School Newsletter
6 May 2022, Term 2 - Week 1
Dear Parents, Whānau and Caregivers
A special welcome to James Pooch who has started at Paparangi in Team Pounamu - Nau mai, Haere Mai! Welcome also to Xzantho Ah Koi and Stirling Whiteman in Uenuku. Kia ora and welcome to our friendly school!
What a wonderful start to the term it's been! We trust all of our families had a lovely time during the April holidays. It's great to have all our students back and ready for the term ahead. I've been enjoying visiting classes and seeing our GROW values in action. Tamariki are settling well into their routines for term two.
Covid Update
We are confident that our mask wearing and hygiene measures successfully minimised transmission of the virus within school during term one and we are looking to continue this going forward. For this reason, we strongly encourage Y4-6 students, all staff and visitors to continue wearing face coverings when indoors. Of course we will continue with our hand washing and sanitising procedures.
20% of our children and staff have tested positive since our first student Covid19 case in March. That means there is just under 200 children and many staff who haven't had Covid. Therefore if we have an increasing number of cases within a class, syndicate or across the school, we will implement compulsory mask wearing for everyone’s safety for a set period of time. We will keep in touch with families if the situation changes for us.
Vision & Hearing Checks
The Vision and Hearing technician will be visiting on Thursday 12 May at 9.15am. If you have any concerns about your child’s vision or hearing and wish for your child to have an assessment, please notify your child's teacher or obtain a form from the school office giving permission for your child to be tested.
Learning Conferences - We are holding Learning Conferences in mid-May to replace the Getting to Know You meetings we were unable to hold in term one. These will be held on Tues 17 and Wed 18 May 3:30-6:30 with online booking information to be sent home next week.
Teacher Only Day reminder - Combined Local Schools Event
Our local intermediate and four primary schools will be uniting to share knowledge and skills at a Teacher Only Day to be held on Friday 3 June (attached to Queen's Birthday weekend). Our teachers and teacher aides are all looking forward to attending this event where we can learn about the amazing things that are happening in each of our schools.
Be sure to check out the Save the Date section at the end of the newsletter. It's lovely to see school wide events starting to appear again!
Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful mothers, grandmothers and aunties in our community. Have a lovely Sunday!
Ngā mihi nui
Tracey Arthurs
Principal
New Zealand Sign Language Week
Next week is New Zealand Sign Language week. In addition to our regular teaching of sign language, we will be learning a new sign each day. Have a talk with your child(ren) to find out what signs they already know and the new ones they're learning.
Sport
With winter sports set to begin this week, and our own school cross country next week, let's take the time to remind ourselves of how we can best support our tamariki to be the best they can during their activities. Children join in these activities for all sorts of reasons - fitness, skills, friendship, but most of all, for FUN! It is important that we as the adults encourage fair play, inclusion, and enjoyment!
As adults and spectators let's remember that many of the people helping run these events, the umpires, referees, coaches and managers, are volunteers. They are often other parents who want our children to be able to play. They have given up their own time to help out and need our respect and support so they continue to help. Here is a great visual reminder of how to be a great spectator.
On Your Marks, Get Set, Go!
Our school cross country is next week on Tuesday 10th May - weather dependent. The postponement day is Thursday 12 May if Tuesday's weather is unfavourable. If the cross country is postponed a text alert will be sent during the morning.
Race Order - Races get underway at 11:45am. We are unable to give specific times for each race as the timing varies for each year group from year to year.
- Y6 - all together
- Y2 boys
- Y1 - all together
- Y2 girls
- Y5 boys
- Y3 girls
- Y4 - all together
- Y5 girls
- Y3 boys
Spectators are welcome to help cheer our runners on. There are designated spectator spots along the top of the bank alongside the junior courts, sandpit and big tree. Many other parts of the school are part of the running course and need to be kept clear e.g. please stay off the driveway.
Cross Country running is an annual event on our sporting calendar. Along with the health benefits that regular exercise brings, it is also a good opportunity to learn some life skills too - that not everything we do is easy and how grit can help us get through! Our tamariki are very good at encouraging other runners and cheering for the other races - displaying respect and kindness for others! All students are encouraged to participate and to set themselves a personal goal - perhaps to run as far as the first corner without stopping or to run more of the track than they walk.
