Wānaka Primary School Newsletter for Term 4 Week 5

Newsletter Term 4 Week 5

12th November 2024

IN THIS NEWSLETTER

IMPORTANT DATES

Term 4
Week 5
Friday 15th November - TEACHER ONLY DAY - School is closed for instruction
Week 6
Scholastic Book Fair - all week
Thursday 21st November - COPSSA Orienteering (postponement 22 Nov)
Friday 22nd November - POD 2 Assembly - 2.15pm - Hall
Week 7
Tuesday 26th November - End of Year Parent Deep Dives
Thursday 28th November - COPSSA Triathlon (postponement 29 Nov)
Friday 29th November - Tribe Afternoon
Friday 29th November - End of Year Reports emailed to parents
Week 8
Monday 2nd December - Final Board Meeting of the year
Tuesday 3rd December - Parent Teacher Conferences
Wednesday 4th December - Parent Teacher Conferences
Thursday 5th December - WPS Disco (see flyer below)
Friday 6th December - 'Taste of MAC' Year 6 Transition Visit
Friday 6th December - POD 1 Assembly - 2.15pm - Hall
Week 9
Tuesday 10th December - Matinee Performance of Pantomime
Wednesday 11th December - Evening Performance of Pantomime
Friday 13th December - Wendy's Farewell
Week 10
Monday 16th December - Tribe Water Fun Afternoon
Tuesday 17th December - Year 6 Graduation Assembly 1pm
Wednesday 18th December - Last day of school 2024
school closes at 3pm, buses run as usual

Term 1, 2025
Monday 3rd February - First day for students 2025

IMPORTANT NOTICES

HELP - Bike Needed

Are you the proud owner of a 26" bike (or 27.5) that is sitting in your garage and needs a new owner? Would you love to gift it to a child who is learning to ride knowing the smile and joy it would bring them? If this is you and you need some space for that new bike you have always wanted, then please email Jason - jasonc@wanaka.school.nz.

Cookie Time Christmas Cookies Fundraiser

We are again offering the chance for families and friends
to purchase Cookie Time Christmas Cookies.
Christmas Cookies are proudly New Zealand made, owned and loved.

Orders need to be placed by
TUESDAY 19th NOVEMBER 2024

Seven flavours to choose from - Each 2L bucket holds 600g of bite size cookies
(approx 85 cookies) - $22.00 per bucket.

Chocolate Chip
Apricot Chocolate
Cranberry White Chocolate
Chocalicious
Salted Caramel
Brandy Snap White Chocolate
Bumper Brownie Bites (12 Bites)
Gluten Free Chocolate Chip - 1L buckets hold 275g of bite size cookies (approx 39 cookies) - $20.00 per bucket

CLICK HERE TO PLACE YOUR ORDER

Payment can be made via direct credit to WPS Account - 02-0673-0023784-001 (please include your name in the reference)
or by Eftpos or Cash at the School Office.

Christmas Raffle

CURRICULUM COMMENT

YAY...another sunny day!

After a beautiful weekend in the garden, and two sunny days at school, I am hopeful that summer has at last arrived! And guess what - we have a full contingent at school with all of the camps completed and our swimming programme over until next year. Pod 1 has visitors popping in as part of their Deep Learning work focused on an animal/wildlife theme.

Staff have completed all of their end of year student reports and these are currently being reviewed by the Leadership Team and then I will do a final read before they are emailed home on Friday 29th November.

End of year Deep Dives are happening on Tuesday 26th November and Parent/Teacher Conferences on Tuesday 3rd December and Wednesday 4th December. The online booking system will be active as from next Tuesday, so look at next week's newsletter for the link.

The COPSSA Triathlon is happening in Queenstown next week on Thursday 21st November. As the number of entries per school was limited, we were only able to enter 20 Year 6 students to take part. Charlotte Lawrie is the teacher who will be managing this team.

A reminder Pod 2 assembly is being held on Friday 22nd November where the tamariki will be showcasing their learning over term 3 and 4. They have done heaps, so come along and cheer them on.

Teacher Only Day

MINISTRY CURRICULUM TEACHER ONLY DAY is this Friday 15th November. SCHOOL IS CLOSED FOR INSTRUCTION. Next Monday the Scholastic Book Fair opens for the week. Check out the information in the flyer below. Our Book Fair is always a time of excitement, a great opportunity to do some Christmas shopping, and a great fundraiser for the library.

