Pāpāmoa Primary
Growing Successful Learners - Whakatipu Mātauranga
Matt's Message
Kia Ora Whānau
Mānawatia a Matariki — Happy Māori New Year!
A significant milestone is reached this year as we acknowledge Matariki with a public holiday for the first time this Friday. Leading up to and during this week there has been a lot of learning happening across this school about Matariki with our Tamariki.
So what is Matariki?
Matariki is a star cluster that appears in the early morning sky in New Zealand during the mid-winter months. Matariki has different names around the world. In English, it is called by its ancient Greek name, Pleiades or the Seven Sisters. In Hawaiian it is Makali’i, ‘eyes of royalty', and in Japan it is Subaru, meaning ‘gathered together’.
What is the significance of Matariki?
Matariki is known as the Māori New Year in Te Ao Māori (the Māori worldview). Closely connected with the maramataka (the Māori lunar calendar), the reappearance of the Matariki stars in the early morning sky brings the past year to a close and marks the beginning of the new year.
Ngā whetu o Matariki (the Matariki stars)
There are nine stars in te kāhuia o Matariki (the cluster of Matariki), although some iwi have names for seven of them. There are different pūrākau (stories) and names for the Matariki stars for different iwi around the motu (country).
Observing Matariki
Matariki is a time to reflect on the past and those who have passed on, to celebrate the present with kai and time with our whānau and communities, and to look ahead and plan for the future.
There are three major principles that guide Matariki:
- remembrance — honouring those who have died since the last rising of Matariki
- celebrating the present — gathering together with family and friends
- looking to the future — looking forward to the promise of a new year.
So let’s celebrate
Matariki is a time to come together and celebrate, acknowledge the past, and look ahead to what the new year will bring. It's also a great time to celebrate Māori culture and to learn and share Māori traditions, customs and stories.
Our whānau celebration tonight from 5:30 pm - Te Pō o Ngā Whetū - The night of stars is a time to come together to celebrate our school, our community and our tamariki.
We look forward to seeing as many of you as can make it to school tonight to celebrate Matariki. (Don't forget your mug for hot chocolate and wrap up warm!)
Mānawatia a Matariki — Happy Māori New Year!
Matt
Please complete this form if your child tests positive for COVID 19.
Board of Trustees - June Whakahou (Update)
Tēnā koutou katoa,
Here is the monthly whakahou (update) in the school newsletter, so that you stay more informed of the progress we are making on the Board of Trustees. These are some of the brief points from the May meeting:
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Anna Oglesby SENCO (Special Education Needs Co-Ordinator): Culture Club runs four times per week now - one session per team. English Language Learner (ELL) numbers have dropped since last year to 55. The Board asked if it was possible to identify the top three causes for learning support.
FINANCIAL REPORTING:
Board Financial Oversight: Mark Divehall confirmed he would act as the Board member to take the responsibility of looking over the board financials prior to each meeting for now.
Bore and Irrigation: Due to complications with the old bore pump and bore itself, the increase in budget has been approved to proceed with the installation so the field is in a better condition for our students.
STRATEGIC AIMS:
Identity Language & Culture: The Board appreciated the simplification of all the various elements the Principal suggested and look forward to the final outcomes completed with staff.
School Houses: Principal is currently looking at having sponsors for the shirts so parents/caregivers don’t have to fund this. The Board confirmed that they are comfortable with the sponsorship, house shirt, Friday house shirt day, and identity ideas. The board liked the idea of engaging with the community in this way and offering a connection to the school through sponsorship.
STAFFING:
Surplus Staffing 2023: School working with Ministry of Education to implement a process to look at how to best manage our staffing levels for 2023.
PROPERTY, REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE:
Weather Tightness: The board thanked Matt and Mark for their work on these projects and welcomed the feedback from their visit to Te Puna Primary School which have the same project team for a similar process.
Hall Project: Matt conveyed his disappointment in the quality of the work on the hall. The school is pleased to have the support of the Ministry of Education asset management team construction observers to rectify this.
