Porritt School Press

Kia ora tātou e te whānau o Te Kura o Porritt,

Following up on a recent school Facebook post, it is right to acknowledge the passing of raukura of our school, old boy Kaea Karauria.

Our attention turns to remembering Kaea well and supporting his whānau in farewelling Kaea in a way befitting such a capable, considerate and talented young man. Much has been shared about Kaea and his achievements and accolades. All of them are warranted and well earned.

We as a kura are collecting koha to pass on to Kaea's whānau. If you wish to contribute to a koha from the school community, please see the team in the school office, or deposit the koha into the school bank account: 12-3479-0023178-00

As is the way of our kura, there are some awesome learning opportunities for our tamariki at the moment, and many cool kaupapa on the horizon.

The current learning around adventure playground design through a Technology lens has been awesome to see. Your tamariki are amazingly creative! Kids come up with the most incredible ideas! This learning is in keeping with a real-life playground project at Porritt School this year. This has been a great way to get some ideas...though I am nervous about where this playground design is heading!

On the horizon is Kings' Birthday weekend and Matariki. Dates for our Matariki Evening and Hautapu Ceremony are shared below. We love these special events each year.

A date of note is our Term 2 teacher-only day. The school will be closed on Thursday 19 June in the lead up to the Matariki public holiday on Friday 20 June.

Kia pai tō rā,

Maaka Papuni - Tumuaki

Kia ora koutou,

By taking part in Pink Shirt Day on Friday 16 May, we are doing our part to eliminate bullying by celebrating diversity and promoting kindness and inclusion.

Kōrero Mai, Kōrero Atu, Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora – Speak Up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying!

Kua rite koe? Are you in?

YES WE ARE!

On Friday May 16th we will flood the school with pink in support so start digging out your pink attire now.

All donations can be made online at www.pinkshirtday.org.nz

At the beginning of the week, the Minister for Education, Erica Stanford announced the launch of a new Parent Portal, an online resource designed to support families to play their part in their child's learning.

The new webspace is designed to make it easier for parents, caregivers and whānau to access clear and up to date information on the school curriculum, assessment practices and ways they can complement their child's learning.

Please click below for a link to the portal;

In Term 2, 2025, we will be sharing Rich Records of Learning in Reading, Writing and Mathematics and Statistics.

As you'll be aware, in recent years there have been a number of changes to the NZ Curriculum, there have been revisions and drafts and releases. The rate of change here has been marked. As part of this new curriculum, there are now new curriculum progressions in the area of Mathematics and Statistics and English

The Ministry of Education has released the following statement to families around recent shifts in the curriculum, and the way in which schools will be reporting progress against Year Level Expectations;

At Porritt School, our reporting and assessment practices are evolving in response to the shift towards the new curriculum. Much of the new curriculum remains in draft form.

We will release our first set of assessment information to whānau and caregivers against the new curriculum progressions in Reading, Writing and Mathematics and Statistics early in Term 3.

What will remain an important element of assessment, is that we celebrate the progress your child has made, and identify the next steps in their learning through rich records of learning.

Our rich records of learning this term are;

• By the beginning of Week 4: Rich Record of Learning in Writing

• By the beginning of Week 7: Rich Record of Learning in Reading

• By the end of Week 9: Rich Record of Learning in Mathematics and Statistics

It is essential that you as a family are connected to HERO to access these rich records. Please make contact with tony@porritt.school.nz if you need some help connecting or reconnecting with HERO.

We look forward to sharing these learning records with you whānau, there is much to share and celebrate!

Our school road patrol team are amazing. They turn out rain, hail or shine, to help get our tamariki and whānau across the road at our three crossings on Lyyttelton Crescent, Ranfurly Street and York Avenue. Thank you for being the legends you are and providing this necessary support twice a day every day for 40 weeks a year.

This crew pictured were rewarded with a hot drink after morning road patrol in the driving rain.

A reminder - our road patrol teams are on patrol from 8.15am to 8.45am every day. That is six Year 6 patrollers and three adults, every day.

Rain, hail or shine...these leaders are out there.

Milo on the cards after a wet road patrol duty for these patrollers recently!

Our Kōkiri tamariki are preparing to host their whānau and caregivers for our hui on Monday 19 May @ 5.30pm.

We look forward to the korero and sharing.

Nau mai, haere mai, piki mai!

Porritt Bear has spent time recently in Whaea Kayla's learning space in Team Toru and Whaea Hannah's learning space in Team Whā.

These legendary tamariki have shown awesome energy around sharing korero on the paepae at the beginning of each day.

Ka rawe tamariki mā - Porritt Bear looks happy to be hanging out with you!

Whaea Hannah, and Matua Joel's crew were awarded Porritt Bear in Week 2's assembly.

Whaea Kayla's crew enjoying Porritt Bear in Week 1.

It was a cool day out on Tuesday at the Ahuriri Rippa Rugby Tournament held at Tareha Reserve.

We took along four teams - two Year 3&4 teams, and two Year 5&6 teams. Each team played five games. Our two Y5&6 teams went through unbeaten, while we only recorded one loss in a Year 3&4 game. A great day out of teamwork, running, passing, laughing and free hot chips!

Many thanks to our supportive whānau, coaches, HB Rugby for organising and McCains for sponsoring.

Tino pai tō mahi whutupōro tamariki mā! 🏉🏉🏉

Monday 2 June - King's Birthday Monday (School closed)

Wednesday 18 June - School Matariki Evening @ 5.30pm

Thursday 19 June - Ministry of Education Curriculum Day (School Closed)

Friday 20 June - Matariki Public Holiday (School closed)

Thursday 26 June - Hautapu Dawn Karakia

Friday 27 June - House Haka and Waiata competition! Last day of Term 2

We are taking one of our two Ministry of Education Curriculum Days in 2025 on Thursday 19 June. This is the day before the Matariki public holiday. School will be closed on this date.

These days are to help our teaching staff come together to be involved in professional learning around the refreshed NZ Curriculum, particularly in the area of Pangarau/Maths and Statistics.

PorrittCare will be open for enrolled tamariki and families. A special day will be available to book soon.

Further reminders will be shared, but please note this date in your diary.

This year we reach a grand age - 50 years! We are planning some celebratory events and activities between Monday 20 October and Thursday 23 October. This is the week leading into HB Anniversary Weekend and Labour Day.

More information will be shared soon about specific events. For now...mark the diary and let any old girls and boys and ex-staff know!

It will be awesome to mark our progress together and look ahead to the next 50 years as a kura.

"Titiro whakamua, kōkiri whakamuri" - Look back and reflect so we can move forward.