Waikari School Newsletter

Email: principal@waikari.school.nz
Website: https://waikari.school.nz
Location: 23 Princes Street, Waikari, New Zealand
Phone: (03)314 4250

Kia ora e te whānau,

What a fantastic time we had at our recent swimming sports! It was wonderful to see so many happy faces cheering each other on and celebrating our students' achievements in the pool. Events like these not only showcase our students' talents but also strengthen our school community. Congratulations to everyone on their success and I look forward to hearing about your success at the Hurunui Swimming Sports.

As we continue to engage in our learning, I want to emphasize the importance of a good night's sleep. Rest is crucial for our children to be alert and ready to learn each day. Ensuring they are well-rested can significantly enhance their focus and engagement in the classroom. We have noticed that students attend school on a Monday extremely tired, so are asking that you please make sure they get plenty of rest on a Sunday evening.

I would also like to remind everyone about the Ministry of Education's attendance goals. Regular school attendance is vital for your child's success. If your child is unable to attend school, please notify the office directly or use the Hero app. It’s important that we receive this information from you rather than through older siblings. This ensures we can properly account for each student’s attendance and well-being.

Thank you for your continued support in helping us create a positive learning environment for our tamariki.

Noho ora mai,

Phoebe Todd

We had a great time at the Amberley Pool for our Waikari & Greta Valley Swimming Sports. A huge thanks to Mrs Florance for organising the event and to all the parents for helping out. It was great to see the students swimming skills on display at the pool. Well done to everyone for having a go it was great to see the positive attitudes from everyone.

We will now be having our final Swimming at Hawarden session on Tuesday 13th March. We ask you to please send your child to school with the following for our swim safety session:

• long trousers
• long T-Shirt
• lifejacket (if you own one)

Congratulations to all of our Waikari swimmers who qualified to represent our school at Hanmer Springs today. Well done to our top performers of the day - you are superstars! ( Here are the swimmers who placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd)

25m Freestyle

Yr 8 Girls - Te Atawhai - 2nd, Yr 7 Boys - John - 2nd

50m Freestyle

Yr 7 Boys - Max - 3rd

25m Backstroke

Yr 7 Boys - Fergus - 1st, Yr 6 Boys - Aiden - 3rd, Yr 5 Boys - Khanoa - 3rd

50m Backstroke

Yr 7 Boys - Max - 1st

50m Breaststroke

Yr 8 Girls - Maddison - 3rd

25m Butterfly

Open Girls - Maddison - 2nd

Relays

Yr 4 Mixed Waikari/Greta - 3rd

Yr 7 Boys Waikari/Greta -1st

Yr 7 Girls Waikari/Greta - 3rd

On Saturday Rosie, Te Atawhai and Zara joined with some students from Hanmer Springs School, competed in the Top Teams Competition at the Amuri A&P Show. It was great to see their problem solving skills on display. Huge shout out to Bart and Mrs Florance for supporting the students on the day.

Two excellent examples of strong settings from Fergus and John.

Sunny Side Beach

Big waves rolled as the boats shot off into the distance. Beach towels laid as flat as a pancake on the bright golden sand. White birds flew above looking for kids leftover lunch, and the sound of waves crashing slowly rolled in, mixed with the deafening cry of a seagull echoing into my ears.

The soft sand wiggled in between my toes like sandpapery Play-Doh. Sea salt breeze tickled my face as I stepped into the gentle tide. The seaweed curled around my feet like a slithering snake. The aroma of well cooked fish and chips gently wafted into my nostrils, but the fish bait stench moving through the air was trying to take over. A hint of salty smell was just barely there.

I can taste the salty air like I'm drinking a bottle of sea water. The smack of sunscreen touching my tongue destroying the savor of delicious fish and chips. Fergus

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Not a Boring Beach

I feel sand as hot as boiling water rising and covering my feet like a blanket. The strong breeze whipped my face like a hair dryer while the sun beat down mercilessly on my hatless head like an oven on 200 degrees celsius.

