Wānaka Primary School Newsletter for Term 2 Week 3

Newsletter Term 2 Week 3

18th May 2021

IN THIS NEWSLETTER

IMPORTANT DATES

Term 2
Week 3
Friday 21st May - Pink Shirt Day
Week 4
Monday 24th May - Board Meeting 5:00pm - Staffroom
Friday 28th May - Pod 1 Assembly 2:15pm - Hall
Week 5
Wednesday 2nd June - PTA Meeting 7:00pm - Staffroom
Week 6
Monday 7th June - Queen's Birthday - School Closed
Thursday 10th June - WPS Swimming Comp
Friday 11th June - Pod 8 Assembly 2:15pm - Hall
Week 8
Monday 21st June - Board Meeting 5:00pm - Staffroom
Friday 25th June - Pod 7 Assembly 2:15pm - Hall

IMPORTANT NOTICES

Pink Shirt Day - Friday 21st May

Remember to wear pink and bring a gold coin this Friday to support the Mental Health Foundation. This is a day where we celebrate diversity, promote kindness, and work together to bring an end to bullying.

CURRICULUM COMMENT

Nathan Wallis Information Evening

Nathan Wallis spoke to an audience of 310 last night. The audience included early childhood teachers, primary teachers and parents and even some grandparents or people who were just interested in hearing what Nathan had to say.

During the day yesterday Nathan worked with 85 teachers - all of our WPS staff, including our teacher aides, all of Take Kārara's teachers and a good mix of RTLBs (Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour) early childhood and primary teachers from around our region; from Glenorchy, through to the Southern Health School, Alexandra, Cromwell and REAP.

Educationalists don't always see things the same way, which is great, as he is a provocative presenter who ensures he leaves us with a lot to think about as we consider how that relates to our own practices.

Teacher Only Day in Term 3

We will be taking another Teacher Only Day on Friday 13th August - This is part of our work around Deep Learning and in particular those learner 'dispositions' Nathan talked about. Margot from Core Education is heading down from Christchurch to lead us in a day based around essential teacher pedagogy that ensures our learners have agency and are empowered to drive their own learning. School is closed for this day. The Teacher only days are part of the award agreement NZEI made with the Ministry of Education, whereby teachers can take days to focus on whole school or even cluster educational initiatives. As lockdown meant we couldn't proceed with this training last year, we are trying to plan them in when our 'experts' are available. The school year is not extended by the taking of these days. And it does seem they are all coming at once...because they are. There is a time limit schools must use their 8 days by. We had 1 last year, and this year we have had 3 so far (2 of those being before the children started back at school on February 3rd and the other being yesterday). That will mean a total of 4 used this year with another 4 still to be finalised...probably for next year.

ERO Review Process

Murray South our ERO reviewer is here on Thursday morning to take a deeper look at the review process and the indicators used, and we will look at coming to an agreement on the area through which we are reviewed. Then they look at school processes, student outcomes and progress, teacher capability and our overall school effectiveness through this lens. I think the new process gives them a much better chance to look at the nitty gritty parts of how a school operates.

School Survey

Later this term we will be engaging in another NZCER (NZ Council of Educational Research) survey. Whereas last year's data gathering focused on inclusion of students at all levels and contexts in the school this one is more related to the cultural aspects of school. Do students know who to approach if they are having an issue? Are teachers happy in their working environment? What do parents know about our 'discipline' procedures? The leadership team and our Board can then look at the trends and patterns in this data to identify strengths, needs and next steps to take. Later in term 3 the Board will be consulting with parents to identify targets and goals for our next 3 year Strategic Plan 2022-2024. This survey data will also be used in this process.

ESOL Morning Tea

Today Leah Allison our SENCO and Clair Winslade our ESOL teacher (who works with our learners with English as their second language) shared a morning tea with some of our ESOL parents and explained what the work they do and the TAs do to build on the students' own cultural links as well as helping with their learning of English and their life at WPS and in NZ in general.

Pink Shirt Friday

Pink Shirt Friday is only 3 days away - our junior ambassadors will be sharing a 'be kind and caring' afternoon of activities. Children are welcome to come along dressed all in pink, or in just one thing in pink, and bring a gold coin donation for the mental health foundation. We appreciate your support.

