TERM CALENDAR – Put all these dates in your diary or your phone!
Remember to check the school calendar on our website. We will put all updates on Facebook & the website. Link to school calendar: http://www.vogeltown.school.nz/calendar/

2024

TERM 1

29 January - Mahitahi meetings (meet with the teacher) - online booking

30 January - Vogeltown School begins for the 2024 year

Kia ora Vogeltown whanau - this is the last newsletter for 2023 and my last as Principal of Vogeltown. I just want to say a massive thanks to all of community for the well wishes, chats, emails, texts and gifts - It has been totally overwhelming!

On Monday you would have received your child(ren)'s summative report for 2023. This report is a culmination of the years progress and gives a 'new' back page that recounts your child's extra curricula activities over the year and a general comment from your child's teacher. Also on the report was your child(ren)'s class and teacher for 2024. We had a brief meeting with their new teacher on Wednesday and your will have received a brief newsletter about themselves. We are looking forward to Mahi tahi meetings on Monday 29 Jan to catch up with your teacher, bring in stationery, find out where their bag will be etc. A booking link will be sent out soon.

We had a fantastic Year 6 leavers assembly during the day on Wednesday, it was great to get the entire school together for the last time in 2023. We gave the Year 6 whanau a great send off! We then had an even more emotional Yr 6 leavers evening on Wednesday night - thanks to all whanau who came along and supported your child and celebrated their graduation to Yr 7, it was special.

To all our Yr 6 whanau who now finish their association with Vogeltown School, we thank you for your support, commitment and dedication to the school! Keep in touch, and stop in for a coffee whenever you go past!

To Cam Hedley who is moving to Australia to teach, thank you Cam, you have been an amazing teacher for the one year you have been here - we expect updates and if you ever come back to NZ, make sure you come in and see us!

To Mitchel Agar, who has been tremendous as a TA for Cayden - thanks heaps! Mitch is going on to Waikato University Teachers College - Ka mau te wehi Mitchell.

To Rachel Judd, who has also been another awesome TA for us, Rachel has also been training as a teacher during this time and has won a teaching job in Auckland. Ka Rawe Rach, enjoy, have fun and keep in touch!

To Teresa Corlett who only been with us for a short time this year as a TA, thanks Teresa, you have been outstanding!

A big thanks to our Home and School team! A small dedicated team who only want the best for our school - it has been a privilege working with you all. If anyone else want sot join this team, then please do so - it is a great team! I look forward to watching what the next fundraiser is for!

To the Vogeltown team - teachers, support staff and Teacher Aides - thanks heaps! Your belief in the Vogeltown way is reflected in the way you all support our students learning. Vogeltown School is an amazing school - it has the best people, the best kids, the best community and have the most fun! Other people are jealous of what we do here at Vogeltown! I remember bringing my kids here once when they were younger and they said to me ‘Dad this feels like a happy school’ and this is so true! It is an amazing school - It is a whanau, it is a family and that is what makes Vogeltown so good!

To my Vogeltown Board of Trustees over the last 9 years - thank you! A special thanks to Ashley Smith and Mike Miners as Board Chairs. You have been so supportive with the school, and the community. Thanks team - I know the BOT will do a wonderful job in appointing a new Principal for Vogeltown.

So from OGLETOWN I now move on to OGLEWOOD - I hope that we can continue to have great battles on the field. I hope we can make new connections in an educational way and not be strangers across the Huatoki river, but rather best school friends or city cousins!

I can’t wait to tell Woodleigh all about this mythical rock called Paetoki, and the stories of Urukinaki or Tuparikino, or the amazing legend of how the syndicates got their names - they will be amazed!

Have a fantastic Xmas and awesome new year whānau! It has been great being your Tumuaki over the last 9 years.

He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata he tangata he tangata!

What is the most important thing in life, the people, the people, the people!

Nga mihi nui - Mr O and the VS Team

Kia ora Vogeltown School Whanau,

And so here we are – the end of another exceptional year for our Kura! 2023 has been a significant one for Vogeltown as we surpassed 400 children enrolled at our School. This, and previous Boards have never pursued growth – indeed we established our zone some five years ago in a bid to manage and maintain numbers, anticipating the increased density we have seen in our community. It is a credit to our wonderful staff – that despite growing by the equivalent of four classrooms in seven years, we have maintained the feel and values of a much smaller school.

As a Board, we have deliberately maintained a low level of visibility, whilst diligently keeping across all the detail in the background and this should be taken as an endorsement of the way in which our organisation is run. With Jeremy moving on to Woodleigh School in 2024, the Board will be working through the summer break to identify the next Principal who will lead our School into it’s next chapter.

