Week 7 Term 2 Panui

Kua haehae ngā hihi o Matariki - The rays of Matariki are spread

This whakataukī is spoken when Matariki is seen bright in the night sky. The rays of the Matariki stars are thought to carry messages for the people. Matariki is a time to share stories, reflect on the past, and plan for the future.

Kia ora koutou e te Whānau,

Fundamental Skills

What an amazing programme the team at Stadium 2000 have delivered for our students over the last seven weeks with the Fundamental Skills Programme. The programme provided a diverse range of experiences for students which were skillfully differentiated to support the inclusion and success of all. Our kids were brave in trying new things and I was impressed with the exceptional standard of behaviour and manners that were consistently observed across all classes.

Values Focus

This week and next, we are teaching what it means to Be Brave. Key teaching points for this value include:

• Take risks and try new things.

• Be upstanders if we see someone being treated unfairly.

• Ask for help when needed.

• Step up and be a role model.

The school cross country is an upcoming challenge that will require students to apply and demonstrate several aspects of our school values. Please support us with the following key messages to ensure your child is set up to experiences success in this event:

• We want to see all children challenge themselves to participate, give their best and finish.

• Not giving up when tired or passed by another competitor

• Persist when faced with setbacks, e.g. tripping/slipping over, stitch etc.

• Support each other with words of encouragement and good sportsmanship.

• Having a growth mindset to overcome disappointment.

House Event: School Cross Country

At the cross-country, students will compete in teams for house points. Points will be awarded for individual participation, attitude/behaviour and achievement which will be combined for the House Cup competition. Students are encouraged to come along dressed in house colours as follows:

• Vernon - Yellow

• Te Hau - Red

• Fishtail - Blue

• Tokomaru - Green

Please access this document to check your family house allocation if your child/children are unsure.

We would love to see you along at this event on Wednesday 26 June. The Friends of Witherlea are running a bake sale and the coffee cart will be available also.

Parent Contributions

We understand that the current cost of living crisis is placing significant pressure on many families in our community. Our school is committed to inclusion and barrier-free access to education while also providing quality resources and rich experiences for our students.

The current government funding model requires schools with a low equity index (or high decile, in the old language) to seek parent payments to compensate for additional funding provided to schools in lower socioeconomic communities. Inflationary pressures are also impacting our school's finances, making your contributions even more crucial to our operations.

Thank you for the payments we have received to date; we appreciate the extra effort required in making these in the current climate. We would appreciate any further payments, whether in full, partial, or on an installment basis. Every little bit helps and is greatly appreciated!

Matariki

Our annual Matariki community event is scheduled for Thursday 27 June and we warmly invite all families to take part. We will meet on the top court at 6.50am. Please bring a torch, a plate to share and dress warm for a walk up the hill. We will sing waiata to the sunrise before returning to school for a hot drink and shared kai. Classes will be open to view children learning this term from 8.30am-9.00am. A Matariki art exhibition is also available for viewing in the hall. During the first block of the day, buddy classes will combine for a Matariki activity.

Quiz Night

A huge thank you to the Friends of Witherlea for all the effort that has gone into the planning and organisation of the upcoming school quiz night. Thank you to members of the community who have generously contributed products and services and/or entered a team for what should be a fun night to look forward to.

Lockdown Drill

Today we practiced a lockdown drill or reverse evacuation procedure as part of our emergency management plan. During a lockdown, we stay inside and lock the doors. Scenarios we discuss with children include a swarm of bees, lightning, a dog on school grounds, or someone who is upset and unsafe. During a lockdown, children sit quietly inside while staff account for everyone and remain inside until released, which typically lasts no more than 5-10 minutes for a drill. Please don’t hesitate to contact your child's teacher if you have any concerns about this.

Road Safety

Our roads around the school are heavily congested at drop-off and pick-up time. It only takes one careless decision to put the safety of others at risk. We remind you to please:

• Always use safe crossing points.

• Do not park on yellow lines, as this restricts visibility for road patrollers.

• Do not allow children to enter or exit an unparked car.

• Take care during turnaround manoeuvres.

Gymnastics

Good luck to Amelie, Cienna, Elaine, Emily, Kenzie, Ishana, Lily, Lyra, Olivia and Tui who compete in the Inter School Gymnastics Competition on Friday. Special thanks to Kat Flood for coaching this team and managing them during the event.

Ngā manaakitanga,

Symon Beattie

Principal/Tumuaki