FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Kia ora Koutou,

What a difference a week can make!! Summer officially ended and here we are again back in lock down – Level 3! Thank you, everyone, parents, staff, and children, for once again bringing out your resilience and moving back into distance learning and for some coming to school.

Please, as I posted yesterday

  • Ask for support, if you need a device, hard copies of the learning, books or a voice to talk to, please make contact.
  • Mrs Taylor (wtaylor@wainui.school.nz) will support you if you need some help.
  • Communication can be confusing but once we are settled through these first few days it does get better.  There will still be one newsletter each week and  most of the communication will come from the class teacher. I will post when I am updated by the Ministry of Education as to our Covid status and what w must do.  The Ministry communicate with me regularly, sometimes I need to let you all know details, sometimes not.

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING – Last week we had much to celebrate as we held some events and we got on with our usual programs.  Here are some good news stories!

Something to Celebrate – Head Girl of Long Bay College 2021 – Taylor Irvine (past pupil of Wainui School).  Fantastic news!!  Her father, Mr Irvine is one of the happiest and proudest of dads in Wainui at the moment.  Taylor came to school here from 2009 when she was 5 with Mrs Collins and left after Year 8 to attend Long Bay College.  Taylor made the most of school life, she was a Student Councillor in Year 8 and also won the Principals Cup!! Congratulations Taylor, we are all so proud of you!!

Back to School Night – It was awesome to meet so many of you.  2021 programs were presented, classrooms were open and everyone was able to meet in person.  If you didn’t, when we return, do come and introduce yourself to the teacher.

Beach Day at Wainui – How lucky were we!!  Thank you to Bella Browne Hale (Year 8) for all her organisation and enthusiasm. What a great day we all had!! Kelly Sports was awesome enabling us to mix in our teams and play so many fun games, whilst building friendships and working together. We love this about school, getting together using our values and having fun!!  The BBQ and other yummies enabled enough money to be raised to pay for “Kelly Sports”.  The official sports group that ran all the games and made a bit of a profit, actual figures $1,400!! The pool was up and running and enjoyed by us all!!  I have attached some photos – they tell a wonderful story of us all having fun and learning new physical activities.  What a wonderful photo of Harry & Bella Browne Hale and Charlotte Robinson.

Powhiri – This year we have welcomed so far 33 new children and their families.  What a great way to start our year and yes we are proud that we can lead our own Powhiri now. It was wonderful to receive such positive feedback from a returning family at how we had improved at this since they had been gone. Top work especially to Mr. Irvine and the Year 8 leaders.  It was also wonderful to be able to farewell Ben Partner (Year 8) who happened to arrive for Beach Day. Ben and his family have moved to Te Awamutu and Ben is able to confidently lead kapa haka at his new school.  We wish him all the very best for the future!!

Powhiri, our first full get together.

Karenga by Pearle Cameron, Talia Minton and Bella Browne Hale for the new families into the hall at the Powhiri.

Having fun at a Kelly Sports activity

FOWS (Friends of Wainui School) – The meeting was held – yay.  I am thrilled to let you know once again we have a full complement of parents to lead the very important arm of the school – fundraising and connecting with other parents. Congratulations Leslie Ann our new Chairperson.  A huge thank you to Kate Doherty who led the team in 2020. I enclose the following from Leslie Ann:

Hi everyone, my name is Leslie Ann, I am the Chairperson for the lovely FOWS team for 2021.  I have Emily in Year 5 and James Year 3 who have been at Wainui from the beginning.   FOWS are a combination of school parents and teaching staff who meet monthly to organise fundraising events throughout the year.  We greatly appreciate the support, time and effort our school families provide, and look forward to that continuing again this year, Covid or no Covid!

So, If you enjoy a hot tea/coffee made for you, baking you don’t have to share, or even some wine and cheese, then please come along and join us on Wednesday 24th March at 7.00 pm in the school staffroom.

BOT (Board of Trustees Wainui) –  Held the first meeting last Tuesday. The Board of Trustees remains stable with Nadine Phillips – Chairperson, and the other members of the Board continuing with particular portfolios; Nikki Browne – Deputy Chairperson and Community, Lindsay Ledger – Finance, Dr Pete Adlam – Property, Chris Scott – has a new portfolio Community Projects, Jason Irvine – Staff rep and Mel Ludwig – Board Secretary.

COMING UP

Please be mindful some dates or events will change as the Covid landscape changes. Some events may be impossible to hold and we will keep you posted, but above all, we don’t cancel things lightly! We always put the child at the centre of the decision we are making and therefore the practicality/ safeness or even if this will impact the family.  Swimming Sports are to be confirmed next week.

FINALLY  

Thank you everyone who has already contributed their school donation!! This is fantastic.  As I said this enables us to meet our goals and make our school even better!!

Lost Property – Left behind last Friday in the school office are 7 hats and caps, 1 swim cap, 1 towel, 4 sweatshirts, a checkered jacket, 1 T-Shirt and two wallets. I have attached a photo for you all.  If you recognise something I will put your name on it. This year we will try for ZERO waste lost property so please help us do this by naming things and checking your child comes home with their belongings. We will also try not to have a box of all these things either. Thank you for helping with this.

Ka kite ano,

Gillian Bray

OTHER

Weet-Bix TRYathlon – Sunday 28th March – See attached information – Weet-bix TRYathlon 2021- Information 

FOR YOUR CALENDAR

  • Friday 5th March – Takaha Team assembly – 9.15am (Cancelled)
  • Wednesday 10th March – Year 7 & 8 Immunisations (To be confirmed)
  • Friday 12th March – Year 7 & 8 Kaipara Interschool Swimming (To be confirmed)
  • Tuesday 23rd March – BOT Meeting – Staffroom – 6.00pm
  • Wednesday 24th March – FOWS Meeting – 7.00pm – Staffroom
  • Thursday 25th March – Year 5 & 6 Interschool Swimming.
  • Sunday 28th March – Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon
  • Monday 29th – Wednesday 31st March – Book Fair.
  • Wednesday 31st March & Thursday 1st April – Learning Conversations (more information to follow closer to the date).
  • Friday 2nd April – Good Friday – Public Holiday
  • Monday 5th April – Easter Monday – Public Holiday
  • Tuesday 6th April – Day after Easter Monday – No School Today
  • Friday 9th April – Kaipara Schools Summer Sports Day
  • Tuesday 13th April – BOT Meeting – Staffroom – 6.00pm
  • Thursday 15th April – Bike-a-Thon Day.
  • Friday 16th April – End of Term 1.
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