Wānaka Primary School Newsletter for Term 2 Week 1

Newsletter Term 2 Week 1

26th April 2023

IN THIS NEWSLETTER

IMPORTANT DATES

Term 2
Week 2
Tuesday 2nd May - Waste Free Wānaka Show
Wednesday 3rd May - PTA Meeting - 7pm - Staffroom
Week 3
Thursday 11th May - Clued Up Kids - Year 6
Friday 12th May - Tribe Afternoon
Week 4
Monday 15th May - Board of Trustees Meeting - 5pm - Staffroom
Friday 19th May - Pod 4 Assembly - 2:15pm - Hall
Week 5
Tuesday 23rd May - Upper Clutha Rippa Rugby
Week 6
Tuesday 30th May - COPSSA Rippa Rugby
Friday 2nd June - Pod 2 Assembly - 2:15pm - Hall
Week 7
Monday 5th June - Kings Birthday - SCHOOL CLOSED
Friday 9th June - Tribe Afternoon
Week 8
Monday 12th June - Board of Trustees Meeting - 5pm - Staffroom
Tuesday 13th June - WPS Swimming Competition Years 4-6
Saturday 17th June - PTA Quiz Evening
Week 9
Tuesday 20th June - UC Swimming Competition
Friday 23rd June - UC Kapahaka Festival Haka Tu Haka Ora
Friday 23rd June - Pod 7 Assembly - 2:15pm - Hall
Friday 23rd June - Reports sent home
Week 10
Tuesday 27th June - COPSSA Swimming Competition
Wednesday 28th June - Parent Conferences
Thursday 29th June - Parent Conferences
Friday 30th June - Last Day of Term 2

Term 3
Monday 17th July - First Day of Term 3

CURRICULUM COMMENT

Back to school for Term Two

Welcome back to term 2 to you all and welcome to our new families. Staff are looking energised and keen to get into term 2. We had a day working with the Garden to Table co-ordinator Skye and we are feeling very motivated about getting into growing, cooking and eating activities! Keep an eye on Pod newsletters for these activities as we will be seeking parent helpers to support this programme.

I hope you all had a good break and your children are looking forward to getting back into school. Pod 5 children are now relocated to Pod 6 and Pod 4 children are comfortably set up in Pod 1. Now it is the turn of Pod 4 and 5 to get their facelift. The landscaping is completed around the administration block and hall entranceway area. Over the holidays we put artificial grass in the area outside Pod 5, where grass refused to grow. Pods 1,2 and 6 will have their surrounding garden areas refreshed over this term. The gardens are looking really good so far.

Please note at this stage primary teachers are not taking any industrial action, only secondary school teachers are at this stage. Primary Principals are refusing to do any of the extra work the Ministry of Education requires (mainly curriculum refresh and paperwork stuff not our work that impacts on children). We have decided to do this, as well as limit our hours of work to 8am and 5pm (but not Board meetings or other meetings or work that would impact negatively on our schools) so that we are NOT punishing you, the parents or our children with strike days. It is afterall the government that is accountable for our larger class sizes and higher workloads. We hope that this is enough to get the government to reconsider their last offer which continues to ignore the huge issues schools are facing.

Attendance

Well done everyone! Our attendance rates were looking much improved last term, a sign of less illness around and parents focused on making sure children are regularly attending as well. Thanks so much for your support with this. Your children are the winners. We have a larger number attending over 85%, so well done. Please remember children should be at school every day it is open, except of course if they are unwell. Most parents are very good at ensuring that children are kept at home when they show symptoms of illness. With the winter months coming up, personal hygiene and avoiding the spread of germs is something we all need to continue to encourage. Please focus on having your children at school no later than 8:50am, so they can get into their rooms by the 8:55am bell and be ready for learning by the 9am bell, with bags unpacked etc.

EPro8 Technology Challenge

Today, four teams of Year 5 and 6 WPS students have been competing in an inter-school science and engineering competition called EPro8. Last year 25,000 students from throughout New Zealand took part. This year is the first year the competition has been run in Central Otago.

Teams of students compete to:

build large sized structures
solve practical problems
engineer using pulleys, motors, gears, wheels and axles
undertake interesting experiments
invent machines that can complete simple tasks
construct basic electronic circuits
solve interesting problems using practical maths

The winning teams from today will go through to a grand final tomorrow evening.

