COASTAL TARANAKI SCHOOL
NEWSLETTER -September 13th 2024
COASTAL TARANAKI SCHOOL
Office Hours
8.30am-3.30pm
Hours of Instruction
8.40am - 3.00pm
Email: office@coastaltaranaki.school.nz
Website: https://sites.google.com/coastaltaranaki.school.nz/coastaltaranakischool/home
Location: 92 Carthew Street, Ōkato, New Zealand
Phone: (06)7524022 - 027 320 1267
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coastaltaranakischool
PRINCIPALS KORERO
Kia ora,
It is wonderful to see the sunshine, what a difference it makes to the day. We have had so much sickness at school during the winter months, so we are very glad that the glimpse of sunshine heralds brighter days to come and less bugs circulating.
Thank you to whānau who continue to contact the office to explain any absences for their child/ren.
Huge congratulations to all of our tamariki who took part in the Ōmata Cross Country and our sporting events. It has been said before but we will say it again, ‘our kids are fit’! Well done for showing the CTS spirit!
This week you are aware that we have many of our senior students who have been sitting derived grade examinations and the Common Assessment Activity. The examinations will continue into next week and a reminder that our seniors 11/12/13 are on study leave Friday 13th September +.
As we move through and approach those final weeks in our senior calendar, making choices for next year become important. The students and their whānau who met with their teacher during their interview slot, also completed a career/pathway interview with Mrs Oke. At Coastal we have an individualised approach to our students and appreciate that they all have individual pathways. If you are planning to move your child to another school/pathway next year, please let the office know via phone call/email and this will assist our planning for next year. This is very much appreciated.
Over the next few weeks our older students will be thinking about their options for next year and looking at:
The importance of early years at secondary school
Raising the consciousness of the choices being made and the impacts that those choices have on themselves and others
Reminding rangatahi of their role as a Kaitiaki
Exposure to thinking about subject careers/pathways and the importance of subject selection.
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - 14th - 21st September 2024
Kia kaha te reo Māori!
This year's theme is - Ake ake ake – A Forever Language. It represents the resilience, adaptability and endurance of language. It also reflects the commitment New Zealanders have to embracing and learning te reo Māori long into the future.
For our whānau who are growing their knowledge of Te Reo - here are some some handy phrases, all with a please of course.
Whakarongo mai Listen to me
Haere ki roto Go inside
Haere ki waho Go outside
Taima kura School time
Taima kai Food time
Waku tō niho Brush your teeth
Taima horohoroi Shower time
Heke tō iWaea Off your iPhone
It has been wonderful to see our students grow in waiata and kapa haka with Matua Luke. We look forward to our celebration events.
It is Mental Health Awareness Week across Aotearoa from 23rd – 29th September.
The mental health of our tamariki and rangatahi moved to the spotlight post COVID-19 and never leaves our thoughts and focus. When working with our school community we think about - Five Ways to Connect and reflect..
Take notice/Me aro tonu.
Give/Tukua.
Be Active/Me kori tonu.
Connect/Me whakawhanaunga.
Keep Learning/Me ako tonu.
For those who wish to explore the theme for this year, you can connect on the web.
For our tamariki we look at health and wellbeing and kōrero around ‘Little People, Big Feelings’, positive and negative voices and what to do with them.
Pause, breath, smile.
Enjoy your weekend ahead.
Ngā mihi nui,
Stephanie clifton
Principal
FOCTS News
Pet Day Registrations CLOSING SOON
Registrations for pet day closing soon. Follow the link below to register pets for Pet Day 2024
Pet day is on THURSDAY 17th OCTOBER
Just some information for this year's Pet Day.
We will be doing our creative minds section again this year with more information to come.
As something new we are adding in a Beef Category. Beef animals will be judged on leading, rearing and conformation . This will be judged separately to the Dairy section. Our local Harry Collins will be running this and has Beef animals available for sale for anyone interested in purchasing. Feel free to contact Harry on 0275552865 for any questions regarding this category.
All calves and lambs will need to be born after the 25th July 2024. Please get in touch if you have any queries.
Families will have to source their own lambs/chickens, if we hear of any being available we will post on our Facebook page also if you have any you would like to foster out for pet day please let us know.
Strictly no dogs. Please be mindful if choosing a small indoor pet to bring along that they need to be contained in a SUITABLE cage with food and water on the day. They will be on display and judged outdoors.
Some of the possible judging categories for the chickens/other small indoor pets:
- Most loved
- Quietest chicken
- Best dressed
- Best decorated cage/box
Please bring back all 2023 trophies from Pet Day to the office asap
PUKEITI & KAITAKE TEAMS
Pukeiti Wha - Room 22
Room 22 had a great time using poetry and art to celebrate the Paris Olympics. We used the various Olympic sports that are being played as inspiration for our poems. We created some very cool artwork with pastels to supplement the learning of the Paris Olympics.
Photo 1 Zoe
Photo 2 Orla
Photo 3 Meleni
Photo on Right Arabelle
Pukeiti Tahi - New Entrants
Thanks to our tuakana (older helpers) in Room 17, we had a wonderful bush walk today. We walked through the bush really quietly, hoping to attract piwakawaka with Mrs Madden's special call, but it wasn't to be.
