| | | | | | IMPORTANT DATES
Term 4
Wednesday 8th December - Pantomime Performance - to be videoed
Thursday 9th December - Last kayaking catchup session from Year 6 camp
Friday 10th December - Selected Year 6 Leader's Fun Afternoon Out
Friday 10th December - Reports sent home via Portal
Week 9
Monday 13th December - Junior Ambassadors Fun Celebration Afternoon
Tuesday 14th December - Year 6 Graduation - to be videoed
Wednesday 15th December - School finishes at 3pm for 2021. Buses run as usual.
Term 1 2022
Week 1
Wednesday 2nd February - First Day of Term 1 2021
Wednesday 2nd February - PTA Welcome to Parents 8:30-9:30am - Hall IMPORTANT NOTICES End of Term School finishes at 3pm on Wednesday 15th December for the last day of school, 2021. Buses will run as usual.
Reading Books Would all families please do a big search and return all outstanding reading and library books. Thank you. |
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WE WISH YOU A MERRY XMAS... WE WISH YOU A MERRY XMAS...
WE WISH YOU A MERRY XMAS...
AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR Our bus drivers have the Xmas spirit. Check out this bus...
Last Days at School...keep up the good work with the level 2 protocols
This is our last newsletter for the year. Only a week to go until school ends on Wednesday 15th December at 3pm for the 2021 year. Please remember schools are still at level 2 until next year so continue to scan in, wear masks and physical distance. All parents accompanying children and teachers on trips this week are required to provide evidence of the vax pass. As of January 1st schools will then comply with the traffic light system. We will put a link on our website next year that will give you the rules, as they apply to schools, and they will be brief and to the point!
As under level 2 it is too challenging to proceed with the panto and Year 6 graduation live we have made arrangements to have these events videoed. The panto will be filmed on Wednesday morning 11am - 1pm and the Year 6 graduation Tuesday 14th at 11am also. We will make these videos available to you - we have contracted Mike from Stars in their Eyes fame to video these events so they will be of good quality, and will send out more info about this later this week. We have a journalist and a photographer coming to take photos and to write an article for our local papers.
Please make sure the Year 6s look tidy and presentable next Tuesday for the graduation. We will proceed with the ceremony as if you, the parents, are there with us.
Year 5 & 6 Drama Club Pantomime - ROCK BOTTOM
...Fred Flintstone is nothing compared to this show! Many thanks to the great kids in our drama club who have worked with me on the panto this year - they have been awesome to work with and have given up their lunchtimes over the last 2 terms and spent 3 days in weekends at school as well, pulling the show together. I for one have grown very fond of our Year 5 and 6 actors and have loved getting to know them better.
Also thanks to our wonderful teachers who have rolled their sleeves up and got behind this performance. - Jennie and Belinda who have worked with me to practice, audition and then direct the 60 students to stage a fairly complex 2 hour show. An extra thank you to Jennie for sorting all of the props so they are in their right places and managing backstage.
- Thanks to Kerry who not only helped sew and decorate costumes, make bows and anything else we needed, but also took on board the sound and music.
- Thanks to Jason who is our lighting man and who has been instrumental in getting our sound and lighting systems set up over the last year or so.
- Thanks to Charlotte in Pod 1 who sewed some costumes and to Hannah who has worked with our cast on their dance routines. Kath has also been very busy making props and the stage setting with Pod 8 students.
- Thanks to Charlotte Lawrie, Kath and Anna who took charge of the makeup for the show.
- So not only do we have a big cast but also many teacher supporters who have all helped to get this production together.
It is not the same as putting on a performance live, performing for a video, but we will have the junior school at our Tuesday dress rehearsal and the Year 4-6 classes there as an audience on Wednesday for the filming. I personally am gutted we cannot share this live as I am so proud of the student and teacher team who are involved.
School Reports
On Friday 10th December you will be able to access your child's end of year report. Please login to the Parent Portal on Edge.
End of Year reports are only available for children who have had 6 months or more at school. If your child has not had 6 months then please organise a meeting with your class teacher.
If you have forgotten your password you can reset if by following the 'forgot password?'.
We will not be emailing out your child's End of Year Reports. Events Over the Next Week Thursday 9th December - Last kayaking catchup session from Year 6 camp
Friday 10th December - Selected Year 6 Leader's Fun Afternoon Out
Monday 13th December - Junior Ambassadors Fun Celebration Afternoon
(look out for an email from Y6 teacher's)
Monday 13th December - Bus Drivers Xmas afternoon tea to thank them for their service over the year - 2.15pm (What a great job they do!)
