| | | | | | IMPORTANT DATES Week 8
Wednesday 24th March - Upper Clutha Athletics
Thursday 25th March - Hot X Buns - Thank you New World Three Parks
Saturday 27th March - Wānaka Trail Ride
Week 9
Monday 29th March - Board Meeting 5.00pm - Staffroom
Wednesday 31st March - Clued Up Kids Programme Y6
Thursday 1st April - Clued Up Kids Programme Y6
Friday 2nd April - Easter Friday - School Closed
Week 10
Monday 5th April - Easter Monday - School Closed
Tuesday 6th April - Easter Tuesday - School Closed
Wednesday 7th April - PTA Meeting 7:00pm - Staffroom
Friday 9th April - Pod 4 Assembly 2:15pm - Hall
Week 11
Monday 12th April - Top Bike
Tuesday 13th April - WPS Junior Athletics Years 1, 2 & 3
Friday 16th April - Term 1 Ends
Term 2
Week 1
Friday 7th May - Mothers Day Movie
Week 2
Tuesday 11th May - UC Rippa Rugby
Friday 14th May - Pod 3 Assembly 2:15pm - Hall
Saturday 15th May - PTA Ski Gear Sale
Week 3
Monday 17th May - Teacher Only Day
IMPORTANT NOTICES
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
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 3pm on Tuesday 30th March. Found - Fleece at Skate Park A size 8 WPS fleece has been found at the Wānaka skate park - please come and collect it from the office lost property if it belongs to you. |
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Maths Meeting for Parents We had 15 parents turn up to our maths parents' meeting last week. We have had requests from parents who couldn't make this meeting (presented by maths teaching specialist Viv Thompson from the University of Otago), for any information. We have placed the power point from Viv on our website, in the parents' portal, for your information.
Our Literacy Lift Programmes Last Thursday and Friday Emma Stewart and Marj Cosgrove, who both work with small groups on our Literacy Lift programme, attended SPELD training. Kit and Marg both undertook the more intensive training (over 2 terms) some years ago and used a lot of these strategies to put into place our Literacy Lift programmes to assist students with dyslexic type tendencies. We have children involved in small group interventions with Emma, Marj and Marg. These children receive 45 minutes literacy support 4 days a week and are usually in the programme for 2-3 years so we can make a real difference to their learning. These children are also taught away from the classroom (rooms in the hall or Pod 2) to ensure they have no distractions and have access to the computer work, booklets for practice and also one-to-one interaction with the teacher. These are pretty intense 45 minute lessons as everyone is so focused. Marj works mainly with Year 1 & 2 children, Marg with year 3 & 4 and Emma with year 5 & 6 although there are some exceptions to this. Thorough screening takes place before children are taken into programmes to ensure we have the right learners...those most at risk in literacy in reading or writing and showing signs of difficulties with phonological awareness.
Our senior leadership team, Kerry, Jennie and Jason pick up the next level of at risk learners in literacy. They work with a TA to take children 3 times a week working on the STEPS programme and the booklets that go with these. These groups are a bit bigger, between 10-15 per session and are taught in addition to the classroom literacy programme.
We have over 70 children in these Literacy Lift groupings receiving additional literacy support over and above their classroom learning in this area.
We use our staffing component to enable this to happen which is quite difficult as the Ministry staff schools using the 26-32 number per teacher. We have to rely on innovative use of staffing and some Board support for teachers salary to allow these extra programmes to happen. Our classes are still quite small in MoE standards with the majority being around 24-26 children in each class. We try and keep our junior classes a bit smaller. So having 3 senior leaders, 3 teacher aides and 3 specialist teachers with our Literacy Lift programmes is a huge bite out of our staffing fund. These children, going out of class to support programmes also lowers the student to teacher ratio in our classes, thus benefiting all.
Extra-Curricula Events this Week A few things are happening this week: - UC Athletics tomorrow for children who qualified at our school athletics.
- The PTA Hot Cross Bun morning tea on Thursday.
- Pod 5 Assembly on Friday 2.15pm in the Hall - all parents welcome.
- The Wānaka Trail Ride on Saturday (which will raise funds for our Maker Spaces equipment and resources).
- The CO Athletics are being held on Monday 29th March in Alexandra for those who qualify at the UC Athletics.
Cookbook Get those special family recipes into the office asap so we can get the Cook Book sections etc. sorted. Remember your contribution earns Tribe Points.
Room 18 teacher - Coral Potter Our thoughts are with Coral this week. It was with sadness we learnt of Coral's Dad passing away after a short battle with brain cancer. Coral has been on leave all term caring for her mother and father. Her mum is now in a nursing home. We expect to have our lovely Coral back with us at the beginning of term 2. Thanks to Moira who has been teaching in Room 18 most of the term to ensure continuity of learning until Coral's return.
Kia kaha Coral...we are thinking of you at this tough time.
Easter Break
Schools have 3 days 'off' over the Easter Break; Good Friday, Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday. Please make plans for your children if you are working on Tuesday 6th April.
