FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
Kia ora Koutou,
Today has been one of those Mondays!! For me personally, I have had to “choose my attitude” and literally live the Fish Philosophy try and have some fun as my laptop seems to have chosen today to be the day it breaks down!! Wonderfully for us though most of my work is on a shared drive, we all use Google Docs so not all is lost!!
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING
Our last day time to say goodbye to 9 students from Peking University Elementary School with Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. Bray
Chinese Students from Peking University Elementary School have returned to Beijing. We all enjoyed getting to know these students last week especially the Tui team. Thank you to Mrs. Taylor for all your wonderful pastoral care and support of our students!! Beijing is one of the oldest cities in the world, it has seven UNESCO world heritage sites and has a population of 22.5.million. Wainui School and community was a stark contrast to the group.
Mrs. Taylor baked scones with our Chinese students
Pool troubles – Please supply your child with a cap to help keep the pool free of hair and the filters going. Our pool was built for 50 or so students and now copes with 6 times the number. This will sincerely help Mr. Lee.
FOWS – The first meeting was held last Wednesday. Thank you to everyone who came. We have a lively, passionate and enthusiastic group of parents to support, organise and help make our school even better especially with the fundraisers we have planned.
The full minutes are available in hard copy and will be posted on the website.
This years committee’s roles are President, Denise Ditchburn; Secretary, Kate Doherty; Treasurer, Kay Elliott; Grants, Annaliese Hewitt; BOT representative and Sponsorship Coordinator Nikki Browne; teacher representative Wendy Taylor; Principal, Gillian Bray.
We have five main fundraisers for you to all consider please see below:
Term 1: Wheels-athon.
Term 2: Triv Night.
Term 3: “Chocolate drive” and “Hosting of our Japanese Students”.
Term 4: “Ag Day and Country Fair” and “Christmas in the Country”.
It is great to be organised, it would be even more wonderful if parents could now start planning which event/s you might like to support and help at. If you would like more information please contact any of the above parents or simply email or ask us at school.
THIS WEEK
Year 5-8 School Swimming Sports – On Friday, 1st March the middle and senior school students will be participating in the annual swimming sports at Waitoki School pool parents are all welcome. We all look forward to a fun day. Students are all traveling by bus which does have a small cost. This year there are lots more fun events plus the usual competitive races. The winners will then compete at an interschool swimming event on 28th March (year 5&6) at the Hibiscus Coast Interschool event at Northern Arena. The year 7&8 students have an opportunity to participate in the Kaipara Interschool swimming sports on Friday 15th March.
Year 1-4 School Swimming Sports – Are on Friday 22nd March and will be held at school.
Garden to Table is going strong!! – Every Friday they need helpers in the garden and kitchen. It was great to see some new faces last Friday!! The students are loving eating the produce that is now coming out of the gardens. Well done Tui team for establishing such wonderful gardens last year.
NEXT WEEK
On Friday 8th March there will be a whole school Assembly with the Tui team presenting. We will be celebrating the “Relational” value.
COMING UP
Tomorrows School Review – I am attending one of the meetings for Principals at Rangitoto College. There are public meetings around the country to discuss or have a ‘conversation’ about this review. The document is 146 pages and covers 8 key issues, Governance Schooling Provision, Competition and Choice, Disability and Learning Support, Teaching, School Leadership, School Resourcing and Central Education Agencies. If you are interested or wish to attend a meeting go to https://conversation.education.govt.nz/conversations/tomorrows-schools-review/
FINALLY
Congratulations – To all the year 8 leaders for 2019!! Next week we will feature photos and information about the leaders of 2019. They have so many wonderful aspirations to share. I am certainly proud and excited to be working with these students.
Ka kite ano,
Gillian Bray
OTHER
Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon – Kylie Allen will be setting up a gazebo for the Wainui School competitors and she will also be putting on a sausage sizzle and home baking. The gazebo will be in the same place as last year, under the trees by the roadside, near the finishing line. Look for the “Wainui School” flags.
CERTIFICATES
At the last assembly, the following students received certificates for “Respectful”.
- Kauri: Zoe Grey, Cian O’Brien. Writing: Daniel Phillips.
- Kahikatea: Kate Flinn, Keelan Latham. Writing: Imogen Germain.
- Rimu: Jurgen Bezuidenhout, Zali Cooke. Writing: Isla Poninghaus.
- Matai: Rylan Latham, Ben Prestidge. Writing: Grace Wallace-Pram.
- Totara: Christopher Gilpin, Zoe Heaton. Writing: Tyson Welsh.
- Nikau: Taya Hawken, Reece McDermid-Venter. Writing: Lily Cameron.
- Kowhai: Rosie Gulik, Carter Wright. Writing: Charlotte Adlam.
- Kohekohe: Leo Bantan, Mikayla Houghton. Writing: Oscar Price.
- Pukatea: Dylan Catchpole, Eva Pengelly. Writing: Jackson Wright.
- Rata: Charlotte Andrew, Morgan Price. Writing: Kayden Le.
- Karaka: Hunter Olliff, Hunter Stevenson. Writing: Mackenzie King.
- Puriri Rua: Manu Sparkes, Jack Stephenson. Writing: Kieran Miners.
- Puriri: Xavier Boe, Gabrielle Long. Writing: Jake Robertson.
FOR YOUR CALENDAR
- Wednesday 27th February – BOT Meeting – 6.30pm.
- Friday 1st March – Yr 5-8 Swimming Sports – Waitoki School Pool.
- Friday 15th March – Yr 7/8 Interschool Swimming Sports.
- Friday 22nd March – Yr 1-4 Swimming Sports.
- Thursday 28th March – Yr 5/6 Interschool Swimming Sports.
- Monday 25th – Friday 29th March – Book Week.
- Wednesday 3rd – Friday 5th April – Yr5/6 Camp.
COMMUNITY
Marrzipan – Good news! It’s not too late to join Marrzipan! We are looking for some awesome students to fill some parts in our play, which we will be performing for parents and their peers at the end of term. Marrzipan is a New Zealand renowned self-confidence programme aimed at bringing out the absolute best in students. Come along to a Trial Lesson and see whether you like it! You can sign up for one directly via our website www.marrzipandrama.co.nz (we have contact numbers on there too, should you prefer to talk to a human!)
