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School Newsletter Term 4, Week 4

Friday 3rd November 2023

School Newsletter Term 4, Week 4 Friday 3rd November 2023

Kia ora West End Whānau,


Thank you to all parents, caregivers, and whānau who were able to join us for our Athletics Sports this week. It was wonderful to see so many of our tamariki showing whakamana and enjoying challenging themselves at the different events on offer. Again, thank you to Miss Black for her planning and efforts to ensure the day runs smoothly.


We have a lot of powerful learning opportunities planned for our children coming up. Next week, we have a number of children who will compete at the Inter-School EPro8 Challenge after qualifying from their classes. The EPro8 Challenge is an inter-school science and engineering competition. Every year over 25,000 students from throughout New Zealand take part. It is tremendous to see our tamariki showing Mana Aotūroa and taking on this challenge.


As mentioned in previous newsletters, please ensure that you have Wednesday 22 November marked in your calendar as this is a Staff Only Day for West End School. Our teachers will be attending a professional learning day hosted by the Ministry of Education along with a large number of other schools from across Palmerston North. The focus for this day will be the upskilling of teachers to understand and implement Te Maiaho, Curriculum Refresh. Thank you in advance for your understanding and support.


Currently, our fantastic teachers are completing assessments and preparing end of year reports that will go home to parents/caregivers on Friday 8th December.


To all of our West End Whānau I wish you a safe and happy weekend and I look forward to seeing you all ready for Week 5.


Ngā mihi nui,

Matt Kennedy

Principal

West End School

Te Kura o Urumutu

Videoing on School Grounds

West End School follows guidelines to protect students' privacy and safety at school. We encourage our school community to consider privacy issues when taking photos and videos at school.


We are happy for parents to take photos/videos of their children at sports day, cultural day, or other public school events.

If parents want to share photos/videos on social media, they should consider the following:

  • Show the images to your children and discuss them before posting them on social media. This will help your children understand that they should always think about what goes out to the public on the internet.
  • If the images have pictures of other students, think about editing to remove them.
  • Make sure that other students are not named in any online posts.

Bikes and Scooters to school

A reminder to all whānau that if your child bikes or scooters to school, they must be aware of and show manaakitanga towards other footpath users, and motorists. This is for everyone's safety. Please talk to your children about these issues at home:


  • When biking and scootering, allow enough room and space for people walking on the footpath.
  • Children are to stay at a speed that they are able to control stopping and turning without hitting others.
  • Walk bikes and scooters across the crossing.
  • Walk bikes and scooters in school.
  • Wear a protective gear/helmets for bikes.
  • Put your bike and scooter in the correct place in our bike shed.

Reminder to wait on the concrete next to the turf until the bell goes at 8.30am

Can all students and parents please wait in the concrete area (next to the turf) until the bell goes in the morning. This is to ensure everyone's safety. If children have been in breakfast club, they will need to go and wait in the quad until the bell goes, and not go straight to classes. Parents and children, please do not wait outside classes before the 8.30 bell goes. Please wait in the correct area. If it is raining, please sit on the seated areas around the quad.

Breakfast Club closes at 8.30am

A reminder that Breakfast Club opens from 8.10am and closes at 8.30am. We have a number of children turning up at 8.30am expecting breakfast. If your child needs breakfast in the morning, please send them to meet these times. Please do not send your child to Breakfast Club before 8.10am.

Learning with Mrs Larsen

Room 16's work with Rona and the Moon

Room 16 created a collage picture of Rona and Moon. We listened to the story and talked about how Rona was feeling. Then we wrote about our collage pictures. We also loved learning the Rona and the Moon waiata.