Never mind, we can always visit the bush again! There is so much to see there! We collected some beautiful leaf skeletons today too.
Retelling Stories Through Drama, Waiata and Art
Over the last few weeks we have become familiar with the story of Rangi and Papa.
The students have loved acting out the story and choosing characters – we used colourful scarves to represent each character.
Retelling stories through drama is a wonderful way to build vocabulary, understanding and to put yourself in the role of another.
We made our own version of the story – we are also learning a waiata about the story and creating an art piece.
Head lice
Please check your child's hair for head lice and treat it accordingly. The solution for it is available free on prescription from your nurse at your gp. Usually a phone call requesting it is all you need to do.
Head lice may be present amongst children in your child’s class. These insects are a nuisance and we need your help to control and/or eradicate them. Head lice crawl from head to head and may be passed on through shared objects such as hairbrushes and hats.
It is recommended that you check all members of your household carefully. Anyone can host head lice. Cleanliness is not a factor in whether head lice are present or not.
What to look for
- Small light or dark brown insects without wings.
- Tiny whitish eggs (nits) like grains of salt attached to hair shafts.
- There may be unusual itching on the head or neck.
- Small red marks on the neck or behind the ears (head lice bites).
The Ministry of Health advise that a child with live lice should stay away from kura or school until treatment has started. Once the treatment has started, the school shouldn't exclude your child or ask you to keep them at home.
Follow the link below to the Ministry of Education site for information
https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/diseases-and-illnesses/head-lice
POUAKAI & TARANAKI TEAMS
Benchmark exams and CAA exams are currently underway. Benchmark exams, previously known as 'mock exams,' are crucial because they not only serve as practice but also determine grades if learners are unable to sit for the end-of-year exams for any reason. It is essential that all learners participate in and prepare for these exams, regardless of the number of credits they have already earned. Next week will include both benchmark exams and several assessments.
Failure to attend will result in a Not Achieved grade and no credits, as there will be no further assessment opportunities. If your learner misses an exam or assessment, please inform us as soon as possible so we can try to arrange an alternative plan.
While we appreciated seeing many families at the Academic Interviews, we were disappointed that not all learners attended. To clarify, there is a difference between the Goal Setting interviews held in Term 2 and the Academic Interviews in Term 3:
Goal Setting Interviews (Term 2): These were learner-led, focusing on identifying the learner's preferred learning methods and setting goals. Typically, these interviews occur in Term 1.
Academic Interviews (Term 3): These are designed to review the learner's progress in their studies and credit accumulation. Learners were provided with a tracking sheet to complete and share during these interviews. The sheet detailed their credits earned and pending, broken down by curriculum area, assessment focus, achievement grade, level, and credits.
Unfortunately, the tracking sheets were not completed to the required standard or by the deadline. Despite receiving instructions and examples, and having dedicated class time to complete the forms, many learners did not meet the expectations. This task is important for understanding their learning progress and achievement, as well as for motivating them to stay engaged throughout the year. The completed tracking sheets will be sent home by the end of the term. Please review these with your learner and contact us if you need further clarification.
Our Year 11-13 learners' last day of scheduled classes is Friday, November 1st. The first NCEA exams will start on Tuesday, November 5th.
Tuakana-teina, the Māori concept of peer learning where an older or more experienced person (tuakana) supports and guides a younger or less experienced person (teina), offers significant benefits in a unique kura like ours. It fosters a strong sense of whānau and collective responsibility, enhancing both learning and cultural connectedness. This approach not only strengthens academic achievement by allowing students to learn from each other but also builds confidence, leadership skills, and deeper relationships across different age groups. In our kura, it helps create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported in their learning journey. Some fit perfectly into this role and for others it is uncomfortable. Standing back and watching reminds me of what makes us truly special, it also highlights some strengths our learners didn’t even know they had.
Here are a few examples from the last few weeks:
Mucking in:
On Friday, September 30th, we refreshed our Pump Track with new plants and mulch, enhancing both its safety and appearance. This was a great chance for our community to join forces and improve the space. We are grateful for the strong support from our community and the enthusiastic involvement of some of our senior students.
As WITT learning is nearing the end Tyler and Josiah have completed their Build a Bridge project that has been unveiled at Pukekura Park.
Pouakai Tahi - Room 2
Here are some of our examples of our creative black out poetry. We are studying the novel “Whale Rider” by Witi Ihimaera. We created poems from a photocopied page of the book. Everyone had a unique text and visual response, even though we all started with the same chapter. It’s a challenging novel and the Room 2 ākonga are working hard to discuss and respond to the ideas in the text.
English Department News - Years 10-13
Year 10s
We have used the last few weeks to focus on the September CAA literacy window. Students have been working in smaller groups to focus on specific reading and writing skills they need. We wish them all the best this week. As we head into Term 4, Year 10s will begin more rigorous NCEA level 1 learning to ensure they have a head start for next year.