Tuesday 14th December - Year 6 graduation ceremony - to be videoed
Wednesday 15th December - Last day of school for the year. Buses running as usual. School finishes at 3pm.
Classes and stationery lists for 2022 Class lists for 2022 will be posted on Pod doors in the week beginning Monday 24th January the week before school starts back on Wednesday 2nd February. Stationery lists can be found on our school website from next week and will also be held at Wānaka Paper Plus.
Final words for the year This has been another year where I have been very proud and humbled to be principal of Wānaka Primary School and lead such an awesome team of people - our leadership team, classroom and specialist teachers, teacher aides, our office team. Melissa in the library and John our caretaker, and of course our wonderful Te Reo, music teachers, and other specialists who come into the school, as well as our volunteers. Thank you all for another year of hard work and commitment to our students and their families. We are so fortunate to have such a high performing staff who love what they do.
A huge thank you to our very supportive and hands on Board of Trustees who make sure we focus on the students and their learning by providing quality governance. Thanks team you have made such a difference to our ability to provide a top educational environment and for me personally providing that rigorous discussion and critique that keeps me thinking about what we do and why.
Many thanks to our hardworking PTA who have had many of their plans thwarted by Covid. We appreciate all that you do to support our school as well. Let's keep our fingers crossed for next year.
On behalf of the staff to all of our school families out there, I would like to thank you all for your support in what has been another challenging year because of Covid restrictions. We appreciate the way you have worked with us to keep our children and staff safe and healthy. We also have enjoyed working with you to support your child's learning, whether at school or on-line. Let's hope next year allows us to see more of you back in the school grounds and in classrooms.
We wish everyone a happy Xmas and New Year break and hope Santa is kind to you all. We look forward to seeing you all back on Wednesday 2nd February 2022 all relaxed, tanned and smiling! |
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Trinity Music Exams Congratulations to the following students who sat Trinity music exams:
Laila Telfer (Grade 3) Piano Distinction
Ford Mills (Grade 1) Piano Distinction
Sophie Bull (Grade 1) Piano Merit
Zack Wilson (Grade 1) Piano Merit
Amy Thomas (Grade 1) Piano Merit
Amy Cotter (Initial ) Piano Distinction
Ella Smalley (Initial) Piano Merit |
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Wānaka Primary PTA Welcome Back Cuppa and Catch Up The Wānaka Primary PTA Committee would like to welcome new and existing families to the school hall on the first day back at school any time between 8.30am - 9.30am. Pop in and enjoy a cuppa and some cake. Come along to say hello to familiar faces or if you are new to the area and school community please pop in and meet some of the wonderful Wānaka Primary parents and teachers.
There is no obligation to join the committee, we would just love to introduce ourselves and welcome you into 2022.
On behalf of the WPS PTA committee we would like to wish everyone a very merry, and safe Christmas and festive period. |
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Bite - Cookbook for Sale We still have copies of our new cookbook - Bite - available to purchase at the office. They make great Christmas presents! If you have ordered and paid for a cookbook you can collect from the office.  |
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Central Otago Primary Schools Orienteering Championships Last Thursday, 18 children from Wānaka Primary School represented the Upper Clutha at the CO Orienteering in Queenstown. We had some outstanding performances in both the Y5-6 Girls and Boys as we competed against the Wakatipu schools.
Year 5-6 Girls
2nd Place - Sierra Emmitt
3rd Place - Lily Brown
Year 5-6 Boys
2nd Place - Liam Thomas |
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Wānaka Trail Ride - Saturday 2 April 2022
Volunteering at Deep Creek, Long Gully, and Lindis Peak Stations: A privilege to be on the land, and a pleasure to volunteer here.
Hi All. Below is a sample of the volunteer shifts to give you an idea of the roles we need filled at each Trail Ride. Come join us! - Catering 7:30 am – 11:30 am
- Catering 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Catering 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
- Peewee Track Marshall 10 am – 1 pm; 1 pm – 4 pm
- Main Track Marshalls and Sweep Riders 6:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Baking – due in by Friday 31 March
- Bacon pre-cook – approx. one hour on Friday 1st April
More detail on volunteer roles and a link to sign up on the volunteer website will be available ASAP.
