Wānaka Primary School Newsletter for Term 2  Week 7
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Newsletter Term 2  Week 7
11th June 2024

IN THIS NEWSLETTER

IMPORTANT DATES


Term 2
Week 7
Wednesday 12th June - Maths Challenge
Thursday 13th June - WPS Cross Country - timetable below
Week 8 - Book Week
Monday 17th June - Board of Trustees Meeting - 5pm - Staffroom
Thursday 20th June - Book Week Dress Up Day/ Hot Chocolate
Friday 21st June - Haka Tū Haka Ora Competition Y6 Kapa Haka group
Friday 21st June - Last day for Parent Survey 
Friday 21st June - Pod 1 Assembly - 2.15pm - Hall
Week 9
Tuesday 25th June - Parent Deep Dive - as part of our mid year reporting process
Wednesday 26th June - Pod 2 Matariki Celebration, 4.30pm Pod 2 parents welcome
Thursday 27th June - Upper Clutha Cross Country
Thursday 27th June - Students' reports available on Edge Portal
Friday 28th June - Matariki Day - SCHOOL CLOSED
Week 10
Monday 1st July - Parent Teacher Conferences 3.15pm - 5.00pm
Tuesday 2nd July - Parent Teacher Conferences 3.15pm - 5.00pm
Tuesday 2nd July - Mata-au Kapa Haka Festival (UC schools)
Wednesday 3rd July - Mufti Day for winning Tribe only
Thursday 4th July - COPSSA Cross Country
Friday 5th July - Red Nose Day
Friday 5th July - Last day of term 2
Term 3
Week 1
Monday 22nd July - First day of term 3
Week 2
Tuesday 30th July - WPS Swim Sports
Friday 2nd August - Pod 7 Assembly 2.15pm - Hall
Week 3
Monday 5th August - UC Swim Sports
Tuesday 6th August - Music Festival Practice - Lake Wānaka Centre 9am-3pm
Wednesday 7th August - Music Festival Practice - Lake Wānaka Centre 9am-3pm
Wednesday 7th August - Music Festival first performance 6.30pm-8pm at LWC
Thursday 8th August - Music Festival second performance 6.30pm-8pm at LWC
Week 4
Pod trials for Wanna Be A Star - all week
Monday 12th August - Central Otago Chess Tournament - Queenstown
Monday 12th August - Board of Trustees Meeting - 5pm - Staffroom
Thursday 15th August - EOTC/SNOW Programme - Day 1
Friday 16th August - Pod 6 Assembly 2.15pm - Hall
Week 5
Pod trials for Wanna Be A Star - all week
Thursday 22nd August - EOTC/SNOW Programme - Day 2
Friday 23rd August - Tribe Afternoon
Week 6
Thursday 29th August - EOTC/SNOW Programme - Day 3
Friday 30th August - PTA Father's Day Breakfast
Friday 30th August - Wanna Be A Star Finals
Friday 30th August - Pod 4 Assembly 2.00pm - Hall
 

IMPORTANT NOTICES

 

Sausage Sizzle and Ice Block Fundraiser

As part of our Wānaka Primary School Cross Country, which involves all children from Year 1 to 6, our fabulous P.T.A. will be holding a sausage sizzle and ice block fundraiser. Sausages will cost $2 each and ice blocks will cost $1.  No need for pre-orders, please bring money into school on the day for this.  The exact amount, in gold coins would be preferred so we do not have to worry too much about giving change.

If you are able to help out with preparations and serving, please click on this link Parent volunteer form.
 

Parent Conferences

Parent Conferences are Monday 1st July and Tuesday 2nd July 3:15 - 5.00pm.  Bookings are live on the School Interviews website now.  The code for bookings is - 96pwn.  If you need help booking a conference please contact the office 443 7687.
 

1 Week To Go Until Book Week

 
 

Tribe T-Shirts

Tribe T-shirts are available to collect from the office for those that ordered them.
 

Scholastic NZ Brochure

The latest Scholastic NZ Brochure is available from classrooms.  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 9.00am, this Thursday 13th June

Snow Day Procedure

If snow occurs overnight, a decision regarding school closure, or a delayed start, will be made in the morning – we will notify you by the following methods:
  • Radio Wanaka – 92.2FM
  • Our school website – home page
  • Bulk email
  • Our School App
If the school closes during the day due to snow, we will notify you via the methods above – please refrain from phoning the office.  Buses will not run.  Children can be collected and signed out from their classrooms where they will remain under the supervision of a teacher.  If you are personally unable to collect your child, then other arrangements should be made for collection.

