Kia ora koutou

COVID has come back for another go and we have a number of students and staff affected. It's disappointing but it is what it is and we just have to deal with it. Today we have 3 teachers not here (not all COVID related) and I have my fingers crossed that number won't increase over the next week. It does feel like we may limp to the finish line next week!

2023 Classes

On Monday 12 December you will receive notification (through old fashioned paper) of your child's class next year and their teacher. While you will just be focussed on your child's placement our teaching team have been focussed on placing all 307 children that will start the 2023 school year. It is a complex task and one that is never perfect - especially for the teachers!! We've made decisions and judgements based on what we think is best for each class and the children in it. I have 100% faith in all the teachers here that they will create awesome and inclusive classroom cultures that will see your child have a wonderful 2023 school year. I always get a few emails or people popping in wanting a change. While I will always listen, it is highly unlikely any changes will be made - it just creates too much of a ripple effect through many of the classes.

Waipawa and the 2022 Sporting Year

2022 has been an amazing year on the sporting front for Waipawa Primary School. You certainly don't set out to win everything, you set out to give it your best shot, go as hard as you can and have some fun. Winning is just a bonus. With the exception of the swimming we have cleaned up anything and everything! I don't think we will have another year like it! We will really try and we will work hard to do it again but it is unlikely! To win athletics last week was amazing. We had a number of children who couldn't compete though we still won comprehensively. Add Cross Country, 4 cups at Onga and wins in Rippa, Cricket, Top Schools and a few others. Yes we have some exceptional athletes, but you don't win everything just with them, so it is a great effort from everyone to improve and get better. We've had huge participation numbers this year and that is the most pleasing part. We've been hunting that crew over the bridge in green for a few years and it seems we've well and truly caught up!

Ngā mihi nui,

Paul Jamieson

On Friday 9 December 80 of our Yr 5-8 children will be playing Waipukurau Primary in softball. The first game begins at 11:15am and the teams will play 3 games (2 V Waipukurau and 1 against Waipawa). The last game will finish at 1:40pm. We have modified the rules to suit so the game is for everyone.

We have 8 teams and we desperately need 3 parents to manage a team. It is a short tournament with our neighbours over the bridge and the focus is on enjoying the sport and participation. The staff taking the 5 teams are by no means softball experts so please help us out so we can ensure it goes ahead!

CHB College finish on Friday 9th December so there will be no buses running in week 9. Parents will need to transport their children to and from school.

Yr 7/8 Camp

The 2023 Year 7/8 Camp to Tutira is from Tuesday 21 February to Friday 24 February
(Week 4 of Term 1).

While most of the organisation will be completed during January we need to organise our camp parents as soon as possible. The first step for this is to have interested parents police vetted. If we leave this to next February we will run out of time. We will need between 12-15 parents!

We need parents on camp who:

• Are able to attend the camp for the full 4 days

• Are prepared to muck in, get stuck in and take direction from teachers and camp staff

• Will attend a camp meeting prior to the camp

• Have a good level of fitness to handle the demands of being on camp with 80+ children

• Are able to provide transport for themselves and at least 4 children

• Are positive and active with the children and there to help out

• Will have fun

There is also a strict no smoking, vaping or drinking alcohol policy on camp.

If interested (thank you) please see Sue in the office and she will provide you with a form and instructions.

Yr 5/6 Camp

The three Year 5/6 classes will also be attending camp in 2023. These classes attend individually and are 3 day camps. The three camps will take place from March 1 to March 10. As soon as the 2023 classes are finalised we will be requesting parent help for these camps as well.

On Friday Rooms 1 and 2 travelled by bus to Waipukurau. We first visited Pukekaihau Pā, linking in with our learning around local history. We had a great time exploring the Pā site and completing a scavenger hunt. We even got time to have a waiata! We then walked down to Scallywaggs Kindergarten and Care where their Senior kaiako me ngā tamariki mā greeted us with waiata. After we did our mihi and waiata back to them we were excited to explore and create, doing activities relating to Pukekaihau Pā with the tamariki from there. We finished our trip with some kai and a play at Russell Park. What a fun day! We appreciate all the lovely helpers that came along!

Last Thursday Kākano was invited to visit Santa at the Waipawa Post Shop. We had some entertaining reasons why we had been good…

• “I have been helping Mum do the dishes and I have only moaned a little bit about it.”

• “I have tried to be kind to my family but it is hard sometimes.”

• “I put out the rubbish but don’t tell Mum because I dropped some and it went down the drive.”

• “I cleaned my room - not really I just put the things under the bed”.

Followed up by some Christmas wishes…

• I wish for a unicorn with wings, wheels and lights.

• I would like a makeup table with make up.

• A John Deere tractor.

• A wand that turns me into a REAL fairy not a pretend one.

• A pony that does you know what.

A huge thank you to Mark, Meredith and Santa. We had a truly magical time.

Well done to our Cricket team who took out the first CHB Primary School Cricket Competition held at Elsthorpe School last week.

Tennis sessions are available for those students interested in having a go, running over 4 weeks during the School Holidays. These sessions will then take place after school during Term One of 2023. The first session will take place on Monday 19 December - 9.00am-10.30am

For more information please call or text Anna Oosterkamp 027 3376531

We have plenty of polo shirts and shorts in stock along with Bucket Hats. Baseball Caps are currently sold out but more will be arriving soon and Snap-Back Hats we have only a few left. Our supply of size 4 shorts hasn't arrived yet.

The prices are $15.00 for Hats, $25.00 for Polo shirts and $20 for Shorts. Please note prices continue to increase but we are not passing these on and do not intend to.

New students to our school will be given a free bucket hat.

Term 4: Monday 17th October to Thursday 15th December at 1pm

The Board financial year ends on 31st December 2022. We ask that ALL OUTSTANDING DEBTS with the school be paid preferably by direct credit before this date.

Good news for Year 7 & 8 Technology students - there will be no fees charged for Term 4 this year.

Every Friday Sam Oosterkamp will be taking guitar lessons at Waipawa Primary School. Sam's lessons will focus on teaching students the skills they need to either start playing guitar or to further enhance their ability to play guitar.

Sessions start at $25 per half hour for 1 : 1 coaching.

Or group coaching up to 3 children per half hour session at $15 per half hour.

To book a session please email samthedesigner71@gmail.com