Arrowtown Museum

Half of Pod 3 are off to the Arrowtown Museum with our minivans and parents in cars today with the other half heading there tomorrow. They will really enjoy their day and learn heaps judging by the comments from our Pod 7 students, teachers and parents last term.

Seasons For Growth

We are offering 2 groups with a 45 minute session once a week for 6 weeks with Mandy from REAP and Coral from Pod 7 facilitating these. These groups start on Friday 12th May, in the afternoon. Please see the information below. Get in quick as numbers are limited.

Please click here for a brochure

Anyone wanting their child to take part in this programme should register using the link below by Friday 28th April. There will be a junior group (Years 1 - 3) and senior group (Years 4 - 6). Group sizes are limited, so please register your interest early.

Seasons for Growth Enrolment form 2023

SCHOOL NOTICES

School Camps 2023 - Terms 3 & 4

Payment is not required until closer to the camps.
The costs are yet to be finalised.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Further information will be sent out during term 2. Payment is not yet required.

Garden To Table

We are looking for some terracotta pots to use in our Garden To Table area - if anyone has any they would like to donate, please drop them into the office.
Thank you!

PB4L SCHOOL-WIDE GOAL

Positive Behaviour For Learning - PB4L

PB4L School-Wide looks at behaviour and learning from a whole-of-school as well as an individual child perspective. The framework is based on international evidence and is helping New Zealand schools build a culture where positive behaviour and learning is a way of life.

Each fortnight we focus on a school wide goal to encourage positive behaviours. The current goal is: 'We understand, accept and celebrate differences'.

PTA NOTICES

Mother's Day Social Evening

PTA Meeting - Next Wednesday - 7pm - Staffroom

Our next PTA meeting is Wednesday 3rd May at 7pm in the staffroom. Everyone is welcome to attend.

SPORT NOTICES

Hockey

In the last week of term 1, classes enjoyed the opportunity to learn and practise hockey skills with Chrissi Pettit from Central Otago Hockey. Many students were then motivated to attend a skills programme in the holidays, or to sign up for the hockey season.

LIBRARY NEWS

Library News

Click here to view our wonderful Library Webapp.

Feel free to email Melissa at any time if you have any questions.

Ebooks and Audio Books

The Wānaka Public Library has 2 fantastic Ebook Platforms which are highly recommended. All you need is a library membership which is free.

Click on the image below to find out more and browse to see what is available:

Scholastic Book Club News

We have just received the last order (Issue 2) and these will be distributed in the next couple of days.

Issue 3 catalogues will be available from classrooms this week. If you wish to place an order, please follow the instructions on the inside back cover using Option 1 – Credit Card / LOOP. No cash / orders are accepted at school.

If your order is a gift, please tick the ‘GIFT’ option, otherwise all orders are handed out to the children.

Orders will close at 3pm on Wednesday 17th May.

HEALTH SNIPPETS

Contact for our local Public Health Nurse

Pip McLean is our local Public Health Nurse - should you wish to get in contact with Pip her contact details are: 03 440 4309 or 0272 839 395 or email Pip.McLean@southerndhb.govt.nz

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Fixers wanted to join the Wastebusters Repair Revolution

Wastebusters is running a series of repair events as part of the Repair Revolution and are looking for fixers and volunteers of all kinds!

There is further information and a sign-up form on the Wastebusters website here.

If you’re interested, please complete this form and Wastebusters will be in touch:

Volunteer expression of interest form

Upcoming Repair Event in Wānaka

Sunday, April 30, Wānaka Community Workshop, 11am - 3pm.

funded by the QLDC Zero Waste District Programme

Star Wars Quiz Night

Parent Support Group

Breakfast with Michael

or in Alexandra:

OUT OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Youth Sing Club

Term 2 intake open now!
4pm Tuesday's during term time.
Suitable for ages 9-11
Focus will be on building your vocal toolbox for a great understanding of vocal health, how to get the best out of your vocal instrument and how to improve your ear in group situations.
SPACES ARE LIMITED
1:1 student and adult sessions also available
For more details head to Nook Road Productions

Ice Hockey

Please click here for more information

Delicious, nutritious and popular with kids, Subway delivers school lunches every Friday. Order online at subwayexpress.co.nz by 9am.

Wānaka Primary School

7 Ironside Drive

Wānaka, Otago 9350

New Zealand

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