Kia ora koutou,

What a wonderful Community Conference and Kai Evening we had yesterday! It was fantastic to see so many of you turn out, not just to walk through our classroom walls and see the incredible learning happening, but also to join us for a shared kai on a muggy afternoon. The atmosphere was buzzing with conversations, laughter, and connection—a true reflection of the strength and warmth of our West End community.

A huge thank you to our incredible teachers for their mahi in the classrooms, preparing rich and engaging spaces for our tamariki to share their learning with you. These moments of connection between home and school are invaluable, allowing our students to take pride in their progress while strengthening the partnership between educators and whānau.

We also want to extend our gratitude to our amazing PTA, whose support and organisation helped make the kai evening such a success. Their dedication to creating opportunities for our school community to come together is deeply appreciated. The food was delicious, and it was wonderful to see families sitting together, enjoying a meal, and sharing stories.

Events like this remind us of the importance of whanaungatanga—building and maintaining strong relationships. As we move through the term, we encourage you to continue engaging with the school, whether through classroom visits, upcoming events, or simply staying connected with your child’s learning journey.

Looking ahead, we have a busy few weeks coming up, so please keep an eye on the school app and newsletters for updates. We appreciate the ongoing support of our school whānau and look forward to more opportunities to come together and celebrate our wonderful community.

Ngā mihi nui,

.

Tony West

Principal - Tumuaki

West End School - Te Kura O Urumutu

It is important that your child eats breakfast in the morning. Eating breakfast positively affects school performance. Children have better concentration, and have more energy. We are having a few kids coming to the sick bay feeling sick, but it is because they haven't eaten anything since the night before.

Research findings include:

• Breakfast eaters have better brain function, memory and attention.

• Eating breakfast improves kids' performance on challenging mental tasks.

• Eating breakfast helps children deal better with frustration.

Please give your child breakfast in the morning. If you are unable to provide this to your child, please send them to school at 8.15am so they can go to breakfast club, a free service for all children at West End School. Breakfast Club is in the hall.

Teachers provide opportunities for children to eat healthy snacks during each block throughout the learning day. At a regular time midway through a learning block teachers signal times for those learners who wish to have a healthy brain snack

Healthy brain snacks could include fresh fruit, unsalted nuts, chopped fresh vegetables or unsalted popcorn, a boiled egg, or other protein sources.

The following is an extract from “Learning To Learn – Strategies for Accelerating Learning and Boosting Performance” by Christine Ward and Jan Daley:

“FOOD FOR THE BRAIN

Memory and learning involve electrochemical processes; thus there are definite links between effective learning and good nutrition. The tips below use some old truths and some new research about ways to ensure our brains are well-fed for successful study.

Keep energy levels high. Brains need constant energy… It is vital to keep blood sugar levels up during study times to maintain concentration. Helpful blood sugar comes from the digestion of complex carbohydrates and proteins which release energy over several hours. Eating sugary food provides instant but temporary energy.

Top up energy by brain food grazing. Nibbling pieces of fruit, vegetables, whole-grain snacks, nuts and seeds every hour or two, keeps blood sugar levels high to energise brains for thinking and learning. It is also essential to drink plenty of water…

Eat raw food often. Snacking on raw fruit and vegetables is an easy way to keep the body/brain going well… Raw foods of any sort increase the rate at which the brain cells use oxygen, so that thinking and learning is easier and better. Seeds and nuts eaten raw or sprouted have valuable nutrients in the seed embryo which are good for brain function.”

Why does West End School value brainfood breaks?

Nutrition is important for learning. It assists the brain to absorb and retain information at school.

Include these brain snacks and they will provide brain-boosting benefits.

What food is a good choice for school brainfood breaks?

Choose small portions that can easily be opened and eaten by your child are best. Think portable and accessible.

Recyclable containers are best. We encourage you to limit plastic wrap and do your part for a better footprint on earth.

Choose from similar food group options as follows

• Fresh peeled & sliced fruit and vegetables

• Dried fruit (eg apricots, prunes, raisins and sultanas)

• Shelled unsalted nuts or seeds (Save peanuts for home)

• Hummus and vegetables or crackers

• Plain unsalted popcorn

• Boiled Eggs

• Nut butters on wholegrain crackers

• Avocado on crackers

• Animal Protein; sliced beef or chicken

• Non-animal proteins: Tofu, bean or pea protein products

• Blueberries

If you have any board games at home that you no longer need and would like to donate to school we would love to take them off your hands. These will be used in classes during wet lunch times. If you can donate any board games from home, please send them in with your child to give to the classroom teacher.

