Wairakei Primary School Newsletter

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Phone (07) 374 8035

March 30, 2021

Maehe 30, 2021

Week 9 Term 1, 2021

Issue Contents:

Featured Video
Principal's News
Latest News
- Board of Trustee parent election
- Breakfast Club
- Become a bus driver
- Building Awesome Whanau
Upcoming Events
- Go Girls Cricket
- Easter
- Swimming Rooms 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8
- Celebration of Learning
Classroom Learning Room1

Featured Video

Principal's News

The rain is here and the short weeks are upon us. I think everyone is ready for both to happen. Our students get tired as the term progresses. Then we add the changes to daylight savings this weekend. Tiredness can show in a variety of ways. It can be a desire to just rest on the couch and watch movies. It can be eating everything in the fridge. It can be being irritable with siblings or parents over minor issues or squabbles.

Family time on long weekends is really important when tiredness happens. Luckily Taupo is very good for free activities for the family. And for those traveling please take care on the roads.
School closes on Friday, April 2 until Tuesday, April 6. Please note that school is closed for instruction on Tuesday, April 6.

Our dates for next term are
School starts on Monday, May 3, and finishes on Friday, July 9. We have a teacher-only day on Friday, June 4.

Please put into your calendar our Celebration of Learning morning. This is a great opportunity to see the work that has been undertaken by our students across the term. The whole school has been focussing on retelling a local legend. There are stories of mountains and of fire. Stories of taniwha and the creation story. It’s the hidden gems of learning that you might see that are the most special. We want you to come and spend time in the classes and then have morning tea with your child. Coffee, tea, and water will be available in the staffroom. Come and grab a drink and head back to the classes.

The rain has prompted us that winter is coming. My frost indicator came up one day last week on the drive to school. Our school uniform for winter is a blue polar fleece or a blue hoodie. Any other colour will be removed and hopefully placed, by them, in the children’s school bag. Wearing a full sweatshirt under the polar shirt is not part of the uniform either. Only poly-thermals are acceptable. Gumboots are great to wear to school and be placed outside. These are not inside school shoes.

School Sports Teams
School sports teams for Netball and Hockey have been finalised. All children whose parents registered their child and paid their fees on or before March 26 have been put into a team. Coaches of players will be in touch with parents closer to the start of competition dates. If you have any questions, email Mr Morehu.

School basketball teams will begin to be organised once Taupo Basketball contacts Mr Morehu with a list of children who have registered. There will be an update about basketball teams in the next newsletter.

On Fridays, we have fish and chips available for students to purchase. The white paper that wraps up the fish and chips will be brought home. We have an explosion of mice around the school and by taking away the fish and chip packets we hope to reduce their numbers.

We are receiving an increase in the number of requests for sandwiches from students at lunchtime. It is important that food is provided by the family for every student. We can cope with a missed lunch on some occasions. We can not feed children every day. As I witnessed yesterday some students are demanding a sandwich rather than asking for one using their manners. Providing food to students is a privilege, not a right. Saying please and thank you goes a long way when teachers are using their own lunchtime to make students a sandwich.

Last week I had the pleasure of working with Room 3 on their Red Dot Tree stories and artwork. I took the poem I had written for them and together we created artwork that is personalised for each student. I had such a great time working with these students. I enjoyed seeing their creativity and their ability to grasp new concepts quickly.

You can check out our post showcasing their artwork here.

There are been some wonderful learning opportunities in our school this term.

Here are some of my favourite blogs for the term:

https://wairakeitaupo.school.nz/blog/whare-tapawha/
https://wairakeitaupo.school.nz/blog/native-neighbours-2/
https://wairakeitaupo.school.nz/blog/ako-in-action-dt-pld/

These are only a snapshot of the learning opportunities offered by our teachers for our students.

I hope you all enjoy the long weekend and the short work week. I know the teachers will.

Paula Farquhar

Latest News

Nominations are open for the election of one parent representative to the Board of Trustees.

All eligible voters will receive a nomination form, either via email or post, and a notice calling for nominations — you can use this form to nominate yourself or someone in your community.

If you need more nomination forms, contact the school office.

Nominations close at noon Friday, April 2, 2021. You may provide a signed candidate statement and photograph with your nomination.

The electoral roll is held at the school office and can be viewed during normal school hours.

As nominations are received, there will be a list of candidates’ names kept at the school office up until election day, which you can view.

Voting closes 4p.m. Wednesday, May 5, 2021.

Signed
Val Mansfield
Returning Officer

Thank you to our three wonderful ladies who are now running the Breakfast Club from Tuesday to Friday. Thank you to Caroline for donating 2 new toasters.

