Week 1 Term 2 Panui

As we enter the winter terms, it is timely for the following uniform reminders:

• Please rename polar fleece tops to prevent loss.

• Blue thermals may be worn under red shirts.

• Sports shoes and socks are required for winter sports and cross country training.

Values

This term we officially launched our new values, Be Kind, Be Brave, Be Fair - Kia Atawhai, Kia Kaha, Kia Tika. As part of the launch, we challenged all classes to unpack what we would see, hear and feel if we were all living these. Each class created a display to capture their understanding and these were judged to determine a winner from each team to have a pizza lunch. The calibre of entries was high, making judging difficult, however I am thrilled to announce and congratulate the following winners:

• Ferns Team: Room 3
• Kowhai Team: Room 11
• Kauri Team: Room 18

Over the next week, we will be teaching what it means to Be Brave. We define this broadly as:

• Taking risks and trying new things.

• Speaking up if you see someone being treated unfairly.

• Asking for help when we need it.

Here is a great video to share with your children to encourage and support them to Be Brave ‘Upstanders’ in our community.

Term 2 Calendar

Keep an eye out in your children’s bags today for the ‘fridge version’ of the Term 2 events calendar with dates for assemblies, newsletters, cross-country events, teacher-only days, and Matariki celebrations, to name a few.

Quiz

I am excited to announce that tickets are now available to purchase for our Quiz night on Saturday 22 June. Please see the advertisement below for booking details - get in quick as places are limited. Many thanks to the Friends of Witherlea for their organisation of this event.

Assembly

In response to the government's policy to teach an hour a day of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, we have had to review and prioritise school wide timetable commitments to enable us to sustain a broad and rich range of opportunities for our students while complying with the legislative change. As a result of this review, we have reduced whole school assemblies to once a fortnight on even weeks. These assemblies will run at the same time and parents are encouraged to attend as they are able to. We will continue to let you know if your child is receiving an award or presenting. The coffee cart will continue to be available on a weekly basis for people to connect with others in the school community between 8.30-9.00am.

Cohort Entry

The board would like to consult the community on the idea of introducing a cohort entry policy at Witherlea from 2025.

Cohort entry is when new entrants start school in groups through the year rather than on their fifth birthday. In schools which have adopted a policy of cohort entry, new entrants are able to start school in cohorts but only after they have turned 5. There are 2 entry points per term, 1 on the first day of term, and 1 at a mid-point during a term. Cohort entry does not replace the legal requirement that a child start school at age 6. Parents, caregivers and whānau can still choose not to enroll their student before then.

Benefits of cohort entry:

Cohort entry is about helping children to settle better in school. There is evidence that starting school alongside other children helps them build relationships and supports a smoother entry to school life.

Schools that are already using cohort entry believe it offers their children the best start to their school life. It can also mean less disruption for new entrant teachers who can prepare for groups of children arriving on a specific date rather than on an individual and ad hoc basis through the year.

We invite your feedback to inform the board decision about whether to introduce this policy for 2025. I will advise you on the outcome of this matter by the end of the term.

Later this term, you will receive a progress and achievement report for your child and have the opportunity to meet with their teacher at a scheduled Learning Conference. That said, if you have any concerns at this point in time, please don’t hesitate to contact your child's teacher to arrange a time to discuss it to maximise their potential for success.