FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
Kia ora Koutou,
It’s great to be back!! Thank you to Sandy Blackburn and Leanne Stevenson for all your hard work in finishing last term and getting the school ready for the Term 4.
Today the school is buzzing with the anticipation of Ag Day and Country Fair this Friday. Big thank you to the PTA led by Leslie Ann Linn and Kylie Allen from the staff for leading us in the day we all love!! Even the weather is looking good! So come along, bring the family the neighbours PLEASE please volunteer to help, we are short of people to man the stalls and activities, even if it is only one hour, we need people to help on stalls.
Newsletter focus:
- Young Farmer
- Ag Day and Country Fair
- Teacher Only Day
- Wainui School Board By-Election
- Staff News
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING
Young Farmer Competitions – These were all held last Friday, lots of fun and lots of practical skills in the competitions, seniors students fastest at hammering a nail, laying a fencing line and many more activities. In the juniors they threw gumboots, ordered gadgets and identified farm animals.
There are cups at stake, the seniors will compete for the much coveted cups this Thursday 24th October at 2:00pm.
THIS WEEK
Ag Day & Country Fair – Thank you Leslie Ann Linn, PTA chair and Kylie Allen staff member with responsibility for Ag Day, for leading us this year, the organisation is amazing!!
This is the last note on organisation from Kylie, can’t wait to see everyone there on Friday. The sun will be shining!!!
Ag Day – Friday 25 October 2024 – Update # 13 – Only 3 more sleeps until Ag Day!!
I am so looking forward to seeing the animals in the rings and seeing all the hard work and effort the children have put into the training and rearing of their animals. I also can’t wait to see the classroom exhibits and to play some of the games!
A massive thank you from ALL of us for your donations, the volunteering of your time to help man the stalls and of course helping your children with the training of their animals and gathering the materials needed to make their classroom exhibits and pet eggs. There are many things happening in the background of this wonderful, traditional day!
Donations: A huge thank you to those who have been dropping off donations for Ag Day raffles and games. This week’s donation is the baking of a cake, slice, muffins, or cupcakes for the cake stall. The cake boxes were handed out today to the eldest child in the family. Please drop the cake boxes filled with yummy goods off to the Cake Stall in the hall on Friday morning.
Pet Eggs: We are looking forward to seeing these amazing creations! You can drop these off to the Kawakawa classroom on Thursday at the earliest and Friday morning by 9am at the latest. Don’t forget to bring the Pet Egg Info Sheet with your egg creation. Pet Egg Information sheet.
Tickets: This event will use a ticket system. These tickets are what you use to pay for food, drinks, raffle tickets and to play games. This means that each stall (except for all the market stalls – which will take cash only) will only take tickets. The tickets are available at the Ticket Booth and this will be on the top court in front of the office. You can pay by cash or Eftpos will also be available from here (though there is no cash out facility available). One ticket equals $1.
Please click here for the Ag Day map. And here for an approximate timetable of how the day will be run.
We are needing more volunteers! Thank you to those who have filled in the volunteer form to help us on Ag Day, especially the families who are giving us more than one hour of their time – it is hugely appreciated. Please click on the link in your email to give us one hour of your time. We CANNOT have these games for our children to play and food to sell without your SUPPORT.
Parking: On the day, the Little Bush Road car park (the car park on the left as you come in the school gate) is for children bringing animals for Ag Day. The top car park by the swimming pool is for our preschool visitors, visitors from Motuora, animal judges and visiting grandparents.
And last but not least – South Kaipara Schools Group Day: Children with their animals who receive 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th place ribbons are eligible to represent Wainui School at the South Kaipara Schools Group Day which is held at Helensville Showgrounds. Group Day this year: Friday 1st November 2024. Please let Kylie know asap if your child and their pet would like to go! Please email me on kallen@wainui.school.nz
See you all at school on Friday!
NEXT WEEK
Teacher Only Day Tuesday 29th October – This is tagged onto Labour Weekend, this is the second day awarded by the Government for us as teachers to have a full day for professional development. Our teachers will be focusing on the new curriculums; Maths and Literacy using the programme outlined by the Ministry of Education but delivered by out two Deputy Principals who are both very knowledgeable in Maths and Literacy.
