Waikari School Newsletter

Developing Confident, Curious & Respectful Kids

Email: principal@waikari.school.nz
Website: https://waikari.school.nz
Location: 23 Princes Street, Waikari, New Zealand
Phone: (03)314 4250

Kia ora e te whānau,

It has been another busy fortnight at Waikari School and it doesn't seem to be slowing down with lots of events coming up in this half of the term.

One of the highlights recently has been the 7-aside Tournament and Junior Sports Day. Thanks to all those parents who provided transport and braved the cold and rain at the 7-aside tournament. We were really proud of all our students who showed resilience and integrity throughout the day. A special shout-out must go to the seniors at the 7-aside tournament who displayed 'Good Sportsmanship'. Many comments were made about what great team players and talented sports people Waikari Students were. All staff were extremely proud to hear this.I attended the Junior Sports day at Amuri College and loved watching our students introduce themselves and make new friends. I can proudly say that last week all students demonstrated their PRIDE values to a high standard - Well Done Tamariki.

I wanted to say thank you to all the whānau who completed the survey about the ‘Future of Waikari School.’ I have read your responses and heard your ideas, concerns and comments. I want to reassure you that we as a staff are working away in the background and ask that you trust us during this time - as we all know that good things do take time.

On that note - as concerns, queries or questions do come up we would encourage you to follow our advice (complaints) process and talk to the teacher first as they are often the best fit to solve the issue. Please note that as Staff of Waikari School we work together to support one another, therefore it is likely that I will be present in this conversation as well.

Lastly, thank you to all of you for your continued support and to the students for their positive attitudes, big smiles and hard working attitude in the classroom and playground. I really do love walking through the classrooms and seeing everyone engaged in learning and playing together so well.

Ngā Mihi Nui,

Phoebe Todd

Principal | Tuamuki

Waikari School

This week I received an email from Bob - which I thought I should share,

I do apologise for not have written this earlier.

I was overwhelmed with the farewell you all gave me in the first week of this term. The kind words you all expressed and the generosity of the gifts were very unexpected and far more substantial than deserved. Thank you and I will always have fond and happy memories of my time at Waikari School. I do look forward to hearing from time to time, how you are all doing and catching up with some of you in the future.

I start a new phase of my "retirement" tomorrow at South New Brighton School. The principal there has resigned and I will be looking after the place until the end of the year. It will be a very different environment to Waikari with 450 students and about 50 staff. I am looking forward to it but will no doubt wish I was still at Waikari at times.

I trust the rest of this term and the year goes well for you all.

Thank you again for your kindness and the privilege of having been part of your school this year.

Regards

Bob

Our newsletters are sent out fortnightly (Week 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10). They can be accessed via the website, you will also be sent the link via email and Skoolloop. The end of term newsletter (week 10) will be printed and handed out to families and the community.

We hope you are enjoying the new format - it gives us more opportunity to be interactive.

Bring your gold coin tomorrow to support the Cancer Society.

Recently, Waikari School grandparents (Lynda and Murray Brice), were up north and visited Pakowhai school to see the progress. Principal Tim Race was thrilled to have them visit and thanked Waikari School for its support. He also showed them around the school looking at the improvements and even showing them where the water level of the floods reached up the classroom. Must have been devastating. We are glad that they have managed to repair their skateboard track. Thank you for the photos - Lynda and Murray.

When: Wednesday 6th September

Who: Whole school

Where: Alpine Ice Skating Arena - Christchurch

Cost: F.A.S.T have kindly offered to fund this wonderful whole school opportunity. Thank you F.A.S.T - without your support we wouldn't be able to have these opportunities.

Transport: Parent vehicles plus school van. Please let the school office know if you are planning on attending and providing transport there and back.

This is a great fun day out to experience with your children - so do come along if you can.

When: Wednesday 13th September

Where: Scargill Domain

Who: Whole school

Leaving School: 9.30am - returning by 2.30-3.00pm (parents who provide transport for their own children are welcome to leave straight from the domain without returning to school - be sure to tell your child's teacher). Parents are welcome to come along to watch this fun sports day at Scargill Domain

Bring: Lunch, Drink Bottle, Something warm to wear (coat), sensible sports shoes.

Transport: School Van – plus parents' vehicles (please let us know if you can provide transport to and from Scargill Domain)

Lunch order: There is usually some sort of sausage sizzle etc. We have been advised by Greta Valley School that their 'Friends of the School' will be organising a lunch option on the day so we suggest that you perhaps take a few dollars if you would like to buy something.

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We appreciate all the support we receive from our school families with transport – thank you!

Pet day is always a real highlight here at Waikari School so the planning for this year's Pet Day on Wednesday 20th September is well underway.

Further information will be coming home tomorrow, including entry form and timetable. Remember - Do Not bring your pet if they are too shy or unfriendly.

Here are some things that you may consider entering:

Pet Profile Photo Competition - Take a (funny) photo of your pet and create a Pet Profile which includes: (Don't forget to put your name on the back of it)

• Pets name

• The Breed

• Interesting Facts

• How you take care of it

We have a range of fun competitions and awards for your pets - here is the list so you can start training them for the competitions.

• Best decorated pet

• Lamb race

• Fastest drinker (lamb & calf)

• Agility course

We had a great day at the Amuri School games morning with Rotherham and Waiau. The Year 3's played Touch Rugby, Soccer and Netball in the school gymnasium as it was raining really hard! Years 1 and 2 played indoor games. There was lots of dancing, singing, board games, construction challenges and story time. We used our school values throughout the day and made lots of new friends from the other three schools.

Perseverance - We made new friends.

Respect - We respected other people's thoughts, their equipment, their learning space and different teachers.

Integrity - We followed instructions from people we didn't know and played with new students in a kind way.