If a parent wishes to have someone that is recorded as an emergency contact collect their child, the pick up person should go to the classroom, provide identification (if not known to the teacher) and sign the child out.

Now is a good time to consider your emergency contacts – and ensure that the office has recorded the details of at least two people, living locally, who you trust to collect your child if the school closes due to snow.

Wānaka Primary School Tech Sale
FROM THE BOARD

Term 3 Enrolments

This year Wānaka Primary School is not taking new enrolments in Term 3 for children who intend to engage in Cardrona's HPC competitive training programme during the school week.  Families coming to Wānaka will need to make their own arrangements for their children's schooling. 

The Correspondence School, Te Kura, is able to provide online learning whilst students are residing in Wānaka.  You can also approach your current school and seek online learning from them for term 3.
CURRICULUM COMMENT

New Fence and School Gates

You will see that the fences are now up and we are only awaiting the larger gates by the school staffroom.  You may find, like me, as I am a bit short, that they are difficult to open from the outside and smaller children will find this difficult as well.  We had asked that the smaller access gates all had a child friendly latch on the outside, so that children could get in, but not out necessarily.  At this stage only one gate, the one by the bike stands/courts has this child friendly latch which is primarily for accessibility for wheel chairs.  I have been told that these are the correct latches for these gates, however, I will look into a more child friendly option.  In the meantime advise children to use the gate by the bike stands if they find themselves locked out.  We will ensure that the gates are left open from 8.20am and closed just after 9.00am, then opened again at 2.50pm to allow children to exit the school.  The gates will be closed all day, from just after 9.00am until just before 3.00pm for health and safety reasons, as we always have one or two students who will exit the school grounds in the blink of an eye, without realising the dangers.  Please help us by coming in with your child to open the gates for them, if they are dropped off or picked up within the school day until more child friendly, and Wendy friendly latches are fitted.
 

Book Week is Next Week

See the Book Week Activities in the Important Notices.
On Thursday 20th June, we invite all children to dress up as their favourite book character.  There will be a parade at 9.15am around the courtyard (weather permitting) and this will be followed at 10.00am by a hot chocolate and the teacher reading to the class.  We need 2 parents per pod to help make the hot chocolates. Please remember to send your child along with a named cup.
 

Haka Tu Haka Ora Competition

Some of our senior Kapa haka members (Y6s as well as some Y5s) are taking part in the Haka Tu Haka Ora competition in Queenstown next Friday 21st June.  Students involved will have a notice emailed home this week with the details.  We are looking forward to performing in our new Kapa haka uniforms with our own original waiata gifted to us by Mary Anne Tamati.  If you have any queries please get in touch with Anne Jenkins on annej@wanaka.school.nz.
 

Matariki

Our senior Kapa haka group is performing at the Matariki celebrations on Friday 28th June.  More information will be sent by email directly to parents of children in the group in the next week or so.
 

Mid Year Reporting to Parents

As usual we put into place a 3 tiered process of reporting mid year.  This consists of a Deep Dive, where parents come into the classroom to share children's learning, look through their workbooks, work on the walls, deep learning projects, etc, written reports and parent/teacher conferences.
  • The parent Deep Dive day with your child is on Tuesday 25th June with 3 sessions available; 11am -12.30, 1.30 - 3pm, and 4 - 5pm
  • Written Reports will be sent home via email/Edge portal on Thursday 27th June
  • Parent/teacher conferences are on Monday 1st July and Tuesday 2nd July 3:15 - 5.00pm.  Bookings are live on the School Interviews website now.  These are available as in-person, online or telephone conferences to ensure everyone can have access to these.
Teachers are currently in the process of writing their student reports and you will notice that we have added in more space into the report format for reading, writing and maths comments.

We usually get a 95% plus response to our Deep Dives so we are looking forward to welcoming you in to classrooms to explore your children's learning and progress.
 

Parent Survey

So far we have received only 41 responses to our survey.  We would love to hear from you if you haven't yet had time to complete this survey about inclusive practices at Wānaka Primary School.  As we are unable to determine who has completed the survey and who has not, as the responses go straight to NZCER (NZ Council of Education Research) we will email out the survey to everyone again.  PLEASE IGNORE THIS EMAIL if you are one of the 41 people who have responded.  We would like the surveys completed no later than next Friday 21st June.  By completing this survey, you help us continually improve our practice and processes at WPS.
SCHOOL NOTICES

Maths Challenge - Wednesday 12th June


This is a fundraiser for updating our maths resources in line with the NZ maths curriculum expectations.  A sponsorship sheet has been sent home.  The children will be challenged to complete a task in a set amount of time.
 