Festival of Colour
Schools are offered some performances and presentations during the Festival of Colour, beginning after Easter (Wednesday 7th) right up to the last day of term 1 (Friday 16th April). Once I have a confirmed timetable I will share these events with you. We have dance, music, the Arts, storytellers poetry workshops and a whole school 'band' performance. |
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Good Grief and Seasons for Growth Programmes Central Otago REAP offer a suite of Good Grief and Seasons for Growth Programmes plus a range of information to support local families and professionals.
Seasons for Growth is an innovative grief and loss education programme that uses the imagery of the season to illustrate the experience of grief. It aims to strengthen the social and emotional wellbeing of children and young people (aged 6-18) who are dealing with significant life changes.
Trained adult 'Companions' facilitate the small group programme, where participants support and learn from each other in age appropriate and engaging activities. Our Pod 5 teacher, Hannah Chisholm, is a trained facilitator in Seasons for Growth.
Young people learn that they are not alone in dealing with the effects of change, loss and grief, and build their communication, decision making and problem solving skills within a supportive peer group.
If you think that your child would benefit from the Seasons for Growth programme you can find out more information here or complete an enrolment form by clicking here. The programme is held in a private classroom here at Wānaka Primary and usually runs for 40 minutes in the afternoon between 1.30 - 3.00pm on Thursdays. |
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Senior School Athletics Congratulations to the following students who placed in their events: 
We wish the 70 year five and six students representing our school at the Upper Clutha Athletics tomorrow the best of luck! |
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Year 5 and 6 Netball - first practice this week Practices start this Thursday the 25th March, 3:15 - 4:15pm on the school courts. |
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Sponsors of the Wānaka Trail Ride Wānaka Primary School and Montessori Children's House would like to thank the following businesses for their generosity in sponsoring our Wānaka Trail Ride.
Land Access
Denis Nyhon - Lucy Annan and Simon Mailing
Gold Sponsors
Maungatua Contracting - Stonewood Homes
Bronze Sponsors
Aspiring Helicopters - Puzzling World - Ecco Landscapes - Hirepool Wanaka
Yamaha Powersports - EME Electrical
Additional Sponsors
Alpine Auto Centre - Tyreland Wanaka - Custom Digital - Placemakers
Cardrona Alpine Resort - 4 Square Wanaka - Rotorworx - Tonia’s Photography
Logical1 - Challenge Wānaka - Subway - The Lake Bar - Mitre 10 - Moto South
Wireless Rentals - Wānaka Wastebusters - Rotorworx New Zealand - Pukka
Upper Clutha Messenger - Mons Royale - Caltex Wanaka - Wanaka Auto Repairs
Tarras Primary School
Volunteer Supporters
Volunteering Central - Federal Diner/Fedeli - Kai Whakapai - Relishes
Hammer and Nail - Urban Grind, Alchemy - Double Black - Ritual
Pembroke Patisserie - Tarras Country Cafe |
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Library News Feel free to email Melissa at any time if you have any questions. |
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Easter Tuesday Fun at Kids Club |
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Art Workshop in the holidays (ages 7 - 12 yrs) |
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The countdown is on for Wheels at Wānaka If you are staying in Wānaka for Easter, come along to see all of the action at Three Parks!
50 acres of entertainment, outputting tonnes of horsepower, vintage tractors, 4WD, motor bike and rally car displays, an earthmoving pit extravaganza, plus a full-on parade ground programme.
A great day out for all of the family and kids under 12 – GO FREE!
Amongst all of the amazing vehicles there is plenty for kids to see and do, along with the 'Kids Passport' competition. Collect stamps as you make your way around the venue and be in to win some cool prizes!
Entry forms can be collected from the school in the week before Easter, or you can get one on arrival to the event. |
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Upper Clutha Junior Rugby Club Open Day
UNDER 7 – OPEN GRADE PLAYERS
Friday 26th MARCH 5.00pm - 6.30pm
Junior Rugby Club
Players will meet their coaches and teams
BBQ provided
Bar open from 5.00pm
There will be a second-hand boot sale.
Rugby shorts, socks, training tees and a limited amount of rugby hoodies will be available for purchase. Cash only
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Upper Clutha Hockey Club Registrations |
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Fundraising for Ronald McDonald House A couple of our parents are taking part in the Ronald McDonald House to House Challenge Fundraiser this month.
Their goal is to complete the number of km's it is from Wānaka to Christchurch by biking, running and walking during March (about 425km's) with the aim to raise as much money as they can for Ronald McDonald House. The link for their fundraising page is above, thanks for your support. |
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The Great Migrant Brainstorm If you're a migrant or someone who cares about migrants, come along to The Great Migrant Brainstorm to share your current struggles, concerns, ideas, dreams, and challenges to help co-create the next chapter of the Lakes District community! Brought to you by the new migrant-supporting, charitable organisation, The Kiwi Kit Community Trust, The Great Migrant Brainstorm event is intended to give migrant voices a chance to be heard so we, as a community, can work together to unite our region, celebrate diversity, and empower migrants through projects and programs to fill the gaps needed across our community. 25th March at Wānaka Community Hub (2 sessions) Session 1: 11:00am - 2:00pm Session 2: 5:30pm - 8:30pm RSVP at: www.thekiwikitcommunity.org |
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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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