| | | | | | IMPORTANT DATES Term 4
Week 9
Wednesday 9th December - Performances by Band, Kapahaka, Choir - 2:15pm
In the Hall and Parents are Welcome
Friday 11th December - Pod 1 and 2 Christmas Assembly 2:00pm - Hall
Week 10
Monday 14th December - Year 6 Graduation 1:00pm - Hall
Tuesday 15th December - LAST DAY OF TERM - 3pm finish
Term 1 2021
Week 1
Wednesday 3rd February - First Day of Term 1
Week 4
Wednesday 24th February - Welcome back to School Picnic/Meet the Teacher - 5pm
IMPORTANT NOTICES
Leaving Wānaka Primary School?
If your child / children are leaving WPS at the end of this term and you have not advised the office, can you please do so as soon as possible as we have started to plan classes for 2021.
If your child is in Year 6 and leaving to attend MAC there is no need to contact us. However, if your Year 6 child will be attending a different school, please advise us of this. Lost Property Please come and check the lost property before the end of the year, both in your child's pods and in the office. Any lost property that remains at the end of term will be taken to local charity shops. |
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Thank You So Much As this is the last newsletter for the 2020 year I would like to thank our wonderful staff, students and parents for living our 2020 throughline 'Be the Change' and making 2020 such a successful and happy year for all of us at Wānaka Primary School. It has certainly been a year of change and challenges but we did it!! We have all finished the year on a very positive note. Thank you all out there for following the protocols and doing your bit to ensure we got up and running after lockdown so smoothly. And thank you for all of the positive feedback you have given to teachers, teacher aides and office staff (and of course John and Glenda who keep our school spic and span). A special thanks to those of you who have taken the time to send me or a staff member an email, a text, or phone call - it has been a privilege to work with you to make your children's year a happy, productive and successful one. I am so proud of the warm, caring culture in our school and school community and the way we all work together to 'empower our community of learners'. And well done to all parents out there who have supported their families during very difficult times...you did it! It is a very settled, positive end to the year. A great way to finish.
Staff Update We have had to downsize as we were way over our 2021 staffing entitlement. We have sadly had to say goodbye to 3 of our teachers; Lydia McRae, Simone Handtschoewercker and Janelle Lewis. Lydia we would like to thank you for your energy, enthusiasm, spontaneity...and humour. Lydia has secured a fixed term position at Arrowtown School next year. Janelle we would like to thank you for your organisation and dedication to doing the best job possible. Janelle and her partner have very special news...they are expecting a baby mid 2021. We would like to thank Simone for being a great Pod 5 team member, stepping in when needed half-way through 2019 and making a seamless changeover, for enjoying the Year 4 camp so much and for being a great listener and advocate for her students. We wish Simone the best for 2021.
Also another baby for Wānaka School, as Mel Bradley is expecting her bundle of joy in February. Thanks Mel for coming back over the last few years to pick up our new entrant classes in term 2 or 3. You always do a great job of getting to know your students and getting them into learning so quickly.
Thanks to Carin Hetherington who has so smoothly taken up the reins in Room 24 when Katie went on maternity leave. Katie is enjoying being a mum to Max and what a great mother she is.
In 2021 we welcome back Kelly Chadwick and Mel Hewson from maternity leave and they will pick up a Year 2 class.
Reporting to Parents Expo We have had an amazing turn out of parents at our morning and afternoon Reporting to Parents Expo. There is another one at 5-6pm tonight for those of you who couldn't make it in today. Remember if you want to make an appointment for an interview with any of your children's teachers please email them directly to arrange this.
Choir, Kapahaka and Band Performances We hope to see some of you back tomorrow for the performance of our junior choir, junior kapahaka group, senior choir and senior kapahaka group and of course our awesome band. We invite parents of these children along to see the work these groups have been doing all year. This starts promptly in the hall at 2.15pm and goes till 3pm. The band will also be performing at the Year 6 Graduation Assembly next Monday 14th.
Pod 1 and 2 Christmas Assembly
On Friday we have the renowned Pod 1 and 2 Christmas Assembly. Welcome to parents to join us to feel the Christmas cheer and utter cuteness of our 5-6 year olds. Please do not park in the Pick Up Drop Off areas! Park further away and walk...thanks 🤗.
Year 6 Graduation Assembly The Year 6 Graduation Assembly starts at 1pm, so parents who are coming to watch our proud graduates need to be seated in the hall by 1pm. If you have other children at school who would like to watch their big brother or sister graduate please let their teacher know. We would like ALL school students to be seated up front to allow enough seating for parents and guests.
