Welcome Back to School 2024
Tauranga Primary School
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Principal's Update:
Tēnā koutou katoa
Ngā mihi nui, kia koutou katoa - Warm greetings to you all.
Happy New Year to all our TPS families.
This newsletter contains back to school notices regarding:
- 1st of February- Whānau Connect Day information - please book a time to meet your child's teacher.
- School Office opening hours
- Stationery
- School Uniform
- 2024 Term Dates
- 2024 Staff - link to contact email list
- Term 2 2024, Out of Zone Ballot closes on the 9th of February. Completed enrolment forms must be received prior to this date.
The 2nd of February is the first full day back at school for all students.
The first day back will be filled with excitement and maybe some anxiety as well. Please reassure your child that everything will be fine and that they do have the skills and strategies to cope with this next new change in 2024. Talk through any concerns that they may have, and help them work on strategies to manage their concerns. For example, if finding friends is a worry, then setting up a meeting point with their friends for break times could help, or organise a play date prior to school starting to re-kindle or start new friendships. If the concern is about moving to the "big side" in 2024, then bring them into school to play prior to school starting so they can get familiar with the playgrounds and have a peek through the windows at their new class.
Most importantly, it will be your approach to their concerns that will influence how they will respond - speak positively about school, their teacher, and their ability to cope and manage this new year of school.
On the morning of the 8th of February, we will host a mihi whakatau to welcome new families and staff to our TPS community. All families are welcome to attend, a separate notice will come out about this closer to the time.
On the 22nd of February, we host a family picnic 5-7pm. The picnic is an opportunity to meet our school community, share our plans for the 2024 school year and for you to meet the teachers in your child's teaching team. TPS families bring along a picnic style dinner to eat on the fields on the senior site. Mark this date in your diary.
Enjoy the last few weeks of the school holidays.
Ngā mihi maioha
Fiona Hawes
Hei kōnei rā
Fiona
Fiona Hawes
Principal
Whānau Connect Day
Kia ora TPS whānau,
We are hosting a Whānau Connect Day, on Thursday 1st February, 2024, which is the day before school starts for the children.
The aim of the day is to strengthen whakawhanaungatanga (building of relationships, working together, getting to know each other) between home and school.
At the Whānau Connect Day our TPS teachers would like to meet with each family in their class, with the intention of listening to your thoughts about the year ahead, and what is important for your child and their learning in 2024. It is a chance to reconnect or get to know each other, pass on any relevant information, put a "face to a name", and set some goals.
Interviews are from 8am to 6.30pm, we aim to meet with all TPS families this day. If you are unable to attend your child's teacher will be in touch during the first two weeks of school to book an alternative time.
Children are welcome to attend the interview with you.
To book a time for your whānau connect session, please go to:
https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/
Our school code for this event is: pek4k
Ngā mihi nui,
Cathy Ediker
Deputy Principal
2024 School Office January opening hours
The school office will be open for new enrolments and uniform sales on the following days prior to school starting in 2024:
- 30th January & 31st January - 9:00am - 2:00pm
- 1st February - 8.30am-3.30pm
To access online enrolment forms please click here
Stationery 2024
To start the school year, there will be no school fees and the only contribution requested will be for year 4 camp, year 5 Waimarino trip and stationery. The cost of your child's stationery should be paid directly to the school and their stationery needs for the year will be provided directly to the classroom.
School Stationery 2024:
Your child's stationery costs for 2024 will be entered onto their school account mid January.
There are three ways you can pay:
- through the 'school shop'
- via eftpos at the office
- directly into our bank account (12-3440-0009600-00) Please reference your child (SURNAME, first initials, Stationery)
We have negotiated with our suppliers excellent stationery prices.
- Year 1 $43.00 New Entrants - 5 year olds new to TPS
- Year 1 $28.00 Returning Year 1 students - Rms 14, 15, 17 & 19
- Year 2 $35.00 Rms 11, 12 & 13 (new students to TPS will also need a book bag & whiteboard )
- Year 3 $50.00 M3, M4 & M5 (book bag & whiteboard included)
- Year 4 $48.00 M3, M4 & M5 (new students to TPS will also need a book bag & whiteboard)
- Year 5 $48.00 SH 1 & 2 (whiteboard included)
- Year 6 $44.00 SH 1 & 2 (new students to TPS will also need a whiteboard)
Extras if required: whiteboards $4.80 and book bags $3.00
School Uniform
Summer uniform details:
Items that can be purchased via the school office
(see above for January office opening hours)
- Polo shirt - navy with school logo
- Navy shorts or skort.
