Puketapu School Newsletter
Week 7, Term 4, 2019
Empower All People to be Healthy, Lifelong Learners
Kia kaha - do your best * Kia māia - be courageous * Kia manawanui - have a heart
Board of Trustees Professional Development
On Thursday last week our Board of Trustees visited Te Ao Marama and Cambridge East Primary School where we had the chance to hear from their tumuaki and to have a look around the school.
Both of these schools have experienced roll growth, designed new learning spaces and worked on their local curriculum. By visiting these schools we believe it will give us a look into how we can design our own future here at Puketapu School.
The focus of the school visits were:
- Developing a School Curriculum (using local narratives and community/student/whanau voice, research based)
- Managing Roll Growth
- Designing and Building Quality Learning Environments (as we are preparing to design and build four new learning spaces)
- Effective BoT practice
It was great to connect together as a Board of Trustees on this road trip.
2020 Learning Teams
At this time of year, teachers and leaders are connecting together to create the 2020 classes. Our focus during this time is to have balanced learning teams in the best learning spaces available and to have strong teaching and learning teams for our akonga.
We are delighted to have such an inclusive, caring, diverse and professional group of teachers here at Puketapu School.
Here are the learning teams for 2020:
Kauri
(Year 7-8, 3 classes plus Design Technology)
- Mrs Amanda O'Dowda (Learning Leader)
- Mr David Martin
- Mrs Julia Johnstone
- Mrs Claire Wigley
Kowhai
(Year 4-6, 5 classes)
- Mr Brody Lindsay
- Mrs Ana Whelan
- Mr Avon Lewis
- Miss Nicole Megaw (Learning Leader)
- Miss Cara Knuckey
Totara
(Year 2-3, 5 classes)
- Mrs Kellie Minnell (Learning Leader)
- Ms Peggy Schwieters
- Mr Alejandro Barrientos
- Miss Louisa Sharrock
- Mrs Kelly Harvey
Rimu
(Year 0-1, beginning with 3 classes, growing through the year)
- Mrs Fiona Warring
- Miss Anna Proffit (Learning Leader)
- Mrs Laurie Edwin
Senior Leadership Team
- Ngatai Walker, Principal
- Corinne Sattler, Deputy Principal
- Amanda O'Dowda, Assistant Principal (Senior School)
- Kellie Minnell, Assistant Principal (Junior School)
Our school roll is predicted to reach 400 in 2020, so we will be continuing to work with the Ministry of Education to add more learning spaces.
Class Placements
Careful consideration is given to ages and stages, relationships with teachers and peers, friendship groups, student development, types of learning spaces and the needs of each individual student.
Placing a child in a class is not a decision made lightly.
We are looking forward to announcing class placements, starting with Kauri students next week.
Reporting to Parents
At Puketapu School our student management system is called LINC-ED.
We use LINC-ED to report to parents. LINC-ED allows us to connect with you and involve you in your child’s learning journey.
At Puketapu School our aim has been to implement a robust system that allows teachers, parents, and students to access learning in an online environment that is secure, easy, and effective. We also use Seesaw in the Rimu and Totara team to showcase students learning.
LINC-ED allows teachers to share learning anytime, anywhere and this can be viewed on any device. We are excited about what this software offers now and for the future. The report is designed to build year on year so that over time you will have access to comments, assessments, images, video and helpful resources all in one place.
What you would expect to see:
- Reading, Writing and Maths (Number & Algebra) Goals (what they are working on and what they have achieved)
- End of Year Learning Comments and School Values Comment (Kia Kaha - Do your best, Kia Māia - Be courageous, Kia Manawanui - Have a heart)
In the future we want to use this platform to:
- Share Student Learning that your child has selected to share with you
- Communicate through Team Newsletters & Notices
- Have Parents share learning that has happened at home
Thank you to all our teachers for their hard work getting everything ready for end of year reporting, which will be ready for all students by Friday.
For a reminder about how to access your child's LINC-ED page, please see our Week 6 Newsletter
If you have any problems with access please contact our office at office@puketapu.school.nz
Property Update
Thank you to all of the admin staff for the shift to the temporary office.
This week you might have noticed more work happening in this area and the noise has definitely lifted. Our admin team of Paula and Karen have been superb in working through this. We are hoping to move back into our office area by the end of this week.
Southcoast builders have been great to work with and they are currently preparing the building to be re-roofed by Central Roofing. After the admin block has been completed the next step will be to re-roof Kauri and Rimu 3 & 4, which will be happening in the Summer Break.
Year 8 Trip to Patea Dam
We did abseiling, raft building, water slide, archery, bush walk, bivouac building competition, camp fire, roasted marshmallows, eeling and that was just day 1!
Day 2 saw, team building activities including the trust fall, orienteering, blind trail, a mud run followed by the raft race. In our down time (of which there was not much) we set up tents and then packed them down the next day.
A massive thanks has to go to the parents who came along and made this camp possible and of course to Jeremy and Conrad of Unreal Adventures - These guys were amazing!!!! (They also do school holiday programs - and all of us highly recommend them!)
Here are a few photos of our adventures:
Literacy in Kowhai
Totara Gardens
Congratulations to this weeks Puketapu Superstars
Kia Kaha - Do your Best
- Koen Adams
- Losa Fonoti
Kia Manawanui - Have a Heart
- Rishaal Prasad
- Brandon Parsons
- Addyson Chaloner
The Tech Hub
The Great Kauri Christmas Bake off has begun! Our 1st group have been making Lemon Cake, Candy Cane Fudge and Red Velvet White Chocolate Chip cookies. Yum!!!
