to be involved and while the programme is still being tweaked and adjusted we are happy with the level of engagement from our children. 

Winter Sports: Please ensure all sports notices are returned to school by Friday this week. This will allow our Sports Coordinator, Mr Mercer time to determine the number of teams to enter in each code competition for this year. Thankyou to those who have indicated a willingness to coach. We cannot enter teams without coaches so fully appreciate the commitment you make.

Please note, the registration costs of these sports is not set by the school and we do not want the costs to prohibit any child playing sport. Please make a time to discuss this confidentially if needed.

TENDERS FOR MAIZE

The maize is looking amazing! The PTA are asking anyone who may be keen to purchase the maize to send their tender in to the school office (in an envelope with price, name and contact details) by Tuesday 19th March. The crop covers just over 1ha 

Weetbix Tryathlon: Wednesday 27 March

As in previous years we will not be entering this event as a school. Should you wish your child to take part the entry form and details are on the webpage at https://tryathlon.co.nz/locations/new-plymouth/  Early bird registration of $52.50 closes today!

William Pike Challenge: This year we are very excited to offer our Year 8 learners the opportunity to take part in the William Pike Challenge, a year long programme combining outdoor learning experiences which challenge the individuals,  service activities to explore, develop (and strengthen) empathy and compassion, and passion projects to develop self belief and perserverance. Miss Hulme is exploring different options for covering all interests and levels of fitness with the outdoor challenges as well as looking for ideas of service activities. If you have any ways you can support this programme we would love to hear from you. This may be knowing someone who would appreciate someone giving a couple of hours to stack firewood, weed a garden, walk a dog…

Room 7 will be sharing more once they are more fully into the programme.

If you would still like to order a William Pike T-Shirt for your child please have orders and the payment of $32 back to school by Friday 01st March. Payment can be deposited into the Student Council account 15-3951-0377712-00.  Thank you.  

Last week to come and visit the  Amazing Maize Maze

A huge thank you to the PTA, parent helpers and sponsors for all the work on the Maize Maze so far.  The first two weekends have been a great success. Don’t forget to tell your family and friends all about it!  If you are able to help at any of the up and coming Maize Maze dates, please see Karen in the office.  

Forward Planning – Some Dates for your calendar

• Thursday 29 February – Scholastic Book Club Due
• Thursday 29 February – Board Meeting
• Monday 4 March – Hearing & Vision Testing 9am
• Friday 8 March – Teacher Only Day (Kahui Ako wide) School Closed
• Monday 11 March – Taranaki Anniversay Day – School Closed
• Tuesday 12 March – Senior Swimming Sports 
• Monday 25 March – PTA Meeting AGM 7pm
• Wednesday 27 March – Weetbix Tryathlon New Plymouth
• Friday 29 March – Good Friday
• Monday 1 / Tuesday 2 April – Easter Holidays
• Thursday 4 April – Junior Athletics
• Thursday 11 April – Whanau Day / Afternoon
• Friday 12 April – Last Day Term 1

Rest of the Year Please note that some of these dates may change and others may be added

• Friday 31 May – Teacher Only Day
• Monday 3 June – King’s Birthday
• Monday 17 June – Jones Cup (yr 5-8)
• Friday 28 June – Matariki (School closed)
• Friday 6 Sept – School Photos
• Wednesday 18 Sept – School Production
• Wednesday 16 Oct – Pet Day
• Tuesday 12 – Thursday 13 Nov – Yr 7 & 8 Camp, TOPEC
• Thursday 12 Dec – End of Year Prize Giving 
• Tuesday 17 Dec – Last day 2024

COMMUNITY NOTICES:

Taranaki Diocesan School for Girls – Stratford

An integrated Anglican Year 9 – Year 13 Boarding and Day School

OPEN DAY – Wednesday 20 March 2024 – visit anytime between 10 am – 2 pm

Enrolments: Weekly Boarding, Part Boarding (2/3 nights) and Day Students

Daily transport options from and to New Plymouth and Hawera

Prospectus Packages available 06 765 5333   sandrac@taranakidio.school.nz

Virtual Tours available any time via website  www.taranakidio.school.nz

Term 1  Week 4

Wednesday 21st January 2024

Welcome – Nau mai haere mai

Tena koutou katoa

We have enjoyed having our first full week so we can really start getting the weekly routine going with our classes. Although the public holidays are welcome, the flipside of this is the stop start makes it more challenging for our kids to get their flow on. 