Upcoming Events

WEEK 5 -

  • Room 10 and 5 to Wildbase - Tuesday 7th November
  • EPro8 Interschool Competition - Wednesday 8th November
  • Room 11 to Wildbase - Thursday 8th November
  • Pōwhiri - Thursday 8th November at 10am


WEEK 6 -

  • VIBE Assembly (Tipuranga led) - Thursday 15 November
  • Entertainer Donovan Bixley performing to school - Friday 17th November


WEEK 7 -

  • Cycle Safety starts for Year 5/6 students
  • Staff Only Day (no school for students) - Wednesday 22nd November
  • Year 6 Visit to Monrad (1pm - 2.30pm) - Thursday 23rd November
  • Swim Safety Lessons with Swim Magic - Friday 24th November


WEEK 8 -

  • Splash and Dash - Wednesday 29th November
  • Interschool Athletics - Friday 1st December


WEEK 9 -

  • Room 5, 6, 7 to Te Manawa - Tuesday 5th December
  • Final VIBE and Farewell Assembly - Wednesday 6th December (9am)
  • Visit new classes (and meet the 2024 teacher) - Thursday 7th December
  • Whole School Fun Day - Friday 8th December
  • Year 6 Breakfast - Friday 8th December
  • School reports sent out - Friday 8th December


WEEK 10 -

  • Staff vs RICOH Soccer team (Mr Kennedy testimonial match - Tuesday 12th December
  • Year 6 Leavers Assembly and Poroporoaki (9.15am) - Wednesday 13th December
  • TWNOT Lido Visit - Wednesday 13th December
  • Last day of the 2023 School Year (finishing at 12.30pm) - Thursday 14th December

PE at West End

School Athletics

Thank you to those that turned out for School Athletics! The following are the results of the day. Year 5 + 6 students chosen for Interschools will get a notice in the next week.


Sports Draws

Each week all sporting code fixtures are released on the school app. Please ensure you have the sporting tab selected that is appropriate for your children.

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Westie Tigers

Westie Jaguars and their flash kit, all organised by Keran Wenman. Keran kindly got some sponsorship from Well Naturally and Oliver Brick Layers. We thank you for your effort.

A New Railway Carriage at the Esplanade

Just a reminder – Tuesday 7 th November - 4:00pm at the Esplanade Railway Station. The launch of the very special new railway carriage painted up so flash with our Kind Hearts Logo – so exciting – come along and bring friends – you might even get a free train ride !!!!

PTA Events and Fundraising

Thank you!!

A massive thank you from the PTA for those amazing volunteers who helped out with the sausage sizzle on athletics day. Your help was greatly appreciated!

Term 4 Swimming Timetable

School Reports will be going out this term

End of Year Reports will be going out in Week 9, Friday 8th of December. Reports will be sent out to parents/caregivers via Seesaw and will include information about your child’s progress and achievement, as well as a comment from the teacher for reading, writing, maths. There will also be a general comment relating to attitude, behaviour and showing school values. An example of your child’s work to show the progress they have made in that area will also be provided.

Term Dates 2024

Term 1: Monday 29 Jan - Friday 12 April (100 1/2 days)

Term 2: Monday 29 April - Friday 5 July (96 1/2 days)

Term 3: Monday 22 July - Friday 27 Sept (100 1/2 days)

Term 4: Monday 14 Oct - Friday 13 Dec (88 1/2 days)


Which equals a total of 384 half days for 2024.

We would have Call Back Days Wed 24 - Fri 26 Jan before the year starts.


Proposed Ballot Dates for 2024


Ballot held in Term 1 for Term 2

(To be held in Term 1 Week 3, 12th Feb-16th Feb)


Ballot held in Term 2 for Term 3

(To be held in Term 2 Week 3, 6th May - 10th May)


Ballot held in Term 3 for Term 4

(To be held in Term 3 Week 3, 29 July - 2 August)


Ballot held in Term 4 for Term 1

(To be held in Term 4 Week 3, 21st October - 25th October)

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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

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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

West End School
Te Kura o Urumutu
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Email: office@westend.school.nz
Location: West End School, 196 College Street, Palmerston North
Phone: 06 358 2465