Much work has been done in a short space of time and we are on track against our plan. As I have indicated previously, it is unlikely we will have news that can be shared with the community until sometime during Term One 2024. We will not be rushing this important process – nor is there a need to, given that Laura Seed has agreed to step into the acting role. Congratulations once again Laura, we have every confidence in your ability to lead us in the interim.

With so much focus on the future, I have been reflecting on all that has been achieved and this has given me cause to consider my contribution to what is to come. We have an enviably qualified and engaged group of Trustees at Vogeltown and having led the Board now for six years, the time is right for me to step aside and allow another to front our support of the incoming Principal and advocate strongly for positive outcomes on your behalf.

Consequently, at our meeting last week, whilst remaining a Trustee, I have resigned as Board Chair (effective Meeting One 2024) and will not be seeking re-election. I am grateful for the support and confidence I have enjoyed from fellow Trustees, the community and school staff during my tenure. I am particularly appreciative of the positive and productive working relationship with our esteemed Principal, Jeremy.

I want to thank Jeremy and the ever-growing team for their passion and commitment in all that they do in support of our children. We are extremely fortunate to call Vogeltown ‘our School’ and that was particularly evident at the Year Six leaving assembly this week. This place really means so much, to so many.

To those Year Six families who leave us for the final time this week – thank you for your support and best wishes as you haere whakamua, ‘go forward’!

Finally, Jeremy. Best wishes for your journey just over the hill. The children, staff, parents, Board - the community will greatly miss your energetic positivity, your professional leadership, guidance and experience. You have been a consummate role-model and your legacy at Vogeltown is indelible.

Meri Kirihimete,

Mike Miners and the Board of Trustees

A massive goodbye to our Yr 6 whanau - you have been amazing and we wish you all the best at your next kura.

Remeber to take with you the 'Vogeltown way', the Vogeltown IROCK values and the vision of Manaaki tangata, Manaaki whenua, Haere whakamua!

Ka mau te wehi whanau - you have been the most amazing Yr 6 cohort! Keep in touch!

As at beginning of Term 1 2024:

Acting Principal - Laura Seed

Deputy Principal - Mike George

Deputy Principal - Lee Newland

Associate Principal - Nathan Ransfield

TARANAKI - JUNIOR WHANAU

Rm 7 - Lee Newland, Team Leader

Rm 6 - Adrienne Newland

Rm 5 - Lee Lash and Katie Stone

Rm 4 - Erin Kissick

Rm 3 - Marizaan Wiseman

Rm 1 - Kylie Hunt and Molly Williams

HUATOKI - MIDDLE WHANAU

Rm 16 - Brent Bishop, Team Leader

Rm 15 - Mike George

Rm 14 - Susannah Pitcairn

Rm 13 - Dani Melody

PAETOKI - SENIOR SYNDICATE

Rm 12 - Nathan Ransfield, Team Leader

Rm 11 - Dayan Lewis

Rm 10 - Rachel Pretty

Rm 9 - Matt Goodwin

Rm 8 - Celeste McLean

TEAM LEADER RELEASE TEACHERS

Caroline Irving - Rm 15

Jen Tooley - Rm 7

Brit Webling - Rm 16 and Rm 15

READING RECOVERY

Julie Scott

Kim Jacobs

TEACHER 'CLASSROOM RELEASE'

Jillian Sutton

Raewyn Andrews

Linda Sleep

Caroline Irving

Larina Debrecini

OFFICE

Junior Office - Michelle Sleep

Senior Office - Suzy Wolfe and Annie Anderson

Property Manager - Shane McAuley

TEACHER AIDES

Angela Buckland, Annette Chadwick, Hannah Harvey, Linda Agar, Debra Harlan, Brooke Baker, Eloise Hay, Kim Robson, Ava Johnson, Claudia Hamilton, Rosheen Benton.

With all the events now done and dusted for the year, we had a tie at the top between Kahurangi and Karaka on 28 points, with Kowhai closely behind on 27 points!

We can not finish on a tie, so the winner of the Golden Bat today got the winning point for Karaka - well done to Harry and well done to Karaka!

Final tally is below:

Karaka winners of the whanau trophy for 2023

2nd Kahurangi

3rd Kowhai

4th Kakariki

5th Whero

Lets see who wins the whanau points in 2024!

What an awesome Golden Bat finals we had for 2023! A big thanks to Mr Goodwin for being the ref and thanks to Mrs Seed for keeping the draw rolling over the term!

We had a Huatoki final between Ruuana Repia and Carter Gibbins. This was a close match with Ruuana winning 11 - 10.

In the Paetoki final we had Nico Vijoen and Harry Ahkoui-Hotene with Harry taking out this final, again in a very class race, winning 11 - 9.

In the teachers finals Mrs Ransfield won over Mr Bishop, we think Mr Bishop was carrying an injury?

And Mrs Seed won over Mr Ogle - Mr Ogle now is suffering an injury.

