School Newsletter Term 4, Week 4

Kia ora whānau,

We are reaching out with some updates, reminders, and important safety notes for everyone in our school family.

To begin, we want to address a recent incident that has shaken us all. One of our students was struck by a car while crossing the road. Thankfully, they are recovering, but this event is a sobering reminder of the importance of road safety. Please remind your children to use the designated crossings at all times, and ensure that drivers near the school are alert and cautious. Our children’s safety is a top priority, and it takes a collective effort to ensure they stay safe as they come and go from school.

This week has been packed with activities, and we’ve enjoyed seeing students engaged across various events and programs. Kapa Haka practice is in full swing, with students putting in the hard work that reflects the pride they have in this performance. Swimming lessons are also continuing, and it’s wonderful to see so many of our students growing in confidence in the water. These lessons are not only important for skill development but also a great way for students to stay active and have fun.

Athletics rotations are another highlight, with students learning and practicing different athletic skills. We’re seeing great energy as they prepare for upcoming events and develop a range of sports skills. Year 6 students had an inspiring outing to the Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School, where they attended the production of Aladdin. The production was fantastic, and our students returned with wide smiles and stories to share. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to see what lies ahead and witness the creative possibilities awaiting them.

Music lessons through Epic Music are also ongoing, and we are thrilled to see the enthusiasm and progress of our budding musicians. From keyboards to drums, there’s a rhythm and melody taking shape here that fills the school with positive energy!

Classes have been working on their Calendar Art which is also a great fundraiser for our PTA. It’s always a popular project, and we encourage families to take part. These creations make for special keepsakes, and it’s heartwarming to see the effort students put into them. Please check the PTA section of our newsletter for information on how to purchase and when the deadline is.

In academics, we’re well into the swing of our literacy programs, and we’re looking forward to showcasing this progress. We invite you to join us for an open classroom session on Friday, where you can get a firsthand look at your child’s work and achievements. It’s always a joy to welcome our whanau into the classroom, and we hope to see as many of you as possible.

Ngā mihi nui,

.

Tony West

Principal - Tumuaki

West End School - Te Kura O Urumutu

WEEK 5

• Swimming (2, 3, 4, 5) - Monday 11th November
• Swimming (6, 7, 10, 11) - Tuesday 12th November
• Swimming (13, 14, 15, 17) - Wednesday 13th November
• SENIOR CAMP - - Wednesday 13th November
• EPIC Music - Wednesday 13th November
  
• Swimming (16, 8, 1) - Thursday 14th November
• SENIOR CAMP - Thursday 14th November
• SENIOR CAMP - Friday 15th November

WEEK 6

• Te Manawa visit for Tipuranga - Monday 18th November (9am-12.20)
• Swimming (2, 3, 4, 5) - Monday 18th November
• Swimming (6, 7, 10, 11) - Tuesday 19th November
• SCHOOL ATHLETICS DAY - Wednesday 20th November
• EPIC Music - Wednesday 20th November
  
• Kapa Haka Tournament - Thursday21st November
• Swimming (16, 8, 1) - Thursday 21st November
• VIBE Assembly (Tipuranga) - Friday 22nd November (2pm)

WEEK 7

• Swimming (2, 3, 4, 5) - Monday 25th November
• Swimming (6, 7, 10, 11) - Tuesday 26th November
• Swimming (13, 14, 15, 17) - Wednesday 27th November
• EPIC Music - Wednesday 27th November
• Swimming (16, 8, 1) - Thursday 28th November

WEEK 8

• Swimming (2, 3, 4, 5) - Monday 2nd December
• Interschool Athletics - Tuesday 3rd December
• Swimming (6, 7, 10, 11) - Tuesday 3rd December
• Swimming (13, 14, 15, 17) - Wednesday 4th December
• EPIC Music - Wednesday 4th December
• Swimming (16, 8, 1) - Thursday 5th December
• Whole School Fun Day - Friday 6th December
• Road Patrol Treat to the movies - Friday 6th December

WEEK 9

• Swimming (2, 3, 4, 5) - Monday 9th December
• Swimming (6, 7, 10, 11) - Tuesday 10th December
• Te Wao Nui o Tāne Lido Trip - Wednesday 11th December
• Swimming (13, 14, 15, 17) - Wednesday 11th December
• EPIC Music - Wednesday 11th December
• Meeting your class of 2025 - Thursday 12th December
• Year 6 Leavers Dinner and Poroporoaki -Thursday 12th December
• Whole School Final Farewell Assembly - Friday 13th December (11am start)
• Last Day of the 2024 School Year - Friday 13th December (school closes at 12pm)

We are overflowing with your children's clothing. If you notice your child has not come home with what they were wearing, or are wondering where all of their clothes are, please check our lost property. We have all clothing in our lost property on display every Friday afternoon for children and parents to check through and take home! All clothing is donated to the Salvation Army at the end of the term, so please collect if these clothes belong to you.

