Newsletter – 4 July 2022

Thank you for everything you or your family have done to make or school a better place this term. It continues to be challenging at times with Covid-19, flu and stomach bugs.  Relievers constantly tell us how polite and lovely the children are, a real credit to you as parents.  It has also meant we have been able to cope with staff away despite a teacher shortage as these relievers want to come back.  Enjoy the holidays and fingers crossed the weather is not too cold or wet.

School Reports and Parent Conference

Parent teacher conference will take place on Tuesday July 5th and July 6th where your child’s teacher will discuss your child’s progress and achievements.  We are offering the opportunity to have a Zoom conference with your child’s teacher or a face-to-face conference.

If you have not booked already, please click on this link https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code/bxk5r

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.  The 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 homework 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, 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 than your allocated 10 minutes. 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.

New Entrant Class Opening

Due to enrolments, a new class will open at the start of Term 3 in what is currently our library. We are very limited for space due to Room 18 and Room 19 being renovated. We anticipate these classrooms to be completed later in Term 3.  We welcome back Mrs. Wendy Morgan.

Reminder Teacher Only Day

Friday August 19th – School closed for instruction. After School Care will operate, please contact them directly

During this time teachers will be developing their knowledge and skills in cultural competencies so we can:

• enhance our bicultural practices while protecting the language, culture and identity of Māori and Pacific learners in Aotearoa
• understand how to best meet the needs of Māori and Pacific learners, whānau and wider communities
• explore and extend understanding in which we can uphold the mana of Te Tiriti o Waitangi through developing cultural and bicultural competencies

Free Flu Jabs for Children – 3 years to 12 years old

Children aged 3 to 12 years old can get a free flu vaccination from their GP, healthcare provider or at most pharmacies from this Friday 1 July.

Most children aged 9 years and over need one vaccination each year to get good protection against flu.  

If you have a child under 9 years old, talk to your healthcare provider, as they may need one or two vaccinations depending on whether they have had a flu vaccine before.

If children have recently had COVID-19 they can have a flu jab as soon as they’ve recovered.

Before School

• Children are not permitted on the playgrounds in the morning before 9.00 and after school at 3pm
   unless they are supervised by an adult.
• Children who arrive at school before 8:30am are asked to wait under the cloud in middle school.
• Children are not to play with balls or play games unsupervised. A bell will ring at 8:30 to signal that children may head to their classrooms.
• These rules are health and safety requirements to prevent injuries occurring when children are
   unsupervised.

FREE ACTIVITIES TO DO IN AUCKLAND

These are ideas people sent into a website called Tots to Teens

1.  Hanging out at the beach.  Favourites include Mission Bay, Takapuna, Cornwallis, and Orewa  – rock pools

2.  Auckland Botanic Gardens

3.  Red Beach where we practice being ninjas hiding in Pohutukawa trees

4.   Fun Fest

5.   Park play

6.   Barry Curtis Park

7.   Western Springs

8.   Hart Domain

9.   Auckland Museum

10. Bike riding

11. Pump tracks

12. Parnell Baths

13. Maddils Farm playground

14. Splash pads especially the one at Potters Park and Waterview

15. Visit the library

16. Sand dunes

17. The Kauri Park glow worm walks

18. Ambury Farm

19. Milford Beach reserve

20. Highfield donkey reserve

21. Silo Park and ride scooters around Westhaven Marina

22. Picnic at Cornwall park

23. Swimming at Onehunga council pools

24. Onepoto domain – picnic, bike track, bush walk and a playground

25. Playground at Stonefields

26. Kayaking at Mission Bay

27. St Heliers beach playground

28. Kitekite falls and bush walk

29. Exploring the tunnels at North Head

30. North Shore aerodromes

31. Play a game of Monopoly

32. Walks at Camp Sladdin in Clevedon

33. Art Gallery

34. Snakes and Ladders playground

35. Shakespeare Regional Park

36. Family show and tell

37. Airport viewing platform

38. Swimming pool

39. Arataki Visitor Centre and nature trails

40. Shopping mall kids club and craft activities

41. Okura bushwalk

42. Woodhill mountain bike park

Reminder – Back Gate

A reminder that the Cardiff Road gate will now be closed at 3.15 pm. A member of the Senior Leadership team will be at both the back and front gates after school to greet parents, farewell the students and ensure everyone leaves the school safely and/or collected by their parents or designated person.

First Day Back Term 3

We look forward to welcoming you back Monday 25th July.