Class Placements 2025

We have started looking at class placements for next year. If you have any information that may impact on a class placement please email your child's DP; jasonc@wanaka.school.nz for Pods 4, 6 & 7 and jenniec@wanaka.school.nz for Pods 1, 2 & 3 and of course feel free to cc me in wendyb@wanaka.school.nz as well. Please do this in the next week as we hope to start finalising the classroom organisation within the next week. This is always a challenge. Not only do we have to consider which teacher would suit each individual, taking into consideration their personality and learning style, we also need to look at children who need to stay together and those who don't learn well together. On top of that there is balancing class size. It is a complex puzzle putting it all together and we don't do it lightly. We make it very personal for each child and this process consumes a lot of time and heartfelt decisions from teachers who take on this part of their role very seriously. And I have to say we do a damn good job of it. Please don't wait to let your DP know of any info that may help with this decision making. It is so hard to change them as a change of one child later on can impact on the whole class makeup. Please note, this is not about an opportunity to pick your child's teacher, it is an opportunity to help us to choose the best teacher and class fit for your child. I am here if you want to have a chat through anything that may be niggling away at you with class placement for 2025.

Because we value children staying with a teacher for 2 years, most Year 3 students in 2024, will stay with the same teacher in the same class as Year 4 students in 2025. The same will happen with most of our Year 5s, although due to there being less Year 6s next year, (as the 2024 Year 6s are our last large cohort over 100, due to Take Kārara opening and zoning being implemented), we have to drop down from 7 Year 5/6 classes, to only 6 next year. This means no lost time with teachers getting to know children and vice versa.

SCHOOL NOTICES

Our Annual Book Fair is Next Week!

Monday 11th Nov - Thursday 14th Nov 8.30am- 4.30pm

Friday 15th Nov 8.30am - 9.30am

This is our biggest fundraiser for our school library.
EFTPOS and credit cards welcome.
This is a great time to do some Christmas shopping!

Year 3 Camp

The children have had a great time on Year 3 camp. From singing in the bus to walking the stunning Gladstone Track, sleeping in tents with our friends and boat making. Thank you to the wonderful parent helpers.

Pod 2 Swim Week

Pod 2 had an excellent week of learning to swim and water safety last week. Thank you to all the parents that gave up their time to come and help and support Pod 2.

Year 6 Leavers Clothing

Click here to Order

WPS PTA School Disco

SPORT NOTICES

COPSSA Orienteering (Y6) - 21st November

This event is in Queenstown again this term at Jardine Park. We are allowed to take 12 Y6 girls and 12 Y6 boys to the event. These children will be identified in the coming week so we can provide them with some training before the event.

COPSSA Triathlon (Y5-6) - 28th November

This event is in Queenstown again this year. Placegetters from Challenge Wānaka at the start of the year qualify for this event. Parents and children will be informed in the coming weeks about who has qualified.

Challenge Wānaka

Challenge Wānaka for 2025 is back in town. The race will be on Thursday 13th February 2025. This year all entries will be through school, not on the Challenge Website. We are currently working through the logistics and changes so watch this space and emails for updates.

ENVIRO SCHOOLS

Seedlings for Sale at our Garden to Table Cart

LIBRARY NEWS

Scholastic Book Club / Loop Instructions

This is the final Scholastic Book Club for 2024. Because we have our big Book Fair in Week 6, I haven't handed out the brochures to the classes. However if you want one they are available from the office or let me know and I will send one home with your child - melissaa@wanaka.school.nz.

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 9am on Friday 22 November.

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.

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

HEALTH SNIPPETS

Whooping Cough Cases in Wānaka

Our Public Health Nurse has advised us that there have been some cases of Pertussis (whooping cough) in Wānaka. Pertussis can be particularly severe for babies, and they may require hospital care. Please read the attached Health Information Sheet around Pertussis and vaccination for your awareness.

Public Health Information Sheet

Further Information about Pertussis (Whooping Cough):

Health NZ |Te Whatu Ora: Pertussis – Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
IMAC: www.immune.org.nz/diseases/pertussis
KidsHealth: www.kidshealth.org.nz/whooping-cough

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Parenting NeuroStars

Upper Clutha Angling Club – 'Take A Kid Fishing Day'

Supported by Otago Fish and Game

WHO: This is for children 8 - 10 yrs old
DATE: Sunday 17th November 2024 - 9.45am- 1.00pm (2hrs free fishing)
VENUE: 45 South, Molyneaux Orchard, 3 Ord Road, Cromwell (opposite Highland Park)
TRANSPORT: Some Club members’ vehicles will be available, but assistance from parents is welcome.
TIMINGS: Allow 45 minutes from Wānaka. Meet at pond venue by 9.45am. Briefing will be at 10am followed by fishing until 12pm midday. Fish and Game are liberating 80 trout in an irrigation pond at Cromwell to ensure the children have a very good chance of catching a fish and have a memorable day. A free BBQ lunch and games will follow the fishing.

Please click here for more information and an enrolment form