Puketapu School Newsletter
Week 9, Term 2 2021 - 30 June 2021
Empower All People to be Healthy, Lifelong Learners
Kia kaha - do your best * Kia māia - be courageous * Kia manawanui - have a heart
from our principal
Kia ora koutou,
It has been tino rawe going around our akomanga this last week and seeing all the waiata and activities that are related to Puanga/Matariki.
I had the pleasure of attending the Thursday evening and some of the Friday with our Year 4-8 akonga at our school marae, Muru Raupatu. It was beautiful to see our older tamariki and whanau helping out with the dishes, the kai preparation and leading the traditional Māori kemu for our younger tamariki.
Traditionally Puanga and Matariki appeared at the end of the harvest. The kumara and other root foods had been gathered and pataka kai (food storage houses) were full. The migration of fish such as moki and korokoro also made Puanga/Matariki a time of bountiful catches.
Puanga/Matariki was a time for manaakitanga, to share and present offerings to others. Visitors were often showered with gifts of specially preserved eel, birds and other delicacies. If the stars of Matariki appear clear and bright, a plentiful season ensures. If blurred and hazy, then a cold and poor season will follow.
Puanga and Matariki is a time to wānanga, to restore faith and hope for the future, a time for whanaungatanga, to be with others, share stories and kai, and celebrate who we are.
As well as marking the beginning of a new year, it also signals other new beginnings. Traditionally Puanga and Matariki was the time to plant trees, prepare the land for planting crops and renew associations with whānau, family and friends.
The New Year is also a good time to reflect on your place in the world, to reawaken old skills or try out new ones and set new goals.
Matua Ngatai
We hope you like our star. It shows each of the stars of Matariki. We had to design a symbol for the meaning of each star.
pb4l
This is how we show our School values in the Design Tech Hub:
Learning & Wellbeing Conferences
We are looking forward to these conferences, tomorrow after school and all day Friday.
The meetings are for Students as well as Parents and Teachers, so tamariki must come too.
It is not too late to make or change your booking - do it online through School Interviews. Our event code is p6t2j
Don't forget - Friday is not a school day - only come in if you have a hui booked.
More Hoodies... and T Shirts!
https://www.gamechanger.org.nz/puketapuschool
You will also be able to get your items delivered or collect from the school (the auto reply will say collect from Game Changer, but they will deliver them to us to save you a trip.)
Get your order in before the end of term and it will be ready early in Term 3.
school enrolments
A new teacher in Kowhai 3
We are delighted to announce that Merryl McAllister will be the new teacher in Kowhai 3 for the remainder of 2021. Merryl joins us from Frankley School where she has been a teaching Deputy Principal for the past 14 years.
Here is a short paragraph from Merryl:
‘I am excited to have the opportunity to teach in Kowhai 3 at Puketapu School. I am committed to making a positive difference to all students and staff and the wider community. I am passionate about teaching. I enjoy working with learners and embrace their differences. I work hard to make every day enjoyable with positive interactions. Learning is designed to take children to new levels of thinking. Learning in my classroom is social and dynamic. Students are encouraged to have a voice within their learning. Learning is fun when progress is made and I work to celebrate the successes and challenges with my students. Learning dispositions are nurtured along with skills such as collaboration, thinking, real life literacy and numeracy within the daily programme. Fun is vital, along with games, PE activities and time where children can pursue some of their own interests.’
Merryl is so excited she has already biked from her house in New Plymouth to our school and timed how long it takes. She has also volunteered her time to come in and meet the Kowhai 3 students and their whanau during the Learning & Wellbeing conferences on Thursday and Friday this week.
Nau mai haere mai Merryl ki te Kura o Puketapu.
School Policies
SchoolDocs is our online store of all policies.
From Curriculum and Student Achievement to our responsibilities as an employer, you can keep up to date and have your say.
At any time, you can send general feedback on a topic to the principal by clicking the green feedback button at the top right of the page.
https://puketapu.schooldocs.co.nz/
Username is: puketapu
Password: whakamanatia
sport
Our year 5 & 6 Mako netball team Mika Falaniko, Kallana Bradnock, Evie Roberts, Losa Fonoti, Jade Grocock and Mallory Leaf
Netball for our year 1-6 is coming to an end. Year 7 & 8 continue to play into term 3.
Next week is dress up week for year 1-6 futureFERNS. Get your team to dress up and be in the chance to win some cool spot prizes.
autism nz
"Siniva and I attending the FANZ (Framework for Autism in New Zealand) training. The course educators were Tanya Blakey and Jo Charman from Autism New Zealand Inc (along with a very cute puppy). The training provided us with an insight into autism and tools we can use to help children with autism." - Shaina Moratti
We are so lucky to have such wonderful Learning Assistants at our school. Pai te mahi Siniva and Shaina.
Better Start to Literacy Workshop
The next workshop in the Better Start to Literacy programme is next Tuesday, 6th July from 3.15pm to 4.00pm
We hope to see you all there.
(If you need more information, pop in to see the Rimu team)
Marae Trip
The evening meal was a hangi.