Please all Kauri students bring your ingredients this week and next!
SOMAD Community Evening
Next Friday is our SOMAD Community Evening, our chance to celebrate together.
There will be singing, dancing, performances, raffles, food... something for all the community! Invite your family, friends and neighbours along, too.
Come along and join us on Friday 6 December, food on sale from 5.00pm, performance starts at 6.00pm
Home & School are now collecting for the amazing raffles which will be drawn on the night.
Raffles at SOMAD
SOMAD is coming and so is our famous home and school raffles...
The class that brings in the most grocery items by this Friday will win a morning tea muffin shout from The White Pear Cafe!
We will accept any items you donate but please no more baked beans as a way to get a good variety we will ask syndicate for certain things but feel free to bring what ever you can:
- Cleaning products or toiletries (bubble bath, soaps, sprays, smellies, paper towels, toothpaste, tooth brushes)
- Jars or baking products (sauces, spreads, mayo, relish, sprinkles, cake decorating, flour, sugar)
- Tins or packets ( biscuits, chippies, fruit, veg, sauces, coffee, lollies, nuts)
- Bottles or boxes (jellies, chocolates, sauces, t bags, drinks, tissues, crackers, cereal, muesli bars)
Please check expiry dates and no fresh food please, otherwise what ever you want to donate will be amazing. Thank you and we look forward to a great night at SOMAD.
Safety at our School Gate
Thank you to everyone for showing Kia Manawanui and being considerate and patient.
Now that the weather is improving, why not Park n Walk from a little further away? Or maybe start up a Walking Bus? Fresh air and exercise and no traffic stress either! Or have you walked through our new Dillon Drive entrance way yet? Why not check it out?
Calling all Library Books
There are almost 200 books still out - which adds up to around $4000!
Please have a look at home... in school bags... down the back of beds... in the car... All returns will be most welcomed.
Wheels = Helmets
Headlice are back...
Please check all the heads in your house tonight and treat as necessary.
Friday Lunches:
Order and pay at the office before 3:30pm on Wednesday. (You can order on Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday, but Thursday is too late.)
Next week is the last week of Friday Lunches!
Week 8: Friday 6 December
· Mince & cheese pie $4
· Ham, cheese & egg filled roll $4.50
· Fruit salad & yoghurt $5
· Apple cinnamon muffin $3
Huge thanks to The White Pear Cafe who have kept us so well fed on Fridays this year!
what's On: This Week and Next
Friday 29 Nov
- Tough Kid Challenge (Hawera, all Y5 & Y6s)
- Rimu shared morning tea - fancy dress, book character 10.15-11-00 Rimu 1 & 2 space
Week 8
Monday 2 Dec
- 2020 New Entrant Transition (Group 1) @ 12.00-1.00
Tuesday 3 Dec
- Helpers morning tea at 10.30am
- Inventionator @ WITT (5 Year 6 representatives)
Wednesday 4 December
- Inventionator @ WITT (5 Year 6 representatives)
Thursday 5 Dec
- Year 6& 7 Meet Your 2020 Teacher (2.00 - 2.40)
- Year 8 (Exit Interviews) Boys with Mr Walker, Girls with Miss Sattler
Friday 6 Dec
- 2020 New entrant transition (Group 2) @ 9.30-10.30
- SOMAD Community Concert. Food served from 5.00pm, Performance starts 6.00pm
What's on: Later in the Term
Week 9
Monday 9 Dec
- Opening of Dillon Drive Gateway
Tuesday 10 Dec
- Tabloid Sports Day
Wednesday 11 Dec
- EMR Trip to Goat Island departs - Kauri (16 students)
- Totara Ranui Day (changed from Friday 13th)
- Kauri EOTC
Thursday 12 Dec
- Kauri EOTC
- Kowhai/Totara/Rimu Meet Your 2020 Teacher (2.00-2.40)
Friday 13 Dec
- Kauri EOTC
- Rimu End of Year Day Trip to Brooklands Zoo & Pukekura Park
Week 10
Monday 16 Dec
- Final School Assembly (11.00am) - Northpoint Church
- Year 8 graduation dinner (6.00pm) - Northpoint Church
Tuesday 17 Dec
- School finishes @ 12.00
2020
Tuesday 4 Feb
- Head Start Hui (bookings open in Week 9)
Wednesday 5 February
- First day in class!
Birthdays
Happy birthday to all those who have Birthdays coming up this week:
- Iniyah Zandbergen
- Georgia-Lee Scrimgeour
- Emma-Lee Hewer
- Brandon Parsons
- Keisha Lowry
- Sapphire Kuchler
- Lockie Urbahn
Community Notices
Food Bank Food Drive
The 2019 Christmas Foodbank Food Drive is taking place on Monday 2nd December from 5.30pm until late and we are trying to get the word out to as many people as possible about this community event. We would appreciate your support in spreading the word!
All donations are distributed back into our community to families and people in need throughout 2020; donations of non-perishable food items and/or household products will be greatly received.
The food drive takes place in New Plymouth and Bell Block - the collection goes ahead RAIN, HAIL OR SHINE!!
During the drive donations can be left near the letterbox or front gate for collection or can be handed directly to our friendly volunteers as the collection teams drive around each neighbourhood. Sirens or music will be playing when they are in each area.
Puketapu School
Email: office@puketapu.school.nz
Website: www.puketapu.school.nz
Location: Dillon Drive, Bell Block, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Phone: 06 755 0973