Kōkopu Newsletter

Kia ora koutou,

Wow – what a rainy holiday we had! I hope you all found creative ways to keep your tamariki entertained and connected during the wet weather. It was great to catch up with students yesterday and hear about their holiday adventures. Many shared stories of indoor games and family time, while others had fantastic tales of playing outside, braving the mud, and finding the biggest puddles to jump in! It was a wonderful reminder of how our children live out our school vision of Growing Together, Learning Forever — enjoying each experience with enthusiasm and resilience.

This term is shaping up to be an exciting one, full of learning opportunities and community events. We begin gymnastics sessions this Thursday with Active Attitude, and we look forward to the upcoming winter sports competitions, our Matariki planting day, and more.

Our learning this term is centred around exploring the Pacific Islands, leading up to our popular Country Study Meal Day. Later in the term, we’ll focus on "Celebrations Around the World," with a special emphasis on Matariki. This connects beautifully to our school value of Respect for Our Environment as we continue to build a strong sense of kaitiakitanga and stewardship through our planting activities.

We are also thrilled to introduce the Maths No Problem programme in Rooms 3, 4, 5, and 6, supported by new Ministry of Education resources. This initiative aligns with our strategic goal of delivering evidence-based learning, ensuring our tamariki develop strong, structured maths skills alongside their literacy learning.

Although the weather slowed down some of our outdoor projects over the break, we are making great progress. Our new sandpit is nearly ready — just awaiting the final installation of a water tap. If your child enjoys the sandpit, please send them with an extra change of clothes to keep them comfortable. Work has also begun on reinstalling the trampoline, and excitement is high among the students for its return!

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. At Kōkopu School, it’s great to see how our staff, students, and whānau come together to live our values: Respect for Ourselves, Respect for Others, Respect for Our Environment, and To Learn and Serve.

Regards

Ngā mihi nui

Yaron Overeem

Principal, Kokopu School

Internet safety highlight.

As part of our new internet safety system (Linewize) we will be sharing some interesting articles, help and advice for parents that can be used at home. If you haven’t already checked out the Online Safety Hub for our school click here. https://kokopu.onlinesafetyhub.nz/

Our first highlight is called - Taming the Tech Tantrum

Click here to read the article.
https://kokopu.onlinesafetyhub.nz/parent/articles/taming-the-tech-tantrum

• Children experience tech tantrums due to interruptions in their digital interactions, heightened by the stimulating and rewarding nature of online activities.
• Overstimulation occurs when young children spend more than two continuous hours on screens. Limiting screen time to an hour or less helps reduce post-screen grumpiness.
• Follow our three-step process for helping reduce the occurrence of tech tantrums.

Qustodio Parent App for Families

• Filter and block apps and content parents don’t want their children to access
• Customise what children can access during homework hours
• Balance screen time by setting time limits on devices as well as for specific apps
• Protect screen-free moments such as mealtimes and bedtimes
• See who children are talking to and what content they are seeing in real- time

How to get started

1. Visit the Online Safety Hub. 👉 www.kokopu.onlinesafetyhub.nz

2. Create your account

3. Install Qustodio on your child’s devices.

In conjunction with other primary schools in our area, teachers are participating in a second teacher only day to help us upskill in the delivery of the new maths curriculum. This day is an allocation from the Ministry of Education. We appreciate that this will be inconvenient for families and thank you for your understanding.

Congratulations our 2025 Easter Raffle Winners!!!

1. Lucinda McBeth

2. Carter Connelly-Maihi

3. Karen Dwyer

4. Diyon Basnayaka

5. Wendy Lewis

Please DO NOT park at the FRONT GATE. It is NOT a drop off zone.

USE OUR NEW DESIGNATED CARPARK.

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

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

Our Skool Loop is a great way to communicate with our School Community. Please re-register which classroom your child/children are in. If you have not register please see the instructions below.

We would love to welcome new members to our PTA. We have met already this term, but any help with events on the food stalls would be appreciated. i.e. Swimming Sports, Triathlon etc. If you are interested in joining us or helping out please contact Amy Pugh phone 0211729388.

Term 2 2025

• Mon 28 Apr - Year 7 and 8 Tech (every Monday all term)
• Tue 29 Apr - Playgroup (every Tuesday all term)
• Wed 30 Apr - Kapa Haka (every Wednesday all term)
• Thu 1 May - Gym coaching (every Thursday til week 6)
• Mon 19 May - BOT Meeting
• Wed 14 May - Winter Sports Year 7 and 8
• Wed 21 May - Winter Sports Year 5 and 6
• Tue 27 May - Country Meal (study of the Pacific Islands)
• Mon 2 June - Kings Birthday (long weekend)
• Fri 6 June - Gymnastics Competition
• Wed 18 June - Matariki Planting Day
• Thu 19 June - Teacher Only Day
• Fri 20 June - Matariki (long weekend)
• Thu 26 June - House Day Competition Winter Sports

Term 4 2025

• Ag Day - Saturday 11th October

2025 Term Dates

• Term 1: Wed 5 Feb – Fri 11 Apr 2025.
• Term 2: Mon 28 Apr – Fri 27 Jun 2025.
• Term 3: Mon 14 Jul – Fri 19 Sep 2025.
• Term 4: Mon 6 Oct – Tue 16 Dec 2025.

Please name your child's/children's clothing so our lost property is not overflowing with unclaimed clothes, shoes etc.

Every day the senior children will be selling ice blocks for $1.00 each after the children have eaten their lunch.

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 until 12.50pm.

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.

You can order your child's lunch on Tuesday's from Pizza Fusion and on Thursdays from West End Sushi and on Fridays from Titoki Store. Go to www.lunchonline.co.nz

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