Newsletter – 17 July 2023 – Pakuranga Heights School

Dear Parents

Welcome back and a very warm welcome to all our new families. We also welcome Mrs Justine McManus who will be opening a new entrant class in Room 9 and Miss Kendall Spence who is stepping into Room 8.

Property Update

During the holidays pathways from Room 20 and Room 21 were completed. Carpet was replaced in Room 20 and Room 21. We are slowly upgrading these rooms this year to ensure all classrooms have the best environments for teaching and learning

School Reports and Parent Conference

Parent teacher conference will take place during Week 4, Wednesday 9th August and Thursday 10th August where your child’s teacher will discuss your child’s progress and achievements. These interviews are of 15 minute duration.

We are offering the opportunity to have a Zoom conference, by phone or a face-to-face conference with your child’s teacher.

Bookings for these conferences will open on Monday 24th July.

At parent-teacher conferences, you can find out more about your child’s academic, emotional and social development at school. You can also share information about your child. Participating in these conferences shows your child that you are interested in their learning and life at school.

You can prepare for conferences by thinking about what you want to discuss with the teacher, as well as any questions about your child’s progress. One of the first things you can do for this kind of interview is to read your child’s school report carefully and note down anything that you want to ask about.

It can help to take a list of questions and information with you to conferences. Time tends to pass quickly. If you are not sure what to talk about, here are some questions to get you started:

What are my child’s interests and strengths?
What does my child struggle with?
How much home learning should my child be doing every night?
What can I do at home to help my child with schoolwork?
What can you tell me about my child’s behaviour in class?
How is my child getting along with other students?
What support services are available for my child at this school?

If you do not get through everything you want to discuss in the 15 minutes allocated to you, you might need to arrange another meeting with your child’s teacher.

Talking with the teacher: tips

Being open and friendly will set you up for positive communication with the teacher. You can show that you respect what the teacher is saying by listening carefully and trying not to become defensive, even if you disagree with feedback about your child.

It is important to get as much out of the meeting as you can, so it is OK to be direct when you need to be. For example, you can ask the teacher to explain, clarify or say more if you do not understand something.

You can also arrange a separate meeting if you want to discuss something that might take longer. For example, you might want to tell your child’s teacher about something going on at home that could be affecting your child’s behaviour or academic performance, like the death of a grandparent or a parental separation.

When is Netsafety Week?

Netsafety Week will take place between 24 and 30 July 2023. There will be a variety of tools, webinars and education materials available throughout the week.

This year’s Netsafety Week theme is:

Arming Aotearoa with the tools for positive online experiences

This year’s theme focuses on resilience and self-defense; building knowledge and tactical tools for an online world that remains imperfect.

At primary school level the emphasis will be around responsible use and safety online

Main Events This Term

Week 1

Monday 17 July – First day of Term 3 school starts at 9.00 am

Tuesday 18 July – Values Assembly (students only)

Week 2

Netsafety Week – See above

Wednesday 26 July – PTA Meeting

Week 3

Cook Islands Language Week

Life Education Caravan – inspiring tamariki and rangatahi to make positive choices.

Tuesday August 1st – Board of Trustees Meeting

Friday August 4th – School Reports go home

Week 4

Life Education Caravan at school

Mathathon Week PTA

Tuesday August 8th – HPPA Cross Country – Interschool

Wednesday August 9th – School Closes 12.30 pm Parent Meetings

Wednesday August 9th – Parent Partnership Meetings and Art Exhibition

Thursday August 10th – Parent Partnership Meetings and Art Exhibition

Friday August 11th – School Photos

Week 5

Life Education Caravan at school

Tuesday August 15th – Senior School Speech Finals

Thursday August 17th – New Parent Meeting

Friday August 18th – Full school Assembly 9.15 am. All welcome

Week 6

Thursday August 24th – Middle School Museum Trip

Thursday August 24th – Local Schools Speech Final (HPPA)

Friday August 25th – Middle School Museum Trip

Friday August 25th – Senior School Assembly

Week 7

Friday September 1st – Middle School Assembly

Week 8

Tongan Language Week

Tuesday September 5 – Values Assembly (students only)

Week 9

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori

Thursday September 14 – New Parents Session

Thursday September 14 – School Disco – PTA

Week 10

Chinese Language Week

Tuesday September 19 – Board of Trustees Meeting

Thursday September 21st – Full School Assembly

Friday September 22nd – Last Day of Term Three – school closes 3pm

A reminder, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or one of the senior team should you have any questions, concerns or bouquets.

Fintan Kelly, Sue Kandasamy and Monique Browne

Congratulations to our Top Kids –

Year 1 – Lucas Stott

Year 2 – Liam Booth

Year 3 – Eli Greig

Year 4 – Alexandra McIntyre

Year 5 – Irae Atalani

Year 6 – Pippa Harkin

Room 15 have been learning all about the stars of Matariki.

We researched the stars, chose one that inspired us, and designed our stars with intricate kowhaiwhai patterns.

The vibrant colors and mesmerizing kowhaiwhai patterns beautifully capture the spirit of our chosen stars.

We the students of Room 14 have been learning about the Phases of the Moon and expressing our understanding through art and crafts. We found it fascinating to witness and comprehend how the appearance of the moon changes over time. Engaging in hands-on activities like creating artwork helped deepen our knowledge and make learning enjoyable.

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