Kokopu Newsletter

Kia ora koutou

The mornings have certainly become cooler and we even had a frost here at school last week. Wintertime also means students have been working hard on getting their assessments done ready for school reports. Teachers have been reporting great progress across the school which is a reflection of a settled term in comparison to previous years.

As gymnastics comes to an end this week, with our school competition this Wednesday, I would like to thank our room 6 students who have put out and packed away the gym gear every day. They have exemplified our school motto of “To Learn and Serve”.

We would like to thank Karen Halligan who has been our school accountant for the last 13 years. She has been a great support to us and we have appreciated her contribution to the school. We have moved to a specialist education accounting firm called Education Services. You may notice payments from them if you are being reimbursed or paid for services for school.

Our new car park plans are progressing well and we are looking at starting groundworks in the Christmas holidays. Until then please be careful parking and remember that the first car park closest to the gate is reserved for disabled car parking only. As we have students and whanau with mobility needs it is important they have access to this park.

Smoke and Vape free school. Please remember that our car park is also a smoke and vape-free area.

We know that there is quite a lot of sickness going around at the moment and ask parents to use their best judgement when sending children to school. This week we will put out some COVID tests in a container in the school mailbox that you can help yourself to at any time.

Nga mihi nui

Yaron Overeem

Principal

Kokopu School

We have a freestanding oven that we no longer need. It is a Fisher and Paykel Paprika model which was in the Whanau Room. It is working order. If you would like it, please contact the school office. First in first served.

This Wednesday 21st June we will be holding our annual gymnastics competition starting at 9.30am. The children have been coached every week this term by Ashleigh from Active Attitude. This is a marvellous opportunity for parents to come along and watch the children show off their gymnastics skills.

Our Mathex teams did a great job at the Whangarei Mathex competition. They worked hard and several finished the questions before time was up.

Thank you to the school council for their sports dress-up day fundraiser. The money raised is going towards reinstating a flying fox.
We also really enjoyed Mrs Stafford’s fire stick display. If your children would like to see more of this, then at the pump park every Friday at 6-9pm there is a group that meets. Kids can even have a go for $5.

We have got some great cookbook recipes including ones from John, Flash and Toast from More FM and even Dr Shane Reti’s Passionfruit Mallow Pie.

It is not too late to get yours in. Email it to cookbook@kokopu.school.nz

We are supporting Daffodil Day this year to support all New Zealander's who are impacted by cancer. Please go to our fundraising page to donate...details below.

Fundraising page name: Kokopu School
Fundraising page URL: https://daffodilday.org.nz/k-school

We desperately need an after school care assistant. We need to employee a casual carer to assist Loida on days when our numbers are over 10 children. If you are flexible with your days and can help out from 3pm to 5pm on the odd weekday, please contact the school office.

Natasha has filled in this term and done an amazing job and we thank her for her time in this position.

This year we are including Chickens in our Ag Day judging.

Orders due 1st July - Hatched on 8th August.

Order through our new Ag Day website with lots of great advice and help.

Pick up from Hidden Valley Produce who will also provide you with a tour of their chick-raising and give some great advice on getting the best out of your chickens.

Must order three or more - $15 per chick.

We have a new Ag Day information website ready to go. You can see it at this address. www.sites.google.com/kokopu.school.nz/agday
If you would like to get involved in helping with Ag Day, especially the animal judging please let us know. We would love your input into the website and judging criteria and helping to find judges.

You will notice we have added chickens to the animal judging. We will get more details out about this shortly.
If you are interested in having an Ag Day animal but don’t know where start, drop into the office and we can get you started.

• Friday Assembly. On Friday afternoon we have a sharing assembly at 2.30pm for the whole school. Parents are welcome to come along and see what the children have to share.
  

• School Office. Vicki is in the office on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Bexs is in the office on Wednesday and Friday mornings until 11.35am.

• Drink Bottles. Our water issues have be rectified but it would be good to send your child with a drink bottle full of water each day.

• Carpark and gate. Please come to the gate in the carpark to collect your children at the end of the day. We do not want children walking through the carpark without an adult as it is unsafe with the amount of cars and limited parking. We have a teacher on duty at the gate each day to supervise. Can we ask parents and visitors to make sure they close the gates if you use them? We have a few children that may be prone to walking out an open gate. Thank you. Please don't park by the entrance gate or teachers carpark area. Also please avoid parking by the letterbox at the front of the school.
  

• Absences. A reminder that it is important to contact the school before 9.30am when your child will be absent. You can either phone, email or let us know via our Skool Loop app. We need to know where your children are so we know they are safe and can mark them correctly on the roll. See details in this newsletter on how to download our Skool Loop App.
  
• Iceblock Sales. Ice Blocks are for sale again to raise funds for the school. Many children who come to school with $2 like to buy their friend an ice block. Please could you send a note to say they are allowed to do this? The Room 6 children do ask but a note would be easier for them.
  
• Term Dates 2023. Term 1 .. 02/02— 06/04 Term 2 .. 24/04— 30/06 Term 3 .. 17/07— 22/09 .. Term 4 09/10— 15/12

Monday 24 April - Term 2 Begins

Wednesday 21 June - Gymnastics Competition

Wednesday 28 June - House Day

Thursday 29 June - Country Study meal day (all food supplied)

Friday 30 June - Term 2 Ends

Michelle will be taking bible lessons in the library fortnightly on Fridays, at 8.30am for those children who opt in. If you would like your child to attend, please email the school office.

If parents/caregivers want to visit the website https://kokopu.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm to look over our school policies and procedures, please see the following instructions: Enter the username (kokopu) and password (0179). Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.

The Board of Trustees are happy to accept regular automatic payments throughout the school year. All of last years debts should have been paid in full. If you need to have a chat about your account, please contact Vicki. We prefer payment by direct credit if you are able to please; Kokopu School Board of Trustees 12-3099-0419154-01.

Parenting Helpline Do you need specific parenting advice you can implement right away? Are you carrying a lot on your shoulders? Speak to our warm and supportive parenting experts. Call us for support on any parenting issue. Call now for free on 0800 568 856. Available from 9am – 9pm 7 days a week.

• Deans visits to feeder schools: 18th, 19th, 20th , 21st & 24th July
• Y8 Open Evening: Thursday 3rd August - from 4.30pm
• Y8 Interviews: Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th August - (9am - 5pm)
• Y8 Catch Up Interview Day: Thursday 2nd November - (9am - 5pm)

Email: office@kokopu.school.nz
Website: www.kokopu.school.nz
Location: 921 Kokopu Road, Kokopu, New Zealand
Phone: 094346765
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kokopuschool