Email: office@willowpark.school.nz
Website: http://www.willowpark.school.nz/
Location: Willow Park School 13 Compton Street, Hillcrest, Auckland, New Zealand
Phone: 09 480 9236
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/willowparkschoolhillcrest/

The beautiful summer weather has made the start of the 2025 school year that much better. It has been lovely to see so many smiling faces coming back to school, with students enjoying their first few days with their new teacher, and connecting with old and new friends.

We have also welcomed new children and whānau to school. On Wednesday we performed a mihi whākatau so that students who were new in Term 4, and at the beginning of this year were welcomed formally to school. Whaea Sam and Mrs Borland led the proceedings, and the whole school joined in the waiata, whilst a group of Year 6 boys opened with a haka.

You may ask what the difference between a mihi whakatau and a powhiri is? They are similar welcoming events, however the mihi whakatau has less formalities, particularly removing the karanga or call at the beginning. We will be moving to the powhiri for term 2 once Kelli Kāwhia-Conrad (Pouārahi o Te Reo Māori me Tikanga Māori) has had time to start our Kapa Haka group and work with our karanga group of girls. However, in this case the mihi whakatau was still a welcome for all new students, staff and wānau to Willow Park School. It removes the tapu (restrictions) of the manuhiri (visitors) to make them one with the tangata whenua (hosts).

We look forward to meeting all of our families existing and new as we go through this year. There are sure to be lots of activities and events that will include whānau.

As a school, we are continually seeking to strengthen and extend opportunities for parents to connect with their children’s teachers. We strive to ensure that parents and caregivers are well informed and that we work together - in line with our school value of whanaungatanga - to improve the wellbeing and success of each child. This partnership is the foundation of our vision.

During Week 3 we will be holding Whānau Connect meetings with families. This is an opportunity for you to come into school to meet your child’s teacher and share any relevant information about your child, and for your child’s teacher to learn more about them. We would like you to think about “What Success Looks Like For Your Child” as a starting point for the conversation. As it is early in the year, teachers will not be discussing progress or achievement at these meetings. It is up to parents to decide whether children attend these meetings.

To make a booking: Go to https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz then enter the below code.

Meetings are held on these days:

• Wednesday 19th February: from 3.20pm - 7.00pm

• Thursday 20th February: from 3.20pm - 5.00pm

The event code is: - z62w5 (Parent link : Open Tuesday 11 February, 10:00am)

Bookings close on Tuesday 18th February at midday. If you need to change your booking after this time, please phone Fran on 480 9236.

We encourage all whānau to book a time to meet with their child’s teacher.

As shared in our last newsletter, the school has been fortunate to receive the Maths No Problem workbooks and textbooks from the Ministry of Education to help implement the Refreshed Maths Curriculum. The structured maths programme relies on schools having a huge amount of resources that can be used by children in the classroom. We have just started the process of organising and sorting our resources, purchasing new ones and making resources too. The quicker we organise these resources, the quicker we can start to implement the programme in classes for our students.

There are three ways that parents, and other family members can help:

1. A Maths Working Bee in the school staffroom on Friday 14 February - we need volunteers to sort and organise current materials, laminate and cut-out resources and more! If you can offer any time between 9.00am - 3.00pm we would be very grateful.

2. Laminating - if you have a laminator at home could you laminate some items for us - we will send home the laminating pouches with the resources.

3. Cutting-out - we will send out some laminated items or resources that need cuttiing out.

With 30 classes of resources to organise this is a massive job so if you can help please complete the google form below or email duncan.m@willowpark.school.nz .

We are very fortunate at Willow Park School to have a fabulous group of Specialist Teachers that have a well established programme for all of our students at school.

STEAM: Mrs Willmott (janet.w@willowpark.school.nz)

PE: Mrs Revell (becky.r@willowpark.school.co.nz)

Mandarin: Miss Dai (linda.d@willowpark.school.nz)

Music: Ms Knights (erica.k@willowpark.school.nz)

Kapa Haka Arts: Whaea Sam (samantha.p@willowpark.school.nz)

Every class from Year 1 to Year 6 will have 7 to 8 sessions in each subject over the course of the year. Programme highlights will be shared on HERO by the Speciaist Teachers.

At the beginning of the year, around school we use our values to set the tone for our expectations in and around school. We have awesome students with many naturally showing these values. However what we know is that behaviour and values need to be taught and modelled. At school we take these opportunities through our Positive Behaviour for Learning lessons, Mitey lessons, and any times that might arise through the year.

Next week we have our first sport starting, touch rugby, and then as the term continues more and more teams will be playing. On Friday at school all of the teachers took the opportunity to discuss our school values around participation and contribution from the perspective of playing games and being in a team. After their explanation and discussion, each of the students signed a student contract as an acknowledgement that we all agree with what is expected.

We are very fortunate that sport and being part of a team is a real strength of our school and students. During the school year there are many instances when parents and coaches from our community and other schools comment on the fanatstic sportsmanship and talents of our students. We have high standards that we want to ensure continues through 2025.

