School Newsletter Term 4, Week 1
Friday 18th October 2024
Kia ora West End Whānau,
Welcome back to Term 4! We hope you all had a restful break and are ready for the final, action-packed term of the year. A special welcome to our new families who were part of our mihi whakatau on Monday. We’re excited to have you as part of the West End community, and we look forward to working together to make your journey with us a positive and rewarding one.
Next week, we have an important professional learning opportunity for some of our staff. Twelve of our teachers will be away for three days to attend ministry-directed professional development on structured literacy. This is an exciting step in enhancing our teaching practice, and while we’ll miss their presence in the classroom, we’ve worked incredibly hard to ensure minimal disruption to your children’s learning. You’ll notice some new faces around the school, as we’ve secured relievers to step in during this time. Wherever possible, we’ve arranged the same relievers over the three days to maintain consistency with classroom routines.
With Term 4 well underway, swimming lessons have begun. This is always a highlight for our students, as they develop water safety and swimming skills in a fun and engaging environment. Please remember to ensure your child brings their swimming gear on the scheduled days, as participation is key to building their confidence in the water.
On the topic of being sun safe, it’s important to remind everyone that sunhats are compulsory for all of Term 4. With New Zealand’s harsh sun, it’s essential that we teach our children the importance of protecting themselves. Please make sure your child comes to school each day with a wide-brimmed hat. We’ll also be encouraging sunscreen application throughout the day, so it’s a good idea to apply sunscreen before school and have your child bring their own for reapplication.
This term promises to be an extremely busy one, filled with activities, events, and end-of-year preparations. As always, we appreciate your continued support in helping make these experiences positive and rewarding for our students. Let’s make the most of the final stretch of 2024!
Ngā mihi nui,
Upcoming Events
WEEK 1
- School Working Bee - Friday 18th October at 3pm
WEEK 2
- Swimming (2, 3, 4, 5) - Monday 21st October
- Swimming (6, 7, 10, 11) - Tuesday 22nd October
- Swimming (13, 14, 15, 17) - Wednesday 23rd October
- EPIC Music - Wednesday 23rd October
- Swimming (16, 8, 1) - Thursday 24th October
- VIBE Assembly (Te Wao Nui o Tāne) - Friday 25th October
WEEK 3
- LABOUR DAY (NO SCHOOL) - Monday 28th October
- STAFF ONLY DAY (NO SCHOOL) Tuesday 29th October
- Swimming (13, 14, 15, 17) - Wednesday 30th October
- EPIC Music - Wednesday 30th October
- Swimming (16, 8, 1) - Thursday 31st October
- PTA Halloween Disco (3pm - 4.30pm) -Thursday 31st October
- GUMBOOT Friday - Friday 1st November
WEEK 4
- Swimming (2, 3, 4, 5) - Monday 4th November
- Swimming (6, 7, 10, 11) - Tuesday 5th November
- PNINS visit for Y6 students to watch dress rehearsal - Tuesday 5th November
- Swimming (13, 14, 15, 17) - Wednesday 6th November
- EPIC Music - Wednesday 6th November
- Swimming (16, 8, 1) - Thursday 7th November
- VIBE Assembly (Puāwaitanga) - Friday 8th November
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
Professional Development for our staff next week
Next week, all of our teachers from Puāwaitanga and Tipuranga are attending a 3 day Structured Literacy workshop with Liz Kane Literacy Facilitators. This has been a program West End School have been implementing for the last 5 years, and this is giving us a great chance to refresh our understanding and further develop our teaching of phonemic awareness, reading, spelling, handwriting, fluency, and vocabulary.
On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week we have all of our teachers on this course, so children in Tipuranga and Puāwaitanga will not have their normal teacher in class. We have worked hard to avoid a lot of disruption, and will still continue with our normal program. Thank you for your support and understanding.
School is closed Monday and Tuesday of Week 3
Labour Day is on Monday 28th of October which is a public holiday so school will be closed on that day. Many schools around New Zealand are also participating in Staff Only Days to work on new Government initiatives that are to be rolled out, so school will also be closed Tuesday 29th October. We look forward to seeing tamariki back at school on Wednesday 30th October.
Sunhats are compulsory in Term 4
A reminder that in Term 4, wide brimmed sun hats are compulsory. Please have these at school for the first day back of next term so your child can enjoy playing outside in the sun. If you could also have some sunscreen in their bag, it would be greatly appreciated.
Enrolments/Leavers for 2025
Please contact the School Office if you know that your child may not be returning next year.
Please contact the School Office if you have a New Entrant that will be starting on 2025.
If you are living out of our school Zone you will need to apply through the Ballot which will be advertised (if there are places available). These will be found on our school Web Site and on our Face Book page.
If you have any questions, please come in and see Amanada or Sue at the Office.
