FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
Kia ora Koutou,
The last week of November, currently the teachers are all finishing their assessments of your children and writing the end of year summative reports. This year is like no other as we are all so well aware of. Seven weeks at home, plus two in the holidays meant we were nine weeks at home in the middle of the year. This will for some have had an impact, it is not an excuse, just a fact. But it is the same for every child in New Zealand, in many countries overseas I am sure you are all well aware of it is far longer that children haven’t been at school. The end of year data is not yet finished as we are still gathering this, but as a BOT we collect this and as schools, and the Ministry of Education, we will gather trends across New Zealand.
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING – Lots of culmination of work
Maori Performance, Hui, and a Visit from Kaukapakapa School – This was a first having one of the kapahaka groups from Kaukapakapa School join us and what a privilege!! Whaea LeeAnne works with both us and Kaukapakapa School and it was wonderful to join in and share our performance as we have had all the festivals stopped this year. Thank you to those of you who stayed for the conversation around Maori achievement/ aspirations and delivery, this is all part of our consultation we must do as a school and Board of Trustees. We are so proud of our own journey, able to host our own powhiri, every class of children able to perform waiata and participate in a performance, but we also know we have a lot more to do on our journey in this area.
Junior/ Middle School Athletics – What an amazing day was had by everyone on Friday!! The field was looking so professional, our juniors have been practicing for a number of weeks and could have fun competing at some of the traditional events and some added events for fun. The Year 7 & 8 leaders did a great job helping the teachers with all the activities. Thank you parents, families and caregivers for supporting by being there, coming along and having a great day!! The certificates for students who placed first – third will be handed out at this Friday’s assembly at 9:15am along with the Values certificates. Please feel free to attend.
THIS WEEK
Tui Team Production
Some of the main cast Carter, Harry, Rosie, Violet, Alina, and Amelia of the Tui Team Production “A Christmas Musical”.
It is all go for the Tui team production “Wainui School Christmas Musical”. We were given a wee preview of the dancing at last Friday’s assembly and it looks so much fun!! Today is the dress rehearsal for the school and anyone who cannot make it to the evening show tonight at 6:00 p.m. A gold coin donation is always greatly appreciated to pay for the rights of the show.
Board Consultation – This week we are wanting to get a questionnaire to you all to help us plan for the next 3 years as a Board of Trustees. It is that time again for those of you who have been around for a while. This year we will have an online form but there will also be hard copies for those that would prefer. Our charter is a living charter, it drives everything we do as a Board of Trustees as a school. We will be meeting as a full staff of teachers and support staff plus the Board of Trustees members at the end of School Holidays to use all your ideas, our ideas and structure the direction of the school for the next 3 years. It is always exciting being able to spend time reevaluating what we have achieved and where we want to go!! I know it is a busy time, but please take a few minutes to communicate with us and have your say. The Community Consultation form is included in this newsletter. Click this link: Wainui School Consultation 2020
Bus Consultation – Tahekeroa Bus – I would like to start the conversation around the Tahekeroa bus time drop and pickups. Currently, the bus goes one direction in the morning and the opposite way in the afternoon, which means the children who are on the earliest are also the last to get dropped off in the afternoon. This is a very long day for these children. Some parents would like a change and have asked for this process to begin and then I can take the conversation to the bus company and the Ministry of Education. If you use or could use or would use the bus would you support any change? Please email me or Mel in the office if you would or would not support a change? Thank you.
EOTC Takahe Team
It is very quiet here as the Year 7 & 8’s are all out of the school for the week participating in a range of outdoor challenges as a part of their Programme. Usually they would go to camp in Term 4 but for the obvious reason, this was cancelled. It became too difficult to plan for camp in such challenging situations so this year the decision we all made was to do activities nearer to home and have a one night canvas camp on the school grounds on Thursday. I write this as the first activity the students and teachers are all at is “Tree Adventures – High Ropes Challenge” in Woodhill Forest!!
I have included some photos from Monday. It looks amazing and very challenging!!
Gabe looking confident!!