The Kitchen Essentials Fundraiser

Pod 2 Matariki Celebrations

Pod 2 are holding a Matariki celebration on Wednesday 26th June from 4.30 - 6.00pm for Pod 2 students and their whanau.  There will be a Matariki performance and activities including, Poi, Rākau and String Games.

Thank You to Our Volunteers

 
Shout out to volunteer Hato Hone leader Lily for her commitment to train these young Wānaka Primary School students. We'd also like to acknowledge all the other volunteers who are involved with the school such as The PTA, Walking School Bus, Reading with the Dogs, parents who help in class, on trips and in our gardens.

Pod 1 Celebrating World Environment Day

Last week, Pod 1 had a green/blue dress up day to celebrate World Environment Day and to raise funds for Te Kākano plant nursery.  We raised over $60.  In the afternoon we went out picking up all the rubbish around school.  We found lots!  We also found Jo Guest from Te Kākano planting plants in our native garden.  It was lovely to see her and thank her in person for all the hard work she does and for her kindness in donating plants to school.  We hope everyone helps to keep our school litter free.
SPORT NOTICES

WPS Cross Country Races

Our school-wide cross country races are being held this Thursday 13th June.  The races are a part of our P.E. and Health curriculum so all students are participating, with their own personal goals to aim for.  

Parents are welcome to attend and support the children, but will be asked to watch the races from designated areas.  This is because the races cross the field in different directions.  Our start/finish line is on the school field.

The approximate race start times are: 

9.45am Year 6 Boys       

9.50am Year 6 Girls   

10.10am Year 5 Boys       

10.15am Year 5 Girls     

11.05am Year 4 Boys  

11.10am Year 4 Girls   

11.35am Year 3 Boys  

11.40am Year 3 Girls     

12.00pm Year 2 Boys   

12.05pm Year 2 Girls   

12.25pm Year 0-1 Boys 

12.30pm Year 0-1 Girls   

Children will need:

  • Sneakers 

  • A drink bottle of water

  • A smile and positive attitude

Students are encouraged to wear running clothes in their tribe colours.

The top ten finishers from the Year 5 and 6 races will qualify for the Upper Clutha event being held on Thursday 27th June.

COPSSA Rippa Rugby

 
WPS Team Sonic headed over to Queenstown to do their best to bring the COPSSA Rippa Rugby Trophy back to our cabinet.  They played hard, they played fast, they played as a TEAM, but narrowly missed the semi finals.  As disappointed as they were, they played out for 5th and 6th with a brilliant final game bringing home a strong win to claim 5th overall.
 
Thanks for your dedication to training and the enthusiasm you brought to both training and game days!  Next year is another year! 
Charlotte

2024 Wānaka Primary Snow Sports - Term 3


The snow sports programme for 2024 went live last week via the newsletter.  All information about this programme, including links to enrol, is on our school website at the link below.  Please look carefully at the dates for booking, and information about the programme.  Any queries to Jasonc@wanaka.school.nz
 
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:  'I give my best effort.  Whaia te taumata - Be the best you can be'.
ENVIRO SCHOOLS

Enviro Schools Working Bee

A very successful afternoon was had planting the natives on World Environment Day.  Thank you to everyone who came along to help.  Special mention to Jo from Te Kakano for all she does for us.

WPS Honey
LIBRARY NEWS

Library News

 
 Click the image below to view our wonderful Library Webapp.

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

1 WEEK TO GO Until BOOK Week

Digital and Audio Resources

Borrow box is an amazing resource which you can have free access to for digital reading and audio resources for your children.  Click on the image below to look at the amazing range.  You need a QLDC library membership (which is free) to borrow. 
 

 

BookHub

BookHub is an relatively new NZ based website where you can search for books you want to buy online from NZ based booksellers rather than from overseas sites.

Obviously I support local booksellers as well but if you are an online shopper I fully support supporting NZ businesses before the likes of Amazon who charge exorbitant shipping fees.  Click on the icon or this link : https://bookhub.co.nz/
 

 

Quote of the Week

 
COMMUNITY NOTICES

Local School Child Season Passes

Swim Club Have-A-Go Event

Dance Wanaka Presents Dance Off

Matariki Celebrations

Parent Support - Neurodiversity Learning

 
HOLIDAY PROGRAMMES

Kids Club July Holidays

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