Tēnā koutou katoa
Ngā mihi nui kia koutou katoa - Warm greetings to you all.
We have all enjoyed the first few weeks of school, reconnecting with whānau and children, with the Family Picnic being a highlight so far. Our initial focus, for the year, has been to set up the systems and routines for learning, as well as, creating the conditions where everyone feels happy, safe and ready to learn. Currently, our teaching focus is on delivering high quality Structured Literacy and Writing lessons, and teaching the Maths No Problem programme.
On the 12th of March our local cluster of schools will be closed (Staff Only Day) as all teaching staff will be working with the Ministry of Education curriculum facilitators to learn about the newly refreshed Mathematics Curriculum. Further on in the newsletter is an explanation of the Bar Model - a visual problem strategy that we will begin teaching our students this year as part of our new mathematics teaching programme (Maths No Problem).
In addition to the Mathematics professional learning, your TPS staff are also working with Learning Matters to refine and improve our explicit teaching of Writing. A Learning Matters facilitator will be on site the week starting on the 17th of March modelling lessons for teachers. This year is a very intensive, but exciting time with a lot of new learning for us all.
Each year we all learn a whakatauki (wise saying or proverb) that we reflect on through out the year with the children and apply to our setting. This year our whakatauki is focussed on maanaki (caring) for the environment that we are learning in and the people we are learning with, so that we can all move forward and grow.
Maanaki whenua, 🌎 Care for the land,
maanaki tangata. 👫 care for the people.
Haere whakamua. ⏩ Move forward
At our first Board of Trustees meeting this year we elected our Chairperson (presiding member for the year), I am pleased to share that TPS parent Lauren Stull has taken on this role. The BOT chairperson presides over board meetings, leads the board to work as a team and ensures that the work of the board is completed. This year is an BOT election year with the newly elected board of trustees appointed for a 3 year term, commencing in Term 4 2025. During the year we will share more information with you about the role of parent trustee and how to participate in the election, in the meantime please do talk with me or Lauren. (bot@tauranga.school.nz) if you wish to know more about becoming a board member.
Absentee - Sick children or children away from school
If your child is going to be away for any reason please ensure you let the school office know. We will make contact with parents if a child is marked absent on the school roll and it is not explained.
Please when you are notifying the school state your name, your child's full name, room number or teachers name and the reason for their absence.
The Ministry of Education is tracking attendance very closely this year, every school is required to submit daily attendance reports. The aim for children to attend school every day it is open, unless they are unwell.
You can let the school know your child will be absent in the following ways:
1. Email the School Office admin@tauranga.school.nz
2. Phone the school and leave a message on the phone system. The School Phone number is 578 6222
3. Absentee text: 027 418 7182
Thank you for your ongoing support of our school.
Hei kōnei rā
Fiona Hawes
Principal
principal@tauranga.school.nz
