Whaia te Matauranga-

Hāwera Primary is a caring community of lifelong learners who strive ever and always for higher and better things.

Email: admin@haweraprimary.school.nz
Website: https://sites.google.com/haweraprimary.school.nz/haweraprimaryschool
Location: 261 South Road, Hawera, New Zealand
Phone: 06 2787709
Facebook: facebook.com/haweraprimaryschool

Kia ora koutou

Just like that we are half way through the year and end of term is nearly upon us. It's strange to realise it has officially been a 12 week term, in many ways we just seem to be getting back in to the full swing of school again.

I want to thank all of our school community who have been so committed to keeping our students home if they have been unwell. We too have had a number of disruptions at school with sick staff and some classes have had to have been split due to lack of relievers in the South Taranaki area. We need to continue to be vigilant in Term 3 by remembering our good hygiene practices and to stay home if we are sick.

Thank you also for your feedback in the recent community survey regarding our remote learning experiences, which has supported us in further reflections for improvement and growth moving forward.

Recently I heard the term “The Great Adaptation” as a description of this post Levels 4-1 stage. This phrase resonated for me as a true descriptor of our school term (and year). We have had to cancel or reschedule a number of events. There are ongoing repercussions for the next two terms and rather than try to “catch up” or reschedule these events we are critically reflecting on what is currently important for our learners (an example being School Reports about your child's progress being moved to next term).

For us like many organisations COVID has been seen as the “The Great Disrupter” with new ways of working that we are committed to carrying forward. This is also true for schools where we have embraced a move towards a more “online approach” to teaching and learning.

Some school like us have requested their parents continue to not enter school grounds, have sought feedback and evaluating any adaptations or modifications we may make. Just as you may have been “forced” to change plans in your own home setting or work environment, children, as well as adults, will react and respond to these changes and disruptions in different ways. Now is a great opportunity to reflect as a family what effect COVID has had positively for you and what you now may do differently, or what if anything you have had to adapt.

We would also appreciate you explaining to your children about why school has had to cancel some events (as we know some may be upset that they have “missed out”), reinforcing the concepts of how to manage disappointment and being resilient. Talk about not what they missed out on but what they may have gained or learned from this experience.

In other news, we are delighted to announce we have some new Learning Assistants Kate Wills, Rochelle Standing and Pip Wasley joining the team. Along with Armeen Jeftha who recently returned after a short hiatus, we welcome them to HPS and wish them all the best for their time with us. It will be great to have our full compliment of support staff on deck from Term 3 onwards.

On Wednesday we welcome you all to our annual celebration to mark the beginning of the Maori New Year. It is fitting that this is our first major event since our return from lockdown, as Puanga symbolises a new beginning, the importance of creating a family-like context and forming strong connections. We will be spending some special time learning from each other, working together and celebrating what makes our school special. Personally, I'm really looking forward to seeing our school HPS whanau coming back together to do what we do best.

As this will be the last newsletter for the term I wish you all a wonderful break with your whanau continuing to do what you value. Time together as a family can never be underestimated, and while some days you may not always feel it, capture these moments as your children are this magical age only once. In my own experience the breaks or days my daughter treasured the most were the ones when we had unplanned and unscheduled fun times together as a family.

Keep safe, stay warm as we look forward to our well-deserved rest.

E hara taku toa i toa takitaki

E hara taku toa i toa takitini

My strength lies not in what I can achieve on my own

My strength lies in what I can achieve through working with others

Ngā manaakitanga

Shevaun O'Brien

PRINCIPAL

Please see our school Facebook page for more details.

At Level 1, it is important that all children and young people return to their early learning services or schools if they haven’t already done so.

While there will no longer be any restrictions to activities and gatherings, we encourage you to maintain the good habits that have worked well at Level 2, such as keeping up good hygiene practice, staying home if sick, and remaining vigilant: bit.ly/2A97htE

While the constraints in Level 1 are even fewer than in Level 2, there are some golden rules that the Prime Minister and Ministry of Health are promoting . These golden rules are important for a healthy life in general.

1. If you’re sick (e.g. flu-like symptoms), stay home. Don’t go to work or school. Don’t socialise.

2. If you have cold or flu symptoms call your doctor or Healthline and make sure you get tested.

3. Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Wash your hands.

4. Sneeze and cough into your elbow, and regularly disinfect shared surfaces.

5. If you are told by health authorities to self-isolate,you must do so immediately.

6. If you’re concerned about your wellbeing, or have underlying health conditions, work with your GP to understand how best to stay healthy.

