Teacher Only Day was a day of two halves for us as a staff.  The first half was time for assessment improvement, learning to use our new tools to assess our students in preparation for our changes in reporting to you as parents. In the afternoon the teachers went to Orewa College to join the Kahui Ako ki Orewa cluster of schools; Orewa Primary, Silverdale School, Orewa Beach, Dairy Flat and Orewa College to “relaunch” the Kahui Ako ki Orewa. This involved all the teachers and principals of the schools being together formally introducing; myself and Cameron Lockie (Silverdale Principal)  as the co- leaders of the Kahui Ako ki Orewa with the four Across school leaders; Leanne Evans (Orewa College), Bridget O’Dea (Orewa Primary), Mark Ralston and Jackie Boyd (Silverdale Primary). The 20 Within School leaders were introduced, our Within School leaders are Leanne Stevenson and Sandy Blackburn. Together we are driving focus goals, building collaboration across the schools. I have linked the Kahui Ako ki Orewa website to this newsletter and we will update our school website to include this website for your information. Kahui Ako ki Orewa

All the support staff were also at school on Friday ensuring our school is supported by resource organisation, having time to focus on the library, the grounds, the lost property, the kitchen and the reading resources.

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING

Camp at Shakespear Lodge, Shakespear Park – What a great success for everyone involved!! A huge thank you to teachers, Leanne Stevenson and Jason Irvine for your organisation and enthusiasm!!  A huge thank you to the parents that attended camp this year, camps cannot happen without you all taking time out of your busy lives to support and care at camp. Camp parents were; Nikki Browne, Pare Hape, Elise Louard, Tanya Hetherington, Mel Mayes, Melissa Scorringe, Lindsay Ledger, Matt Bartrom, Pete Adlam, John Keller, Colin Matthews, Jake Russell and Brent Robinson.  Thank you also to Barbara De Cort, Teacher Aide.

We have included a paragraph from some of the Year 8 girls, plus we will see and hear more at the next full school assembly next week. We can see lasting memories were made, students challenged themselves in new outdoor skills and so much fun was had at the annual camp concert!! Camps are getting harder for schools to have, with costs rising, health and safety procedures being even tighter, but undoubtedly they are still as much value as ever if you speak to the students and adults that participated!!!

Kia Ora, This is Talia Minton and Bella Browne Hale, two of your student councillors. At the start of week 5, the Year 7 & 8’s went to YMCA Shakespeare lodge as our camp for 2021. It was such an amazing time and since it was our last camp it made the moments so much more memorable. We did so many fun activities, like mountain boarding, which is basically like extreme skateboarding downhills. Another activity was raft building and to our surprise, our rafts actually floated! Some other activities were archery, bush cooking, UHF radios and climbing.

We also had delicious meals like nachos and spaghetti bolognese topped off with even better deserts like chocolate mousse with peaches. But we have to say, one of our favourite moments was the lip sync battle. Definitely ‘not’ because we won. But either way it was still a blast. The lip sync battle is when you get on stage and lip sync and dance to one of your favourite songs. Leaving the lodge made us quite sad as camp is such a fun experience. We both wish we could do it again. Anyway, that’s enough from us, ka kite ano!

Staff news – Mrs Blackburn will be on leave for the next two weeks to recover from her successful knee operation. We are fortunate to have Mrs Tracey Uhe who will be in Rimu’s class for the next two weeks, Mrs Uhe is usually one day a week in Miss Goodyer’s Year 5 & 6 class (Nikau).  Miss Goodyer will step in as Team Leader and be here for the full 2 weeks whilst Mrs Blackburn is on leave. Apart from “get well” messages, please do not contact Mrs Blackburn whilst she is recovering, please contact the current classroom teacher. If you are still unsure, the office or any management team member including myself can help you out.

THIS WEEK 

Wai Factor Auditions are happening this week – Very exciting for all the participants!! Charlotte, Talia, Bella, Olly, and their friends in Year 8 are all organised and ready for this to start.

Hibiscus Coast interschool Football tournament Year 5 & 6 students – 4 teams from our Year 5 & 6 students will be playing in this tournament at Stanmore Bay HBC AFC on Thursday 10th June.  Mr Ng will be accompanying the teams who have been practicing at school.