FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
Kia ora Koutou,
This week my newsletter will focus on the community groups in our school. We are so very fortunate to have a productive, focused Board of Trustees and a vibrant, productive and positive FOWS group (Friends of Wainui School). Both groups are voluntary although the Board members all receive a small amount of resourcing to fund their attendance at a meeting. The FOWS group is purely voluntary.
Having these groups functioning so well enables Wainui School to be clear about the direction of the school and fund the school to a greater level than the Ministry of Education funds us for. Come and join the FOWS and make a difference for your own child and all the children of Wainui School. Don’t be shy!! Make a good effort to attend the fundraisers, bring your family and friends, every little bit helps!! The teachers and some support staff are always expected to help and support fundraisers. Come and join them, it is then a team effort.
The first FOWS meeting was last week, following meetings are usually once a month on a Wednesday in the school staffroom. This year the committee is headed by Denise Ditchburn, Secretary is Kylie Allen & Vanya Paladin, Treasurer Catherine Southwick, BOT rep Nikki Browne. The committee comprises of Sandy Tucker, Vanessa Lloyd, Cindy Cator, Isabelle Blais-Smith, Gillian Bray, Wendy Taylor, Louise Pengelly, Emma Coupe, Ros Minto, Brenda Dixon, April Sawyer, Fiona & Jason McIntyre. All new members will be warmly welcomed. Please contact the office if you need more information or want to be put in touch with a member of the committee.
The Fishing Competition and Summer Festival – Further information will be on the Wainui School facebook page where updates will be posted regularly by Jason McIntyre. Plus further information can be found in the newsletter. See the flyer at the end of the newsletter as the FOWS are looking for volunteers for the Summer Festival day. This week we are collecting grocery items for the raffles. Items will be gratefully received in the blue
The Summer Festival is shaping up to be lots of fun, Kylie Allen has made 14 games for all ages. There will be lots of waterslides, bouncy castles, bouncy assault courses, and delicious food. So come along even if you are not a fisherperson and have fun.
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING
Swimming – The pool has been a very welcome asset this summer and continues to be used daily by all classes. This week the annual school swimming sports will be held at Waitoki School pool for the senior school yrs 5-8. All children are expected to participate, they swim according to their ability and swim for points for their house to win the house cup.
More swimming pool news!! – The Tucker family, Sandy and Chris and their children Alex and Scott have sponsored a pool cover for our school pool!! This is amazing and we know it will help keep the pool warmer and extend the life of the swimming season!! A huge thank you for this. This begins the sponsorship for the year. If your family would like to sponsor something or a programme as well, please let me know. The FOWS have also created a sponsorship package they will be launching very soon, with more details of different ways to do this.
THIS WEEK
BOT Meeting – This is our first meeting for the year. BOT meetings are public meetings and are held in the school staffroom at 6.30pm. You are always welcome to attend. The minutes are posted on the website for you to read. Tonight’s meeting will be all about ratifying the 2018 Charter, annual plan, and budget for 2018.
Year 7&8 EOTC trip to the Auckland War Memorial Museum – Today the students are visiting this wonderful resource, it ties in with our school theme of “Our Place” and their science focus.
Farewell Assembly for Frank & Lily Son – They have been with us for four weeks. We have loved having you both! The Kiwi & Tui teams are having a special farewell assembly tomorrow, Wednesday 28th February at 2pm. We wish you all the very best and safe travels home to Korea.
UK Rhyme Show Thursday 1st March – We are looking forward to welcoming Andy and Joe all the way from England with their show that combines literacy with a good dose of humour.
NEXT WEEK
P.A.T. Testing – Year 4- 8 will be all participating in the Progressive and Achievement Tests. These are standardised tests teachers use to make judgments on where a child is performing relative to their age and their year level. They are also used diagnostically to confirm gaps in learning. Please ensure your child is prepared for the test with arriving at school on time, being late cause anxiety particularly in children. Having had breakfast, being happy and ready for school, is a great start, thank you.
COMING UP
Learning Conversations – These are in a week 9, Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th March. All children will be participating. We like to ensure every child and parent is able to meet the teacher and talk about the learning so far this year. We aim for 100% attendance. A booking system will be set up very soon.
FINALLY
Wheels – We ask that all shoes with wheels, scooters, skateboards, bikes, roller blades, go-carts stay at home unless the school, team or class create a specific wheels day or programme. This is always the way we have encouraged playing with our wheels before. The children are supervised for this activity. Our school is not designed for a huge number of these activities to occur, it has limited space, for all 284 of us to play at free times with very uneven concrete surfaces in many areas. We have a bike track with our own school bikes for children to use, this is working very successfully and safely. Thank you to the parents who have asked if we are allowed. From time to time new trends occur and we need to make these decisions. All our decisions are based around Health and Safety.
Ka kite ano,
Gillian Bray
OTHER
The Fishing Competition begins on Friday 16th March at 4pm and runs through to Sunday 18th March at 1.30pm. You can go fishing at any stage throughout this time, though you must have your fish weighed in between 12.30-1.30pm at the school on Sunday to be eligible for the prizes. The entry fee is $35, with children under 16 free. Register before Friday 9th March for the early bird registration special of $25. Remember you must be registered to be eligible for the prizes (children must also register). Please contact the school office either at the office or on email: [email protected] to register and for a copy of the rules.
The Summer Festival side of the event runs from 11.30am with bouncy castles, waterslides, assault course, face painting, balloon twisting, a colouring competition, raffles, lots of games, great food and drinks, live music and much, much more.
At 2.30pm there will be a live fish auction where you can bid on the fish that has been caught and take fresh fish home for dinner!
We’re looking for sponsors of this event, help in organizing the event and donations of prizes for the event. If you can help in any way please email [email protected].
CERTIFICATES
At the last assembly, the following students received certificates for “Resilient”.
- Kauri: Lucy Elliott, Briar-Rose Stevenson. Writing: Sam Hussey.
- Kahikatea: Cian O’Brien, Molly Taylor. Writing:Ty Browne Hale.
- Rimu: Te Pourewa Hape-Webby, William Houghton. Writing:Kate Frantzen.
- Matai: Zak Peterken, Riley Purdie. Writing:Emily Adlam.
- Totara: Destiny Harris Hatley, Bowen Jonkers-McAllister. Writing: Stacia Pelser.
- Kowhai: Caelan MacBride, Sam Shen. Writing: Ryder Olliff.
- Nikau: Rylan Latham, Oscar Price. Writing: Emily Coupe.
- Kohekohe: Milla Glasgow, Noah Murtagh. Writing: Claudia McBride.
- Pukatea: Isabel Glasgow, Tony Zhao. Writing: Sterling Purdie.
- Rata: Emelia Quarterman, Phoenix Sweetman-Jones. Writing: Charlotte Adlam.
- Karaka: Tripp Glasgow, Summer Starr. Writing: Eva Sparkes.
- Puriri: Mitchell Ibbett, Ollie Tiedemann. Writing: Kayden Le.
FOR YOUR CALENDAR
- Tuesday 27th February – Board of Trustees Meeting.
- Thursday 1st March – BBC’s Ridiculous Rhyme Show.
- Friday 2nd March – Yr5-8 Swimming Sports – Waitoki School pool.
- Sunday 18th March – Fishing Competition and Summer Festival – 11.30am – 3pm.
COMMUNITY