It has been widely publicised that every NZ school is required to teach 1 hour of
Reading, Writing and Mathematics every day. I assure you that this has been and
continues to be the expected teaching practice at Ngaere School. Another Government set reguation is around the use of cell phones at school. Little will change at Ngaere. Children do not need cell phones at school. If they do ‘arrive’ at school it is the expectation that they are handed in to the school office and collected at the end of the day. Parents who need to contact their child can do so through the school office. Karen’s hours are 8.30am – 3pm.

A huge thankyou to Sasha for the work in the garden over the past week. If anyone would like to volunteer for a wee while each week to keep the gardens under control we would love to hear from you.

Just a reminder about attendance expectations:

Attendance and engagement at school continues to be a major focus for the Ministry of Education (MOE). The MOE want all children attending school 90% or more of the time and have defined the following:

• Any student who is attending less than 90% is considered an attendance concern.
• Students who have an attendance rate between 80-90% are considered to be irregularly absent.
• Students who have an attendance rate between 70-80% are considered to be moderately absent.
• Students who have an attendance rate below 70% are considered to be chronically absent.

Our attendance rates for Term 4 are summarised as 70.4% attendance 90% or more of the time. This compares with just 61.9% attendance 90% or more of the time in Term 4 2022. Ministry target for 2024 is 70% attendance 90% or more of the time.

A reminder, that if your child is going to be absent, please advise the school.  This can be done either by ringing the school office (06) 764 8643, email the school: office@ngere.school.nz or via the skool loop app.

Nga mihi

Megan England (Principal)

HEARING AND VISION TESTING AT SCHOOL MONDAY 04TH MARCH

Vison and hearing screening is completed by Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand Vision and Hearing Technicians at our school. The technicians will be visiting our school on Monday 04th March at 9am to test eligible children for vision and/or hearing. Eligible children include:
New Entrant Routine screening is completed for children who are new to school, and/or have not completed their B4 School Check and/or require further testing post B4 School Check.
Year 7
Routine vision screening is completed for all Year 7 students and Year 8 students who have not completed the Year 7 screening and/or students that require further testing.

If you have any queries or concerns, or do not wish for your child to have this screening done, please contact the school office.

TEACHER ONLY DAY:  Ngaere School will be closed for a Teacher Only Day on 8th March. This is a Kahui Ako initiative that allows local schools the opportunity to come together for professional learning and sharing opportunities.

PARENT/TEACHER INTERVIEWS:  Interview times are now available on our Skool Loop App for Rooms 5, 6 & 7.  If you do not have the skool loop app, please see Karen in the office to make an appointment time.

Room 4 interviews will be at a later date once Whaia Mandy is back at school.

Room 1, 2, 3  had a Junior Classes parent meeting on Monday 19th February here at school to hear about the plans in the Junior rooms. If you still wish to meet with your child’s teacher, please see them to make a 1-1 appointment time . 

Turnbull Cup Tonight: This is to be held at Wai o Rua – Stratford Aquatic Centre on Wednesday 21st February. Warm up for swimmers will begin at 6.30 pm with racing starting at 6.50pm.

The Turnbull Cup is an inter-school swimming competition between schools in Central Taranaki which is organised by Stratford Flyers Swimming Club.  The Turnbull Cup is contested in 2 sections – Large Schools and Small Schools.  We will be entering two relay teams in the Small Schools section and twelve competitors in the individual races. 

Good luck to those who are swimming.

Junior Swimming Sports:   This is for Year 1-4 children and will be tomorrow, Thursday 22nd February from 1pm until 2.30pm at the Rawhitiroa Pool.  Students will be travelling by bus, leaving Ngaere School 12.15pm to this event. Parents are more than welcome to come along and take your child home at the end of the event.

