FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
Kia ora Koutou,
Who would have thought I would have been writing the newsletter to you in the second week of 2021 in Level 3 lockdown!! Let’s hope the current Alert Level 3 for Auckland will not continue beyond Wednesday. Thank you everyone for communicating with first, the teachers as to your needs. This situation reinforces the ongoing requirement for teachers and students to develop the skill sets and to support online learning. This will continue to be improved and if you don’t have a device or the capacity to work online and this continues, please do not worry we will help you with an alternative programme. All juniors in Years 1- 4 will still be learning to write, read and learn numbers in the more traditional ways, and all seniors ( years 5-8) will too, but there are so many tools to add variety to this as well to motivate the learner. I can assure you that all staff are working hard to ensure that students are well supported during this period of home learning. Thank you to everyone for doing this. At school, we have myself, Jason Irvine, Leanne Stevenson, and Shelley Ross based at school with the children of essential workers. Please read the daily updates that you receive as we are well aware that the Covid-19 situation can change very quickly, these will be in the form of posts and on Facebook in a shortened version.
BUT, what a great start we have had to 2021. It has been so lovely to welcome old and new faces in the gates, the enthusiasm for a new year is always exciting.
The New Building
This week the new classrooms are finished and the building has now been passed over to us and we are finally able to move into a new building!! The building is an architecturally designed modern learning environment and we feel very privileged to have on-site it is totally Ministry of Education funded and I know the Kiwi team (Year 3 & 4) teachers are excited to be able to move into it. You may well ask how did we choose the Kiwi team? The Kiwi team has in fact been in the oldest designed buildings over the last few years, they are also three classes so the fit was great as the building has three classrooms and three breakout rooms.
The building company ACCENT has provided Building Labourers to assist with the moving this week. Children and teachers on return will get to arrange the spaces themselves and we will order new furniture as we are also funded for this. We will have a special opening once all has returned to a more “normal” situation
THIS WEEK
Puberty Plus Talks – Year 7 & 8 – Will participate in these valuable lessons as a part of the health sex education curriculum in schools. Hopefully, the lesson will be on Thursday, if we return. The parent information evening was planned for ZOOM anyway and will go ahead tonight.
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING
The BIG BUZZ Festival – Kyle and Marjolein, Lexi and Neva Atkinson, and myself represented Wainui School at the BIG BUZZ festival on Sunday in Matakana. 
Our Bee Hives were all donated by The Warkworth Bee Club, as well we all participated in the bee lesson with Grass Esposti last year. This year we have begun our own Bee group again, this year we should have success harvesting our first honey. We even raised $45.00 to put towards gloves for the group.
NEXT WEEK if we all return!!
Beach Day is back New Date Friday 26th February – Thank you, Bella Browne Hale, a Year 8 student for using her “student agency” to bring this much-loved tradition back to Wainui School. This was a much-loved tradition that we put on hold, with a few changes i.e holding the day at Orewa beach, having a bus to enable all children to attend, and engaging Kelly Sports. We have revived the tradition and will all have a beach day on Friday as a welcome back to school, a “get to know each other day” and our student leaders to build the house spirit. All parents and caregivers are welcome for the day. Please see the extra information below re-organisation for a beach day. I look forward to seeing you all there if you can make it!!
Year 8 Students Leadership Interviews – date to be confirmed once current lockdown status is clear
The Year 8 students will present their Pitch of 60 seconds for their leadership passion and role they wish to take up this year. The students have already submitted a CV outlining their intentions for the year. Leadership as a Year 8 is integral to the year, it enables our Year 8 students to develop their leadership and their collaborative skills. These students become our Student councilors our House leaders, our Communications team, Bike track, and Team leaders. Over the years these students have achieved so many projects from driving the bike track and cycles to building a garden, to instilling both Waifactor and Master chef as part of the transitions and events we all look forward to!! We look forward to seeing what this group’s passion and enthusiasm will lead to. Mr. Irvine and I facilitate the group throughout the year.
Back to School Night traditionally called “Meet the Teacher” – Wednesday 24th February 5 pm – 7 pm – Teachers will be available to meet you as a family and children can introduce you to their teacher. Teachers will present a brief outline of the programme and love to meet you. We will also as a BOT present the key goals we have reviewed for the next 3 years’ strategic plan including budget directions.
FOWS (Friends of Wainui School or PTA parent-teacher association) – Wednesday 24th February – 7:00 pm – Please come and join this fun, active group of parents that have made over the years such a difference to what we can do at Wainui School with the ability to fundraise!! Even with a tough year in 2020, they were able to raise $35,600!! The goal before the year became affected by COVID-19 was $35,000 which was tremendous!! We welcome new members so come and meet other parents. We also have a social hour as well with drinks and nibbles!!
Takahe Team – Surfing trip to be continued on Monday. This begins the Intermediate team’s education outside the classroom challenges and adventures. All families have received the information form.
Budget and Finance – Wainui School – Decile 9 – A little gentle reminder and some facts from me!!
Fact one – As a decile 9 school, we are not eligible for the Government donation cover. All decile 10 schools still can and need to ask parents for a school donation to help manage the budget and keep us able to continue with providing the programs we do.
Fact two – The BOT of Wainui School have not changed the amount of the donation for a few years, it is still $200 per child. Our school donation is $200 per child, 2 children or more $375.00. All can be paid over the term if required.
Fact three – 5 methods of giving the donation; Kindo, Online banking or Cash, EFTPOS, Cheque directly at the office. Bank Account details : Bank: ASB Bank Account Wainui School Board of Trustees, Account Number 12 3046, 0155685 00.
Fact four – Fundraising and sponsorship are integral to keeping the school in the place it is and improving. If all contributed we would add $40,000 to the school operations grant. Thank you to everyone who does, it is just amazing for the operations of the school.
FINALLY
I wish you all well at home and so hope to see you all very soon.
Ka kite ano,
Gillian Bray
FOR YOUR CALENDAR
- Tuesday 16th February – Positive Puberty Programme Evening for Adults via Zoom – Takahe Team Only.
- Thursday 18th February – Positive Puberty Programme – Tahahe Team (If we return to school on Thursday).
- Monday 22nd February – Surfing at Orewa Beach – Takahe Team.
- Tuesday 23rd February – BOT Meeting – Staffroom – 6.00pm
- Wednesday 24th February – Back to School Night – Come and Meet the Teachers – 5pm – 7pm.
- Wednesday 24th February – FOWS Meeting – 7.00pm – Staffroom (straight after Back to School Night)
- Friday 26th February – Powhiri – 9.15am (Note the date change)
- Friday 26th February – Beach Day – Orewa Beach – 10.30am – 1.30pm – Note the date change.
- Friday 5th March – Takaha Team assembly – 9.15am
- Wednesday 10th March – Year 7 & 8 Immunisations (To be confirmed)
- Friday 12th March – Year 7 & 8 Kaipara Interschool Swimming.
- Tuesday 23rd March – BOT Meeting – Staffroom – 6.00pm
- Thursday 25th March – Year 5 & 6 Interschool Swimming.
- Monday 29th – Wednesday 31st March – Book Fair.
- Wednesday 31st March & Thursday 1st April – Learning Conversations (more information to follow closer to the date).
- Friday 9th April – Kaipara Schools Summer Sports Day
- Thursday 15th April – Bike-a-Thon Day.
- Friday 16th April – End of Term 1.
OTHER
Thinking Caps – See attached flyer for information. Starting back at Wainui on Thursday 18th February 2021.
COMMUNITY