Senior Camp Information
Forest Lakes Camp
Just a reminder our Year 5 and 6’s will be heading off for camp at Forest Lakes, on the 13th to 15th of November 2024. Camp can now be paid for via KINDO. We have heavily reduced the price of camp through fundraising throughout the year. For any reason if you are struggling to pay for camp please see the classroom teacher to discuss, we would love to give every child the opportunity to attend.
Students are now aware of their cabin groups, these are different to the groups they will be doing activities with during the day. Children were overwhelmed with excitement finding out their cabin groups and we hope to continue building on this excitement in the coming weeks. Each week all Te Wao Nui O Tāne are meeting in preparation for camp.
On the 31st of October we are hosting an information evening for camp parents only in regards to expectations for them at camp. No other whānau need to attend this meeting. Mrs Black will make contact with these whanau members directly on time and location.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding camp please contact your child's classroom teacher as soon as possible.
Sports at West End
School Athletics
We are excited to announce our school Athletics Day on the 20th of November. This will be held out on the field. Puawaitanga and Te Wao Nui O Tane will begin their day not long after 9am, with Tipuranga joining them on the far end of the field at 11am. Tipuranga participates in a range of fundamental movements that compile the skills needed to compete in Athletics.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Interschool Athletics has been rescheduled as the Manawatu Athletics Track is set to undergo updates in early December. As a result, the event will now be held on the 18th of November. To select our top athletes for the Inter School competition, the senior school will host a qualifying event on the 12th of November, where capable students will be chosen and notified of their selection for the following Monday.
Summer Sports
It is great to hear of early competition starting in our summer league sports. We have continually got draws and updated team lists coming out via the school app. We try our best to release teams' draws as soon as we receive them.
Coaching and managing a team continues to be a struggle, we ask that if a sports team doesn't have a coach stipulated on their team list, that a whanau member steps in at sports games to help sub on and off students. A reminder we do have the endorsement that if you coach a sports team your child's fees are wiped for that season of play.
Please add the correct tabs to your school app, as draws from week 3 will not be released on school area teams, it will be released under each sporting tab. If you are unsure on how to do this please ask a staff member.
Updated team lists as of 17th October, please note Year 5-6 Hockey will be pulled from competition if we don't receive more players.
Touch Rugby
Football
Hockey
School Working Bee - Let's Tidy Up Together
TODAY - Friday, 18th October 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Kia ora Whānau,
As we welcome Term 4, we’re calling on our wonderful school community to lend a hand and help us spruce up our school grounds! Our tamariki thrive in a clean, inviting environment, and we’d love your support to make sure our outdoor spaces are looking their best.
Join us for a fun and productive Working Bee on Friday, 18th October, from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Whether you’re an expert gardener, love to lend a hand, or can simply bring some positive energy, there’s a role for everyone!
Tasks for the day include:
Weeding and planting
Cleaning and tidying play areas
Pruning trees and bushes
Rubbish removal
This is a fantastic opportunity to come together, catch up, and make a visible difference for our kids. Even an hour or two of your time will make a huge impact – and we’d be incredibly grateful for your help.
What to bring:
Gardening gloves
Spades, rakes, or any tools you think might be useful
A smile and a can-do attitude!
Let’s get our school looking fabulous for our tamariki to enjoy. We can’t wait to see you there!
Thank you to the parents who have already filled in the form and returned it to the school office. If you haven’t yet and would prefer to let me know by email, please email me at a.zambazos@westend.school.nz to let me know you are keen to come along and help out.
Ngā mihi nui,
Amanda Zambazos on behalf of the Enviro Team
Swimming has started - change for next week!!
Due to our PLD and staff away, TWNOT and Puawaitanga will swap days!
For this week only, Puāwaitanga will swim on Monday - and Te Wao Nui o Tāne will swim on Tuesday. Reminders will be given via the app the day before swimming
Swimming has started for Term 4 with Hilton Brown. This is a great opportunity for your child to have FREE swimming lessons with trained instructors once a week! We are very fortunate to be able to offer this - so it would be great to have all of our tamariki swimming next term! On your child's swimming day, please send them to school with togs, a towel, goggles and a hair tie if they have long hair.
Dear Parents,
Issue 7 brochures were sent home with children earlier this week.
Online ordering is simple and safe. Here is the link:
The first time you go online, you will need to register but after that it is easy, and you can order books for your child/children & for presents etc. All orders automatically connect to our School Page and will be sent to Scholastic on the due date.
Book Club helps create readers by creating interest in books and providing an opportunity for children to choose their own books at discounted prices.
All orders earn scholastic rewards for our School.
Kids who read succeed! Happy Reading Everyone!
Orders close for issue 7 on: Wednesday 23th October 2024 at 9.am.
Please note that orders are available online only.
PTA EVENTS - Disco in Week 3
Happy Halloween Disco - Thursday 31st October
Information to follow next week via our school app.
JUICIES every Friday
Term Dates 2024
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 Dates 2025
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
Community Notices
If your child is absent from school.
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.
Kindo Online Shop
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
Location: West End School, 196 College Street, Palmerston North
Phone: 06 358 2465