FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
Kia ora Koutou,
Summer is well and truly here!! I don’t think I can remember a December quite like it!! I write this newsletter after a day of events caused by this extraordinary hot weather. No doubt many of you at home heard we have to be careful with the water – yes we have had to buy two tank loads as we had almost run out of water!! Thank you to A1 Water based in Peak Road, many of the water suppliers could not help us until, next week!!
Secondly, yesterday we experienced a fire evacuation and the arrival of 3 fire engines as the fire alarms all went off (we think caused by the high heat in the admin block ceiling). No fire but obviously the high temperatures are causing these issues.
Pool Keys – With the shortage of water we have put on hold the sale of pool keys. We will reassess this next week. We apologise for this but we need to ensure we have enough water to last until the end of the school year.
WHATS BEEN HAPPENING
Junior School Athletics – An excellent day was had by the two teams; Kiwi team and Pukeko team on Friday competing at our inaugural junior school athletics. With the growth in numbers this is the first time we have split the senior school and the junior/middle school at such an event. From all teachers point of view, this has proved very successful. It was great to see such a big turn out of family supporters. Well done Mrs Millar and Mrs Collins for your organisation.
Music Performance Assembly last Wednesday 29th November – What a wonderful morning we all had listening to the vast array of musical performance items. Most were the pupils of Ross Hutchinson and Maria O’Flaherty. These two itinerant music teachers come in each week and take lessons in keyboard, singing, guitar, either individually or in groups. We all enjoyed hearing and watching the performance of these pupils, well done. This is a wonderful dimension we have at Wainui School and one that continues to grow and improve every year. If you would like your child to learn from one of these teachers, please enquire at the office or let me know.
Library and collecting for the Salvation Army – This year the year 8 leaders; Madison Goodger, Nevaeh Searle-Tulevihi and Brianna Phillips, led by Alexis Lowe, have made the library into a very special place. They have now transformed the library into a festive Christmas haven within which is a Christmas tree decorated and they are collecting cans of food for the Salvation Army. Well done girls, you are really embodying our 5R’s and making the library into a very special place. There is still time to bring in a can!! Imagine a can from every child and staff member in the school, we would donate over 300 cans!
THIS WEEK
House Christmas Day – Friday 8th December – The final House day organised by the School House leaders is planned for this Friday. Students are all to try and wear their house colours and something Christmassy!! Lots of fun Christmas themed ideas are then organised by the students for the children to particpate in.
Takahe Team Assembly – This Friday 8th December at 2.00pm. All certificates from the South Kaipara Schools Group Day will be presented at this assembly. All cups will be presented at the end of year Prizegiving.
Christmas Raffle – We have a wonderful Christmas raffle organised by the FOWS, an amazingly generous donation of a garden shed by our family with the “The Shed Company” has been donated to the school. Each family will receive one ticket to sell and of course if you would like more you can purchase more!!
NEXT WEEK
Please return all readers, library books to school and have a look at all the clothing, shoes and lunch boxes that may have been left at school. This will help us with the end of year clean up.
Last Day Friday 15th December:
8.55am: School starts as normal.
9.30am – 10.00am: Everyone goes to their new classes for 2018.
10.00am – 10.15am: Everyone back to 2017 classes to get ready for the Farewell Assembly.
10.15am – 10.45am: Farewell Assembly.
10.45am – 11.30am: Morning Tea.
11.30am – 12.45pm: Back to 2017 classes for clean up, pack up and goodbyes.
12.45pm: Meet on the courts for the final countdown.
1pm: School finishes for the year, school buses will run at 1pm.
NB: Lunches – There won’t be any lunches next week as we are finishing at 1pm on Friday 15th December.
COMING UP
Last week is:
1.”Graduation” Monday 11th December – for the year 8’s – Winter Wonderland is the theme and already so well organised by a fabulous group of parents, with Mr Irvine and Miss Stevenson.
2.“Christmas in the Country” Wednesday 13th December – A fun, family event. Bring a picnic or buy a pork roll and enjoy Christmas songs and items, for more details see our website.
3.”Prizegiving” Thursday 14th December of the last week – We celebrate all achievements for the year as identified by the teachers and myself. This is always so very difficult to make these decisions. Please believe us, we make every decision as to who we award a certificate or a cup to with extreme thought.
FINALLY
Staff changes 2018 – We have two long standing teachers, Mrs Berghan and Mrs Millar who will be leaving us at the end of the year!! Mrs Berghan is retiring after a long and happy teaching career. Mrs Millar will be taking long term refreshment leave in 2018. We will all miss them both and will be celebrating with these teachers on the very last day of term. Please let me know if you would like to come along.
OTHER
Students Voice:
News from the Librarians – Over the last week we have been collecting cans in the library to donate to the Salvation Army. We appreciate all the cans that have already been donated and can’t wait to wrap them up! We would just like to reiterate that if anybody has any spare cans lying around there is still time to donate them. Just bring them into the library at any time and we’ll put them under our tree!
Thank you and Merry Christmas! The Wainui School Library Team
SPORTS RESULTS
Remember to email your final sports results to Miss Ludwig in the office, exo@wainui.school.nz
Touch Rugby
FOR YOUR CALENDAR
- Tuesday 5th December – BOT Meeting.
- Friday 8th December – Christmas House Day.
- Friday 8th December – Takahe Assembly – 2pm.
- Monday 11th December – Year 8 Graduation – School Hall.
- Wednesday 13th December – Christmas in the Country – 5.30pm.
- Thursday 14th December – Prizegiving – 1.30pm.
- Friday 15th December – Farewell Assembly.
- Friday 15th December – Last Day of Term 4 – Finishing at 1pm, buses will run at that time.
COMMUNITY
CUE Haven www.cuehaven.com is an old dairy farm located in Glorit (overlooking the Kaipara Harbour) that the community has helped restore back to a native NZ nature reserve for the community. Since the project began in 2008 over 4,500 volunteers have planted more than 165,000 native trees and installed about 4 kms of walking tracks.
We are hosting Open Days on Saturday & Sunday – 9 and 10 December, 2017 from 10 am to 3 pm
at CUE Haven – 2704 Kaipara Coast Hwy, Araparera
Do bring along your family and friends too (but sorry no 4 – legged friends – except for trained dogs assisting people).
Feel free to bring your picnic lunch to have on the benches in the bush or by the cottage.
And remember to bring your sunblock, hat and water bottle to take on the walk.
We are very much looking forward to seeing you.
Warm regards, Trustees, CUE Haven Community Trust
