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School Newsletter Term 2, Week 8

Friday 20th June 2025

School NewsletterTerm 2, Week 8Friday 20th June 2025

Kia ora West End whānau,


As we move through Term 2, it’s been another exciting and productive week at West End School, full of rich learning and powerful connections across our kura.


Our Power Hour sessions have continued to shine, and I’d like to give a huge thank you to our dedicated teaching staff who work tirelessly to make these targeted learning blocks engaging, purposeful, and effective. These sessions are all about providing the right support or stretch at the right time for our tamariki – and we’re seeing the benefits across the board in student confidence and engagement.


A special highlight this week is the completion of our hāngī pit! After much planning and hard mahi, we now have a purpose-built hāngī area complete with lighting so it can be used year-round. It looks fantastic and stands ready to be used for our Matariki Hāngī next week. This will be a beautiful opportunity for us to celebrate Matariki – a time for remembrance, reflection, and renewal.


Last night we had the pleasure of sharing our ‘Look Inside’ with our Board of Trustees. This initiative offers a deep dive into how we operate on a daily basis inside the classroom. The presentation included insights into our student achievement data, the ways in which we support our ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) learners, and a look at the teaching and learning structures within each of our three teams – Te Wao Nui o Tāne, Puawaitanga and Tipuranga. It was a valuable opportunity to connect our governance and teaching teams more closely and to reflect on the great mahi happening across our school.


As always, thank you for your continued support – whether it’s helping in classrooms, showing up for events, or simply being a smiling face at drop-off and pick-up. We are so proud of the community we have here at West End.


Ngā mihi nui,

Tony West

Principal

West End School - Te Kura O Urumutu

Reminder: No school tomorrow.

Matariki Public Holiday

A reminder that it is a Public Holiday tomorrow as we celebrate Matariki. Enjoy the next 3 days and we look forward to seeing you again on Monday 23rd June for our final week of the term.

Term 2 holidays at the end of next week

Term 2 finishes next Friday 27th June for school holidays. We will start Term 3 on Monday 14th July.

School Reports coming out next week

Your child will be bringing a paper copy of their Term 2 report home next Friday. Please check their bags.

Jumping June next Friday

Next Friday the 27th, our School will be participating in 'Jumping June'. We have been skipping as part of our PE learning, this Event is to raise funds and promote Heart health to our tamariki. This involves the whole school coming together for some music and skipping.

Please wear pink or red on this day and bring a gold coin donation. All proceeds will go to the NZ Heart Foundation.

Filming next week for our Promotional Video

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week we will be having a film crew come to school to film our second promotional video to highlight all of the amazing things we are doing at West End School. We have sent out letters to all main characters and extras (please return by Monday) but there is a very high possibility we will have more of our tamariki in the background shots. There will also be some drone shots during one of these days.


We will ensure all of those students who are not allowed their image to be displayed in the newsletter, social media etc are not involved with these 3 days of shooting, but if you do not wish for your child to be in our school video, please email dminchin@westend.school.nz or the school office office@westend.school.nz with their full name and classroom number and they will also not be included.

Main Characters or Extras

If you have been selected to be a main character or extra, please bring your permission slip in by Monday. Also, for the clothes you wear, please avoid any clothing that has a brand name on it (eg Nike, KFC etc). Main characters - please bring your clothes into school to keep for the 3 days.

Our First West End School Promotional Video.

West End School Promotional Video

Matariki Celebrations at school next week

What's happening for Matariki Day?

Thursday 26th June

Here is what's happening.


Block 1 - Starts at 9am

Whole school gather on the courts for Opening Karakia and Waiata.

Star and Chant presentation to follow.

9am Assemble in Bays 9.50 Snack break in bays

9.10 Karakia/ Waiata 10am Waiata-Macarena Matariki

9.15 Room 1 and 15 10.10 Room 10 and 11

9.20 Room 2 10.15 Room 5

9.25 Room 16 and 17 10.20 Room 13 and 14

9.30 Room 3 10.25 Matariki Jump Jam

9.35 Paramanawa - Snack break (In bays) 10.35 Judges awards

9.40 Room 6 and 7 10.45 victory lap from winners

9.45 Room 4 10.55 Karakia Morning Tea

(return to classes for Morning tea)


Block 2 - Starts at 11am

‘Feed the Stars’ - Rob the nest. This is a team challenge.

Each class to have 2 hoops. 2 runners at a time to grab a ball (star) with one hand then run back. (Knock out rounds to find a winner) Once the main nest is empty, teams can begin robbing other nests. Note: Balls will have special marks on for bonus points . Green ball = 1 point Star ball = 5 points


After finals, Hāngī will be served at approximately 12pm.