Beachballs bounce all over the sand dunes, and dry sand is flying in the air like a sand tornado. Beach umbrellas are getting carried away in the wind like they are balloons.

I can hear the waves crashing like a plane starting up the engine. Seagulls screech at people eating fish and chips. Kids are laughing at the umbrellas flying into the ocean like dolphins diving.

I smell the strong scent of sea salt gushing up my nose like me devouring an ice-cream. All the seafood smells are very strong. The last smell was fish and chips, I wish I was eating them right now. John

Here is a very accurate example from Millie:

Swimming Sports

On Thursday the 25th of February, Waikari and Greta Valley schools were doing swimming sports. It was held at the Amberley Pool.

I was swimming last in the backstroke race but came first in the rocketship race. I also got second in freestyle. I swam with my hands out in the middle and I kicked the water with my legs.

My biggest achievement was the rocketship race because I tried my best.

My next step is to float better on my back by putting my head back more and lifting my tummy up.

Millie

Check out some of Weka Classes Farmyard Art ready to be on display at the Hawarden A&P Show

Home Learning will be starting this coming week, as we move into our full classroom routines. Please see the image below of last weeks fortnightly maths challenge which is due on MONDAY! And the new one which is coming!

Kea Class Students

• Practice spelling words
• Complete the fortnightly maths challenge (can be done as a family).
• Read for 20min 5 times a week - when analysing students assessment we noticed that Kea Class students need to develop their reading milage. So the longer that they are able to read the more this is going to help them, which is why we ask that they read for home work!

Weka Class Students

• Practice spelling words
• Complete the fortnightly maths challenge (can be done as a family).
• Read for 10min 5 times a week.

What maths equations can you make out of this picture?

Are you tired of asking your children, "How was yours day?" and getting the same reply every time. How about you try asking one of the questions below and see if the response is different?

Congratulations to the following certificate recipients:

• Max - for showing his growth mindset and challenging himself in Maths and Writing.
• Rayan - for demonstrating his growth mindset and challenging himself in the classroom.
• Emily A - for using her growth mindset and taking risks in the classroom.
• Kirsten - Trying really hard in swimming and making lots of improvements.
• John - Fantastic use of vocabulory in his setting description when doing writing.

This week, we continued our discussion on using our growth mindset. We talked about how learning involves taking risks and trying repeatedly. We discussed:

• Our brain is like a muscle; we must exercise it by trying new and difficult things.
• When things are hard, it means we are pushing ourselves, and our brain is exercising—it is getting stronger.
• While our brain is exercising, we need to take risks, make mistakes, and try new things.

Printed statements went home last week for the start of year stationery. Some students in the junior class didn't quite need any new stationery at this stage as they had plenty of space left in their books from last year. They will have stationery added to their account throughout the year as needed. This applies to all students during the year as different costs are added e.g. trips, camps and stationery costs etc.

This information can be seen easily accessed at any time in your parent view on the HERO app. Be sure to hop on to the HERO app if you haven't already done so.

Absences

• If your child is not going to be at school please contact the school before 9:00am. This can now also be done through the HERO app.

School Bank Account

• Automatic payments are also welcome (weekly & fortnightly) and our Student Management system can also handle Payments in Advance.

Office Hours

• School office will be manned by Caryn from 9.00-9:30 and 1:30-3:00

Break Times

• 10:45-11:10 Morning Tea
• 12:45-1:20 Lunch

• Health and Safety Management
• Risk Management
• Visitors
• Healthcare
• Worker Engagement
• Participation, and Representation
• Planning and Preparing for Emergencies
• Disasters and Crises
• School Closure, Emergency Management
• Disaster Management
• Crisis Management

Password: pride

We as a B.O.T really value your feedback.

• Thursday 13th March - Assembly 2:30pm
• Monday, 17th March: Teacher Only Day
• Saturday, 22nd March: Agrikids (Year 7-8)
• Wednesday, 26th March: Hurunui Duathlon
• Thursday, 10th April: Teeball/Softball Tournament
• Friday, 11th April: End of Term 1