Kia ora whanau
Welcome back to school for 2020! I hope you had a wonderful break, enjoyed the change of pace and routines of work and school and spent more time with family and friends.
Today we welcomed many excited children back for their new school year and it was lovely to see them greeting friends, catching up with classmates and showing new students around. We also welcomed Shao, Ziyang and Elon - students from China who have been holidaying in New Zealand for some time now and who are keen to experience a NZ classroom albeit a brief stay at Ōpoho School.
BREAKING NEWS: The whanau launch outing (originally planned for tomorrow) has been transferred to Wednesday 5th February owing to the pending heavy rain, wind and cold temperature forecast.
We had been hoping of a 'just-right-sort-of-day'.......... not-too-hot, not-too-cold, no rain and a little sun but the weather forecast is not 'playing ball' hence the change of day to be on the safe side.
The whanau launch has become an Ōpoho School tradition when children are taken to a mystery destination for a day of fun and learning, and where they get to work in their new whanau group with their 2020 'buddy'. Thank you to those parents and friends who have offered to help.
On Thursday last week, the teachers and support staff participated in a day of professional learning with Nathan Wallis - neuroscience educator and brain development expert. He had much to offer about how to best support tamariki across the spectrum of social, emotional and learning needs. Friday was another day of structured discussions to add to our knowledge of how to support the diversity of learners in each class, including dyslexia and dyscalculia. More about these topics as the year tracks along.
Thank you to the families who turned out for the working bee on Saturday to prepare the school grounds for the start of the new school year. There was a flurry of sweeping, weeding and pruning (and catching up with each other :-) from 10 - 1 p.m. to ensure the grounds looked smart and welcoming for today.
Many of you will have also read or heard the news that Ōpoho School was among the 8 schools and 2 hospitals in the South Island to be allocated funds to upgrade coal fired heating furnaces for systems that use more sustainable fuel sources. Schools where a boiler is near the-end-of-its-life and this intended infrastructure work was already identified in the school's strategic plan seem to be those identified in this most recent announcement. The board will update the community with the details when these come to hand.
Meet the Teacher Opportunities
Most teachers have sent a class newsletter which outlines a range of information including the dates and time when there is an opportunity to 'Meet the Teacher(s)'
On Wednesday the 13th February a 'Meet the teacher' opportunity is planned for all classes beginning with a picnic tea at 5.30 p.m. if the weather is conducive to an evening outside. About 6 p.m. the teachers will be introduced and while the senior school families meet in Poutama with parents for about 20 minutes the junior teachers will keep a 'general eye' on the children, then visa versa! About 6.30 the families with children in the junior school will meet in their respective classrooms and the teachers of senior classes will maintain a 'watchful eye' as the children play. The plan is that you will all be headed home by 7 p.m.
If the evening is wet and not suitable for the picnic, the 'Meet the Teacher' will proceed minus the picnic.
At 6 p.m. the P1, 2 and 3 parents are invited to meet the senior class teachers in Poutama, and the junior teachers will welcome parents of tamariki in P4, 5 Te Kakano and 8 to their classrooms at 6.30 p.m. If you need to bring your children then there will be some supervision available in P3.
Keeping safe in the sun:
We encourage the children to each bring a water bottle, and to have sunscreen on before coming to school. It would also be useful to have some available in school bags to put on later in the day as needed.
There will be some available at school however for the most part we need children to come already protected.
If your child's sunhat is still at home, can it please be returned to school so it is available for the rest of the term.
2020 Opoho School Information Booklet
As the current website is to be replaced with a new version within the next week or so, the 2020 Information Booklet will be posted on the new website as soon as the transfer has been made.
Magic Kids Club
After School Care is provided by Magic Kids Club and can be contacted at the following numbers:
Tracy Administration Leader 022 466 5227
Or Bridgette Business Leader 022 466 5226
A thought to ponder....... 'Take care of what they hear. Take care of what they see. Take care of what they feel. For how the children grow, so will the shape of Aotearoa' Dame Whina Cooper
Nga mihi nui
Jenny Clarke (Principal)
|
|
Day 1 - 2020
Getting re-acquainted.....
|
|
Items to Action
Thinking ahead......
Plan for the Teacher Only day to be held on the 6th March 2020 when the teachers are joining kaiako and tumuaki of 16 kura for an evening (5th March) and a day of knowledge gathering about our local history at Otakou Marae, Toitū and Otago museums.
|
|
Dates to Remember:
6 February Waitangi Day - School closed
7 February Junior Discovery
10 February 2.15 Whole School Assembly in Poutama
11 February 7 p.m. Board of Trustees Meeting
11 February Newsletter - thereafter fortnightly
14 February Junior Discovery
24 - 28th February Walk 'n' Wheel Week
23rd March Otago Anniversary Day - School Closed
31st March - 9 April Swimming for all classes (details at a later date)
|
|
PTA Notices:
Naseby Family Weekend
Opoho School Naseby Families and Friends weekend is to be on the 21st - 23rd February - it is a fun and informal weekend for children and parents to enjoy themselves in a safe
and friendly environment. Cabins and tent sites are available, for bookings call 03 444 9904 Larchview Holiday Park, Naseby.
This has become an ‘Opoho School’ community tradition - new families are very welcome.
Come for as little or as much of the weekend as you like - walks, biking and relaxing in the quaint and historic village of Naseby is a lovely way to get to know each other more.
|
|
|
|