COMING UP
Wainui School Board By-Election – The Nomination form and eligibility letter for the By-Election will being emailed out to those on the main roll which is open for inspection in the school office, by tomorrow. Nominations will close at noon on Monday 11th November 2024. The Returning Officer for the By-Election is Mel Ludwig. If you would like to stand for the Board but need to have a chat or want to know a wee bit more please do come and see me. The Principal is the only one as of right to be on the Board so yes I have lots of experience!! It really is a very rewarding role to be on the School Board. Click here for our By-Election brochure with further information. Wainui School By-Election 2024 – By-Election Brochure
FINALLY
I was fortunate enough to travel to Finland with 12 other Principals over the last month for a full study week and to observe in some of their schools. What an amazing experience, the Finnish system is very much about trust in teachers and Principals to do their job. It is about ensuring children have support and from an early age, they have a healthy lunch each day. Our curriculum is becoming more aligned with the Finnish curriculum in terms of the timeframe of 45 minutes per day of the core subjects of literacy and maths. They all learn English and Swedish as well as Finnish, they all must attend school, but since COVID attendance and anxiety have risen. Just like at Wainui School, they love the outdoors and often in their playgrounds are areas of “woodland” for the children to use. I have a report to finish which I will share with the teachers and Board and would be more than happy to share with any parents if they were interested.
TO FINISH Some special staff news!!! Congratulations to Sandy Blackburn who will be taking up the position of Principal of Opua School in the Bay of Islands in 2025. This is a well earned role for Sandy who has been at Wainui School for many years and is well ready to be a Principal, especially after her time in Tairua in 2023 and recently being Acting Principal while I was away last month. We are very proud of you Sandy!!
Ka kite ano, see you all on Friday,
Gillian Bray
FOR YOUR CALENDAR
- Thursday 24th October – Young Farmer Yr 5-8 Finals – 2pm.
- Friday 25th October – Ag Day & Country Fair.
- Friday 25th October – Final day to order Calendar Art
- Monday 28th October – Labour Day – School is closed.
- Tuesday 29th October – Teacher Only Day.
- Friday 1st November – Group Day.
- Friday 1st November – Kiwi Assembly – 2pm.
- Wednesday 6th November – By-Election Candidate Information Evening – 6:30pm.
- Monday 11th November – Board By-Election Nominations Close – 12 noon.
- Monday 11th – Thursday 14th November – Yr 7/8 Camp.
- Friday 22nd November – Pukeko Assembly – 2pm.
- Friday 29th November – Tui & Takahe Assembly – 2pm.
OTHER
Garden to Table – Just 3 more sleeps until Ag Day! If you’ve got any extra plants, veggies, fruit, preserves, or anything else that would be perfect to sell for our Garden to Table stall at Ag Day, please drop them off at school before or on Ag Day. Every donation contributes to the success of our Garden to Table program. Thanks so much for your continued support!
Calendar Art – Final day to order your Calendar Art is Ag Day this Friday 25th October. The artwork will also be on display in classrooms at our annual Ag Day. This is a fundraiser for our school and your support with our fundraising ventures is always greatly appreciated.
The following can be purchased via KINDO.
Calendars $20
Cards $16
Diaries $20
Mouse mats $16
Sketch pads $16
Congratulations to Isabella & Jayden Lehmann – During the recent school holidays Isabella & Jayden Lehmann took part in the Aon New Zealand Pool Rescue Championships where they represented Red Beach Surf Life Saving. Competitors from around the country entered to compete in the many challenging events i.e: carrying bricks and swimming under gates etc.
Isabella placed in the top 10 for many of her races with an over 8th in the 50m Brick Carry for U13’s. This age group was the most competitive with 25 – 30 girls competing in each category.
– 3rd Place (BRONZE) for the U12 Male – 100m Patient Tow with Fins.
Congratulations to you both, what an incredible achievement!
SPORTS RESULTS
– email your sports results to Miss Ludwig in the office, exo@wainui.school.nz
Netball
Wainui Diamonds Yr 0/1 vs CBS Ferns. Won: 1 – 0. This was their very first game! POD: Amara Mia & Mila Shaw. Sportsmanship: River Allison.
Basketball
Wainui Wizards Yr 7/8 vs Lil Handlers. Won: 19 – 16.
COMMUNITY
Camryn is one of Wainui School’s students, she and her sister (a former Wainui School student) are fundraising for the BMX World Champs next year.