Starlab and Rumplestiltskin

Hooray Starlab is here on Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th May. This is an amazing experience - please make sure you have paid your school activity fee as getting in these extra shows and performances is what we use that for. Also on Friday 4th June, we have a NZ Playhouse production of Rumplestiltskin being staged. Both of these events are for all children so check out whether you have paid that activity fee.

SCHOOL NOTICES

2021 Snow Sports Programme

All information regarding the winter sports programme (skiing and boarding) is on our school website. Please read ALL information carefully. Enrolments for Cardrona and TC are online. Snow Farm forms are available from the school office. Please ensure you keep copies of your receipts etc...for evidence of paying for the school programme.

LINK to Information and Registration

Great Value Kindling Fundraiser

We are selling banana boxes full of hand-picked kindling for $10 each to raise money for our girls' and boys' clubs to allow them to do their planned activities this year. Come into the office to purchase a box. Thank you for your support.

SPORT NOTICES

Wānaka Primary School Swimming Competition (Y4-6 only)

When: Thursday 10th June (9am - 1pm approx)
Where: Wānaka Recreation Centre
Who: Year 4-6 only - not compulsory

Wānaka Primary Swimming Sports is for children in Year 4 to 6 who can swim at least 1 length of the pool (25m). This is a competitive event and the children should be comfortable in the water, and be proficient in a swim stroke.

Events (by year groups):

25m Freestyle
25m Backstroke
25m Breaststroke
25m Butterfly
Tribe competition
100m medley (if time allows)

Open Event - Championship.
We are not running the 50m open events as Y5-6 children will compete against Y7-8. If you wish your child to compete in this please have a conversation with either Jason or Hannah before Friday.

We will be entering the children into events by Friday 21st May. Children will inform their teacher if they are competing. All children who enter must compete in at least 2 events. This gives us time to organise transport, event timing etc... No entries will be accepted after this date so please discuss this with your children ASAP.

Parent Help - we need parents to help with timing races. If you can help please email Hannah - hannahc@wanaka.school.nz. Without parents on stopwatches we will not be able to complete the events.

Future Events:
Upper Clutha Swimming Sports - 29th June (Y5-8)
Central Otago Championship - 8th July (Y5-8)

To qualify for the next tier children must place in the top 6 of their year groups.

JOURNAL CLUB NEWS

Rippa Rugby

Last Thursday a group of Year 4-6 students played in a Rippa Rugby tournament at Hawea Flat School. Everyone involved showed good sportsmanship and gave it their best. Although it was really cold, we all played really well and had fun!

By Sophie Bull, Izzy Asford and Holly Radford.

Tribe Day

On Monday the 10th of May a Tribe Day was held at school. The Tribe Day was linked with Sign Language Week so all the tribe leaders learnt sign language and taught members of their tribe. They taught songs, the alphabet, numbers, colours and more. This was a great afternoon enjoyed by all.

By Izzy Ashford, Holly Radford.

LIBRARY NEWS

Library News

Click here to view our wonderful Library Webapp

Tomorrow, Wednesday 19th May, the book "Give me some SPACE" by renowned author, Philip Bunting, will be read 'Live' by one of the astronauts at the International Space station to all of our students here at WPS. Every child will get to see this in their classroom. Such an awesome experience. This will be a great dinner table conversation tomorrow night.

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

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

Central Otago Girls Football Sessions

Football South are running sessions in the Central Otago region every Sunday to try and get more young girls into football. Sessions run between 1130am-1230pm and everyone is welcome!

The sessions will be changing location every week to try and give more girls across the region the opportunity to play. The next session in Wānaka will be this Sunday, we would love to see a load of new faces at Kelly’s Flat!

For more information please contact coach Dominika on 0273730906 or email thomas@footballsouth.co.nz.

Harry Potter Quiz Night

Winter Driving Expo

Wakatipu Ski Club Snow Sports Sale

Gifted Awareness Information Evening

Calm Minds Parent Programme

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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