7. Keep track of where you’ve been and who you’ve seen to help contact tracing if needed.Use the NZ COVID Tracer app as a handy way of doing this.

8. Businesses should help people keep track of their movements by displaying the Ministry of Health QR Code for contact tracing.

9. Stay vigilant. There is still a global pandemic going on. People and businesses should be prepared to act fast to step up Alert Levels if we have to.

10. People will have had different experiences over the last couple of months. Whatever you’re feeling—it’s okay. Be kind to others. Be kind to yourself.

At all levels, upon advice from the local medical officer of health, any educational facilities connected to a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 must close on an individual or group basis for 72 hours to allow contact tracing, and then potentially for a further 14 days.

For children’s health, the best information source is the Ministry of Health website. Early detection of any illness is important so it might be useful to advise families and whānau that they can call Healthline 0800 611 116 any time they suspect symptoms of any condition but are not sure what to do.

Last week we took the opportunity to say a special THANK YOU to our wonderful support staff who fill invaluable roles within our school. They go out of their ways each and every day to help make Hawera Primary School a great place for all learners to grow and thrive.

We also wanted acknowledge Whaea Paula our NZEI Rep and Mrs McColl our Staff Rep on the BOT for the important work they do advocating for our staff. Thanks Team Awhi, you are amazing!

Due to recent disruptions to the school year, there will be just one issue of Book Club this term. Instead of Issue 3 or Issue 4 it is called Term 2 Book Club and it is a Bumper issue, so have fun perusing its pages and discovering all the goodies hidden inside.

The school office is open each day from 8.30am to 3.30pm. If your child is going to be absent for any reason can you please phone the office, email Mel (admin@haweraprimary.school.nz) or send a message via facebook or seesaw prior to 8.30am. There is a message option on our phone system. These options are all available 24/7.

Check out Room 3 trying out our brand new HPS ukuleles, pretty impressive start kids!

Faamalo Priscilla! Keep up the great work!

Thanks for your beautiful letters Bohdi, they brighten up our day!

Perfect PRIME maths Josh and Jaxson, keep up the excellent effort boys!

Check out these wonderful efforts from some of our youngest writers. Excellent effort Aimee, Brooklyn-Reign and Charlee!

Miharo Sjhasia, thank you so much for helping others to show The KAHA Way! You shine!

Ka pai Marijke, excellent independent word work! Very informative!

Ka rawe to these little superstars. Thank you Luuka, Kairi, Brooklyn-Reign and Jasmine for consistently showing The KAHA Way!

Tino pai Charlee, you have been showing The KAHA Way all the time. Awesome!

Outstanding writing by Shynequa, Cohen, Mitchell, Zoe, Maika, Campbell and Henri. These were a joy to read, ka rawe kids!

Ka pai Brax and Jackson, you Matariki mahi is something to be very proud of! Keep it up!

Well done Oscar, two certificates in one day! What an awesome effort, keep up the great work!

Tino pai Tamawhero, your writing was just sensational. You should be proud!

Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor.

Lifeline 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE).

Youthline 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat.

Samaritans 0800 726 666.

We are looking forward to getting back into sport next term.

Thank you for everyone who has returned their permission slips and paid their fees. Whaea Janine is just in the process of finalising the teams.

Some more information regarding rules etc will sent home for the wonderful parents who have volunteered to coach before the end of the term.

Please see Whaea Janine if you have any further queries.

Please remember to support our local businesses and shop local if you can

We are happy to announce we will resume Lunch Shack orders from next Friday 29th May.

Order forms and envelopes will now be kept in each class from now on, teachers will arrange for them to be sent to the office in the morning after the roll.

Please note the following important health and safety information:

"As a food manufacturer and supplier we follow strict health and safety which include regular sanitation of all work benches and utensils, along with regular washing of hands.

All lunches will be prepared and placed in tubs with lids for each class, we will deliver to the reception using gloves and masks, then the bins can be delivered to each class. We can then collect tubs from reception."

Thea Haunton- Lunch Shack Bakery

We are now able to order school lunches from Subway on a Wednesday. Envelopes are available from the your child's classroom.

Mini Subs $3.50 - 6 inch $4 - Cookies $1 - Water $2.

Orders need to be place BEFORE 9am Wednesday (no late orders accepted as Subway collects the money)

Please provide correct money -

Hawera Primary will NOT be able to change money for the children.