School Uniform: A reminder that school uniform is a dark blue polo shirt. We would prefer children not to wear their sports shirts on a daily bais as it is not part of our everyday uniform. A new order has been placed for larger polos and you will be notified when these arrive. In the meantime we do have a stock of Youth XS, S, M, XL on hand. There are plenty of polar fleeces too for when the weather turns cooler.

Tennis Coaching: $40.00 for a 30mins for 1 on1. $25.00 each for groups of 2 children or $20.00 each for groups of 4 children. Lessons 30 mins. once a week for next 6 weeks.  May be at lunchtime or during school time depending on the availability of the coach. Please let Karen in the office know if you are interested in one of these options.

Don’t forget to come and visit the  Amazing Maize Maze

A huge thank you to the PTA, parent helpers and sponsors for all the work on the Maize Maze so far.  The first two sessions have been a great success. Don’t forget to tell your family and friends all about it!  If you are able to help at any of the up and coming Maize Maze dates, please see Karen in the office.  

Forward Planning – Some Dates for your calendar

• Wednesday 21 Feb – Turnbull Cup 6.30pm
• Thursday 22 Feb – Junior Swimming Sports
• Monday 26 / Tuesday 27 Feb – Parent Teacher Interviews
• Monday 4 March – Hearing & Vision Testing 9am
• Friday 8 March – Teacher Only Day (Kahui Ako wide)
• Monday 11 March – Taranaki Anniversay Day
• Tuesday 12 March – Senior Swimming Sports (TBC)
• Monday 25 March – PTA Meeting AGM 7pm
• Friday 29 March – Good Friday
• Monday 1 / Tuesday 2 April – Easter Holidays
• Thursday 4 April – Junior Athletics
• Thursday 11 April – Whanau Day / Afternoon
• Friday 12 April – Last Day Term 1

Rest of the Year Please note that some of these dates may change and others may be added

• Friday 31 May – Teacher Only Day
• Monday 3 June – King’s Birthday
• Monday 17 June – Jones Cup (yr 5-8)
• Friday 28 June – Matariki (School closed)
• Friday 6 Sept – School Photos
• Wednesday 18 Sept – School Production
• Wednesday 16 Oct – Pet Day
• Tuesday 12 – Thursday 13 Nov – Yr 7 & 8 Camp, TOPEC
• Thursday 12 Dec – End of Year Prize Giving 
• Tuesday 17 Dec – Last day 2024

COMMUNITY NOTICES:

Taranaki Diocesan School for Girls – Stratford

An integrated Anglican Year 9 – Year 13 Boarding and Day School

OPEN DAY – Wednesday 20 March 2024 – visit anytime between 10 am – 2 pm

Enrolments: Weekly Boarding, Part Boarding (2/3 nights) and Day Students

Daily transport options from and to New Plymouth and Hawera

Prospectus Packages available 06 765 5333   sandrac@taranakidio.school.nz

Virtual Tours available any time via website  www.taranakidio.school.nz

Term 1  Week 3

Wednesday 14th January 2024

Welcome – Nau mai haere mai

Tena koutou katoa

We have had a lovely start to the year and it is great to see children settling into their new class routines despite the disruptions that have gone around them with staff away.

I would like to take the opportunity to welcome Mrs Sue Fergus to our school in the role of LSC (Learning Support Coordinator) through the Kahui Ako as well as Mrs Sonia Vind in her new role as RTLB (Resource Teacher of Learning & Behaviour). Although neither of them are based in our school they do come in  regularly to work with and support staff.

The pool is well used during the day with all classes swimming. Last week we were fortunate to have the support of Kate Brown to assist teachers and children in their swimming times. She also spent some time with the Turnbull Cup swimmers. 

Please ensure your child’s school uniform top, fleece and jacket are well named. We have had children go home in a top that is not their own on more than one occassion after swimming. If your child arrives home with items that are clearly not theirs, please return so we can reunite with their owner. Thank you.

You will have seen reference to parent Interviews in the first newsletter of the year. Interview times will become available on our Skool Loop app next week. Room 1, 2, 3 parents are invited to a Junior Classes parent meeting on Monday 19th Feb at 3pm to hear about the plans in the Junior rooms. Parents are then able to decide if they wish to make a 1-1 time to meet with their child’s teacher. 

