Kōkopu Newsletter

As part of our three-year strategic plan, we are focusing on consolidating and making sure our literacy programs are consistent across the school. Over the last two weeks, I have had the privilege of sitting in classrooms while they do their phonics-based lessons. Two of my highlights were sitting with Stanley and Chelsea in Room 1. They taught me how to play phonics bingo and made sure I knew how to sit cross-legged on the mat. Not an easy thing to do when you are six foot. The other was working with Levi in room 4 who, as part of their lesson, was writing down a sentence that had been dictated to them. My listening ears were not as good as Levi’s and I was very thankful he allowed me to copy his work. But in all seriousness, it was a great reminder of how hard our students work and the great job their teachers are doing. Learning isn’t easy for everyone but when teachers make it interesting and fun it certainly makes it more enjoyable.

I would also like to give a big shout-out to Alex in Room 3 who demonstrated our school values of Respecting others and our Environment by helping me put together a new storage cupboard for After School care. Having a second pair of hands and someone who can follow instructions was very useful.

In a few weeks, (4th April) we have our school triathlon. As part of this students do some training which does involve a few laps in the pool. We are noticing that as it gets cooler less children are bringing their togs. We ask that you hang in there for a few more weeks so that students get the best practice for triathlon.

Nga mihi nui

Yaron Overeem

Principal

We welcome Claire White to our staff as a teacher aide in the senior classroom.

This Wednesday 20th of March, our teachers will be joining with other schools from around Whangarei to attend paid union meetings. Half the teachers will attend in the morning and the rest in the afternoon. We will split classes during the day so that school can stay open.

On Thursday 28th of March the school council will be having a class theme dress up day. The idea is that each class has chosen a theme and the whole class dresses up in that theme.

The class with the most % of people dressed up, including the teacher, will get a prize. The best dressed from each class will also get a prize.

It is a gold coin donation on the day. The funds raised will go towards replacing some of the sandpit toys.

Room 1 - Superheroes

Room 2 - Movie characters

Room 3 - What you want to be when you grow up

Room 4 - Easter

Room 6 - Gender swap

Regards - The School Council

Congratulations to the following children who qualified to go into the WPSSA Swimming Sports and represent our zone a couple of weeks ago. Some of our kids made the top 10 in their races. Ana Waterhouse (6th Freestyle, 10th Backstroke), Amelia-Rose Hape (7th Freestyle), Drake Yearbury, Annabeth Riley, Lachlan McMurchy (5th Freestyle, 4th Breaststroke), Hunter Schraag (10th Breaststroke), Tristan Woolston-Boys and Carter Connelly-Maihi (10th Breaststroke). Unfortunately Annabeth and Tristan couldn't make the comp due to illness. Well done to your all for qualifiying!

The following students will be going to the interschool E-pro 8 Challenge this Thursday 21st March.

It is held at Kamo Intermediate

9.30am to 12.30pm .. 5-6 Team – Hunter, Lachie, Annabeth, Mason

5.00pm to 8.00pm .. 7-8 Team – Caitlin, Emma-Lee, Eli, Carter

The grand final will be held at Whangarei Boys High School on Wednesday 27 March
Please see the note that went home last week.

On Thursday 4th April we will have our triathlon here at school. All children compete in this event. We start at 10am with Room 1 followed by Room 2, 4, 3 and 6. The children will compete in their Year groups. Lunch will be at 12.30. Everyone is welcome to come along to school and support the children at this event.

Please check our loink for the triathlon maps

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MVOhyCFrgwZb7pW3xHvxig3ePUVy4Oty/view?fbclid=IwAR2NQPIsHwxoPUlLmb3nweRlhs-rDXCPxyTKXzi9C2gJytaOL1K07Ewt0n0

The PTA will have food for sale.

Cheese Burgers, American Hot Dogs, Chocolates, Drinks, Ice Blocks and Baking. Please send your children with cash if you want them to buy food.