Welcome back everyone and I hope you have had a lovely summer break. We are very excited about getting our sports underway for 2025 and having a fun, enjoyable and successful year.

We have a number of sports available throughout the year and I have attached an outline of those we definitely know about.

2025 Sports Outline

We will be running a coaches meet and greet evening this year on Wednesday 26th February from 6.30-8pm in the school staff room. This is open to all parents/caregivers who are interested in coaching any of our sports teams this year or have coached teams in the past. A great opportunity to share successes and get some feedback on how we can best support our coaches and tamariki in their chosen sports.

Currently we have open for registration on KINDO:

Miniball Semester 1

Miniball for Year 2 - 6. Registrations close on Monday 17th February

Tuesdays: Year 2 - 4 and Year 5 and 6 girls anytime between 3:45 pm - 6pm

Most games will be at the Eventfinda Stadium in Silverfield Lane (off Porana Road), Glenfield. Akoranga Drive, Massey University in Albany, YMCA, Rosmini College and Murrays Bay Intermediate are also being used due to an increase in popularity.

Wednesdays:Year 5 and 6 Boys: Between 3.45pm - 7pm

We are always needing coaches so if you are keen to give it a go or know of someone who would be keen, please let me know.

Touch

Registrations are now closed for Touch Rugby. Thank you to all those who have entered. A reminder for those who have not yet paid, please pay the fees before the first game on Wednesday 12th February. Games are played on a Wednesday 4 - 6pm at Kaipatiki Park, Kaipatiki Road, Glenfield. Teams have been emailed out to parents and we will be in contact regarding game times.

Flippaball

Registrations close on Monday 10th February. This is for year 5 / 6 only. Training is Wednesday 7:30am at Birkenhead Community Pool. The first game is Sunday 23rd February at Millenium Centre, Albany. All players must be able to swim 50m and pass and catch a ball with one hand whilst staying afloat.

Cricket Cluster Day

Tuesday 25th February. Open for Year 5 and 6 boys and girls, played during school time 9-2.30pm.

Sports X Multi-Sport After School Sessions - Monday 10th February 3pm - 4pm (9 weeks)

All ages: all inclusive: all abilities. Year 1- 6 // Sessions will be run by qualified coaches // Children will be split into age groups // Weekly session topics. Location: Senior Court

Visit this link to sign up for Willow Park School: sports-x.nz/auckland

North Harbour Softball Fundamentals After School Sessions- Friday 14th February (6-weeks). Years 0 to 6. 3pm -3.45pm on the school field Please register on the following link: https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/341025

Winter Netball and Winter Hockey registrations will open at the end of February. Table tennis registrations for Term 2 will open near the end of Term 1.

Up and coming events are:

Weetbix Tryathlon

Scheduled for Sunday 30th March at Point England. Registrations are done through the Weetbix tryathlon website, so please select the Willow Park group when you register your child.

Shore to Shore Fun Run

Sunday 6th April. This is a great family event and is always well supported by Willow Park families. More information will come home in a few weeks. The more entries we have the bigger the grant we receive for Sports Equipment for the school.

Willow Park School Triathlon

Always a massive highlight for our year 4-6 students. We will be running this very successful event at the end of Term 1. Date to be advised soon.

We have 6 spots available for girls in Year 2-5

Schedule:

• 3:15 pm: Gather at the bike track for a fun session until 4:00 pm
• 4:00 pm: Coaches arrive for a 30-minute training session till 4:30 pm

Organisers: Nahed Alhaj and Sarah MilinaI (mothers of Tala and Stella, Willow Park students).

Our coaches are Wilf and Toni, two talented, kind, and lovely boys from Northcote College and Northcote Intermediate, both former students of Willow Park.

Limited places available – first come, first served.

To enroll your girl, please contact Nahed: Phone:** 0275184032 - **Email:** nahed.alhaj1212@gmail.com

2025 - School Term dates

Term 1 - Monday 3rd February. - Friday 11 April

Term 2 - Monday 28 April - Friday 27 June

Term 3 - Monday 14 July - Friday 19 September

Term 4 - Monday 6 October - Tuesday 16 December

2025 - School is closed for :

Staff only days will be advised once decided.

• Waitangi Day - Thursday February 6
• Staff Only Day - Friday 21 March
• King's Birthday - Monday 2 June
• Matariki - Friday 20 June
• Labour Day - Monday 27 October

Louie and the sKids team continue to provide a great service before and after school. They work out of our school hall using the school facilities to make it easier for parents to access the programme. Phone Louie on 022 035 7382, or go to the link below.

Musiqhub offers Guitar and Ukulele tuition to students at Willow Park School with experienced tutor Dave Gatman.

Students learn a range of traditional and contemporary styled songs and techniques where they play together as a group and take turns to play to the group as individuals. This format creates a relaxed and fun environment for students to learn in and is popular in schools around the country.

The lessons are during school hours on Thursdays and are available to students in Year 2 and older.

Dave has a few spaces for Term One lessons. If you are interested, please contact Dave on 021 2221456, or dave.gatman@musiqhub.co.nz.