Week 5 , Term 4 2020
Tauranga Primary School Newsletter
Principal's Message
Tēnā koutou katoa
Ngā mihi nui, ki a koutou katoa - Warm greetings to you all.
Nau mai, haere mai, a very warm TPS welcome to Emily Turner, Oliver Faitl and Alex-Lilly Shilton who started recently at our school. We are glad to have you and your family as part of our TPS TEAM.
Last week I had the pleasure of receiving a phone call from a senior member of our local community. She wished to express her thanks for the support two of our students offered her one afternoon on their way home from school. This lady was exiting her car on Cameron Road and was approached by a man asking her for money, which she refused. Two of our Year 6 students were biking home and saw this happening, they stopped and checked in with her to make sure she was okay and enquired if she needed any help. Those students were Jayden Teague and Joe Hollard. I could not be more proud of the actions of these boys. Well done you two, that is exactly the kind and mature behaviour that we hope all of our students aspire to.
Over the next two weeks most of the school will be focussed on our school production, "The Space Project". It is fantastic to see our learners have this opportunity to share the results of their ako (learning) and hard mahi (work) over the last few months as part of our Arts focus this term. They have been practising dances, songs and acting, we now have the costumes organised and are working on weaving all the class items together into a whole production. There will be 450 students on stage next week. Our newest new entrant students will not be performing in the production this year as their current focus is on transitioning into school life and routines. However they will come along and view the matinee performance next Thursday. A large production newsletter was emailed last Friday detailing the schedule and expectations, and a paper copy was sent home this week with the eldest child in each family. Please communicate with your child's teacher if you have any questions or queries. It is essential that we are all well informed about what is happening.
Diwali - Festival of Lights:
Diwali is one of the most popular Hindu festivals. Diwali in 2020 begins on 12 November and will continue for five days.
Diwali, also known as Deepavali, or the Festival of Lights, signifies the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and renewal of life. Millions of Hindus around the world, including those in New Zealand, celebrate Diwali with gifts, lights, fireworks, and special meals. Major public festivals, along with private and family celebrations, mark Diwali in New Zealand. To those who celebrate Diwali in our school community we wish you a Diwali that brings happiness, prosperity and joy to you and all your family.
6th Avenue Gate:
We are working to improve the access, as well as maintain safety for our children, via the entrance gate on 6th Avenue. We will be removing the current "farm gate" set up and reconfiguring the gate entry prior to the start of the 2021 school year. In the meantime, please can you ensure that you close this gate if you use it as an entry or exit point. It is very important for the safety of all children on the junior site that this gate remains closed at all times.
Welfare Fund:
Thank you to the many TPS families who have contributed to our TPS welfare fund recently through directing sport refunds and general donations into this fund. The welfare fund is used to support TPS students and families. Examples of what the funds are used for are purchasing reading glasses, school uniform, camp, shoes, sport costs and food vouchers. Your generous contributions make a positive difference to many of our students and their families, kia ora (thank you).
Leaving TPS?
If any school families plan to leave TPS in 2021 or change schools, can you please notify our school office. We are planning classes for 2021 and need to know about any changes as soon as possible please.
School's Out:
School's Out, the before and after school care programme, will be operating on the TPS site from Monday the 16th November. They will be set up in a technology classroom on the senior site (by the pool). See the advertisement in this newsletter for further information.
As always, thank you for your continued support.
Noho ora mai
Fiona
Fiona Hawes
Principal
Diwali - The festival of lights
THE SPACE PROJECT
in association with
The Space Project ......... TPS School Production
Tickets:
Tickets for our school production are available via the school shop (Kindo) or directly via the school office.
Tickets are $15:00 each
The shows are:
- Wednesday - 18th November 6:30pm
- Thursday - 19th November 12:00pm (Preschool children will have free entry to this show only)
- Thursday - 19th November 6:30pm
Venue - Bethlehem College Performing Arts Centre, 24 Elder Lane Bethlehem.
For the Thursday matinee performance only we are offering free tickets for preschool children of TPS families. They still need a ticket (to claim a seat) but there is no charge. If you have already purchased a ticket for a preschool child for the Thursday matinee, please contact the school office and they will coordinate a refund.