Looking forward to Golden Bat in 2024!

It has been great to have mostly fine weather lately to keep away the bugs and colds we have had over the year. Our attendance reflects this - with an average attendance of 89% for the term so far.

As with every week - a massive thanks to all the whānau that ring, email or skool loop us an absence for your child(ren) we really appreciate this.

'Schooldocs' login:

Username: vogeltown

Password: huatoki

2024 Term 1 Sports Registrations

Registrations for Term 1 sports are now open on our Kindo Shop. Please sign in to your Kindo account for full details and dates. Registrations will remain open over the school holidays and will close on Friday 26 January. Options to choose from are:

Summer Soccer: Tuesdays from 5.30pm at Merrilands Domain

Cricket: Fridays from 5.30pm at various sports grounds

Touch Rugby: Monday afternoons at Corbett Park, Oakura

Please note: Next year we are offering touch rugby on a Monday night out at Corbett Park in Oakura rather than Hickford Park in Bell Block. Our numbers for Term 1 touch have been dwindling every year to the point where we are struggling to get enough players to enter a team in each grade. If we still do not get the numbers to enter teams a full refund will be given.

Congratulations to our U12 Touch Rugby team the Vogeltown Hurricanes who won their semi-final against Woodleigh School last week in a tense extra time drop off!! ...and yes - we enjoyed telling Mr Ogle about this result!!

Best of luck for their final on Monday night against St Pius X Steppers which is being played at Devon Intermediate at 4.50pm.

For those who do not yet have a Kindo account please use the following link for first time users. https://www.vogeltown.school.nz/school-information/kindo-shop/

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions on michelle.sleep@vogeltown.school.nz

If you would like your child to be part of the Weetbix tryathlon in 2024, then please enter below. We have set up a Vogeltown School group entry site to make it easier and even get the race pack delivered to Vogeltown School for your child(ren).

• After you enter the participants details on the entry form, you will be asked if you would like to "join a School Group". Search for your School Group when prompted and click on the group to add the participant to it.
• When joining your School Group we will be notified that you have entered and it will help make our school eligible to win prizes.

The day of this event is Wednesday 27th March 2024.

Use the link below to enter:

Hari Huritau, to these awesome Vogeltowners this week:

BUMBESEVIC Maverick

HALL Dylan

YUKICH Claudia

UNCLES Ruby

BONZON Anouk

We hope you all had, or will be having, a great birthday! From all the VS whānau!

Also to all our tamariki having a birthday over the holiday break:

NEWLAND Harper

GATENBY Isabella

COZENS Mack

PALLISER Will

WEBLING Jack

GRAHAM Lily

BINTI SHARAFUDDIN SHAH Sumayyah

HEDLEY Archie

BAIRD Harriet

JONES Nyah

ZIMMERMANN Arnie

DUNN Austin

DONEY Noah

MORRISON Charlie

TE WAKE Arvayah

BRIEN-STOKELL Brody

OUT OF ZONE ENROLMENTS 2024:

Enrolment at Vogeltown School is governed by an enrolment scheme, details of which are available from the school office or from our website.

Next year there will be two enrolment periods.

The first enrolment period will run from 30 January 2024 to 12 April 2024.

The second enrolment period will run from 29 April 2024 to 5 July 2024.

The Board has determined that 0 places are likely to be available for out of zone students turning 5 in the first enrolment period. The Board will determine how many places are likely to be available for out of zone students turning 5 for the second enrolment period by Wednesday 14th February 2024. The exact number of places will depend on the number of enrolments received from students who live within the school's home zone.

For students seeking enrolment within the second enrolment period, the deadline for receipt of out of zone places is Friday 23rd February 2024. Application for enrolment for an out of zone student is made by completing an out of zone application form (available from the school office and from our website). Applications can be sent via email to office@vogeltown.school.nz or delivered directly to the school office.

Parents and whanau who live in the home zone and intend enrolling their child for 2024 should apply by Friday 6th October 2023 to assist the school to plan effectively for the 2024 school year.

For the second enrolment period, if the number of out of zone applications exceeds the places available, students will be selected by ballot in accordance with instructions detailed in the enrolment scheme. If a ballot is required, it will be held on Monday 26th February 2024. Parents and whanau will be informed of the outcome of the ballot on Tuesday 27th February 2024.

Vogeltown School Board of Trustees

Stay safe and be kind to each other. Thank you for the ongoing support of Vogeltown School, we appreciate the community we live in!

On behalf of the Vogeltown team,

Ka kite ano

Jeremy Ogle - Principal/Tumuaki

Email: office@vogeltown.school.nz
Website: www.vogeltown.school.nz
Location: Vogeltown School Huatoki Street, Vogeltown, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Phone: (06) 753 6843