Year 11s
It has been a rather busy term for Year 11s who have successfully finished their Hunger Games NCEA 1.2 assessment. They have also revised for their CAA literacy tests and NCEA 1.3 assessment which all took place this week. A small group of students are also working on their external NCEA 1.4 exam.
Further assessment opportunities have been offered for those who need to complete missing pieces.
Students are reminded to sign all assessment paperwork if they have been absent in recent weeks. Thank you to all parents and carers for their support during this busy term.
Year 12s and 13s
Our Year 12s and 13s have been working hard to finish any assessments before the end of Term 3. Many are now in a happy position to focus on their external assessments for Term 4. Students are reminded to sign all assessment paperwork if they have been absent in recent weeks. Thank you to all parents and carers for their support during this busy term.
Important dates:
Thursday 7th November 2024: Level 2 English External Assessments (Larz, Te Ariki, Georgia, Caspian, Arabella)
Tuesday 12th November 2024: Level 1 English External Assessment (Katie, Mia, Demalyah, Kelly)
Year 10 Project Class
Our year 10 project class took a trip to the school farm. For one of our teachers and some of the students it was their first experience being on the school farm and interacting with the animals. Students helped with our notice board and collected eggs from the chickens. The walk to the farm is also a timely reminder to be aware of the speed limit when entering the Ōkato village.
LIBRARY NEWS
Delwyn has been awarded a scholarship!
Congratulations to Delwyn who has been awarded the Helen Zwartz Scholarship!
The Helen Zwartz Scholarship provides funding to enable librarians from New Zealand’s smaller communities to undertake a residency at the National Library of New Zealand.
Follow the link below to look at the CTS Library Catalogue
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SPORTS NEWS
Coastal Schools Cross Country
Congratulations to the following students on their success at the Coastal Schools Cross Country events held this week at Ōmata.
Congratulations to the following students: Years 7/8
13yr old Boys:
5th: Jackson Wheeler
12yr old Girls:
4th: Emily Wanden
12yr old Boys:
4th: Albie Staunstrup Moore
11yr old Girls:
7th: Alyssa Rowe
11yr old Boys:
8th: Josh Burmeister
Congratulations to the following students: Years 4-6
11yr old Girls:
1st: Lois Evans
3rd: Elsa Lind-Mitchell
11yr old Boys:
2nd: Jacob Barron
9th: Lucas Knowles
10 year old Boys:
7th Enzo Staunstrup Moore
9th: Leonard Wheeler
9 years and under Girls:
5th: Lucy Gibson
9 years and under Boys:
7th: Niko Dobson
The next stage is competing at the Taranaki Champs later this month in Hāwera
CTS Sports - Facebook page
Head over to our school sports facebook page CTS Sports and follow for all our school sports news, results and updates.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Performance Cafe
Come and join us for our eighth annual CTS Performance Cafê on the 26th of September at 6:30pm! There is a koha entry but we ask that people bring a plate of dessert kai to share at half time. Lots of wonderful acts this year including dance and musical numbers. A great opportunity for music students to share their talents, especially our seniors who will be performing their NCEA solos. Kia kaha rangitahi ma, you are going to be awesome!
STAFF
COASTAL TARANAKI SCHOOL
Stephanie Clifton - Principal
Gemma Chambers Deputy Principal, Primary school
Pip Gorrie Deputy Principal, CCIT, Manaiakalani Link, Tech on 45
Sarah Oke Assistant Principal, Food Technology, Careers/Pathways, Tech on 45
Rebecca Barron Science/Ag
Viola Fung English
Andrea Dingle Maths
Steve Leppard Hard Materials Technology, Tech on 45
Bridget Shaw Visual Arts
Casey Stevens P.E & Health
Justine Francis Music
Yachika Rumsamy Teacher
Jason Brewer Year 7/8 Teacher
Kelly Waugh Year 7/8 Teacher
Renee Leathley Kaitake Team Leader, Year 5/6 Teacher
Emily Finey Year 4/5 Teacher
Liana Roberts Year 4/5 Teacher
Philippa Hofmans Pukeiti Team Leader, Year 2/3 Teacher
Johannah Poutini Year 2/3 Teacher
Jemma Moorby Year 1/2 Teacher
Catrin Noack Year 1 Teacher
Kelly Madden NE Transition Teacher
Shelley Cook SENCO
Lisa Betts Guidance Counsellor
Sarah Warren Whakareo Matatini (Taranaki Reading Recovery Teacher)
Margaret Normanton Release Teacher
Delwyn Pearce School Librarian
Kirsty Koboski Publicity Officer
Jacky Kopu Office Manager
Nicky Phillips Office, Funding & Sports Administrator
Ole Bucka Grounds & Maintenance
Sommer Wilson CASP & KDJ Lunches
Learning Assistants
Darryl Levett
Kirsty Koboski
Paula Fleming
Dee Heath
Jess Harfield
Ruth Barron
Ian Robinson
Nicole Whittle
Kaycee Cresswell
Allister Adamson
Hōne Mathieson
Tyson King
Student Support
Ida Staunstrup-Moore
Jess Zimmerman