Board Project Planning Update: The Board are excited about the developments happening and the rate and pace at which things are being done.
Pool Update: Matt is looking at implementing a Master User Group to have oversight of the School/Swim Club governance side. That group can also then approach places for funding for capital works on the pool. Sarah Webb queried whether the pool could be made available to the community over Winter and Summer, potentially on Saturdays when the pool is not in use with other activities.
GENERAL BUSINESS:
Board Election Planning: Matt to create additional information about the board and board elections to generate interest within the community. Enquiries have already started coming in.
NZSTA Conference: Matt to book flights and accommodation for the conference held during the October school holidays.
Tsunami Planning - The Board approves for Matt to make up a model Go Bag, cost it out, bring it back to the next meeting before an investment into the full school.
Community Engagement - Matt shared the positive statistics on how effective our school newsletters and Facebook page are. High ratio of community engagement.
As always, the Board welcomes your feedback on our school’s governance. Please contact the Board Chairperson on botchairperson@papamoa.school.nz with any queries.
Ngā mihi,
Sarah Webb.
Board of Trustees Chairperson
Sports News
Well done to all our runners who represented our school and cluster yesterday at the Western Bay of Plenty Cross Country. You did an amazing job and should be super proud of your achievements as we all are.
Congratulations to the following runners who finished in the top 15 of their race and will now compete at the Bay of Plenty Championships next week in Kaharoa:
YEAR 4 GIRLS
Sarah I (10th)
YEAR 5 GIRLS
Amelia M (1st)
YEAR 5 BOYS
Ben G (10th)
YEAR 6 BOYS
Lorenzo G (14th)
National Volunteer Week
Special thanks to our Papamoa Primary Whanau who so generously offer their time to our sports teams and activities outside the classroom.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Remainder of 2022 Wall Calendar
The following calendar is aimed at providing you as parents some insight into the year ahead and the events and days that specific things are planned for. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this calendar at time of sharing is true and correct, things do change. So please note that events on this calendar are subject to change. You will be notified in advance of these changes.
Thanks
Matt
Community Notices
USEFUL INFORMATION FOR WHĀNAU
TERM DATES 2022
Term 1 08 Feb – 13 Apr
Term 2 02 May – 8 Jul
Term 3 25 Jul – 30 Sep
Term 4 17 Oct – 15 Dec
SCHOOL BELL TIMES
School Starts 8:40am
Morning Interval 10:30am - 11:00am
Lunch 12:40pm - 1.30pm
School Finishes 2:35pm Karewa and Matakana 2:40pm Tuhua and Motiti
ABSENTEE INFORMATION
Phone: 542 3261 (absentee message service)
or
Email: papamoaprimary@papamoa.school.nz
or
Website: http://www.papamoa.school.nz/report_an_absentee
Please include your child’s name, room and reason for absence.
If your child arrives at school after 8.40am they are late. Please ensure they sign in at the office before going to class. Thank you.
As part of our School-Links communication system, an automated text message will go out to all unexplained absences. This number is a reply once only.
LUNCH ORDERS
You can order (or cancel) any time before 8.30am on the day or schedule in advance.
Lunch will be delivered to the school in time for lunch. Click here to view the menu.
Get started now… Click here or go to www.mykindo.co.nz and click ‘create account’.
Help? Visit support.mykindo.co.nz or tel. 0800 EZLUNCH (0800 395 8624) week days 8am-4pm.
CHANGE OF DETAILS
In the event of an emergency, sickness or injury we need to be able to contact someone who can collect your child.
MEDICATIONS
Office staff will only administer medicines to students once a form has been completed and signed by a parent or caregiver.
Would you like to know more about our School Policies and Procedures?
We invite you to visit the site at https://papamoa.schooldocs.co.nz
(note that there's no "www.").
Our username is "papamoa" and password "3118".
Contact Details
07 542 3261
Email: admin@papamoa.school.nz
Website: www.papamoa.school.nz
Location: 312 Dickson Road Pāpāmoa
Phone: 07 542 0865
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PapamoaPrimarySchool/