- Polar fleece - royal blue with school logo.
- Sunhat - with school logo
Items that can be purchased independently of school supplies:
Sunhat:
Plain navy for Terms 1 and 4 – there are three options:
- Aussie brim, drill flap legionnaire or bucket.
- No logos or basketball caps, please.
If children do not have a sunhat they will not be permitted to play outside of shaded areas in break times.
Footwear
Summer: sneakers, slides or sandals. For safety reasons, jandals are discouraged as children are more likely to trip over when running with these or get caught up on play equipment. Crocs are allowed, but jbbitz are not (please leave these at home).
Any hair ties or other accessories must be royal blue, navy, black, hair coloured or white. All hair shoulder length or longer is to be tied up, this helps prevent the spread of headlice. Please keep sparkly and dramatic hair wear for the weekends :-) .
Jewellery: watches and plain ear studs or small hoops are acceptable. Taonga (treasure) of cultural or religious importance can be worn.
The expectation is that all children will arrive at school with sunblock applied. There is sunblock available in all classes for use during the day.
Term 1 is a 'swimming term' please send your child to school with togs and towel daily. Our new entrant students will need to be able to get changed in and out of their togs independently. It may be worthwhile practising prior to school starting if this skill is not yet quite mastered.
LASTLY - please name everything clearly, it is impossible to return uniform items that are not named or the name has faded beyond recognition. Every term we have a significant amount of unclaimed (unnamed or unreadable names) uniform items. Unclaimed uniform items that are in good condition are washed and sold via second-hand office sales or gifted to families.
2024 Ballot Dates:
Term 1 2024 additional ballot, if required, Friday 20 January 2024
Enrolment for Term 2 2024 - ballot to be held Friday 9th February
Enrolment for Term 3 2024 - ballot to be held Friday 10th May
Enrolment for Term 4 2024 - ballot to be held Friday 2nd August
Enrolment for Term 1 2025 - ballot to be held on Friday 25th October 2024.
Enrolment packs can be collected from the office, or use our online enrolment form at www.tauranga.school.nz / enrol.
Any queries or to check your child's name is on our pre-enrolment list please contact our Enrolment Officer, Barbara Turley at: office@tauranga.school.nz
Thank you to our FOTS team
A big thank you to our Friends of the School team who have partnered with the board of trustees to have our courts repainted, as well as adding some additional court game markings and learning activities. This job was completed last week and it looks awesome for the start of school.
The funds contributed are from the FOTS led Quiz Night, Frosty Fridays, Pizza Lunches and Disco. Thank you to our TPS parents for your support of these events to make our school environment interesting and fun.
Early in the term, the FOTS team will meet again to map out the plan for 2024. It is a great way to meet other parents of the school and contribute to creating fun memories for our students. Watch the newsletter for dates and times.
- 1st February - Whānau Connect Day, individual meetings with teachers 8:00am-6:30pm. Details will be shared closer to the time.
- 2nd February - First day for children to attend. First bell is at 8.50am
- 6th February - Waitangi Day - (school closed)
- 8th February - 9:00am Mihi Whakatau - welcoming new families to TPS
- 20th - 28th February - Deep Water Safety, all classes
- 7th March - Year 4 camp
- 8th March - Year 3/4 activity day
- 29th March - Good Friday (school closed)
- 1st and 2nd April - EASTER (school closed)
- 4th April - Year 5 Waimarino trip
- 12th April - Last day Term 1
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School Contact Details:
Principal
Fiona Hawes
Deputy Principal
Cathy Ediker
Assistant Principal
Robyn Caley
Junior Team Leader
Pam Wilkins
Middle Team Leader
Jason Morgan
Senior Team Leader
Jo Howard
International Student enquiries
Cathy Ediker
Business Manager
Susan O'Neill
Enrolment Officer
Barbara Turley