FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Kia ora,

We had an action packed week of school for our tamariki last week. Thank you to the Takahe Team for leading the first Assembly of the year. It was great to see a glimpse of the fabulous programmes that you have in our Intermediate classes and we look forward to hearing more about your learning journey over the year. Congratulations to our new school leaders who were announced at our Assembly.  A full list of these student roles will be posted in our next newsletter. 

NEWSLETTER FOCUS

  • Aquatics Programme 
  • Tui Team E.O.T.C. 
  • School Board 
  • FOWS 
  • Powhiri Assembly 

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING

Aquatics Programme – Our Intermediate students had a full week of intensive swimming and water safety lessons at Northern Arena. This was a great opportunity for our older students in educating them to become more aware of dangers in a range of aquatic environments. Promoting safe behaviour around water and giving children the tools they need to be able to deal with basic emergency situations is a vital skill for our tamariki. 

Our school pool is also a wonderful asset to our aquatics programme where we are able to provide our tamariki the opportunity to learn the basic skills of learning how to swim and be taught how to stay safe in and around water. We aim to use our school pool everyday while the weather continues to be favourable. 

Tui Team E.O.T.C. – The Tui Team were also out and about with their first Education Outside the Classroom (E.O.T.C.) at Goat Island Marine Reserve.  Recent educational research has indicated the benefits of EOTC for students as curriculum enrichment and real world learning by:  

  1. Increasing student engagement
  2. Building learning relationships and connections
  3. Experiencing something new
  4. Learning about conservation and the protection of marine species

Hearing our tamariki talk about their wonderful experiences of learning to snorkel in the Marine Reserve certainly backs this research. Here are a few photos from the Tui Team excursion. 

School Board – We are very fortunate to have parents and whanau who are involved in our school community and work together with our kura to improve our students’ learning and experiences. The School Board met for the first time this year and it cannot be stressed enough the important role they have. Through informed governance, their support in strong leadership and guidance of our schools strategic direction benefits all our students in reaching their potential. By continuing to work together in a positive way, we will see our students thrive and enjoy these important first steps on their learning journey.  

FOWS – Friends of Wainui School – Our Friends of Wainui School (FOWS) group also met to discuss the ways they can support our school in practical ways. If you would like to join this fantastic group of school supporters please contact Leslie Ann Linn through the school office. 

FOWS have many exciting events planned for the year ahead, their first being the Bike-a-thon which is on Wednesday 10th April. Mark your calendars. 

THIS WEEK 

Powhiri Assembly – All parents are welcome to attend the Powhiri Assembly on Friday 1st March at 9.15 am.  For us, this welcome ceremony is an important learning opportunity for all of our children and an important leadership opportunity for our seniors to welcome our new students and their whanau to our kura. At the conclusion of the powhiri, parents are invited to the sharing of kai, tea and coffee, in the staffroom and to meet other parents and FOWs members. 

COMING UP

Assessment Week – Week 6 – Our kura uses a variety of assessment tools to determine what level our ākonga are at, what progress they are making, what their next learning steps are, and where they may need extra help. Progressive Achievement Tests, commonly known as PATs, are one of the tests that we use. Many of you may remember the ‘old PAT’s’ completed in booklets and will be pleased to know that NZCER has released a new refreshed kete, of paper and online tests.  

PATs are standardised, multiple-choice assessments. They are designed to support kaiako and kura to understand where your tamaiti is in their learning and what progress they are making. The PATs also help kaiako decide what kinds of teaching materials are needed and which methods or programmes are most suitable for your tamaiti. Our Year 4-8 students will be completing online PAT’s in pāngarau/mathematics, and pānui/ reading comprehension. Please reassure your tamaiti that PATs are something their kaiako uses to see how they are learning and to find out about the progress they are making in areas of maths and reading.  

FINALLY  

Thank you – At Wainui School we continue to embrace our school values and to create an environment where every student can thrive. Thank you for your continued support and commitment in cultivating well-rounded individuals that are ready to succeed in all aspects of life. Have a fabulous week ahead. 

Sandy B

FOR YOUR CALENDAR

  • Friday 1st March – Welcome Powhiri – 9:15am.
  • Thursday 7th March – Yr 5/6 Cricket Zone Day.
  • Friday 8th March – Hockey Player deposit due.
  • Friday 8th March – Final day for all Winter Sports Registrations.
  • Friday 8th March – Kiwi Team Assembly – 2pm.
  • Friday 22nd March – Pukeko Team Assembly – 2pm.
  • Wednesday 10th April – Bike-a-thon.

OTHER

Thank you to everyone who attended our Wainui School Sports Muster last Friday. It was a great turnout and we had lots of interest for the Basketball, Netball, Hockey and Flippa Ball seasons.  Please note that all Hockey sign ups require a non-refundable $50 deposit by Friday 8th March. The link to this payment can be found here: Hockey Player Deposit Kindo Link
All other winter sports registrations close on Friday 8th March. Once teams are created, more information will be sent home and full season payments are to be made by Friday 22nd March.
If you were unable to make the sports muster, please see the following links below to register:

SPORTS RESULTS

– email your sports results to Miss Ludwig in the office, exo@wainui.school.nz 


Basketball

Wainui Year 5/6 Thunder vs RBS Hoops. Won 26-4.

CERTIFICATES

At the last assembly, the following students received certificates for “Respect”.

  • Pohutukawa: Emi Churches, Ayla Lodge, Flynn Dixon.
  • Kawakawa: Isla Mexted, Anthony Doherty, Charlotte Gooding.
  • Totara: Preston Catchpole, Romi Van Loggerenberg, Kara Pretorius.
  • Kauri: Te Aroha Price, Jakob Raikes, Oliver Smithies (Resilience)
  • Kahikatea: Vuliana Lodge, Jackson Magan, Aston Mexted.
  • Nikau: Elne’ Dreyer, Timmy Trail, Sophie Elliott.
  • Kowhai: Ella McMurray, Aleigha Ritchie, Olivia Wood.
  • Pukatea: Vlad Maties, Tushay Huata, Saskia Shaw.
  • Kohekohe:  Lily Fincham, Mack Dunn, Adriana Magan.
  • Matai: Genevieve Watt, Aston Bigland, Jackson Neely.
  • Rimu: Mary Gaitau, Jace Ritchie, Dante Bryant.
  • Rata: Emilia Stone, Ariel Forbes-Dawson, Thea Groves (Resilience).
  • Karaka: Millie Freestone, Ava Gerrand, Walter Frost.
  • Puriri: Gracie Erasmus, Hazel Wilson, Walter Stannard.
  • SENCO:  Daniel Paul (Relational), Jaydon Gaitau (Resilience).

COMMUNITY

Fancy a fun-filled day for the whole family with the chance to meet some of the country’s top
athletics stars?
Bring the kids along to the Sir Graeme Douglas International brought to you by Harcourts
Cooper & Co. – kids age 12 years and under are FREE* with a paying adult but will need
a ticket to enter.
Sir Graeme Douglas International
Sunday 10 March, 3-6pm
The Trusts Arena, Auckland
Top-tier international athletes will go head-to-head against New Zealand’s finest as they
compete for their place at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Hits FM will be there providing entertainment and fun activities, plus there’s the chance
to meet athletics stars past and present – including Dame Valerie Adams!
Book tickets at: https://athleticsnz.flicket.co.nz/events/5a8afbf2-58dd-4211-a392-
7f1cd8fc092c/reservation?tc=website
*Conditions apply
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