Kōkopu Newsletter

Tēnā koutou, Kōkopu whānau,

What a wonderfully busy and rewarding few weeks we’ve had here at Kōkopu School! Events like Ag Day, Central Day, and Poroti Athletics have highlighted the incredible talents, abilities, and community spirit of our students, staff, and families.

We are incredibly proud of how our students have embodied our Kōkopu School Values:

• Respect for Ourselves
• Respect for Others
• Respect for Our Environment

From the care shown to animals and gardens at Ag Day to the determination and support for others at athletics, our students have been shining examples of these values in action.

Ag Day Success

Despite the challenges of tight parking, this year’s Ag Day was a tremendous success! With over 60 animal and garden entries, the judges were highly impressed by the quality of care and dedication demonstrated by our students. It was great to see the special bond between students and their animals, a true reflection of their hard work. A huge congratulations to everyone who participated—your efforts made the day so special.

The same level of commitment was on display at Central Day, where our students once again represented Kōkopu with pride.

Poroti Athletics Day

A sunny day at Poroti Athletics brought out the best in our students. Sunscreen was a must, and so was determination! We received many wonderful comments from other schools about our students' positive attitudes, willingness to give their best, and support for one another.

We are currently waiting on confirmed entries for Zone Athletics from Matarau School, who organise the entries for town athletics. We’ll send out further details as soon as they are available.

Leadership and Advocacy

This week, I had the privilege of traveling to Wellington as part of my leadership role with the Rural Principals Association. It was an opportunity to engage with the Ministry of Education on key challenges faced by rural schools, including the pressures of implementing new initiatives within short timeframes.

While rural schools face unique challenges, we also enjoy the benefits of close-knit communities and the agility to adapt quickly. I shared some of Kōkopu School’s successes and heard stories of innovation and resilience from other schools across the country. It’s a privilege to represent and advocate for our amazing rural schools.

Looking Ahead to 2025

Next year, we’re making some changes to classrooms and staffing to better accommodate our students and ensure we’re prepared for new enrolments throughout the year.

• Room 5 (Year 4–5): Gemma Turketo
• Room 1: Jo Woods (4 days) and Amy Geyer (1 day)
• Room 2 (Year 2): Anna Boaz
• Room 4 (Year 3–4): Cindy Stafford (4 days) and Amy Geyer (1 day)
• Room 3 and Room 6: No changes are planned for these classes.
• Teacher Release: Jennifer Hibbert will take on most of the teacher release responsibilities across the school.

These adjustments allow us to lower class sizes and manage new enrolments more effectively. Class lists are currently being finalised, and parents will be contacted once they are complete.

Thank You

Thank you to our students, staff, and whānau for your ongoing support and commitment to making Kōkopu School a wonderful place to learn and grow. Your enthusiasm, hard work, and positivity continue to make a real difference in our school community.

Yaron Overeem
Principal
Kōkopu School

Please ensure your children bring their togs and towel everyday from next Wednesday.

Students with long hair will also need a swimming cap.

THE POOL WILL NOT BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC THIS HOLIDAY SEASON DUE TO CONSTRUCTION TAKING PLACE WITHIN AND AROUND THE POOL AREA.

The turnout for Ag Day on Saturday 2nd November was fantastic.

We hope you all enjoyed seeing the children's wonderful creations in the classrooms and the brilliant job the children did with the animals they raised.

Thank you to

• Our judges, stewards and teacher aides who made the day run smoothly with the animals.
• Our teachers for serving the delicious food.
• Tony Riley for the Calf Poo Bingo grid.
• Jeff Heasley for winning the Calf Poo Bingo and donating the $250 prize money back to the school.
• Our local sponsors for donations to sell and raffle and also prizes for the competitors. The PTA raised around $2500.00!

Maungatapere Lions

Titoki Store

Land of the Lotus

Waimarie Nursery

Bethany Gardens

Maungatapere Mushrooms

Forest Floor

The Old Parakao Store

Gavins Honey

NZ Grazing Ltd

Farmsource

FMG

We had a great day at the Poroti School Athletics on Thursday 7th November. All the children tried hard and had fun competing against other schools in our area. Thanks to Poroti School for putting on such a well organised day.

We had a strong contingent of students attend Central Day with their animals with some great results. An awesome effort and great day.

Tomorrow Thursday 14th November Year 5 to 8, Room 3 and 6 are going the the Kapa Haka Festival at Mangakahia Area School to perform.

The festival starts at 9.30am. Our group do not perform until 1.50pm and finish at 2.05pm.

We have booked a bus to take the children to Mangakahia Area School, leaving Kokopu at 10am.

You are welcome to join us for the day or come along and watch our performance later in the day.