"We had to bring our pillow, sheet and sleeping bag for our over night Marae stay. We caught the bus on Thursday morning. We got welcomed onto the Marae and my Mum said a karanga. Hoani said a karakia and then we had some morning kai. We played and learnt lots of Māori games. Some of the Dads started to cook the hangi and it was served up for dinner, it was delicious. After dinner we made our beds and Hoani came and told us a story about matariki. In the morning the kowhai team came and joined us for the day. It was so much fun and I cant wait to do it next year." - Ella Rauputu, Kauri 2
All the tamaraki spent the day learning traditional games.
From the classroom
Lucas Wharram's cartoon art masterpiece
Kowhai interschool football yesterday against Mangorei School, no win this time but a great game with the team showing our school values.
Kowhai interschool Netball yesterday against Mangorei, our A team came away with a win.
Kowhai interschool Rugby, the boys came away with a win against Mangorei School yesterday.
From the Playground
This week from the playground...
Have you seen our new wall outside Rimu 3 & 4?
In the dialect of Taranaki iwi, mountain is more often pronounced Mounga, rather than Maunga, and was certainly the more known historic dialect – both pronounciations and spelling refer to the mountain.
Fun with wheels & ramps
It has been a chilly week this week, these parents were dressed up nice and warm to watch interschool sports yesterday.
Miss Sowman, Shaina, Mrs Wigley showing Kia Manawanui with Maddison Gates. Featuring Keisha Lowry photo bombing in the background.
Isla Johnson with her friends from the senior school Yelena Poching, Esther Poching and Amy-Jaide Paki.
Skye Ramsay, Liana Birch & Nova Davis enjoying the winter sun
Big smiles from Aimee Gunther & Jewel Lendib
Kauri big kids playing some basketball
From home
Superstars
Rubeelee Jeffrey is a real superstar - showing all of the values every day! Tino pai Rubeelee!
Elijah Sowter-Retter has been a fabulous role model for our younger Rimu students, showing all our school values
Our super helper Lesley Paora, showing our school values and helping with some jobs around the school on Friday.
The biggest smile from Isla Johnson, who showed our school values and helped Whaea Kerie with the school lunches.
Check out these maths buddies who have been working collaboratively .
Tino pai Flynn Bird and Te Aorangi Wanakore-Sioli
There is no better than doing your best - well done Layla Hardgrave showing Kia Kaha and giving everything a go.
Lucy Nicholas you are a superstar. Thank you for showing our school values.
Caitlyn Bellairs, what a fabulous helper you are. Great work showing our school values.
Well done Teina Williams for trying really hard and Kiah-jayne Wylde-Prestney for always doing the right thing. Wonderful!
Home and school
Hell pizza reading challenge
Plastic Free July
Will you be part of Plastic Free July by choosing to refuse single-use plastics?
We are on the look out for...
Brown paper shopping bags please - these can be dropped into the office.
We are looking for some to help whip us up some more ramps. Home and School will cover the cost of materials if someone can build them. Please contact Kim Sowman ksowman@puketapu.school.nz
Birthdays
- Zoya Sahrun
- Harry Smith
- Bella Neilson
- Jada Graham Moore
- Marissa Gordon
- Teina Williams
- Meihana Keefe-Smith
- Nicole Jupp
- Parekaiuru Tuturu o te Atiawa
Dates for your Diary
Did you know you can see What's On any time with the Hero App? Check out Term Dates or the Events Calendar whenever you like.
Still to come this week:
WEEK 9
Thursday 1 July
- Learning and Wellbeing Conferences from 3.30pm
Friday 2 July
- NO SCHOOL - Learning and Wellbeing Conferences all day
Only come to school if you have booked a hui
and next week:
WEEK 10
Monday 5th July
- Kapa Haka (Year 4-8) - 1130 - 1230
- Totara Sports 2-3
Tuesday 6th July
- TBC - Spotswood Promotional Visit (time tbc)
- Yr 7&8 Rippa Rugby @ TET Stadium, Inglewood bus leaving 9.10am
- Better Start Literacy whanau hui for Rimu 1 & 2 parents (workshop 2) 3:15-4.00pm
Wednesday 7th July
- Totara Kapa Haka 12.40 - 1
- Yr 7&8 Rippa Rugby @ TET Stadium, Inglewood (Postponement day)
- Kauri Ranui - NPBHS activities - 9.30- 12.30
Thursday 8th July
- TBC Mid Winter Swim Fundraiser - Student Council
Friday 9th July
- Totara Ranui Day (bus to YMCA)
- Wā Whānau 10.00 - 10.50
- Rimu Kapa Haka 2 - 2.15
- Whanau Tug of War / Staff vs Student Tug of War
- Kowhai Ranui @ Bell Block Pools 1:00-3:00
In the Holidays
Community Notices
Light in The Darkness
Glow in the dark fun for year 7&8s
Plastic free july pop-up at puke ariki
If your school whānau are looking for fun things to do over the holidays, why not come down to our Plastic Free July Pop-Up event at Puke Ariki at 10am – 1pm on Thursdy 15th July?
torpedo 7 friends & family specials
Torpedo deals running from Thursday June 24 to Wednesday July 7, 2021.
noel leeming friends and family deals
Don't forget to show the barcode below to get your great savings.
the circus is in town
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS! Our opening night is on Friday 9th July at 7.00pm
with shows through till Thursday 22nd July at 2pm.
bellyful new plymouth is looking for volunteers
Puketapu School
Email: office@puketapu.school.nz
Website: www.puketapu.school.nz
Location: Dillon Drive, Bell Block, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Phone: 06 755 0973