Every year, the Police come to train our next year's Road Patrol to keep our whānau safe while crossing the road. These are a few reminders to parents and children crossing the road before and after school.

• Road Patrollers will have their arms out when the light is red.
• Please wait behind their arm.
• When the green walking sign goes on road patrollers will check the road then when they see it is safe, will lower their arm and in a loud voice say CROSS NOW.
• Please walk across the road - no running, biking or scootering. If you run, scooter or bike, there is a high chance you will bump into someone or fall over. Running across the road also gives less time for cars to react if you run in front of them.
• When the green walking man flashes, our road patrollers will step across, raise their arm and say WAIT NOW. When they raise their arm, please stop and wait for the next green light.

In the afternoon, it does get busy with large groups trying to cross to get home. We ask for patience and that you follow what our traffic lights and road patrollers are asking you to do, for everyone's safety.
When their arms go out and you are asked to wait, please wait. DO NOT push past our road patrollers, walk around their arm, start running or cross an an earlier point. It doesn't take long for the lights to go green again. We want everyone to get home safely. Thank you for working together to keep everyone safe.

Room 13 has been working extra hard on our bright and sunny Calendar Art. We have been exploring texture and line using different materials to create a stunning piece of art. Our work is based off of our Term 3 dance competition song, ‘Sprinkle a Little Sunshine’ by Suzy Cato. We think it looks fantastic and the bright colours make us feel happy.

In Room 16, we have been looking at how to write about our own experiences. We are learning lots about how to write sentences, and how to plan our writing using pictures and words. We really enjoy the kotahitanga that sharing our stories with each other brings to our classroom.

Room 5 has been busy exploring the art of poetry, diving into two unique and exciting forms: diamond poems and limericks. Our young poets have taken on the challenge of writing these contrasting styles with enthusiasm, showcasing their creativity and developing their understanding of rhythm, structure, and word choice.

Diamond Poems
Diamond poems are a structured, visually striking form of poetry that begins and ends with a single word, typically a noun. The poem is shaped like a diamond and often focuses on a topic that transforms through each line. As the poem progresses, the words change to reflect contrasting themes, giving our poets a chance to experiment with descriptive language and synonyms. This structure encourages the students to think deeply about word choice and to play with adjectives, verbs, and nouns in a new way.

Limericks
On the other hand, limericks offer a light-hearted, rhythmic style with a specific rhyming pattern (AABBA) and a humorous twist. This playful form has given the students a chance to work with rhythm and rhyme, helping them to explore how sounds and syllables work together. Limericks often have a fun, quirky storyline, and our Room 5 poets have delighted in crafting verses that make their classmates laugh!

At our kura we celebrate cultures as we recognise our diversity. Some of our students have been learning about the Indian Festival of Lights called Diwali. We are lucky to have some experts who have shared with their class about what they know and experience. This week our ESOL students are making diyas which are lanterns placed in front of our houses as a welcome showing light over darkness. Lots of new learning experienced

Term 1: Monday 29 Jan - Friday 12 April

Term 2: Monday 29 April - Friday 5 July

Term 3: Monday 22 July - Friday 27 Sept

Term 4: Monday 14 Oct - Friday 13 Dec

Term 1: Wednesday 29 January – Friday 11 April
Term 2: Monday 28 April – Friday 27 June
Term 3: Monday 14 July – Friday 19 September
Term 4: Monday 6 October – Friday 12 December

It is really important under the current circumstances you notify the school if your child is absent.

PLEASE DO NOT TXT OR EMAIL THE CLASSROOM TEACHER.

ALL ABSENCES SHOULD BE ADVISED VIA THE OFFICE.

Please remember to advise the office by 8.30am if your child is not attending school.

You can telephone 358-2465 and leave a message or txt 021 118 0156.

ABSENCES CAN ALSO BE SENT EASILY THROUGH OUR SCHOOL APP

In both cases please give a reason for absence.

Thank you.

It is very important that families register with Kindo, as this is now the only way to register your child for school sports, and ordering PTA lunches.
Below are the links to register.
If you require help please call the Kindo helpdesk on

0508 454 636

New users need this link

Existing users need this link