The meal is being catered for by Northland Catering at a cost of $40 per head. A menu will be sent out when it is finalised. The school will subsidise the students $10 per head.

Every student needs to have a parent or adult family member with them who is responsible for them. Often both parents attend to acknowledge their child moving to secondary education. Students are welcome to invite other adults who have had an impact on their education also.

The evening will have a set process, with messages for students and a time for them to share their aspirations also. A programme will be provided.

A permission slip will be sent home and RSVP and payment will be required by Tuesday 28th November

• Library Books
• School Reader Books
• Kokopu School t-shirts
• Any trophies awarded at the 2024 end of year prizegiving for engraving

All children are required to wear hats while outdoors this term as part of our sun safe policy 🌞

Parents, please ensure the gates into the school are shut at all times.

We need them shut after school, as there are still children at After School Care until 5.30pm.

Please be advised that on Friday 22nd November, we will be holding a Teacher Only Day (TOD). On this day, the school and after-school care will be closed to all students.

This day has been allocated by the government for teachers to work through the new Maths and English curriculum updates. We appreciate your understanding and support as we engage with these significant changes to our teaching systems.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Thu 14 Nov - Cultural Festival at Mangakahia Area School

Tues 19 Nov - Kokopu Athletics

Fri 22 Nov - Teacher Only Day

Wed 27 Nov - WPSSA Year 7 & 8 Athletics

Wed 4 Dec - WPSSA Year 5 & 6 Athletics

Thu 5 Dec - Year 8 Graduation Dinner

Mon 9 Dec - Prizegiving

Thu 12 Dec - House Day

Fri 13 Dec - Last Day of Term

1st Day of 2025 - Wednesday 5th February

On Friday afternoon we have a sharing assembly at 2.30pm for the whole school. Parents are welcome to come along and see what the children have to share.

Vicki is in the office on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Bexs is in the office on Wednesday and Friday mornings until 11.35am.

Don't forget we are collecting Yummy Stickers. So please collect the Yummy cut-out labels from bags (each cut-out label is worth 10 stickers) and individual Yummy apple stickers. Yummy apples are available from New World, PAK’nSAVE and participating Four Square stores. The more you collect, the more sports gear you get so get going and start collecting your Yummy cut-out labels and stickers now!

Guitar lessons are on Wednesday's. If you are interested in getting lessons for your child, phone Lynn Moase on 0212979437.

Term 1 .. Thursday 1st February to Friday 12th April

Term 2 .. Monday 29th April to Friday 5th July

Term 3 .. Monday 22nd July to Friday 27th September

Term 4 .. Monday 14th October to Friday 13th December

Lunch orders can be made through Lunch Online on Tuesday from Pizza Fusion - Thursday from West End Sushi - Friday from Titoki Store

Create incredible Christmas tree bells, patterned slab tinsel, star hanging tiles and more.

Parent and Child Workshop
Thursdays 21 November and 5 December
5.30pm-8.00pm

Adults Workshop
Fridays 22 November and 6 December
5.30pm-8.00pm

Children’s Workshops: ages 8 – 16 years old
Saturdays 23 November and 7 December
or
Sundays 24 November and 8 December
1.00pm-3.30pm

Ceramic Stack Totem

Children’s Workshops: ages 8 – 16 year old
Design and sculpt round 3D and plate clay pieces, which will make up your vertical stack (with steel rod) totem that will stand beautifully in your garden.
Saturdays 23 November and 7 December
or Sundays 24 November and 8 December
9.30am-12.00pm

https://quarryarts.org/product-category/art-workshops/kids-workshops/

Visit the Quarry Arts Centre during Ceramics NZ Open Studios weekend (23 - 24 November) to visit artists' studios, talk to artists, browse and buy work from the artist stalls, attend a workshop, learn about making ceramics and see how the magic happens.

https://openstudios.ceramicsnz.org/index.php/directory/quarry-arts-centre/

Home Industries Saturday 7th December 2024

Located in the Events Centre Building at Barge Showgrounds- inside the Members Room

Follow the signs to the side door off the deck

All entries to be dropped off to the Events Centre- Barge Showgrounds on

FRIDAY 6th December 2024 from 3.00pm to 6.00pm (except photography)

Follow the link below to see all the catagories....

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:AP:bcf5604a-5513-4c98-a0c4-482c9438dd2f

If parents/caregivers want to visit the website https://kokopu.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm to look over our school policies and procedures, please see the following instructions: Enter the username (kokopu) and password (0179). Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.

Email: office@kokopu.school.nz
Website: www.kokopu.school.nz
Location: 921 Kokopu Road, Kokopu, New Zealand
Phone: 094346765
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kokopuschool