Across the school, classes have been focusing on what it takes to be a learner at Ngaere School with a focus on our shared PMC values (Proud, Motivated, Confident learner). A lot of time has been spent on revisiting the routines and expectations both in the classroom and the playground.

COVID is still very much part of our lives and the recent illnesses of staff and children is a reminder to us all to be mindful of the need to be monitoring health and keeping an eye out for symptoms. 

Newsletters will be published weekly and circulated via email as well as through the Skool Loop app. It is also published on the school website. The newsletter is one of our main ways of communication. If you require a paper copy please get in touch with Karen in the office.

Nga mihi

Megan

Turnbull Cup: This is to be held at Wai o Rua – Stratford Aquatic Centre on Wednesday 21st February. Warm up for swimmers will begin at 6.30 pm with racing starting at 6.50pm.

The Turnbull Cup is an inter-school swimming competition between schools in Central Taranaki which is organised by Stratford Flyers Swimming Club.  The Turnbull Cup is contested in 2 sections – Large Schools and Small Schools.  We will be entering two relay teams in the Small Schools section and twelve competitors in the individual races. There is also a Business House relay for any parents who might want to get a team together.

Good luck to those who are swimming.

School Picnic: Bring along a picnic tea and catch up with other school families on Friday night 5pm – 8pm. The pool will be open until 7pm and the PTA will have  barbeque food for sale.  This co-incide’s with the opening of the Maize Maze on the same night. Families are welcome to come along and take the opportunity to go through the maze – cost $5pp

Junior Swimming Sports:   This will be next Thursday 22nd February from 1pm until 2.30pm at the Rawhitiroa Pool.  Students will be travelling by bus to this event, but parents are more than welcome to come along.  A note about this afternoon will be sent home on Monday. 

School Uniform: A reminder that school uniform is a dark blue polo shirt. We would prefer children not wear their sports shirts as a uniform. A new order has been placed for larger polos and you will be notified when these arrive. In the meantime we do have a stock of Youth XS, S, M, XL on hand. There are plenty of polar fleeces too.

Tennis Coaching: $40.00 for a 30mins for 1 on1. $25.00 each for groups of 2 children or $20.00 each for groups of 4 children. Lessons 30 mins. once a week for next 6 weeks.  May be at lunchtime or during school time depending on the availability of the coach. Please let Karen in the office know if you are interested in one of these options.

Don’t forget to come and visit the  Amazing Maize Maze

Forward Planning – Some Dates for your calendar

• Friday 16 Feb – Assembly in the hall at 2.30pm
• Friday 16 Feb – PTA Maize Maze open / School Picnic evening 5pm
• Monday 19 Feb – Junior Hub Parent meeting 3pm
• Wednesday 21 Feb – Turnbull Cup 6.30pm
• Thursday 22 Feb – Junior Swimming Sports
• Monday 26 / Tuesday 27 Feb – Parent Teacher Interviews
• Friday 8 March – Teacher Only Day (Kahui Ako wide)
• Monday 11 March – Taranaki Anniversay Day
• Tuesday 12 March – Senior Swimming Sports (TBC)
• Friday 29 March – Good Friday
• Monday 1 / Tuesday 2 April – Easter Holidays
• Thursday 4 April – Junior Athletics
• Thursday 11 April – Whanau Day / Afternoon
• Friday 12 April – Last Day Term 1

Rest of the Year Please note that some of these dates may change and others may be added

• Friday 31 May – Teacher Only Day
• Monday 3 June – King’s Birthday
• Monday 17 June – Jones Cup (yr 5-8)
• Friday 28 June – Matariki (School closed)
• Friday 6 Sept – School Photos
• Wednesday 18 Sept – School Production
• Wednesday 16 Oct – Pet Day
• Tuesday 12 – Thursday 13 Nov – Yr 7 & 8 Camp, TOPEC
• Thursday 12 Dec – End of Year Prize Giving 
• Tuesday 17 Dec – Last day 2024

COMMUNITY NOTICES:

Term 1  Week 1

Wednesday 31st January 2024

Welcome – Nau mai haere mai

Tena koutou katoa

Welcome back to a new year of school. We have begun the year with a roll of 150 with 6 more five year olds due this term. A special welcome to our new students and their familes: Piper and Leo in Room 1, Jett in Room 4 and Eve in Room 7.

