Week 1 Term 2 Newsletter
Monday/Rāhina - 3rd May
Contact Us
Email: office@witherlea.school.nz
Website: https://witherlea.school.nz
Location: 214-216 Weld Street, Witherlea, Blenheim 7201, New Zealand
Phone: 64 (03) 578 5568
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/witherleablenheim
Principal Message
Kia ora koutou Witherlea whānau,
What an incredible end to Term One with so many of our parents, caregivers and wider whānau joining us on the top court for our Open Day.
We got to see our Kapa Haka perform, our new Sign Language Group absolutely blew us away with their skills and sincerity and then our classes opened which our children had been so excited about. We managed to cook and serve around 500 sausages in the sun before our term ended.
A real highlight was seeing whole families together, actually getting to chat with our parents and see how proud they are too. Our informal events are just as important as our formal events and give us valuable time together to connect.
This term our focus is Hauora which is the Maori word for Wellbeing. Here is an amazing LINK to the Ministry of Health. We use Fundamentals at the Stadium as our focus for Taha Tinana: physical health. We continue with our Drama Intensives with Rose focusing on Taha Hinengaro: Mental and Emotional Health. The other two areas are; Taha Whānau: Social or Family Health and Taha Wairua which focuses on Spiritual Health. There is more information below regarding the 'new' Drama extra-curriculum opportunities for 2021.
We have further ways to CONNECT this term via our Flag Raising on Monday mornings, School Cross Country, and our final event of the term an 'Open Morning' in conjunction with our annual Matariki Hui and Hikoi where we will have milo, a coffee cart and open classes before school begins.
Connection with the classroom teacher is vital as we form the team for your child supporting their growth, development, progress and achievement. This relationship is the key and if anything arises throughout the term then this is always the first port of call. Our teachers really value the opportunity to know things early and work out ways to support each child and their individual needs.
We will not have any assemblies this term as our Hall is being upgraded and will not be used until near the end of term. You are all welcome to our Flag Raising where we give out our Welcome to School and Early Words certificates as well as acknowledge sporting, cultural, behaviour achievements including; "Be Kind, Be Safe, Be Fair" shoutouts.
You will also see new line markings around the school which were part of the fundraising initiatives in 2020 from our WSPCG. We have a new entrance being made for use in and out of school beside the hall linking to Upper Weld Street, which should ease congestion and make a safer route for our students and whānau.
We look forward to all the learning, the experiences and the fun that school life has to offer this term.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Andrea Harnett - Tumuaki
Nau mai ki te kura o Witherlea
We wish to welcome these new students and their families and whānau to our school and community;
Sophie B, Mollie C, Fred D, Oscar H, Connor M, Karl P
Welcome to School Certificates are given out at our Flag Raising on a Monday morning at 9am when we are in Alert Level 1.
Term 2 Events - Wahanga Tuarua
Week 1 - Wiki Tuatahi
Monday 3rd May - Friday 7th May
FUNDAMENTALS = Ferns Team: Ferns Room, Room 4, Room 5 @ Stadium 2000
Friday 7th May
Subway School Lunches - Order Online
Week 2 - Wiki Tuarua
Monday 10th May - Friday 14th May
FUNDAMENTALS = Punga Team: Room 11, Room 12, Room 13 @ Stadium 2000
Monday 10th May
Flag Raising = Welcome to School, Early Words and Be Kind, Be Safe, Be Fair Shoutouts
Friday 14th May
Subway School Lunches - Order Online (Not for Punga this week)
Week 3 - Wiki Tuatoru
Monday 17th May - Friday 21st May
FUNDAMENTALS = Kowhai Team Group A: Room 15, Room 18 @ Stadium 2000
Monday 17th May
Flag Raising = Welcome to School, Early Words and Be Kind, Be Safe, Be Fair Shoutouts
Friday 21st May
Subway School Lunches - Order Online (Not for Room 15 and 18 this week)
Week 4 - Wiki Tuawhā
Monday 24th May - Friday 28th May
FUNDAMENTALS = Kowhai Team Group B: Room 16, Room 17 @ Stadium 2000
Monday 24th May
Flag Raising = Welcome to School, Early Words and Be Kind, Be Safe, Be Fair Shoutouts
Friday 28th May
Subway School Lunches - Order Online (Not for Room 16 and 17 this week)
Week 5 - Wiki Tuarima
Monday 31st May - Friday 4th June
FUNDAMENTALS = Kauri Team Group A: Room 6, Room 7 @ Stadium 2000
Monday 31st May
Flag Raising = Welcome to School, Early Words and Be Kind, Be Safe, Be Fair Shoutouts
Friday 7th May
Subway School Lunches - Order Online (Not for Room 6 and 7 this week)