Building Awesome Whānau

Building Awesome Whānau draws on the wisdom of mātauranga Māori and the best of Toolbox to offer you and your family a kaupapa that is uniquely Aotearoa. Designed for whānau raising children aged 0-12, this course is delivered over 6 weeks and is packed full of great ideas, positive stories from parents still on the journey with their own tamariki and practical ideas to help you build your awesome whānau.

Gain some practical ideas and get some great tips on how to Build your own Awesome Whānau.
Sign up now to secure your spot! Email: ako@reap.org.nz or call 07 378 8109
Time: 9.30-11.30a.m. Thursdays
Date: April 1 - May 20, 2021 (6 weeks break for School holidays)
Where: Taupō Primary School
Tutor: Judith Peez
Cost: Free.

POWER Award Draw

Congratulations to the following students who received a POWER Award for Weeks 7 and 9.

Week 7
Room 1 - Carys
Room 2 - Dorian
Room 3 - Vaanya
Room 4 - Tane N
Room 5 - Tane R
Room 7 Poppy
Room 8 - Rhea
Room 9 - Riley
Room 11 - Zoe R
Room 12 - Emily
Room 13 - Emmy
Room 14 - Thomas
Room 15 - AJ
Room 16 - Bowie

Week 9
Room 1 - Te Pou
Room 2 - Tyler
Room 3 - Maui
Room 4 - Jacob
Room 5 - Alysha
Room 7 - Zavier
Room 8 - Izak
Room 9 - Emma
Room 11 - Trend
Room 12 - Isla - Environment
Room 13 - George - Self
Room 14 - Molly
Room 15 - Marshall
Room 16 - Tamehana
Penny - Room 1 Gracie - Self, Others

Looking for a part time / casual job?

Would you like a part time job that is interesting and fulfilling.

Nimons Bus Services are looking for School bus drivers.
Doesn’t pay much, but the kids are great!

Class 2 license is required but full training on driving a bus will be provided.
P Endorsement will have to be applied for.

Please note Vulnerable Children’s Act Clearance is required with a Police check.
Hours approx. 07.30-09.00a.m. and 03.00-04.30p.m. each weekday.
School holidays off.
Friendly workmates happy atmosphere.
Ring Kay on 021745270 or call in and chat 09.00a.m. -02.00p.m. 41 Matai St behind VTNZ.

Upcoming Events

Wednesday March 31, 2021
Owen Delany Park

Go Girl's Cricket for Years 4 to 6

Thursday April 1, 2021
9a.m. to 2.45p.m.

Te Huka and Poihipi Team Trip

Rooms 5, 13,14, 15 and 16

Friday April 2, 2021

Good Friday

School Closed.

Monday April 5, 2021

Easter Monday

School Closed.

Tuesday April 6, 2021

Easter Tuesday

School Closed.

Wednesday April 7 to Friday April 16, 2021

Swimming at AC Baths for Rooms 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8

Remember to bring your togs and towels each day.

Thursday April 15, 2021
9a.m. to 10.45a.m.

Celebration of Learning

Parents and Caregivers welcome.

Thursday April 15, 2021
6p.m. in Hall

PTA Annual General Meeting

All welcome.

Friday April 16, 2021
9a.m. to 3p.m.

Last Day of Term 1

Have a good holiday break.

Monday May 3, 2021
9a.m. to 3p.m.

First Day of Term 2

View our upcoming calendar events

This issue Room 1 presents

Stretch a Sentence

As a part of our structured literacy program Room 1 has been learning about “stretching sentences”.

A super video called “Stretchy Sentences” on Youtube showed all the parts of sentences we needed to use to stretch our sentences and make them more interesting.

In groups, the students discussed what they thought they needed to do to stretch sentences and came up with

Who?
Did what?
When?
Where?
Why?

They discussed how to shift the order of these ideas to change the sentence.

Looking at a picture to give us ideas for the sentence that we wrote together.

Using the words from the group, we wrote ideas next to each question word.

With the ideas jotted down, we sorted them into the stretched sentence. We tried two different sentences and played with the order.

Pictures were used as a motivator. By having two pictures to choose from everybody planned by ourselves. Some chose the kitten picture and some chose a picture of a dog jumping a fence with a ball in its mouth.

Once the plans were completed we wrote our final stretched sentence. Here are some of our plans and drafted sentences.

Overall, we think we did well with packing lots of information into our sentences and helping to create a picture of what is happening, in the mind of our readers. This was our first time having a go at this activity and we believe we can only get better.

Curriculum Links
English: Speaking Writing
Key Competencies: Thinking. Using language, symbols and text. Participating and contributing.
Keywords: Sentences. Planning. Writing process. Writing structure.
Attributed to Room 1 Wairakei Primary School, Carla Ross - Room 1 Teacher