This newsletter is a quick update and list of reminders.

For 2024 our classes are:

Room 1 & 2: Year 1&2 Ms Tarsh Hey & Miss Kathryn Duncan (Learning Support Sherri Matthews)                                                                                                    Room 3: Year 3&4 Miss Denise Reynolds (Learning Support Emma Mercer / Vicki Caldwell)                                                                                                                        Room 4: Year 4&5  Whaea Mandy Crowe (Learning Support Carol Henderson)        Room 5: Year 5&6 Mr Jonny Mercer (Learning Support Carol Henderson)                  Room 6: Year 7 Miss Emma Dravitzki (Learning Support Lynn Longshaw)                  Room 7: Year 8 Miss Lisa Hulme (Learning Support Lynn Longshaw)                    Mrs Penny Andrews Reading Recovery                                                                        Mrs Kate Brown Specialist Teacher Health & PE                                                          Release / Relievers Mrs Donna Bridgeman, Mrs Maree Johnson & Miss Cushla Best

Some Important Reminders

• If you wish to meet with your child’s teacher please make an appointment time by either emailing the teacher or through the school office. Do not assume the teacher will have time to talk first thing in the morning.
• School is open on Monday 5th February but closed for Tuesday 6th (Waitangi Day).
• All school stationery is provided. This year there is a one-off charge of $10 to help cover costs. 
• We supply your child with a Summer school hat and Winter beanie (the first one is free) when they start at school.  Any replacement hats can be purchased from the school office.
• Learning and many class notices are shared through a platform called “Seesaw”.  Your child’s teacher will send information on how to connect to this. 
• We ask all parents to download a free app called “Skool Loop”.  Here you will find our school newsletters (Wednesdays), report an absence, book an interview, see any school notices and school contact details.
• We swim every day during until at least mid March in our school pool. It is a heated pool. It is an expectation that children take part in daily swimming. For the first two weeks we will utilise Mrs Brown’s expertise in the pool.
• Our school times: First Learning block 8.55 – 10.35am, Morning Tea 10.35am -11am, 2nd Learning Block 11.am -12.30pm, Lunch 12.30pm – 1.30pm (children spend first 15 mins eating) 3rd Learning Block 1.30pm -3pm. Please name all your child’s clothing including their togs and towels.
• If you have changed address, phone number or any other contact details, please advise Karen in the office so our records can be updated.
• There are a few outstanding accounts from 2023. Please pay these or see Karen about setting up a payment plan.

Forward Planning – Some Dates for your calendar

• Tuesday 6 Feb – Waitangi Day (no school)
• Friday 16th Feb – PTA Maize Maze open / School Picnic evening 5pm
• Wednesday 21 Feb – Turnbull Cup 6.30pm
• Monday 26 / Tuesday 27 Feb – Parent Teacher Interviews
• Friday 8 March – Teacher Only Day (Kahui Ako wide)
• Monday 11 March – Taranaki Anniversay Day
• Tuesday 12 March – Senior Swimming Sports (TBC)
• Friday 29 March – Good Friday
• Monday 1 / Tuesday 2 April – Easter Holidays
• Thursday 4 April – Junior Athletics
• Thursday 11 April – Whanau Day / Afternoon
• Friday 12 April – Last Day Term 1

Rest of the Year Please note that some of these dates may change and others may be added

• Friday 31 March – Teacher Only Day
• Monday 3 June – King’s Birthday
• Monday 17 June – Jones Cup (yr 5-8)
• Friday 28 June – Matariki (School closed)
• Monday 9 Sept – School Photos
• Wednesday 18 Sept – School Production
• Wednesday 16 Oct – Pet Day
• Tuesday 12 – Thursday 13 Nov – Yr 7 & 8 Camp, TOPEC
• Thursday 12 Dec – End of Year Prize Giving 
• Tuesday 17 Dec – Last day 2024