Week 6 - Wiki Tuaono
Tuesday 8th June - Friday 11th June
Monday 7th June
Queens Birthday Holiday = School Closed
Tuesday 8th June
Flag Raising = Welcome to School, Early Words and Be Kind, Be Safe, Be Fair Shoutouts
Thursday 10th June
Whole School Cross Country - Coffee Cart onsite
Sausage Sizzle for students - TBC
Friday 11th June
Westpac Helicopter Charity Day = RED dress up and Gold Coin Donation
Subway School Lunches - Order Online
Week 7 - Wiki Tuawhitu
Monday 14th June - Friday 18th June
FUNDAMENTALS = Kauri Team Group B: Room 8, Room 9 @ Stadium 2000
Monday 14th June
Flag Raising = Welcome to School, Early Words and Be Kind, Be Safe, Be Fair Shoutouts
Wednesday 16th June-Friday 18th June
Life Education Bus = Ferns Team
Wednesday 16th June
Marlborough Rippa Rugby Tournament = Lansdowne Park
Friday 18th June
Subway School Lunches - Order Online (Not for Room 8 and 9 this week)
Week 8 - Wiki Tuawaru
Monday 21st June - Friday 25th June
Monday 21st June
Flag Raising = Welcome to School, Early Words and Be Kind, Be Safe, Be Fair Shoutouts
Friday 25th June
Subway School Lunches - Order Online (Not for Room 8 and 9 this week)
Week 9 - Wiki Tuaiwa
Monday 27th June - Friday 1st July
Monday 27th June
Flag Raising = Welcome to School, Early Words and Be Kind, Be Safe, Be Fair Shoutouts
Friday 1st July - SCHOOL CLOSED
Teachers Only Day
Week 10 - Wiki Tekau
Monday 4th July - Friday 8th July
Monday 4th July
Flag Raising = Welcome to School, Early Words and Be Kind, Be Safe, Be Fair Shoutouts
Friday 8th July
Subway School Lunches
Matariki Celebration and Open Morning = Friday Last Day of Term
More information to come
Be Kind, Be Safe, Be Fair Shoutouts
See above the winners for Term One - selected from all the nominated students in each team.
These students have been using their kind, safe and fair qualities within our school, towards other students and supporting our culture at Witherlea.
FOOD and SAFETY Changes at Witherlea
- NO peanuts at school due to students with severe allergies
- No SHARED birthday cakes or treats at school
We are an inclusive school and need to cater for our diverse needs ensuring ALL children are respected. Thank you for your support with this.
FUNDAMENTALS TERM 2
WEEK 1: Ferns Team - Ferns Room, Room 4, Room 5
WEEK 2: Punga Team - Room 11, Room 12, Room 13
WEEK 3: Kowhai Team Group A - Room 15 and Room 18
WEEK 4: Kowhai Team Group B - Room 16 and Room 17
WEEK 5: Kauri Team Group A - Room 6 and Room 7
WEEK 7: Kauri Team Group B - Room 8 and Room 9
No Subway lunches on the week your children are at the Stadium. All children need togs and towels.
Early Words Recognition
Toby M
We are very proud of the effort towards learning that our youngest students put in as the Early Words is the start of mastery at Witherlea School.
Subway Lunches
This term we are going to trial the Subway in Schools Lunch Programme. This enables caregivers to order their children a Subway lunch which will be delivered to school. The process is ONLINE and is between families and Subway - this eliminates any administration and/or money exchange for the school.
Our Subway lunches will be on Fridays beginning Friday 7th May. The menu is a limited menu designed specifically for schools and prices start from $4.50.
Orders must be placed before 8.45am via Subway Express on a Friday morning and will be delivered to school for our 1pm lunchtime.
Subway can only accept credit card purchases. See the attached flyer for more information.
Please note that Subway lunches are unable to be ordered if a school trip or event falls on a
Friday.
DRAMA @ Witherlea
We have been able to secure Ewa (EZ Theatre) and Rose (StageLab) to work with ALL students across the school, again. Both Ewa and Rose are international external experts who specialise in Drama - Movement and Self Regulation, Music (Singing) and Performance and provide a level that we could not at school - they see half classes at a time so the children are able to specialise.
Quote from STUFF;
Ewa Zielińska has worked around the world as an actress and director and been involved for many years with the international Brave Kids Festival, working with vulnerable kids from war zones and politically conflicted areas. She believes children are sometimes not able to name their emotions, but that theatre gives them a voice.
Please have a look at the Stage Lab website = LINK HERE
You will see that the cost of $35 for the year is hugely discounted for our students and gives them all a taste of what students get when they enrol for the term or are part of the Youth Prtoductoons and if they love it, or have skills, it could be something worthwhile to pursue.
See Rose below in the International auditions of 'Popster' = "This is who is teaching our children each week!"