*Our biggest annual fundraiser – where your volunteer hours are worth the most.
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Library News
This week I will be going around the classes promoting the summer reading challenge put on by the QLDC Libraries.
I will be handing out an entry form (which includes a bookmark competition) with some fun challenges that are all meant to be easy and fun and encourage the children to keep reading over the summer.
I would like to wish all Wānaka Primary families a wonderful and safe summer.
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: 
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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 |
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"Inspire Gratitude" December Days  Join Kirsty from iNSPiRE at the end of the school term for fun days developing
our gratitude and mindset as we head into the Christmas holidays!
We will meditate, play, breathe, yoga, share, grow, reflect and
pause after a busy and unforgettable (school) year! |
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Watercolour Painting Classes |
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Incredible Years Parenting Programme Family Works are planning to run an Incredible Years Parenting Programme next year March – June 2022.
It will be held in Cromwell, most likely on Tuesday evenings 6 - 8.30pm for 14 sessions. Myself and Megan Bopp (Family Works Social Worker) will be the facilitators.
As we only offer 1 programme in Central Otago each year, it will be held in Cromwell so that people from surrounding areas can also attend the programme.
Please see the attached referral form for details on who can attend e.g. must have a child aged between 3-8 years.
The referral form gives the option to include a 2nd caregivers details. Please indicate if both caregivers are wishing to attend or if the referral is just for the primary caregiver.
Spaces are limited.
Completed and signed referral forms can be sent to Sandra.ONeill@psotago.org.nz
We will make contact in early February with the families referred, to arrange a time to meet with them in February, prior to the programme starting. |
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Christmas Hams by Raspberry Creek  If you mention that you have a child at WPS when your order any ham from Raspberry Creek Food Co, they will kindly donate $5 to Wānaka Primary School. |
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Part Time School Bus Driver Wanted |
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Hawea Christmas Wonderland |
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Christmas Show: A Rockin' Christmas  Lockdown, traffic lights and vaccinations are the key words of late 2021 and after careful considerations we can announce that this years Christmas Show will come to you! T HE 2021 CHRISTMAS SHOW- A ROCKING CHRISTMAS will premiere at
3pm, Sunday 12th December
available digitally for everyone in the world to view! To watch, simply register for the link via the Christmas Show website. You will be able to access the show until 26th December 2021 and watch as many times as you like! At any time of the day! REGISTER TO WATCH This year’s Christmas Show is supporting the new arts and culture facility in Remarkables Park, Queenstown - Te Atamira. Te Atamira features 21 fit for purpose spaces including dance, performance, visual art, music studios, a pottery workshop, recording studio, a curated art gallery, classroom workshop, youth space and café. https://www.teatamira.nz/ Donations towards the fit-out of the cultural hub will be accepted at registration. |
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Girls Smash and Boys Blast Cricket Competitions 2022   We are really happy to open our registrations for our 2022 girls smash and boys blast cricket programs! Please know that these are for any boys and girls that are in year 2-6! These are fast paced, fun cricket games that are played weekly at Wanaka Rec Centre - Wednesday nights at 4pm! Start date - 16th February! Every participant that registers online receives a free girls smash or boys blast t-shirt! These are social, fun and fast cricket matches for children where experience is not necessary, it's all about meeting friends and having fun! We will also be doing some fun social events for the kids including BBQ's, Lollie scrambles, water balloon fights and lots more!!The interest in these competitions are high so please register ASAP to make sure you do not miss out on this fun event! Registration links - Girls Smash - https://registrations.crichq.com/register/277915 Boys Blast- https://registrations.crichq.com/register/277914 All covid 19 protocols will be followed - we will have to limit the number of participants to stay within the framework, so to guarantee your place please register ASAP. Any questions please email - sam@otagocountrycricket.co.nz |
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Girls Only Football in 2022 Girls Only Football sessions will be running in Term 2, 2022 for 6 weeks on a week day (to be determined) from 4-5pm. Each session is FREE of charge and all participants will receive a free ball and t-shirt.
Each session will consist of football skills and games for girls aged 5-18 years. For anyone above the age of of 18 (as well as under) there will be the opportunity to train in and develop their coaching and refereeing skills.
Please follow the following link to see more specific information and to register your interest! |
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| Delicious, nutritious and popular with kids, Subway delivers school lunches every Friday. Order online at subwayexpress.co.nz by 9am. |
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