Difference - Odin helped someone having trouble making a boat. He shared the lego and offered some advice.

Excellence - We tried our best at playing soccer, touch & netball.

What a day we had. It very nearly started out to be a canoeing event with the rain, but it eased off a little and the children got stuck in and did their best. Some great results were had with Waikari School winning several/most of their events across both age groups. Well done Waikari!

We are also super proud of the way they encouraged each other and showed great sportsmanship and resilience.

Lost Property: There has been quite a long list of lost property sent to us from Hurunui college following the 7-aside Tournament. If you think your child has lost something, come and see Caryn in the office to see if that item is on the list of lost property being held at Hurunui College.

As part of their New Zealand histories study the Keas have been assigned a town/city each to research and report on. These reports will be illustrated in a visual/oral presentation (also know as a tourism advert). Look out NZ Tourism - we have some potential research writers for your future campaigns. Watch this space!

Next time you are in the Kea Room check out the latest art installation.

'Falling using Foreshortening'. Very cool!

Wekas have been looking at New Zealand histories much earlier back...Aotearoa's myths and legends. Pop in to see their fantastic art display of Maui slowing down the sun.

Weka Problem solving in maths using place value equipment. The children identify the problem, discuss how they can work out the answer together and then find the answer. They then show their understanding by explaining the how they got their answer. Lots of fun learning.

Congratulations to Rosie, Bride & Odin (who was absent) for receiving Integrity & Excellence certificates this week. Rosie & Odin for using Kind Words and Rosie and Bridie received Excellence Certificates. These will be awarded at our Pet Day Prizegiving & Assembly on Wednesday 20th September.

This fortnight our PB4L focus has been Perseverance - particularly on resilience and making sure our reaction matches the size of our problem. We looked at the below poster and discussed the differences between little, medium and big problems. To help differentiate these we came up with some criteria.

• A Little Problem is one we can quickly and easily solve on our own - usually by walking away, ignoring or talking it out. A little problem has a little reaction.
• A Medium Problem is one that usually involves a few different people and we need some help to solve it. This is when we seek help from an adult. The solution is often one that takes some time. A medium problem can have a medium reaction.
• A Big Problem is one that might involve danger. We will Seek Help straight away to solve this. A big problem can have a big reaction.

If you have a problem at home - come and talk to Miss Todd about it. Discuss how you solved it, your reaction and the size of your problem.

If you do this you will get 5 tokens for the jar.

Staff at Waikari School are always learning as well. See what we have been up to:

• Phoebe attended Beginning Principals learning about Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi) and Financial Planning.
• Kerry and Debra attended Maths and Digital Technologies Professional Development
• Debra attended a Kahui Ako Day which focused on Maths in Senior Primary preparing students for NCEA

Absences

• If your child is not going to be at school please contact the school before 9:00am.

Scholastic Book Club

Issue 6 of the Scholastic Book Club has been sent home this week.

Orders can be made online at: https://mybookclub.scholastic.co.nz/Parent/Login.aspx

Remember if you order via your child's class - they will receive points to purchase class/library books.

School Bank Account

• Automatic payments are also welcome (weekly & fortnightly) and our Student Management system can also handle Payments in Advance.

School App

• Reminder to check Skoolloop regularly so see any updates from the teachers and the office.

Office Hours

• School office will be manned by Caryn from 9-9:30 and 1:30-3:00

Break Times

• 10:45-11:10 Morning Tea
• 12:45-1:20 Lunch

We do have Board of Trustees elections coming up in November - information regarding this will go out soon. If you are interested in being on the School B.OT. and want to see what it is all about - feel free to attend the next Board Meeting on Wednesday 9th September at 6pm in the Staffroom. We welcome people to attend these meetings and see what being a Board Member involves. Attached is also the B.O.T Code of Conduct - which also gives you an indication of the responsibilities.

• Waikari School uses SchoolDocs to maintain a comprehensive, up-to-date set of policies and procedures online. These policies and procedures follow guidelines and legislation and best practice, and have been tailored for our school.
• Policies being reviewed this term are:

Inclusive Education,

Māori Educational Success,

Learning Support,

Learning Support Coordination,

Identify Learning Support

Gifted Learners.

• You can use the SchoolDocs website to participate in a review. https://waikari.schooldocs.co.nz/Logon.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f

Username: waikari

Password: pride

• To do this follow the instructions, we as a B.O.T really value your feedback.

Tuesday 5th September - 3.00pm in the library.

• Wednesday 6th September - School Skate Trip
• Wednesday 13th September - KiwiSport Visit
• Wednesday 20th September - Pet Day & End of Term Assembly
• Friday 22nd September - End of Term 3
• Monday 9th October - Start of Term 4
• 16th - 19th October - Kea Class Camp
• Thursday 2nd November - Transition to High School Afternoon
• Monday 6th November - Hurunui Athletics
• Thursday 16th November - Teacher Only Day
• Thursday 14th December - End of Year Prizegiving

What is the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon?

The Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon is designed for Kiwi kids aged 6-15 years to help them stay active and healthy through a programme of participation. The series has been running since 1992 and is a rite of passage for Kiwi kids. To date, over 450,000 Kiwi kids have given it a TRY. Open to Kiwi kids of all sporting abilities the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon is a fun day out for kids, parents and families. Participants get to swim, cycle, and run their way around age appropriate courses. You can enter either as an individual or as part of a team of two.
Every participant who enters receives:

• a Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon medal
• a downloadable certificate of achievement
• an official Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon t-shirt, drawstring kit bag & swim cap
• complimentary breakfast from the Weet-Bix Breakfast Tent
• PLUS the chance to WIN awesome spot prizes and meet their sporting heroes.

Check out the Location page for your closest event and for more details. Go on “Give it a TRY!”.