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Kura Tuatahi Toko Panui
27th June 2024
Dear Parents and Friends of our School Kia Ora/Hello/Kamusta
Kia ora koutou,
I have spent the last few weeks talking to our tamariki about device use after dinner and night time routines. I thought it might useful to share with you some information about how the blue light from devices can affect sleep in children and provide you with some alternatives to using a device before bedtime.
Blue Light and Children:
- What is Blue Light? Blue light is a high-energy visible light emitted by screens (smartphones, tablets, computers, TVs) and LED lighting.
- Effects on Sleep: Blue light exposure before bedtime can suppress the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles, making it harder for children to fall asleep and potentially impacting their sleep quality.
Recommended Cut-Off Time for Device Use
- General Guideline: It's advisable for children to stop using electronic devices at least 1 to 2 hours before bedtime. This helps their bodies produce melatonin naturally, preparing them for sleep.
Tips for Parents to Manage Device Use Before Bedtime
Create a Bedtime Routine:
- Establish a consistent pre-bedtime routine that includes calming activities such as reading a book, taking a warm bath, or listening to music.
Set Clear Rules:
- Implement rules regarding device usage, including a cut-off time for all screen activities.
- Encourage your children to follow these rules by explaining the importance of good sleep for their health and well-being.
Use Blue Light Filters:
- Utilise blue light filtering software or enable night mode settings on devices to reduce blue light exposure during the evening.
Create a Tech-Free Zone:
- Designate certain areas of the house, such as bedrooms, as tech-free zones to minimise distractions and promote better sleep hygiene.
Provide Alternatives:
- Offer engaging alternatives to screen time, such as board games, reading together, puzzles, or crafts, to help your children wind down without using electronic devices.
Lead by Example:
- Set a good example by limiting your own screen time before bed and engaging in non-digital activities with your children.
Encourage Outdoor Activities:
- Promote outdoor play and physical activities during the day to help expend energy and improve overall sleep quality.
Monitor Content:
- Ensure that the content your children are accessing is age-appropriate and not overly stimulating, which can make it harder for them to relax before bed.
As we have shared before a good nights sleep is so important for our children's mental and physical health, for their learning and their emotional regulation at school.
Preschoolers (3-5 years): need 10-13 hours sleep
School-age children (6-12 years): need 9-12 hours sleep
We really do hope the above information is useful and will encourage you to reflect on the evening routines for the children in your family.
This is the last newsletter for the term. We wish everyone a great few weeks at home with their children. And we look forward to see everyone back at school after the holidays.
Nga mihi nui
Kim Waite
Principal
WINTER ILLNESS
We have a lot of sickness around currently so we thought we would give you some information about the common ones we have at the moment:
Tummy Bug
Gastro (also known as a tummy bug, rotavirus or norovirus) is an illness caused by an infection in the gut. Symptoms are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever.
Gastro can spread easily to others, so a child should not be at school if they are vomiting or have diarrhea. Time between exposure is 1-2 days.
A child can return to school after 48 hours (2 days) have passed since the last time they vomited or had diarrhea.
Sore Throat - Streptococcal
A child should not be at school if they need pain relief for their throat to feel comfortable. Pain relief includes paracetamol or ibuprofen. Time between exposure is 1-4 days (average about 2 days)
Exclusion from school until well and/or has received antibiotic treatment for at least 24 hours.
Conjunctivitis
This is spread by direct contact with discharge from the eyes or with items contaminated by the discharge. Symptoms include irritation and redness of eye and sometimes there is a discharge.
Time between exposure and sickness is 2-20days(usually 3-4 days). Exclusion from school is while there is discharge from the eyes.
There is a really good Infectious Diseases chart that the Ministry of Health put out and if anyone would like a copy please call Annette in the office and she can print one off for you.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
Tree Pruning at School
We have had an ex Toko School pupil at school doing some pruning for us. He has made a excellent job and we would like to recommend him to the community. Sam Luckin and his telephone number is 0273874865.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES UPDATE
LOCK DOWN
Our school practiced what to do in a lock down this week. Please spend some talking talking with your children about our school procedures. If you have any questions please let us know.