Can Room 1 and 2 families send baking on Wednesday 3rd to sell at Triathlon please?

Last Wednesday and Thursday, Room 1 and 2 went to Auckland to visit the Zoo and stay at Kelly Tarlton's overnight. They had a wonderful time as you will see by the pictures below.

Thu 28 Mar - School Council Dress Up Day

Fri 29 Mar - Good Friday

Mon 1 Apr - Easter Monday

Tue 2 Apr - Easter Tuesday (no school)

Thu 4 Apr - Triathlon

Thu 11 Apr - House Games

Hats and sun safety – Please make sure your child has a hat for term 1 and 4. Students also need to bring togs, towel and a drink bottle everyday.

Children are swimming everyday. Those with long hair must wear a swimming cap while using the school pool. Please ensure your child brings one along with their swimming cap, togs and towels everyday.

Lost property – Please name all your children's clothes, including togs and hats. We already have a growing pile. We gave a lot of unclaimed clothing away to charity shops last year.

Head Lice - We have been notified that we have cases of head lice at school. The key to dealing with lice is to check, treat and inform.

1. Check: Check your child’s hair regularly - once a week is a good guide.

2. Treat: If you find live lice or unhatched eggs, treat your child as soon as you can. Your chemist can advise you on the best way to deal with the problem.

3. Inform: Let the school know when your child has lice or nits so we can then tell other parents that there is an outbreak, so everyone can check and treat their own children.

Will my child have to stay away from school?

The Ministry of Health advise that a child with live lice should stay away from school until treatment has started. Once the treatment has started, your child can come back to school.

Once again we are collecting Yummy Stickers. So please collect the Yummy cut-out labels from bags (each cut-out label is worth 10 stickers) and individual Yummy apple stickers. Yummy apples are available from New World, PAK’nSAVE and participating Four Square stores. The more you collect, the more sports gear you get so get going and start collecting your Yummy cut-out labels and stickers now!

Guitar lessons have started on Wednesday's. If you are interested in getting lessons for your child, phone Lynn Moase on 0212979437.

Cookbooks are still available, so if you want your copy, then get in quick. You can pick up copies from the school office for $25.00 each.

If paying online please reference your online banking with "Cookbook" and your name.

Term 1 .. Thursday 1st February to Friday 12th April

Term 2 .. Monday 29th April to Friday 5th July

Term 3 .. Monday 22nd July to Friday 27th September

Term 4 .. Monday 14th October to Friday 15th December

All children should have their stationery now. If not it can be purchased through OfficeMax. www.myschool.co.nz

Search for Kokopu School and the class your child is in. You are welcome to purchase it anywhere else but the list is available on the Officemax website.

Playgroup starts on Tuesday 13th February.

Kia Ora,

It's that time of year again with the AgriKids Regional Contest heading around the country kicking off on 13th of April for the Northern region! The practical day will be held at Mangakahia Sports and Community Complex and registrations are now open at this link and will close on Sunday 7th April - Register your AgriKids Team Here

There is no previous experience required to sign a team up, all activities are age appropriate and provide not only learning opportunities but also a great challenge. We encourage everyone to have a try, whether that is kids returning for another crack at the AgriKids title or even kids who have never competed before and are willing to give it a go!

The top three teams will be eligible to go through to the Grand Final in Hamilton to compete against the top three teams from other regions throughout New Zealand to win the AgriKids 2024 Contest. This will be held from the 11th to 13th of July 2024.

More information about AgriKids can be found here: https://www.youngfarmers.co.nz/contest/agrikidsnz

If parents/caregivers want to visit the website https://kokopu.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm to look over our school policies and procedures, please see the following instructions: Enter the username (kokopu) and password (0179). Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.

Email: office@kokopu.school.nz
Website: www.kokopu.school.nz
Location: 921 Kokopu Road, Kokopu, New Zealand
Phone: 094346765
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kokopuschool