Block 3 - Starts at 1pm

Team teachers vs Student challenge

‘Navigating the Stars’

Obstacle course challenge

Pihipihingā Matariki VIBE Assembly next Friday

Pihipihingā classes Room 1 and 2 will be finishing off our awesome Matariki celebrations by hosting an assembly next Friday. It would be great to see our whānau to celebrate our learning and see what we've been doing. Please be seated before 2.10 in our school hall next Friday!

Cross Country

On Wednesday 11 June, 12 students from Year 5 and 6 were selected to race in the Interschool Cross Country competition at Ashurst Domain. The day began with excitement as they arrived at school proudly wearing the West End tracksuit. After morning tea, they climbed into the school van and Miss Glass’ car and headed to Ashurst. The vehicles were full of excitement and nervous anticipation for what was to come.

They competed against the best cross country racers in the area, putting their best foot forward to race to the finish line. Each student showed courage, determination and resilience, no matter what place they came. The support and encouragement from our students who were watching each race for our students who were just finishing their race was uplifting and a brilliant display of our West End values.

Each participant represented our school with pride and a big smile on their faces.

Tipuranga

Room 13

In Room 13 we have been learning how to write instructions. We read a very funny book called “How to Babysit a Grandma” by Jean Reagan, and then brainstormed ways that we would babysit our grandparents. We then wrote our own instructions and got a chance to share them with our grandparents at our Manaakitanga afternoon.

Room 15

Room 15 have been working hard on their Science learning. We have studied the Solar System and the planets within it.

We have created our own planets, naming them and writing about their special features.

These are our own personal planets, please come and check them out in our classroom!

An Emergency Visit.......

This term we have been learning about our school value manaakitanga. As part of this learning, we have looked at how manaakitanga can be shown in our community.


Emergency services are great examples of manaakitanga in action as they are always helping people out. We were very lucky to have Tim from FENZ and Constables Nate and Georgia come in to visit us.


They told us how they help people in the community and showed us all through their vehicles. We had so much fun!

And a Grandparent Visit

As part of our learning about manaakitanga, we thought about how we could show manaakitanga to people outside of school. We decided to invite our grandparents to a manaakitanga show. We performed some of the waiata we have been learning this term and then we showed our grandparents around our classrooms and read stories with them. We showed manaakitanga by sharing our talents with others. Everyone had such a great time!

Pihipihingā

Rūma Tahi

Mānawa maiea te putanga o Matariki

Mānawa maiea te ariki o te rangi

Mānawa maiea te mātahi o te tau

Hail the rise of Matariki

Hail the lord of the sky

Hail the New Year


The focus for room 1 this term has been Matariki mā Puanga, in line with the theme for Matariki 2025. We have been learning about what the stars represent, why we celebrate Matariki and why Puanga is significant for the Manawatū region. Our favourite star to learn about has been Hiwa-i-te-rangi - the star of wishes, hopes and dreams. We decided to focus on a goal that we hope to achieve before the end of the year. Ngā mihi o te tau hou māori.

Rūma Rua

Rūma Rua has been learning about using past, present and future tense sentences in te reo Māori. We use cards to help us create the sentences and then we write them in our books. Check out all of this awesome mahi!

Puāwaitanga

Room 6

Rūma Ono has been learning to write longer, more complex texts. Their current focus is to self-assess their progress using checklists. They are learning to choose their future goals from these checklists and to give each other helpful feedback.

Te Wao Nui o Tāne

Room 4

We have been learning about Earth and Beyond this term. Over the last week, Room 4 had to work in groups to choose a planet out of our 8 planets in our Solar System and create a mini version of it! They researched their colours, sizes, components and interesting facts about their planet. Their research was written and attached to each planet for anyone to read and learn a little bit about space!

ESOL

Matariki has been a time for our students to reflect on the past year, and make goals for the year ahead.


Our ESOL students have made Matariki stars to share their goals with their whanau and teachers.

Upcoming Events

WEEK 8

  • Newsletter - Thursday 19th June
  • MATARIKI - Friday 20th June. NO SCHOOL


WEEK 9

  • Power Hour - Tuesday 24th June
  • Matariki Celebration (Hangi) - Thursday 26th June
  • VIBE Assembly (Pihipihingā) - Friday 27th June
  • Jumping June (dress in red) - Friday 27th June
  • Last Day of Term 2 - Friday 27th June


SCHOOL HOLIDAYS FROM Friday 27th June - Monday 14th July

WEEK 1, TERM 3

  • Book Buds Starts - Monday 14th July
  • Power Hour - Tuesday 15th July
  • NE Visits - Wednesday 16th July


WEEK 2

  • Power Hour - Tuesday 15th July
  • Ki o Rahi - Wednesday 23rd July
  • LIFE EDUCATION BEGINS - Thursday 24th July
  • Newsletter Out - Friday 25th July