NEXT WEEK
EOTC Two days for Tui Team – A day at Shakespear park and the camp area. Please ensure if you have Year 5 or 6 children you are well informed and prepared for a fun two days.
Whole School Assembly – Friday 4th December – This will be our last full assembly where we award the Hellyer Cups. It is also a very special assembly where we will be farewelling Mrs. Anna Collins who is retiring from teaching at the end of this year. Please feel free to come to the assembly and join us in a special celebration afternoon tea in the staffroom at the end of the day. Please let Mel in the office know if you wish to join us. Mrs. Collins has been at Wainui School for the last 12 years but has taught all over the world and in other schools in New Zealand.
Christmas in the Country – Thursday 3rd December – Is next week. If you would like to contribute a donation for the raffles, please send to the office anything for Christmas hampers or special raffles e.g perfume, gift vouchers, a toy, whatever you wish to contribute. We will have a ticket system on the night, you can purchase tickets by eftpos or cash.
COMING UP
The end of the year is getting busy. We do try and keep to timetables, but sometimes things get missed. Please let us know and we can rectify this and ensure it doesn’t happen. We do apologise as we are trying very hard to ensure all activities go ahead.
We know the final day of school is Monday 14th December and Tuesday 15th December is a Teacher Only Day as we cancelled this earlier in the year.
FINALLY
All of our end of year events are listed in this newsletter and on the school website calendar. See you all at school at our end of year fun!!
Ka kite ano,
Gillian Bray
FOR YOUR CALENDAR
- Wednesday 25th November – Tui Team Production – “Wainui School Christmas Performance” at 11.00am and 6.00pm
- Friday 27th November – Years 1-4 Assembly – 9.15am
- Friday 27th November – Tui Team Juicie Sale – $2 each
- Thursday 3rd December – Christmas in the Country – 5.30pm
- Friday 4th December – Whole School Assembly – 2.00pm
- Monday 7th December – Graduation for Year 8’s
- Tuesday 8th December – BOT Meeting – 6.30pm in the staffroom
- Wednesday 9th December – Music Performance – 9.15am
- Wednesday 9th December – Helpers Morning Tea – 10.00am
- Friday 11th December – Prizegiving – 1.00pm
- Monday 14th December – Last day of Term 4
- Tuesday 15th December – Teacher Only Day
OTHER
SPORTS RESULTS
– email your sports results to Mrs Elliott in the office, kelliott@wainui.school.nz
Touch
Wainui Year 5 / 6 vs Stella Pumas. Won 7-6. Player of the Day: Harry Browne Hale
Wainui Year 5 /6 Touch v Silverdale Royale. Lost 1-4. Player of the Day: Staton Ranby
CERTIFICATES
At the last assembly, the following students received certificates for “Resilience”.
- Totara: Taylor Mason, Joseph Matthews, Taya Hawken (Resourceful).
- Matai: Alyssa Linton, Ryder Olliff, Tamati Bayer.
- Rimu: Johnny Blais-Smith, Rosie Gulik, Azaria Allen (Resourceful).
- Kahikatea: Charlotte Robinson, James Wallace-Pram, Noah Richardson (Relational), Maya Ledger (Resilience).
- Kauri: Serenity Harris Hatley, Vinnie Holmes, Ricardo Hawken (Resilience, Respect & Relational)
COMMUNITY
Coast Basketball – See attached flyer for holiday camp programme.
‘THE VOICE” – This Christmas morning on Newstalk ZB – it’s “The Voice of Christmas” singing competition on the ‘Crazy Kiwi Christmas Kids Show’. If you can sing, and you’re under 13, call 0800 THE VOICE (that’s 0800 843 864) and sing a Christmas carol or Christmas song as your audition. The grand prize is the ultimate smart bedroom bundle complete with an Amazon Echo Plus smart speaker and Alexa-enabled smart coloured light bulbs! Then tune in on Christmas morning to Newstalk ZB from 6am, to see if you’ve won! If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me via email or call me on 022 476 1401. Please see attached information – Poster – THE VOICE of Christmas
