Pembroke School Newsletter
Week 7, Term 1, 2024
PRINCIPAL’S PĀNUI
The term is racing by and it is hard to believe that we are in Week 7 already! It has been a term full of short weeks and some great events, in amongst it all it has been great to see the learning that students have been doing across the classrooms. The Year 5-8's are heading off to Rural Cluster Swimming Sports this week and Rimu are heading to New Plymouth to climb Paritutu Rock and do some learning at Puke Ariki, looking at local stories of early Taranaki.
Thank you for your support on Friday as staff engaged in our Te Kāhui ako o Taranaki Mohoao Teacher Only Day. It was an excellent day of learning for our staff with lots of ideas to inspire what is happening in our own school.
Last week a letter went home to parents about Home Learning. Your support of your child in completing their home learning is a valuable part of their learning experience that helps to set them up to achieve their personal best. The importance of this is captured in our Pembroke School Vision Statement - Succeeding Together. As parents we play a very significant role in our child's ability to make the most of their learning. We provide the rich experiences that they draw upon to help them understand new learning. Reading to our children through their early years then reading with our children provides so many benefits beyond simply reading itself, talking to and with your child about everyday experiences, ideas, emotions and events, providing opportunties to be imaginative and creative are just some of the simple ways we provide a rich foundation and fertile soil for them to grow and make the most of their learning at school.
We all learn through and consolidate what we know through repetition, home learning provides an opportunity for your child to re-engage with concepts they are learning so that they are able to pick them up more quickly as well as communicating to your child that their learning matters and that you are part of their support crew.
If you haven't done so already, please take time this week to set up a home learning routine with your child, your child's teacher is able to work with you if you need support with home learning.
If you have not set up the etap app on your phone yet I would encourage you to do this. Set up instructions were sent to the email we have registered on our Student Management System. If you need help with setting this up, please see Carol in the office. This app has many features that are individualised to your child/ren including accounts.
We have been working hard to stream line our communication. All correspondance home will be sent via the etap app and our Pembroke School Facebook page. The fortnightly newsletters are also published to our school website.
This term is a longer term with 11 weeks, and Easter added in the mix.
We have had notification of a Paid Union Meeting for teachers on Friday 22 March. School will be finishing at 12.30pm on this day so that teachers can attend. If you are wanting to your child to attend the Weetbix Tryathlon at Ngamotu Beach on Wednesday 27th March and need some help to register them please see Carol. Parents will have to provide own transport and supervision. We are looking forward to our Easter Picnic at Hollard Garden's on Thursday 28th March and hope to see as many families come along that are able to.
Noho ora mai
Wendy Single
Happiness Highlights
The schools yearly trip to join in with Americarna is always a Pembroke highlight and this year was no exception. The children enjoyed getting to see all the unique cars and the many other things on offer when Americarna visits Stratford.
Our two junior classes were lucky enough to enjoy some after school fun last week. First up Rata enjoyed their whanau dinner, the children had lots of input into the planning of the night. They brainstormed idea's for activities, voted on the menu and then helped Mr Single work out how many slices of pizza he would need to order to fill everyone's tummys! On the night the children enjoyed an amazing obstacle course set up by our newly minted Events leaders, played musical chairs, had glider races and then topped it all off with a delicious pizza dinner and a bit of a movie. The next night Tawa class got to have an overnight stay in Totara room. Tawa enjoyed playing some games with the parents who had joined them for the evening, did some chalk drawing and enjoyed a movie together before snuggling down in Totora room for the night.
Awards
This fortnight our focus was on Perseverance and these amazing students were recognised for showing that Aspire value at school.
Rata Aspire Awards: Lachy Mortenson
Rata Bucket Filler: Ryan Chesswass
Tawa Aspire Awards: Blake Stieller-Caley
Tawa Bucket Filler: Mills Commerford
Kōwhai Aspire Awards: Fletcher Branson and Aaron Scherzer
Kōwhai Bucket Filler: Isla Commerford
Rimu Aspire Awards: Keira Goodison and Karlie Simpson
Rimu Bucket Filler: Cooper Branson
In the Spotlight
Three of our Pembroke students travelled to Te Kuiti recently to compete in the North King Countries 'King of the Schools' motocross event. Locky Bound-Walsh, Sharuq Singh and Lucas Bound-Walsh came 8th out of the 80 schools that had entered in the primary/intermediate category. We're so proud of our students who are out there giving things their all and pursuing the things that they love outside of school. Well done boys!
We have also had a very generous donation from the St Andrews Presbyterian Church. We were both surprised and delighted to receive a big bundle of stationary items that had been thoughtfully selected. The church is able to make donations like this with the profit they make from the St Andrews op shop. Thank you St Andrews!!
Reminders
Taranaki Diocesan School for Girls is having an open day and would like to invite anyone who is interested to come along. Below is all the information the school has provided us about their open day.
Taranaki Diocesan School for Girls – Stratford
An integrated Anglican Year 9 – Year 13 Boarding and Day School
OPEN DAY – Wednesday 20 March 2024 – visit anytime between 10 am – 2 pm
Enrolments: Weekly Boarding, Part Boarding (2/3 nights) and Day Students
Daily transport options from and to New Plymouth and Hawera
Prospectus Packages available 06 765 5333 sandrac@taranakidio.school.nz
Virtual Tours available any time via website www.taranakidio.school.nz
Head Student Shout Out
Deputy Head Girl: Izzy - I really enjoyed going to Americarna and seeing all the cool cars. Getting to watch it all with my friends is always a fun school day.
Deputy Head Boy: Oliver - I have been enjoying playing cricket with Ross every Wednesday and learning lots of new skills.
Up and Coming Events
We have some great things planned this term and we will try our best not to overload you with too many dates all at once but here's just a few over the next few weeks to be prepared for.
Tuesday 12 March: Year 5 & 6 rural cluster competitive swimming sports
Wednesday 13 March: Year 7 & 8 rural cluster competitive swimming sports
Thursday 14 March: Rimu trip
Monday 18 March: Year 8 combined schools Pizza and Pool party with Eltham, Avon and Pembroke (EAP)
Thursday 21 March: Tawa's Hui-a-kura
Friday 22 March: Paid union meeting school finishing at lunchtime
Tuesday 26 March: EAP combined schools Year 5-8 Athletics
Wednesday 27 March: Weetbix Tryathlon (see Carol for details)
Friday 28 March: Hollard Garden's Family Easter Picnic
Friday 29 - Tuesday 2 April: Easter Break