Puketapu School Newsletter

Kia kaha - do your best * Kia māia - be courageous * Kia manawanui - have a heart

Kia ora koutou,

One of the ways that we are working to achieve our vision is by making sure our learning connects with our community and environment. It is wonderful to see some of these in action this week - from learning about natural materials, how precious our water is, the problems of plastic, caring for our Beach, our Penguins and Mangati Stream, even the insects in our back yard!

It is very special seeing the growing awareness in our akonga. We are all beginning to understand we can make a difference and become guardians for our environment.

Talk to your tamariki about their learning - they may surprise you!

Whaea Corinne

Welcome to Ruby Tadikonda who started at Puketapu School this week.

Birthday's this week:

• Alice Stephens
  
• Tess Balsom
• Drevious Te Kura
• Koda Herewini-Kelsen
• Luka Herewini-Kelsen

Congratulations to our Puketapu Superstars this week, who have been spotted showing our school values:

Kia maia - Be courageous

• Marley Sutherland
• Imogen Den-McKay

Hoatu a reira he haere - Give it a try

Well done Luka, Achille, Marley and Marissa for this week's video. Ka pai!

Our Year 8s have been enjoying the snow on the slopes of Ruapehu this week. What great weather, great snow and amazing experiences! They could even see our Maunga from where they were this morning!

Awesome Rimu 2 & 3 students have been learning about Sharing our Planet.

After reading about ‘the monster’s vest’ we thought it would be great to make a vest. This vest, when it no longer fits, can be used as dusters and then it can go into the garden to decompose in the soil.

To make this we had to measure, add 1/3 to the measurements then make a pattern. We laid the woollen fibres out and wet rubbed it. We kept rubbing and rubbing... and finally the fibres felted together. We will showcase this at assembly this Friday.

In the picture above, Lillian is modelling our finished product.

What a great way of making natural clothing that cares for our environment!

Our small group of keen runners put in an excellent effort at the New Plymouth Cross Country competition at Peringa Park yesterday. They all showed kai maia just by taking part - it is a tough course and they raced against the best in New Plymouth. Well done everyone.

In the picture: Alex Cross racing around the track!

The Taranaki Primary School Cross Country Championships in Hawera is on Wednesday 26 September and it is not too late for keen runners to enter. Pick up a form from the school office.

All around our school, our akonga are learning about our values and how we can show them in many different ways and in many different locations.

So, how do we show our school values...

... in our Classrooms

Talk to your tamariki about how they can show our school values at school and at home too.

Tickets for the New Plymouth Schools Music Festival

We have a few tickets left for the New Plymouth School Music Festival, on Wednesday 19 September, 7pm. $5 each at the office.

Recently we were approached by Z about getting some tamariki to make a some short video clips of phrases in Te Reo for Z to use internally with their staff.

Kowhai 3 have been working really hard to create our Phrase of the Week video clips, so we sent Z the links... and Z love them. So, this week Z staff all around the country will get to see some of our akonga and our kura as they learn from us. Ka pai Kowhai 3!

Calling all players! The Term 4 touch season is almost here. Registration forms are at the office and need to be back in by Wednesday 26 September.

Calling all Coaches too: we can only have teams if we have coaches and parent helpers. If you can help with a team, please let us know.

It was a gorgeous day today and what better way to enjoy it than by learning through play outside. Layla and Alice and friends outside Rimu 1.

Welcome to the two newest members of our road safety team! These little guys joined us this week to help remind whanau about using the drop off lane so that we can all share the limited space.

Also, please don't park on yellow lines or in driveways - someone got a ticket last week for parking on yellow lines... a $60 ticket!

The next phase in the sandpit upgrade has got the big thumbs up from these keen creators! We are looking forward to the bright paint work and new sand which will be added later. Thank you so much to everyone involved in the project and especially to Shannen Robinson who donated some new toys to play in the sandpit with. If anyone has any other toys they would like to donate, we would be very happy to accept them.

Get your American Hotdog for lunch, this Friday, 14 September.

$3 each with optional Cheese, Tomato Sauce or Mustard. Order at the office by Friday morning.

All proceeds are helping the Year 7&8 Summer Camp next term.

This Friday, 14 September is the last day to order your coloured hoodie. $55 for a named hoodie, or $45 plain.