Programmes will be available in the foyer for a gold coin donation.
Please note that Room 18, and new entrant students who started in Term 4, will not be part of the production this time. They will however have the opportunity to watch the show, either a dress rehearsal or the Thursday matinee. If you are unsure of your child's involvement please talk with your child's class teacher.
We will be performing in the Performing Arts Centre at Bethlehem College. The evening shows will be held on the 18th and 19th of November. It is essential that all children can perform; please diary these dates now, parents will need to drop off and pick up. Pick up after the show will be at 8.00pm, this allows enough time to get changed out of costumes, and organised back into class groups.
You can access the show songs online if children want to practise:
GO TO – Login for Scripts & Music
Username: taurangaprimary
Password: gsmack20
Make-up tips for the production
Future Problem Solving
ICAS Certificates
Special mention to those students who achieved Distinction - only 10% of the students who sit the assessment achieve this standard:
English : Pearl Vahey-Bourne and Aidan Soper
Maths : Fariya Shaikh, Zoe Kingston, Aidan Soper, Heather Brocas-Mcdonald
Bomi Shin and Doyoon Kwak achieved an amazing High Distinction in Maths - only 1% of the students (in the Pacific region) who sit the assessment achieve this standard.
End of year assemblies - clarification
There are two end of year assemblies, held at the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre (QEYC)
Cnr Devonport Rd and 11th Ave, Tauranga
Monday 7th December at 11:00 am is the the awards assembly for Years 1-5. At this assembly we will also present the Kapa Haka leader awards and announce the 2021 House Leaders.
Tuesday 8th December at 9:30 am is the Year 6 Leavers' assembly. Leavers certificates and our special Year 6 awards will also be presented. There will be a Year 6 photo opportunity after the assembly. (Year 6 class awards will be given out at this assembly, so that Year 6 parents do not need to attend both assemblies, unless they have siblings or love our assemblies!)
FOTS (Friends of the School)
Frosty Fridays this term will be held on 27th November and 11th December from 3:00 pm
Pizza lunch day - 4th December (parent help needed 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm)
If you are able to held with any of these events please contact
- 18th November - School Production. Children to be at Bethlehem College 5:15pm, Show starts at 6:30pm
- 19th November - School Production- Matinee starts at 12.00pm
- 19th November - School Production. Children to be at Bethlehem College 5:15pm, Show starts at 6:30pm
- 23rd November - Year 6 Wetland discovery day
- 24th November - TIS orientation day (Year 6)
- 25th November - Year 2 transition Parent meeting - 9:00am
- 26th November - Middle School Athletics
- 26th November - Year 5 Camp at Waimarino
- 27th November - Year 5 Camp Activity day at Memorial Park.
- 27th November - Orange Day parade - Feet First and road patrollers
- 27th November - Junior Athletics 10:30am -12:50pm
- 27th November - FOTS Frosty Friday 3:00pm
- 30th November - 4th December - Travel Safe week
- 1st December - NETTS Parent meeting - 6:00pm
- 1st December - BOT meeting - 7:00pm - 9:00pm
- 4th December - FOTS Pizza Lunch
- 7th December - School Awards Assembly - 11:00am -12:00pm
- 7th December - Year 6 Leavers Social Dance - 7:00pm - 9:00pm
- 8th December - Year 6 Leavers assembly - 9:30am
- 9th December - Y3 & 4 Memorial Park
- 9th - 11th December - Year 6 Camp Totara Springs
- 10th and 11th December - Year 5 Discovery Days
- 11th December - FOTS Frosty Friday 3:00pm
- 14th December - Last day for school instruction 2020 ( School finishes at 12:00 noon)
- 15th December - Teacher Only Day
COMMUNITY NOTICE BOARD
Contacts
Principal
Fiona Hawes
07 578 6222
Deputy Principal
Cathy Ediker
Assistant Principal
Robyn Caley
Junior Team Leader
Pam Wilkins
Middle Team Leader
Jason Morgan
Senior Team Leader
Jo Howard
International Student enquiries
Cathy Ediker
Business Manager
Susan O'Neill
Office Administrator and Enrolment Officer
Barbara Turley