PTA Fundraising and Events

Juicies for sale on last day of Term

Disco Fun

Term Dates 2025

Term 1: Monday 29 Jan - Friday 11 April

Term 2: Monday 28 April - Friday 27 June

Term 3: Monday 14 July - Friday 19 Sept

Term 4: Monday 6 Oct - Friday 12 Dec

Ballot Dates 2025

Ballot Dates Drawn at 11.30am of the dates stated below

Term 1 for Term 2: Wednesday 26 February 2025

Term 2 for Term 3: Wednesday 14 May 2025

Term 3 for Term 4: Wednesday 30 July 2025

Term 4 for Term 1 2026: Wednesday 8 October 2025

Headlice Pilot Project

Head lice are tiny, flat insects that live on the human scalp. Head lice lay their eggs (nits), onto hair strands. The main sign of head lice is being able to see the insects or nits by checking closely for them.

If one whānau member has head lice, then the rest of the whānau in the same household should also be checked. All whānau who have head lice, is recommended to be treated on the same day and can get free treatment for head lice from a local pharmacy listed below.

It is important to get treatment quickly! It may be helpful to call the pharmacy in advance to ensure that there is a pharmacist available to provide the service.

Palmerston North Pharmacies:

Botanical Road Pharmacy 123 Botanical Road (06) 358 1787 Cook Street Pharmacy 281 College Street (06) 358 7788 Unichem Awapuni Pharmacy 96 College Street (06) 358 1970 Unichem Chemist Shop 27 Linton Street (06) 354 8899 Vautier Pharmacy Pioneer 746 Pioneer Highway (06) 357 6577

This service is funded by Ora Konnect and facilitated by MidCentral Community Pharmacy Group.


Pilot service starts from 3 of June 2025 and will continue until allocated funds run out.

Scabies Pilot Project

Scabies is caused by a tiny mite that burrows under the skin. Scabies produces a very itchy skin rash. It is easily spread between people to close skin-to-skin contact, or shared bedding or clothing.

If you or a whānau member in your household have scabies, then you and your whānau can get free treatment for scabies from a local pharmacy listed below.

The person(s) with suspected scabies needs to be present at pharmacy at the time of the consult.

It is important to get treatment quickly! It may be helpful to call the pharmacy in advance to ensure that there is a pharmacist available to provide the service.


Palmerston North Pharmacies:

Botanical Road Pharmacy. 123 Botanical Road. (06) 358 1787

Cook Street Pharmacy. 281 College Street. (06) 358 7788

Unichem Awapuni Pharmacy 96 College Street. (06) 358 1970

Unichem Chemist Shop. 27 Linton Street (06) 3548899

Vautier Pharmacy Pioneer. 746 Pioneer Highway (06) 357 6577


This service is funded by Ora Konnect and facilitated by MidCentral Community Pharmacy Group.


Pilot service starts from 3 June 2025 and will continue until allocated funds run out.

Road Works Information

Community Notices

Free Throat Clinic (Strep Throat)

Hockey Manawatu are running a Holiday Camp between Monday the 7th to Friday the 11th (depending on the year level). Could you please offer this to your hockey players who are keen on improving their skills and learning from an ex international.

Reminder of our school times

Please do not drop your child to school too early

Our school gates are opened at around 8.05-8.10am. If you have to drop your child off early, please do so as close to this time as possible for their own safety.


West End School starts at 8.50am in the morning. Children can wait next to the turf until 8.30 and then enter the school grounds when the bell goes. Please try to get your child to school on time as this sets them up for the day and helps establish a healthy routine - so they're not catching up with learning if they arrive late.


School finishes at 2.50. If you are picking your child up, please be at school at this time. We are having many parents turning up late which causes disruption for our office staff and teachers who have to delay appointments and meetings after school.

If your child is absent from school.

It is really important under the current circumstances you notify the school if your child is absent.


PLEASE DO NOT TXT OR EMAIL THE CLASSROOM TEACHER.

ALL ABSENCES SHOULD BE ADVISED VIA THE OFFICE.


Please remember to advise the office by 8.30am if your child is not attending school.

You can telephone 358-2465 and leave a message or txt 021 118 0156.

ABSENCES CAN ALSO BE SENT EASILY THROUGH OUR SCHOOL APP


In both cases please give a reason for absence.

Thank you.

Kindo Online Shop

It is very important that families register with Kindo, as this is now the only way to register your child for school sports, and ordering PTA lunches.
Below are the links to register.
If you require help please call the Kindo helpdesk on

0508 454 636

New users need this link

Existing users need this link

West End School
Te Kura o Urumutu
Email: office@westend.school.nz
Location: West End School, 196 College Street, Palmerston North
Phone: 06 358 2465