Biennial Community Survey
During Term 3 we conducted our biennial community survey. We will continue to share sections of the survey each fortnight in the newsletter. The full survey is available to read on our school's website.
15. The Board of Trustees are committed to providing the best possible educational outcomes for my child/ren.
96.4% of parents commented that the Board of Trustees are committed to providing the best possible educational outcomes for their children.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
To keep communicating via the newsletter information about the role of the Board of Trustees.
Seek ways to encourage a greater attendance at parent information workshops and Community Meetings held throughout the year.
Leadership Team
Congratulations to Jenna K who has been selected to join the leadership team for the remainder of the year. We are looking forward to some new events for everyone to participate in next term.
KUPU - WORDS
Each fortnight we will be sharing some kupu that we are using in our classrooms. You may want to learn along as well. We will provide the word, how to pronounce it and how to say it in a sentence.
SPORTS UPDATE
Running Club Term 3 - Year 4 - 8
Are there any parents out there that would like to help with running club on Tuesdays and or Thursdays next term? This involves running ahead, in the middle or behind the kids on the course which is in the paddocks beside the school. If so can you please give the office a call. Children will be signing up to this next week.
Crowley Cup - Next Wednesday 3rd July we have 3 Y5-6 teams ( rugby, hockey and netball) competing in the annual Crowley Cup in town. All information in regards to this has been sent home via newsletter with those children involved. If you are intending on picking your child up from the event please ensure you have let Annette know by Monday 1st July. Can all jackets and rugby jerseys please be washed and returned by the end of the term.
Any questions please contact Shelley or Tracy.
Rippa Rugby
On Monday the team that made it through to the finals on Rippa Day in Stratford headed up to Yarrows Stadium to face teams from all over Taranaki. We had 3 pool games and then from there we had another 3 games depending where we then stood on the table. We had some closely contested games and played a range of schools which was awesome. Thankyou very much to Sami and Laura Werder for taking the team on the day.
ASSEMBLIES WILL BE FORTNIGHTLY IN TERM 3 - STARTING AT 9.O5 AM - STARTING WEEK 2
TERM 2/3 DATES
8 June - Matariki - school closed
4 July - Whanau Day
5 July - Term Two Ends
Term 3 Starts - 22 July
6 August - Year 7/8 Rippa Rugby Finals
13 August - BOT monthly meeting
21 August - Yr 7 & 8 Sports Tournamnet (McLeod Shield, Hurstone Cup, 9 aside Football)
30 August - Daffodil Day
30 August - School Cross Country pp 2nd September
12 September - Kahui Kapa Haka
16-20 September - Maori Language Week
17 September - BOT monthly meeting
20 September - Tatarikihi Festival Kapahaka
27 September - Term 3 Ends
14 October - Term 4 Starts
17 October - Calf and Lamb Day
COMMUNITY NOTICES
Hector's World Competition!
Win a family prize bundle! Hector's World is an online programme designed by Netsafe, to help inspire conversations around being safe online.
Netsafe are giving away an epic prize, valued at over $4,000, to celebrate the launch of Hector's World!
The prize pack includes:
Xbox Series S Starter Edition
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (Gray)
Weber Baby Q® BBQ
Breville AirFryer Chef
JBL Tune 500 headphones
$500 Woolworths vouchers
Family pass to Sealife Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium
Designed for family fun, it offers both online and offline entertainment for all the whānau.
The competition is open until 15th July - Head here for more information and to enter.
This opportunity is made possible thanks to the generous contributions of prize sponsors, including Springfree Trampoline, Noel Leeming Dunedin, Weber BBQs, Woolworths NZ, and SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium.
TOKO PLAYCENTRE
Toko Playcentre are putting out a new cookbook to add to the 1992 and 2000 versions.
If you have been a member or child of Toko Playcentre, we would love to have some recipes from the wider ex-Playcentre community.
If you’ve got a recipe to share with us, that you always get asked for, please send a typed copy to toko@playcentre.org.nz by 30 June.
Toko School
Email: office@toko.school.nz
Website: www.toko.school.nz
Location: 1057 East Road, Toko, New Zealand
Phone: 06 7622849
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TokoSchool/?ref=bookmarks