Georgia Black will be taking a break from West End School and the Sports Co-ordinator lead for a couple of terms. Charlotte Bone and Hannah Burden will be our new PE contacts, so if you have any questions around sport at West End School, please email Charlotte and Hannah at sports@westend.school.nz

There are a few events happening next week for West End students. On Tuesday 18th March we have the Weetbix Triathlon. We look forward to seeing how all those who have registered perform!

We also have the Mt Biggs Tough Kid Challenge on Friday. We are still waiting on some forms coming back. Please have these returned to Miss Bone by Monday please.

Applications are now open for a new leadership, responsibility and service to the school program, called Kapa Whakamana.

There are a range of different opportunities for your child to apply for that they have a passion or interest in.

Children who are interested are asked to

1. Fill out this form
2. Provide a high quality application as to why you should be considered. This can be done as a

• Poster, Letter, Slideshow/Powerpoint, Video or any other creative way you can think of!

Kapa Kotahitanga:

Working together to give service to our school and help our kura run efficiently

Kapa Manaakitanga:

Looking after each other and our school

Kapa Mana Aotūroa:

Showing Leadership skills, being curious - working to solve problems. Pursuing your interests and passions to build hauora within yourself and others.

Teachers will be deciding who will be involved in each team based on these applications.

All applications (form and CV) are due on Tuesday April 1st. Students can also be nominated by their teacher into these Kapa Whakamana. Please send your applications to Mr Minchin either in person, or via email dminchin@westend.school.nz.

Our Kapa Whakamana program will commence in Term 2. If your child is Year 4-6 and would like to apply for one of these positions, they were given an application form. There is a link below if you wish to print one off.

Children will need to bring togs, towel, goggles and if your child has long hair it will need to be tied up for swimming.

WEEK 8 -

• Swimming for Te Wao Nui o Tāne - Monday 17th March
• Swimming for Puāwaitanga - Tuesday 18th March
• Weetbix Tryathlon - Tuesday 18th March
• New Entrant Visits - Wednesday 19th March - 1.50pm
• EPIC Music - Wednesday 19th March
• Swimming for Tipuranga - Thursday 20th March
• Mt Biggs Tough Kids Challenge - Friday 21st March

WEEK 9 -

• Swimming for Te Wao Nui o Tāne - Monday 24th March
• Swimming for Puāwaitanga - Tuesday 25th March
• New Entrant Visits - Wednesday 26th March - 1.50pm
• Plant to Plate TWNOT - Wednesday 26th March
• EPIC Music - Wednesday 26th March
• Swimming for Tipuranga - Thursday 27th March

WEEK 10 -

• Swimming for Te Wao Nui o Tāne - Monday 31st March
• Swimming for Puāwaitanga - Tuesday 1st April
• Interschool Swimming - Tuesday 1st April
• EPIC Music - Wednesday 2nd April
• Swimming for Tipuranga - Thursday 3rd April
• RIPPA Rugby Tournament - Friday 4th April

WEEK 11 -

• Swimming for Te Wao Nui o Tāne - Monday 7th April
• Swimming for Puāwaitanga - Tuesday 8th April
• EPIC Music - Wednesday 9th April
• Swimming for Tipuranga - Thursday 10th April
• Last Day of Term 1 - Friday 11th April

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS UNTIL MONDAY 28th APRIL

We know how important sport is to Kiwi kids. It teaches fair play, teamwork, builds confidence and keeps them active, but getting the little ones match ready can be expensive. That’s why this year we’ve made Big Little bigger than ever, so even more schools can play a little freer with a game changing sports grant.

In partnership with Eden Park, the Big Little Sponsorship encourages communities to nominate local primary schools for the prize, giving a boost to grassroots sport in the process. Running since 2018, the Big Little Sponsorship has seen $98,000 in sports grants awarded to primary schools across Aotearoa.

Your school could be our next big winner, so nominate them below to help them play a little freer! The school benefits from having as many nominations as possible.

Click on the link below.

The more surveys that are completed, the more money West End School receives - so lets all get on and finish these surveys!

Term 1: Monday 29 Jan - Friday 11 April

Term 2: Monday 28 April - Friday 27 June

Term 3: Monday 14 July - Friday 19 Sept

Term 4: Monday 6 Oct - Friday 12 Dec

Term 1 for Term 2: Wednesday 26 February 2025

Term 2 for Term 3: Wednesday 14 May 2025

Term 3 for Term 4: Wednesday 30 July 2025

Term 4 for Term 1 2026: Wednesday 29 October 2025

The EPIC Holiday Program is an OSCAR-approved, music-focused program led by our experienced EPIC Music Academy team. Based in Palmerston North, we’ve been providing fun, creative, and engaging holiday experiences for over four years. Alongside music, we offer a variety of exciting activities at our venue and often head out on awesome trips. For more info, check out our website at www.epicma.nz/hp

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