2021 School Year - First Day of 2021
Remember the first day of term for children is Wednesday 3rd February. Please have children at school before 9am. Year 5 and 6 students meet outside Pod 7. Year 4 meets outside Pod 5, Year 3s meet outside Pod 4, Year 2s outside Pod 3 and all new entrants and Year 1s outside Pod 1. Then we will guide children to their new classes and to meet their teachers.
We will not be sharing class lists and teachers until a few days before the 3rd February as we have enrolments continuing to come in. This way we will avoid confusion and disappointment if groupings have to change. |
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Reading Challenge On Wednesday (tomorrow) at 12:15pm we are holding a special assembly for our amazing librarian Melissa. Wānaka Primary School won the Erik's Fish and Chips Reading Challenge. The prize, apart from our children reading some amazing books, is $500 worth of books for the library and $500 worth of Watties products. We are donating the Watties prize to Community Networks to support those in our community during the Christmas period. There is also a special prize to a teacher who had the most influence on their class in this reading challenge.  Come and join us briefly in the hall at 12:15pm. |
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Reading Books Please return all reading books this week. This includes literacy resources and games. Many of these unreturned items may be hiding under beds and behind doors etc so it would be helpful if a good search was made at home to get these returned as soon as possible. Thank you. |
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Puzzling World Junior Challenge Wānaka 2021 We are collecting provisional information on attendance for Puzzling World Junior Challenge Wānaka 2021. This event is being held at Glendu Bay on the 19th February 2021.
With the change in location and organisation we are making this event optional for Y1-4 children and compulsory for Y5-6. Challenge Wānaka is working hard to organise bike transport and bus transport for all the children at our local schools. To gauge interest to help them could you please fill out the survey below (should only take a few seconds). If you have more than one child in this year group please revisit the link and fill it out again.
Information about the race can be found here and will be updated regularly.
More information and event registration will follow in the coming week. Do not enter on the website above, we will send a link to you later.
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Pod 1 and 2 Lavender Farm Visits Last week, classes from Pod 1 and Pod 2 visited The Lavender Farm to extend their learning about plants and animals in the environment. The weather caused one or two challenges but a wonderful time was had by all. Thanks so much to Jessica Zeestraten for allowing us to come and explore your beautiful gardens. |
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Pod 5's Donation to DOC As part of their Deep Learning action, children in Pod 5 raised $930.20 for local endangered birds. Children voted and decided to donate this money to the Department of Conservation to benefit organisations already helping NZ endemic birds. Jen and Caroline from DOC came into school on Monday to receive the cheque from the Bank of Pod 5. |
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Library News As the school year draws to a close I just want to thank the management, the board, the amazing teaching staff (and the office staff) and of course the children for making this a great year in our fantastic school library. We are so very fortunate to be in a school where the library has huge value placed on it. I see all the children in the school every week and the teachers and I can honestly say, I am very proud to be part of this team.
I would also like to thank all the parents who supported our Bookfair - 30 percent of the profits go to our literacy buying.
Thank you also to parents for assisting your children in getting their library books back. Our automated emails certainly help at my end.
And lastly, I encourage all children to join the Wānaka Community Library. Most children should have received a Reading Challenge card from me this week. It is run through the public library and is a fantastic way to encourage and nurture reading through the Summer.
Meri Kirhimete
Melissa 😊📕📖 |
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Wānaka Trail Ride: T.Minus.15.Weeks…
OK WPS and MCHW folk! It’s the last WTR Update for the year, the next will be in February’s newsletter when we are at:
T.Minus.Six.Weeks…
Oh my goodness! So, please remember to save Saturday 27th March for WTR 2021*. You now have a great excuse to avoid those bothersome birthdays, weddings, and other functions you’d rather not attend. For more info, check out www.wanakatrailride.org and you can click on the Volunteer tab to choose something suitable from the list of roles available. We’d love to see you there. Any enquiries please contact Rachel Allibone 021 1029 130 or email rachel@wanakatrailride.org. And in the meantime, have a fab Christmas and summer holiday. Best wishes, Everyone! 😊
* The Wānaka Trail Ride is a major fundraiser for Wānaka Primary and Montessori Children’s House. Riders come from all over to enjoy the rare opportunity of exploring the trails of the stunning Deep Creek, Long Gully, and Lindis Peak Stations; a privilege to be on the land, and a pleasure to volunteer here. You can also find us on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WanakaTrailRide |
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Second Hand Uniform Shop is Coming |
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Kahu Youth's Open Day Year 6 |
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Community Networks Foodbank |
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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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