It is interesting to note that attendance on Cross Country day often drops - so parents, please consider carefully the benefits of participating before choosing to keep your child at home. Our Cross Country GROW values are displayed below - let's all use these ideas to encourage our tamariki!
What to bring for race day
- Suitable running shoes
- Warm jacket and hat
- Warm jersey or sweatshirt and track pants
- Extra snacks & water bottle (water only @ sports events)
- Change of shoes for afterwards (in case it’s muddy!)
- Asthmatics, carry your inhaler with you.
Friendship Week & Pink Shirt Day
Friendship Week takes place from 16-20 May in conjunction with Pink Shirt Day, on Friday 20 May. This year’s it's all about focusing on the positive mahi already happening in school communities across Aotearoa to support safe, inclusive school cultures where everyone is being heard and listened to, and feels they belong.
Pink Shirt Day is a global day that celebrates diversity and promotes environments where people can feel safe, valued and respected. Pink Shirt Day began in Canada more than ten years ago when two students took a stand against bullying after a peer was bullied for wearing a pink shirt. Paparangi School will be taking part once again with other New Zealanders to end bullying and spread kindness on the day and all year long so wear something pink on Friday 20th May to celebrate Friendship Week with us. Children are invited to come to school in pink, a little or a lot! Wear a pink shirt, scarf, socks, hat, ribbon, badge or any item at all! There will be spot prizes for the most creative pink outfits!
Welcome back to Paparangi School - Life Education Trust and Harold the Giraffe!
Just after Queen's Birthday weekend, starting on Tuesday 07 June, Life Education and Harold will be coming for a visit. Class lessons have a health focus with all children taking part in this programme. Please give a $6 donation per child towards the costs of running the Life Education programme. Payment can be made on Kindo, internet banking or please send a named envelope to the office with the money enclosed.
Term 2 Dates
- NZ Sign Language Week - starts on Monday 09 May
- Whole School Cross Country - Tuesday 10 May between 11:45 and 1:15pm
- Postponement Day, Whole School Cross Country - Thursday 12 May between 11:45 and 1:15pm
- Friendship Week - starts on Monday 16 May
- New Entrants Parent Evening - Tuesday 17 May @ 6pm
- Learning Conferences - Tues 17 and Wed 18 May 3:30-6:30pm
- Pink Shirt Day - Friday 20 May
- Northern Zone Cross Country - Tuesday 24 May & pp 26th May, Y4-6 runners
- Samoan Language Week - starts on Monday 30 May
- Teacher Only Day, Friday 3 June (school closed)
- Queen's Birthday Public Holiday - Monday 6 June (school closed)
- Life Education Health Lessons, Welcome Harold! Tuesday 7 June - Thursday 16 June
- Matariki Public Holiday - Friday 24 June (school closed). The inaugural Matariki public holiday that recognises Te Ao Māori will be celebrated this term.
- Last Day of Term 2 - Friday 8 July at 3pm
- Term 3 begins - Monday 25 July at 8:55am
Community Notices
Wellington Brick Show - Lego Show
over 70 Lego displayed. This show will be raising money for Scouts NZ.
When: 4th and 5th June
Where: Whirinaki Whare Taonga, 836 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt
Cost: $7.00 Adult / $5.00 Child (Eftpos available)
Tickets available at www.well-lug.nz/tickets
Bigair Gymnastics
If your child loves doing Cartwheels, Handstands & Flips, then they will thrive at Bigair Gym! TERM 2 CLASSES ARE STARTING NOW, SO DON’T MISS OUT, BOOK IN TODAY! Bigair Gym classes are excellent for fun, focus and fitness! Children learn new skills and develop personal confidence and self-achievement! The structured classes follow a Bigair Badge Programme, which creates focused learning, and allows children to achieve and progress! Inquire about Bigair BIRTHDAY PARTIES too! Its easy to book online at www.bigairgym.co.nz or contact our Bigair Gym office. Bigair Gym Tawa ph.232 3508 e.office@bigairgym.co.nz
Contact Us
Parents, please use the App to send a message about a student absence. It is our preferred method of contact for non-attendance and is quick and easy to do.
Email: office@paparangi.school.nz
Website: https://paparangi.school.nz
Location: 57-59 Beazley Avenue, Paparangi, Wellington 6037, New Zealand
Phone: +64 4-478 6617