Also, we have both child and adult sized Sports T-shirts in stock for sale $45 each and Puketapu bucket hats $5 each. Ask at the office if you are interested.

Next Wednesday afternoon we have a Duffy Role Model Assembly. Our Role Model is Kingi Biddle:

"In 2013 I took out 2nd place at The World Championship of Public Speaking. Over 33,000 people enter this Toastmasters Contest every year. This year I am in the top 3 in the World.

I have been a Radio Announcer, a Cultural Performer, a Radio Commercial Writer, a Television Presenter and one of Toastmaster's Top Speakers. I have years of experience in the Creative Industry and love swimming in that ocean. My current passion is that of keynote speaking and delivering my Presentation Skills seminar.

I am a descendant of great storytellers who used their words to carve visions in the minds of their people. I can do that and relate the messages to our Y2K world. Effective Communication is like painting a vivid picture into the minds and hearts of people. Magic will literally grow around you. I am Kingi Biddle... Come planting with me."

Whanau are most welcome to come along to hear him speak.

We would prefer that students do not have mobile phones at school. If it is absolutely necessary for them to have a phone at school, they should be handed in to the teacher or office.

Mobile phones are not permitted to be used in the playground or during class time.

Headlice are back in our community again. Please check all the heads in your household and take action. The life cycle of headlice is 21 days, so please check daily to be sure.

Your GP can prescribe treatment, or you can use the cheap conditioner method - but either way you need to check every day for three weeks.

Friday 14 September

Funky Friday! Dress up funky and get that hair as wacky as you can! Gold coin donation.

Student Showcase. 9.15 start, and Rimu are our hosts this week. All welcome.

American hotdogs for lunch. $3 each. Order at the office by 9am Friday.

Monday 17 September

Dental Bus on site until end of term. Appointment cards will be going home this week.

Year 6 Swim Safe Programme (Year 6s in Kauri and Kowhai don't forget your togs and towel!)

Home & School AGM (the one which has been rescheduled) 6pm

Tuesday 18 September

Final practice for the choir attending the Taranaki Music Festival. 10am-2pm

Year 6 Swim Safe Programme (Year 6s in Kauri and Kowhai don't forget your togs and towel!)

Kapa Haka 2.00-3.00pm (Hall)

Skills for Life with Manuel

Wednesday 19 September

Year 6 Swim Safe Programme (Year 6s in Kauri and Kowhai don't forget your togs and towel!)

Duffy Role Model Assembly 2pm (Kingi Biddle)

Bell Block After School Beach Clean 3.45pm-5.00pm

Taranaki Music Festival - 7pm, TSB Stadium. See our choir join with 1,000 other students for this biennial extravaganza. Tickets are limited - $5 at the school office.

Thursday 20 September

Kowhai Learning Team Pukekura Park Scavenger Hunt. Kowhai akonga: Don't forget to pay your $2 for the bus and bring along a hat, sensible walking shoes, a bottle of water and a packed lunch.

Friday 21 September

The last day of the Year 6 Swim Safe Programme (Year 6s in Kauri and Kowhai don't forget your togs and towel!)

Saturday 22 September

Men in Education - Rugby - Taranaki v Manawatu (Curtain Raiser to Taranaki v Auckland - Mitre 10 Cup)

Tuesday 25 September - Puketapu Road Patrol & Green Team Reward Afternoon

Wednesday 26 September - Taranaki Cross-Country - Hawera

Friday 28 September - Last day of term! Loud Shirt Day - Dress up loud!

Urban Trappers Workshop

This Sunday 16 September, Taranaki Regional Council are holding a free workshop at Fred Tucker Hall 1.30-2.30pm. Come along to this free event to find out how you can be part of the effort towards a Predator Free Taranaki

Wednesday 19 September there is a Bell Block beach Clean Up 3.45-5.00pm
Come on down and join the Taranaki Conservationists for a fun after school beach clean-up to celebrate Conservation Week! Gloves and bags provided, but bring your own reusable gloves and bucket if you have them to save extra waste. Conservation week spot prizes. We would love to see you there!

Email: office@puketapu.school.nz
Website: www.puketapu.school.nz
Location: Dillon Drive, Bell Block, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Phone: 06 755 0973